N-M Chapter 1338 Veil
Chapter 1338 Veil
Chapter 1338 Veil
At 6:30 p.m., the banquet hall of the InterContinental Parnas Hotel, located at 521 Tehranrok, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was brightly lit as GUCCI Peninsula held its annual gala dinner.
Although compared to other top European luxury brands like Chanel and LV, GUCCI is considered slightly lower in the eyes of industry insiders.
However, on the Korean Peninsula, GUCCI is definitely the most popular luxury brand among white-collar workers, the middle class, and celebrities—these mainstream consumer groups.
While other luxury brands are still looking down on Asia with aloofness and selling their seasonal new styles only in Europe, GUCCI has long since lowered its standards and compromised with the market.
Moreover, they are very willing to invest in the peninsula and cooperate with local companies. They are also willing to provide resources for the artists and models they cooperate with, so they have a very good reputation in the industry. They already have a group of partner companies and artists, and many more celebrities are eager to obtain the GUCCI title.
Therefore, tonight's banquet attracted many people.
The red carpet extends from the circular driveway in front of the guesthouse all the way to the main hall entrance, with the 30-meter-long area transformed into an immersive art gallery.
On either side stand specially made double GLOGO metal screens, with openwork insect and flower patterns inspired by GUCCI's 2018 early spring collection, while the floor is covered with a dark green velvet carpet, which contrasts sharply with the brand's signature deep red background wall.
Passing through the four-meter-high gate, the main banquet hall presents a stunning sight. The space, which originally could accommodate 500 people, has been redesigned. A chandelier specially made by a glass craftsman hangs in the center, with the lamp body displaying GUCCI's classic red and green striped color scheme. The surrounding walls are covered with silk wallpaper imported from Italy, embroidered with Renaissance-style vine patterns.
The stylish and luxurious decor made the guests feel the grandeur and sophistication of this top European luxury establishment.
Before the banquet officially begins, tidying up is an excellent social setting.
…………
"Where's Jingyuan oppa? Hasn't he arrived yet?"
Yoo Jeongyeon and Lim Nayeon walked back to the members, looking around, but still couldn't see Ji Kyungwon.
"You're here! You left not long ago, and you've already come. You're just here..."
Upon hearing this, Park Jihyo looked around but couldn't find Ji Kyung-won: "Hey, I just saw him. Lots of people were surrounding him. Where did he go?"
"It seems like he was just called away by a representative from GUCCI..."
While the others didn't notice, Zhou Ziyu, who had been keeping a close eye on Ji Jingyuan's movements, certainly knew. Hearing the conversation among the other girls, she spoke up at the opportune moment, saying, "They've gone inside; they probably have something to discuss."
"That's it."
Yoo Jeongyeon and Lim Nayeon glanced down the corridor, nodded, and sat down: "The spokesperson is really something else... Jihyo just said a lot of people were surrounding him, it was quite lively just now?"
"That was really something, oh my god, you guys didn't see it, as soon as he came in, everyone around him greeted him so enthusiastically..."
Upon hearing this, Park Jihyo clicked her tongue.
"We ran into that director from the advertising company when we came in. Remember him? He was all aloof when he saw us earlier, but as soon as he saw us, he smiled and went over with his wine glass. We even had to wait in line for a few minutes just to say a few words to him. It was really..."
Her tone was somewhat exaggerated, but there was also an undisguised envy in it. The more she got to know people, the more she discovered the reality and cruelty of the entertainment industry.
Even though Twice has become a top-tier girl group, they only hold a good position in the idol industry. In terms of the overall food chain of the industry, they have only just taken a step forward.
"There's still a queue? Pfft... Is it really that exaggerated?"
"It's normal for Kyungwon oppa to say that."
Lim Nayeon listened to Park Jihyo's story with obvious interest and longing, and couldn't help but laugh and retort, while Yoo Jeongyeon took a sip of the fruit wine in front of her and shrugged as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Chou Tzu-yu listened to their discussion with a smile. Whenever it involved positive topics about Chi Ching-yuan, she always enjoyed listening to them praise Chi Ching-yuan, as if they were praising herself.
After listening to the group chat for a while, Zhou Ziyu looked around and realized that two people seemed to be missing: "Hey, right, why are there only two of you, unnie? Where's Sana unnie?"
