Shrine - Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Ruan Ruan's feelings about this were a mix of excitement and apprehension.
She had never attended a brand banquet of this caliber and knew nothing about the procedures or details. She didn't have a styling team, had no idea what kind of clothes to wear, or what jewelry to put on.
She was an artist who had been in the industry for several years, yet when faced with higher-level resources, she was still like a destitute Cinderella. Fortunately, she had a pumpkin carriage and a fairy who could turn stone into gold.
Shi Ran, seemingly omnipotent, had secured the invitation, booked her a first-class seat on a flight, and arranged for the brand to send a Rolls-Royce to pick her up from the airport. It drove straight to the hotel, and she didn't even have to check in herself; the suite was already prepared.
She was wearing a dress from Self-P, a British brand with a simple yet elegant cut. When she was on the reality show, people had even asked about it. But even this outfit, which she wore without stage fright in front of the camera, made her feel constrained for the first time as she sat under the starlit ceiling of the car's interior. She clearly realized that the entertainment industry was no longer the one she knew. Looking up from the bottom of the pyramid, she could see the spire, faintly visible amidst the clouds.
The brand's hotel was located in a suburb far from the center of Jiangcheng. It was said to have been converted from a complete, preserved old manor. The front consisted of ancient walls and pavilions, deep courtyards, and green bricks and azure tiles concealing carved beams and painted pillars. The main gate was made of golden-thread nanmu wood. While waiting for clearance, Ruan Ruan glanced out the car window. Though not particularly close, she could still clearly see the gossamer-like golden threads beneath the wood's surface.
It was unclear whether the hotel had not yet officially opened or had been cleared out for the banquet. In any case, the scenery was lush and vibrant, but aside from the staff and the occasional shuttle cart, she saw no other guests as they passed two gardens and a water feature. The rear section was completely different in style from the front courtyard. Modern walls reflected the light of the luxurious architecture, like a well-cut diamond, with every window a dazzling facet.
Ruan Ruan got out of the car. A private butler told her he would have her luggage sent to her suite shortly, then led her upstairs.
Along the way, a staff member they encountered stepped aside to greet Ruan Ruan. Ruan Ruan returned a smile, still a bit stiff.
The butler gave her a detailed and professional introduction, telling her to call at any time if she needed anything. He then left without disturbing her further, closing the door with a perfect sense of propriety.
Ruan Ruan let out a soft breath and took out her phone to message Shi Ran on WeChat. Xiao Lin had helped coordinate her itinerary, so their two suites had been booked next to each other. Shi Ran was resting next door at this very moment.
Ruan Ruan walked out, her feet sinking into the plush carpet, and pressed the doorbell to Shi Ran's room.
Xiao Lin opened the door, then returned to her own room carrying a fruit platter.
The layout of Shi Ran's room was similar to Ruan Ruan's, only arranged symmetrically. The French-modern hybrid style living room and bedroom came with a spacious little balcony. During the day, one could see the fountain below, and at night, one could probably lean over with a glass of wine and listen to the cello from the garden banquet.
The entire hotel was fragrant, as if perfume were free. And Shi Ran sat amidst the fragrance like a radiant, dazzling advertisement.
"Shi Ran," Ruan Ruan greeted softly as she walked over.
Shi Ran put down the magazine she had been flipping through and gave her a faint smile. "Sit."
"How was it?" Shi Ran turned her head to look at her. She had previously suggested assigning an assistant to accompany her, but Ruan Ruan had thought it unnecessary. It seemed things had gone smoothly; she had arrived quite early.
"Everything was fine, they picked me up without any trouble. But," Ruan Ruan sat down beside her, "I've never been in a Rolls-Royce before. The doors open opposite each other, and I didn't know if there was a special way to open or close them."
Mm, and then? Shi Ran waited for the rest.
"So I just waited," Ruan Ruan said. "I waited for the person who picked me up to open and close the door for me. I didn't move."
After she finished, she pressed her lips together and smiled. Shi Ran smiled too, a short and subtle laugh.
"Are you hungry?" Shi Ran gestured to the welcome chocolates on the table.
Ruan Ruan shook her head. "I ate on the plane. Lamb chops in red wine sauce." Back when she wasn't such a flop, the company had never been willing to book her a first-class ticket. This was her first time ordering a meal on a plane.
"Was it good?"
"It was good."
It was two in the afternoon. At around four, the team would arrive to do their hair and makeup. According to Shi Ran's arrangements for events, the contract would usually specify several suites. Besides her personal assistant and executive agent, rooms were typically reserved for her own makeup artist and hairstylist. This time, it was Sylvia again. She was Shi Ran's exclusive stylist and also owned a well-known styling studio in the industry. She had excellent relationships with all the major brands and was highly sought-after by celebrities for her astounding ability to borrow haute couture.
