47 You are...good friends
The fast food lunch was just a quickie, so dinner was a must-try. As dusk settled on the sky, Ren Yiming led Liu Yuwei to a two-star Michelin restaurant. As they entered, a couple in front of them were negotiating with the waiter, apparently without a reservation. Liu Yuwei tugged at Ren Yiming's sleeve and asked softly, "Did you make a reservation?" "Of course!" the man raised an eyebrow, his tone tinged with pride. Hearing familiar Chinese in a foreign land, Jin Lang turned and saw a familiar figure. "Xiao Yu..." His mouth spoke before his brain. His voice was quiet, but the small lobby drew glances from all three. "Jin..." Liu Yuwei was about to say her name when she stopped in time. One should keep a low profile in public. "Why are you here?" Her gaze fell on the woman next to Jin Lang. She was slender, her face barely the size of a palm. It was Lin Yuwei, whom she had met once before. Although she undoubtedly didn't remember him, Liu Yuwei gave her a polite nod. "So you're here for work?" Ren Yiming crossed his arms and stared at Jin Lang unfriendly. He thought to himself, this guy is really haunting! Jin Lang's Adam's apple moved slightly. He wanted to say, "You said you were coming to Berlin, and I happened to have some free time, so I came to check it out." But a glimpse of Lin Yuwei's inquiring eyes made him swallow the words back. Some private matters shouldn't be spoken too openly in front of people in the same circle; people's words can be terrifying. He could ignore the rumors, but when it came to Liu Yuwei, it was another matter. "It's his personal trip, not work." Unexpectedly, before he could say anything, Lin Yuwei answered for him. A smile played on her lips, but her eyes flickered between Liu Yuwei and Ren Yiming. The waiter approached to ask for the reservation information, and Ren Yiming gave his last name. Seeing that they seemed to know each other, the waiter kindly offered to help adjust the table to four. Lin Yuwei's eyes lit up; she had recognized Ren Yiming long ago. This was a rare opportunity. She adjusted her tone, tilted her head slightly upward, and let the light perfectly frame her delicate features. "Mr. Ren, I wonder if I could use your help? It's freezing cold out here, and it'll take ages to find a place!" "Do we... know each other?" Ren Yiming naturally knew that the two people across from him were big stars. "We said hello at the reception before!" Lin Yuwei chuckled. "You didn't forget me, did you? It's true that the most important people forget things!" She was a little careful in manipulating the man's guilt. Ren Yiming said, "Oh," "My memory is really not good!" He thought...
The fast food at noon was just a quickie, so he couldn't let himself be spoiled for dinner. As dusk fell, Ren Yiming took Liu Yuwei to a two-star Michelin restaurant.
As they walked through the door, they saw a couple of diners in front of them negotiating with the waiter. It seemed that they didn't have a reservation.
Liu Yuwei tugged at Ren Yiming's sleeve and asked softly, "Did you make a reservation in advance?"
"Of course!" The man raised his eyebrows, his tone a little proud.
Hearing familiar Chinese in a foreign country, Jin Lang turned around and saw a familiar figure.
"Xiaoyu..."
The mouth takes the initiative before the brain.
The sound was not loud, but the front hall was small, and the three of them looked sideways.
"Jin..."
Liu Yuwei was about to say the name, but stopped in time. One should keep a low profile in public.
"Why are you here?"
After she finished speaking, her gaze fell on the lady next to Jin Lang. She had a slender figure and a face only the size of a palm. It was Lin Yuwei, whom she had met once before.
Although the other party definitely didn't remember him, Liu Yuwei still nodded to her politely.
"So you're here to work?"
Ren Yiming folded his arms across his chest and stared at Jin Lang unfriendlyly, thinking to himself, this guy is really haunting!
Jin Lang's Adam's apple moved slightly. He wanted to say, "You said you were coming to Berlin, and I happened to have some free time, so I came to look around." But he caught a glimpse of Lin Yuwei's inquiring eyes and swallowed the words back.
Some private matters are not suitable to be said too clearly in front of people in the circle. People's words are scary. I can ignore those rumors, but when it comes to Liu Yuwei, it's another matter.
"It's a personal trip, not work."
Unexpectedly, before he could even open his mouth, it was Lin Yuwei who answered for him. A smile played on her lips, but her eyes flickered between Liu Yuwei and Ren Yiming.
The waiter approached them at the right moment to inquire about their reservation information, and Ren Yiming gave his surname. Seeing that they seemed to know each other, the waiter kindly offered to help them adjust the table to four.
Lin Yuwei's eyes lit up, she had recognized Ren Yiming a long time ago.
