Mrs. Jin sized up Xu Jiaojiao, noticing the smile on her face, yet feeling an indescribable melancholy inside. She quickly followed up with, "No need for tea now, let’s eat first."

"Alright."

Xu Jiaojiao handed over the menu decision to Mrs. Jin, as she wasn’t too picky about food — anything not overly spicy was fine. Once the dishes were ordered, they began chatting.

"I haven’t seen you for just over half a month, and you’ve lost weight again."

Xu Jiaojiao replied with a startled yet embarrassed smile, "I’m working on a new film lately. The director requires me to maintain a good appearance on camera, so I’ve been eating very little. It should be fine once filming is over."

"Being an actress is tough; you can’t even decide your own meals."

Mrs. Jin spoke with a hint of melancholy and helplessness in her eyes, curiously staring at her counterpart, "Have you seen Jin Jing lately? I just met him yesterday."

"I saw him before entering the crew, and he called me yesterday."

Xu Jiaojiao recounted earnestly, with a demeanor of certainty and calculation. Unsure why Mrs. Jin brought it up, maybe it was just a casual question.

Mrs. Jin hesitated to address the real issue, intending to talk about important matters after dinner. So, they continued the conversation around current work and life.

Across the restaurant, Su Lan was growing increasingly impatient watching the man opposite her. She had agreed to meet an old acquaintance out of courtesy, but hadn’t foreseen the mutual lack of interest. His gaze kept hovering around her, making it nearly impossible to ignore him. Intently watching him, she suddenly found an excuse to go to the bathroom.

"Better give her a call, lest she thinks I’m difficult."

Su Lan seldom agreed to socialize unless the other party was also from the entertainment industry, promising to share some insightful information. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even contemplate attending.

With her goals unmet, Su Lan felt a sense of loss. As her call didn’t connect, she pondered her next move, realizing she’d need a more indirect strategy to achieve her goals rather than a direct approach.

"Hey... I don’t want to meet him again next time. We can’t hold a conversation; he was focused on his phone the whole time. Is he really a homebody? You know, I have zero interest in homebodies."

Su Lan explained, unable to quell her inner restlessness. Trying to confirm some things, she realized matters were more complex than anticipated, ultimately identifying the problem at hand.

"Also, I’ve asked you to keep an eye on the situation there and tell me promptly."

Empty-headed, Su Lan reflected on how her private disclosures to Huang Shan seemed to vanish without effect. It appeared that direct action yielded quicker results, but doing so risked exposure. Thus, a shadow continued to loom over her heart, as she felt now wasn’t the optimal time to reveal her intentions.

Xu Jiaojiao ate more than usual today; her appetite much improved compared to recent days. Glancing up at Mrs. Jin, her mood inexplicably brightened, as she noticed the calming presence in Mrs. Jin’s eyes.

Mrs. Jin, contemplating how to broach the topic, noticed the waiter had cleared all dishes, leaving only two drinks behind. She thoughtfully deliberated before finally speaking.

"Did you and Jin Jing have a fight?"

Mrs. Jin’s words placed unprecedented pressure on Xu Jiaojiao.

"I know his temper isn’t the best, and he’s immature in both speech and action. You’re methodical, and I trust you. However, friction is inevitable when you two interact, so I hope you can be more forgiving towards Jin Jing."