A restaurant hidden in a tourist spot on the outskirts of the imperial capital, affiliated with a luxury hotel and specializing in local cuisine. The price of the dishes is already on the high side, plus the 15% service fee attached to the hotel, it is still at the awkward time of three o'clock in the afternoon.
, the situation of Guanlanxuan at this moment can be described as a deserted place.
"Excuse me, Mr. Zhai, crab roe tofu..."
Wearing a black felt hat, a dark gray robe and a black and yellow mandarin jacket, the waiter looked very Wuyue-like. After serving the food, he bowed lightly to Zhai Yining, the only customer in the restaurant at the time, and said with a very decent professional smile.
Added: "Your dishes have been served, please take your time."
"OK, thanks."
At first glance, Zhai Yining, a tall and burly man with a full beard, lean short hair, and a rough Qilu man, looks like a rough Qilu man, but he is actually a native of Shanghai, and of course he has the ability to eat well and enjoy delicious food.
Pay attention to details.
"The appearance of the crab roe tofu in Imperial City is simply outrageous. It is definitely not the same species as the dish we have in Shanghai! Just like that, how can Guanlanxuan have the nerve to put the name of the first restaurant in Huairou on his face? The plum dish is too new and
The cabbage sum is too old, failure! The burnt smell of smoked fish oil is too strong, covering up the elegant fragrance of jasmine, failure! The quality of the matsutake is quite good..."
Maintaining politeness but secretly complaining in his heart, Zhai Yining glanced at the four-color local dishes exquisitely plated on the Eight Immortals table in front of him: steamed cabbage with plum and cabbage, smoked fish with jasmine, stir-fried asparagus with matsutake and lily, and crab roe tofu.
"It's a pity that I didn't soak long enough and failed! If I stay in the Imperial City any longer, I'm afraid I can really lose ten kilograms. How did Ah Li adapt to the eating habits of the Imperial City? Maybe... because she was not originally from Shanghai? A girl from the south can get used to the north.
It’s cool in autumn, but don’t fall in love with a northern man!”
When he thought of Yi Li, Huo Hailun's unintentional remarks came to mind again. He glanced at his piano bag placed on the bench again. Zhai Yining still picked up the bowls and chopsticks, and twisted his thick and turbid eyebrows.
Start brainwashing yourself while eating this breakfast and dinner.
"Forget it, I can't find a better restaurant in Huairou. We're already here anyway, so let's have something to eat. They'll probably leave the show and go back to the island later, so I have to quickly block the door."
Zhai Yining has never seen Yili since he got off the plane that day. The communication software and contact information have been blocked. He only knows the girl's approximate address. He squatted at the intersection of the jacquard lattice alley for several days like a headless fly.
God, it took a lot of hard work to find out the exact news and chased him step by step to Huairou.
The Yanqi Kempinski Hotel on the island in the center of the lake was booked by the production crew of "Laughing East". During this period, it was under completely closed management. Outsiders could only enter and leave the island with temporary passes issued by the production team.
Therefore, Mr. Zhai, who is very particular about the quality of life, can only settle for the next best thing and live in this five-star hotel outside Yanqi Lake. It is convenient for him to wander around the Xiyu Film and Television Base every day to inquire about news and create opportunities for chance encounters. Although these days
Yi Li was not seen, but Zhai Yining figured out the general activities of the crew and prepared some recovery measures.
Just when he was almost half full, the cell phone placed by Zhai Yining on the Eight Immortals' table rang.
"Why would my dad call me at this time? He has to show off his acting skills. Maybe that woman is here too, which would be very annoying..."
Putting down the bowl and chopsticks and picking up the phone, Zhai Yining's two sharp eyebrows that had finally stretched out were tightly knitted together. He did not dare to tell Zhai Ruwen that he had resigned and came to the imperial capital. Fortunately, there was not much communication between father and son.
Mr. Zhai was alert enough, so the two fathers and sons, who were both in the imperial capital, got along well.
"Dad, I just finished my shop tour and I plan to try the newly opened local restaurant upstairs in Xintiandi. Are you envious?"
As soon as the call was answered, Zhai Yining chose to hire someone first. His previous position at Pantech Cinemas was as a store patrol manager, and he was in charge of several cinemas in prime locations in Huangpu and Xuhui. His job content was very important.
One is to go down to each core store to inspect.
"Newly opened? Does it taste good? It's not too Beijing-style, right? What next? Don't say anything, just keep on acting..."
The sound coming from the phone proved that Zhai Ruwen had broken through all of Zhai Yining's dioramas at this moment, and his originally cold and gloomy voice sounded very angry.
Zhai Ruwen was naturally strong-willed. Since the death of Zhai Yining's mother eight years ago, the father and son have often been separated from each other. There are also other unspeakable reasons. Their relationship has become increasingly tense, and communication basically relies on line-to-line communication. Mr. Zhai has become a leader since then.
Five sprays per second made Mr. Zhai, who was already somewhat unreasonable, fight with his arms and dare not say a word.
"It's really amazing, Zhai Yining! From October 6th to today, today is the 16th, right, Xiaojie..."