The TWICE members entered the banquet hall together, but shortly after they entered, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, and Sana were called away by their manager to greet a representative from an advertising company... The three of them had an advertisement to shoot recently, and the representative happened to be attending the banquet as well.
"On the way back, I saw a fashion magazine editor I knew. I went over to say hello, but she didn't come back with us. She was over there..."
Lim Nayeon, who had just taken a sip of the fruit wine, instantly fell in love with its sweet taste. After saying that, she picked up the glass and gulped it down, pointing to the right as she drank.
Chou Tzu-yu and the others glanced over there and saw Minatozaki Sana standing next to a man and a woman with slightly reserved expressions, saying something with enthusiastic smiles on her face. However, they were too far away to hear the gist of it.
When Lim Nayeon said that, the others immediately understood and their eyes lit up with knowing smiles.
They were all aware of Sana Minatozaki's dedication to her career and her relentless pursuit of every opportunity; they had seen this many times before.
Sometimes, however, some people find this a little strange.
Park Jihyo tugged at the hem of her collar, making her slightly tight chest feel more comfortable, and casually remarked with a pursed lip:
"Sana, well, it's like this..."
…………
"...You GUCCI people are really enthusiastic. Am I benefiting from your hospitality?"
After exchanging a few pleasantries with the key figures at Peninsula GUCCI, Chi Kyung-won followed his second brother out of the VIP room. The two brothers walked along the corridor towards the banquet hall. Chi Kyung-wook glanced at the decor on both sides of the corridor, his gaze lingering for two seconds on a classical painting before he smiled and said:
I feel that you hold a very high position here. Although I didn't quite understand what the managing director was saying, his attitude was a bit too enthusiastic.
"You've got it backwards. I feel like he's more enthusiastic towards you."
Chi Jingyuan followed behind, recalling their conversation, and curled his lip incredulously: "He's never seen you before, has he? Why did he seem more enthusiastic towards you than towards me when we first met? Does he know you?"
"Haha, this proves that even though they only work in the luxury goods industry, they still have pretty good connections and information."
The second brother showed no humility whatsoever, striding confidently with the arrogance typical of a tycoon's son.
"But when did you become so fluent in Italian?" he asked curiously after taking a few steps.
"It's a job requirement. Europe, especially Italy, is the center of the fashion industry. I often come into contact with them, and I just learn by talking to them."
"Your language talent is amazing, that's the only thing I envy about you... I wish you were this talented in academics, or even in your relationships with women."
"It's hard to say about the former, and the latter... it's hard to say." It's one thing that he's not good at studying, but when he heard the latter, Chi Jingyuan felt somewhat insulted.
"Hahaha."
Hearing his tone, Chi Jingxu couldn't help but burst into laughter. He turned his head and gave his stubborn yet smug younger brother a fascinating look, then shook his head and sighed, "As for your skills with women... it's hard to say that you're talented; you can only say that you've worked hard enough."
"Damn it!" Chi Jingyuan couldn't help but curse.
"correct."
Having successfully teased her, the second brother chuckled a few more times. After taking a few steps, he seemed to remember something else: "With your influence at GUCCI, you must take care of your girlfriends, right? This banquet is so lively tonight, your girlfriends must be here, right?"
Aren't you going to introduce yourself to me?
Chi Jingxu's eyes were indeed filled with curiosity... He hadn't paid attention to Chi Jingyuan's relationship status for a while. He had asked him once before, but Chi Jingyuan wouldn't tell him.
I don't have a girlfriend right now.
Facing his second brother's teasing gaze, Chi Jingyuan casually pouted, his gaze drawn to a nude stone sculpture beside him.
"Then we're good friends." Chi Jingxu wasn't going to play word games with him. "You must be here, right?"
"This one……"
When pressed for an answer, Chi Jingyuan clicked his tongue.
His second brother really knows him well. He has such a high status at GUCCI, so it's only natural that he would share his resources with his close friends and family. And that's why he wasn't wrong; almost everyone around Chi Jingyuan was present at the banquet tonight.
He had only been in the banquet hall for about ten minutes when he saw Bae Suzy, Bae Joo-hyun, Chou Tzu-yu, and Mina...
hiss~
Chi Jingyuan suddenly realized that this banquet had gathered almost all the women he had intimate relationships with.
Although he was startled, Chi Jingyuan couldn't show any weakness in front of his second brother. Facing his probing gaze, Chi Jingyuan withdrew his gaze from admiring the handicrafts and said casually, "You've come... who do you want to see?"
