Our Love Story: Hard to Guard Against the Sudden Love Strike-Chapter 337 - 324: Lumeria by Night

The taxi had the heater on. As Sienna Thornton got in, the chill that had seeped into her bones started to fade, and she felt the warmth spread through her body.

"Where are we going tonight?" she asked.

Simon Forrester didn’t answer directly, instead he said, "I noticed you’re not usually this cold back home."

Sienna was momentarily distracted by the Arc de Triomphe zipping past the window, and she casually replied, "Being in a familiar environment gives a sense of security, so I don’t feel the cold as much. In unfamiliar places, there’s a psychological sensitivity to temperature changes you could call ’cold sensory sensitivity’."

Simon liked the way she had a roundabout way of putting things. Where others might use a few words to gloss over a topic, she would expand it into a few sentences.

People who didn’t know her well might think she was pretentious, but those familiar with her understood that she had a habit of delving deeply into questions, likely due to her legal background.

It’s a good habit; when faced with a child’s persistent "why" questions, Sienna will surely handle them with great patience and expertise.

At that moment, in Simon’s eyes, Sienna already seemed like a great mom.

He smiled and moved closer to her, wrapping his arm around her, "With me around, no place feels unfamiliar."

The girl in his arms was curiously gazing out at the Lumeria streets, and after a moment, she turned back to peck him on the chin and laughed, "Are you trying to say that you’re my ’home’?"

"Someone once said, the heart of a loved one is the best house."

"Did I say that?"

Sienna couldn’t remember if she’d ever said that, but even if she mentioned it casually, Simon had committed it to heart.

As the car passed by the Embassy in Francia, she tugged at Simon’s coat excitedly, "Look, the embassy!"

Simon glanced in the direction she pointed, just as he was about to speak, she pointed again through the windshield, "Montparnasse Tower! Are we going to ’Lumeria Sky’ for dinner?"

Simon chuckled softly and kissed her cheek, "You’re really sharp."

Sienna was thrilled; Montparnasse Tower and Lumeria Sky Restaurant were renowned. Even if Simon hadn’t taken her today, she would have made time tomorrow to experience the Lumeria night view from up high.

Simon checked his watch, "The restaurant starts seating at seven, and it’s only five now. Let’s check out the observation deck first."

This plan suited Sienna perfectly, filling her with both joy and anticipation.

.

The car stopped in front of Montparnasse Tower, and they took an elevator to the observation deck almost two hundred meters high. The observation hall was lively, modern, and comfortable.

Sienna walked to the window, gazing over the endless Lumeria streetscape.

She pointed out buildings she recognized from TV, movies, and pictures with excitement, "Les Invalides, Montmartre, Centre Pompidou..."

Simon followed her gaze, translating each place into French as she mentioned them, "les Invalides, Montmartre, le centre Pompidou..."

"And Notre Dame Cathedral!" Sienna tugged Simon over to see the grand, light gray-yellow building in the distance, "I first read ’The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’ in fifth grade, back when I didn’t understand its deeper themes, just that it was a tragic story. In college, reading the English version amidst the contexte of Francia’s political history, I grasped the author’s message..."

Simon also looked at the cathedral, a gentle smile on his lips, "The Lumeria Cathedral, Notre-Dame. ’The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’ is one of my favorite novels. Funny enough, I first read it in fifth grade too..."

"Don’t we have that book at home?" Sienna turned to ask.

Simon nodded.

She linked arms with him affectionately, "When we get back, let’s read it together again?"

"Alright."

At that moment, Lumeria was witnessing the sunset.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the viewing deck, they could gaze at the entire city of fashion. The distant blue sky was slowly being tinted and blended with a great swath of glorious clouds on the western side, until the whole sky seemed to ignite.

This was the warmest moment before darkness fell.

Sienna, wrapping her arms around Simon’s waist and resting her head lightly on his shoulder, suddenly exclaimed excitedly at the magnificence before her, "I’ve decided!"

"Decided what?"

"Starting tomorrow, I’m going to take good care of myself, eat more vegetables and less meat. I want to live until I’m eighty! I hope that when I’m eighty and you’re eighty-five, we can still stand here watching the Lumeria sunset!"

Simon’s lips curved into a slow smile as he teased her cheek, "You might forget that resolution after a night’s sleep."

"I’m serious...!"

"Yes, I know, at this moment, it’s real. I’ll ask you again tomorrow..."

"Hmph! Go ahead and ask!"

.

The sun slowly sank to the west, where red and black interwove, and the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, everything in Lumeria shimmered with lights, golden lights seeping through the darkness, extending along the city’s axis all the way to the horizon, as if ready to set both heaven and earth ablaze.

At the stroke of the hour, the tower’s beacon lights constantly rotated, illuminating the distant sky as if the brightest star in the night.

Seated in "The Lumeria Restaurant" over two hundred meters high, overlooking the resplendent nightscape of the City of Lumeria, this overwhelming sensation was akin to dining with the divine.

A corner of the window-side table held delicate champagne roses, and in the translucent goblets, the dark red wine was as captivating as Lumeria’s night.

Sienna raised her glass, sipping lightly, smiling with slightly upturned lips, closing her eyes and shaking her head, expressing enjoyment.

A little tipsy, she half-closed her eyes, a blush on her cheeks, her voice softer and more delicate than when sober, "This wine is so good! Should we buy this to serve when we host back home?"

Simon paused from cutting his steak, looked at her, and chuckled, "This wine isn’t up to par."

"As long as it tastes good!" Sienna protested, cheeks flushed, "I don’t care! I just want this one!"

"We’re going to The South of France the day after tomorrow. There will be better wine there, no need to rush."

"No! I just want this one!"

When she’s this hard to persuade, it’s definitely due to being drunk.

Simon conceded reluctantly, "Fine, we’ll take two bottles with us now, and order in bulk directly from the producer later."

Having her wish granted, Sienna grinned ear to ear, drained the last of her red wine, and began patting her cheeks.

Seeing her like this, Simon worried the alcohol might hit her harder later, prompting him to settle the bill swiftly and take her away.