The flight from the Capital to Paris Charles de Gaulle was a twelve-hour journey into the unknown. In 1995, an international flight was the ultimate status symbol. Li Hua sat in the plush, oversized first-class seat, her 58kg frame feeling perfectly at home in the luxury. The System had provided her with a 'Jet-Lag Immunity' passive buff, but the tension in her chest was something no system could cure.
[Ding! New Environment: International Airspace (Transition Zone).]
[Mission: The High-Altitude Face-Slap. Goal: Defeat the 'Parisian Snob' and secure a priority invitation to the Louvre Gala. Reward: -1kg (Muscle Toning), 'French Language' Mastery (Level 1), 10,000 Points.]
Beside her, Ye Feng was already working on a laptop—a bulky, high-end machine that was the height of technology for the era. He looked like the definition of a modern tycoon, his glasses reflecting the lines of code and spreadsheets.
"You're staring again," he murmured, not looking up from the screen.
"I'm just admiring the view," Li Hua replied, her voice melodic.
"The view outside the window or the view in the seat next to you?" Ye Feng finally looked at her, his eyes softening behind the silver frames.
Before she could answer, a sharp, nasal voice cut through the hum of the aircraft.
"Excuse me, but is this the flight to Paris or a meeting of the 'Provincial Rich'?"
Li Hua turned. Standing in the aisle was a woman who looked like she had been dipped in gold and arrogance. She was Camille, a mid-level buyer for a French boutique chain, and she was currently glaring at Li Hua's charcoal-grey suit as if it were a contagious disease.
"I didn't realize first-class was now accepting 'textile factory exports'," Camille continued in accented English, looking at Li Hua's elegant but non-European design. "Do you even know what a croissant is, or are you still looking for your steamed bread?"
[System Skill: 'Intuition' Active.]
[Enemy Intent: Camille is feeling insecure about her own failing boutique chain. She is trying to humiliate you to regain a sense of superiority in front of Ye Feng.]
Li Hua stood up slowly, her movements like a predator. At 58kg, she was lithe and commanding. She didn't look like a "provincial girl"; she looked like the future.
"Madam," Li Hua began, her voice calm and perfectly articulated. "I am well aware of what a croissant is. I am also aware that your shoes are last season's Italian knock-offs, and your 'French' perfume is actually a mass-market synthetic from the suburban labs."
Camille turned a blotchy shade of red. "How dare you! Do you have any idea who I am?"
"I know that you are a buyer whose current inventory is sitting in a warehouse in Marseille because no one wants the stiff, dated styles you're pushing," Li Hua stepped closer, her 'Vogue Vision' scanning Camille's outfit. "And I know that if you don't find a new 'National Innovation' to fill your racks, your boutique will be a bakery by next spring."
Li Hua reached into her 'Spatial Storage' and pulled out a small, scented swatch of her 'Imperial Phoenix' fabric. She held it out. "Smell this. This is 'Li-Steel'. It's the reason I'm going to Paris. It's also the reason you're going to spend the rest of this flight wondering how a 'provincial girl' just made your entire career look like a joke."
Camille leaned in, her curiosity overcoming her pride. As the scent of jasmine, sandalwood, and cold steel hit her, her eyes widened. It was unlike anything in the French market—sophisticated, durable, and undeniably luxurious.
"This... where is this from?" Camille whispered, her arrogance vanishing into professional greed.
"It's from my factory," Li Hua said, sitting back down and opening her own laptop. "If you want to talk business, find me at the Louvre Gala. Assuming, of course, you're important enough to have an invitation."
[Ding! Mission Success! Camille is humbled!]
[Rewards Issued: -1kg (Weight: 57kg!), 'French Language' Mastery (Level 1)!]
[Reputation: Parisian Contact Acquired.]
Ye Feng closed his laptop, a rare, genuine laugh breaking from his lips. "You haven't even landed yet, and you've already turned a rival into a potential client. You're terrifying, Li Hua."
"I told you, Ye Feng," she said, looking out the window as the first lights of the European coast appeared. "I'm not here to see the Eiffel Tower. I'm here to own the street it stands on."
As the plane began its descent, Li Hua felt the 'French Language' skill settle into her mind. She could hear the flight attendants speaking, and suddenly, it wasn't just noise it was a weapon she could use.
