He wants to adopt a younger sister, but his aloof wife disagrees.

In early spring, Jianghai International Airport is shrouded in a damp mist carried by the cold wind. As one of Asia's busiest aviation hubs, its business jet terminal witnesses the daily flow of money and power.

At eight o'clock in the morning, a sleek black Mercedes-Benz G63 pulled up at the VIP entrance. The door opened, and the first thing to emerge was a leg clad in sky-high heels and encased in the latest BV woven boots.

Chu Ran removed her sunglasses, her exquisitely lined almond-shaped eyes scanning her surroundings, a satisfied smile curving her lips. She had come meticulously prepared for this trip to Paris. Not only did she bring six enormous Louis Vuitton trunks, but she also wore a haute couture trench coat she had just snagged from the runway—a highly deconstructed garment, full of asymmetrical cuts and exaggerated shoulder pads. While it made her look like Batman ready to take flight at any moment, in the eyes of fashion insiders, it was all about "attitude."

"Ranran! Over here!"

Shen Qingge's voice came from not far away.

Chu Ran turned her head, and her originally arrogant expression froze for a moment when she saw the scene not far away.

Shen Qingge, Jiang Che, and Su Xiaoruan were seen getting out of a black Rolls-Royce Phantom. Compared to Chu Ran's exaggerated "I'm going to fight" look, the three of them were dressed in a very relaxed manner.

Shen Qingge wore a minimalist off-white cashmere coat with a matching knitted long dress underneath. Apart from the subtly visible blue diamond necklace around her neck, there was no eye-catching logo on her entire outfit, yet she exuded a sophisticated "old-money" vibe.

Su Xiaoruan, on the other hand, was dressed in a youthful outfit of a hoodie and jeans, carrying a backpack and holding an unfinished jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe), looking exactly like a high school student going on a spring outing.

As for Jiang Che...

Chu Ran narrowed her eyes and looked the man up and down.

He wore a dark gray double-breasted overcoat, a black turtleneck sweater underneath, crisp trousers, and gleaming Chelsea boots. There were no extra accessories; even his hair was casually styled. But for some reason, the way he stood there, his upright posture and composed demeanor, somehow made this ordinary outfit look like that of a runway headliner.

"Tsk, a country bumpkin coming to the city."

Chu Ran snorted inwardly, strode forward, and put on a fake, enthusiastic smile: "Darling, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for ages."

She deliberately ignored Jiang Che, directly taking Shen Qingge's arm and pointing to the pile of suitcases behind her: "Look, I've brought all my savings this time. Paris Fashion Week is the world's most prestigious fashion event, and every outfit has to be perfect. Qingge, I don't see you brought much luggage? Don't come to me to borrow clothes if you don't have enough to wear later."

Shen Qingge patted her hand with a smile: "Don't worry, Jiang Che has prepared everything for me. Besides, we're going to see a show, not walk the runway, so being comfortable is the most important thing."

"Comfortable?" Chu Ran exclaimed dramatically, her disdain almost overflowing. "In the fashion world, 'comfortable' is synonymous with 'tacky'! Fashion is about being poised, about being restrained, about making people's eyes light up!"

As she spoke, she turned to look at Jiang Che, her tone laced with sarcasm: "Mr. Jiang, I heard this is your first time going abroad? And to Paris? Have you got your passport ready? Don't get stopped because of visa issues, that would be embarrassing."

Jiang Che was helping Su Xiaoruan with her schoolbag when he heard this. He just smiled faintly, took out three dark red passports and a black card from his pocket, and handed them to the ground staff next to him.

"No need for Miss Chu to trouble yourself. Such a minor matter as the visa has already been handled by the American Express Centurion Black Card's personal concierge. Also…"

Jiang Che pointed to the streamlined, white behemoth on the tarmac not far away—a Gulfstream G650ER private jet:

"Considering that long-haul flights are too tiring, I'm not used to flying first class. So, I arranged this plane at the last minute. If Ms. Chu has too much luggage, I don't mind helping you check some of it in."

Chu Ran's smile froze on her face again.

Gulfstream G650ER?!

This is a top-of-the-line private jet worth four or five hundred million RMB! And judging from Jiang Che's tone, it was "temporarily transferred"?

She originally wanted to use her gold card membership to take them into the VIP lounge and show off her superiority, but they just flew their private jet right in front of her!

