There are many such unique hotels abroad, most of which are Renaissance-era old buildings with quaint interiors and antique furnishings. Some of these buildings are still owned by noble families.

This hotel is just like that, with an ancient elevator that creaks as it takes only four people upstairs. The rooms inside are furnished in Baroque style—classical, intricate, and luxurious. Pushing open the carved windows, there is a river below, bustling with tourists from various countries and of different skin colors.

After all, this is Italy, and for Xia Siyu, it’s a familiar language. The streets are quaint, and being there feels like traveling back in time several hundred years.

Xia Siyu, who flew all the way here, finally dared to take off her mask. Even though this place is by the street and in the bustling district, she wasn’t worried at all.

Although she and Bo Yan are top stars in China, in Western society, people don’t recognize them. Additionally, many Westerners are somewhat face-blind to Asians, thinking they look more or less the same.

While it is every artist’s dream to be globally recognized and become a super superstar, Xia Siyu feels that it’s also nice to be unrecognized. It means not having to be chased by a large crowd everywhere she goes as is the case back home, and not having to constantly worry about paparazzi snapshots.

Breathing the fresh air, she turned and asked, "Where’s Director Sun?"

Bo Yan stood behind, watching. Despite occasionally being a bit unpredictable, she had become more stable now. Last time in Cannes, she didn’t care whether Wang Ju and Shang Feifei returned or not. She just had a great time playing beach volleyball with a group of people.

"He said he would give us some personal space—he’s not staying at this hotel. I’ve booked the whole place; it’s just us, some assistants, no outsiders."

Bo Yan stepped forward and stood beside her, looking at the view outside: "It’s a pity that tomorrow is your lunar birthday, but we’ll probably spend the whole day at the venue."

Xia Siyu casually said, "Maybe the birthday will give me a buff, and I’ll win a Best Actress award?"

The film entering the main competition unit is automatically eligible for the Best Actor, Actress, and Director awards. Though she doesn’t have much hope of winning, especially in these global contests where the difficulty is tremendously increased.

Last time she won at Cannes, it was considered a stroke of luck. That year, the competition for Best Actress was fierce, but there weren’t many standout contenders for Best Supporting Actress, allowing her to shine.

However, this year, if she can win, that’s great; if not, she’ll just treat it as a trip with Bo Yan.

Hearing her relaxed tone, Bo Yan knew she wasn’t putting too much pressure on herself. Indeed, this is Xia Siyu; even if there are challenges, she smiles them off and strives for what she wants. As long as she tries her best, there are no regrets.

As they stood there, Bo Yan heard a "grumble," and Xia Siyu turned to him with starry eyes, biting her lip looking pitiful: "I’m hungry."

"Let’s go eat."

But it was now three in the afternoon; which restaurant would still be open at this time? After all, unlike China, where some shops are open 24 hours, in some Western and Southern European cities, shops might only open at 11 a.m. and close by five or six p.m.

Xia Siyu immediately jumped up: "I know a place! The food is really delicious! It’s not too far from here."

Bo Yan asked, "Should we call ahead first?"

Xia Siyu boasted, "No need, I already made a reservation when I was at the airport; they’ll keep a spot for us at six."

This girl, she probably devoted all her skill points to eating and drinking. Bo Yan was a bit speechless: "But it’s still three hours to go until six."

Xia Siyu laughed: "Is that even a problem? There are so many places here!"

Three or four in the afternoon is just the right time for afternoon tea. Especially on the streets of Italy, many cafés have small tables set outside for enjoying the sunshine and coffee.

Since it’s afternoon tea, apart from coffee, there would be tea snacks.

Oh, she had already searched for it before, drooling over those photos of delicacies on the plane. Now that she was finally here, she was determined to eat to her heart’s content!

Xia Siyu changed her clothes a little and dragged Bo Yan downstairs. As they reached the lobby, they bumped into Wei Jingjing, who was planning to call some security to go along when Xia Siyu stopped her: "No need, who recognizes us abroad anyway. You guys just stay put, and don’t worry, I’ll bring back food for you when we return."

You don’t even have to ask where the best coffee is; just look at the people. The place where the most locals gather, even sharing tables outside to drink coffee, must be good. The two of them sat down, and Xia Siyu immediately ordered Tiramisu. This dessert was first invented in Italy.

Xia Siyu boasted, "Do you know the origin of Tiramisu? There are several versions. One says that in Venice, a boy fell in love with a girl. To express his love, he created this cake. The sweetness amidst bitterness, and the bitterness with sweetness; the sweet is honey, the bitter is coffee and cocoa, rich in flavor, representing love which is also bittersweet. The girl understood his feelings after eating the boy’s cake and eventually married him. This story tells us, if you love her, make Tiramisu for her!"

After she finished, she blinked at Bo Yan with a look that said, "You know what to do."