Zhai Yining subconsciously moved the phone a little further away from his ear. His father's voice still sounded full of energy. At this time, a slightly enchanting woman's coquettish voice came from the speaker: "Wednesday, the 16th... Oops,
Don't get angry. Let's talk to the whole family. Yi Ning, we are in the imperial capital. You can actually go home and live here. You must not be used to eating."
"Drama queen! Tian Xiaojie is such a drama queen. Who the hell is with your family? There is only one canary, just a substitute. You really think you have taken the script of the mistress of the old Zhai family."
It was obvious that Zhai Yining was not prepared to accept the olive branch offered by the woman on the phone, so he continued to remain silent.
"It's been eleven days, Zhai Yining, don't you have anything to say? You quit your job without saying a word and ran from Shanghai to the imperial capital. You still called me every few days, and you acted like a decent person..."
Zhai Ruwen continued to output from the loudspeaker, but his anger seemed to have subsided slightly, not as violent as at the beginning.
Zhai Yining decisively seized the opportunity. He stumbled and said, "Dad, how did you know that I came to the imperial capital?"
"Don't make trouble, um...this looks good..."
Zhai Yining heard a few feminine laughters coming from the other end of the phone. Zhai Ruwen also made a few casual remarks. After speaking again, his tone became softer: "If I hadn't heard Ah Qiu's flaw on the phone today, I wouldn't have known.
It turns out that your acting skills are so good, how about...let Mantianxing give you a try in a movie with a leading male lead..."
"It turns out it was Qiu Ge who pulled his crotch. It's understandable under the special circumstances. My dad can still joke. He seems to be in a good mood. There is hope for him to get through. I really have to hurry up."
After glancing at the screen, Zhai Yining switched the phone to his left hand, picked up the chopsticks with his right hand again, picked up the lily slices and put them in his mouth, while thinking about how to quickly resolve this confrontation.
"In my opinion, it will work. There are many young talents whose acting skills are just like that. Our Yi Ning is tall, tall, and has fine features. He is definitely no worse than others. I will be responsible for singing the theme song and the ending song when the time comes."
The brief period of silence between father and son was interrupted by Tian Xiaojie. It could be heard that she was trying hard to bridge the cracks between the two men, and the effect was pretty good. That sentence made Zhai Ruwen, who knew that Zhai Yining had been growing a beard for many days, couldn't help laughing.
Speak up.
"Tian Xiaojie is indeed a second-rate singer. Who knows how to play slyly and have a pretty face? With such bad taste, she still wants to enter the fashion circle. How dare she be given the courage by the first cover of a second-rate Malaysian magazine? Or my Ah Li said
That’s right, men should grow beards. Only when they are rough and wild can they be masculine.”
After eating the lily slices from the plate of fried matsutake and lily with reeds, Zhai Yining wiped his mouth carelessly, and continued to slander Tian Xiaojie on the other end of the phone in embarrassment.
"Yining, after you graduated, you said you wanted to start a career with Aqiu. Now the situation of Pantai Cinema is very good, but you just slapped your butt and left..." It's very strange. After laughing at Zhai Yining,
, Zhai Ruwen began to calmly explain the facts to his son.
"Dad, I...I came to the imperial capital to do some business." Zhai Yining said this without confidence.
"Doing business? I squat in Huairou every day. The quiet place at the Whispering Film and Television Base is called Yanqi Lake, right? You call it doing business when you put your hot face on a girl's cold ass?"
The amount of information Zhai Ruwen had was completely beyond Zhai Yining's expectations. In addition, he also had a very clear idea of the trends of several colleagues in the imperial capital. Although Mr. Zhai's tone was gentle, one could vaguely hear a hint of hatred for iron.
"Dad, I haven't put it on yet..." Zhai Yining took over the words awkwardly. After blurting out his slightly meaty defense, he actually regretted it. He felt as if he had blasphemed Yi Li, which was completely different from the previous attitude.
The sea love scene is famous for the spirit of the Huangpu River.
"Don't be so playful with me. I'll say hello to Ah Qiu later, and you should hurry back to Shanghai and go back to work."
Zhai Ruwen's scolding on the phone was mixed with the sound of some rustling clothes shaking off. It sounded like the two of them were changing into formal clothes and getting ready to go out.
Zhai Yining was overjoyed, and he quickly tried to dissuade him: "Dad, forget it, don't contact Brother Qiu for the time being. He has been severely guarded by Mr. Huo recently."
"Break the defense?... Xiaojie, you are very good at it... Uh, what does breaking the defense mean? I know Mr. Huo from your company, A Qiu's junior school girl, is a very capable woman, not inferior to Shao Qing at all."
"So Brother Qiu is no match for her, but there is no other way. Just treat it as having too much fun and repaying the debt. I am not the same, but why don't you go out?"
Secretly anxious, Zhai Yining told his father everything about Yuan Yuqiu's rejection of his public confession last week in a few words.
"I really didn't realize that Aqiu is still a love interest. It's interesting that you said his defense was broken..."