"Cough cough... Mr. Jiang is truly... a man of great hidden talent." Chu Ran gritted her teeth and managed to squeeze out a sentence.

"Not at all, it's just to make my wife more comfortable, so I have to spend this little bit of money." Jiang Che took Shen Qingge's hand and smiled gently. "Let's go, board the plane. The chef on board has already prepared breakfast."

……

Ten thousand meters above the clouds.

The cabin of the Gulfstream G650ER is as spacious as a luxury living room. There are leather sofas, wool carpets, and even a small bar.

Su Xiaoruan was like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, excitedly touching and looking around everywhere, and finally leaning against the window to take pictures of the clouds.

Chu Ran sat on the sofa, holding a glass of champagne, feeling extremely depressed. Her planned "airport humiliation battle" had failed before it even began, making her feel a great sense of urgency about her upcoming trip.

No, I have to get my revenge in my professional field!

At that moment, a blonde, blue-eyed French flight attendant approached, smiling, and asked, "Madame, que désirez-vous boire? (Madam, what would you like to drink?)"

Chu Ran's eyes lit up. The opportunity had arrived!

She studied in Paris for five years, and although her design skills were often criticized for being "too craftsman-like," French was her forte. She was convinced that Jiang Che, this "country bumpkin" who hadn't even finished university, definitely wouldn't understand her.

Chu Ran elegantly swirled her wine glass and said in extremely fast French with a heavy Parisian accent, "S'il vous plaît, donnez-moi un verre d'eau minérale, mais pas glacée. Et aussi, ce champagne est un peu trop chaud, faites attentionà la température. (Please give me a glass of mineral water, not iced. Also, this champagne is a bit too hot, please be mindful of the temperature.)"

After saying that, she raised an eyebrow triumphantly, looked at Jiang Che sitting opposite her, and deliberately asked in Chinese, "Mr. Jiang, do you understand? Do you want me to translate for you? In Paris, you can't get by without French, you know."

The flight attendant frowned slightly, looking somewhat embarrassed. Chu Ran spoke too quickly, and with a strange, arrogant tone, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Just then, Jiang Che put down the magazine in his hand.

He looked up at the flight attendant, nodded slightly, and spoke.

"Excusez-moi, mademoiselle." (Excuse me, miss.)

Authentic French.

It wasn't the stiff, textbook-style pronunciation, nor was it Chu Ran's deliberately affected accent. Instead, it was a deep, elegant, and mellow accent, as if it came from the 19th-century French court (Old French aristocracy accent).

Every syllable's enunciation, every vibration of the uvular consonant, is flawlessly perfect.

"My friend said the champagne wasn't chilled enough. If possible, please get us a bottle of Salon 2002? I believe it's stored in the back cabinet. Ah, and for water, a glass of room-temperature Evian for her, please."

The flight attendant's eyes lit up instantly, and her face showed a look of surprise and even admiration: "Monsieur, votre français est magnifique! C'est commeécouter de la poésie!" (Sir, your French is so beautiful! It's like listening to poetry!)

"Merci." Jiang Che smiled politely.

The flight attendant blushed and ran to get the wine.

The cabin was deathly silent.

Chu Ran nearly dropped the cup in her hand. Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at Jiang Che as if she had seen a ghost.

How...how is this possible?!

This tone, this choice of words—even she, who had studied in France for five years, felt inferior! This is not something an ordinary person can learn; it takes years of immersion in French high society to cultivate such an ability!

"You...you speak French?" Chu Ran stammered.

"I know a little."

Jiang Che accepted the premium salon champagne offered by the flight attendant, poured a glass for Shen Qingge, and said calmly, "I casually learned it when I was bored before. Looks like it's still usable."

"Just learned it casually?!" Chu Ran felt as if she had been shot in the chest.

Can someone just casually learn to speak with such an aristocratic air? Did she spend those five years in France learning to bray like a donkey?!

Seeing her best friend's embarrassed expression, Shen Qingge suppressed a laugh, her admiration for her husband reaching unprecedented levels. She leaned close to Jiang Che's ear and whispered, "Honey, how many more surprises do you have up your sleeve that I don't know about?"

Jiang Che took a sip of champagne, his eyes deep: "It's a secret. I'll reveal it to you slowly."

……

After a ten-hour flight, the plane landed at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.

A light drizzle was falling in Paris at that moment. Under the grey-blue sky, the ancient city exuded a unique atmosphere of romance and decadence.

