Stepping inside the glamorous private restaurant, the waiter guided them into a table. The restaurant that they visited is a 3-star Michelin Restaurant that mostly caters to elites and most famous celebrities. Paparazzi are all stopped at the gate by the guards and there's less chances of rumors spreading since the employees here are well trained and had strict personality exam before they get hired.
That's why this restaurant is the favorite place of multiple couples secretly dating or for those who just wants some privacy.
Although she was used to eating at this kind of places ever since she was young, she still felt her heart breaking in pain knowing how expensive the dishes being served here. Although there are no prices listed on the menu, just by that fact, you could clearly differentiate it from an ordinary and average restaurant.
Han Di Xi sat opposite of hers while their managers each sat next to the two of them.
"It's been quite a while since I've last visited here." Han Di Xi started, trying to start a conversation. Jiang Ai Yue was very polite and responded.
"Me too. It's been to busy to even remember eating though. Especially that the Film Festival is approaching in just a few months."
Pausing their conversation a bit to relay their orders to the server, they quickly continued chatting about their recent schedules and random topics. The two of them got more comfortable with each other after talking with a lot of topics.
"It's really difficult every time before filming. There's a lot of stunts to practice accompanied by proper diet and exercise. I am a sweet tooth myself but I have to hold back because of our upcoming filming this time." He then took a bite of his rose pasta.
She lifted her head after digesting the spoonful of risotto. "Oh yeah, I remember you do have quite a lot of action scenes to film for the historical part. Are you not going for a body double?"
Han Di Xi shook his head. "If possible, I really want to do the stunts myself since it's more believable and I'd feel a better sense of accomplishment for that. But I'm pretty sure there'll be some stunts that I wouldn't even be able to do myself, for example on that one scene where I have to jump off from a cliff."
"Weren't we gonna do that with green screen?"
"I think so. But I have a fear of heights so I doubt I could even jump off from it."Even Han Di Xi felt a bit embarrassed when he said that. After all, there's only a few guys who're scared of heights.
"I think anyone would be scared though. I remembered having a lot of NGs way back in time when I have to film rolling downhill. It was really high and I was so scared that I would bump my head on anything, bleed and die." Remembering that memory made her shudder in fear. She was still able to finish the scene successfully but with cuts and bruises all over her arms and legs.
She was scared, but she couldn't bring herself to give up and have the stunt double do it for her. She was still at her 2nd year of entering the acting industry and she really thought of doing that scene sincerely for the audience. Perhaps if she did not do that, she wouldn't gain the respect of the director and the crew who helped her out on doing that scene.
Maybe, she wouldn't even have the guts to do more than just rolling down the hill if she gave up on that. Now, she even dared to jump off from a plane and other similar extreme stuff.
Before parting ways, the two of them exchanged WeChat numbers. Jiang Ai Yue waited in the underground parking lot for the van so that the paparazzi waiting outside of the building wouldn't be able to spot her or anyone else. She just got off clean from a rumor the other day, she wouldn't dare cause another one to explode.
She quickly rode the vehicle and went home. When the car stopped at a stoplight, she saw a street food stand from her window. It was full of yummy things she liked to eat especially the candied haws for dessert. Should she go and buy one before going home?
"You can drop me off a block away from the building." She instructed the driver. He followed her instructions and dropped her off just a few walks away from the building.
Jiang Ai Yue was wearing her mask and cap to hide her face when she got off the vehicle. After walking and turning to a few blocks here and there, she reached the familiar stand that she usually goes to.
"Good afternoon, Grandma Xi." Jiang Ai Yue greeted the elderly woman who was slouching a little bit while sitting. She was fanning herself with a fan in hopes to fight off the heat and constantly wiped the sweat rolling down from her forehead with her hand.
"Aiya, Little Yue, welcome back. And you're a bit early this time." Grandma Xi greeted her with a big smile on her face. Jiang Ai Yue really loved Grandma Xi's candied haws that she's been going back here for almost 3 years.
"You know how much I love your food! I'll buy 3 candied haws please." Jiang Ai Yue grabbed a handkerchief from her bag and handed it to the elder. "Use this, Grandma Xi."
The elder shook her head vigorously when she saw the light pink square cloth. "I can't use such thing, Little Yue. I'm really fine. I'm afraid I might get your handkerchief dirty instead. It really looks expensive too."
Jiang Ai Yue helplessly smiled at the humble elder and forced the cloth to the elder's hand. "Grandma, this handkerchief is meant to be used and get dirty you know. So don't fret and just use it comfortably." The elder knew how pushy Jiang Ai Yue could be and gratefully accepted the handkerchief.
She then pulled out a paper box to pack the 3 candied haws. "Little Yue, why aren't you with your handsome boyfriend today? The two of you normally come together. Did the two of you fight?"
Jiang Ai Yue felt flustered from the elder's words and quickly denied her statement. "Grandma, I told you, SyaoRan's not my boyfriend." Pouting at the elder, Grandma Xi gave her a knowing smile instead of listening to her statement.
"Couples fighting once in awhile is good too. It will help strengthen your relationship but at the end of the day, it's better not to sleep on the bed if the two of you haven't talked it out or else you'll relationship will get strained." Grandma Xi gave Jiang Ai Yue a heartfelt advice about love relationship and Jiang Ai Yue's mouth was left hanging open from being speechless. She didn't even listen to what she said and Grandma Xi quickly assumed that they were fighting?!
No, that's not the main point.
She didn't listen to her when she said they weren't together!!
Ai Yue was always left to tears every time she tries to clarify her relationship with SyaoRan to Grandma Xi. She never believed her from the very start and was very sure that the two of them are dating... and from her previous statement, she even assumed that they are already living together.
Jiang Ai Yue was completely flustered and didn't even know how to react. She even blushed from embarrassment when she imagined herself living together with SyaoRan. It was really.... far fetched! Chen SyaoRan doesn't even see her that way so how could that happen.
Ai Yue felt like kneeling in front of Grandma Xi right now. Will she listen if she explained it to her with tears in her eyes?