The next morning around 8 a.m., Wei Changfeng and his group took a taxi to the Chinese Embassy to apply for "travel documents".
Xiao Hao was spared from losing his passport because he had it with him, but he still went with them.
The embassy staff, especially the women, mostly knew Wei Changfeng, and some even liked him, so they were very enthusiastic.
Hearing that their belongings and documents had been stolen, I offered them a lot of comfort, telling them that tourists often encounter such things in France.
In particular, some thieves know that Chinese people used to carry large amounts of cash with them, so they will selectively target them.
Moreover, the security situation in Marseille is even worse than in Paris, so the consulate in Marseille receives more reports on this matter than the embassy headquarters.
Embassy staff also advised them that if they were robbed in the street, they should not resist or chase after the robbery, but consider it a loss to avoid further trouble.
French thieves are not considered particularly ruthless and generally do not carry dangerous knives.
Gun control is also in place here, unlike many states in the United States where guns are more freely allowed, so thefts generally do not escalate into bloodshed.
This is consistent with what the Paris police said last night.
The application process for the "travel document" was not complicated, and fortunately, Wei Changfeng and his companions had an extra copy of their passports and photos in their luggage at the hotel, which made things even easier.
You can pick it up the next day. The blue "travel document" and the red passport have basically the same function when used in France, and there are no restrictions on travel or returning home.
If you wish to travel to other Schengen countries in Europe, you will need to consult with a specialist.
Wei Changfeng's trip was only a week long and wouldn't involve traveling from France to other countries, so this little blue notebook was sufficient.
It was only a little past ten o'clock when I came out of the embassy after finishing my business.
On the way back, Wei Changfeng sent Lin Xiao a WeChat message to tell her that they had finished their business and asked if she had time to have lunch together.
A reply quickly appeared in the WeChat chat: No problem, just grab something light, don't go to too much trouble. I appreciate everyone's kindness.
Wei Changfeng was beaming with joy the whole way after seeing Lin Xiao reply to his WeChat message so quickly, like a child who had just received a candy reward.
As soon as they entered the hotel, Zhao Hui asked, "Did you arrange a time with that girl?"
Wei Changfeng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed: "Brother, how did you know? You're incredibly insightful."
Zhao Hui looked at him like he was an idiot, shook his head to himself, and said, "It's in the hotel restaurant. It's too much trouble to go outside."
Wei Changfeng repeatedly said he understood, and then began to rummage through the clothes he had brought with him, looking at them from left to right, unsure which one to wear.
"It's not really appropriate for you to invite her alone without bringing her boyfriend, is it?" Zhao Hui suddenly said.
Wei Changfeng stopped what he was doing, looked up at him, and expressed his confusion.
"Didn't you tell us that you saw her arm in arm with a boy at an event on the Champs-Élysées a couple of days ago, and they seemed very intimate? That must be her boyfriend, right?"
"Ah!" Wei Changfeng suddenly remembered this and was at a loss for words.
After pausing for half a minute, he picked up his phone to text Lin Xiao, while telling Zhao Hui, "Then I'll ask her. Maybe her boyfriend won't be happy if we invite her to dinner."
Holding his phone, Wei Changfeng hesitated for a while while looking at the chat box before typing: "I forgot to ask you yesterday, does your boyfriend want to come along?"
I called again before sending it: I think I saw you and your boyfriend on the Champs-Élysées that day, but I don't know if I mistook you for someone else?
Delete and retype: If your boyfriend has time, why don't you come along for lunch too?
Hmm, the last one should be the most appropriate and natural, right? Wei Changfeng hesitated for a moment before pressing the send button.
A quick reply appeared in the chat box: ?
Wei Changfeng retyped the words he had just deleted and added another sentence:
I think I saw you and your boyfriend at the event on the Champs-Élysées. I wonder if I mistook you for someone else?
I'm worried your boyfriend might be upset if I invite you alone, so let's come together whenever you have time.
Lin Xiao didn't reply immediately, and Wei Changfeng sent another message explaining: My agent said that if we're having a party, both of you should be invited. I was so caught up in the lost things yesterday that I didn't think of anything else.
Lin Xiao thought for a moment and realized that the "boyfriend" Wei Changfeng was referring to was probably Wang Wei.
During her few days in France, aside from visiting the Champs-Élysées with Wang Wei and catching up with his event, she spent the rest of her time alone.
She just didn't expect that Wei Changfeng would actually see and recognize her in the crowd that day.
Lin Xiao hesitated for a moment, but still replied: "That day it was a friend, the child of my father's business partner. He was supposed to pick me up at the airport, but we missed it. So he said he would accompany me to the Champs-Élysées."
Wei Changfeng remembered how disheveled she looked at the airport, dragging two large suitcases alone; it turned out that she had been stood up by that person.
If he's not your boyfriend, then there's no need to invite him. Besides, that person looks like an annoying guy no matter how you look at him.
At 11:30, Lin Xiao arrived as promised.
She wore a white dress with a light-colored long velvet coat over it, and her medium-length hair was simply tied into a high ponytail at the back of her head, making her look as fresh as a lily of the valley that the French love most.
Even Xiaohao praised her repeatedly, saying that she was completely different from how she looked yesterday when she was wearing jeans and a thin down jacket and was knocked around and looked disheveled.
Lin Xiao explained that he had been invited to dinner today, and dressing too casually would seem disrespectful to everyone.
Wei Changfeng felt embarrassed to look any longer and quickly took a seat.
He wore a simple brown casual suit. The formal suit he had carefully chosen was rejected by Zhao Hui, who said it looked too formal and would make everyone feel uncomfortable while eating.
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