Chu Ran was utterly devastated on the plane, and her face remained gloomy after disembarking. Only when she boarded the stretch Lincoln sent by the LVMH Group to pick her up did her expression soften slightly.

"Hmph, what's so great about speaking a few words of French?" Chu Ran comforted herself. "In the fashion industry, it's all about the work! I don't believe an outsider like you can understand design!"

The car drove along the Champs-Élysées and finally stopped in front of an old Haussmann-style building in the Marais district.

This is Chu Ran's private studio, which is also the "Greater China Design Center" created for her by the LVMH Group.

"arrive."

Chu Ran pushed open the car door, pointed to the art-filled building in front of her, and finally regained her confidence:

"Qingge, tomorrow night's opening red carpet is the highlight of the entire Fashion Week. The global media will be watching closely. As the president of the Shen Group, your look absolutely cannot be sloppy."

"I spent the past month in seclusion designing a 'battle robe' that was specially prepared for you."

Chu Ran led everyone into the studio. Inside, people were coming and going; dozens of models were trying on outfits, and the air was filled with the smells of hairspray and fabric. Upon seeing Chu Ran enter, everyone stopped what they were doing and respectfully greeted her, "Director Chu."

This feeling of being the center of attention greatly satisfied Chu Ran's vanity.

She led everyone to the core exhibition area on the second floor.

"Clang clang clang!"

Chu Ran abruptly pulled back the enormous velvet curtain, her face beaming with pride: "This is the design I created for you—[Queen of the Night]!"

Under the spotlight, a mannequin was wearing an extremely "stunning" dress.

This dress... how to describe it?

It used a lot of black leather and metal chains, and the cut was extremely fragmented, as if it had been blasted by explosives. The skirt was made of layers of stacked stiff tulle, like a giant garbage bag, while the upper body was made of several sharp metal pieces pieced together, looking like a set of torture instruments.

The entire room fell silent.

Clutching her schoolbag, Su Xiaoruan stared wide-eyed for a long time before timidly asking, "Sister Chu Ran... is this outfit... for going to war? Or did you just come back from the junkyard?"

"Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand!" Chu Ran glared at her, then turned to Shen Qingge, her eyes burning with fervor: "Qingge, you don't understand, this is the most popular 'deconstructionism' and 'punk wasteland style' in Paris right now! It symbolizes women's awakening, breaking free from traditional constraints, and is full of power!"

"If you wear this, you'll be the most eye-catching person on the red carpet! Those flashy, frivolous women in fairy-tale dresses can't compare to you!"

Shen Qingge looked at the "battle robe" that seemed to be covered in thorns, and her lips twitched twice.

Although she didn't understand deconstructionism, her aesthetic sense told her—this thing was really ugly. Moreover, with that stiff leather and metal, she probably couldn't even walk properly wearing it.

"Um... Ranran," Shen Qingge tried to politely decline, "Isn't this style a bit too... avant-garde? After all, I'm representing the Shen Group; shouldn't I dress a little more conservatively?"

"Elegant? That's something only old ladies strive for!" Chu Ran exclaimed anxiously. "Qingge, believe me! My designs have won awards in Paris! This is art! Do you understand art?"

She turned to look at Jiang Che, who had remained silent, her eyes defiant: "Mr. Jiang, aren't you very knowledgeable? Tell me, what do you think of this outfit?"

She was certain Jiang Che wouldn't understand. Only true "insiders" would lavish praise on such avant-garde designs.

Jiang Che put his hands in his pockets and slowly walked to the "Dark Queen" dress.

He reached out and gently touched the stiff leather, then flicked the metal chains.

"Art?"

Jiang Che chuckled softly, turned around, and looked at Chu Ran. His eyes held no mockery, only a detached indifference that seemed to see through everything.

"Miss Chu, do you seem to have some misunderstanding about 'deconstruction'?"

"The core of so-called deconstructionism lies in breaking down the structure and reconstructing the texture, but the premise is that it must be a piece of clothing and serve people."

"Your piece piles up too many elements. The heaviness of the leather overwhelms the lightness of the yarn, and the sharpness of the metal disrupts the lines of the human body."

Jiang Che pointed to the model's waist:

"The cut here is completely against ergonomics. If Qingge wore it, this metal plate would constantly rub against her ribs when she walked. Her skin would become red and swollen in less than ten minutes."