It was a rare opportunity, so she adjusted her tone and tilted her face slightly, allowing the light to perfectly outline her delicate features.
"Mr. Ren, I wonder if I could use your help? It's freezing cold out here, and it'll take a long time to find a place!"
"We...know each other?"
Ren Yiming naturally knew that the two people opposite him were big stars.
"I said hello at the cocktail party before!"
Lin Yuwei chuckled, "You wouldn't have forgotten me, would you? It's true that the rich are forgetful!"
She was still a little cautious in gauging a man's guilt.
Ren Yiming said, "Oh!" and said, "My memory is really not good!"
Deep down, he was reluctant to share the table, but he still left the decision to Liu Yuwei, "It's up to you!"
Lin Yuwei immediately changed direction and extended her hand gracefully.
"I just heard Jin Lang call you Xiaoyu, hello! I'm Lin Yuwei!"
"Have we... met somewhere before?"
Liu Yuwei shook hands with her and answered politely.
"Hello, Miss Lin. I'm Liu Yuwei. We did meet once at the roadshow for 'Summer Like You'!"
When Lin Yuwei heard the three words "Liu Yuwei", she didn't think of any roadshow activities, but instead accidentally brought up some old memories.
…
"Ren Yiming, I like you very much. Do you want to try it with me?"
"Excuse me, I have a girlfriend."
"Impossible. I asked around, and your classmates all said you were single."
"I just got married. Look, she's buying me some curry sausage! Liu Yuwei, I'm hungry. Hurry up."
…
It’s her!
Lin Yuwei couldn't help but glance at the tall man across from her. After their previous encounter at the charity dinner, she had spent considerable effort to learn more about the story of the Ren family's second young master.
Rumor has it that he doesn't seem much different from those rich second-generations that Lin Yuwei knows. In his early years, he was rebellious and happy, but recently he was pulled back to his own company to work obediently.
Lin Yuwei quickly put on an expression of surprise and delight, "Your name is Yu Wei, and my name is Yu Wei. We are so destined to be together!"
The restaurant door was opened again, and new customers came in. The waiter stood by and urged them with his eyes.
Liu Yuwei nodded towards Ren Yiming, "I'm fine!"
…
After ordering the dishes, the men and women sat opposite each other at the long table, and the air suddenly fell into a subtle silence.
Liu Yuwei's thoughts wandered, and he inexplicably recalled the group interview scene when he was looking for a job after graduation, where everyone was waiting for the leader to speak first.
"Is Miss Lin here to attend the film festival?"
After saying that, Liu Yuwei felt something was wrong, as if he was snooping into the schedule of a big star, so he hurriedly added a sentence.
"Sorry, I don't mean to pry into your privacy."
"It's okay!" Lin Yuwei's voice rose slightly.
"If I have time, I come to the Berlin Film Festival every year. It's a bit of an obsession. This year, a friend's film happened to be selected, so I came to show my support!"
As she spoke, her eyes moved back to Ren Yiming.
"What a coincidence! This friend has some connection with Mr. Ren!"
The tone with a hint of smile seemed to hint at something.
"Is it Director Shao Qiu who was nominated for Best Debut?"
Jin Lang calmly took over Lin Yuwei's words and carefully observed the expressions of the two people opposite him.
When Ren Yiming heard the word "Shao Qiu", the corners of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly, and he subconsciously turned his head to look at the person next to him.
Liu Yuwei's eyes shifted to the lower right, and her body leaned forward slightly, a small movement she made when thinking. After a moment, as if remembering this person, she raised her eyelids and gave Ren Yiming a tacit smile.
That smile was three parts mischievous and seven parts caring, but without the slightest bitterness or forbearance.
The corners of Jin Lang's lips curled up quietly.
Just at this moment, the waiter brought the exquisite appetizers.
Lin Yuwei raised the wine glass beside her and raised the corners of her eyes slightly.
"Thanks to Mr. Ren and Yu Wei for letting us have a free meal!"
"I didn't say I'd treat you two to dinner!"
Ren Yiming held the goblet and gently touched the rim of Liu Yuwei's cup.
“Try it!”
She took a small sip with her lips. The taste was delicate and smooth, with a rich fruity aroma. Even if she didn't know how to drink white wine, she could taste the taste of money.
"How about it?"
“Well, it should be quite expensive!”
Lin Yuwei laughed out loud at Liu Yuwei's answer.
“Egon Muller is known as the Hermès of Riesling. Mr. Ren has great taste!”
The main course was served, the knives and forks rubbed against each other, and the four of them chatted about some trivial things about the food.
