On the road, after lamenting the magic of luck cards, Xia Qingtian suddenly remembered she had another luck card that could be stacked. So, she decided to use it in conjunction with the first one.
From the city to Camille's estate in the Parisian suburbs, not a single red light was encountered; the entire journey was incredibly smooth.
Upon arriving at Camille's estate, Xia Qingtian met the world-renowned Madame Camille.
Even on her own estate, Camille's attire was impeccably elegant.
A black and white color-blocked gown with a voluminous Rococo-inspired skirt, expertly tailored, gracefully accentuated Madame Camille's figure.
Her brown hair, neatly pinned at the nape of her neck, was clean and sharp. The white pearl earrings she wore, round and lustrous, complemented her face, subtly enhancing her beauty.
At first glance, one would undoubtedly notice Madame Camille's pair of lively brown eyes, which seemed to see through everything yet reveal nothing, exuding an air of mystery and elegance.
Of course, her full lips, curving upwards like a cat's, adorned with a bold lipstick, radiated a striking beauty.
With just one look, Xia Qingtian felt that Madame Camille was undeniably the godmother of fashion.
She was acutely aware of her own advantages and could effortlessly highlight her most captivating beauty at any moment.
"Welcome, my guest." While Xia Qingtian was appraising Madame Camille, Madame Camille was also appraising Xia Qingtian.
Not a traditional Oriental beauty, but undeniably a young woman whose appearance left an unforgettable impression after just one meeting.
She liked the smile on Xia Qingtian's face, which appeared confident and cheerful. She must be a well-educated young lady from a prominent family.
"Thank you very much for your invitation," Xia Qingtian said, exchanging pleasantries with Madame Camille.
Upon hearing Xia Qingtian's French pronunciation, Madame Camille's eyes lit up. She affectionately took Xia Qingtian's arm and led her inside.
Li Mengxiao, unable to understand the conversation between Xia Qingtian and Madame Camille, followed at a respectful distance.
The room was adorned with lush floral arrangements, a dazzling crystal chandelier, and a magnificent domed hall. Through the bright windows, a vast and open garden could be seen.
"At dawn, you can see the golf course in the distance," Madame Camille said, following Xia Qingtian's gaze towards the window.
"This estate is very beautiful," Xia Qingtian commented with admiration.
Although the Xia family owned an estate, its style of decoration and land area were inferior to this Camille estate by more than a small margin.
Hearing Xia Qingtian's unreserved praise, Madame Camille chuckled softly and said, "One must make the place they spend their days and nights pleasant to their liking."
Xia Qingtian wholeheartedly agreed with this sentiment.
Madame Camille glanced at the food before Xia Qingtian and smiled, "I hope today's dinner suits your taste."
"It's wonderful," Xia Qingtian replied with a smile. "The Bordeaux red wine pairs perfectly with this beef in white sauce; its aroma is very rich."
Xia Qingtian didn't eat French cuisine much, mainly finding it too troublesome.
Each dish was paired with a different wine, and each wine was paired with different appetizers, which were then paired with different sauces, and those sauces would be complemented by yet another wine for the next bite...
In the end, one wouldn't know whether they were full or drunk first.
"The almond cream puffs are also quite good, with a rich and soft texture."
Although it was troublesome to eat, the taste was indeed excellent.
"I'm glad you like it," Madame Camille said, a smile on her lips. She genuinely liked girls who appreciated good food.
Xia Qingtian enjoyed the dinner immensely, while Li Mengxiao felt quite dizzy. Before she had even taken a few bites of the current course, her cutlery was whisked away, and the next course was served.
Of all the wine glasses, she had only managed to take a sip from one!
Just then, a loud bang echoed from upstairs. Li Mengxiao was startled and immediately looked in the direction of the sound.
Xia Qingtian turned her gaze to Madame Camille.
"My apologies, there is a rather disobedient large dog upstairs." Madame Camille first offered Xia Qingtian a gentle smile, then gave her butler, Warner Norman, a look.
Warner Norman immediately understood and hurried upstairs to see what was happening.
After dinner, Madame Camille had maids escort Xia Qingtian and Li Mengxiao to their rooms to rest.
Watching Xia Qingtian's retreating back, Madame Camille nodded in satisfaction. She had been quite curious about the woman who had prompted Mobius, who seemed indifferent to everything, to specifically call and ask her to take good care of her.
Now, it seemed, she was indeed very good.
Beautiful, elegant, and poised.
A perfectly accomplished young lady of high society.
"Madame, are you very satisfied with Ms. Xia?" Warner Norman asked, standing beside Madame Camille. "If she were to be the spokesperson for K&S..."
"She won't do," Madame Camille said, shaking her head. "Her beauty is very templated, the type of standard socialite. This season's K&S designs are more wild and unpredictable; I need a girl with more individuality."
"Yes," Warner Norman replied, not surprised by Madame Camille's words, and said nothing more.
In the realm of "beauty," Madame Camille was almost pathologically driven by a sharp, almost obsessive pursuit, whether for herself or for others.
Perhaps talented people were all like this.
Led by a maid, Xia Qingtian and Li Mengxiao walked to the inner part of the second floor, to the room by the edge of the second staircase railing.
As the door to the room opened, the two were greeted by a faint floral scent.
"Please rest well, guests. The telephone in the room connects to the maid's quarters. If you have any needs, please dial extension 01," the maid said before leaving.
After the maid departed, Xia Qingtian and Li Mengxiao entered the room. As soon as the door was closed, Li Mengxiao couldn't help but exclaim, "Qingtian, this is even more luxurious than the hotel with the Eiffel Tower view we stayed at before! Even the lights on the ceiling look like the sun..."
"It's just classic Art Deco decorative patterns," Xia Qingtian said, walking directly towards her luggage.
Madame Camille's staff was quite reliable; the luggage had been delivered.
"What is Art Deco?" Li Mengxiao asked curiously.
"How to explain it... Have you seen 'The Great Gatsby'?" Xia Qingtian said. "The architectural style in 'The Great Gatsby' is typical Art Deco."
"Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit similar," Li Mengxiao said. "What were you and Madame Camille talking about earlier? I didn't understand a word."
"It's fine if you didn't understand; it was just polite conversation," Xia Qingtian said, taking out a set of sportswear from her luggage. "I'm going to exercise."
"Exercise? Now?" Li Mengxiao was taken aback. "Exercise right after dinner? And this is Camille's estate... wouldn't that be a bit presumptuous?"
"I also think it's not ideal, but..." Xia Qingtian tilted her head and blinked her eyes, saying, "I don't know why, but I have a strong premonition right now telling me I should go exercise."