Paris was waiting. And the Phoenix was ready to land.
The night air in Paris was different from the coal-smoke heavy atmosphere of the Capital. It was crisp, carrying the scent of rain, fresh bread, and old stone. After checking into the Hôtel de Crillon—a palace of gold leaf and silk—Li Hua stepped out onto the cobblestone streets.
At 57kg, she was a masterpiece of human engineering and System rewards. She wore a tailored black trench coat cinched tight at the waist, with a silk scarf of her own "Imperial Phoenix" design knotted loosely around her neck. Her 'French Language' Mastery allowed the snippets of conversation around her to resolve into clear meaning.
"It's beautiful," Li Hua whispered, looking up at the amber glow of the streetlamps reflecting off the Seine.
"It's a museum," Ye Feng said, walking beside her. He had traded his business suit for a dark cashmere sweater and trousers, looking like a relaxed European aristocrat. "But you aren't here to look at the past, are you?"
[Ding! Side Mission: The Parisian Inspiration.]
[Goal: Find the 'Soul' of your Paris Collection. Reward: 'Master of Textiles' Level 4, +2000 Points, -0.5kg.]
They walked across the Pont Alexandre III, the most ornate bridge in the city. The gold-plated statues of winged horses shimmered under the moon.
"Look at them," Li Hua pointed to a group of young Parisians sitting by the river, drinking wine and wearing oversized, distressed leather jackets mixed with delicate lace. "In China, we are still obsessed with 'perfection' and 'newness'. But here, they find beauty in the contrast—the old and the broken mixed with the high-end."
[System Skill: 'Vogue Vision' Level 4 Activated!]
[Insight: The 'Grunge-Chic' movement of the mid-90s. Recommendation: Incorporate 'Deconstructed' elements into the Li-Steel collection.]
Ye Feng watched her, his gaze never leaving her face. The way she analyzed the world, even while on a romantic walk, was what fascinated him. "Most women would be asking me to buy them diamonds at Place Vendôme right now. You're analyzing the hemline of a street urchin."
Li Hua laughed, the sound bright in the quiet night. "Diamonds are just carbon, Ye Feng. But a trend? A trend is power. If I can capture this 'deconstructed' vibe using my bamboo-steel fabric, I won't just be a Chinese designer in Paris. I'll be the one defining what Paris looks like next year."
They stopped near a small flower stall that was closing for the night. The scent of damp roses hit Li Hua's 'Perfume Alchemy' senses.
"Li Hua," Ye Feng said, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. He took her hand, his fingers interlacing with hers. "After Fashion Week... I have to return to the Capital to deal with the Song Group's remaining assets. But I want you to stay. I've bought a small atelier near the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. It's in your name."
Li Hua froze. A studio in the heart of the world's fashion district? "Ye Feng, that's... that's millions of Francs."
"It's an investment," he said, stepping into her personal space. The moonlight caught the sharp line of his jaw. "But more than that, it's a promise. I don't want you to be a shooting star that flashes once in Paris and disappears. I want you to be the sun."
[Ding! Ye Feng's Favorability: 98% (Unbreakable Bond).]
Li Hua looked into his eyes and saw the depth of his belief in her. In her past life, she had begged for crumbs of affection. In this life, a king was offering her a throne. She reached up, her hand resting on the back of his neck, and pulled him down for a kiss that tasted of the cold Parisian night and the heat of their shared future.
[Ding! Mission Success: The Soul of Paris Found!]
[Rewards Issued: 'Master of Textiles' Level 4, -0.5kg (Current Weight: 56.5kg).]
As they walked back toward the hotel, Li Hua's mind was already racing. She saw the "Deconstructed Phoenix"—a collection that would use the strength of her fabric to create raw, unfinished edges that would never fray. It was a contradiction. It was a revolution.
Suddenly, her 'Intuition' skill flared red.
A black car with tinted windows was idling too close to their hotel entrance. As they approached, the window rolled down just an inch. Li Hua caught a glimpse of a familiar face Young Master Song's sister, Song Meili.
"She's here," Li Hua whispered to Ye Feng, her body tensing.
"Who?"
"The shadow of the Capital. It seems the Song family isn't ready to let me have Paris without a fight."