Huayu: Starting from the top talent show

Chapter 593 Parisian snowy nights are always so quiet (7.4k)

With the help of a marketing matrix jointly created by Universal, Starlink, and multiple outsourcing teams, videos and news related to Shen Juan's Seine River cruise concert are spreading and gaining traction on the global internet, resulting in increased exposure for both Shen Juan and his works.

Then there are the other things he did during his trip to France, including but not limited to appearing on television programs to hit the nail on the head and boasting about his achievements, visiting children's charity hospitals to show his kindness and compassion, and announcing a donation of 100 million euros to improve the living conditions of impoverished children, and a series of other positive output activities.

This has enabled Shen Juan's fame and influence in France and even Western Europe to successfully break through social circles and be further enhanced.

Although the entertainment environment in France is similar to that in Japan, relatively closed and outdated overall, especially among the middle-aged and elderly who pride themselves on being romantic and are very arrogant, considering all white people to be uncultured, thanks to the impact of TikTok, local young people still have a great deal of enthusiasm for new and diverse popular culture.

This is why Shen Juan garnered a significant number of votes from young people. Not only did he top the list of the 12 sexiest men published by Grazia magazine last year, beating out Harry Styles, Eddie Redmayne, and others, but he also secured a high position in the 2020 list of the most popular French artists compiled by a polling agency, second only to French artists and legendary figures like Celine Dion.

so.
Top-tier among young people.

A wider group of people know that this person exists.

That's pretty much the accurate description of him at this stage.

Evening of February 21th.

Shen Juan had just finished shooting the LV global advertising campaign for the start of the season at the UNESCO headquarters when he returned to his hotel to change into formal attire. He then traveled by car to the Élysée Palace, the residence of the French monarch, to attend a private dinner hosted by the current French monarch, Mark Lonzo.

Due to a slight delay in getting to and from the hotel, Shen Juan became the last invited guest to arrive that evening. As soon as the limousine stopped in front of the Élysée Palace and the waiter opened the black car door, the flashes and shutter sounds that had been building up for a long time burst forth like a sudden storm, instantly illuminating the night.

In the eyes of the French media who had been waiting for a long time, the Chinese pop star, born in 1998, appeared in a custom-made black suit. The tailored cut accentuated his sharp and neat shoulder line, and when paired with Tiffany's top luxury jewelry, the understated quality revealed the calm and confidence of the "unofficial heir of LVMH".

Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Tiffany.

Rimowa, Moët Hennessy, Guerlain.

He is the spokesperson for six core brands under the LVMH Group, from cosmetics to ready-to-wear, jewelry, bags and fragrances.

Not only does it have a vast presence in major first-tier cities around the world, but it has also helped LV maintain a slight but steady growth in a market environment where most luxury brands have seen their sales decline amid the fierce impact of global crises. Even prime locations on the Champs-Élysées have been dominated by its massive advertisements for many years.

In addition, Bernard Arnault, the head of the LVMH Group, once gave the following evaluation in front of the media: "In fact, we don't know whether having Alex is our luck or our misfortune, because his appeal and ability to drive consumption among young people is so strong that, to some extent, it has even made the job of designer a place where one can be lazy. You may think I am exaggerating, but it is true. He has a group of fans who unconditionally support and trust him, which makes everything easy."

This trip, his first overseas activity after a year away from China, with his first stop being Paris, was ostensibly to promote his new song "Easy On Me," but in reality, he wanted to leverage the song's popularity to solidify his position in the European market. The private dinner invitation from Markro was undoubtedly the most authoritative and significant surprise of this trip.

No one could have imagined that this superstar, who has worked across multiple fields, would make such a high-profile appearance in Paris.

The square and media area of ​​the Élysée Palace were already filled with layers of cameras. As Shen Juan calmly basked in the familiar waterfall of flashes and walked steadily into the palace, French Zong Tong Ma Kelong and two other invited guests who had arrived earlier were waiting for him with smiles on their faces.

