In the sa location, two restaurants stood side by side—one bustling with activity, the other eerily quiet. The contrast was stark; a less resilient owner might have closed shop long ago. As Ji Yaoguang and Chang Yu ca downstairs, the proprietress was still sitting in her original spot, reading. The chatty young girl was likely helping in the kitchen. The proprietress nodded and smiled at them, without offering any polite small talk.
"It's a sha for such a good restaurant to be overlooked. Should we—" Ji Yaoguang's words were cut short as she glimpsed a woman exiting the restaurant across the street. From a distance, the face in her mind's eye was blurry, but the figure slowly overlapped with an image from her mory. Her heart skipped a beat, and her face, hidden behind layers of concealnt, suddenly paled. The person who should appear would appear, and that person existed in this world too, didn't they? Full of unease, she glanced at Chang Yu, seeing confusion in her eyes but no trace of that woman's image. Ji Yaoguang finally relaxed. She hadn't divorced Chang Yu, so there was no opportunity for others to interfere. Breathing a sigh of relief, she covered her mouth and coughed lightly, continuing her previous topic, "Should we help promote 'Spring Banquet'?"
"It might put Yu Sheng in a difficult position," Chang Yu turned to look at the long string of red lanterns swaying in the wind, her eyes filled with regret. Although they hadn't visited the restaurant across the street, Lu Yu Sheng had praised it endlessly and beco friends with its owner. If they were to praise "Spring Banquet," who knows what issues it might cause. Moreover, from what Zhao Xi in the store had said, the two establishnts were at odds. It was unclear what the owner across the street might have said during her livestreams.
"Mm," Ji Yaoguang nodded slightly, agreeing with Chang Yu's words. The proprietress's attitude revealed a calm acceptance of circumstances, while the young girl inside seed more anxious. In today's society, the saying that good wine needs no bush is just empty talk. If the proprietress were willing, surely this restaurant wouldn't be in such dire straits.
Upon returning ho, Chang Yu automatically assud the glorious duty of "litter box cleaner." Her eyes seed to have several automatic filters, unable to see the ugliness of the little kitten—perhaps it would compete with her for affection. A sense of crisis arose in her heart but was quickly dispelled by another, more intense emotion. That figure remained ever-present in her mind; the image she had seen initially was a switch that triggered all her emotions. She was unwilling and resentful, harboring hatred for herself and resentnt towards Chang Yu's perceived indifference. These feelings erupted like a geyser in her heart. Even now, with a new opportunity before her, she still felt unsettled. Who was that woman? What was her relationship with Chang Yu? Why were they so intimate? These questions would forever remain unanswered. They say to cherish the present and those before you, but she couldn't help but reminisce, allowing a layer of gloom to gradually envelop her heart.
Sitting on the sofa with her laptop, Ji Yaoguang opened Lu Yu Sheng's Weibo and found the link to the livestream room. As a food strear, she had already amassed nearly a million followers, all gained in recent tis—a truly terrifying growth rate. The livestream room was empty now; it wasn't ti yet.
An Muyu, 26 years old, owner of the restaurant "Heart at Peace," with an attached link.
Her profile was extrely concise. Clicking the link didn't lead to her restaurant's hopage but to a short video—an interview from a program called "Flavors of Mountains and Seas." As the clear face and crisp voice gradually enlarged on screen, Ji Yaoguang drew in a sharp breath, her hand holding the mouse trembling slightly. This woman's deanor was elegant and composed, her speech quite appropriate. If she were an unrelated stranger, Ji Yaoguang might have given her performance a thumbs up. Unfortunately, this woman was a knot in Ji Yaoguang's heart, or perhaps a demon.
—What's the intention behind choosing to locate your restaurant in a small alley and naming it "Heart at Peace"?
—I'm not a local. The na ans "where the heart is at peace is my ho." As for choosing a secluded alley, it's probably a bit of contradiction in my personality. I long for tranquility yet cannot completely detach from the bustling world. After all, without people, all my achievents cannot be shared with others.
—If I may ask, where did you learn your culinary skills? So who have been to "Spring Banquet" say your dishes are very similar, just with different nas.
—It's a kind of family heritage, I suppose. My parents were in this industry, and I've loved being in the kitchen since childhood. As for the similarity in dishes, that's absolutely a coincidence. My recipes all co from ancient thods, combined with modern elents and improvents. Perhaps Owner Xie and I have read the sa ancient book.
—I heard you're friends with music industry icon Lu Yu Sheng. How did you two et? Is it a fan and idol relationship?