"Oh ho, so confident?"
Chi Jingyuan's calm attitude was quite dashing, which surprised Chi Jingxu, who looked his younger brother up and down with astonishment.
"Who would I see? How would I know about the situation of your women these days..."
He complained, then his eyes suddenly lit up as if he had come up with an interesting idea: "How about this, you don't need to introduce yourself. Let's go outside and sit for a while and see which of your good friends will come to see me."
He became more and more interested as he spoke: "Tsk tsk, you really came to the right place today... Let me see which of your good friends is the most ambitious."
"You can tell that from that?" Chi Jingyuan stared at him speechlessly.
"Of course."
Chi Jingxu's eyes were excited as he analyzed the situation rationally and astutely: "If your friends were even slightly attentive, they would definitely know me and should know the general situation of our family or my personality... What does it prove that they took the initiative to come up and greet me in this situation?"
"If it were just for fun, she wouldn't act like this. It only proves that she's definitely not content to just be a good friend. Maybe~"
His expression turned somewhat sarcastic: "Maybe she's always been thinking about marrying you and becoming Mrs. Chi."
"Lots of people want to marry me~"
Although his second brother had a point, Chi Jingyuan rolled his eyes at him speechlessly: "You're not even married yourself, yet..."
Just as he was about to retort, a tall figure walked towards him. She was a beautiful young woman with exquisite makeup, a slender figure, and a full, rounded chest.
Chi Jingyuan glanced at him and thought he looked vaguely familiar. He remembered that she was a magazine model and runway model in the industry, but not very famous.
I took a closer look at her face. Although she was quite pretty, the signs of aging were a bit too obvious, and her beauty level wasn't very high, making her look slightly unnatural.
“omo, Kyungwon-xi, anihaseyo.”
When they met face to face, Chi Jingyuan was originally going to nod politely and move on, but the model's eyes lit up when she saw them, and she immediately came up to chat: "Also, oh, is this Director Chi-nim?"
What surprised Chi Jingyuan even more was that the model actually knew Chi Jingxu. After greeting him, she immediately looked at her second brother, a look of surprise appearing on her face.
"I saw you at the cocktail party last time, Director Chi, do you remember? Aigoo, so you're here for GUCCI's dinner tonight too, what a coincidence."
Her face displayed just the right amount of surprise, a warm and relieved expression. At the same time, she leaned forward slightly, ensuring that the pleasant scent of her perfume could waft over, while also guaranteeing that, given Chi Jingyuan's height and angle, he could easily see the deep, alluring view of her chest.
"I don't remember much, sorry."
However, Chi Jingxu didn't give the other party any face in the face of their enthusiastic attempts to build a relationship. He seemed a little annoyed by it and casually waved his hand after saying something like, "Let's talk next time. That's all for now."
Upon hearing this, the beautiful model's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and wisely refrained from saying anything more. She nodded, gave Chi Jingyuan a smile and a quick goodbye before leaving.
"A bit too cold, isn't it?"
Watching the other person's departing figure, Chi Jingyuan teased his second brother with a mocking expression.
"First of all, she doesn't fit my aesthetic standards, so there's no need to say much more. Do you think you're the only one who's obsessed with looks?"
Chi Jingxu gave a sarcastic chuckle, glanced back at Chi Jingyuan, and then stepped out of the corridor.
The banquet hall was much brighter, making Chi Jingyuan feel a bit dazzled by the sudden changes in his vision. The quiet atmosphere in the backstage corridor had also become noisy.
"Besides, I don't like this kind of woman... I've seen too many women like this. They fawn over anyone who can benefit them. They're too opportunistic and it's not very interesting."
Chi Jingxu, looking very experienced, seemed to have noticed something and suddenly gestured with his chin towards a certain direction in the banquet hall: "Look at that woman over there, her smile is quite obvious."
"I bet she was trying to curry favor with the woman next to her, saying things like, 'You look so beautiful today,' 'You have such a great presence,' 'We've met before,' and so on... Her smile was so ingratiating, I could practically guess what she was saying."
"real or fake……"
Upon hearing this, Chi Jingyuan chuckled helplessly, but reflexively followed his second brother's guidance, looking in that direction with a slightly mocking smile.
Whether by coincidence or telepathy, the other person also happened to look in their direction.
Their eyes met directly.