Knowing Yuan Yuqiu's attitude towards women in the past, Zhai Ruwen was a little surprised after hearing this. He chuckled and said: "Aqiu said you are the godfather of online dating. The Hongqiao Airport discount is 8,000. You two brothers, the eldest brother, let alone the second brother."
"Dad! I was just blocked, not broken..."
Zhai Yining replied nonchalantly: "As long as she is willing to give it a chance, there is still a good chance of success. I am serious this time."
"Are you really taking this into consideration?"
"It's absolutely true!"
Unconsciously, this exchange between the two father and son seemed to be getting better.
"It's good to calm down..."
Zhai Ruwen suddenly changed the topic and called out to Zhai Yining: "Xiao Yue's tour is almost over. You should go back to Shanghai as soon as possible. Then invite her out more, listen to concerts, watch opera performances, she is engaged in art.
This is what girls do.”
"I'm worried because of Yi Li. It's not like you don't know that I have always regarded Xiao Yue as my sister..."
Zhai Yining made another revelation with a grimace: "Besides, she seems to like Yan Qing very much, and Brother Qiu has been getting very angry about this matter."
"No wonder, she asked me to arrange for someone to build momentum for "sev" on Whisper..."
Zhai Ruwen sighed and continued: "You are obviously about the same age, but you don't have anything in common? What's wrong with young people today? You don't want to let go of your childhood sweethearts, but you insist on doing exciting things."
"I'm not as excited as you and Tian Xiaojie. They had an affair for more than three years and kept it a secret. After her agency contract expired, she stabbed Ding Xin in the back..."
Continuing to slander, Zhai Yining's attitude was particularly firm: "Maybe Xiaoyue's side is the real version of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. The situation between Yili and I is far less complicated. Dad, I really like Ali, and she is mine."
That key."
As soon as the key word came out, Zhai Ruwen was silent for a while.
"Honey, I'll go downstairs and wait for you in the car."
This was probably the first time that Zhai Yining didn't find Tian Xiaojie's voice annoying on the phone.
"You go ahead. I'll chat for a few more words and I'll be down soon." Zhai Ruwen replied to Tian Xiaojie like this.
When Zhai Yining heard the footsteps of high-heeled shoes on the phone fading away, with a different thought, he took the initiative to ask with concern: "Dad, are you going on a date at this time?"
"No, the thank-you reception organized by Zhu Wei, the editor-in-chief of "Elle" magazine..."
He denied it, and Zhai Ruwen even deliberately added: "It was a small, informal cocktail party."
"Then I have to thank you very much. I have regained your face. You have become a beauty in anger. You are a tough person. Su Meng, who has the toughest background in "Vogue Clothing and Beauty", is truly invincible."
Zhai Yining had seen the announcement of Tian Xiaojie appearing on the November cover of "Elle" Malaysian edition on Whispers. He looked at it completely as a joke. The last time he acted like a monster, he was backhand slapped by Su Meng of "Vogue"
At that moment, Mr. Zhai felt quite happy inside.
"How can I lose face? There are several sub-top magazines. No matter how powerful Su Meng is, how can I still control them all? Don't just listen to the wind and rain all day long."
After subconsciously speaking harshly, Zhai Ruwen realized that Zhai Yining was cheating on Tian Xiaojie. Unusually, he did not get angry, but quickly laughed at himself: "True love? Anger? Ha, that's not the case."
"I want to save face and suffer the consequences. Fortunately, Tian Xiaojie looks just like my mother. Oh, please go out quickly. It's almost too late for me."
Glancing at the time in the upper left corner of the phone screen, Zhai Yining passively chose to lower his head and admit defeat: "Dad, I'm sorry, I was wrong."
There was the sound of the door opening and closing on the phone, and it sounded like Zhai Ruwen had already gone out. At the last moment, he chose to bring the topic back to Zhai Yining. The strong Mr. Zhai finally compromised and said: "Why did you identify Yili? I'll give you a chance.
Convince me."
"I didn't get along with her for long. It started out as a malicious joke, and some unpleasant things happened during the process. I was ridiculed as the "godfather of online dating" in the Shanghai coffee circle...
"
Overturning all the excuses he had planned, and no longer anxious about time, Zhai Yining calmly continued on the phone: "But I don't regret it at all, as long as I hear her voice, or even think of her, no matter how hard I feel at the moment
If I get irritable, I can calm down quickly."
Zhai Ruwen didn't say anything on the other end of the phone. He quietly waited for the next step.
"Uncle Yuan once said this in his greeting card, a lock is matched with a key, and Zhai Ruwen is matched with Situ Yashi. I still remember that every time you got angry when you were a child, only your mother could hold you back..."
Zhai Yining's voice was full of nostalgia: "Dad, my personality is actually very similar to yours."
At this moment, Zhai Ruwen seemed to be particularly sensitive. He couldn't help blurting out: "I know."
"I'm going to find the key that belongs to Zhai Yining now."
After saying that, he stood up suddenly. Zhai Yining asked the waiter to put the meal charge directly on his room ledger. He just held up his mobile phone and carried his piano bag and ran out, heading straight for the left bridge connecting the island in the center of the lake.