Chapter 88 Museum Date
"Brother Tang!" Jiang Mingyue waved to Tang Huang.
There were quite a few people exiting the station. Jiang Mingyue was dressed in all black, wearing a baseball cap and a mask, with only her eyes showing.
There were too many people wearing black coats in winter, so Don Juan didn't recognize her at first glance. It wasn't until he heard Jiang Mingyue's voice that he quickly spotted her.
I haven't seen Jiang Mingyue for almost two months, and she hasn't changed much; she's still as slender and slim as ever.
There have been some changes, though. The coldness in her eyes has lessened, replaced by a touch of liveliness and liveliness.
It was obvious at a glance that she was living a good life in Huai County.
Don Juan was filled with emotion. He walked towards her, opened his arms, and said, "Mingyue, Happy New Year."
Jiang Mingyue smiled and hugged him. Her nose was filled with his usual light tea scent, not sweet, but refreshing and pleasant.
Don Juan quickly released her and took the backpack that was about to slip off her back.
"Thank you for your hard work. Come on, let me take you to eat first."
"Okay, you're the host, so you get to decide."
As a guest, Jiang Mingyue was not picky about food, so she ate whatever Tang Juan arranged.
Ten minutes later, a black SUV drove out of the station's underground parking lot and headed towards the main urban area.
As expected of the capital city, the roads were crowded with cars and people, but Don Juan drove steadily and at a leisurely pace.
“Mingyue, I’ll take you to a century-old restaurant. There’s a plaque in the restaurant that was personally inscribed by Emperor Qianlong.”
"Which attraction would you like to visit this afternoon? It's a bit cold in Beijing, and the park will be chilly. We could visit a museum instead."
"Tonight, it's up to you whether you want hot pot or roast duck, or I can cook."
Jiang Mingyue sat in the passenger seat, took off her mask, and gazed at the street scene outside the window.
This scene felt like stepping back into West Island a few years ago, where Don Juan was driving and she was chatting with him in the passenger seat, except this time it was just the two of them.
"Brother Tang, you had a good lunch, so you should eat something light for dinner, like porridge. Let's go to the museum this afternoon."
Jiang Mingyue wasn't very interested in the park; she preferred the museum, which broadened her horizons and allowed her to see the world.
Don Juan respected her opinion. "Okay, then I'll have to trouble you to do me a favor. Open your phone, find the Beijing Museum's official WeChat account, and make an appointment now to see if there are any slots available."
"Okay, I'll make the appointment."
Jiang Mingyue took out her phone and, following Don Juan's instructions, successfully accessed the Beijing Municipal Museum's official WeChat account.
Luckily, there are still appointments available this afternoon.
Jiang Mingyue asked Tang Huang for his ID number, then quickly entered it and successfully made the appointment.
An hour later, they arrived at the century-old shop without incident.
While Don Juan parked the car, Jiang Mingyue stood at the restaurant entrance, looking up at the plaque inscribed by Emperor Qianlong.
The characters are beautiful, the characters of a true emperor, full of domineering power. It's just that the restaurant's name is awkward and strange to pronounce, but it's easy to get hooked after reading it a few times.
Don Juan led Jiang Mingyue directly to the reserved private room on the second floor.
It was lunchtime, and the lobby on the first floor was full of people dining. When the two of them entered, no one recognized them.
Upon arriving at the private room on the second floor, Don Juan and Jiang Mingyue removed their masks, and the waiter immediately recognized them.
"Are you Teacher Tang and Teacher Jiang?"
The main reason is that the first episode of the second season of the variety show aired last week, and the two have gained some fame, leaving a deep impression on the waiters.
Don Juan smiled and nodded, then gestured to the waiter to shush him, telling him not to tell anyone.
The waiter nodded vigorously, emphasizing that guests are always valued and their opinions are paramount.
"May I take a photo with both of you teachers? After you've finished your meal?"
Don Juan looked at Jiang Mingyue, seeking her opinion, since this was a private trip and she wasn't wearing makeup.
Jiang Mingyue nodded generously, "Let's take the picture now. If we finish eating, our bellies will be too round to be photographed."
Don Juan smiled.
The waiter was so excited! Sister Jiang spoke so gently!
After taking the photos, the waiter patiently waited on the side until Don Juan ordered and confirmed the menu with him before leaving.
Don Juan ordered eight dishes, all of which were the restaurant's signature dishes, including shredded shumai, cloud cake, and four-happiness meatballs.
"Don't worry, we can pack up and take away any leftovers."