First, she nodded to Ma Kelong, who was firmly in the center position, and then exchanged a few pleasantries with him under the watchful eyes of countless people.

Then looking to the left, Bernard Arnault, the septuagenarian LVMH helmsman, smiled broadly upon seeing Shen Juan and patted him on the shoulder: "You are even more handsome than in the advertisements. I know many young people have come for you. Your appeal has never disappointed."

Shen Juan extended his hand in a composed manner, shaking it back with a polite smile: "This is my duty as a spokesperson, Mr. Arnaud."

The media present frantically pressed their shutters, trying to capture every detail of this heavyweight duo's long-awaited reunion.

One is the world's richest man with an extremely bloody and brutal history of making his fortune, holding a business empire and being an industry emperor who controls the discourse of fashion; the other is a global phenomenon pop superstar with countless Gen Z followers, who stirs up a pop storm wherever he goes, and can be called the new era's king of pop.

This cross-sector meeting is clearly worthy of global attention.

Meanwhile, Mbappe on the right was already bursting with excitement.

When the dark-skinned football superstar, also born in 1998, saw Shen Juan looking over, he immediately stepped forward excitedly, his tone full of heartfelt enthusiasm and joy: "Alex! I am Kirian Mbappe. My friends and I often listen to your songs, and I have wanted to meet you for a long time!"

"Thanks, brother." A hint of surprise flashed in Shen Juan's eyes, then he reached out and hugged him tightly. "I've been following you for a long time. Three years ago, I was amazed by your performance in the World Cup, so I hope you can lift the World Cup trophy again this year! Of course, it would be even better if the final was against Portugal."

"Portugal? You like Cristiano Ronaldo too?" Mbappe's eyes lit up, his expression showing a hint of delight.

Shen Juan smiled noncommittally and shrugged. "I sang the anthem for Portugal in the World Cup in Russia."

"Sadehir! Bro, you're awesome!" Mbappe patted Shen Juan's arm excitedly, his eyes full of surprise and admiration: "This is so cool! It's unbelievable! I never expected you to like Cristiano Ronaldo too! You've never mentioned this in the media before."

"As an artist, I don't want to provoke these two fan groups too early. Do you understand what I mean?"

Mbappe immediately burst into laughter, even the features on his turtle-like face, which resembled Donatello's, scrunched up in a smile.

He certainly understood Shen Juan's concerns at the time.

They just don't want to get involved in the Jurassic Park and get criticized!
But it doesn't matter now. With his crowning as the world's number one, he now has a huge fan base and is no longer afraid of offending anyone.

"I really wish I had met you two years earlier." Mbappe hugged Shen Juan again, this time with more warmth and familiarity than before.

"It's not too late to get to know each other now."

The tacit understanding between peers was instantly maximized.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

It was as if they had been friends for many years.

Upon seeing this, Ma Kelong immediately smiled and stepped forward, pulling Shen Juan to the middle of the three of them for a crucial group photo that evening.

The image of the French president, the world's richest man, a football superstar, and the new era's pop king appearing together instantly ignited the entire audience!

The flashes were so intense it was almost daytime, so bright you could hardly open your eyes, and the sound of shutters mingled together into a continuous roar!
Next came the group interview with the media.

It lasted for about half an hour.

The topics covered a wide range of fields, including music, fashion, football, and cultural exchange. Shen Juan's composure, Mbappe's sincerity and frankness, Arnault's business acumen, and Makerong's refined humor made for a highly interesting cross-disciplinary dialogue.

After Ma Kelong raised his hand to indicate that the interview was over, the three of them were led by Ma Kelong to the festival hall, surrounded by others.

The area had been prepared in advance, creating a solemn and elegant atmosphere for the awarding ceremony. At the same time, a staff member stepped forward steadily and respectfully presented a fine Legion of Honour medal, with a silver body adorned with a green enamel oak leaf wreath and the iconic red ribbon, which shone brightly under the lights.

