Jiang Li turned around, her eyes falling on Bai He, who had called out to her from behind.
Jiang Li knew Bai He. The newly - married Bai He looked in good spirits. She seemed to have shed some of her former sharpness as a capable career woman and become a bit softer.
Beside her stood another woman.
The woman was tall, with naturally fair skin. Wearing a pearl - white round - necked long dress, her skin looked even fairer. Her hair was pulled back low and held in place with a hairpin, exuding a gentle and refined aura.
A look of surprise flashed across Jiang Li's face.
Quickly, the comments under the entertainment tabloid article came to mind, and the face and name gradually matched up.
Yu Wan.
"Jiang Li, let me introduce you. This is Yu Wan. Sister Yu Wan, this is Jiang Li."
Jiang Li was so perceptive that she immediately caught the hidden meaning in Bai He's words. "Ms. Bai, have you mentioned me to Ms. Yu before?"
"I introduced you to Sister Yu Wan before. You're a very outstanding artist under Jiang Entertainment." Bai He was straightforward and answered crisply.
Yu Wan nodded with a smile and reached out her hand gracefully. "Ms. Jiang, I've long admired your name."
Jiang Li also politely reached out to shake her hand.
Yu Wan's palm was cold. Coupled with her pale complexion, it was obvious that she suffered from cold hands and feet due to insufficient blood supply.
She was delicate and weak, like a sick beauty.
Jiang Li made this judgment silently in her heart.
After the greeting, Jiang Li lowered her head slightly. "Ms. Bai, I've already terminated my contract with Jiang Entertainment. It will expire next month."
Hearing this, surprise flashed across Bai He's face.
The group stood at the crossroads and chatted for a while. When they learned that Jiang Li was planning to leave Beicheng, Bai He was a bit surprised and also a bit reluctant. "Sister Yu Wan and I are just about to have dinner. Why don't you join us?"
Jiang Li was about to decline.
"Jiang Li, don't decline. You're taking a flight tomorrow. It'll be hard to see you in the future."
Bai He remembered that Jiang Li had been Xiao Yanzhi's female companion for a while and their relationship was not bad. "Anyway, it's just a meal and a chat. Consider it a farewell dinner for you."
After several attempts to decline were in vain, Jiang Li was finally forced to follow them to a French restaurant.
The French cuisine in this restaurant was very authentic. It was said that the chef had once flown to France specifically to study cooking, so the food tasted excellent.
Although it was supposed to be a meal and a chat, it was basically Bai He and Yu Wan who were talking. Jiang Li hardly said a word.
But that was fine with her. She was happy to enjoy the leisure.
From their conversation, it could be inferred that the two had known each other for a long time and had a very good relationship.
Jiang Li suddenly thought of Qin Yaoyao.
Wasn't Qin Yaoyao saying before that she was Bai He's best friend?
After Jiang Li finished ordering and closed the menu, placing it aside politely, the waiter quickly came up and took it away.
"Ms. Jiang is really elegant." Yu Wan smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling. "No wonder you're a popular star. You truly live up to your reputation."
Her flattering words were said so amiably that they didn't seem offensive at all.
Jiang Li slightly lifted the corner of her lips and subtly mocked herself. "I'll be out of fashion soon. Ms. Yu is overpraising me."
"Not at all." When Yu Wan smiled, the curve of her eyes was also very elegant. "I understand the acting industry. I can tell that you're very talented. Your acting career will go a long way."
This kind of tone of a senior giving advice made Jiang Li slightly stunned.
Before she could ask, Bai He rushed to answer. "Jiang Li, let me tell you a secret. Actually, many years ago, Sister Yu Wan was also a big - name star, a very popular one."
Yu Wan gave Bai He a half - hearted glare and gently pushed her with her hand.
There was a hint of blame in her tone, but it was still as gentle as water. "Xiao He, don't talk nonsense in front of Ms. Jiang."
"I'm not wrong..." Bai He's voice dropped, a bit unconvinced. "Even if you're not popular anymore, you're still the most beautiful big star in my heart."
No wonder Xiao Yanzhi was so decisive when he founded Jiang Entertainment back then; no wonder Xiao Yanzhi, whose ancestors had been in business, knew every aspect of the entertainment circle so well.
Looking closely at Yu Wan's charm now, whether it was her temperament or her appearance, there was actually a faint resemblance to herself.
No, it was herself who resembled her.
Jiang Li gradually regained her clarity from the confusion. When she understood all this, she suddenly found it rather ridiculous.
From the very beginning, it was not a coincidence.
Halfway through the meal, Jiang Li went to the restroom. Unable to contain her excitement, Bai He winked at Yu Wan. "Sister Yu Wan, you've had two glasses of sparkling wine. You must be drunk, right?"
Yu Wan glanced at her but didn't answer, waiting for her to continue.
"I'll ask my cousin to pick us up!"
Without waiting for Yu Wan's answer, Bai He excitedly took out her phone and called Xiao Yanzhi. "Hey, cousin, can you come and pick me up? I'm having dinner with a friend here. I'm a bit drunk. The driver is off today."
...
Within a few minutes, Xiao Yanzhi walked into the restaurant, his expression calm.
He stopped at Bai He's table. His eyes swept over Yu Wan sitting on one side and almost didn't even pause before moving on.
He also noticed a used set of tableware on the opposite side of the two of them, so he said indifferently, "Who else is with you?"
"We just accompanied Sister Yu Wan to the hospital for a follow - up. We happened to meet Jiang Li at the door, so we dragged her along for dinner."
"Where is she?" His tone was flat, looking extremely nonchalant, as if he was just asking casually.
Bai He pointed in the direction of the restroom. "She said she was going to the restroom just now. I don't know why she hasn't come back yet."
Speaking of this, she suddenly remembered that she wanted to create an opportunity for Yu Wan and Xiao Yanzhi to be alone, so she immediately stood up. "I'll go to the restroom to look for her. You two talk."
In the blink of an eye, there were only two people left.
Xiao Yanzhi sat down on the empty chair, beside the place where Jiang Li had just been sitting.
"Have you eaten?" Yu Wan asked him, starting the conversation between them.
Someone was playing the violin in the restaurant. The music was very gentle and pleasant, but it made Xiao Yanzhi a bit irritable.
He leaned back on the chair with his back muscles relaxed, unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt with his hands, rolled up his sleeves, and loosened his tie. "I've eaten a little."
After saying this, he didn't intend to continue the conversation.
He was still as cold as ever, just like he was five years ago. She even wondered if it was just her imagination, but he seemed even colder than before, making him even harder to approach.
Yu Wan waited for a long time, but neither Bai He nor Jiang Li came back.
She pondered for a long time in her heart, and finally looked up at him, her voice calm. "I've always wanted to ask you - do you still hold a grudge about what happened back then?"