When Xu Yanxia returned to the dressing room, Lu Jingxi's hair and makeup were almost done, and she was standing in front of the full-length mirror adjusting her dress.
She hadn't planned to tell Lu Jingxi about what just happened, but the latter noticed her slightly uncomfortable demeanor and took the initiative to ask, Xiaoxia, what's wrong? Did you see a ghost outside?
This was Lu Jingxi's private dressing room, and there were no idle staff around, so she half-jokingly replied, I didn't see a ghost, but I did see someone whose real personality is quite a stark contrast to his public image.
To her surprise, Lu Jingxi paused for a moment and suddenly asked, Don't tell me that greasy guy harassed you?
Greasy guy?
Xu Yanxia tentatively asked, Are you talking about the guy surnamed Xu?
To prevent anyone eavesdropping, she didn't voice the last three words, merely mouthing them.
Surprisingly, Lu Jingxi nodded immediately. That's the one!
It's my fault for forgetting to warn you to steer clear of him. That guy is notoriously sleazy and lecherous. He loves making moves on new girls!
Of course, she lowered her voice for the last two sentences as well.
Xu Yanxia was speechless.
Alright then.
If nothing else, Xu Qinghe's acting skills were genuinely quite good.
If she hadn't just experienced that incident, how could any ordinary viewer tell he was that kind of person?
Lu Jingxi hurriedly asked, He didn't do anything to you, did he?
Xu Yanxia shook her head. No, he asked to add my WeChat, but I made an excuse and came back.
That's good.
Lu Jingxi breathed a sigh of relief. If anything happened to you, my brother would kill me!
What are you talking about...
Xu Yanxia smiled. Seeing that Lu Jingxi's hair and makeup were completely done, she headed out to the garden with her.
Soon, the other guests and their friends and family had all gathered.
Among them, the veteran artist Zhao Weimin was with his wife; the two shared a strong marital resemblance.
The popular young idol Xiao Chen brought his mother; the mother and son looked very much alike, both possessing delicate features.
Actress Lin Lin's partner was her father. It was clear the father and daughter had a great relationship, chatting and laughing like friends.
The singer-songwriter Cheng Yiran had invited Ah Tian, a musician friend he had hustled with in Beijing. With his permed, shoulder-length hair and a full beard, he exuded an artistic aura.
As for Xu Qinghe, the greasy guy who had just harassed Xu Yanxia, he stood next to a middle-aged man with a goatee, dyed brown hair, and tinted glasses.
Xu Qinghe introduced him to everyone with a proud face, This is my friend Jason He, currently the head chef of a three-star Michelin restaurant in France. He flew back specifically to show off his skills for everyone today.
Good heavens, Jason He?
So this was a foreign friend?
Everyone politely greeted the foreign friend.
Who would have known that the man would reply in fluent Mandarin with a slight southern accent, I am very glad to be here today to exchange culinary skills with all of you.
...
Lu Jingxi quietly mouthed a whisper to Xu Yanxia, Another poser.
Xu Yanxia remained speechless.
Queen Xixi's roast was certainly spot on.
Next, Lu Jingxi introduced Xu Yanxia to the group.
The recording of the show then began.
The host first asked the six guests to formally introduce their friends and family to the cameras, explained the rules for this episode, and then everyone split up to go grocery shopping.
Some went to the supermarket, while others headed to the nearby fishing wharf.
Xu Yanxia had specifically done her research before coming, so she and Lu Jingxi went straight to a local farmers' market.
Each pair of guests was followed by three cameras, and Lu Jingxi's assistant also started a live stream on her main account.
Since Queen Xixi had announced it in advance, there were quite a lot of viewers in the live stream.
When Lu Jingming entered his sister's live stream, he saw Xu Yanxia introducing the ingredients in the market. Meanwhile, his foodie sister Lu Jingxi looked like a clueless city slicker who couldn't tell one grain from another, nodding continuously as she listened and occasionally letting out gasps of amazement.
On camera, Xu Yanxia wore a pretty shirt and short skirt, looking radiant. Even standing next to Lu Jingxi, who was used to being a star, she didn't look overshadowed at all.
The viewers in the live stream were also delighted to see her face and eagerly greeted her.
Sitting in the audience at the venue, the corners of his lips couldn't help but curl up into a smile.
However, the next second, Wen Jiajun in the adjacent seat leaned over and reminded him in a low voice, It's almost time for your speech, Boss. Give me your phone, I'll watch it for you.
In his dreams.
Lu Jingming quickly tapped the screen, sent two Carnival gifts in a row, and then exited the interface, locking his screen.
Immediately after, as the host on stage called out his name and welcoming applause erupted from the audience, he stood up and walked onto the stage.
...
As a chef, Xu Yanxia loved browsing through wet markets, especially in places she was visiting for the first time.
As the saying goes, food is the paramount necessity of the people. It should be known that a vegetable market is the best place to reflect local customs and produce.