“Alex, I have a surprise for you tonight.” Ma Kelong turned to Shen Juan and said solemnly, “In view of your outstanding contributions to promoting Sino-French cultural exchanges, facilitating youth interaction, and supporting the development of the French fashion industry, Mr. Shen Juan, on behalf of the French Republic, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you.”

"You are hereby officially awarded the Legion of Honor Knight Medal!"

In the official footage, Ma Kelong personally picked up the lapel pin and carefully pinned it to the left breast of Shen Juan's suit.

The entire process was brief yet solemn.

Flashbulbs went off again, capturing the 22-year-old pop star's glorious moment at the Élysée Palace.

After the ceremony, the four entered the banquet hall.

A refined and simple French meal is served.

A few people chatted while eating.

Shen Juan and Mbappe shared the high pressure and interesting stories of their respective industries. Mbappe was obviously well-prepared and even talked about Rexham, which Shen Juan acquired last year. When he learned that Rexham's goal was to be promoted to the Super League, he immediately joked that if Rexham could become a powerhouse, he would like to play for Rexham.

Of course, Marko definitely doesn't want Bappe to leave.

After all, he is the pride of all France!

So if possible, it's better to stay in Paris. Every day Mbappe stays, he gains more political achievements.

When Arnault talked about the recently acquired Tiffany, he casually mentioned that his second son, Alexander, would soon take over the brand's affairs. He added with a smile that he knew Shen Juan and Alexander had a good personal relationship and would have to work together well and exchange ideas. He also said that LVMH would always give Shen Juan the best promotional resources.
Undoubtedly, he would also be happy to see Shen Juan join the battle for succession, as it would make the game even more interesting.

Ma Kelong then talked about the details of Sino-French cultural exchanges, and also said that the government will provide all the support and guarantees for Shen Juan to hold concerts in France in the future, so that he can come more often and let so many French teenagers who like him witness the charm of popular culture, and let music become the most natural communication bridge for young people all over the world.

Shen Juan readily accepted the invitation and, of course, would not refuse.

After all, the French music market is quite large.

Although it cannot compare to the US, Japan, the UK, and Germany, which are currently ranked in the top four, and is about to be surpassed by China, it is still worthwhile for Shen Juan to spend some time and energy to cultivate and develop it here, considering its considerable influence in Western Europe and the entire Western world. This will greatly benefit his global popularization efforts.

Around nine o'clock, the banquet came to an end. After exchanging contact information, Shen Juan walked out of the Élysée Palace surrounded by people.

Suddenly a night breeze lifted the hem of his clothes, and the Legion of Honor Knight's Medal on his chest gleamed softly in the moonlight.

He had no time to savor this honor that many people could never attain in their entire lives; instead, he took out his phone and dialed a number.

"Where is Chuan Chuan?" The voice was very low, the composure and calmness in front of the camera gone, replaced by a more delicate and soft tone.

"At the street corner we agreed on!" Wang Churan chuckled sweetly on the other end of the phone, her voice soft and adorable. "Although the snow is getting heavier, I checked the weather forecast before I went out, so I not only brought an umbrella but also a scarf. I'm not cold at all!"

"Well, I'll probably be there in about ten minutes."

"Okay~ I'll be waiting for you!"

Shen Juan hung up the phone and took a car to the agreed-upon street.

As soon as the car stopped at the roadside, he took the coat handed to him by his assistant, put it on, opened the door, got out of the car, and walked quickly towards the street corner.

Stepping on the soft snow, the accumulated snow made a soft crunching sound. Snowflakes swirled and fell gently, landing softly on his weary hair and shoulders, melting into tiny damp patches in no time. The cold white snow reflected his fair skin, making his already outstanding features even more refined and captivating.

If a high-definition camera were there to capture this moment, his image of walking through the snow on an empty street in this cold, snowy night would surely become another iconic scene of Shen Juan's divine beauty in the hearts of countless fans, making people sigh that the soft-hearted god has finally been personified at this moment.

