Laila carefully placed the gown and accessories back into the box and said, "You mentioned this is your first time in Hollywood?"
"Yep. I've heard there are a lot of interesting places around here. Laila, you've got to show me around," Li Zhimou replied, sipping the tea Demi had just served him. The authentic Biluochun was so good that it made him close his eyes in bliss. He had to admit, this foreign film director really knew how to enjoy life.
"Of course, that's a must," Laila replied with a bright smile. Then she made a phone call to summon Xiao Ye upstairs. When it came to knowing the ins and outs of this place, there was no one she trusted more.
And that mouth of his—he could talk a skeleton into growing flesh. Plus, he was an Easterner with quite a bit of fame in Hollywood. There were plenty of places off-limits to ordinary people that he could easily get into. With him playing tour guide, their guest was guaranteed a great time.
Xiao Ye arrived quickly after getting the call. As soon as he found out he was to take the young master from the East around town, he happily agreed without a second thought. Free food, free drinks, free entertainment—what a dream job!
"Let's roll, bro!" The ever-sociable Xiao Ye immediately hit it off with the equally friendly Li Zhimou. After just a couple of sentences, the two already had their arms around each other's shoulders, chatting like old friends.
"The boss made the right call sending me to show you around! Not to brag, but stick with me and you'll be walking sideways through Hollywood in no time. You like any girl you see, I'll be your red string of fate!"
Li Zhimou waved his hands quickly. "Forget the girls. If my old man finds out, he'll skin me alive."
The group left the office amid laughter and chatter.
After they left, Laila's gaze lingered on the box for a long while.
The reason she wanted this gown and its accessories was tied to her movie's box office performance. She wasn't interested in hyping up her wedding, but she had no problem promoting her wedding dress—especially a high-end, custom-made piece from the East.
She'd always had a deep appreciation for this ancient craft, even in her past life. Now, the world was paying attention to this gown because of her wedding. It was the perfect opportunity to make a bigger splash.
The movie's box office had already approached 2.9 billion, but its staying power at the theaters was clearly waning. Based on her own calculations and predictions from industry insiders, $2.95 billion was likely the absolute peak. Only a miracle would push it further. Otherwise, the declining momentum would cause the revenue to stall just short of that mark.
Even so, that was still far higher than earlier projections. But the film had been out for several months—it really didn't have much gas left in the tank.
Many media outlets were already expressing regret on her behalf. Laila herself felt even more unwilling to let go. That's why she had called Xuanji Embroidery House and urged them to finish the gown as quickly as possible—so she could make one final push before it all ended.
Whether she could boost the box office further depended entirely on whether this plan would succeed.
The plan was simple: stir up a buzz about this exquisite, jewel-like Eastern gown.
Westerners had always found the East mysterious. Many were deeply fascinated by Eastern culture—its women, its clothing, its traditions. Everything about it could captivate them.
And the East truly had a rich heritage. Pulling out just one aspect was enough to make foreigners gasp in awe.
Laila's gown was undeniably rare and stunning. It would naturally draw in anyone even mildly interested in Eastern culture. And beautiful things always attracted attention—even if people didn't understand their cultural significance, it didn't stop them from appreciating them.
This publicity stunt had two goals: one was to tie the gown to the movie, generating one last surge at the box office; the other was to use the opportunity to promote the magical world of Eastern embroidery.
Laila wasn't entirely sure just how many embroidery styles existed in the East. She only knew the four famous schools: Suzhou Embroidery, Hunan Embroidery, Sichuan Embroidery, and Guangdong Embroidery. Her gown featured Suzhou Embroidery, with auspicious birds and beasts that looked as if they could leap off the fabric at any moment.
French embroidery was also quite renowned. Janet often incorporated ornate French embroidery into her designs. In fact, many haute couture brands used it extensively—it was a favorite among high-end clients.
Eastern embroidery emphasized smoothness and uniformity, while French embroidery focused on texture and three-dimensionality. Eastern embroidery was more intricate and delicate, while French embroidery used a wider variety of materials, incorporating beads, ribbons, sequins, and gems.
Indian embroidery was also fairly well-known, though it carried stronger ethnic traits—such as religious motifs and a love for gold.
What Laila regretted most was that, despite its longer history and greater variety, Eastern embroidery hadn't been preserved or promoted as well in modern times.
She believed the root cause was that embroidery hadn't yet tapped into its full commercial potential. If it could generate more profit, more people would invest in it, and the craft could truly flourish.
If this publicity push succeeded, not only could her film get a boost, but embroidery itself might hitch a ride on the momentum and attract global attention.
She didn't dare claim that one campaign could make embroidery go viral, nor was she arrogant enough to believe she could accomplish something others had failed to do with just her own strength. But it was undeniable that her current status gave her a significant advantage. She could stand on a higher platform and help embroidery gain exposure among elite circles, so people wouldn't immediately think of only French embroidery when haute couture was mentioned.
So, a few days later, Laila posted a set of four photos on her Facebook account. The moment the photos went live, the media and viewers alike went wild.
"Oh my god! What did I just see?"
"This is absolutely stunning!"
"Is this an Eastern dress? How can it be this beautiful?!"
In just a short time, Laila's account had gathered thousands of comments, with new ones pouring in by the minute.
And the reason was simple—the four photos were of her wearing the Eastern-style wedding gown created by Xuanji Embroidery House.
Laila had always been a talented photographer. In the past, major brands had hired her specifically to shoot their products. Only when her schedule became too full did she gradually stop taking on photography gigs. This time, she designed the layout and composition herself, selected four favorites from dozens of shots, and posted them only after meticulous retouching.
So it wasn't hard to imagine just how refined and breathtaking these four photos were.
A bright red dress, embroidery so lifelike it seemed to breathe, and accessories rich with Eastern charm—every detail in the images was flawless.
Eastern clothing was, of course, best suited for Eastern people. What worked in Laila's favor was her black hair inherited from her grandmother, and her own understanding of Eastern culture. That's why the photos didn't look like a child awkwardly trying on an adult's clothes—they felt natural and harmonious.