Chapter 384: A New Idea

Chapter 384: Chapter 384: A New Idea

Irene was not clear about Angelina Jolie’s plans.

On the actual day of the Milan Fashion Week, Sophia had to leave the hotel early in the morning to head to the venue for work.

Irene enjoyed a rare moment of solitude, leisurely having afternoon tea at the hotel’s terrace restaurant.

With exquisite tiramisu, fresh fruit tarts, and a rich latte, the sunlight filtering through the terrace awning warmed her, making her feel cozy and temporarily forgetting the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.

At five in the afternoon, with one hour left before the Gucci show began, Irene unhurriedly returned to her room to apply a simple and appropriate makeup look.

She chose a black silk shirt paired with high-waisted wide-leg trousers, topped with a sharply tailored white blazer, which fit the fashionable atmosphere of Milan Fashion Week while maintaining her own style.

Stepping out of the hotel, the area outside was already packed with reporters and fans.

Flashes went off one after another, and reporters held up microphones and cameras, trying hard to spot celebrities in the crowd.

As soon as Irene reached the street corner, a few entertainment reporters from the United States recognized her and shouted her name.

"Irene! Irene Coppola! Can you talk about your expectations for this Milan Fashion Week?"

"Do you have any new movie plans coming up?"

Irene did not stop; she simply turned back to give the reporters a polite smile before calmly walking toward the venue.

In such settings, maintaining a proper distance and a sense of mystery was more likely to attract media attention.

Entering the Gucci exhibition hall, the place was already buzzing with noise.

In the spacious area, rows of white seats were arranged, and the runway stretched from one end of the hall to the other, with the lights on both sides adjusted to emit a soft, bright glow.

Staff members in uniform moved through the crowd, guiding guests to their seats.

As soon as Irene entered, she was immediately recognized by a staff member in a black suit.

"Ms. Coppola, welcome!" The staff member greeted her enthusiastically. "Your seat has been reserved for you. Please, follow me."

Following the staff member through the crowd, Irene was led to the heart of the venue, to a seat in the front row near the center of the runway.

This spot offered an excellent view, allowing one to clearly see every movement of the models and the details of the clothing; it was a seat that countless fashion editors and celebrities dreamed of.

After Irene sat down, she could not help but look around.

She had only seen the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show before, and unlike the lively atmosphere of the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the venue for Milan Fashion Week was more refined and understated.

The most obvious difference was that the seats here were much closer to the runway—one could almost touch the passing models—providing a fully immersive experience.

Ten minutes later, Sophia finally arrived in a hurry and sat in the empty seat next to Irene.

Just as she caught her breath, Irene leaned in impatiently and whispered gossiping, "Sister, look quickly, is that Anna Wintour?"

Looking in the direction Irene indicated, she saw a woman wearing an exquisite suit and sunglasses sitting in a seat diagonally opposite them—it was Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of the American edition of Vogue and a legendary figure in the fashion world.

She sat there with an upright posture, her expression calm yet imposing, and those around her were unconsciously drawn in by her aura.

"Yes, that is her." Sophia nodded and said calmly, "When I was a fashion editor at ELLE, I had some interactions with her. She is a very professional and strict person who pursues fashion to the extreme; her influence in the fashion circle is unmatched."

Irene’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"I have heard her legendary stories for a long time; I did not expect to see her in person here. She really has such a strong aura."

After chatting a bit about Anna Wintour, Irene suddenly looked at Sophia and said, "Sister, what do you think about making a movie based on your experience as a fashion editor? I think this subject would be really interesting."

Sophia was stunned, clearly not expecting her sister to suddenly bring up such an idea, and said with some surprise, "Film my experience? Why would you suddenly want to film this? Besides, would the audience be interested in stories about the fashion world? What angle would you want to take?"

"I have already thought of the angle!" Irene said excitedly. "We could spotlight an intern. For example, a girl who is not that into the fashion world, or even somewhat rejects it, who graduated from Yale with a degree in literature or journalism, and who stumbled into an interview at Vogue just to find a stable job."

"And the editor-in-chief of Vogue might, because she saw the girl’s prestigious university background and her ’fearless’ attitude, hire her as her assistant against the rules. Afterward, the girl would experience various challenges and growth in the high-pressure, fast-paced fashion world, gradually transforming from an ignorant intern into a professional, confident career woman."

"This story could showcase the glamour of the fashion world while also revealing the unknown hardships and pressures behind it. It could also explore themes like career growth and female independence, which would definitely resonate with many in the audience. Plus, since you have personal experience, you could provide me with many realistic details and inspiration."

Sophia followed Irene’s gaze to look at Anna Wintour sitting opposite them, then turned to look at her sister who was brimming with enthusiasm, feeling a bit moved.

She did indeed have many memories and insights about the fashion world; perhaps this was truly a subject worth exploring.

"Your idea is indeed very creative and feasible." Sophia said with a smile. "You can write down the story outline and the first draft of the script first, and when we return to Los Angeles, we can discuss it in detail."

"Got it!" Irene happily agreed.

In this way, she had officially brought this new idea to light in front of Sophia.

Just then, a familiar Eastern face caught Irene’s eye.

Zhang Ziyi was wearing a red velvet gown and, guided by staff, was walking toward the area where they were sitting, with her seat not far from Irene’s.

Zhang Ziyi had clearly seen Irene in the crowd as well.

Before even sitting down, she specifically came over and greeted Irene with a smile.

"Irene, I really did not expect to meet you here! Long time no see."

"Zhang Ziyi, hello!" Irene also stood up with a smile and shook her hand. "It is my first time seeing you at a private event like this; you look really beautiful today."

This was the first time Irene had met Zhang Ziyi in a non-work setting.

Zhang Ziyi’s development in Hollywood was currently very difficult.

Although she had successfully opened up the US market and gained a certain amount of attention thanks to Rush Hour 2, it was much harder for an Eastern face to truly gain a firm foothold in Hollywood and obtain mainstream resources and core roles compared to actors of other skin tones.

Hollywood’s stereotypes, language barriers, and cultural differences were all chasms lying before her.

This was something that even Irene, who held vast resources, was powerless to change.

"Thank you, you too." Zhang Ziyi said with a smile. "I have always admired your talent; you have achieved such high accomplishments at such a young age. I have watched every one of your movies; they are very brilliant."

"You flatter me; I still have a lot to learn." Irene said modestly. "I also greatly admire your persistence and effort in Hollywood. I hope we can have the opportunity to collaborate in the future."

"That would be great; I am very much looking forward to it." A hint of anticipation flashed in Zhang Ziyi’s eyes.

The two chatted briefly for a few more sentences, and then Zhang Ziyi returned to her seat.