Entertainment mogul: Starting his business with the internet

Chapter 409 Socialites and Noble Ladies
As night fell and the city lights came on, the grand celebration of Chanel's centennial brand officially began.

Chanel's haute couture gowns are considered the pinnacle of fashion craftsmanship and innovation.

As one of the few luxury brands that insists on making everything by hand, every step, from sewing and beading to embroidery, is meticulously completed in their Paris workshops.

The unique color scheme and decorative art perfectly interpret the true meaning of luxury and freedom.

As the music began, supermodels dressed in Chanel haute couture gowns walked the runway one by one, showcasing the essence of the brand's century-old heritage and modern aesthetics.

Invited media members snapped photos, capturing every iconic moment. The models' dynamic and captivating figures drew waves of applause and exclamations from the audience.

Besides the glamorous models on the runway, the socialites and international stars in the front row also attracted much attention and became the focus of reporters' cameras.

On the left side of the runway, three Asian faces in the first row attracted the attention of many reporters, who frequently pointed their cameras at the three, flashing their cameras and snapping away.

Not only reporters, but also members of Girls' Generation watching the show from the back row on the right side of the runway noticed the three people sitting opposite them through the gaps in the crowd.

Seohyun, the youngest member of the group, gently nudged Yoona next to her and exclaimed in surprise.

"Unnie, look! Aren't those Lee Boo-jin, the representative of Shilla Duty Free, and Ms. Lim Se-ryung from Daesang Group next to Liu Shishi?"

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and immediately recognized the two heiresses of South Korean chaebols: Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of the Samsung Group, and her former sister-in-law, Lim Se-ryung. The two were considered among the top socialites in South Korean high society.

Yoona nodded, her surprise barely concealed: "I didn't expect Representative Lee to be here too."

As a designer and fashion investor, Lim Se-ryung frequently appears at various fashion events, so it's not surprising to see her here. Lee Boo-jin, on the other hand, rarely attends such occasions.

Han Ga-in and Lee Ji-eun, standing to the side, looked at the two outstanding heiresses with envy in their eyes.

Xu Xian tilted her head playfully, carefully examining the three Asian women opposite her, and exclaimed, "Liu Shishi's temperament is absolutely amazing!"

Sitting next to Representative Li and Ms. Lin, her presence and charm were in no way inferior, and her youthful beauty surpassed theirs by more than a fraction.

After examining it carefully, everyone nodded in agreement.

Lee Boo-jin wore a classic black suit paired with a pearl necklace, exuding competence and elegance; Lim Se-ryung wore an elegant blue dress, looking gentle and charming.

While both women possessed exceptional grace and poise, their presence and appearance paled in comparison to Liu Shishi when they appeared together.

Tonight, Liu Shishi tied her hair up neatly, and wore a beige silk dress that exuded oriental charm.

The dress is made of a soft material with a warm luster, like moonlight flowing, which makes her skin look even more radiant and translucent, conveying a sense of understated luxury.

The high-neck ribbon design fits snugly around the neck, outlining a beautiful line, while the ribbon draped on one side flows freely and gracefully.

The dress hugs the curves of the figure without being too tight, showcasing a flowing, rhythmic beauty. It is paired with a wide gold bracelet and a matching ring on the wrist, and delicate gold earrings on the ears.

Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, she shimmered with subtle light, exuding a profound and understated Eastern charm. Her every gesture revealed an elegant and composed air of nobility, effortlessly making her the center of attention.

Han Jiaren's gaze was intense: "Their demeanor is something they have cultivated over the years by being in high positions and living a life of luxury."

In the Korean entertainment industry, she is considered to have married very well and is the envy of many female stars, but compared to the three opposite her, she is far behind.

Although female celebrities are beautiful and have graceful figures, their composure and elegance are far inferior to those of chaebol heiresses and wealthy ladies.

While several Korean actresses were marveling at the dresses on the models' gowns, Lim Se-ryung across from them stared intently at them, occasionally offering her comments.

Seeing that her former sister-in-law remained silent, she chuckled and teased, "Fu-jin, it's not appropriate for you to have a cold face in this kind of situation."

Lee Boo-jin smiled helplessly. She was naturally quiet and didn't like participating in such lively occasions.

The main purpose of my trip to Paris was to promote the cooperation between Shilla Hotel and luxury brands such as LV and Chanel for duty-free counters, not to participate in fashion events. I was dragged here tonight entirely by Lim Se-ryung.

Lin Shiling naturally understood her friend's thoughts: "When you get to Paris, don't just think about work. There are also endless business opportunities here."

Although Lee Boo-jin is a woman, she is shrewd and capable, in no way inferior to men.