For example, the place she visited today was considered the oldest and most famous agricultural market in the area. All kinds of seafood, vegetables, fruits, and dried goods were readily available, and the prices were fair.
There were also many snack stalls around selling various local Hainanese delicacies, such as Baoluo noodles, sour noodles, Qingbuliang, and pork trotter rice. This made the foodie Queen Xixi and the viewers in the live stream drool with craving.
But they were here on a mission today. Time was tight and the task was heavy, so they didn't have time to taste the snacks. Therefore, once Xu Yanxia finished purchasing the necessary ingredients, she took Lu Jingxi back to the hotel.
The round trip took nearly two hours. The rest of the guests also returned one after another. According to the plan, they were about to start recording the cooking segment.
However, the on-site executive director informed them that because the ingredients and some pots and pans belonging to Xu Qinghe's friend—the three-star Michelin chef Jason He—had not arrived yet, they needed to wait a bit longer.
Lu Jingxi felt it was strange. She looked at the two men sitting aside drinking coffee and asked the executive director, Didn't they go buy groceries just now? Besides, wasn't today's content notified a few days in advance? Why haven't the pots and pans arrived yet?
The executive director could only smile apologetically and say, Brother Xu said he called this chef back from France at the last minute. The ingredients and cookware had to be airlifted from abroad, so the schedule was a bit rushed. But they said the items have already arrived at the airport and will be delivered shortly. Please wait just a moment longer, everyone.
There was no other way. Today's cooking scenes had to be recorded together, and there was a mutual tasting and review segment afterward, so everyone had no choice but to wait.
However, seeing the two of them leisurely drinking coffee and chatting, they didn't seem to be in much of a hurry at all.
The others had to put their purchased ingredients into the hotel's refrigerators first and started chatting among themselves as well.
They wouldn't have known without chatting, but Xu Yanxia only then realized that the veteran artist Zhao Weimin and his wife were actually from her hometown.
The young idol Xiao Chen came from the same region as Lu Jingxi's maternal grandfather, hailing from the Jiangsu and Zhejiang area.
Lin Lin and her father were both from Sichuan, while Cheng Yiran and his good buddy were authentic Northeasterners.
Seeing everyone finish introducing their hometowns, Cheng Yiran said with characteristic Northeastern humor, "Looks like we are brothers from all corners of the country. We'll get to taste delicacies from all over later!"
"Yeah, I can't wait!"
Lin Lin also looked excited. "I watched Xiaoxia's Douyin videos last night, and they made me so hungry! I definitely have to taste her cooking later!"
At this, the others turned to Xu Yanxia and asked, "Xiaoxia, what's your Douyin handle? We want to follow you too."
"I'm a bit embarrassed," Xu Yanxia said with a smile. "My Douyin handle is Xuxu Xiaoxia. I usually just share some of the dishes I make. If you don't mind, you can give me a follow."
"Sure thing!"
Everyone took out their phones, searched for her profile, and hit the follow button.
Social butterfly Lu Jingxi then suggested, "Why don't we just create a group chat? Everyone can join. The restaurant where our Xiaoxia is the director is opening soon. If any of you have time to visit Rong City, you can go to her place for a meal."
"Sounds great."
So, everyone joined the WeChat group.
As everyone was chatting enthusiastically, Xu Yanxia's phone buzzed.
She opened it and saw a WeChat message from Lu Jingming:
[Haven't you guys started cooking yet?]
Xu Yanxia replied, [Someone's kitchenware and ingredients haven't arrived yet, so we are all still waiting.]
After sending it, she found it strange, so she asked him, [How did you know we haven't started?]
Lu Jingming replied, [I was just watching the live stream.]
Live stream?
Xu Yanxia turned her head and looked around, only then noticing that in a corner, Lu Jingxi's assistant had set up a phone on a stand, broadcasting the live situation using her main account.
But the problem was, the technology forum officially opened today. Shouldn't he be very busy?
So she asked Lu Jingming again, [How do you have time to watch a live stream?]
Soon after, she saw Lu Jingming's reply: [Snatching a moment of leisure from a busy schedule to take a look.]
[By the way, your dress today is very pretty.]
"..."
Xu Yanxia's face grew a little hot. She had no choice but to reply, [Work hard and don't get distracted.]
Tsk, especially at such an important forum. He absolutely must not get caught slacking off and looking at his phone again.
He quickly replied with an "OK" emoji.
She put her phone away.
Two thousand kilometers away, Lu Jingming, sitting in the audience, also exited the chat interface on his phone.
After thinking for a moment, he clicked back into his sister's live stream and saw that Xu Yanxia had indeed started chatting with the group of people again.
There were men and women, young and old among them, and the atmosphere seemed quite pleasant.
Looking at her expression, she seemed quite happy too.
That was good.
He smiled, and just as he was about to put his phone away, his gaze caught the edge of the live stream screen, and he couldn't help but frown.
There were two men there who were not with Xu Yanxia and the others, but sitting separately to the side.
One of them was facing Xu Yanxia's direction, his eyes seemingly lingering on her the entire time.
...
