Shi Xinxin looked at the humble restaurant, and she became curious, wondering what magical things were inside.
Yue Ran opened the car door and got out. Shi Xinxin tidied her skirt and followed him. The small restaurant was an ordinary Chinese restaurant. As they pushed open the door, they heard a greasy, middle-aged voice.
"Hey, Ah Ran, what brings you here?" A middle-aged foreigner greeted Yue Ran in a Chinese dialect.
Yue Ran happily patted his shoulder. The two walked through the crowded hall and into a small private room.
The hall was filled with people of various skin colors. Shi Xinxin hadn't expected Yue Ran to be someone who liked Chinese food. The aroma in the entire hall had already made her mouth water.
Yue Ran pulled out a chair for Shi Xinxin. The private room was not as noisy as the outer hall, but it had a warm, home-like feeling.
Yue Ran handed the menu to Shi Xinxin. Shi Xinxin looked at the dishes on the menu; they were all home-style Chinese dishes.
The greasy foreigner walked in again.
"Hi, Old Zhang, you're getting fatter. Your belly looks like you've eaten all our dinner," Yue Ran joked. Shi Xinxin found his exaggerated tone amusing.
This man was the head chef of the Chinese restaurant and Yue Ran's former college classmate. Shi Xinxin couldn't help but exclaim, "Yue Ran, how old are you?"
They opened a bottle of Tsingtao beer. After a few rounds of drinks, Yue Ran called the waiter to order. Shi Xinxin asked, "Why are we only ordering now?"
Yue Ran replied, "I'm waiting for you to feel a bit better before we eat. Don't bring your bad mood into the food, okay?"
Shi Xinxin nodded, and then they started chatting about some interesting stories. Yue Ran told Shi Xinxin many amusing things from his university days. He said he used to skip classes with the chef. They couldn't climb over the high wall. He and the chef had been friends since childhood. After graduating from university, the chef went to China, and Yue Ran entered the entertainment industry.
Listening to Yue Ran recount these anecdotes, Shi Xinxin felt much better. Soon after the food was served, her worries vanished. The dishes were incredibly delicious.
Braised crucian carp was Shi Xinxin's favorite. She almost finished the whole fish by herself. The stir-fried green vegetables were sweet and crisp, something she had never tasted abroad before. Shi Xinxin playfully complained to Yue Ran, "How could you not bring me to such a delicious restaurant sooner!!"
Yue Ran smiled and said, "Eat up quickly. Can't this delicious food shut you up?"
The two of them wiped out all five dishes. When Shi Xinxin saw the chef again, she thought he looked remarkably majestic.
They walked through the lobby again. Shi Xinxin looked at the diners and said, "Next time, we must eat in the main hall. Listen to the sizzling sound of the stir-fry; it just sounds delicious."
Yue Ran was also very happy seeing Shi Xinxin's innocent expression. After they left, they were both reluctant to part.
Yue Ran drove Shi Xinxin home. He asked her, "Don't overthink Liu Jia's situation. Those who deserve pity are often detestable. If you hadn't exposed her back then, she would have harmed more people. She has to bear the consequences of her own actions."
Yue Ran's words made Shi Xinxin see things clearly. At that moment, she realized she had been overthinking. Liu Jia should indeed face the consequences of her deeds. She leaned against the car window, the wind blowing on her face, and looked at the stars in the sky, feeling incredibly relieved.
Seeing that Shi Xinxin's mood had improved, Yue Ran also felt at ease. He knew Shi Xinxin had always been a strong girl and didn't need to worry too much. He was unsure if he was doing a good job as her brother, but he only wished Shi Xinxin happiness every day.
Soon, Yue Ran brought Shi Xinxin home. Shi Xinxin thanked Yue Ran and saw him off. Shi Xinxin took a shower and sat on the sofa. She looked at the moon outside her window, wanting to stop thinking so much. She felt that doing her work to the best of her ability was what mattered most now.
"Ding ding ding." Her phone suddenly rang.
Shi Xinxin picked up her phone, puzzled.
"Hello, Xinxin, I have a TV show invitation from a domestic program for you to return to China and perform," her agent said anxiously. He knew about the slander Shi Xinxin had faced in the domestic entertainment industry. Initially, he hadn't wanted to work with Shi Xinxin, but reality had surprised him; Shi Xinxin was arguably the best artist he had ever met.
When Shi Xinxin's agent received the notification, he immediately felt it would put Shi Xinxin in a difficult position. However, he couldn't decline it on his own, and the matter had dragged on until now.
Upon hearing this news, Shi Xinxin's heart leaped into her throat. What's more, the decision date was fast approaching.
Shi Xinxin had never imagined facing Sheng Chenjin again. She felt she wasn't ready to see him again. Although her acting skills had improved significantly, and she had gained some recognition abroad, she felt she was still not good enough for Sheng Chenjin. She didn't know why she always felt inferior to him.
Shi Xinxin hung up the phone, feeling dejected. She asked for more time to consider, not wanting to miss the chance to reunite with Sheng Chenjin, because she knew she still deeply loved him, a love that was etched into her bones and heart.
Shi Xinxin was extremely disheartened. She scrolled through her phone's contact list, looking at the few people she knew, and felt a surge of panic. She felt she needed help. Should she return to China or not?
Shi Xinxin first shared the news with Yue Ran. Yue Ran came to see her the next day. He took her to a coffee shop, where they ordered coffee and sat down.
There was a rare hint of anxiety in Yue Ran's eyes; he clearly didn't want Shi Xinxin to leave. He asked, "When do you leave?"
Yue Ran knew Shi Xinxin would go back because she deeply loved that man. Shi Xinxin was a strong and brave girl who would give up a lot for love. As her brother figure, he didn't know what else he could do besides support her. He felt his emotions were as bitter as the coffee in front of him.
Seeing Yue Ran's dejection, Shi Xinxin quickly comforted him, "I haven't decided whether to go back yet."
Yue Ran said with a bitter smile, "If you don't go back, will you be content?"
Shi Xinxin lowered her head and remained silent. Yue Ran felt a pang of sympathy seeing her like this. He gently stroked her head and said, "It's okay, I believe you can figure everything out."
After they parted, Shi Xinxin called Wen Xiaoxiao. Wen Xiaoxiao answered the phone quickly.
"Hello, Xiaoxiao." Shi Xinxin's voice couldn't hide her dejection.