Jiang Mingyue took off her down jacket and picked up a hot towel to wipe her hands. "You've gone to so much trouble, Brother Tang."
Land under the emperor's nose is incredibly valuable; this meal must cost over a thousand yuan.
Most people can't pull off a white sweatshirt because it can make them look fat, but Jiang Mingyue is different. She looks great in white and even younger.
Don Juan got up to pour her tea and teased, "Don't say that. It's just a meal. It won't cost much. Besides, it's my honor to treat you to a meal. Many fans are envious of me."
The dishes were served quickly; the dim sum arrived one after another within five minutes, while the main dishes would have to wait a while longer.
The two hadn't seen each other for a long time, but they didn't feel any distance or awkwardness. They ate and chatted, catching up on their lives and work over the past two months.
Don Juan said he will spend most of his time in Beijing from now on. His parents are getting old, and as he gradually moves behind the scenes, he will spend more time with them.
He learned this from Jiang Mingyue: to extricate himself from the fame and fortune of the entertainment industry and return to life itself.
At first, he couldn't be as carefree as she was; he needed time to adjust to life away from the spotlight.
As netizens have said, a person's life begins the moment they are born.
All anyone wants is to be with their family, have a job to support them, and have their children and grandchildren around them.
"Brother Tang, you're doing great as you are now."
Don Juan suddenly remembered that she had no parents, and annoyed himself for being so talkative. He quickly added, "After I'm done with this busy period, I'll come visit you in Huai County. Would you be welcome?"
"What are you saying? You're welcome to come anytime."
Jiang Mingyue picked up the teacup and offered it to him in place of wine.
Don Juan raised his teacup and clinked it with hers.
"By the way, did you know that Brother Wei and Brother Qi are going to Huai County in March to film a variety show?"
“I know. Wei Lai told me before that he was hesitant at first and said he didn’t want to learn embroidery, but he probably thought of you in Huai County, so he accepted the job.”
During their conversation, all eight main dishes were served. Before they ate, Don Juan reminded her if she wanted to take a picture.
Jiang Mingyue took out her phone and took two pictures, then picked up her chopsticks and started eating. The dishes at this century-old restaurant were indeed delicious, and she praised every single one of them.
"Brother Tang, I've stopped using Weibo. I've registered a Langyin account and followed you guys."
Don Juan was surprised and quickly picked up his phone to open Langyin. "You play this? My account was registered by the studio. I haven't posted much. Let me see which name you use and I'll follow you back."
Little Jiang loves to eat vegetables, haha?
Don Juan was both amused and exasperated. Her name was indeed quite small; most people would never guess that she was Sister Jiang.
He set privacy settings for his following list, so passersby can only see the number of people on his following list, not who he is following.
Their museum visit was scheduled for 2 PM, and to avoid delaying their schedule, they paid the bill and left after finishing their meal.
There were practically no leftovers, mainly thanks to Jiang Mingyue's large appetite and Don Juan's considerable consumption.
To avoid traffic jams, Don Juan parked his car in a nearby parking lot and then chose to take the subway to the museum.
The two traveled discreetly, appearing to outsiders as a good-looking couple, making it hard to believe they were celebrities openly strolling around.
After all, Beijing is not short of handsome men and beautiful women.
Of course, in order to avoid being noticed by others, Jiang Mingyue and Tang Huang chose to sit in a corner.
Jiang Mingyue was quite at ease, already used to walking among strangers. Tang Huang, on the other hand, felt somewhat uncomfortable, mainly because he was afraid someone would take pictures of him without his consent.
He himself didn't care; the gossip online didn't affect him. He was only worried that it would give trolls an opportunity to attack Jiang Mingyue.
Fortunately, there are very few young people at this time of day.
The two exited the subway and arrived at the Beijing Museum without incident.
"We can't see everything in half a day. The museum closes at 4 pm, so we can only choose one exhibition hall to visit."
"Has Brother Tang been here before? Have you seen everything?"
The Taipei City Museum occupies a large area, with five floors above ground and two floors below ground, and nearly fifty exhibition halls. You can easily walk at least 100,000 steps in a day visiting it.
On a weekday afternoon, the museum was packed with people.
Don Juan grabbed Jiang Mingyue's wrist and pulled her to his side, avoiding the crowd that was pushing towards them.
"I've been here before. I came several times when I was studying, I came with friends when I was in college, and I came with friends when I was working."
Jiang Mingyue followed him with a smile, "Then you must have memorized all the exhibit descriptions by heart?"
