On Lunar New Year's Eve, Lin Xiao and Wang Wei's family attended the embassy's New Year's celebration.
Since everyone was dressed up for the occasion, Lin Xiao also made some adjustments to her appearance.
In addition to representatives of international students, attendees included elites from various sectors of the Chinese community in France. Wang Handong, a Chinese businessman in Paris, has always maintained a good relationship with the embassy, and is therefore among those invited every year.
Although it's called a gala, it actually takes place during the day because of the 7-hour time difference with China. The gala is still scheduled according to China's time.
The Chinese businesspeople and students who arrived at the embassy were all dressed in traditional Chinese clothing and were beaming with joy.
This is the happiest day for all Chinese people around the world. No matter where they are in the world or what their nationality has changed, their love for the Chinese nation is condensed in this moment.
Lin Xiao wore a modified Chinese-style short jacket, white velvet, with dark red traditional patterns embroidered on the cuffs and collar.
The lower body is a red pleated horse-face skirt that has been very popular in the last two years, with large Chinese floral patterns embroidered on the hem using traditional gold weaving techniques.
She was somewhat sensitive to the cold, so she wore a long Chinese-style coat over her clothes. As she walked towards us from afar, she looked like a young lady from ancient times who had traveled through time.
Wang Wei was momentarily stunned, and it wasn't until his mother called him that he came back to his senses.
Lin Xiao asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Am I dressed a bit too extravagantly? I've never attended an event like this at the embassy before, so I don't know what would be appropriate to wear."
"It's not an exaggeration at all, it's really good! It's really beautiful!" Wang Wei felt at a loss for words, not knowing how to praise it properly.
Wang's mother added from the side, "We should wear our own clothes for Chinese festivals. Look, everyone else is dressed like this, but Xiaoxiao, you look the best."
Lin Xiao glanced at the other invited guests. Among the ladies, apart from a few wearing evening gowns, the others were dressed in similar styles of traditional Chinese clothing, such as cheongsams and Hanfu. The men, on the other hand, were mostly dressed in Western suits or Zhongshan suits.
In addition to embassy staff and representatives from various sectors, many of their families and children were also present at the party, creating a lively atmosphere. The venue was also decorated in a very festive style.
It was Lin Xiao's first time participating in an event hosted by the embassy, and he found it quite novel.
The variety of performances at the gala was astounding. It must be said that there are many talented people among the Chinese community in France; the gala featured a diverse range of musical instruments, singing, and dancing, and the dance performed by two beautiful women was of a truly professional level.
During the program, Wang Handong suddenly said to Wang Wei, "Son, did you see that little boy being greeted by the second secretary? He must be someone important."
Lin Xiao didn't know anyone in the embassy, let alone who the secretaries were or what rank they were.
She looked in the direction Wang Handong quietly pointed and saw a fair-skinned boy with hair dyed in a color that was hard to tell if it was brown or dark brown. He had big, round eyes and looked innocent and naive, and seemed to be under 20 years old.
"Isn't he the child of the ambassador or staff?" Lin Xiao asked Wang's father.
Because it's rare to hear of families in China sending their middle school students to study in France; younger children usually go to the UK or the US.
"No, I attend the embassy's Chinese New Year celebrations every year and have met all the embassy staff. This is the first time I've met this child; he must be new here, and probably hasn't been in France for more than a year."
From the beginning, someone was constantly looking after and taking care of him. The tall man following him looked like a bodyguard; this kid's family background must be extraordinary.
The boy noticed Lin Xiao and Wang Wei looking at him, and suddenly winked and smiled mischievously in their direction.
Even from a distance, you could see his neat little white teeth, which made the boy look even more innocent and adorable.
During the event, while Wang Handong was chatting with others after taking his son Wang Wei away, the boy came over and greeted Lin Xiao.
He first casually glanced at Lin Xiao's clothes, then introduced himself very frankly, showing no stage fright in front of a stranger.
The boy introduced himself as Yang Xile, with the French name Michel, and said he was currently studying at HEC Paris.
Lin Xiao knew immediately upon hearing the name that Wang Handong's guess was quite accurate.
Because HEC Paris is known as the "number one business school in Europe" and is the best business school in France, students here not only have excellent grades, but also mostly come from wealthy and influential families, making it a field that ordinary people cannot enter.
The boy was very enthusiastic and asked Lin Xiao if she was new to Paris. He didn't think he had seen her before.
Lin Xiao said he was a student at ESMOD and had only been in Paris for a month.
Upon hearing Lin Xiao's school name, the boy smiled and said, "Oh my, that's a future design master! It's a pleasure to meet you."
Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised. Many people didn't know about her school. Although ESMOD was the best high fashion school in France and even Europe, its reputation was limited to the fashion industry, and most outsiders didn't know much about it.
But this boy in front of her seemed to know everything, and upon hearing the name of her school, he complimented her, saying she would become a future master. So despite his young age, he was truly a very perceptive and articulate person.
The boy invited Lin Xiao to a gathering of Paris-based Chinese students on the second day of the Lunar New Year, saying that everyone could make dumplings together and watch a replay of the Spring Festival Gala, and asked her if she was interested.
Although the embassy will also be broadcasting CCTV's Spring Festival Gala today, it's impossible for everyone to stay up that late to watch the entire show.
At this moment, Lin Xiao suddenly felt that the Spring Festival Gala, which had always been criticized in previous years, was now something he really wanted to watch. This was perhaps the best proof that "what you can't have is the best."
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