She Wants to Divorce Me

Chapter 26

Lu Yusheng loved to eat, but she disliked the refined, purely presentational dishes at formal banquets. Moreover, she had a small quirk. Her close friends knew that she had to take the first bite of every dish; otherwise, she wouldn't touch it afterward. Once, someone jokingly tasted every dish before Lu Yusheng, angering her to the point that she didn't speak to that person for half a month.

This elegant establishment hidden in a deep alley was called "Spring Banquet." The small storefront wasn't particularly eye-catching on this ancient street that exuded an air of simplicity and tranquility. Banners swayed gently in the wind. Perhaps because it was past mealtime, only a few scattered diners remained. Chang Yu's group, led by a waiter, climbed the creaking red wooden stairs that swayed alarmingly, as if one misstep could send them tumbling down. The upper floor's main hall contained several large round tables, currently empty. On both sides were neatly arranged private rooms, their carved wooden doors topped with names written in gold paint.

The first floor was rather dim, but the view opened up on the second floor. The buildings in this area were generally low, allowing a panoramic view of many black-tiled, white-walled single-story houses from the second floor. As soon as Chang Yu entered the private room, she began chatting casually with Lu Yusheng. Ji Yaoguang, meanwhile, looked around the small restaurant, feeling quite pleased. It would be hard to find another place with such agreeable decor. She wondered about the quality of the food. Considering Lu Yusheng's picky nature as a gourmand, her taste should be quite good, right?

Chang Yu took the menu from Lu Yusheng and asked calmly, "Is this your friend's restaurant?"

"No," Lu Yusheng shook her head. Resting her chin on one hand and pointing at the menu with the other, she replied lazily, "My friend's restaurant is across the street, called 'Heart at Peace.' But she seems to have gone out today. I didn't see her when I turned into the alley earlier. Although her staff's cooking presentation isn't bad, it's never quite as good as hers. I thought I'd try a different place." When talking about food, Lu Yusheng's eyes sparkled with a peculiar light, even brighter than when she was moved by a good voice.

"Your friend's absence probably suits you better," Chang Yu observed no trace of disappointment on Lu Yusheng's face; instead, her eyes concealed a hint of secret joy. Being just across the street, even if one wanted to taste the food here, they would have to consider their friend's feelings. With the owner absent, it was quite convenient.

"I feel like something's missing in this place with its antique charm," Cheng Henian, who had been standing at the window with Ji Yaoguang gazing into the distance, couldn't stay still for long. With a slight upward tilt of her eyes, she poked Ji Yaoguang's arm and said with a mischievous grin, "Don't you think this place is perfect for an impromptu performance? Why don't you and Teacher Chang act out a scene?"

It wasn't the first or second time Cheng Henian had come up with such nonsensical ideas. Ji Yaoguang glanced at her, somewhat exasperated, and replied coolly, "Spring Banquet, a cup of green wine, and a song. Why don't you and Teacher Lu sing a duet instead?" Anyone can play the game of mutual teasing, but she didn't expect Cheng Henian to be so thick-skinned. Circling behind Lu Yusheng and placing both hands on the back of her chair, Cheng Henian smiled and said, "Teacher Lu, what do you think?"

Everyone appreciates beauty, and if Cheng Henian could keep her mouth shut with that face of hers, Lu Yusheng could indeed treat her like an exquisite painting of a noble lady. Unfortunately, the one thing Cheng Henian was least likely to do was stay quiet. The saying "you can't get ivory from a dog's mouth" seemed tailor-made for people like Cheng Henian. But even if you used this phrase to mock her, she'd probably cheerfully reply, "A dog's mouth only has dog teeth, of course it can't produce ivory." After glaring at Cheng Henian for a long while, Lu Yusheng truly regretted bringing her along. Her sharp gaze swept over Cheng Henian fiercely, and seeing her maintain that cheeky grin, Lu Yusheng turned away in annoyance and asked Chang Yu, "How about the Celery Creek Soup?"

Chang Yu glanced at Ji Yaoguang's suddenly downcast face, finding it somewhat amusing. She said softly, "If you like it, order a small portion. Ji Yaoguang and I won't have any." For Ji Yaoguang, there were only dishes she would or wouldn't eat; for Lu Yusheng, there was only delicious or not delicious. Chang Yu was never picky about food, and as for Cheng Henian, there was no need to consider her at all. After flipping through the menu several times, they finally settled on eight dishes.

The large round table could easily accommodate eight people, let alone four. Ji Yaoguang sat next to Chang Yu, while Cheng Henian and Lu Yusheng were separated by an empty seat, the chairs creating a seemingly distant gap. As the outsider among the three, Cheng Henian was quite self-aware, staying on the fringes of the conversation, occasionally looking up to respond briefly before burying herself in her phone until the food arrived.