"I remember some things, but I've long forgotten others."
"Then Tang, you can choose one for me, pick a more interesting exhibition hall."
Don Juan had the same idea. "Since you've come today, let's look at something fun and take a look at some artifacts from a thousand years ago."
Ironically, the two weren't spotted by netizens while eating out or taking the subway, but they were spotted at the museum by netizens who had taken time off work to visit, and these netizens were even fans of the two as a couple.
This fan of the Jiangtang CP was initially unsure, only having some doubts. The man and woman looked very much like the actor and actress, but they were wearing hats and masks, so their faces were not visible.
However, she was lucky enough to accidentally make eye contact with the two of them. She immediately noticed Sister Jiang's phoenix eyes and the actor's patient and gentle gaze towards her, which was exactly the same as the look in the first episode of the variety show!
I should buy a lottery ticket today!
The fans didn't dare to approach them and just watched from a distance. Then they took out their phones, secretly snapped a picture of the two from behind, and couldn't wait to post it to the fan group.
"Hahaha! Today is our lucky day! Look who I met at the museum?! Ta-da! The main characters are together again, giving us some sweet moments!"
The picture was posted in the group chat, and it immediately brought out a bunch of people who had been lurking and slacking off.
The group admin chimed in excitedly, "Oh my god, I told you, our ship is real!"
"Hehe, the movie star and Sister Jiang met privately without us fans posting on Weibo, that's intriguing."
“Wei Lai and Qi Sheng went to Huai County to see Sister Jiang in the first month of the lunar calendar. The three of them had a meal together and even posted about it on Weibo.”
"Hey, why did they go to a museum for their date instead of a movie?"
"We might arrange to see a movie tonight."
"Don't post it online. Protect Sister Jiang's privacy. She has retired from the entertainment industry, and we should respect her!"
"receive!"
"receive!"
"receive!"
With so many people, there were even some netizens in the museum today. One of them was listening intently to Don Juan explaining the phoenix crown to Jiang Mingyue and wondered if Don Juan was a professor of literature or history from some university. When he looked up, he was dumbfounded.
Isn't that Don Juan?
When netizens looked at the girl next to Don Juan, they were shocked again – wasn't that Jiang Mingyue?!
Aaaaaah!
He ran into a guest from the second season of the reality show!
The male netizen, bold and shameless, mustered up his courage and asked, "Teacher Tang, Sister Jiang! I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm a fan of yours. May I take a picture with you?"
Don Juan was quite surprised that fans could find him in such a dark place.
He tactfully indicated that photography was not allowed inside the exhibition area.
The male netizen didn't want to miss this opportunity, so he clasped his hands together and pleaded, "But I like you so much, and my wife and kids like you too. I'll show you my phone's wallpaper, which is a cover photo of you two from 'Tianxiu' magazine. Could you please move to the aisle?"
Don Juan looked at the other person's phone screen. It was indeed a photo of him and Jiang Mingyue. She was standing on the hundred-step staircase looking back, and he was climbing the steps to chase after her.
But he didn't want to indulge these fans, and was about to refuse when Jiang Mingyue tugged at his sleeve.
Jiang Mingyue looked at the male netizen and made the final decision, "Meeting is fate, take the picture."
The male netizen's eyes lit up, and he immediately bowed excitedly, "Thank you so much, Sister Jiang!"
Jiang Mingyue gestured for the other person to keep their voice down so as not to attract the attention of others.
The male netizen immediately covered his mouth.
The three of them moved to the corridor and took a group photo in front of the snow-white wall.
The male netizen thanked them again, wished them a happy new year, and then left satisfied.
Don Juan whispered to Jiang Mingyue, "Aren't you afraid he'll upload the photos online and expose your itinerary?"
Jiang Mingyue smiled indifferently, "Let them expose me if they want. Anyway, I'll be at your company all day tomorrow, so they won't be able to run into me."
"That's true."
Unsurprisingly, the group photo posted by this netizen instantly went viral on Weibo.
[Ordinary Beijing resident]: Hehe! I was so lucky today. I met two teachers at the museum. I didn't notice them at first because I was listening to Teacher Tang explain the knowledge about phoenix crowns to Sister Jiang. I thought to myself, this person knows more than me. When I looked up, hahaha!
[Don Juan and Jiang Mingyue visit a museum] It's like a rocket, soaring to the top of the trending searches!
The fans of the Jiangtang CP were completely confused. They hadn't posted it online to show off. Could there be a traitor in the group?