There are many hotels abroad with such unique characteristics, most of them are old Renaissance buildings with antique interior decorations and furnishings. Some of these houses are even still owned by nobility.

This hotel is exactly like that. From the ancient, creaky elevator that only fits four people to the rooms inside, everything is furnished in Baroque style—classical, intricate, and luxurious. Swinging open the carved lattice windows, a river flows beneath with a constant stream of tourists from different countries and of various skin tones coming and going.

After all, this is Italy, and the language spoken here is familiar to Xia Siyu. The streets are charmingly ancient, and being in this place feels like being transported back hundreds of years.

Xia Siyu only dared to take off her mask upon arriving here. Although the hotel is on a busy street, she wasn’t even slightly afraid. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Though she and Bo Yan are top stars back in China, in Western society, nobody recognizes her. Plus, many Westerners have a hard time differentiating Asian faces, thinking they all look quite similar.

For an artist, global attention and fame, becoming a superstar, is undoubtedly everyone’s dream. But Xia Siyu feels that this anonymity is also good: with no one recognizing her, she doesn’t have to deal with crowds swarming her like in her home country, nor worry constantly about paparazzi taking pictures.

She took a breath of fresh air and turned to ask, "Where is Director Sun?"

Bo Yan watched from the back, noting that although she was occasionally impulsive, she had become more and more mature. Last time in Cannes, she didn’t care whether or not Wang Ju and Shang Feifei returned, and happily played beach volleyball with a group of people.

"He said he’d leave us two some personal space—he’s not staying at this hotel. I’ve booked the whole hotel for us and our assistants, there’s no one else here."

Bo Yan stepped forward a couple of steps, standing side by side with her, looking at the scenery outside the window: "Unfortunately, tomorrow is your lunar birthday, but we’ll probably be stuck at the venue all day."

Xia Siyu said carelessly, "Maybe the birthday will give me a buff, and I’ll win a Best Actress award?"

Being shortlisted in the main competition section means you automatically participate in the selection for Best Actor, Actress, and Director. Although she doesn’t hold much hope for winning, especially with the intense competition on such a world stage, it’s immensely tough.

Last time in Cannes, winning the award was already considered lucky for her. That year, the competition for Best Actress was fierce, but there weren’t many outstanding candidates for Best Supporting Actress, allowing her to stand out.

But this year, if she wins, great. If not, consider it a trip with Bo Yan.

Upon hearing her relaxed tone, Bo Yan knew she wasn’t putting a lot of pressure on herself. Indeed, this is Xia Siyu—when faced with challenges, she treats them lightly and works hard to strive for success. As long as she gives her best, there’s no regret.

While standing there, Bo Yan hears a "gurgle" sound. Xia Siyu turns to him with starry eyes, biting her lower lip, looking pitiful: "I’m hungry."

"Let’s go eat."

But it’s three in the afternoon, and which restaurants are still open at this time? After all, unlike in China, where some places are even open 24 hours, in parts of Western and Southern Europe, shops often don’t open until eleven in the morning and close by five or six in the evening.

Xia Siyu immediately jumps up: "I know a place! It’s really delicious and not too far from here."

Bo Yan asked, "Should we call ahead?"

Xia Siyu haughtily said, "No need, I already reserved a spot when we were at the airport. They’re keeping a table for us at six."

This girl probably spent all her skill points on food and drink. Bo Yan was a bit speechless: "But it’s still three hours until six."

Xia Siyu giggled: "Is that a problem? Isn’t the street full of spots?"

Three or four in the afternoon is perfect for afternoon tea, especially on Italy’s streets where many cafes set up small tables outside for sunbathing and sipping coffee.

Given it’s afternoon tea, besides coffee, there must be snacks.

Ohhh, she had already searched ahead, drooling over the pictures of delicious food on the plane. Now that she’s here, she must eat her fill!

Xia Siyu changed her clothes a bit, then dragged Bo Yan downstairs. In the lobby, they happened to run into Wei Jingjing, who saw them leaving and intended to call some security guards. Xia Siyu stopped her: "No need, nobody knows us here. You just stay put, and don’t worry, I’ll bring you back some food."

No need to ask which cafe has the best coffee; just follow the crowd. The one with the most locals, where people are sharing tables outside, is surely good. The two sat down, and Xia Siyu immediately ordered a tiramisu. This dessert was originally invented in Italy.

Xia Siyu boasted, "Do you know the origin of tiramisu? There are a few versions, one of which says it was in Venice where a boy fell in love with a girl. To express his love, he created this cake. The sweetness mixed with bitterness, the honey’s sweetness counters the cocoa and coffee’s bitterness, is rich in flavor, symbolizing that love has its sweet and bitter moments. The girl, after tasting the boy’s cake, understood his feelings and eventually married him. This story tells us, if you love her, make her a tiramisu!"

After she finished, she blinked at Bo Yan with an expression that said, "You know what to do."