I became a movie star at the age of three; Dilraba and I are childhood sweethearts.

Then he straightened up and looked at the graceful figure standing at the door.

He smiled.

That smile was like a spring breeze brushing across an ice surface, carrying an understanding and a hint of barely perceptible indulgence.

There was no excessive surprise, as if her arrival was entirely expected.

"Oh, it was you."

He spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.

The tone was less of a question and more of a confirmation, mixed with a hint of "I knew it was you."

Liu Shishi's heart was gently struck by those five short words, leaving it slightly numb.

She stood there, unsure of what to say.

A thousand words stuck in my throat, ultimately only turning into a pool of spring water in my eyes.

Xiao Chen didn't give her a chance to continue being stunned.

He gestured with his chin toward her, the movement casual and natural, carrying an undeniable intimacy.

"What are you still standing there for?"

"Come and eat seafood!"

One sentence instantly shattered that subtle, ambiguous atmosphere.

This also allowed Liu Shishi's tense nerves to relax.

Yes.

Come here.

What's there to be afraid of?

Her smile deepened, and she finally took a step towards the lights, towards the person she had been thinking about for so long.

Dilraba had already affectionately taken her arm and pulled her to the empty seat next to Xiao Chen.

"Sister Shishi, you've finally arrived!"

"You have no idea how amazing Brother Chen was today! He's practically a player!"

"Look at this table full of seafood, he prepared it all by himself!"

Xiao Chen chuckled and shook his head upon hearing this.

Neptune.

It sounds like someone is swearing.

Anita Mui added with a smile.

"That's right, we're really fortunate to have Xiao Chen today."

Liu Shishi sat down, looked at the dazzling array of seafood on the table, and then looked up at Xiao Chen, who was bending down to get her cutlery.

His profile was perfectly sculpted under the light, with long eyelashes drooping down and casting a small shadow.

He didn't say anything.

He simply placed a clean bowl and chopsticks, along with a dish of prepared dipping sauce, gently in front of her.

Everything happened so naturally.

It was as if they had never been apart for those long two years.

It was as if they were still on the film set back then, the boy who would save chicken legs for her, and the little girl who always followed behind him.

Injustice and favoritism sometimes lie in these silent details.

Of all the people at the table, only she had a portion of sauce that he had personally prepared.

Chen Chichi watched from the side, clicking his tongue in amazement, and whispered to Leslie Cheung.

"Oh no, oh no, now I have even less status."

Leslie Cheung just smiled, patted him on the shoulder, and his eyes were full of teasing, "You just realized that?"

In the courtyard, the hot pot was bubbling and steaming.

Everyone's face was beaming with happiness.

Liu Shishi picked up a piece of tender razor clam meat and put it in her mouth.

Fresh, fragrant, and spicy – ​​a variety of flavors explode on the tip of your tongue.

The warmth spread from my stomach all the way to my heart.

She looked at the man beside her; he was smiling and talking to Sister Mei, his brows relaxed and at ease.

very nice.

It's amazing to see him like this here.

Chen Chichi no longer cared about his image.

He poured a large spoonful of delicious clam meat and broth over the rice, shoveling it down and mumbling incoherently.

"I can't take it anymore, it's so delicious!"

"Brother Chen, with your cooking skills, it's a complete waste not to open a private restaurant!"

Dilraba's face was flushed from eating. She held up a huge mantis shrimp and looked at Xiao Chen with bright eyes.

"Brother Chen, is there anything you can't do?"

These words are less a question and more a typical example of fans' flattery.

The people in the courtyard have gotten used to it.

Xiao Chen just smiled and didn't reply. He was using serving chopsticks to put a piece of freshly cooked abalone on Liu Shishi's plate next to him.

The abalone was prepared perfectly, snow-white and springy, and he placed it steadily into the special sauce dish in front of her.

"This should be eaten while it's hot."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble, precisely thrown into Liu Shishi's heart, rippling out warm waves.

She nodded, picked up the abalone, and gently bit it with her pearly teeth.

The chewy texture, the savory sauce, and the natural sweetness of the abalone create an instant burst of flavor on the taste buds.

good to eat.

It's so delicious it brings tears to my eyes.

What truly warmed her heart was not the taste of the food, but his natural care.

There are so many people at the table. Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung are the seniors, Dilraba Dilmurat is the younger sister, and Chen He is the lively one.

But she alone received this unique favoritism.

He acted with complete honesty and integrity in showing this favoritism, as if it were just an ordinary habit.

Looking at the two younger generation, Leslie Cheung's smile grew even gentler.

He raised his glass and whispered to Mei Yanfang.

"Amei, look at them, don't they look like us when we were young?"

Anita Mui laughed too, giving him a charmingly disdainful look.

"Get lost, I'm not as good at attracting attention as you are."

That's what she said, but the way she looked at Xiao Chen and Liu Shishi was full of the love and satisfaction of an elder.

Amidst the laughter and chatter, the courtyard gate creaked open.

A dark-skinned man with a kind smile walked in; he was the village chief.

"Are you all... are you all eating?"

Seeing the courtyard full of celebrities, the village chief became a little reserved, rubbing his hands, unsure of what to say.

It was Anita Mui who was the first to react and greeted them warmly.

"Village chief, come quick, come quick, want to have something to eat?"

"No, no."

The village chief waved his hand repeatedly, his gaze finding Xiao Chen in the crowd.

"Um...Teacher Xiao Chen, I'm here to talk to you about something."

"I heard from your production team that you'd also like to experience fishing at sea?"

Xiao Chen put down his chopsticks and looked at him seriously.

"Yes, village chief, there is such a plan."

The village chief's smile became even more genuine.

"What a coincidence! Perfect timing, a relative of mine is going out to sea tomorrow. The ship is big and safe."

"I was thinking, if you don't mind, you can go with them tomorrow morning, learn a thing or two, and experience it firsthand."

"Of course, you're just here to observe; you won't have to do any heavy work."

Upon hearing this suggestion, Dilraba was the first to jump up excitedly.

"Really? That's great! I want to go! I want to see the real ocean!"

Chen Chichi had just swallowed a mouthful of rice when he quickly expressed his opinion.

"I have to go! It'll be a good opportunity for this fat body to see what real challenges it can face!"

Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui exchanged a smile and nodded in agreement.

All eyes finally turned to Xiao Chen.

He is the backbone of this "family".

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment, then turned to look at Liu Shishi.

Do you want to go?

he asks.

Liu Shishi was taken aback when he asked her a question alone. She paused for a moment, then nodded vigorously, her eyes shining brighter than the lights in the courtyard.

"think!"