Xia Siyu showed Bo Yan the location of the store, and Bo Yan glanced at it: "Are you sure?"
Xia Siyu nodded: "I’m sure!"
Bo Yan nodded: "Then let’s go."
The two walked side by side, passing through the long center of the ancient city. The evening breeze blew, and the shops nearby were bustling, with foreign tourists wandering around from ti to ti.
Passing through the clothing area, a fragrance wafted in, and the atmosphere was filled with cooking smoke and fire. The sound of vendors shouting, smoke swirling under neon lights, and various food aromas filled the air. The crowd here was several tis larger than in the clothing area. In China, a country where food is central, cuisine is obviously more attractive than clothes.
Xia Siyu strolled along, initially not feeling hungry. But after walking such a long stretch and slling these aromas, especially as night fell and the temperature dropped, her appetite, suppressed by the hot weather, suddenly burst forth.
Xia Siyu was originally a foodie, but she was tired and exhausted from the journey, and the hot weather had killed her appetite. But now, wandering around and enjoying the evening breeze, didn’t her appetite return?
However, the two did not stop but continued to walk forward, swallowing their saliva. The caraman followed them onwards. Behind the food district was a street full of bars. But here, the bars weren’t for partying; they were more laid-back with resident singer-songwriters strumming guitars. It was still early, and even if the singer-songwriters were there, the hustle and bustle of the food district completely drowned out their tunes.
If it were later, when fewer tourists were around, this place would truly co alive.
But Xia Siyu and Bo Yan weren’t here for a drink. They continued walking, not far from the alley’s entrance, exiting the comrcial area of the ancient city, and delved into the residential alleyways.
Here, after walking about ten ters, the excessive noise of the comrcial area seed to be blocked by an invisible barrier. It was serene and calm, with courtyards similar to the small dilapidated courtyard where Xia Siyu and Bo Yan stayed today. The alley was narrow, the lighting dim; only the willow trees in front of the doors and the full moon in the sky were faintly visible. Occasionally, a cat would pass by, startled into a "ow," and quickly disappear among the rubble.
The farther they walked, the more suspicious the caraman beca: to be honest, if it weren’t for filming the program, he would feel a bit uneasy about the safety here. Although it wasn’t far from the main street, it felt like a different world altogether from there.
However, he didn’t ask; it was Xia Siyu who asked, "How much farther?"
Bo Yan looked at the navigation: "Just around the corner."
She completely trusted Bo Yan’s sense of direction—because she herself was terrible with directions. Besides, with Bo Yan and the caraman for the show, she boldly walked on, saying, "I wasn’t feeling it before, but now I’m really getting hungry."
Indeed, she was hungry. While she had tea snacks in the afternoon, she also had tea and coffee, which aids digestion. And in the evening, she only ate waterlon, visiting the restroom twice, leaving her empty.
But as the caraman saw the alley getting darker, he wondered if this rundown place really had food.
Just as he suspected, they turned a corner, and there indeed was a brightly lit spot not far away. Several tables were set up under the tree, seemingly just opened for business, with so bare-chested locals sitting outside, waiting for their food. Looking further inside, it was almost full except that the air-conditioned room was closed for the sumr, drowning out most of the noise.
"Where do you want to sit?"
"Do you even have to ask?" Xia Siyu imdiately found a spot in the shade at the entrance to sit down and even pulled a stool for the caraman: "You too."
The owner saw them but wasn’t particularly enthusiastic, rely saying "Sit," before tossing the nu onto the table.
Nowadays, everyone orders via phone, but here, they still used a paper nu where you had to write down what you wanted. Yet, seeing the neighboring table devour their food, sweating amidst the smoky atmosphere, it seed delicious.
Indeed, this place was famous for its special grilled at.
Xia Siyu carefully chose and finally picked a hole-in-the-wall eatery to have grilled at. Though there were other options like sausages and spicy hotpot on this street, nothing was as enticing as sizzling grilled at. This place had been a transportation hub since ancient tis, with a river running through the city and close to the Northwest, offering both river fish and beef and lamb.
The grilled at here was also quite distinct. It was first marinated with onions and garlic and cooked with at and vegetables on the grill. You could also have the regular version, where the owner, shirtless, roasted lamb skewers and chicken racks for you over a charcoal grill, tender and flavorful, absolutely delicious.
Xia Siyu first asked the caraman, "Are you eating? Should I order for you?"
The caraman shook his head, and Xia Siyu felt sowhat disappointed.
She was actually thinking if the caraman ate, she might be able to sneak in on their team al budget. She could let Wei Jingjing reimburse it double after the show ended.
The hole-in-the-wall was deep in the alley, and the prices were not high. But when Xia Siyu ordered, she was very careful. She didn’t order anything expensive, very conservative with the at. Afraid to spend too much.
Soon the items she ordered were brought out; although few, they filled half the table.
In their everyday life, Xia Siyu and Bo Yan weren’t like her on the red carpet, where she proclaid herself "the world’s most beautiful." Last year, she was invited to the Golden Phoenix Awards, knowing she wasn’t nominated, she agreed to walk the red carpet for exposure. And to outshine others, she couldn’t get a couture dress, so she spent nearly a million getting one made.
Now, that dress just collects dust in her wardrobe. Celebrities wear couture once; wearing it again risks getting laughed at. The entertainnt industry is a vanity fair, where fa is magnified. But the purchase of that dress was worthwhile. Though she wasn’t nominated for the Golden Phoenix, her performance in the film was widely recognized, sparking sympathy from many onlookers. She took the opportunity to market herself, managing to retain so dignity during her lowest days.
A celebrity’s image is more than just looks; it impacts comrcial endorsents, good script offers, and negotiation advantages.
She would drink wine costing thousands a bottle, savor steaks priced in thousands, and taste caviar as expensive as gold.
But in her daily life, she preferred wearing T-shirts, flip-flops, and sitting by the roadside with grilled skewers. As for drinks, nearby local beer was fine. Here, there’s a local brewery; although the fresh beer isn’t as tasty as those in Germany, it’s fresh and affordably priced.
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