Chapter 44: The Wind Has Risen

For lunch, Xu Heng took Liu Yiyan to a business-style French restaurant.

Because this restaurant has a two-star tire certification, it requires a reservation in advance.

After knowing Liu Yiyan was coming, Xu Heng booked a table for two here yesterday.

Liu Yiyan had never been to this kind of slightly upscale business restaurant; a small county like Tong City doesn't even have tires, and as for Modu, while it does have tires, Liu Yiyan couldn't afford to eat there.

To her, tire shops had always been something only heard of in rumors or from others, but after actually experiencing it, she found the taste was just so-so.

"I feel like it doesn't taste as good as the roadside food stalls back home."

When she said this, a waiter happened to pass by them; thanks to the waiter's good temper, they didn't say anything more.

Xu Heng said speechlessly: "A restaurant isn't just about the taste; it's also about the environment and service. Only when the comprehensive score in every aspect is high can it be rated by Michelin."

Liu Yiyan didn't refute him, but instead rested her chin on her hands and smiled: "Actually, I'm pretty good at cooking too. Next time I'll make it for you myself, okay, Hubby?"

"Is it noodles?"

"?"

Liu Yiyan gave him a reproachful look: "Don't make dirty jokes in public. I'm being serious."

"We'll see."

Xu Heng glanced at her hands; her ten fingers were like carved jade, and one could imagine what kind of dishes these beautiful hands could make.

People with truly superb culinary skills are either old masters who have practiced for a long time until their hands are calloused, or genius chefs with unique talent in cooking.

Liu Yiyan was clearly neither of these two types.

She was probably the "Short-Video Platform Chef God" type.

Having watched a tutorial equals knowing how to do it, having tried it once equals a specialty; no matter what, as long as you add plenty of soy sauce and the color looks good, there's no problem.

Liu Yiyan also saw that Xu Heng was brushing her off, so she pouted and said: "You look down on me!"

"How could that be? My Yanbao is the cutest; how could your husband look down on you!"

"Hmph, you look down on me if you want to. I don't even care to cook for you."

Although Liu Yiyan said she was angry, her anger vanished after the meal; she was every bit the image of a little woman.

In the afternoon, Xu Heng accompanied her to visit the Confucius Temple and Wangba Lake that she had been longing for.

Both places had been worn down by the soles of tourists' shoes; they were lively enough, but in reality, they weren't very fun.

During this time, Xu Heng said he would go to Gulou Square to buy her some clothes. Liu Yiyan was still wearing the street stall clothes she had on; they were pretty, but Xu Heng wanted his little lover to be a bit more flamboyant.

It was just like a girl playing with a Barbie doll, liking to change the Barbie doll into all sorts of different clothes.

Not to mention a "large-sized" Barbie doll like Liu Yiyan.

But Liu Yiyan stubbornly said that the square had no romantic atmosphere at all; what she wanted was the romance of Xu Heng walking with her along the Qinhuai River.

Regarding this, Xu Heng could only give up, thinking it wouldn't be too late to buy them tomorrow; anyway, Liu Yiyan was staying in Jinling for two more days.

In the evening, the two of them had a meal at a "recommended" shop famous on the internet near the Confucius Temple.

After eating, Liu Yiyan's expression turned bitter. She pouted and said that this place was so terrible, not even as good as the Michelin restaurant at noon; how could it have such good reviews online?

Hearing this, Xu Heng almost laughed out loud.

Those places online that fake good reviews and orders are specifically designed to trap little girls like Liu Yiyan who haven't entered society yet. Experienced adults all know that if you want to eat well, you shouldn't fear deep alleys; the truly delicious shops are the time-honored brands hidden in those small alleys.

Those bright and shiny places are only selling the environment and service.

Moreover, the environment of the shop Liu Yiyan chose wasn't even good; it was a typical tourist trap.

The reason Xu Heng didn't stop her from entering this shop to dine was that he wanted her to gain some experience, so she wouldn't be easily fooled in the future without even realizing it.

"You're the biggest swindler of all, and you're talking about others!"

Liu Yiyan stood under the night lights by the Qinhuai River with her hands on her hips, wearing a 【blank】 expression.

"Alright, it's getting late. I'll take you to a fun place."

Xu Heng looked at the bright moon already hanging in the sky. He had reserved a time slot from eight to twelve tonight at a certain place, and it was about time now.

Hearing this, Liu Yiyan knew that the "fun" he mentioned referred to that aspect. What was meant to come would come eventually; she couldn't escape it even if she wanted to.

However, having not seen each other for several days, she was also craving that sort of thing, so she nodded: "If we're going to do it, do it quickly. Time waits for no one."

Xu Heng scratched the back of his head, feeling confused. He had thought Liu Yiyan had guessed where the place he mentioned was.

As it turned out, when they arrived and he saw Liu Yiyan's stunned expression, he knew this girl had overthought it again.

"Ah... ah haha, the fun place you mentioned is here." Liu Yiyan looked at Xu Heng, who was communicating with the recording studio owner outside, and laughed awkwardly.

Xu Heng rolled his eyes in annoyance: "What else? Did you think it was a themed hotel?"

This recording studio should be considered one of the more first-rate ones in Jinling. The equipment and such were very complete, and the configuration was high-end. Of course, the corresponding price was also a bit expensive; it was charged by the hour. He booked four hours, costing a little over three thousand two hundred in total. Averaged out, it cost eight hundred yuan per hour—not a place ordinary people could afford to consume at.

Liu Yiyan asked curiously what he was doing here.

"What else can you do in a recording studio besides recording songs?"

"Recording a song?"

"Recording a song for you."

"For me?"

Liu Yiyan still hadn't recovered from her daze. By this time, Xu Heng had already shoved a sheet of music into her hands: "Just this song. You're professionally trained; don't tell me you don't even know how to sing."

"I know a little, but..."

What song to record? A cover? Covers have absolutely no fame these days!

Or an original? She wanted to do an original, but she didn't have the ability.

In her daze, Liu Yiyan saw the song in her hand. The song title... "The Wind Has Risen"...

The melody and notes were all marked neatly and clearly. Xu Heng liked to sing when he was in middle and high school and had studied it.

After humming two lines along with the melody, she found it unexpectedly good. Then she looked at the lyrics.

Original?

Liu Yiyan could not help but frown, looking up at Xu Heng: "You can write songs?"

"Of course, otherwise how would I have the confidence to say I'll make you a big star!"

Xu Heng had previously thought about having Liu Yiyan enter the entertainment industry by starting with filming movies, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that entering the entertainment industry just like that, empty-handed, was a bit unreliable.

The big screen tests the lead actor's drawing power and the excellence of the script, with the director's skill being secondary.

And Liu Yiyan had no drawing power, or rather, she didn't even have any fame, so she could not serve as a point to support the box office.

Therefore, Xu Heng prepared to take heavy measures, first using two hit songs and internet trolls to market and package her image.