After walking along the street for a short while, Shen Juan spotted a small figure under the streetlight in the distance.

Wang Churan wore a light beige long down jacket and a gray scarf he had given her last winter. She held a transparent umbrella in her right hand and put her left hand in her coat pocket. She gently kicked at the snow on the ground with her toes, looking like a happier cub obediently squatting in place waiting for its owner to return. She looked especially charming and cute.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Shen Juan quickened his pace and walked up to her, reaching out to grasp her right hand that was holding the umbrella. The icy touch made him frown slightly.

Wang Churan looked up at him, her eyes curving into sweet crescents, and she even blinked adorably: "Actually, I just arrived not long ago either!"

After she finished speaking, she noticed the concern in Shen Juan's eyes, and a warm feeling immediately welled up in her heart. However, she did not want to talk about the topic of "how long you waited," which would make him feel guilty. So she changed the subject and gently touched the medal on his chest. "Is this the Knight's Medal of the Legion of Honor?"

"Hmm, would you like me to take it off and let you try it on?"

Wang Churan quickly withdrew his hand and shook his head, "Then I'd better not. This is your honor! I wouldn't dare to take it!"

"My glory?" Shen Juan chuckled softly, as if something had occurred to him. "Do you know what I'm about to say?"

Wang Churan knew Shen Juan, this hopeless romantic fool, all too well. Often, she could predict his next sentence the moment he opened his mouth, especially since they had just finished filming a TV series last month. So, she deliberately dragged out her words, replying with a teasing yet confident smile, "Could it be... you are my glory?"

Unexpectedly, Shen Juan raised an eyebrow, gently pinched her soft cheek, and teased her on purpose: "Why are you so narcissistic?"

"Isn't that right?" Wang Churan, both embarrassed and annoyed, lunged forward and crashed solidly into his arms. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly, rubbing her head against his chest. Then, she raised her little face, pouted slightly, and, with a touch of self-righteous arrogance, started to act cute and charming.

"I really should have recorded what you just said."

"Then I'll take a picture of you asking for kisses and hugs with a blank expression!" Wang Churan retorted defiantly.

"Wait, why did you specifically add the prefix 'expressionless'? Do you have some strange fetish?"

"Because you're so cute, Juanjuan!"

Wang Churan's eyes shone with excitement as she earnestly explained, "Every time you say things like 'Don't you want to kiss me? Don't you want to hug me? Don't you miss me? Don't you like me?' with a blank expression, you're so incredibly cute! Your cold-faced cuteness is just unbeatable!"

"Uh..." Shen Juan didn't understand, but was greatly shocked. "You're so cute just like this~"

As soon as Wang Churan finished speaking with her head tilted back, she immediately buried her head back into Shen Juan's arms and rubbed against him softly.

Shen Juan was so charmed by her current appearance that he couldn't help but laugh silently. After a moment, he broke the silence.

So you really like my cold expression?

I like it! But I like your smile just as much!

If you had to choose one, which would you prefer?

"If I had to choose one, I would prefer Shen Juan!"

Shen Juan rolled his eyes happily, then took out a beautifully packaged little box from his pocket and handed it to her.

"Here, this is your birthday present."

Wang Churan eagerly opened the box, only to find not some extravagant and dazzling precious jewelry, but a custom Tiffany necklace. Upon closer inspection, she discovered that the back of the pendant was engraved with fine lettering, the cursive English name "Churan" intertwined with her birthdate.

Her eyes lit up instantly. "So beautiful!"

Shen Juan leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the corner of her lips.

Happy birthday, Ranranbao.

"I've changed my ID and I don't use that name anymore!" Wang Churan's cheeks flushed slightly, but her joy clearly outweighed her shyness. So she reached out and held his arm tightly, resting her head gently on his shoulder, and asked curiously, "Why did the banquet end so early? I thought we were going to chat until midnight!"

