Chapter 70: Please, Miss Xia, Miss Gu Has An Appointment With Me Tonight
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
2023 Ver.______
Since the scenes at the Xinghai Concert Hall were all set during the day, the crew finished the day's filming in the evening before dark.
Although she had a busy day, Gu Xizhi felt relatively relaxed because she finished work relatively early. As soon as she sat down to take off her makeup, she remembered Qu Xizhi's invitation yesterday.
For some reason, Qu Xizhi didn’t say a single unnecessary word to her during the day except for filming, and she looked very deserted. At night, it seemed like she suddenly turned into another person. As Gu Xizhi had just finished tidying up and was about to return to her car, Qu Xizhi was already blocking her car.
The last ray of sunshine in the evening was about to dissipate, and street lights were already lighting up in twos and threes on the street in the distance. The spring breeze brushed past, lifting Qu Xizhi's long hair and the hem of her skirt. She leaned against the car, her red lips beautiful and captivating, her demeanor graceful and relaxed, no longer resembling the character she portrayed in the film.
When Gu Xizhi walked up to her, the two exchanged a glance. Then, Qu Xizhi seemed to notice Xia Lili, who was accompanying Gu Xizhi. She greeted her, saying, "Please Miss Xia, Miss Gu has an appointment with me tonight."
Lili's face displayed a look of shock as if lightning had struck.
She glanced at Gu Xizhi first, then suppressed her emotions tightly and said wisely: "Oh, okay, I'll go back first."
Lili left in the car by herself. Qu Xizhi glanced at Gu Xizhi who was standing there and motioned to the black car next to her.
"Get in."
Gu Xizhi looked at the car and then at Qu Xizhi, saying, "Qu Xizhi, I agreed to go to the mall with you, but I have other plans tonight. I can't stay with you for too long, I hope you understand."
Regarding Qu Xizhi's invitation for tonight, Gu Xizhi hadn't explicitly accepted or declined, but she had already set her expectations.
Shopping is shopping, she has no obligation to do other things, and she must go back early tonight to prepare for tomorrow's scenes.
Tomorrow, there would be several scenes with veteran actors and actresses, which Gu Xizhi cared about a lot, so she wanted to prepare more.
Qu Xizhi didn't seem to care and said quickly: "Don't worry, it won't take up too much of your time."
The two got into the car, and the driver headed towards the city center. On the way, Qu Xizhi appeared relaxed, leaning back in the back seat and enjoying the scenery. She even initiated a conversation with Gu Xizhi.
"Today's scenes seemed to go very smoothly. Did you have everything planned?"
Gu Xizhi glanced at her.
Qu Xizhi was immersed in her role all day long, seemingly not caring about the performance of others, but it turned out that she was actually aware of her situation.
"I wouldn't say I had everything planned. This role is quite challenging for me, and I'll do my best," Gu Xizhi replied casually.
"Okay." Qu Xizhi looked at her with a smile, "It's rare to have an opponent like you, and I'm looking forward to every day ahead."
If Qu Xizhi said this in normal times, Gu Xizhi would interpret it as a compliment.
However, after encountering her strange temperament in recent days, Gu Xizhi was no longer sure whether the expectation she mentioned was as kindly intended as she understood it to be. She silently glanced at Qu Xizhi and then turned her head to look out of the window at the scenery without saying a word.
The car sped on.
After arriving at the largest Times Square in the city center, Gu Xizhi and Qu Xizhi took the elevator upstairs. As soon as they got upstairs, they conscientiously implemented the purpose of their trip.
She seemed focused, quickly finding several brands of shoes that Qu Xizhi usually liked to wear. Then, she carefully assessed how well each pair of shoes matched Qu Xizhi.
"Qu Xizhi, do you like these shoes?"
She actively recommended Qu Xizhi styles that she felt were good.
She had bought shoes for Qu Xizhi more than once in the past, and she actually knew something about her preferences and requirements, but after all, so much time had passed, and she didn't know whether her preferences had changed over time.
