Chapter 49 Heading to (4) The copyright of the photos belongs to me; you can only use them...
In the Parisian mornings, the fog hangs heavy in the air like cotton wool soaked in cold water, and the wind carries a damp chill that seeps into the seams of clothing and into the bones.
Wen Chen was pulled out of bed, blanket and all, by Gu Moheng. The man looked mysterious and shook his head when asked where he was going, but his hands kept moving as he put clothes on him: a cashmere sweater, a windproof jacket, and even tried to wrap the red scarf around his neck.
“Mr. Gu,” Wen Chen pressed his hand, her fingertips touching the man’s warm palm, and smiled helplessly, “Are we going to report to the Antarctic expedition team?”
Gu Moheng paused, pursed his lips, but his eyes remained unusually firm: "It's very cold outside. Also, we won't discuss business today."
The car headed east, leaving the city. The scenery outside the window gradually changed from ancient Ottoman architecture to open fields, finally stopping in front of a huge pink archway.
Wen Chen stared at the iconic Mickey Mouse head, and a slight twitch appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Disney.
Two men whose combined age is nearly sixty, coming to a place like this?
He glanced at the person beside him: "Gu Moheng, are you three years old this year?"
Gu Moheng didn't reply, but unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the car.
Wen Chen sighed softly, wrapped her coat tighter, and followed. The fleece from the collar of her windbreaker brushed against her chin, providing a warm and cozy feeling.
When Wen Chen reached the ticket gate, he belatedly realized that something was wrong.
It's too quiet.
Even in winter, Disneyland Paris should be bustling with people, with queues that could circle the castle three times on weekdays, and children's screams and parade music that could lift the roof off. But now, the huge entrance is deserted, and you can hear the wind blowing by.
There were no tourists, not a single one.
An absurd guess popped into her head. Wen Chen turned to look at the calm man beside her: "Gu Moheng, don't tell me you..."
"We booked the entire venue," Gu Moheng replied casually.
Wen Chen took a deep breath, feeling the veins on his forehead throbbing: "How much?"
Gu Moheng's gaze flickered for a moment, then he didn't meet his eyes: "Not many."
"Say numbers," Wen Chen said, his tone slightly lower.
Gu Moheng's Adam's apple bobbed, and he held up five long, slender fingers: "Fifty million."
"Are you sick?" Wen Chen finally cursed out.
He knew, of course, that this amount of money was nothing to Gu Moheng now. But it was fifty million, and even with his studio's current profits, it would take him two years of non-stop drawing up the blueprints.
Seeing his displeasure, Gu Moheng panicked. He instinctively tugged at Wen Chen's sleeve, his tone cautiously ingratiating: "I don't like other people looking at you."
"I want to have some fun with you... just the two of us."
"Besides, it's too noisy and unsafe with so many people around."
A bunch of excuses were listed, but the core message was just one: I have money, I'm willing, and I want to have you all to myself.
Seeing his expression, Wen Chen swallowed back the scolding that was on the tip of her tongue.
He knew Gu Moheng's unease all too well. This man was using money to fill the void between them that had existed for eight years, using this almost obsessive desire for control to confirm his own existence in Gu Moheng's life. It was like a child who had done something wrong, desperately stuffing all the best candy in his hand into your hands, regardless of whether your teeth hurt or you felt sick from the sweetness.
The anger in my heart deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon.
"Gu Moheng," Wen Chen looked at him, her tone softening slightly, "This isn't how you spend money. Don't do it again next time."
Gu Moheng's eyes dimmed, his fingers curled up slightly, like a child whose candy had been confiscated, and he replied softly, "...Okay."
The atmosphere instantly became somewhat stiff.
Just then, a huge Goofy dog came bounding over, its furry paws outstretched, and gave Wen Chen a firm hug. The fluffy fur brushed against his cheek, and its endearing enthusiasm instantly broke the tense atmosphere between them.
Wen Chen staggered from the impact, and Gu Moheng quickly caught him by the waist.
"Welcome to the magical world!" The staff immediately presented two Mickey Mouse headbands, one with classic black ears and the other with a Minnie Mouse headband adorned with a pink bow.
Wen Chen's eyelids twitched slightly, but before she could refuse, Gu Moheng had already expressionlessly picked up the black ear and put it on his head.
It's incongruous, extremely incongruous.
The usually impeccably dressed and authoritative CEO Gu, sporting a pair of round Mickey Mouse ears, unexpectedly exudes a charmingly adorable aura.
Gu Moheng seemed completely unconcerned about his image, handing the pink bow to Wen Chen: "Put it on."
Wen Chen took a step back, her face clearly showing her refusal: "President Gu, have some shame."
“There’s no one here,” Gu Moheng emphasized, his gaze unwavering. “Only NPCs.”
"NPCs are people too."
“They signed a confidentiality agreement,” Gu Moheng said seriously.