"No matter how important the banquet is, it can't compare to celebrating your birthday with me." Shen Juan took the umbrella from her hand, and with his other hand, he grabbed her icy right hand and put it into his coat pocket to warm it up. "Mbappe originally wanted to invite me to his house to play FIFA, but I just told him I had to rush back to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday!"

"real or fake?"

"I even asked him to keep it a secret!"

"If he goes back and goes online to find out that the secret you asked him to protect is already common knowledge, his expression will definitely be priceless!"

"But he doesn't know which girlfriend I'm talking about."

"Why do you sound so smug?" Wang Churan glared at Shen Juan, who was acting all smug after getting the benefits.

"No, you must have misheard." Shen Juan blinked her sincere and clear eyes, her face innocent and harmless.

Wang Churan, unable to suppress her laughter at her boyfriend's cuteness, quickly turned her head to the side, "Are you questioning my sense of smell?"

Shen Juan was too lazy to pretend anymore, so he exited Ding Zhen mode, deliberately put on a disgusted face, and glanced at his little wife.

"Are you a dog? You even have a sense of smell?"

"!!!" Wang Churan was dumbfounded.

"Why are your eyes so wide?"

"Are you kidding me?"

"It's hard not to tease you when you're so cute."

Wang Churan's angry cat face was on the verge of collapse as soon as it took shape. "Why am I so happy to hear you say that?"

Shen Juan maintained his calm and indifferent expression, but at the same time he was trying hard to suppress a laugh: "It's simple, because you're cute."

Wang Churan could no longer contain the happiness and sweetness surging in her heart. She couldn't help but let out a soft moan. Then, perhaps because she felt shy and embarrassed, she grabbed Shen Juan's arm tightly and swayed back and forth, being incredibly clingy.

"Say more, I love to hear it!"

"Aren't you angry anymore?"

"I was never angry from beginning to end!"

"That's it"

"Hey, Juanjuan!"

"what happened?"

"If Tian Xiwei and I were both puppies, what breed would we be?" Wang Churan asked with a smile.

"You don't know, but she has blonde hair, right?"

Although he felt a little bad for Sister Tian, ​​this was indeed the first answer that came to his mind when he heard the question.

After all, in a golden retriever's eyes, there are no bad people and no good dogs. In a sense, that's quite accurate.

In any case, most people are just different breeds of stray dogs, stinky dogs, and mongrel dogs in Sister Tian's eyes, and only a few are human.

For the rest of the time, the two walked side by side along the deserted streets. The Parisian winter night was so quiet that you could even hear the snowflakes falling. Most of the shops on the street were closed, with only a few cafes still lit up with warm yellow lights, through which two blurry figures cuddling together could be seen.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, quickly accumulating into a thick layer on the ground. The soft snow crunched underfoot, making a series of crisp, pleasant sounds that were especially clear and melodious in the quiet night.

Suddenly, Wang Churan stopped, bent down, grabbed a handful of snow, rolled it into a small ball, and gently threw it onto Shen Juan's stomach.

"You scumbag, I'll smash you to death!"

Shen Juan was stunned for a moment, then his playful mood struck him. He bent down, grabbed a handful of snow, loosened it, and brushed it onto her.

"Then let's fight to the death here!"

Snowballs, like celestial maidens scattering petals, landed on Wang Churan.

She laughed and dodged, while Shen Juan chased after her.

However, she walked very slowly, worried that she might slip.

Fueled by the atmosphere of a foreign land, the two let loose and played around on the street for a while. Wang Churan, who was bundled up like a big penguin to keep warm and avoid catching a cold, was the first to run out of steam. She stopped, supporting herself on her knees, her chest rising and falling slightly, her cheeks flushed, and she kept exhaling white breath.

While gently brushing off the still-unmelted snowflakes from her body, Shen Juan laughed and complained with exasperation, "Are you a human-kun? You don't even dodge when snowballs come at you. How can you be so weak? I'm starting to doubt whether you ever studied dance. I can hardly see any athletic ability in you."