"And this skirt hem."

Jiang Che shook his head: "In pursuit of the so-called 'wasteland style,' you used this cheap, stiff fabric. Under a flash, it won't have any texture; it'll just look like a lump of burnt plastic."

"This isn't design, this is—performance art. And it's the kind of low-grade performance art that sacrifices aesthetics just to grab attention."

Jiang Che's voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight in the quiet studio.

The assistant designers around him broke out in a cold sweat. They had actually discussed the issues Jiang Che raised in private, but none of them dared to mention them to Chu Ran.

"You...you're talking nonsense!"

Chu Ran's sore spot was touched, her face flushed red, and her voice became shrill:

"What do you know about ergonomics or fabrics? You're just a cook! This is haute couture! Haute couture is about sacrificing comfort for visual impact!"

"If you're so good, then you do it! If you're so capable, design one yourself!"

Chu Ran pointed at a pile of fabric beside her and roared hysterically, "Aren't you so good at talking? Come on! There are only 24 hours left until the red carpet! If you can make one better than mine, I, Chu Ran, will quit the fashion industry and change the name of this studio to yours!"

Shen Qingge frowned, just about to speak up to smooth things over.

"it is good."

Jiang Che nodded, agreeing readily.

He took off his coat and handed it to Shen Qingge, then rolled up his shirt sleeves to reveal his muscular forearms.

"Since Miss Chu wants to leave the fashion industry, then I will grant your wish."

"However, there's no need to change the name."

Jiang Che walked up to the pile of fabrics, his eyes sweeping over the top-quality silks, laces, and velvets.

【Ding! 】

[A challenge has been detected facing the host.]

[God-level design talent activated.]

[Top-tier tailoring skills are now available.]

[Current Task: Design a gown with an "Oriental charm" that will stun Paris.]

Countless design drawings and cutting techniques flooded Jiang Che's mind instantly. It felt as if he had been immersed in this industry for fifty years.

He picked up a pair of scissors.

"Click."

The first cut was swift and fluid.

Chu Ran stood to the side with her arms crossed, sneering repeatedly, "Pretending. I'd like to see if you can even piece together a flower from these rags!"

However, as time went by, the cold smile on Chu Ran's face gradually disappeared.

Instead, there was shock, disbelief, and finally, deep fear.

Jiang Che did not draw any blueprints or make any patterns.

He simply performed draping directly on the mannequin.

His hands seemed to have magic.

A piece of deep, dark blue velvet fabric, as dark as the night sky, flowed smoothly through his hands like water. He didn't use any complicated metal or leather, but instead utilized the fabric's natural drape, employing a bias cut to outline an extremely elegant yet taut curve on the mannequin.

It's a variation of the cheongsam, yet it incorporates the flowing elegance of a Greek goddess's dress.

He picked up a pair of silver pins and quickly secured the pleats. The placement of each pleat was meticulous, not only perfectly avoiding any physical flaws but also amplifying the woman's S-curve to its fullest extent.

The most amazing part is the back.

He hand-embroidered a piece of semi-transparent black lace onto the openwork of the velvet. The pattern on the lace was, surprisingly, a faintly visible... phoenix.

Three hours later.

Jiang Che put down the scissors.

At this moment, the only sound in the studio was breathing.

Everyone, including Chu Ran, stared blankly at the newly made dress, still adorned with beads.

It stood there quietly, without any extravagant decorations, yet exuding a breathtaking nobility and mystery. It resembled both Eastern ink painting and Western oil painting.

If Chu Ran's outfit was meant to attract attention through its bizarre design, then it was the "Dark Queen" outfit.

Jiang Che's item is the true one—a "deity" that rules over all things.

"This...you made this?" Shen Qingge covered her mouth, unable to hide the amazement in her eyes.

Jiang Che wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked up to Shen Qingge, and looked at her with tenderness:

"Honey, go give it a try."

"This is the battle robe that truly suits you."

He turned and glanced at Chu Ran, whose face was ashen, and said indifferently:

"Miss Chu, fashion is more than just being unconventional."

"True fashion is about making women shine, not making clothes shine."

"Now, who do you think should leave the fashion industry?"

Chu Ran swayed and slumped onto the sofa. Looking at the exquisitely crafted dress, she knew that this time... she had lost completely.

This is no gigolo.

This guy is clearly a top-notch design master whose talent was wasted on cooking!