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

The night was as dark as ink, staining every tile of the courtyard house.

Xiao Chen arranged a guest room for Avril in the west wing. Pushing open the carved wooden window, one could see the shadow of the old locust tree in the courtyard.

They stretched out quietly in the moonlight. After settling her in, the two went back to their respective rooms to rest.

The fatigue of the journey was quickly swallowed up by a deep sleep.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, a sliver of morning light pierced through the thin mist, gilding the courtyard with a pale gold hue.

Avril was awakened by a faint but rhythmic sound of wind breaking through the air.

She sat up somewhat dazedly, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders. The sound was like a unique rhythm, striking her heart again and again.

Curiosity compelled her to put on a coat and quietly push open the door.

In the courtyard, Xiao Chen was shirtless, wearing only a pair of loose black training pants.

The morning light outlined his smooth and explosive muscle lines, and sweat slid down his taut back.

He refracted a crystalline light under the sun. He didn't have the exaggerated muscles seen in movies; every inch of his muscles was just right.

It is full of the coordination and beauty unique to Eastern martial arts.

He is boxing.

It's not the kind of slow, leisurely Tai Chi practiced by old men in parks, but a set of boxing techniques that combines strength and flexibility.

Each move was fluid and graceful, sometimes as powerful as a tiger descending a mountain, with the wind howling through the air.

Sometimes it stands like a crane among the pines, calm and serene as an abyss.

Every movement was so precise it was as if it had been measured with a ruler, and every exertion of force carried a heart-stopping power.

From the time this world was three years old, this body was honed by him in the most rigorous way.

The skills I learned when I was an extra in my previous life have been honed into real kung fu through more than a decade of consistent practice.

Avril was completely stunned.

She leaned against the door frame, her blue eyes unblinking.

On screen, Xiao Chen is Jack, the romantic and unruly poor boy in "Titanic," the dream lover of countless girls.

But the man before me was like a drawn sword, its sharpness fully revealed, carrying a primal and pure sense of power.

This stark contrast made her heart pound uncontrollably.

It turns out that he not only uses his face and eyes to bewitch people, but also harbors a real beast within him.

After finishing his punches, Xiao Chen stood up, his chest rising and falling slightly, and exhaled a long breath of white air.

It slowly dispersed in the cool air.

He casually picked up a towel from the stone bench and wiped his sweat before turning around, as if he had just noticed her.

"woke up?"

His voice was slightly hoarse from exercise, but his eyes were clear, as if the sharp aura he had just displayed had never existed.

Ivy...

Avril felt her cheeks burning and nodded quickly, like a child caught doing something wrong.

"Good morning, Xiao."

Xiao Chen smiled, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Go wash up, Mom should have breakfast ready by now."

The sunlight fell directly on his face, so bright it was blinding.

As expected, Ye Huimei had already prepared an authentic Beijing breakfast at the dining table.

Fried dough rings, fried cakes, sugar-coated fried dough, and a few dishes of delicate pickled vegetables.

Ye Huimei greeted them warmly.

"Xiao Ai, come and try Auntie's cooking. It tastes much better than what you buy outside."

Although they don't speak the same language, their love and warmth are universal.

Xiao Chen translated for her from the side.

Avril took a bite of the freshly made sugar-coated pancake. The outer layer was crispy, the inside was soft, and the sweetness was just right. She was so happy that her eyes narrowed.

She spoke clearly and fluently in Chinese, which she had only recently begun to learn.

"It's so delicious! Thank you, Auntie!"

Ye Huimei couldn't stop laughing.

"Eat more if you like."

Just then, the housekeeper came out of the kitchen carrying two bowls, and a peculiar, indescribable smell instantly filled the air.

It was a complex smell that combined sourness, rancidity, and astringency.

Avril's nose wrinkled involuntarily as she looked at the grayish-green, sticky-looking liquid in the bowl.

"What is this?"

She asked curiously.

Xiao Chen explained.

"Fermented mung bean juice, a specialty of old Beijing."

He picked up the bowl in front of him, along with some fried dough rings, and took a big gulp without hesitation, a look of enjoyment on his face.

"Try it."

Seeing how much Xiao Chen was enjoying himself, Avril thought that this thing probably wasn't that scary.

She imitated Xiao Chen, picked up the bowl, and carefully brought it to her lips.

The smell is stronger now.

She held her breath, closed her eyes, and took a small gulp, as if drinking medicine.

next second.

"vomit--"

An indescribable taste exploded in her mouth, as if a stinky sock that had been sitting for a week had been soaked in sauerkraut water.

It shot straight to the top of her head. She almost vomited on the spot, her pretty face instantly contorting into a bitter grimace, her features all scrunched up.

"puff..."

"Ahem!"

Xiao Chen and Ye Huimei couldn't help but laugh when they saw her expression of utter despair.

One of them choked and coughed repeatedly.

Avril was almost in tears, feeling as if her taste buds had suffered a devastating blow.

"Is...is this something for people to drink?"

Ye Huimei smiled and waved her hand.

"Haha, if you don't like it, don't drink it, it's okay."

As Avril watched Xiao Chen finish the entire bowl of soy milk without batting an eye, a sense of inexplicable frustration welled up inside her.

She gritted her teeth, as if she had made a huge decision, and picked up the bowl again, trying to take on the challenge once more.

Xiao Chen reached out and pressed down on her bowl.

Don't push yourself too hard.

"This thing is loved to death by those who love it, and hated to death by those who hate it, regardless of nationality."

Avril reluctantly put down her bowl and stuck out her tongue.

Ye Huimei looked at the two young men and became more and more satisfied. She then spoke to Xiao Chen.

"Xiao Chen, you don't have much work to do today, right?"

"This is Xiao Ai's first time in Beijing, take her out for a walk, don't just stay at home all the time."

Xiao Chen readily agreed.

"OK."

After finishing their meal, the two prepared to go out.

With their current fame, if they strolled down the street, they could cause a traffic jam in less than five minutes.

Disguise is necessary.

Inside the van, Xiao Chen took a small makeup bag out of the storage compartment.

He put on a pair of black-rimmed non-prescription glasses to cover his overly striking almond-shaped eyes, and then put on a baseball cap, pulling the brim down low.

Finally, he slightly hunched his back.

In an instant, his entire demeanor transformed from that of a dazzling superstar into that of an ordinary college student with a slightly bookish air, blending into the crowd.

This is the level of control a movie star possesses; a single glance, a subtle change in posture, can make someone seem like a completely different person.

Avril's situation is much more complicated.

Her dazzling blonde hair and striking features made her stand out in the crowd.

Xiao Chen sized her up for a few seconds, then pulled out a long, straight black wig from another bag.