They clicked in and were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred!
The person in the photo was not the first CP fan to discover the pairing, but a male netizen.
Alright, since the two main figures have agreed to take photos, they've released them now.
Now that more than one person has bumped into the movie star and Sister Jiang at the museum, how can the working class in Beijing possibly concentrate on their jobs?! They wish they could sprout wings and fly there to see their idols!
Fans of Ginger and Don Juan, as well as fans of the Ginger and Sugar CP, celebrated the Lunar New Year by playing music and singing in the comments section of the trending topics.
【Ahhhhhh】
[Even happier than receiving a red envelope during Chinese New Year]
[My favorite couple appeared in the same frame!]
[The explanation of the phoenix crown is important; circle it for the test.]
[Give a shout-out to the amazing friendship between the Best Actor and Sister Jiang!]
[Sister Jiang goes on a date with a movie star, hahaha, whose face hurts?]
[Just to clarify, Sister Jiang and the movie star are just good friends. What couple goes on a date to a museum and then generously takes photos with netizens?]
[I knew Sister Jiang wouldn't follow the rules; even her meeting with the movie star was unique.]
[Wei Lai, Qi Sheng: Hey hey hey, are you guys picking us?]
[Sister Jiang: Don't talk nonsense, I really came to visit the exhibition hall]
【Dream Back to Season 2 of the Adventurers】
I really hope there will be a variety show where all the members come back, even if it's just them sitting together looking at the stars and chatting.
[Quickly plan the second season of @AdventureJourney]
Not long after, a netizen posted a photo of them taken on the subway, and soon after, the waiters of the century-old restaurant also posted a group photo online.
Wow, my idols are so down-to-earth! They actually took the subway to the museum. They must have taken the subway back too. Okay, I'll leave work early and go wait for them.
I'm not so sure; they might call a car to leave.
It's okay, it's worth trying our luck, you never know when we might run into someone.
Tonight I'm going to try the same restaurant that Sister Jiang and the movie star went to!
[I have an idea. Let's visit some of the must-eat restaurants in Beijing these next few days. It's Sister Jiang's first time in Beijing, and the movie star will definitely take her around to eat.]
I wonder how many days Sister Jiang will stay in Beijing. I really hope to run into her at various tourist attractions.
Sister Jiang is probably here on business; she might not go to any tourist attractions tomorrow.
Actually, there's no need for a chance encounter. Just knowing that Sister Jiang and I are both in Beijing makes me happy, and it even gives me motivation to go to work!
When Don Juan left the museum at four o'clock, he received a message from Wei Lai and others, telling them to pay attention to online news and advising them not to take the subway, as fans would block them and cause traffic chaos.
Don Juan had long anticipated that Jiang Mingyue's Weibo followers had exceeded 30 million, with the most active followers, and that her appearance would definitely cause a sensation.
"Okay, we're trending at number one again. Let's call a car back."
Jiang Mingyue turned her head to look at Tang Huang's phone, unsurprised by her frequent appearances on trending topics.
She smiled and said, "It's all thanks to the love and support of my fans."
Just as the two were about to call a car, they received another call from Xie Fei, who happened to be performing in Beijing and invited them to dinner that evening.
"Xiao Tang and Xiao Jiang, there's no time like the present. Since you two are both in Beijing, let's have dinner together tonight. I don't know if anyone else is here, but I've posted the location in the group chat. Anyone who's free, come join us. See you at 7 PM!"
Jiang Mingyue could only smile and agree, "Alright, I was originally planning to have some porridge and a big meal tonight, so I'll have to go for a run to aid digestion."
Don Juan switched pages, opened the ride-hailing app, and said, "I'll run with you."
Forty minutes later, Don Juan returned to his car, and as soon as he sat down, he received a call from Wu Cuifang.
Without further ado, Wu Cuifang asked him to invite Jiang Mingyue to her home as a guest, as she wanted to treat the young girl well to express her gratitude.
Wu Cuifang had a loud and clear voice, and Jiang Mingyue, sitting in the passenger seat, heard it without Tang Juan having to relay it.
Don Juan looked at Jiang Mingyue with a questioning gaze, asking if she was going or not.
It wouldn't be right for a junior like me to refuse an invitation from an elder, so Jiang Mingyue nodded in agreement.
Don Juan fastened his seatbelt. "Mom, I'm busy tonight. Teacher Xie Fei invited us to dinner. I'll take Mingyue home tomorrow night. What do you think?"