Qu Xizhi glanced at the shoes casually and said, "Okay."
Her response was somewhat ambiguous, and Gu Xizhi looked at her with an uncertain expression. "Do you want to try them on?"
Qu Xizhi's answer was still quite abstract. "It doesn't matter whether I try them on or not."
Gu Xizhi's expression became somewhat indescribable as she looked at her.
After thinking for a moment, Gu Xizhi put down the shoes and said to the clerk, "Wrap these shoes first, size 37.5, thank you."
The clerk then happily stepped forward to serve.
In the following time, Gu Xizhi still patiently selected shoes for Qu Xizhi. However, although she carefully asked Qu Xizhi's opinion every time, Qu Xizhi's feedback was similar to the first time. So after the two of them walked around, Gu Xizhi was still a little unsure when faced with a lot of shoes.
"Qu Xizhi, do you think this is enough?" She was asking if she was satisfied with the many shoes she bought today, and since she had been diligently choosing shoes for her, and whether she could retire successfully.
But Qu Xizhi's attention didn't seem to be there.
Just as they had exited the store, Qu Xizhi's attention was drawn to the jewelry displayed in the window of a luxury jewelry store across the street.
That jewelry store is the new favorite in the fashion world. Its beautiful styles and designs are in line with the aesthetics of contemporary young people. Gu Xizhi also frequents it.
Gu Xizhi looked at the jewelry store and then at Qu Xizhi. Seeing that she was fascinated by the jewelry displayed in the window, she thought of asking if she wanted to take a look.
At this time, Qu Xizhi seemed to have thought of something and said to Gu Xizhi: "Wait here for a moment, I will be back soon." After saying this, she went straight to the luxury jewelry store opposite, leaving Gu Xizhi standing there completely surprised.
Fortunately, Qu Xizhi didn't keep her waiting for too long.
A few minutes later, Qu Xizhi returned to Gu Xizhi, holding a small jewelry box in her hand.
She opened the box, revealing a pair of diamond earrings inside, and showed it to her: "Don't wear that pair of earrings, wear these from now on."
Her statement seemed to come out of the blue, leaving Gu Xizhi utterly puzzled. If she didn't actually have a pair of earrings in her hand that looked quite similar to the ones she had, she would have had no idea what Qu Xizhi was talking about.
The jewelry brand Qu Xizhi purchased recently released a batch of new models. One of the pairs of earrings looked very satisfactory to Gu Xizhi when she was shopping, so she bought it as a decoration for daily wear. In fact, it was just a small accessory, and Gu Xizhi didn't pay much attention to its value. However, even though Gu Xizhi didn't care, the diamonds on that pair of earrings were indeed a whole size smaller than the ones Qu Xizhi was holding.
So, does Qu Xizhi think her earrings are too shabby?
But how would Qu Xizhi even notice this? She had only worn that pair of earrings once on the morning they shot the first scene together
Gu Xizhi looked at her blankly and said nothing for a while.
Qu Xizhi stuffed the jewelry box directly into her bag.
On the top floor, there was a well-lit, luxuriously decorated, and dreamy western restaurant. In the warm, mysterious atmosphere of the dimly lit restaurant, "savourone," it looked like a castle from a fairy tale inhabited by wizards.
Qu Xizhi looked away from the restaurant, glanced at the time on her watch, and said to Gu Xizhi: "It only took less than half an hour to buy shoes. It's not too much to go have a meal together, right?"
Gu Xizhi came back to her senses and said, "A meal?"
Qu Xizhi said, "No matter what you're waiting for, eating is something we must do." She gestured in the direction of the upstairs, "Let's go together."
Gu Xizhi looked up and was slightly startled when she saw the western restaurant that looked like a castle.
In Gu Xizhi's impression, Qu Xizhi is not a person who likes to eat Western food.
Qu Xizhi doesn't have any eager needs for food. When they ate together in the past, Qu Xizhi was always the one who finished early. She didn't eat much, and she didn't pay much attention to various varieties, but generally speaking, she likes Chinese food more than Western food.
