The ashtray sailed through the air and shattered against the office wall.
…
…
It was not the first time Song Yu visited Paris—she had traveled there twice, back when the Song family saw better days.
At the time, she was still far too young to truly appreciate the City of Love’s true magnificence.
Setting foot in Paris at her current age allowed her to see the city through a whole new lens. Everything seemed new and exciting, as though it was her first time visiting the city.
The city of Paris was full of green-roofed ancient buildings, and the road consisted of time-worn lattice stones. All-in-all, they probably had about a few hundred years’ worth of rich history between them.
On a pavement unfit for high heels, women wore flats as they strolled about with a cigarette between their fingers. An indescribable yet graceful nonchalance characterized their appearance.
The branch company sent over a car to pick them up. Song Yu immersed herself in the scenery while seated inside the car.
They were first dropped off at the hotel, after which Qi Chengzhi went by himself to the company.
Qi Chengzhi’s birthday was coming soon—it fell right on one of the days where they were still in Paris. Song Yu realized that fact only after she had agreed to go with him.
She took out her cellphone and checked the calendar; his birthday was only two days away.
Seizing Qi Chengzhi’s absence, she sorted out their belongings and went to the front desk.
At about half-past five in the evening, Song Yu was heading back to the hotel in a taxi when Qi Chengzhi called, “I’m done. Coming back to pick you up.”
“Everything’s settled?”
“Not yet. The rest will be continued tomorrow.” Qi Chengzhi sensed something odd in her voice. “Where are you?”
“It was a bit boring to be alone, so I went out and looked around,” Song Yu explained as she savored the scenery outside. She saw beauty in every single one of Paris’ buildings, and it seemed to her that each one had their own story to tell.
When the taxi stopped at a red light, Song Yu’s eyes caught sight of an apartment wall that bore the sculpture of a woman. The woman was half-naked from the waist up. Though it was a stone sculpture, there was tremendous attention to detail in the long dress that covered her from the waist down; its intricacies and details were akin to the wing of a cicada, while its realism was truly unparalleled. A slender and full-bodied leg emerged from the folds of the dress.
Naked though the sculpture was, there was nothing inherently sexual about it. On the contrary, it was a genuine embodiment of artistic intention.
Song Yu was mesmerized by the appearance of a dazzling sculpture on such an unassuming building.
“Public security isn’t very good in Paris. If you want to go around tomorrow, wait till I’m back. I’ll get things done as quickly as possible and come back early. If you’re really bored, just take a walk around the hotel, don’t wander far,” Qi Chengzhi pleaded her worriedly.
“Okay.”
Qi Chengzhi was already waiting at the hotel lobby by the time Song Yu arrived.
He was facing the entrance throughout the period he stood there. Europeans were generally tall, but he was no less inferior to them when he stood up straight.
Qi Chengzhi rushed over the instant he saw her. “Why didn’t you tell me you went out?”
“I didn’t go too far, don’t worry.” Song Yu hugged his arm.
“Is there anything you want to get from the room? If there isn’t, we can leave here immediately.” Qi Chengzhi stroked her hair.
“Nope. Let’s go.”
“I actually wanted to bring you to a Michelin star restaurant, and before we left the country, I even told the company in Paris to help us book ahead. Still, it was already fully booked even though they enquired half-a-month in advance.” Qi Chengzhi held her hand and interlinked his fingers with hers. “And that’s because my decision to come here was pretty last-minute. If we were just a few months earlier, we’ll surely be able to book a table.”
“It’s okay. I saw plenty of roadside restaurants when I was out just now. They all look so exquisite. A few small, round tables were placed near the door, and it felt like a really casual and cozy place, especially when I see people seated around it. Just looking at it makes me want to try it out.”
Thus, the two of them took a walk without any destination in mind and chose a restaurant at random. At that time, Paris was warm and not too windy, resulting in a great many people having their meals while seated outside. There was an air of sophistication to just sit there and admire the beautiful scenery against the backdrop of aesthetic architecture.
Song Yu, therefore, chose to sit outside, and they ordered two steaks. As they waited to be served, they saw a few locals either having beer or sipping on champagne. All were chatting softly amongst themselves, and the whole atmosphere just seemed so unrushed and easy-going.
