Fatal Desire

Chapter 139 Treasure
"Okay."

Song Xi opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. Zhao Yansen leaned over and hooked his well-defined fingers around the seatbelt. With a soft 'click,' the seatbelt was securely fastened around her waist.

Song Xi picked up his sunglasses and played with them, a little curious: "Why are you driving yourself?"

“Driving yourself shows more sincerity,” Zhao Yansen replied casually.

Song Xi immediately turned her head: "What did you do to offend me that you need to make amends with sincerity?"

"Did I bully you in bed last night?" Zhao Yansen's lips curled into a slight smile, his voice seductive. "Does that count?"

Song Xi snorted and turned her face away, but he forcefully grabbed her chin and turned her back.

Zhao Yansen chuckled lightly: "You're not that old, but your temper has grown quite a bit."

"Is that not allowed?" Song Xi raised her chin arrogantly and asked matter-of-factly, "This is a princess's privilege."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yansen smiled and said, "Alright. What would the princess like to eat tonight?"

Song Xi paused for a moment, then thought for a moment and said, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let's have French food."

The car sped by, driving through the streets of Paris. Outside the window, the sunset painted the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral a rose gold color. Song Xi leaned against the windowsill for a moment, then turned to Zhao Yansen and said, "Brother, shall we go to the Pont des Arts to watch the sunset?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yansen responded and turned around smoothly.

He almost never refused her requests, except for the time he sent her abroad.

The orange sunset streamed into the carriage, warm and cozy. Song Xi gazed at the fleeting street scenes outside the window, a sense of tranquility settling over her.

The Pont des Arts is the most romantic bridge in Paris. At dusk, the lights of the Eiffel Tower illuminate the Seine, casting a shimmering golden glow. Many pedestrians gather in small groups, leaning against the railings to watch the boats pass under the arches.

As Song Xi walked on the bridge, she said to Zhao Yansen, "This bridge used to have 700,000 love locks."

Now, looking around, it's all empty. There are only couples, but no love locks.

"But the city government cut them all down later." She pouted and complained, "They didn't even say goodbye."

Zhao Yansen responded casually, grasped her wrist, and rubbed his fingertips against her delicate skin before sliding them down, his strong knuckles embedding themselves between her fingers.

Song Xi felt a tingling sensation in her fingers, as if a faint electric current was flowing through them. She lowered her eyes, and all she could see were the two people's intertwined fingers, tightly clasped together.

We've held hands before, but it feels different now. It's not as awkward anymore; there's more peace and tranquility.

After walking along the art bridge for a while, Song Xi turned around, her skirt tracing a delicate arc in the air, her eyes suddenly brightening:

"Give me five minutes."

She pulled her hand away from his, and a faint fragrance wafted from the ends of her hair.

Zhao Yansen leaned against the railing, his gaze following Song Xi's running figure.

She walked up to the cosmetics stall, her beautiful face beaming with a smile, and spoke fluently with the owner in French.

A moment later, Song Xi came running back carrying a large bouquet of roses. The arc of her skirt fluttering was like a mermaid's beautiful tail, light and bright.

Zhao Yansen watched her walk towards him intently, her radiant appearance exactly the same as before.

He held Song Xi's shoulders to steady her and prevent her from falling due to inertia.

Song Xi beamed and pointed to the gilded petal in the very center of the white rose, saying, "The boss said it was made from a gold coin melted down during the time of Napoleon III."

Zhao Yansen raised an eyebrow slightly: "So, you robbed them of the scraps they used to melt down jewelry?" "This is called artistic re-creation." Song Xi stood on tiptoe, pointing the petals at the sunset over the Notre Dame spire. "Look, doesn't it look like the sunset over Notre Dame?"

“More like you.” Zhao Yansen said with a lazy smile.

"Hmm?" Song Xi, holding a bright bouquet of flowers, looked up at him.

As the clock struck the hour, the lights of the Eiffel Tower came on, their dazzling light illuminating Song Xi's long, curled eyelashes. She leaned against the railing, her skirt billowing in the wind, her stray hairs shimmering golden in the setting sun.

Song Xi turned to look at Zhao Yansen, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "I'm very happy right now."

"How happy I am."

“Hmm,” Song Xi tilted her head and thought seriously for a moment, “It’s like I’ve obtained the most precious treasure in the world, I’m so happy.”

After watching the sunset from the railing for a while, as dusk deepened, they held hands and slowly walked along the riverbank.

As the cruise ship glided across the river, the ripples shimmered with the lights of the water. Her shadow danced beside him, like daylight scooped from the endless night, bright and radiant.

As the sun set, the tranquil afterglow silently painted Paris with romance and sentiment. After walking for a while, passing the Berthillon dessert shop, Zhao Yansen's mind drifted to the photo of Song Xi buying ice cream for Zuo Ci, and he stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" She tilted her head to look at him, her flying hair brushing against his shoulder.

"Go buy ice cream." Zhao Yansen handed her the euro banknotes and gestured to the dessert shop.

"How did you know I wanted to eat it?" Song Xi's eyes sparkled, her peach blossom eyes filled with childlike excitement.

Zhao Yansen said, "You always want to buy it when you pass by, but I won't buy it for you during your period, and you even make a fuss about it."

"That happened eight hundred years ago!" Song Xi said angrily, turning around with her brows puffed out. "You're always bringing up old grievances."

Before long, Song Xi came running back with two ice cream cones, the salted caramel and blood orange sorbet glistening enticingly in the twilight.

They sat on benches along the riverbank on St. Louis, watching boats glide across the lake, the shimmering water like a shattered mirror.

Song Xi took a bite of the salted caramel ice cream and smiled with satisfaction: "A hidden way to eat it is to pair it with a waffle cone. The crispy coating will amplify the aroma of the caramel."

"So knowledgeable?" Zhao Yansen glanced at her with dark eyes, his tone slightly teasing.

“Of course.” Song Xi swung her toes with a relaxed air, without any modesty, her tone even a little exaggerated, “The rich bitterness of caramel, the slight saltiness of Brittany sea salt, paired with the aroma of butter, is simply perfect.”

Zhao Yansen raised the corners of his lips: "What about my Blood Orange Sorbet?"

Song Xi leaned closer and took a bite from his hand, leaving a bit of orange sorbet on her lips: "Spanish blood orange, it's as creamy as mousse, and it's delicious too."

"Is that so?" Zhao Yansen's deep gaze fell on her lips, his voice slightly hoarse. "Let me try it."

Before Song Xi could finish speaking, he lowered his head and kissed her.

The sweet and sour taste of blood oranges melted on my lips and teeth, and the lights of the Eiffel Tower in the distance lit up again, startling a flock of white pigeons that were roosting comfortably.

In front of everyone, Song Xi's cheeks burned, and she hurriedly pushed him away, saying, "I was talking about eating ice cream, not me."

Zhao Yansen brushed his fingertip against the corner of her lips, his dark eyes filled with a lazy smile, and said in a serious tone, "More or less."

As night deepened, the city lit up with countless lights, like a flowing galaxy. The Eiffel Tower shone brilliantly, and the Seine rippled gently. Their shadows intertwined gracefully on the bench, more tender than the evening breeze.

The next chapter will be about returning to the capital!
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(End of this chapter)