The private banquet wasn't open to the media, so their looks weren't for public consumption. Therefore, Sylvia hadn't requested advance-season gowns from the brands beforehand. Instead, after taking Ruan Ruan's measurements, she sent over several options that had already arrived at the studio for them to choose from.
At three-fifty, Sylvia arrived with several assistants, carrying four gowns, and knocked on Shi Ran's door.
A complete transformation must be a form of modern magic. Why else would makeup brushes be shaped like fairy wands? A light dusting of powder sweeps away the travel-worn dust. A deep stroke of the brow pencil sketches out varied charms. A fine line of eyeliner traces out bright, clever eyes that recognize the rich and powerful. A full coat of lipstick paints on the sweet words of the socially adept.
People in fine clothes and splendid attire styled themselves into worldly flowers of wealth and honor, rushing off to a jeweled platter where the famous gathered.
Is a film set the most status-conscious place? No. The gaps you can see plainly at least prove that everyone is still on the same plane of existence. The real gaps are often in places people can't see, after the golden-thread nanmu wood doors slowly close.
Shi Ran wore a classic gown from A-brand. The chest was shaped like butterfly wings, cinching her slender waist, while the black tulle skirt below was like smoke and mist. The original runway look came with a pair of long gloves that exuded an ascetic feel, but Shi Ran wore only one. Her snow-white arm draped down from her shoulder, and her curled hair, swept to one side, moved gracefully, both chic and alluring.
As for Ruan Ruan, she shed her usual Little White Flower image. Sylvia had wrapped her in a deep red velvet gown from Z-brand that hugged her well-defined curves. The shoulder straps on both sides were quite thin, resting loosely on her shoulders, revealing a vast expanse of her lustrous chest that outshone the finest diamonds. Sylvia applied a subtle shimmer of highlighter just below her collarbones and on her arms. When she walked, she swayed gracefully, like a night-blooming cereus.
There wasn't a single flaw on her entire body, so the focus of her makeup was the beauty mark under her eye, which was deepened with a touch of dark ink. Vulnerability was transformed into sensuality, adding the finishing touch to her every frown and smile.
A private banquet had its advantages. Public appearances often required consideration of brand and sponsor relationships, as well as one's own status and promotional direction, which limited the choice of styles. But for a private gathering, one could disregard whether a piece was out of season or if the brand was prestigious enough to command the scene, and simply choose what one liked.
After seven, the sky pressed down heavily, becoming a curtain adorned with stars.
The organizers sent another black sedan to take them to the venue.
The venue was clearly inside the hotel, but for some reason, the car drove out and circled around before re-entering through the main gate. Perhaps it was to ensure a good arrival experience for the guests, so they wouldn't all crowd together. Ruan Ruan and Shi Ran were assigned to the same car and entered the banquet hall side by side.
This was the most luxurious space in the hotel. The hall was dim, and even the crystal chandeliers were lit with an ambiguous glow, not as bright as the wine glasses on the tables. Upon entering, the first thing that caught the eye was a massive glass window, two or three stories high, framing the lights of Jiangcheng into a world-famous painting. Below it was a small orchestra, with violins and cellos playing an opening piece for the guests.
Further inside was a long banquet table. The tablecloth was smooth and symmetrical, with cutlery and decorations arranged in an orderly fashion upon it—staggered arrangements of purple hydrangeas and white peonies, a riot of flowers, their fragrance wafting over.
The stage was rather simple. Besides a massive brand logo, there was a champagne tower to the side. Ruan Ruan had never seen such a huge champagne tower. Just by walking to the middle of the long table, she could smell the floating aroma of alcohol.
After a few moments, her nervousness subsided. Perhaps it was because the lighting was dim, or perhaps because people were taking their seats in twos and threes, chatting in low voices, and no one was looking at her.
She followed Shi Ran and sat at the table. A brand executive gave a speech in English, and waiters silently served pre-dinner drinks. The overall atmosphere was quite relaxed. A wealthy woman across the table was filming a video with her phone. Ruan Ruan felt a little nervous, worried about being filmed sitting with Shi Ran, so she glanced at her.
But Shi Ran was completely unconcerned. She turned to greet a PR person she knew, and her agent walked over to chat with them from behind her chair. A VIC came over to ask for a photo, and Shi Ran readily agreed, tilting her head slightly, her smile polite yet distant.
Halfway through the meal, Ruan Ruan realized that although it was called a concert, there were only two or three musicians she didn't recognize. The rest were a few singers favored by the brand. The last two were brand ambassadors, so everyone knew that the first two who performed were about to get endorsements.
Ruan Ruan propped up her face and watched, feeling envious one moment, then turning her gaze to the champagne tower next to the stage with complicated feelings the next.
Perhaps the champagne tower was too tall. It was resplendent and dazzling, as if it were more precious than inconspicuous minor celebrities like them.
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