So when Qu Xizhi took the initiative to choose this Western restaurant, Gu Xizhi was actually a little surprised.
However, when they actually entered the restaurant, Gu Xizhi gained a better understanding of Qu Xizhi's choice. With various theme restaurants thriving nowadays, these luxurious restaurants, whether in terms of ambiance or the creativity of their dishes, captured people's hearts in various ways. This restaurant was no exception.
As the most distinctive restaurant in the entire building, it took the mystery and fantasy of the castle to the extreme. Through a series of windows, the shape of a pumpkin carriage divided the world into two. But once inside, the fairy tale princess elements were on full display.
Under the warm lighting, Snow White and the prince were dancing merrily in the magical forest, crossing the mysterious wonderland of Alice. Elves were singing in the forest, Cinderella's glass slipper became a white candle on a wax stand, and the Little Mermaid transformed into a maiden with long hair at the retro dining table.
Every detail here was exquisitely unmatched, and in the luxurious and mysterious atmosphere, the starry sky outside the window seemed to be within reach.
As soon as Gu Xizhi walked into the restaurant, she couldn't help but ask Qu Xizhi: "Qu Xizhi, do you like fairy tales?"
She had never seen Qu Xizhi paying attention to this element.
Qu Xizhi only said, "It's okay."
The two of them took their seats by the window, and a young waiter in a tuxedo served them. Qu Xizhi looked at the time, and then she glanced at the bar and asked, "Is your boss here today?"
The young waiter replied, "Miss Qu, the boss will be here shortly."
"Very well, I'd like today's lychee and white peach tart. Please have the boss make it personally."
The waiter didn't seem to have any objection and immediately said: "Okay, Miss Qu, please wait a moment.
After the waiter left, Gu Xizhi silently stared at Qu Xizhi. Qu Xizhi quickly realized that Gu Xizhi was watching her and met her gaze. "What is it?"
Gu Xizhi asked, "Do you come here often?"
Qu Xizhi shook her head, "This restaurant has just opened, so I don't come often."
Gu Xizhi looked at her thoughtfully and stopped talking.
At this moment, not far away, two young girls were walking towards the cute mushroom-shaped house by the stone wall. Soon, a waiter approached them and reminded them, "I'm sorry, ladies, this area has been reserved for someone else. You can choose any other available table except this mushroom house."
The two girls looked a little surprised, "You said the same thing last time we came here, but that time, no one occupied this mushroom house until we finished our meal."
The waiter said: "Sorry ma'am, this mushroom house was reserved by a friend of our owner. I'm truly sorry. If you don't mind, you can sit here; it's also very lovely..."
The voices of the ladies and the waiter faded as they moved away. Gu Xizhi glanced at their backs, then at the mushroom house beneath the bookshelf on the stone wall, radiating a magical aura. She had a thoughtful expression.
The waiter in a tuxedo served delicious dishes to the guests after a wait. The dishes here were filled with elements like elves, princesses, pumpkin carriages, and magic wands. Every dish seemed to blend with fairy tales. When all the dishes were presented, Gu Xizhi even felt hesitant to eat any of them.
She glanced at Qu Xizhi and asked in confusion: "Why do you want to come to this restaurant?"
Gu Xizhi found it surprising that Qu Xizhi chose such a place that radiated a girlish atmosphere from both inside and out.
Qu Xizhi said, "Because of a friend."
Almost as she said these words, a tall man with a tray in hand approached. He was dressed in a coffee-colored pinstripe suit, a vest of the same color, and a pocket watch hanging from the vest. He exuded a sense of refinement and fashion.
This translation is originally posted on https://love4baihe.blogspot.com please read it there. and check out other stories too.
He stood in front of the two of them with a dessert in his hands, looking at Qu Xizhi with an expression full of kindness as if he were meeting an old friend: "Xiao Qu, welcome."