Wen Chen: "..."
The true colors of capitalists are truly everywhere.
Although he complained, Wen Chen finally gave in when he saw Gu Moheng's stubborn eyes. He grabbed the headband and haphazardly put it on his head, the bow hanging crookedly.
"Alright? Let's go!" Wen Chen rolled her eyes at him, annoyed, and strode into the park. Though she called him childish, her steps were light and quick.
Without the crowds, the entire park felt like a dream created for the two of them. No one had to queue for any of the rides; they could go and play as soon as they wanted. The roller coaster roared along the tracks, the cold wind stinging their faces, yet sending their adrenaline soaring.
Gu Moheng held Wen Chen's hand tightly the entire time, not letting go even for a moment during the weightless fall.
Wen Chen turned her head to look at him. Gu Moheng's hair was disheveled by the wind, and his eyes, which were always as deep as the sea, were now shining as if they contained the entire starry sky. He shouted Wen Chen's name at the top of his lungs, laughing like a silly young man in his early twenties.
In that instant, Wen Chen felt as if time had reversed.
It's as if they've truly returned to eight years ago, and they were just an ordinary couple deeply in love.
After a day of fun, dusk gradually fell. The lights in the park lit up one by one, their warm yellow glow enveloping the colorful neon lights, creating a dreamlike scene. Wen Chen was a little tired, so she sat down on a bench in front of the castle to rest, holding a cup of hot cocoa.
"Is this the surprise you were talking about?" Wen Chen took a sip of hot cocoa and pointed to the Sleeping Beauty Castle in front of him, which was lit up. It was beautiful, but nothing particularly special.
Gu Moheng glanced at his watch, his expression turning somewhat tense. He stood up, walked in front of Wen Chen, and blocked his view.
"Ten seconds left." Gu Moheng looked down at him, his voice a little hoarse.
Wen Chen raised an eyebrow: "What?"
"Ten, nine, eight..." Gu Moheng began to count down.
As he spoke, all the streetlights around them suddenly went out, plunging the world into a thick darkness. Only Gu Moheng's eyes, fixed on Wen Chen, shone brightly in the night.
"Three, two, one."
"Bang--!"
The first firework soared into the sky and exploded above the castle, showering down golden sparks that illuminated the night. Then, thousands upon thousands of fireworks burst forth, turning the entire night into day, a dazzling spectacle that was impossible to look away from.
But that's not all.
Hundreds of drones silently took off and, against the backdrop of fireworks, quickly changed formation, first outlining the silhouette of a building.
Wen Chen's pupils contracted sharply. It was the design he had drawn that won his first international award during his junior year of college—"Home".
Immediately afterwards, the drone changed formation and transformed into another image, which was his first project to be implemented after establishing his studio.
Each and every piece, from its initial, unpolished drafts to its mature works, represents all his hard work, pride, loneliness, and perseverance over the past eight years.
Gu Moheng even copied the tiny details hidden in the corners of the design drawings exactly.
Finally, the drones slowly dispersed, converging into a giant line of French text amidst the dazzling fireworks:
【Tu es mon architecture.】 (You are my architecture.)
For architects, architecture is the support, the soul, and the foundation of everything.
Wen Chen spilled hot cocoa on the back of his hand without noticing. He looked up at the words, his eyes suddenly reddening.
Gu Moheng stood before him, his back to the fireworks, tilting his head slightly as he looked at Wen Chen. His voice was thick with nasal tone, “Wen Chen. In these eight years, you built your world all by yourself.”
"From now on, could I be the one to lay the foundation? I won't interfere with your design or alter your structure. I'll just support you; even if the sky falls, I'll be there for you."
Wen Chen closed her eyes, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and hugged the man shivering slightly in the cold wind tightly. She tightened her arms, pressing Gu Moheng's face into the crook of her neck, feeling his cool skin and rapid breathing.
Gu Moheng froze, all the muscles in his body tensed up, and he didn't dare to move a single finger.
"Fool." Wen Chen buried her face in the crook of his neck, her voice muffled. "Who said I wanted these?"
All I want is you.
“Next time…” Wen Chen paused, her voice very soft, “Don’t book the whole place next time.”
"Use the money you save to buy me paintbrushes."
"If you really have so much money you don't know what to do with it, then be my model. I'll charge by the hour, and it'll be very expensive."
Gu Moheng was stunned for a long time before he belatedly reacted. He hugged Wen Chen tightly, "Okay."
He buried his head in Wen Chen's shoulder, his eyes welling up with tears, "I'll do whatever you say."
The return flight crossed seven time zones, and the cabin lights had already been dimmed. Only a lone navigation light outside the window blinked tirelessly in the inky night sky.
Wen Chen covered herself with a cashmere blanket and closed her eyes to rest.
Gu Moheng was not asleep. Even though he was breathing very softly, Wen Chen could still feel the restlessness that the person next to her could not suppress.
