Jung jianguo drove downtown to S City Academy of Arts. Following Xue's instructions He drove down the street and stopped at the Noddles restaurant behind the Academy.
They got down from the car and walked into the restaurant. The restaurant was almost empty save for three female student that were having their breakfast so they didn't bother wearing a mask and sun glasses.
They took a seat in a hidden corner away from prying eyes. As soon as they were seated the waiter came over and took their orders.
"wow this is a surprise, I had no idea there was a restaurant behind the Academy" Jung jianguo said looking around.
The restaurant was very knit and cozy. It was designed to give the feel of home it seamed. It seemed to be a family ran restaurant as the waiter and the grandma preparing the meals looked similar.
"No everyone knows of it except maybe students. Grandma's Kitchen is a well known restaurant that sells tasty Noddles at an affordable price. During my years in the academy I always ate lunch and dinner here" Cue Meili said feeling nostalgic.
"Just lunch and dinner" he said.
"Yes Grandma's Kitchen opens at midmorning by then most students would be having their lectures. Which is why there are no crowds now by noon the whole place would be booming. Wow this place hasn't changed even after all these years" Xue Meili said smiling and looking around.
The waiter soon came over with their orders. After serving them he left.
"Wow the food still tastes familiar. mmm thus is so good. Come-on darling dig in you will love the food is delicious" Xue Meili said after taking a bit of the meal.
"So what do you think darling. You like" she said after he took his first bite.
"It's good" He replied.
"I told you so. Darling stick to me and I will get you something sweet" she said placing some dishes in his plate.
After eating their meals they paid and left the restaurant. Xue Meili began to show him around the campus. She showed him some Hot spots while sharing some interesting stories from her time in school.
Jung jianguo could see that she really enjoyed her stay here and had some fun memories. Her face always lit up as she talked about everything, he could tell that she was very proud of her alma mater.
He hadn't been opportune to go to an acting academy. He had sturdy at a business school abroad so he did have any fun memories of taking part in plays and other festivals but as she told her stories he felt like he had experienced it all.
He may not have gone to any performing arts academy but he had been invited by a few as a guest speaker in induction, graduation and anniversary ceremonies.
"How does it feel coming her again years after graduation" he heard himself ask suddenly.
He had been thinking about that and didn't know when he'd mistakenly said it out.
"It feel good actually. I think I see everything much differently than I did back then that I was in school. My Experience here really helped me prepare for the future. I owe my success now to my teachers back then" she said after a few minutes of silence.
"I heard that you were quite the student back then. You were so good that one of your professors recommended you for a role in a production a few years back. But his not lecturing her anymore. Have you been in touch with him since then, I haven't heard you talk about him since we've been together not even now that you are back" He stopped at the middle of the field and turned around to face her.
"We speak over the phone and exchange emails once in a while. We haven't met one on one not since that year, he also got implicated by the event of two years ago. That's was why he isn't lecturing anymore. He lost his job but his has been doing well since then" she said after some time.
This conversation had brought back some of the bad memories she had hoped to forget but that did seem possible. She had finally moved it far from her thoughts but coming her had brought it all forward.
"Am sorry for making you talk about that, I know you don't like to remember everything. Forget we don't have to talk about this, let's go somewhere else" He said seeing the sad look on her face.
"No jianguo it's alright, am good It doesn't hurt as much" She said quickly.
"Even though we don't have to talk about this. let's talk about something else" he said.
"No I think it's good that we are talking about this. I can't pretend that it never happened. I have to get over it all if I want to move on. If I must talk about it all with someone then it has to be you. I prefer it to be you, I can't keep pretending that it never happened when it is still affecting me till now" she said with a sad smile.
"I guess your right" he replied. "Yes didn't anyone tell you that your wife is always right" she said smiling.
"That's true" he replied.
"Do you know that I haven't been here since then not for any event. I haven't been invited to any one.
They had removed me as an ambassador as soon as the scandal broke and given it to someone else. This is my alma mater but am not even welcome here. I wasn't even invited to the upcoming anniversary event" She said.
"If they don't see your worth then that's their loss. My Meili is the best, you don't need them to tell you that and one day the world will see you for what you are. Your a rare germ, Your unique and no one can ever replace you. I don't care what the world says to me your a germ. I will always have your back no matter what. You remember that, No matter what I Jung jianguo loves you not even death can change that. You are mine" He said drawing her into his hands.
They stayed that way for a while before leaving and heading back to their car