Qu Xizhi stood up and greeted him, "Ronnie, long time no see." She motioned towards Gu Xizhi and said, "This is my friend, Miss Gu Xizhi."
Then she turned to Gu Xizhi, "Xiao Jing, this is the restaurant's owner, Mr. Lin."
"Miss Gu." The man in a suit immediately greeted Gu Xizhi, "Hello, my Chinese name is Lin Zongyao.
"Hello, Mr. Lin." Gu Xizhi immediately stood up and greeted him.
Qu Xizhi looked at Lin Zongyao, then at the "lychee and white peach tart" in his hand, and she chuckled with some curiosity, "It seems like today's lychee and peach tart arrived exceptionally quickly."
Lin Zongyao smiled and replied, "Actually, I was in the kitchen before you arrived." He placed the dessert on the table, "I hope it’s not too late for this lychee and white peach tart."
"Thank you." Qu Xizhi glanced at Lin Zongyao, then at the Mushroom House, and asked, "The Mushroom House hasn't opened yet?"
"Yes, but don't worry, I won't be defeated."
Lin Zongyao said: "Of course, I will prepare dinner for the mushroom house now."
Qu Xizhi smiled and said: "I hope you succeed as soon as possible.
Qu Xizhi nodded, "Please."
After Lin Zongyao left for a long time, Gu Xizhi still looked at his back in a daze.
For some inexplicable reason, when that man introduced himself earlier, she had a vague feeling that she had heard that name before. However, she didn't recognize him at all and had no prior acquaintance with him. This sensation left her feeling bewildered.
Seeing Gu Xizhi constantly gazing at Lin Zongyao's back, Qu Xizhi asked, "Do you know him?"
Gu Xizhi came to her senses and said, "I don't know him.
Qu Xizhi asked again: "Then what do you think of him?"
Gu Xizhi was stunned, "What?
"What do you think of him as a boyfriend?"
Gu Xizhi was stunned.
The strange sequence of events from the moment Qu Xizhi suggested coming to this restaurant, the unusual circumstances here, and now this question had left her deeply perplexed. She stammered, "What are you doing?"
Qu Xizhi was confused, "What?"
Gu Xizhi didn't want to speak because the questions in her mind were too difficult to express.
Qu Xizhi understood her thoughts instantly.
"He's from Hong Kong and has liked a girl for a long time and asked me to introduce her to him."
Qu Xizhi explained, "His family runs a restaurant business in Hong Kong, and this restaurant is something he opened for that girl. He flies over to this place every month for these two days, where he makes the desserts that the girl likes and waits for her to show up."
"He likes that girl very much, but that girl has some low self-esteem because of her past experience, and she told him not to waste his time. So, even though this restaurant has been built for almost half a year, the girl has never been here."
"That mushroom house is exclusive for the girl. He said that the mushroom house will only truly open when that girl arrives."
"So he actually flew here deliberately for that girl today."
As she spoke, her tone became softer and slower, and she added, "By now, you might have guessed the girl's name."
Qu Xizhi paused and said softly: "Her name is Bo Yiqing, I think she will definitely come eventually.
After she finished her last words, Gu Xizhi's breathing finally stopped.
During this moment, it seemed as if she had been deprived of her consciousness, her body remaining frozen and devoid of any movement for a prolonged period. The silence in the air was somewhat unsettling. After a considerable delay, Gu Xizhi blinked her eyes slowly, still processing the surprising revelation.
She looked around in bewilderment but realized that she had never truly surveyed this princess' world.
At this moment, the fairy tale world before her seemed to come alive. The princesses and princes from the tales were so loving, and there was no wicked queen here. Only beautiful fairies danced in this dreamy realm, crossing deep blue seas. The mermaids had the most radiant golden hair, Cinderella hadn't lost her glass slipper, and even the proud king had become endearingly gentle.
So, everything in this world has a name.
Gu Xizhi looked at the castle with obvious shock on her face.
She didn't speak for a long time, and Qu Xizhi finally asked, "To have someone like that love her, what do you think?"