Even though most of the tables were occupied, the environment remained subdued and not at all raucous.
The speed of service, however, was markedly different from back in their country. Everything moved at an incredibly slow pace, with their steaks arriving after close to an hour’s wait.
It was a simple meal: steak topped with a salad of some vegetables and spices that Song Yu was unfamiliar with, as well as a side of thick French fries.
The beauty of its presentation was not reflected in its taste. When Song Yu began eating, she could not help but comment, “Is it because back home they improved the way they cook Western food, or is Western food in the West really that terrible? It’s so charred and so tough. Even though its medium-well, the meat is just so hard to chew on.”
QI Chengzhi took a bite and nodded. “It really doesn’t taste as nice as the ones back home.”
In the end, Song Yu did not manage to fill her belly up too much. They took a stroll and passed by a narrow street, with restaurants and bars lined up on both sides. A silver-haired waiter waved and them and called out, ” Bonjour 1 , au revoir!”
Song Yu giggled out of amusement because he said ‘good morning’ at night.
Since they had yet to satiate their hunger, they bought a doner kebab, which was different from the ones they had back at home. In France, doner kebabs were wrapped in a thin flatbread, with fillings that include fresh vegetables and French fries in addition to the barbecued meat, which was all drizzled in salad dressing and ketchup. It was a large portion.
Qi Chengzhi requested for two plastic forks, and they took turns eating that one kebab.
They returned to the car after that, and the driver brought them to a place where they could watch the Eiffel Tower’s light show.
When the time came, lights were twinkling on full display on the tower. Its diamond-like resplendence enchanted Song Yu.
Qi Chengzhi’s gaze shifted away from the tower and onto Song Yu’s mesmerized face. He planted a gentle kiss on the corner of her lips.
Song Yu turned her head since her attention could no longer be focused on the tower. She admired how intensified Qi Chengzhi’s facial features were in the night, and her hands unknowingly moved over to cup his face.
His face was indistinct in the dark of the night, so she traced her hands slowly all over the stern creases that were present. The more she looked, the more in love she became.
The love she had for him came from within the depths of her heart. She felt it in her bones, and it was so strong that it was impossible for her to extricate herself from it.
If she were to remove it from herself, part of her soul would be removed too.
She tiptoed and kissed his lips slowly.
In her heart, she thought, ‘Oh, how I adore this man… How I adore him so dearly…’
“Qi Chengzhi, I don’t know if I can ever love you less. Being with you for so long makes me love you more and more. My heart aches because of how much I love you, and I hate that the only way I can stop aching for you is if I cut my heart open.” She looked up at him with her blushing-red face.
He looked at her profoundly, his eyes filled with an abundance of warmth. His voice was hoarse when he said, “Keep on loving me more and more. I won’t let you down.”
…
…
On the third day, Qi Chengzhi came out of the company at four in the evening. He made use of that day as well as the two days prior to get everything settled. He wanted to spend the remaining two days exploring the city with Song Yu.
The branch company’s driver picked Qi Chengzhi up, but as Qi Chengzhi looked out the window, he noticed that they were not heading back to the hotel.
The driver said, “Miss Song’s instructions. She’s already waiting for you at the restaurant.
Qi Chengzhi initially wanted to call Song Yu and ask what was going on, but he decided against it and placed his phone away.
He recalled how Song Yu was acting a bit odd the day before. Unease crept into his mind while he was in the company, so he phoned the hotel room. When no one picked up, he tried Song Yu’s cell. It was then that he learned she went out by herself again, and when he asked her where exactly she was, she simply dodged his question.
She was being so secretive that he had no idea what she was up to.
He arrived at the restaurant after nearly an hour in the car.
Qi Chengzhi went down and saw Song Yu standing at the entrance. She was wearing a knee-length gown and a jacket, with her long hair draping over her back and shoulders.
Her beautiful monochrome eyes lit up the instant she laid eyes on him and she flashed him a loving smile.
At that moment, it was as though the only person she could see was him.
Qi Chengzhi paused momentarily because he found himself unable to look away from her eyes. They were filled with utter devotion and loyalty.
