The rain in Paris
The awe and wonder he felt at the Eiffel Tower before him were indescribable. No matter how many times he had seen it on his phone, the visual impact before him still sent a shiver down his spine.
The tour boat glided slowly across the water, and the chatter of the tourists on board abruptly stopped as they all looked up at the scene before them. Just then, a cool evening breeze swept by, making it all the more pleasant.
In a corner where no one was watching, Song Zicheng secretly made a wish.
He thought that on the day his wish came true, he would buy a plane ticket without delay, revisit the place, and offer his devotion.
Unbeknownst to Song Zicheng, his gaze gradually shifted. On the bridge, a man in a black suit was carrying a woman in a white wedding dress in his arms. They looked exceptionally radiant and happy in the beautiful sunset.
The pristine white wedding dress twirled in circles, forming a beautiful arc. Face to face, gazing into each other's eyes, the couple kissed passionately and without restraint, under the watchful eyes of everyone present.
This precious moment of happiness was completely recorded by Song Zicheng.
To have this moment in life, to be fortunate enough to witness such a beautiful love, has added a touch of passion and unforgettable memories to Song Zicheng's otherwise mundane life.
Song Zicheng was completely absorbed in watching, unaware that Lu Zhiyan beside him was holding a phone and smiling gently at him through the camera lens, her eyes filled with love in a way that was unlike her usual expression.
Lu Zhiyan quietly saved and collected a video that was several minutes long.
During his two-week stay in France, Lu Zhiyan responsibly served as his tour guide. Song Zicheng visited all the major and minor tourist attractions, capturing every moment he felt was valuable with the camera Lu Zhiyan had given him.
From the Louvre, known as the world's greatest treasure trove, to Notre Dame Cathedral, a Gothic cathedral facing the Paris City Hall and the Louvre across the water, to Mont Saint-Michel, where "the castle keeps secrets for love, and I keep memories for you"...
Every scene he saw and every attraction he visited was deeply imprinted in Song Zicheng's mind.
Human memory fades with time; what we see before us may remain vivid in our memories many years later, or it may be gradually forgotten as we age. In any case, who can predict the future? Life is a wilderness; living in the present and enjoying life to the fullest is certainly a positive attitude towards life.
Life is but a short span of 30,000 days, and how many springs and summers can one experience?
The past two weeks of travel have brought Song Zicheng, whose nerves had been constantly on edge, an unprecedented sense of relaxation. Especially when watching the colorful fireworks display over Disneyland, Song Zicheng's eyes were filled with tranquility, as if the blooming fireworks not only illuminated the dark sky but also the depths of his heart.
The night was still a bit chilly when Song Zicheng's hand, which was slightly cold, was suddenly enveloped by a warm palm. He looked away in surprise at Lu Zhiyan on his right. Their eyes shone even brighter and more dazzlingly under the fireworks. In this deep gaze, there was nothing else in their eyes but each other, and even the fireworks display paled in comparison.
Even amidst the clamor of voices around them, even surrounded by so many people, their emotions ran deep and they couldn't control themselves. Their two tall and slender bodies gradually drew closer to each other, and finally, in this romantic moment, they shared a passionate kiss.
As the two were returning, rain began to fall without warning. At first, it was just a drop or two, but then it started to pour down. Neither of them had brought an umbrella, and the moment their eyes met, they both understood each other's thoughts and intentions.
"Let's sing a song," Lu Zhiyan's voice rang out.
"What?" The rain was too heavy for Song Zicheng to hear clearly.
"I said, let's sing a song."
"Okay, let me think about it."
A few seconds later, Song Zicheng made a fist with his right hand, put it to his mouth, cleared his throat, and said, "Next, I'll dedicate a song, Paris in the Rain, to Mr. Lu who is getting rained on."
Lu Zhiyan applauded enthusiastically.
“All i know is (ooh ooh ooh)
we could go anywhere we could do”
...
Song Zicheng's voice had a unique charm in the rain. Their eyes met through countless threads of raindrops, their gazes growing stronger on the empty street.
“They pull me in the moment
You and I alone and
People may be watching
I don't mind.
...
From the very first line of the lyrics, Lu Zhiyan's voice joined in. His singing voice was completely different from his usual deep and aloof tone, carrying a strong sense of pure desire. The two voices blended together, creating an exceptionally pleasant and melodious sound.
On a street 32 kilometers east of Paris in the early morning, a heavy rain was falling. Few pedestrians were on the road, but two figures danced freely in the rain, accompanied by song. Every flower, tree, and blade of grass along the roadside, even the incessant raindrops, seemed to be cheering for them.
To prepare for climbing the Alps, Lu Zhiyan and Song Zicheng started preparing the necessary equipment several days in advance. After waiting for a long time, the weather finally cleared up, and the two got ready to set off in their car.
Before leaving, Song Zi'an said with a hint of regret, "Brother, remember to take lots of photos and videos of me!"
Song Zicheng patted his shoulder: "I know." Then he turned to Dong Yue: "Please take good care of Zi'an these next few days."
Dong Yue smiled and nodded: "Have fun."
The two chose the Tour du Mont Blanc, a classic hiking route hailed by mountaineering enthusiasts as a world-class classic. They drove from Paris to Chamonix, a town surrounded by the Alps.
