Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 288 Rookie's Opening

The next morning, the Paris sky was crystal clear, the entire city seemingly washed clean by the previous night's light rain, the air filled with a moist freshness. Lin Yan got up, opened the window, and took a deep breath of this invigorating air.

He took Xiao Qi, who was still half asleep in the space, out and fed it some specially prepared spirit fruit juice. The little guy smacked its lips contentedly, curled up on the soft velvet bed, and soon fell into a deep sleep again. Its golden fur shone softly in the morning light. Lin Yan was afraid of attracting attention, so he put it back into the small courtyard of the space.

At seven o'clock sharp in the morning, Lin Gang and Wang Yuling knocked on the door and entered. Wang Yuling carried a tray with steaming hot porridge and several delicate Chinese snacks. After Lin Yangang finished his breakfast, Tang Liuqian and Li Wenbin came in together.

Lin Yan casually picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth and asked, "Where's Jiaming?"

Li Wenbin immediately revealed a smile of anticipation, and replied, "Jiaming was all high spirits when he led your three high school classmates to the show to 'experience life' early this morning! Judging from his demeanor, he's really prepared to assign them all the dirty and tiring work."

Tang Liuqian then took out the program booklet and carefully checked every part of the press conference with Lin Yan, from the guest entrance and media reception to the model catwalk and closing remarks, hoping that he could give some more suggestions.

Lin Yan listened attentively while slowly sipping his tea. The entire process was meticulous and smooth, with nothing truly requiring major changes. After all, the core story of this brand, "Libre de Soi"—a timeless love story blending Eastern mystery and Western romance—was originally his creation.

When he first wrote this story, filled with entangled fates, family obstacles, and vows of life and death, he felt a little ashamed. It was just a plot from a melodramatic TV series he remembered decades later, with a more artistic and "Eastern" veneer. What he never expected was that this script, which he considered somewhat clichéd, would move Tang Liuqian and a group of artistic youths from the 60s to tears, and become the inspiration for their groundbreaking brand.

Hearing the last part, Lin Yan seemed to suddenly remember something, put down his teacup, and looked at Tang Liuqian: "Brother Liuqian, did you bring the Chinese wedding attire I gave you and Sister Xi'en with you this time?"

Although Tang Liuqian was somewhat surprised, he still nodded: "Take it with you. We usually keep such valuable items carefully in our luggage when we travel."

"Very good." A glint of unquestionable light flashed in Lin Yan's eyes, a kind of confident strategist. "For the grand finale, you and Sister Xi'en will personally put on that wedding dress and make your entrance."

He spoke with certainty and continued his instructions: "Tell Sister Xi'en to style her hair in the most elegant ancient style and put on all the ruby ​​headdresses I gave her. Turn on the lights, and I want those... well, those country bumpkins who don't quite know their stuff yet, to personally experience what it means to be a dimensional knockout of the ultimate Eastern aesthetics."

Upon hearing this, even Li Wenbin, who was standing next to him, stopped joking and couldn't help but imagine the scene—what a huge shock it would cause when the most magnificent and solemn image of an oriental wedding ceremony appeared at the end of the Paris fashion show.

Tang Liuqian's eyes lit up, igniting a fighting spirit: "I understand, Xiao Yan. I'll go and prepare with Xi En right away. This time, we'll definitely open their eyes."

Time flies, and it's already February 24th.

The Ritz Hotel's luxurious ballroom has been completely transformed, presenting an aesthetic that transcends time—a wonderful fusion of the refined elegance of the Song Dynasty and the Nordic minimalism that will only become popular decades later. The lines are clean and crisp, the space is well-spaced, and on either side of the show are rows of tiered official's hat chairs meticulously crafted from fine huanghuali wood. Their dignified color and elegant lines silently speak of Eastern heritage and prestige.

It was four o'clock in the afternoon, and there was still some time before the fashion show started at seven o'clock in the evening. Lin Yan strolled backstage, wanting to see the results of Tom and the others' "social practice".

As soon as they stepped into the bustling backstage area, they saw Mike and Daniel working together to carry an extremely heavy, old-fashioned spotlight, both of them sweating profusely. Hearing footsteps, they looked up, froze, and stared directly at Lin Yan.

The Lin Yan before me was no longer the easygoing classmate from school who always wore a double-breasted coat and khaki pants. He was dressed in a custom-made suit specially prepared for tonight's occasion. The deep black fabric perfectly outlined his tall and slender figure, with understated luxury in every detail. His bangs were styled back with hair gel, revealing a smooth forehead, and his entire demeanor changed, exuding an innate nobility and a sense of control.

"Wow... Lin!" Mike was the first to find his voice, exclaiming in amazement, "Your usual outfits are practically a crime! It's such a waste of your figure and your face!" He exaggeratedly clutched his heart, pretending to be struck by lightning, and began to swoon with starry eyes: "You look absolutely stunning today, the most beautiful person I've ever seen in my life! I think... I think I'm falling in love with you!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yan didn't even raise an eyebrow. With his hands still in his trouser pockets, he simply lifted his foot and lightly kicked Mike's shin with the tip of his shoe.

"Get back to work."

He left those words behind, ignoring Mike's comical groans as he clutched his legs, and turned to leave, a faint smile playing on his lips where Mike couldn't see.

It was exactly 7 p.m.

The Ritz Hotel's ballroom was ablaze with lights. Luc Bernard, the public face of Libre de Soi, and his highly trained public relations team were mingling with celebrities in the buffet area. But the real show of the evening was behind the curtain.

The Parisian fashion world of the 1960s was undergoing unprecedented change, with a group of masters defining the era with their revolutionary creations. At this moment, many of their leading figures sit in their official hats, waiting with either curiosity or scrutiny:

Futurist pioneer André Courréges adjusted his signature glasses; his characteristic geometric lines and space-age silver tones created an interesting contrast with the minimalist space before him, which was filled with Eastern Zen.

Not far away, Pierre Cardin, the space dreamer, showed professional interest in the new lighting materials used in the show.

Feminist pioneer Yves Saint Laurent sat quietly.

Even the returning Coco Chanel scrutinized this unconventional launch event with her sharp eye.

Materials revolutionary Paco Rabana showed great interest in the combination of wooden structures and new exhibition materials in the banquet hall.

These masters who shaped the face of contemporary Parisian fashion are now spectators of a feast that is about to overturn their understanding.