Wu Cuifang was easy to talk to, "Okay, okay, tomorrow night it is. I'll ask your dad to reschedule his classes, and he can go buy groceries and prepare the food for me tomorrow afternoon."
Don Juan smiled and gave her a few words of advice, telling her not to prepare any wine, "Mingyue doesn't drink alcohol, so bring out the good tea that Dad has been saving to entertain her."
"No problem, you don't even need to tell me that, your mom is reliable."
If you visit someone's home without bringing a gift, even cats and dogs won't pay them any attention.
Jiang Mingyue asked Tang Huang, "Brother Tang, what do your aunt and uncle usually like to eat? I need to buy some things for them."
She came in a hurry from Huai County without bringing any local specialties, and at the time she did not think of visiting Don Juan's parents.
Don Juan started the car. "No need to buy anything. You saved us on the way to Luo City Airport last time. My mom has been thinking about it ever since and said she'd treat you to a meal when you have time."
"Oh dear, that's all in the past. Let's keep things separate. I don't know what Auntie and Uncle like to eat. Can I buy some fruit tomorrow?"
Seeing her insistence, Don Juan went along with it, saying, "Fruit is fine, fruit is good."
Xie Feiding's restaurant is quite unique. It's located in a courtyard house in the old city, and it's expensive. It's a popular spot for celebrities.
Parking was difficult there, so Don Juan drove to a nearby parking lot and walked for a while with Jiang Mingyue.
It was rush hour after school and get off work, and the two were recognized by many people on the street.
The bolder ones would greet them, while the less timid ones would secretly take photos with their phones.
"Good evening, Teacher Tang and Sister Jiang!"
Jiang Mingyue and Tang Huang also nodded generously to the netizens.
After entering the alley, there were fewer people. A few minutes later, they arrived at Shan's Private Kitchen.
Jiang Mingyue looked around. The antique-style decor and colorful camellias planted on both sides of the gate, illuminated by landscape lights, made for a pleasant scene.
The doorman was waiting at the door. Don Juan showed the reserved private room number, and the doorman immediately led them inside.
"Please follow me, distinguished guests."
Don Juan and Jiang Mingyue stepped across the threshold.
Don Juan whispered, "This used to be a private residence, which was later converted into a restaurant. The chef is quite famous; it's said that his ancestors were renowned chefs from the palace, descendants of the imperial kitchen chefs."
Jiang Mingyue knew that a meal here would probably cost more than a thousand yuan.
"Oh dear, Teacher Xie has gone to so much trouble again."
Xie Feiding's private room was located at the deepest part of the courtyard, called Tingtao Pavilion, which was a waterside pavilion in the middle of the lake.
We arrived at the waterside pavilion along the winding stone bridge at 6:30. Xie Fei messaged me saying he was on his way and would be there in five minutes, asking Tang Juan to order first.
Jiang Mingyue admired the decor of the private room with great interest. The walls on both sides were covered with calligraphy and paintings, and there were four pots of clivia in each corner of the room, an eight-immortal table, and imitation rosewood chairs.
On the north side, there was a low couch with a small table in the middle, on which tea was served.
The dining environment is impeccable, and the owner of this private restaurant is quite skilled at creating delicious food.
"Brother Tang, take your time choosing. I'm going to the restroom." Jiang Mingyue turned and walked towards the door.
Don Juan hummed in agreement. The customers who dine at Shan's Private Kitchen are all wealthy and powerful, so he shouldn't encounter anyone who is too blind to notice.
The Tingyu Pavilion across the street also has important guests tonight. He Qi has returned from abroad and is hosting a dinner for Yan Qian. Also present are He Yan and several younger members of the Yan family.
Before arriving, He Yan spent the whole day training with the team. His older brother personally came to pick him up and took his phone directly from the coach. He Qi wouldn't allow him to eat or play on his phone.
He Yan knew perfectly well that two of the younger members of the Yan family were around his age and were using the opportunity of inviting Brother Yan to dinner to set him up on blind dates.
He's just over 25, isn't it a bit too early for him to go on blind dates?
As Jiang Mingyue came out of the restroom, she passed by Tingyu Pavilion and paused, as if she heard He Yan's voice.
It can't be that much of a coincidence.
She shook her head, ignored it, turned around, and stepped onto the winding covered bridge.
"Hey, beautiful, wait a minute, here are your lost keys."
A deliberately charming and magnetic voice came from behind, with a hint of teasing in its tone.
Author's note: [Winking emoji][Winking emoji] Praise me!
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