Lin Yuwei took a bite of the sausage gracefully, wiped the corner of her mouth with her napkin, and asked nonchalantly.
"So, Mr. Ren and Yu Wei are hanging out together for the New Year?"
"You guys are...good friends?"
She enunciated the last three words lightly and slowly, as if they were melting on the tip of her tongue before spitting them out.
Ambiguous tone, curious eyes.
From the moment she entered the door until now, Liu Yuwei had noticed that Lin Yuwei's eyes were always looking at Ren Yiming intentionally or unintentionally. Whenever they talked about a topic, she would take the initiative to continue Ren Yiming's conversation.
Whether it is good peach blossom or bad peach blossom, it cannot block other people’s peach blossom.
Liu Yuwei looked relaxed, "We are here to attend a classmate's wedding!"
"We've known each other for almost ten years, right? Good friends!"
She winked at Ren Yiming.
The same three words, but the "good friend" Liu Yuwei said and the "good friend" Lin Yuwei said obviously have different identities.
Ren Yiming sighed silently in his heart, slowly stood up, and planned to go to the bathroom to digest his negative emotions.
He left for a while, and Lin Yuwei picked up her small bag and said she was going to touch up her makeup.
…
"When did you come?"
"When will you go back?"
Two voices sounded at the same time, and the two remaining people at the table looked at each other and smiled at the same time.
"Just arrived this morning!" Jin Lang unconsciously stroked the base of the wine glass.
"Then we should be on the same flight, but I didn't meet you!"
Jin Lang didn't respond and repeated the question again.
"When...will you return?"
He swallowed in vain, "Do you have time to go shopping together? Berlin... I'm not very familiar with it!"
Liu Yuwei lowered her head, and the loose hair on her forehead cast fine shadows under the light, making it impossible to see her expression.
Jin Lang's fingers trembled slightly as he held the dinner knife, and the metal surface reflected his tense jawline.
The silence of these few seconds seemed to stretch infinitely, and even the background music in the restaurant seemed to fade away.
"We're going to the wedding the day after tomorrow, and then we'll be back!"
"Oh...Is that so!" The voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible.
He tried hard to control his facial expression so as not to appear too disappointed.
"So..." Liu Yuwei suddenly stretched out the last syllable.
"Are you free tomorrow afternoon?"
Jin Lang raised his head suddenly and looked at the woman opposite him in surprise. She leaned back in her chair with her head tilted, smiling brightly, showing a row of teeth, and her eyes were narrow.
Knowing that she was teasing him, Jin Lang was not unhappy at all. Instead, he enjoyed it very much.
"I have time! Then I'll wait for your call tomorrow."
"good!"
There is warm light near the dining table, and cold white light in the bathroom and corridor.
Lin Yuwei took out a lipstick from her bag, and the metal tube flashed a dazzling light under the mirror light.
Her lips parted slightly, one hand resting on the edge of the stone platform while the other traced the mirror.
The red velvet skirt tightened with the movements, outlining the graceful waist and hip curves - this battle robe was specially selected before going out.
Ren Yiming came out of the men's restroom and happened to see this pleasing and vivid scene.
He stroked his chin, waiting for Lin Yuwei's next performance with interest.
To solidify his image as a dandy, Ren Yiming's circle of friends also includes several prominent second-generation Beijingers, all regulars at Freelance. Occasionally, when they sit down together for a drink, the men's bragging always centers on their private parts.
He had heard of Lin Yuwei's story, but they were all adults and it was consensual, so he didn't care what she got in exchange.
"Hey, Mr. Ren!"
Lin Yuwei shook her hair and tilted her head to catch the playful smile on the man's face - she was very familiar with this look, it was the signal before the prey stepped into the trap.
"I heard you opened a bar in Beijing North!"
She took a half step forward, and the base note of white musk lingered around the collar of the man's shirt.
"When will you invite me over?"
"Big star, please come anytime!" Ren Yiming said with the frivolous look typical of a dandy. "This is perfect free publicity material!"
"Then it's settled!" Lin Yuwei smiled widely and immediately clicked on the QR code. Her pupils lit up as she looked at the screen of her phone.
"Add me on WeChat so we can keep in touch when we get back to Beijing!"
"Sorry, my phone is on the table."
He spread his hands.
"Then wait a moment, there's no rush."
Ren Yiming walked back and Lin Yuwei quickly followed him.
"Are you friends with Shao Qiu?"
"Well, although we've never worked together, I really like her films!"
At the corner, he suddenly stopped and his shadow completely enveloped Lin Yuwei.