"Then why don't you put down the umbrella!" Wang Chu replied breathlessly. "Using an umbrella as a shield, what kind of skill is that?"

"But before the battle started, it didn't say that we couldn't use umbrellas as shields, did it?" Shen Juan scratched his head in confusion, like a Down syndrome patient.

"You're something else!"

Wang Churan was amused by Shen Juan's behavior.

I just feel that his cunning nature is becoming more and more apparent!
But she just loves it!

I'm even loving it more and more!
The two walked forward in silence for a while longer.

Wang Churan suddenly looked up at her boyfriend who was holding her hand, gently breaking the reassuring tranquility.

"Tired!"

"I'm here."

"Actually, when we watched the fireworks together in Sydney last year, I was thinking that it would be great to take a walk with you in the snow this year. Of course, I'm not saying that it's bad to celebrate my birthday in Sydney, after all, Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere! I feel that my birthday would feel more special if I celebrated it in the winter in the Northern Hemisphere."

"Now that your wish has come true, are you happy?" Shen Juan turned his head to look at her, then reached out and pulled her into his arms.

"Of course I'm happy!"

"Every January 21st from now on, I will be with you. No matter where I am working on that day, I will take you with me."

Wang Churan smiled sweetly and said softly, "There's no need for such a big show. As long as I can be with you, that's enough!"

She paused for a moment, then said, "Actually, I think that once you meet someone you truly like and love, you will never get tired of them. The more you love them, the more you want to continue loving them. Although we can't see each other every day, you will always be the person I love and miss the most. The purpose of meeting is to release the deep love that has been building up in my heart when we can't meet. And when we don't meet, besides living my life well, I look forward to seeing you."

"Why are you suddenly saying such a long thing?"

"Because I want to tell you that you absolutely, positively should not feel guilty towards me for not being able to be with me all the time!"

Wang Churan looked up into his eyes, her voice soft and her tone exceptionally earnest: "I'm not as fragile as you think, and I'm much more sensible than you imagine!"

"Is this also part of being your pampered wife?"

“This is part of who I am, Wang Churan.”

Touched by what he heard, Shen Juan suddenly stopped in his tracks, casually tossed aside his umbrella, turned around, and gazed quietly at the girl in front of him whose eyes were filled with him. The next second, he raised his hands and gently cupped her face, his eyes sincere: "I may not always express myself well, but I am truly happy to have met you."

Snowflakes gently landed on their cheeks, hair, and even eyelashes, the cool touch particularly clear. Wang Churan looked at her reflection clearly in his eyes. Although her heart was full of happiness and sweetness, a bittersweet feeling welled up inside her, and she even had an urge to cry.

There's a popular online discussion about whether it's better to find a boyfriend who will stand in the rain with you, or a boyfriend who will hold an umbrella for you.
Everyone has their own arguments and reasoning.

Everyone has their own thoughts and answers.

She is no exception.

But she doesn't need to dwell on this issue too much.

The reason is also very simple.

Shen Juan could both stand with her in the rain and hold an umbrella for her.

Although he didn't keep 100% of his feelings to himself.

But he had already become her one hundred percent.

So I stopped thinking about it.

The girl, choosing to follow her heart, tiptoed, raised her hand, gently hooked her arm around his neck, and kissed his lips.

Shen Juan held Wang Chuan tightly around the waist, pressing her close to him, deepening the tender and lingering kiss in the snowy night.

The streetlights cast long shadows of them, and snowflakes fell silently on them, but could not mask the sweetness in the air.

During the long, deep kiss, Wang Churan quietly opened her eyes and looked at her boyfriend who was so close to her. His cheeks, eyelashes, and hair were covered with fine snowflakes, and his even, warm breath brushed against her face. Every feature of his face was clearly defined by the streetlights and the falling snow, and his gentleness was so tender that it softened her heart.

Although after tonight, he will return to his former glamorous superstar status and become everyone's Shen Juan.

But at least for this moment.
He belongs to me completely.

So I am very happy and content.

(End of this chapter)