The long train journey was particularly dull and boring because he had already experienced it once.
The scenery outside the window could no longer bring him peace; instead, it reminded him of another real but exhausting France outside of Paris.
Lionel did not notify the Zola family in Médan, nor did he inform Alice and Petty in advance.
Two days later, like an ordinary traveler, he disembarked at Saint-Lazare train station, finally setting foot in the "City of Light" once again.
Paris embraced him with its usual stuffiness, clamor, and stench.
Although it was almost September, the foul odor of Paris had not diminished at all; instead, it had intensified due to the continuous high temperatures.
Lionel almost held his breath, quickly walked across the station square, hailed a taxi carriage, and returned to his apartment at 64 Rue Laffitte.
After washing away the dust of travel, Lionel lay on the familiar bed, feeling a special tranquility, and fell into a deep sleep…
— — — —
At six o'clock on Friday afternoon, the church bells had just chimed, and employees from various buildings in the Second District eagerly poured out of their doors.
Tomorrow was the weekend, and no sunset was more beautiful than that of Friday.
Sophie Denave had also packed everything early, waiting only for the clock hands to align vertically before hurrying out of the Orby Trading Company.
Today, she wore a light gray linen maxi dress with a high collar and bundle sleeves; although the style was conservative, her upright posture made it look unique.
"Sophie!" a voice called from across the street.
Sophie looked up at the sound, and when her gaze fell on Lionel by the roadside, her entire body instantly froze.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, and the cloth bag in her hand almost slipped.
First came surprise, then confusion, followed by an undisguised joy that instantly brought a flush to her cheeks.
She almost gasped, "Li… Lionel?"
Then she subconsciously looked around, as if unsure if this was an illusion: "You… weren't you in the Alps?"
Lionel walked up to her, his smile genuine and joyful: "My vacation ended early, and the first person I wanted to see was you."
Sophie was still a bit slow to react: "My God… I just saw you in the newspaper… Is everything alright? At home…"
Lionel said lightly, "Everything is fine."
Other employees of the Orby Trading Company also noticed the two, almost all feeling incredulous.
Lionel was tall and handsome, dressed in decent and dignified clothes, and he had a light two-wheeled open carriage beside him—though it was unclear if it was his own or rented.
Sophie's face felt a little hot, but she ultimately held her head high with pride, letting them gossip.
Lionel likewise didn't care about these gazes; he first invited her into the carriage, and once the carriage began to move and the cool breeze dispersed the heat, he spoke: "Sophie, tomorrow is Saturday, followed by the weekend…
Will you come with me to the Bois de Boulogne? It's cool and quiet there. We can breathe fresh air and get away from all of this…"
Sophie was stunned. Bois de Boulogne? That was a resort on the western outskirts of Paris.
Spend the weekend? She knew exactly what that meant.
Although she no longer had parents to restrain her, she had never considered going on a vacation alone with a gentleman before marriage.
Hesitation and struggle appeared on Sophie's face: "Lionel, this… we…"
Lionel interrupted her, his gaze intense: "Sophie, I know your concerns. But I promise you, I just long for some peace and companionship.
Right now, I only want to be with someone who can make me feel relaxed and happy, to enjoy a moment of beauty… In Paris, you are the only one!"
Sophie looked at Lionel's face, suddenly recalling the Alpine starry sky he described in his letter, remembering herself in that stuffy office, and also recalling the gossip of her male colleagues…
An unprecedented surge of courage suddenly welled up in Sophie's heart.
She met Lionel's gaze, a slightly shy curve forming on her lips: "Alright, Lionel. I'll go with you."
— — — —
The next day, the sun was bright.
In the bustling crowd at the train station, Lionel spotted Sophie at a glance.
She had changed into a light blue fine cotton maxi dress, wore a straw hat with ribbons, and carried a small travel bag, looking as fresh as a flower in the morning dew.
The journey was smooth, and by noon, they were already in the deep shade of the Bois de Boulogne.
Here, it was like two different worlds compared to the stuffy and polluted city of Paris; the air was moist, fresh, and fragrant.
Beside the wide forest paths, dense oak, beech, and chestnut trees cast cool shadows.
Lionel had already booked a vacation cottage on the edge of the forest through an intermediary; the daily rent was as high as 80 francs, but it wasn't considered expensive in Paris.
They settled their luggage and had lunch in the simple kitchen provided by the cottage; in the afternoon, they walked in the forest, along winding paths, through sun-dappled woodlands.
At night, it was so quiet as if the whole world contained only them and this forest; if souls were intimately connected, then bodies would not be far apart…
The next day, Lionel gave Sophie a surprise.
He took Sophie to an open grassy area in the forest.
There, a huge, colorful hot air balloon was resting on the ground, with several ground crew members making final preparations.
This was a tethered hot air balloon, specially designed to provide high-altitude scenic views for tourists.
Sophie looked up at the huge sphere, both confused and a little nervous: "Are we… going to ride this?"
In Paris, riding a hot air balloon was not a new thing.
After spring began, Parisians could see hot air balloons passing overhead almost every day.
But not every Parisian was willing to spend at least 8 francs to enjoy this rare experience.
However, Lionel did not choose the "free hot air balloon" that could travel far this time, but opted for the safer, more conservative "tethered hot air balloon."
A "tethered hot air balloon" always has a rope connected to the ground, so it cannot move once airborne.
Lionel was not lacking in "high-altitude experience," so he had no interest in entrusting his life to the much more dangerous "free hot air balloon."
Lionel smiled: "First class, I also want to see Paris from the sky."
They paid 20 francs per person and boarded the magnificent gondola.
The gondola had chest-high railings around it, was padded inside, and even had a fixed small tea table.
As flames spewed, heating the air inside the balloon, the huge sphere began to slowly ascend.
Sophie subconsciously grabbed Lionel's arm, but as the ground gradually receded, her fear was quickly replaced by awe.
The Bois de Boulogne spread out beneath them, like a vast green carpet of varying shades.
In the distance, the outline of Paris was faintly visible, and the Seine River snaked through the city like a silver ribbon.
The familiar buildings shimmered in the sunlight, yet strangely lost their usual oppressive and turbid feel, becoming small and serene.
The surrounding countryside, villages, and roads were all visible, and the expansive view was exhilarating.
"It's so beautiful…" Sophie murmured, tightly holding Lionel's hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
A gentle breeze ruffled the hair beneath her hat, and the sunlight illuminated her joyful face.
Lionel stood beside her, his heart filled with quiet joy.
The hot air balloon ascended to an altitude of about five hundred meters, finally held firmly by thick cables, stabilizing and slowly rotating at this height.
At this moment, worldly worries, the stench of Paris, and the entanglements of Montiel, all seemed to be isolated beneath the clouds below.
Sophie turned, about to say something, but her lips were met by Lionel's…
— — —
The two-day holiday passed in an instant, and Lionel returned to his apartment, still wanting more.
As soon as he entered the apartment building, the manager handed him a package.
Lionel saw the address: "Sent from England?"