Chapter 71
Su Rui's photography talent is gradually becoming prominent within the industry, and his unique sense of narrative and precise capture of human emotion have earned him widespread recognition. Then, an invitation to a Paris shoot landed quietly in his inbox. A popular Chinese artist's team had invited him to be their exclusive photographer for the upcoming French Fashion Week, capturing both on-set and backstage footage.
This was undoubtedly a golden opportunity to step onto a broader stage. Su Rui accepted the invitation without hesitation after confirming the work details. He busied himself with applying for a visa, preparing equipment, and researching his itinerary, his heart filled with anticipation and longing for this assignment.
Almost immediately, Ling Yao received an official invitation from a top luxury brand he endorsed, inviting him to attend a Fashion Week show as a brand ambassador and participate in related promotional activities. His schedule quickly filled up with airport photos, runway looks, and brand events...another intensive promotional event.
When the two accidentally mentioned their respective schedules during a late-night video call, they were both stunned.
"You're going to Paris, too?" Ling Yao's voice was filled with a hint of surprise and disbelief. "Yeah," Su Rui's eyes lit up, "I'm filming Teacher XX at Fashion Week." "Me too... for a brand event." Ling Yao tried to sound calm, but his slightly accelerated speech betrayed his excitement.
Paris, that distant, romantic city, suddenly ceased to be a cold coordinate on a map and became a meeting point filled with infinite possibilities. Although their itineraries were completely different, one watching the shows from the glamorous front desk, the other documenting them from the bustling backstage, the very possibility of being in the same city, perhaps even at the same show, was enough to make one's heart beat faster.
"Then..." Ling Yao hesitated for a moment and lowered his voice, "Then maybe... I can see you then?" "Yeah!" Su Rui nodded vigorously, her cheeks slightly flushed with excitement, "I will work hard! You... you should also participate in the activities well."
They all tacitly agreed not to delve into the specifics of the "meeting." They all knew the magnitude of the risk involved—Paris Fashion Week was the focal point of the global media and fashion circles, with countless cameras trained on every celebrity, and any slight movement could be magnified infinitely. Ling Yao's schedule would be strictly monitored, and Su Rui needed to focus on his filming.
But simply knowing they would be in the same city at the same time was enough to imbue this business trip with a secret, sweet anticipation. Those ordinary desires—strolling side by side, sharing a cup of coffee—that couldn't be fulfilled in the safe house in Country J, seemed to have a faint glimmer of possibility against the backdrop of Paris, even if it remained slim and fraught with risk.
In the following days, both of them prepared for their respective trips to Paris. Ling Yao was busy with fittings, rehearsals, and checking procedures, while Su Rui was deeply researching the show arrangements, planning shooting angles, and red carpet procedures.
In their spare time, they would share trivia about Paris. Ling Yao would send a brand invitation cover featuring the Eiffel Tower; Su Rui would send a map of Paris with possible photoshoot locations marked. Ling Yao would say, "I heard the croissants at that cafe are delicious," and Su Rui would reply, "Let's go try them together."
Every simple exchange was filled with a tacit joy because of their shared destination. Distant Paris seemed to have become their codeword for a "safe house," a place of hope where they could temporarily escape their familiar surroundings and perhaps find a moment of freedom.
Their anticipation for this trip went far beyond the work itself. It was a desire to break free from routine, a longing for a brief encounter in a strange city. Even just catching a glimpse of each other from afar might become another precious fragment of memory to sustain them during the long years of separation ahead.
The plane is about to take off, destination: Paris. Two hearts, heading towards the same coordinates, each holding their own dreams and a shared, cautious expectation, slowly approach each other.
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