‘ From the north comes a ravishing maiden whose beauty stands alone. 2 ‘
That was the first thing that popped into his mind, and immediately after, he saw Song Yu extend a hand toward him.
Qi Chengzhi smiled, for Song Yu’s small gestures were always full of surprises.
If any other woman were to take her place, they would probably be standing there motionless, waiting sheepishly for the man to walk over and escort them.
Song Yu was different—she was the one who offered her hand, wanting to escort him out of her own volition.
Qi Chengzhi sauntered over and extended his hand, which she promptly took, and both of them then went into the restaurant.
With five more minutes to go before the clock struck five, it was still considered early, and there were not too many people there in the restaurant. Only two of the tables were occupied, and even then, they were chatting over wine instead of having a meal.
The couple took their seats and were greeted by a waiter, who lowered his head and whispered something into Song Yu’s ear.
Whispering was an act that required proximity under normal circumstances; such closeness was involuntary and unavoidable, and neither Song Yu nor the waiter read too much into it.
Qi Chengzhi however, was not too pleased that the waiter’s lips were so close to Song Yu’s ear.
He had no idea what the waiter was saying to Song Yu. She turned to look at the time, nodded, then told Qi Chengzhi, “I’ll be back in a moment.”
Then, she disappeared shadily with the waiter before Qi Chengzhi could nod or respond.
He was acutely aware of every single one of Song Yu’s movements. He looked at the clock too but did not sense anything amiss.
As he was trying to contain his temper during the wait, a man dressed in a tuxedo appeared playing a melodious tune on the violin.
The first few measures of the piece were familiar to Qi Chengzhi’s ears, but he was unable to point out what song it was. Perhaps he had heard it before in passing and did not pay much attention to it.
However, Song Yu walked out soon after.
The violinist stepped aside and let Song Yu walk in front of him.
Qi Chengzhi stared at her even though there were a couple of tables separating them.
Her nervousness was apparent since she took a couple of deep breaths before looking up at him. Her shyness had gotten the better of her and she was blushing severely.
“I love you, not only because of your beauty…”
Song Yu’s gentle voice escaped her lips, causing Qi Chengzhi to be so stupefied that he froze like a stone with his eyes fixed on her.
“I love you more and more…
“Every look in your eye touches my heart…
“Because you’ve let me see forever…
“I now understand myself…”
She was singing softly without using a microphone.
Her eyes never shifted away from Qi Chengzhi as she sang; all of her concentration was poured out warmly for him.
With small steps, she advanced forward, with the violinist following close behind her.
The soothing sound of the violin was a perfect complement to her voice.
Even the guests on the other two tables stopped talking and looked at Song Yu.
“All these future days must be treasured…
“Loving me, there will be some pain and unfairness…
“If you really love me…
“It is not an easy decision…”
Some new guests came in, but they seemed to notice that everyone was staring at her, so a few stood at the door because they did not want to interrupt.
Others slowed their steps and looked at her as they went to take their seats.
A waiter came forth and showed them the way, going so far as to gesture to them to avoid disturbing Song Yu.
“I can feel your breath next to my ear, like a deep, gentle breeze…”
“You soothe my unease so gently…
“So, I want to study your smile every day…
“Ohhh, this feels so natural…
” Forever Love, Forever Love 3 …
“I just want to spend my lifetime loving you…
“From now onward, you’ll be the reason for my happiness…
“Love is the most beautiful and longest journey…
“Along the way, rain and mud…
“Might sometimes stop us from going forward…
“I can feel your body heat in my chest…
“Like the warmth of sunshine…
“You magically melt my uneasiness…
“It’s unbelievable, and this is proof of my reasons for loving you…”
Qi Chengzhi’s heart began beating so wildly that it could explode at any time. His breathing became more stifled too. All his eyes could see was Song Yu standing in front of him, singing a love song, in the presence of all those other people around.
He noticed how red she already was, and even though she was incredibly embarrassed, she still sang to him under the watchful gaze of countless eyes.
Song Yu looked at him with an equally warm gaze.