Upon hearing her friend's words, she thoughtfully replied, "I heard that Chanel only serves about 200 regular clients, who must all have very high social status and strong economic power."

“That’s right!” Lin Shiling smiled and nodded. “For example, the two people to your left are both very wealthy. Getting to know them would be very beneficial for opening up the Chinese and European markets.”

Upon hearing this, Lee Boo-jin subconsciously turned her head to look at the young woman on her left.

The other person seemed to notice her gaze and turned their face to the side.

Upon meeting the other person's gaze, Lee Boo-jin quickly said, "Hello."

The other person didn't seem to understand Korean, and simply smiled and nodded in response.
Then, Lee Boo-jin leaned closer to Lim Se-ryung and whispered in her ear, "Se-ryung, who is she? She looks somewhat familiar."

As a fashion designer who has been in the fashion industry for many years, Lim Se-ryung was obviously aware of the identities of the two women beside Lee Boo-jin, and introduced them with a smile:

"She is Liu Shishi, the wife of Asia's richest man. The woman to her left is Delphine Arnault, the eldest daughter of Bernard Arnault, the founder of the LV Group and Europe's richest man."

Lee Boo-jin was astonished, never expecting that the two women were so influential, being the richest women in their respective continents. Even though the national conditions of each country are different, they are both very important figures.

Lin Shiling gently patted her friend's hand: "So, don't underestimate Chanel's fashion shows. Ordinary people are simply not qualified to be their customers."

Since inheriting Samsung is hopeless for you, why not focus on starting your own business? Liu Shishi and Delphine could both be your business partners.

Lin Shiling's casual remark unexpectedly ignited Li Fuzhen's entrepreneurial spirit.

Samsung Group has always passed down its leadership to sons, and it's a foregone conclusion that her brother, Lee Jae-yong, will take over the company in the future. If she continues to stay in the group, she will only be an eyesore.

It would be better to step outside Samsung and seek new opportunities elsewhere. With the Li family's resources to support her, her starting point for starting a business is far higher than that of ordinary people, and she may very well be able to achieve great things.

With this thought in mind, Lee Boo-jin took a deep breath and greeted Liu Shishi beside her in English: "Hello, Liu Shishi, I am Lee Boo-jin from Samsung Group of South Korea."

The following day, at 7:00 AM Paris time, which corresponds to 1:00 PM Beijing time.

After lunch, Song Ci returned to her office. Taking advantage of the rare free time at lunchtime, she habitually browsed Weibo online.

Two trending topics immediately catch the eye: "1. Liu Shishi at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week" and "2. Two classic photos of Liu Shishi".

Seeing his wife's name trending again, Song Ci smiled slightly and curiously clicked on the link to see why she was on the list this time.

As the only Asian actress invited by both Dior and Gucci to attend this year's Paris Fashion Week, Liu Shishi naturally became the focus of media attention. Two photos of her attending Chanel's centennial show last night, in particular, went viral.

In one of the photos, Liu Shishi is pictured with Dior CEO Delphine, Chanel CEO Alain Wiedmore, and Armani founder Giorgio Armani, three giants of the high-end luxury brands.

Another photo captures the iconic moment when Liu Shishi was watching the show from the audience, posing alongside four other ladies: Delphine, Lim Se-ryung, and Lee Boo-jin.

Initially, many netizens did not recognize the people in the two photos, but knowledgeable people quickly provided answers.

As the identities of the people in the photos were revealed, the related topics instantly went viral online:

"Such an authoritative face. Liu Shishi's static aura is amazing, relaxed, natural, elegant and composed."

"Three heiresses of tycoons and one socialite. It seems that in addition to being born into a good family, marrying well can also change one's fate. No wonder female celebrities all want to marry into wealthy families."

"My sister is very popular with foreign high-end luxury brands. Even Giorgio Armani looks at her with great admiration."

"Four top socialites stood side by side, each displaying their own unique charm, but it seems that Liu Shishi is the most stunning."

. . .

While browsing online comments, Song Ci received a video call invitation from his wife.

After the call connected, Liu Shishi's unmade-up face appeared on the phone screen. "Good morning, husband."

Looking at his wife, who was nestled in bed with a languid expression, Song Ci smiled gently and asked, "Aren't you up yet?"

"Hmm, just woke up!" Liu Shishi yawned, stretched, and then got up and leaned against the headboard, her silk nightgown outlining her exquisite curves.

"Was this fashion show fun?"

"At first, I found it quite novel, and those unique costumes were indeed ingenious, but after seeing them many times, I didn't feel anything special about them anymore."

By the way, honey, yesterday Mr. Armani raved about you, saying that many of his design inspirations come from you, and that you are the epitome of elegance in a suit.