Clumsily using chopsticks to pick up a piece of beef, just as she was about to place it in her bowl, Cheng Henian suddenly felt a cold gaze fixed on her. She frowned, turning to meet Lu Yusheng's somewhat fierce expression. It was less that she was staring at Cheng Henian and more that she was eyeing the piece of beef. There were plenty of large and small pieces of meat in the dish; was it necessary to covet the one in her chopsticks? Cheng Henian blinked and moved to place the beef in Lu Yusheng's bowl. However, with an empty seat between them, the process became excruciatingly slow. Just as the meat was about to land in Lu Yusheng's bowl, Cheng Henian's hand holding the chopsticks trembled, and the beef began to fall. At that moment, Cheng Henian swiftly scooped up her small bowl with her left hand, catching the falling meat with lightning speed, and quickly brought it back in front of herself, raising an eyebrow and smiling at Lu Yusheng.

—Was she performing acrobatics? Lu Yusheng glared at her angrily.

Chang Yu, aware of Lu Yusheng's habits, feared she might throw a tantrum at this moment, while the usually fearless Cheng Henian would likely only ignite the powder keg with her words. Beneath her seemingly unrestrained and dissolute exterior, Cheng Henian possessed an inherent nobility and pride. Even now, Chang Yu didn't know how to categorize Cheng Henian, nor did she understand the entanglement that had developed between her and Lu Yusheng in such a short time. Frowning imperceptibly, she asked, "Now that you're back, what are your plans?" This time, singing the theme song for "The Treacherous Courtier" was a favor to her. To many, it seemed like Lu Yusheng was going back on her word. Fans were elated, seeing it as a sign of Lu Yusheng's return to the music scene, while detractors mocked and ridiculed her. Chang Yu was certain that Lu Yusheng wouldn't return to the music industry, so what next?

"Become a boss," Lu Yusheng quickly replied, "Move from the front of the stage to behind the scenes."

"You mean you're going to take on disciples?" Chang Yu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. At the time, many people wanted to learn from Lu Yusheng, and while she would answer questions, she always denied any teacher-student relationship. She never considered any junior to be her student. Perhaps having seen too many ungrateful people in the industry, Lu Yusheng had nipped this possibility in the bud.

"Yes," Lu Yusheng put down her chopsticks and turned to Cheng Henian, asking, "What do you think?" With the popularity of "The Treacherous Courtier" and their support, Cheng Henian, who had been out of the limelight for years, would undoubtedly be able to return to the music scene. If she was willing, reaching that much-coveted peak wasn't out of the question. Cheng Henian was indeed a rare talent in music. Lu Yusheng had listened to her few works, even the criticized radio dramas, several times. The more she listened, the more she felt that this uncut jade shouldn't be lost in the sea of people. She wanted to give Cheng Henian a push, to protect her from the kind of insults she had endured before.

First Bian Yuting had extended an olive branch, and now Lu Yusheng – was this considered lucky? Cheng Henian's smile grew increasingly bright, her eyes misty like someone intoxicated by Lu Yusheng's words, as if in a dream. No conditions – but debts accrued like this could never be repaid in a lifetime. She knew Lu Yusheng was waiting for an answer, but she didn't speak until she had slowly chewed and swallowed the food in her bowl. Then she slowly said, "Teacher Lu, would you like to join our radio drama group?"

Lu Yusheng glared at Cheng Henian, though her gaze lacked any real intimidation. Seeing Lu Yusheng's expression, Cheng Henian smiled happily, like a little fox that had succeeded in its mischief.

Chang Yu inwardly clicked her tongue, but her face remained impassive. Cheng Henian's rebelliousness was certainly not unfounded. Judging by her behavior, it was clear that without someone to protect her, even on the fringes of the industry, she would struggle. If only the inappropriate parts of her personality could be removed, or at least if she could control that mouth of hers, she clearly wouldn't be in such a predicament. The thought that it wasn't her place to comment on others' affairs flashed through Chang Yu's mind and quickly vanished. Meanwhile, Ji Yaoguang, who had been neglected for a while, was clearly dissatisfied. She gazed at Chang Yu with a hint of reproach, her chopsticks tapping against the edge of her bowl, making a crisp sound. For a moment, everyone fell silent, their attention focusing on Ji Yaoguang.

With a slightly reddened face, she coughed lightly behind her hand and feigned composure as she said, "I got some cilantro."

"Mm," Chang Yu nodded, scooping a spoonful from a dish called "Lantian Jade," carefully picking out the cilantro stuck on top with her chopsticks before placing it in Ji Yaoguang's bowl. Of the eight dishes on the table, Ji Yaoguang, who usually couldn't do without meat, showed a particular fondness for this vegetarian dish. Chang Yu's actions were smooth and natural, but the two people opposite stared at her blankly, causing her face to heat up slightly. She mumbled a question, attempting to ease the strange atmosphere.

"Why is this dish called 'Lantian Jade'?"