"Then she must have told you why we broke up?!"
Lin Yuwei's high heels retreated half a step imperceptibly.
She and Shao Qiu met at the Beijing Film Festival last year. Later, she heard that Shao Qiu had been in a relationship with Ren Yiming. Lin Yuwei had privately invited her to dinner a few times, but nothing substantial had come of it.
When Ren Yiming brought it up, she could only shake her head with a confused expression.
"My old man hates me dealing with women in the entertainment industry the most!"
He lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret.
"He found out about my relationship with Shao Qiu, and he asked the bank to suspend my card."
Ren Yiming continued to say in frustration, "I have some backbone, okay? I've managed to survive for over three months relying on the bar's limited cash flow, all thanks to Westbrook's friends who showed up to show their support."
Lin Yuwei's fingernails dug into her palms. Westbrook was a well-known playboy in the entertainment industry, and the games he organized were always full of both meat and vegetables.
"They saw how miserable my life was and advised me to humble myself. After all, there's no such thing as an overnight grudge between father and son!"
"In the end, it was the old man who took the initiative to talk to me, and it was a concession from both sides."
The lights in the corridor suddenly dimmed, and at this point, Ren Yiming's hidden meaning could not be clearer.
Lin Yuwei maintained a proper smile on her face, as if she had just listened to a story.
She forced a joking tone and said, "Then Mr. Ren, please don't use me for advertising. It would be terrible if you get caught!"
"Hey, my bar is open to customers, he has no right to interfere!"
Ren Yiming suddenly reached out and brushed away the non-existent dust on her shoulders, "I'll give you a price for broken bones!"
After a brief pause, he asked casually.
"We were just chatting about those bars in Berlin. Miss Lin seems very familiar with them?"
"Yeah, I came here for exchange for a while when I was in school."
Lin Yuwei answered absentmindedly, and immediately regretted her words.
"Really? Which school?"
Ren Yiming's eyes flashed in the dark, like a wolf lying in ambush.
"It's a fake university, not worth mentioning!"
She subconsciously touched the necklace between her collarbones to ease the embarrassment.
"Come to think of it, Miss Lin looks exactly like a friend I had when I was studying abroad!"
"Really?" Lin Yuwei felt a little guilty. "Maybe I have a rather ordinary face!"
"A female celebrity with an ordinary face? That's the first time I've seen one!"
…
The two of them returned to the hall, seemingly chatting and laughing. The dessert on the table was already in place, like chestnuts with half of their shells removed.
"Wow, this dessert looks amazing!
Lin Yuwei took out her cell phone and pressed the shutter button while tilting the frame 15 degrees to the right, capturing Jin Lang's left hand resting on the edge of the table.
After eating and drinking, Ren Yiming asked the waiter for the bill. Jin Lang raised his hand to indicate, "It's already paid."
Ren Yiming frowned slightly and took the initiative to add the other party on WeChat. The transfer notification tone was particularly crisp.
"You treat yours, I treat mine!"
The phone was placed on the table, the screen was still on, and the transfer note for 5,000 yuan read "AA".
…
When I opened the restaurant door, the cold wind howled and the temperature dropped sharply.
The car Jin Lang called arrived first, and the four people exchanged greetings and said goodbye, their breaths mixing together in white mist.
In the rearview mirror, Lin Yuwei watched the two gradually shrinking figures, lost in thought. Her conversation with Ren Yiming kept replaying in her mind, and she suddenly realized that this man might remember her, or even know something about her.
Otherwise, if she just suggested adding WeChat, he would not hesitate to belittle himself to create distance.
It wasn't until she got out of the car and Jin Lang called her that she came to her senses.
The hotel's revolving door filters the cold wind into warm air.
"Yuwei, are you tired?"
"It's okay, what's wrong?"
"Want to go for another drink?"
An invitation to drink at this time is like a hook wrapped in honey.
Jin Lang stood beside the Roman columns in the lobby, his profile angular and his deep eyebrows more intoxicating than alcohol. The vanity that had just been frustrated by Ren Yiming urgently needed to be filled.
What is lost in one place may be gained in another.
She had practiced the curve of lowering her eyes and pursing her lips thousands of times. Her fingertips brushed the hair by her ears and she said shyly, "Okay."
Author's Note
Lazy Cat on the Cloud
author
04-16
Okay, I've written another chapter about the male lead... My loyal readers said the male lead appears too often and that everyone likes the playboy to be loyal... I was struggling with this on the plane and bus today, so I decided to adjust the outline... Give both the male and female leads a voice, and make it clear! (Harbin is so cold...)
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