With a smile playing on her lips, Liu Shishi spoke with undisguised pride when mentioning the praise that fashion legend Giorgio Armani had given her husband.

"It's a pity you're not a celebrity and don't do endorsements, otherwise the old man would definitely ask you to be Armani's global ambassador. He also said that when you go to Europe, he wants to treat you to a meal and personally design a few suits for you."

Song Ci smiled and replied, "Please thank him for his kindness. I have good news for you, I'm going to Paris tomorrow."

A look of surprise flashed in Liu Shishi's eyes: "Really? Honey, you're coming to Paris?"

"Yes, I have some work to take care of." Song Ci nodded slightly, her expression gradually becoming serious.

Some time ago, Universal Music formally launched its acquisition of EMI Records with a bid of $41 billion, but the acquisition process was forced to stop due to EU antitrust regulations. Henri Pinault specifically invited him to Paris to discuss the matter.

Liu Shishi was in high spirits and looked on with anticipation: "Yiyi, if we have enough time, we can take a set of wedding photos in Paris."

Song Ci agreed without hesitation: "Okay."

"There's something else. I met Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of the Samsung Group, at the fashion show yesterday. She originally wanted to visit you in Beiping, and it seems she has some interest in cooperation! Since you're coming to Paris tomorrow, would you like to meet her?"

Liu Shishi solemnly stated that after a thorough investigation, she now understood the status of the Samsung Group in South Korea, as it was a super conglomerate whose revenue accounted for 15% of the total national economy of South Korea.

“Lee Boo-jin!” Song Ci murmured the name softly, lost in thought.

Previously, when Tenda Weibo was expanding into overseas markets, it was suppressed by Twitter in Japan and South Korea.

The group's senior management plans to seek a strong local partner, and Lee Boo-jin seems to be the right candidate from South Korea.

"It would be good to meet him. Tengda needs a strong ally in South Korea right now." Song Ci sighed softly, noting that geopolitical issues are always a crucial factor that cannot be ignored.

"Okay, I'll answer her for you."

On the afternoon of July 3rd, French time, Lee Boo-jin, the eldest daughter of the Samsung Group, and Lim Se-ryung, the daughter of the Daesang Group, hosted a lavish banquet for the couple, Song Ci poet Liu Shishi and her husband, at the Place de la Athena in Arquin Ducasse, Paris.

The upscale and elegant private dining room is dimly lit.

Although everyone tacitly avoided discussing serious matters, and Liu Shishi tried her best to find topics to lighten the mood, the atmosphere still felt subtly somber.

On the one hand, Song Ci and Lee Boo-jin and Lim Se-ryung really didn't have much in common.

On the other hand, Song Ci's powerful presence made the two women appear somewhat reserved in front of Asia's richest man, much like they were facing their father and former father-in-law, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

Having no intention of continuing the awkward conversation, Song Ci went straight to the point: "Miss Fu Zhen, I heard from Shi Shi that you are planning to cooperate with me. May I ask what kind of business it is?"

Lee Boo-jin was momentarily speechless. After all, she had only conceived this idea the night before last, and she had no idea that Song Ci would arrive in Paris today. She hadn't had time to refine the details of the cooperation yet.

Seeing that the other party was still undecided, Song Ci chuckled: "Miss Fu Zhen, are you familiar with Weibo?"

Lee Boo-jin nodded. As a business elite, she naturally knew that Weibo and Twitter were the world's two largest social media giants.

The former dominates the Chinese, Middle Eastern, and East Asian markets, while the latter firmly controls the North American and European markets. In other parts of the world, the two are engaged in fierce market competition.

"In order to further expand the market, I intend to find a partner for Weibo in South Korea to be responsible for Weibo's operation and development in the local area."

I would like to invite Ms. Boo Jin to serve as the president of Weibo's Korean branch. What do you think?

Lee Boo-jin was taken aback, not expecting Song Ci to be the first to extend an olive branch.

She was already very interested in the emerging internet industry, and curiously asked, "Mr. Song, how do you plan to cooperate?"

Song Ci had a comprehensive plan in mind and calmly presented the proposal: "Tengda Group and your company will jointly invest in the establishment of Weibo's Korean branch."

Tenda Group holds 51% of the shares and is responsible for providing technical support. Ms. Fu Zhen holds 49% of the shares and is fully responsible for daily operations and management.

In principle, the group does not interfere with the day-to-day operations of the Korean branch; you are responsible for making all the decisions.

"Sure!" Lee Boo-jin agreed without hesitation. The potential for Weibo's growth far surpasses that of the Shilla Hotel.

If she can replicate Weibo's success in China in South Korea, she will become South Korea's "social media queen" and firmly control the discourse of public opinion.

(End of this chapter)