The beautiful days of Christmas, adorned with lights and decorations.

When Paris awakens in its metropolitan glow, amidst a sea of lights.

The magnificent night view of the Champs-Élysées, Paris's most bustling avenue. On December 24th, I returned to Paris from Taiwan, carrying ideals fulfilled and a traveler's weary body, back to my gentle haven in Paris. Though slightly fatigued, I was quite excited; this feeling, like a fish returning to the sea, is indescribably profound. Paris has become my hometown because it holds my greatest love, the place where I grew, a space where I can fully express my talent and energy, and above all, my life's safe harbor and warmest home. Returning to the embrace of those I love most is the most beautiful thing; the heart that goes home feels the happiest. Standing at this artistic peak, witnessing truth, goodness, and beauty, simply embracing my dearest ones—living without regret in such extraordinary circumstances is the ultimate beauty.

Christmas is an annual family reunion night for Westerners, cherishing beautiful moments in life. From the airport to outside my residence, the dimness reveals a festive atmosphere of joyful holiday lights. Inside, our living room also features a small Christmas tree adorned with little bells and ornaments, surrounded by orderly arranged shoes and gifts of various sizes, truly indicating that Christmas has taken residence in our home. Tonight's Christmas Eve plans were set long ago: visiting friends' home in Sceaux, just outside Paris. After lunch, I took advantage of the midday hours to rest well. With my tired body, I unknowingly drifted into sleep. Around 8 PM, my wife brought Christmas pastries, and I carried gifts from Taiwan as we went to the feast.

Sharing this joyous and celebratory Christmas Eve with friends, we drank champagne, raised glasses to wish each other a Merry Christmas and good fortune. We then enjoyed smoked duck meat and goat cheese salad. In this rare opportunity, we tasted delicious pork offal sausages paired with colorful vegetables, a famous dish from Bourgogne, France. Enhanced by rich red wine from northern France, the flavors were even more pronounced. The French are indeed gourmets who understand the delicacies and textures of food; this has become a unique cultural tradition of France. Following this were unique traditional Christmas Eve desserts, including a bûche de Noël (Yule log cake) shaped like wood, decorated with small snowman statues and fir trees, symbolizing the cold winter holidays. While eating and chatting about my trip to Taiwan, France, Paris, the world, and people and things I've encountered, we unknowingly reached two o'clock in the early morning hours, having thoroughly enjoyed the Christmas celebration.

In the quiet depth of the cold winter night, a friend drove us home. Upon arriving, we exchanged Christmas gifts under the small Christmas tree. In today's society where material goods are abundant, gifts should be practical. I presented two glazed glass necklaces made by the Paiwan indigenous people from Sandimen, Taiwan, expressing my highest regards and wishing my dearest ones a Merry Christmas.