“In this verse of the Wang Leehom song, the author seemed to have made an error with the lyrics. The original lyrics should have read, “Your emotional eyes, my silent voice…”. Whether it was intentional or otherwise, we are retaining what the author wrote and adding a clarification for readers. Your silent voice, my emotional eyes… 4
“It seems to be the greatest evidence…
“So, let me say once more…
“I love you~~
“Forever…”
As she dropped her last note, the violin gracefully produced its final note too. The entire restaurant stood up in applause.
The violinist bowed slightly and chuckled before saying something in French. He then gave the two of them some space.
Song Yu was still nervous when she quietly wished him, “Happy birthday.”
She looked at the clock. “It’s three minutes past five, which means that its precisely three minutes past midnight on the seventeenth back home.”
Qi Chengzhi lowered his gaze at Song Yu’s already flushed face, and his heart was filled with intense emotion.
He placed his hands gently on Song Yu’s waist and pulled her into his embrace, after which he bent down and kissed her on her bright red cheeks.
Eventually, the two of them sat down because they were afraid of disturbing the other guests.
Fortunately, the tables were not too big and they were able to sit especially close to each other, even if they were sitting on opposite sides of the table.
“You remembered my birthday?” Qi Chengzhi’s voice was hoarse, and the way he looked at Song Yu was as though his dominance was going to take her right then and there.
“Didn’t you tell me to remember it when I helped you create your WeChat password?” she asked. Ever since then, she made a mental note of it.
Qi Chengzhi’s hands were on the table, clinging to hers and fiddling with her fingers.
Her words made him so happy that his eyes looked like they were smiling.
“So, this was what you were up to the past two days?” No wonder she was always out.
“Mm. I asked the hotel front desk if there were any good restaurants around. Then I searched one by one until I found one that was not fully booked. At first, they did not agree to my request because they were afraid I would disturb the guests, but the French are just so romantic. When they listened to me explain that this was my boyfriend’s birthday, and the first time we celebrated your birthday together, they said yes immediately. They also didn’t mind too much because I wanted this specific time, and they told me that it wasn’t peak hours so there weren’t too many guests.”
“Thank you.” He massaged her hands and planted a kiss on her fingers, one after the other. “This is the best birthday I’ve ever celebrated.”
Above her bright red cheeks, her eyes lit up instantly. “Really? I’m glad you like it. Before this, I kept thinking of what would be the best birthday present for you. It needs to be really special.”
“I’m happy as long as you’re with me on my birthday.” He kneaded her delicate fingertips gently.
Earlier on, he thought that she had forgotten his birthday. Although she did ask Chang Lai about it, the main reason he thought she forgot was that she initially rejected his proposal to bring her along on his business trip.
Regardless, she did not want to spend his birthday alone out of the country.
Past birthdays usually coincided with him requiring to entertain his clients, so he never had an opportunity to actually celebrate his birthday.
It was either that or having dinner with clients. If, on the off-chance that nothing was going on, he would spend it alone, and no matter how free he was, he was never one to go all sentimental to celebrate such an occasion.
Things had changed since then, and he desperately wanted to spend it with Song Yu. If she was not beside him, a surge of never-before-experienced loneliness would come haunting him.
Thus, he was very insistent that Some Yu went with him.
Even if she forgot his birthday, he would not go to great lengths to remind her. The only thing he wanted was for her to be beside him.
Besides, he had already made up his mind on the perfect present for himself.
Qi Chengzhi’s fingers interlaced with Song Yu’s. He gripped her tight, and his fingertips were touching the back of her hand. “Come closer.”
Song Yu thought that there was something he wanted to tell her, so she leaned forward. Since the table was a bit narrow, she only needed to lean slightly for her to reach the center of the table. She could practically move forward to Qi Chengzhi’s side if she wanted to.
Qi Chengzhi pulled her hand lightly and placed his other hand onto the back of her head. He leaned forward ever so slightly and kissed her on the lips.
Song Yu quivered and began gripping his hand much harder than she had done so moments earlier.
Her grip was so tight that her fingertips could feel the bony structures of his hand.
She felt his tongue caressing hers with force, tickling her somewhat.
Unable to bear the ticklishness anymore, Song Yu let out a couple of moans and initiated further tongue action with him. Despite the added intensity, he upped the ante and kissed her with more vigor.
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