Chapter Two

Antoine reluctantly takes the documents back from Claire's hand and looks at Charlotte. "Miss Charlotte, please forgive our abrupt actions. If you're willing, would you listen to our story?"

The summer breeze is cool, and as the wind rustles through the leaves, a soft whispering sound emerges, as if the trees are engaged in a secret conversation.

Unbeknownst to Charlotte, she has found herself standing at the doorstep, gazing at the door. She seems a bit lost, unsure of what her next steps should be.

"Good evening, Miss Charlotte. You're coming back later than usual today."

It's the neighbor, Pierre.

"Good evening, Mr. Pierre. Yes, a bit later today. Have you just returned home too?" The neighbor's voice helps Charlotte regain some clarity. She quickly feels for her keys in her bag while responding to Pierre.

"No, I just had dinner with my wife. I stepped out just to throw away some garbage. You haven't had dinner yet, have you?" Pierre asks.

"Yeah, I'm heading home to prepare dinner now." At this point, Charlotte is also finding her keys and inserting them into the door lock.

"Wishing you a good appetite and a pleasant evening," Pierre says.

"You too, wish you a delightful evening," Charlotte responds as she opens the door.

At three in the morning, the lights are still on in Charlotte's room. She tosses and turns, unable to sleep. The desire to have a drink lingers, but the concern about a hangover affecting her work the next day holds her back. Instead, she clutches a bottle of water and paces around the room.

This is her manifestation of anxiety—either drinking a lot of alcohol to get some sleep or drinking plenty of water to stay awake. She tends to pace anxiously in her room and engages in behaviors she may not be consciously aware of, such as frequent trips to the bathroom, repeatedly opening the refrigerator, lifting and putting down a frying pan, or turning the stove on and off.

At this moment, she paces around her room, her eyes fixed on the documents on the table—those she brought back from the park. Her mind keeps replaying the conversation that took place in the park.

It turns out that Claire and Antoine are not peculiar individuals. They are just like any regular couple, two ordinary people in love with each other.

They first met at a ski resort, where Antoine, a novice skier, accidentally collided with Claire, who was an expert skier. Despite Claire's advanced skills, she could have avoided the collision, but as Antoine approached rapidly from a distance, Claire seemed to be pinned in place.

The sunlight on the ski slopes that day was exceptionally bright, and the pristine snow, along with the approaching Antoine, seemed like a deity descending from ancient Greek mythology. It was the first time Claire felt the sensation of her heart being struck.

Similarly, Antoine was captivated at first sight by the distant but entrancing Claire. Their collision was a result of this mutual attraction.

So, their love story began with love at first sight.

In the month following their skiing encounter, both of them often found themselves reminiscing about the scene at the ski resort. Claire would frequently daydream, bursting into laughter whenever she thought of Antoine on the slopes. Antoine, on the other hand, was a bit frustrated. He deeply regretted not exchanging contact information. After the collision, both were swiftly pulled away by their respective friends, leaving no chance for a single word. Every day, he was caught between longing and remorse.

But the gears of fate kept turning, and finally, they had their second encounter.

It was an art exhibition organized by a philanthropist. Claire attended the lecture as a special guest representing the philanthropic side. She was dressed in a beautiful gown, elegantly introducing the significance of each artwork and sharing the stories of the artists.

Antoine was a student at the engineering school. As everyone knows, science students immersed in programming and mathematics every day might not have much affinity for the arts. Therefore, he wasn't particularly interested in the event organized by the school's art department.

However, his friends insisted that he participate in the event. They heard that many executives from major companies who were art collectors would attend. After the event, students would have the opportunity to chat with the writers or collectors present, listening to their insights into art and the initial intentions behind their collections.

For the engineering school and students about to graduate, this was a unique opportunity to connect with top executives from businesses and potentially enter large companies. Antoine initially had no interest in such an event because, despite the urgency of finding a suitable job, he felt that these methods were not the right way to go about it.

Nevertheless, he went along with his friends to the event. The part about introducing art seemed to them the most boring. They couldn't comprehend the drama and conflict in abstract paintings, nor could they appreciate the sophistication of light, shadow, and color usage.

However, it's understandable. Just as those with talents in aesthetics and the arts excel in creative fields like literature, painting, and music, people from different backgrounds have diverse strengths. On the other hand, those with strong analytical and logical thinking skills in areas like mathematics and reasoning might find success in logical, technological, and programming fields. This reflects the diverse ways of thinking among humans.

However, when Antoine saw Claire stepping onto the stage, his mind buzzed instantly. It was as if an atomic bomb had exploded in his head, bursting into a magnificent bloom.

After the event, everyone visibly relaxed, eagerly chasing after the artists and collectors they had already targeted. Claire, however, left from backstage once the event concluded. Antoine's gaze remained fixed on Claire. As she walked away, he maneuvered through the crowd and hurriedly caught up, intercepting her before she boarded her car.

Breathless, Antoine stood in front of Claire, speaking rapidly, "Hello, do you remember me? From the ski resort about a month ago, I collided with you."

Claire smiled faintly without responding and boarded her car. Staff members intercepted Antoine, preventing him from making any harmful gestures.

Seeing her reaction, Antoine felt somewhat disappointed, but he didn't give up. Despite being held back by the staff, he still shouted toward the departing car, "I'm Antoine! Can you tell me your phone number?"

Watching the car get farther and farther away, Antoine's heart sank. This might be the craziest thing he had ever done. He had never been so impulsive before. But surprisingly, as the car stopped when turning a corner, and the red taillights lit up, his hope was reignited.

A female secretary got off the car, jogged up to Antoine, and handed him a business card, saying, "Our miss is deeply sorry for the incident at the ski resort. If you experience any discomfort, you can contact her at this number."

Antoine stared at the now-distant and out-of-sight car. The business card in his hand seemed a bit glaring in the sunlight, and his mind was blank at that moment.

Returning home in the evening, Antoine anxiously ran his hands through his hair. The business card and phone lay side by side on the table. He entered the number from the card into his phone, but his fingers trembled above the green dial button, hesitating to press it.