They were greeted by a man in his thirties. Lu Zhiyan chatted with him in French for a few minutes. Although Song Zicheng had been exposed to French these days, he only knew simple daily greetings. In their conversation, he only understood "hello".
After their conversation ended, the man extended his hand to Song Zicheng and said, "Hello, I'm your tour guide, Charles. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Song Zicheng quickly extended his right hand to shake his hand and exclaimed, "You speak Chinese so well!"
Charles smiled and said, "Right? I've been practicing diligently for a long time."
After saying that, they both laughed.
After a short rest and checking their equipment, Song Zicheng, led by Charles, officially began their mountaineering journey.
After hiking about 14 kilometers from Chamonix, Song Zicheng saw the White Lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The interplay between the surrounding snow-capped mountains and the crystal-clear lake, along with the glaciers reflecting in the distance, was enough to leave Song Zicheng in awe.
He stood on a large rock by the roadside, gazing at the lake in the distance. Surrounded by the world, he felt as if he were a bird soaring freely in the sky or a fish swimming freely in the lake. The world was so vast, and he was just a tiny molecule within it.
With a "click," Song Zicheng took a picture of the scene in front of him.
On the third day, the three entered Switzerland from France, passing through high-altitude pastures and endless forests, surrounded by mountains in the distance, with cattle and sheep grazing everywhere and streams flowing gently.
The three of them planned their time well, so they didn't need to walk many kilometers each day. When they got tired, they would rest, drink water, enjoy the scenery, and chat.
“Charles, how long have you been a tour guide?” Song Zicheng asked, sitting on the grass.
"It's been many years. Climbing mountains is my hobby. Being a tour guide allows me to earn money and enjoy my hobby at the same time. I was 15 when I first climbed the Alps. At that time, I was just like you, shocked and attracted by everything I saw. When I was 16, I climbed Mount Everest. Later, I traveled all over the world and personally experienced all the mountains, big and small. Later, I returned to this small town where I was born and raised and became a tour guide."
Charles's eyes shone as he recounted these experiences, his face beaming with satisfaction at his past memories. For a moment, Song Zicheng felt a pang of envy. He gazed at the distant snow-capped mountains and sighed deeply, "You are so free."
Charles smiled and said, "Yes, freedom is my creed and what I have pursued all my life."
The two stopped talking. Song Zicheng was not as strong as Lu Zhiyan. When he looked up, Lu Zhiyan had already overtaken them by a great distance. At this moment, he stopped and looked back at the two behind him.
“I’ve known Lu Zhiyan for almost ten years, and this is the first time I’ve seen him bring… a friend… to go hiking.” Charles suddenly spoke up, but paused when he said “friend,” as if he was choosing his words carefully.
Song Zicheng sensed the implication in his words, but since the other party hadn't said it explicitly, he wasn't going to say it either: "Is that so?"
"Yes, and when I saw him with you, his usually cold and meticulous face would show a smile. The person I saw this time was very different from the one before. He wasn't so preoccupied or taciturn, and he wasn't as annoying as before. Instead, he seemed more humane."
Song Zicheng listened quietly until he was almost in front of Lu Zhiyan, at which point Charles stopped speaking.
Lu Zhiyan frowned as he looked at the two people walking towards him: "Why are you walking so slowly? What are you talking about?"
Charles put his arm around Song Zicheng's shoulder and said with a grin, "I'm praising Xiao Song. He's so handsome, I'm sure a lot of girls like him."
Lu Zhiyan's expression changed instantly. He grabbed Song Zicheng's arm and pulled him closer, saying unhappily, "What are you dawdling for? Let's go." After saying that, he turned around and glared at Charles fiercely.
Charles chuckled as he watched the two figures disappear into the distance, shaking his head and muttering, "Still so childish."
The three spent seven days traveling from France to Switzerland and then to the Saxe Valley in Italy, where they saw a unique side of Mount Giorgos and Mont Blanc. They crossed the border between Italy and France and arrived at the quiet Le Chaténée, hiked the Seneca Pass, passed the Franco-Italian border marker, looked out at the World War II outpost, and finally arrived at the Notre-Dame Basilica, a Baroque-style monastery that was built in 1699.
On the night before their return journey, the sky was filled with dazzling stars. At two o'clock in the morning, Song Zicheng, who was lying in his tent, still couldn't fall asleep. He got up, unzipped his tent, and walked outside. He had only taken a few steps when he vaguely saw a familiar figure in the darkness.
He walked quietly, and before he even reached him, Lu Zhiyan spoke first: "Why did you come out?"
Song Zicheng plopped down next to Lu Zhiyan and looked up at the stars just like him: "Can't sleep."
I've been hiking for the past few days, so it's rare to have such free time to sit here and enjoy the stars and the moon.
"How was your hiking trip?" Lu Zhiyan asked.
Song Zicheng hummed for a few seconds, then said, "I don't know what words to use to describe it for a moment." He paused for a few seconds, then continued, "Very good, very impressive!"
Song Zicheng's voice was very soft. Although he didn't say much, every word revealed his state of mind. Even though it seemed like a very official and general answer to outsiders, Lu Zhiyan didn't think so. He knew that these were Song Zicheng's heartfelt words, his tone calm but full of genuine feelings.
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