Chapter 254 The Finish Line (Part Two)

The atmosphere during the rest of the meal inexplicably eased considerably.

Xie Chi stopped bringing up those topics that implied control and instead asked her about some details of the guild's new project.

Although he wasn't an expert in the live streaming industry, he had a keen business sense, and the few points he occasionally made were quite inspiring to Ji Wanqing.

As I left the restaurant, the night breeze was slightly cool.

Xie Chi naturally draped his suit jacket over Ji Wanqing's shoulders, his movements still carrying his characteristic persistence. Ji Wanqing felt that the clothes, warmed by his body heat, were especially comforting.

He walked her to her doorstep.

This time, he did not make any further moves, but simply looked at her.

"Get some rest," he said.

"You too." Ji Wanqing nodded, took off her coat, and handed it back to him.

She turned and went into the house, leaning against the door, Ji Wanqing let out a soft sigh.

She knew that Xie Chi's world was still complicated and dangerous, and that his love might be tinged with boundless obsession.

But at this moment, she was willing to believe that in that deep darkness, there might truly exist a glimmer of light shining just for her.

The flight to Paris passed in tranquility.

In first class, Ji Wanqing finished the last bit of work, closed her laptop, and rubbed her slightly sore eyes.

Looking to the side, Xie Chi wasn't resting. He was looking down at a paper document, his profile softened slightly under the light.

He seemed to notice her gaze, turned his head, and looked at her questioningly.

"Are you done with your work?" he asked in a low voice.

"Hmm." Ji Wanqing nodded. "What are you looking at?"

"The auction catalog." He handed her the catalog. "There are a few items in the collection that you'll likely like."

Ji Wanqing took it and started flipping through it.

The booklet is beautifully made, and the jewelry and antiques inside are truly dazzling.

She noticed that Xie Chi had made subtle markings next to several pieces of jewelry with unique designs.

One of the sapphire brooches, designed with a star and moon motif, was understated yet exquisite, and she glanced at it a few more times.

"You like this?" Xie Chi's voice rang out again. He had moved closer without anyone noticing, and his finger pointed to the picture on the brooch.

His approach brought a slight sense of pressure, and Ji Wanqing's heart beat slightly faster, but she remained calm on the surface. "The design is very special."

Xie Chi didn't say anything more, but simply withdrew his hand, leaned back in his seat, and closed his eyes, as if he had just asked casually.

The plane landed in Paris in the evening.

Xie Chi's itinerary was not tight; in fact, it could be described as leisurely.

Instead of taking her to the auction preview immediately, he first went to a restaurant on the banks of the Seine for dinner, and then they took a walk along the riverbank.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the ancient buildings of Paris in gold, and a gentle breeze carried the coolness of early autumn and a romantic atmosphere.

Xie Chi didn't say much; he simply walked beside her, maintaining a just-right distance.

Unlike when he was in China, he no longer exuded an invisible sense of control; now, he was more like a silent companion.

“You’re not quite what I imagined,” Ji Wanqing said suddenly, looking at the shimmering river.

"Oh?" Xie Chi glanced at her sideways. "How is it different?"

“Not so… aggressive.” Ji Wanqing carefully chose her words. “Here, I feel a bit more relaxed.”

Xie Chi remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the silhouette of Notre Dame Cathedral in the distance, his voice somewhat unsteady.

Nobody here knows me.

There were no past events or gazes that he needed to be constantly vigilant against.

These words conveyed an indescribable loneliness, causing Ji Wanqing's heart to clench slightly.

She suddenly realized that his usual domineering and controlling nature might also be a heavy burden.

The following afternoon, they went to the private auction.

The venue was an old private residence, with only a few guests, but each one of them had an extraordinary air about them.

Xie Chi's appearance caused a slight commotion, but he merely nodded slightly and led Ji Wanqing to sit down in an inconspicuous spot with an excellent view.

The auction proceeded smoothly without any major incidents.

When the star and moon sapphire brooch was presented on the display stand, Ji Wanqing's gaze was involuntarily drawn to it.

Under the lights, the sapphire is as deep as the night sky, and the moon and stars set with diamonds shine brightly.

The auction began, and the price rose steadily.

Ji Wanqing didn't pay attention until she realized that Xie Chi hadn't raised his paddle even once, while the price had already climbed to an astonishing figure.

Ultimately, the brooch was won by an elderly man who looked like a European nobleman.

Ji Wanqing felt a little disappointed, but she didn't show it.

After the auction, the person in charge of the organizer came over in person, spoke a few words to Xie Chi in hushed tones, and then respectfully handed him a small and exquisite velvet box.

Xie Chi took it, didn't even look at it, and casually put it into the inner pocket of his suit.

Ji Wanqing was a little puzzled, but she didn't ask any further questions.

That evening, Xie Chi took her to the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower.

Paris at night is as dazzling as a galaxy, and the evening breeze rustles her long hair and skirt.

Standing by the railing, overlooking this dreamlike city, Ji Wanqing felt an unprecedented sense of openness in her heart.

She turned her head, wanting to say something to Xie Chi, but saw him quietly looking at her, his eyes as deep as a whirlpool under the city's neon lights.

"Close your eyes," he suddenly said, his voice deep and carrying a magical quality.

Ji Wanqing was slightly taken aback. Looking at the focused darkness in his eyes, she closed her eyes as if possessed.

She could feel his breath approaching, feel his cool fingers gently brushing aside the strands of hair on the side of her neck, and then she felt a pair of hands gently placed on the left shoulder of her dress.

It was the sapphire brooch with stars and moon that she had glanced at a few times in the auction catalog that day.

He... he actually managed to get it?

Ji Wanqing suddenly opened her eyes, looked down in disbelief at the brooch on her shoulder that shimmered with a deep blue light in the night, the star and moon pattern fitting perfectly, as if it had always belonged there.

“You…” She looked up and met Xie Chi’s unfathomable eyes, where something that had been suppressed for a long time seemed to be breaking through the ice.

“The owner of the auction house owes me a favor,” he explained in a low voice, his tone flat, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

But his gaze was fixed on her, scrutinizing her with an almost greedy intensity, observing every subtle expression on her face.

Do you like it?

This is not an inquiry, but more like a confirmation.

Confirm whether his gift suits his tastes.

To confirm his thoughts and whether he has responded.

Ji Wanqing's heart pounded wildly in her chest, and a surge of heat rushed to her limbs and bones.

She looked at the man in front of her, who, in his most habitual and almost domineering way, firmly remembered her unintentional preferences and quietly satisfied them.

This clumsy yet profound dedication is more impactful than any romantic confession.

Instead of answering whether she liked it or not, she took a step forward, closing the distance between them, and softly asked under the dazzling Parisian night sky and in the whistling wind.

"Xie Chi, what you've done for me, bringing me here, giving me gifts... is this what I think it means?"

He reached out, not to hold her hand, but to cup her face in his hands, his fingertips trembling slightly, yet his strength was so great that she couldn't break free.

His forehead pressed against hers, their breaths mingling, their body heat passing through her cool skin.

"Yes," he said, his voice hoarse, carrying a resolute air of desperation. "That's exactly what I mean."

He gazed into her eyes, speaking each word clearly and slowly, as if trying to etch every word into her soul.

"Ji Wanqing, I want you by my side, only by my side."