—What I'm about to say might ruin our icon's image, but I still want to say it. Yu Sheng is simply a foodie. Our connection, of course, is through food. A sumptuous feast is indeed hard to refuse. As for my idol, well, that's soone else.
—Oh? Would you mind revealing your idol's na?
—She's not just my idol, but everyone's idol. Her na is Chang Yu.
Ji Yaoguang couldn't bear to watch any further. Her mind was filled with An Muyu's words and her confident deanor as she declared Chang Yu as her idol. Even now, she still harbored fantasies about Chang Yu, didn't she? With a mutual acquaintance, the two would inevitably co into contact sooner or later.
The mouse slid to the floor with a thud, startling Siren out of Chang Yu's arms. Chang Yu also noticed the person on the sofa in a daze, looking as if she might throw the laptop away at any mont. What had she seen to display such shock and panic? Chang Yu frowned and walked towards Ji Yaoguang. The video on screen continued to change, and so useful information could be gleaned from the subtitles. Ji Yaoguang's excessive concern about the restaurant owner was strange. Connecting so dots, Chang Yu's expression suddenly darkened. She blinked, concealing the turmoil in her eyes, and pointed at the face on the screen, asking coldly, "Do you know this person?"
Ji Yaoguang didn't respond. Only when Chang Yu repeated the question did she snap out of her trance. Placing the laptop on the coffee table, she knelt on the sofa, grabbing Chang Yu's hand, and murmured, "What do you think of this person? Is she attractive?"
Puzzled like a monk grasping at straws, Chang Yu's gaze towards Ji Yaoguang was full of suspicion. She didn't understand why Ji Yaoguang was asking, or what anings were hidden in this question. After a while, she pressed her lips together and said, "I don't know her." Like the countless strangers one passes by.
Ji Yaoguang breathed a sigh of relief. After pondering for a mont, she added, "An Muyu is your fan. In the interview, she said you're her idol."
Seemingly understanding Ji Yaoguang's thoughts, though her reaction seed excessive, Chang Yu curled her lips and held Ji Yaoguang's hand, saying softly, "Don't you have many fans too?" Both inside and outside the industry.
"This is different," Ji Yaoguang shook her head, her expression sowhat lancholic.
"How is it different?" Chang Yu sat down beside her, asking curiously. To her, the restaurant owner was just an identity. Even if a bigger title were added to a stranger's na, they would still be a stranger. To show such a sense of crisis towards such a person? Was Ji Yaoguang's inner tension too high? Did she still bring her insecurity? Had that conversation not truly put her mind at ease? For a mont, Chang Yu thought Ji Yaoguang might start being unreasonable again. Her expression cooled, but compared to her past silence, she also began to look for reasons within herself.
At this mont, Ji Yaoguang was like a frightened bird, any little movent could push her into a state of collapse. Her grip on Chang Yu's hand gradually tightened, as if only this way could she feel the presence of the person beside her. The pain from her fingers spread throughout her body, and Chang Yu endured silently, allowing Ji Yaoguang this unintentional release.
"I had a dream," Ji Yaoguang said as she released her hand, the topic seemingly turning in another direction. Of course, she couldn't tell Chang Yu everything; perhaps even she couldn't distinguish whether it was truly a dream. As she spoke, her mood was very low, her reddened eyes brewing with tears.
"Dreams are just illusions," Chang Yu reached out and held her in her arms, gently patting her back. The body in her embrace was sowhat stiff. Her fingers caressed up and down Ji Yaoguang's spine until her body softened. Only then did she continue to ask, "What did you dream about?"
"I dread that you divorced ," Ji Yaoguang choked out. "We had no contact for three years, and when I finally saw you, you were embracing another woman. That woman was An Muyu."
Her tone shifted from grievance to carrying a hint of accusation, leaving Chang Yu at a loss for words. It was just a dream, there was no need to dwell on it. Judging by Ji Yaoguang's deanor, the pain far exceeded what a dream could bring. This wasn't the first ti she had witnessed such intense insecurity from her. Her emotions had been unstable those days, with a calm facade masking her true state. Back then, Ji Yaoguang's unreasonable behavior had hurt both herself and others. Weren't the words she had spoken also weapons that inflicted harm? They had both been excessive... Chang Yu inwardly sighed, feeling sowhat defeated, not knowing how to lead Ji Yaoguang out of this state of insecurity and fear. At this mont, she could only stroke her back and say softly, "It was just a dream, all illusions."
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