His fingers repeatedly rubbed the ring on his ring finger, his fingertips tracing the engravings on the inside of the ring band over and over again.
From the moment he put on the ring until now, that silly grin on his face has never left. His usual aloof and unapproachable aura has completely vanished, leaving only pure joy in his heart and eyes.
"If you keep touching it, you'll scratch my skin off, Mr. Gu." Wen Chen didn't open his eyes, his voice drifting lazily over, carrying a hint of barely concealed amusement.
The noise around him suddenly stopped, and Gu Moheng's ears instantly turned bright red: "Did I wake you up?"
"No." Wen Chen adjusted his posture, the blanket slipped down slightly, revealing a section of his long, fair neck. He kept his eyes closed, as if casually mentioning, "Oh, right, there's something I forgot to say."
"Hmm?" Gu Moheng immediately turned to the side, looking like he was all ears.
As long as Wen Chen asks him to do something, even something as simple as picking stars from the sky, he will immediately calculate the orbit and plan the route.
“My parents have booked a photographer next week,” Wen Chen said calmly. “They want us to go back and have a family photo taken.”
Gu Moheng's mind went blank for a moment, as if struck by lightning, followed by intense tinnitus.
Home...family photo?
Does this mean his uncle and aunt approve of him?
"...Wedding photos?"
Wen Chen finally opened his eyes. He turned his head, and his clear, cold eyes reflected Gu Moheng's shocked and speechless face. A sly smile appeared on his lips.
"Family photo".
He corrected slowly and deliberately, but the smile in his eyes was unmistakable. "But if you interpret it as a wedding photo, I don't object."
A wave of ecstasy overwhelmed him. Gu Moheng's breathing quickened as he stared blankly at Wen Chen.
"What? Regretting it?" Wen Chen raised an eyebrow, looking at his silly expression, the smile in her eyes deepened.
"No."
Gu Moheng immediately shook his head in denial, his gaze fixed on Wen Chen's lips, where the most beautiful words in the world had just been uttered.
The next second.
He suddenly leaned in and gave a kiss completely unlike Gu Moheng's usual style. There was no plundering, no aggression, no ferocity like he usually wanted to tear someone apart and devour them.
It was very light and quick. Like a feather, it trembled and landed on Wen Chen's lips.
Wen Chen gazed quietly at the man so close to her, at the intense, unyielding affection surging in his deep eyes. Even as Gu Moheng tried to back away, she tilted her head slightly, took the initiative to meet him, and lightly hooked her fingertips around the back of his neck.
Gu Moheng's face instantly turned bright red. The blush spread from his ears to his neck, looking particularly alluring in the dim cabin lights.
"...No regrets."
After they parted, Gu Moheng lowered his eyes, his long eyelashes trembling slightly, and said in a soft, almost murmured voice, "Never."
Looking at his innocent appearance, Wen Chen couldn't help but chuckle.
It was late at night when the plane landed. A biting wind, carrying snowflakes, lashed against the apartment's floor-to-ceiling windows, making a soft, rustling sound. The in-floor heating was on full blast, dispelling the chill from the room.
Gu Moheng had just finished bathing, his body still damp. He wore a dark gray bathrobe, the belt tied meticulously, and water droplets still dripping from his hair.
Only a floor lamp was left on in the living room, its dim yellow light spilling onto the black grand piano that had been moved from the guest bedroom.
Gu Moheng suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on something that had appeared above the piano.
The natural wood frame is simple and rustic. The photo shows the magnificent rose window of St. Chapel, where sunlight streams through the stained glass, casting a dazzling array of light and shadow. Beneath that shimmering light, two slender figures stand side by side.
He didn't know when the photo was taken or who took it, but he clearly remembered the thrill he felt at that moment.
He stepped closer to the piano; a sticky note was under the photo.
I hired the photographer. The copyright to the photos belongs to me; you only have the right to use them.
He stared at the photo for a long time, a drop of water from his hair falling onto the back of his hand, bringing a slight chill, before he snapped out of his reverie. He carefully folded the note and placed it in the pocket of his robe close to his heart. Then, he sat down at the piano, his long, slender fingers hovering over the black and white keys.
The first note fell, crisp and melodious. Immediately following was a simple and familiar melody, flowing through the quiet of the night.
Mozart's "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Variations".
The simplest melody, the purest childlike innocence.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
That was the only solace he found when he looked up at the stars during those darkest years, when reality weighed him down countless times. Back then, he always wondered if Wen Chen would be like a star, forever out of reach.
Now, the stars have fallen into his arms and become his whole world.
The music flowed, rippling outwards in the quiet of the night, yet it was exceptionally gentle.
The door to the guest room was ajar.
Wen Chen, dressed in loose pajamas, leaned lazily against the door, arms crossed, listening quietly.
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