Preface

Wang Yaxin opened the document attached in the email with such thoughts

The diners on the third floor primarily engage in socializing and hosting guests, thus the dishes served must be exquisitely crafted and the prices cannot be low, making it a completely different world from the downstairs. No matter how lively the second floor may be, even leaning against the staircase, one cannot hear the sounds from above. Furthermore, this staircase is usually unused, as there is an elevator that goes directly to the third floor.

I quietly entered the familiar room while carrying my luggage. Every winter and summer vacation in the past, I would return to stay for a while. The table lamp with a green shade by the bedside, when I tugged on the cord, illuminated my childhood

Before I turned eighteen, I did not know Cantonese, as my family was concerned that I would not learn Mandarin well and never taught me. Now, given the current situation, the whole family feels very regretful

In today's era of peace, where talent is saturated, where is there still room for exceptional individuals to emerge? If there is a girl of extraordinary grace in the family, wishing for her to marry into a wealthy family may be a luxury, but it seems much simpler to hope for her to enter the social circles of successful individuals and find a partner of lesser but still valuable standing.

He put away his phone and took out a business card, "Consider it, and if you have any thoughts, give me a call"

They pointed me to a private room, and out of curiosity, I approached. The door was not tightly closed, so I quietly peered inside

Certainly, neither of them is.

Appearance is innate, and you already possess this advantage. Is there a way to tell a story that can be cultivated

After the New Year, I no longer worried about not being able to speak Cantonese, which led me to entertain the thought of "resigning." In the end, I couldn't bring myself to do it—only on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year did I return to the restaurant to resume work. My aunt gave me a dark green qipao and asked me to work on the third floor as a hostess, and she would also pay me a salary.

Just as I was about to leave the private room, I glanced at Mr. Fang almost involuntarily, not expecting to meet his gaze. He smiled at me.

Whether the 'experience' sent by Tang Yike was written by her personally is not important, as long as it aligns with her biography.

This is the only low shelf without any decorations. Every time I feel lazy, I sit here. If my aunt sees me, she will definitely pull me up, fearing that I might damage it. How could I possibly weigh so little that I could collapse it?

On the evening before the eve of the Lunar New Year, the atmosphere in the restaurant was lively. I was also quite relaxed, and after a few drinks, I picked up the microphone and sang "Small Town Story," which drew applause from the audience, serving as a reconciliation of sorts.

I hesitated as I took his hand, and then told him my name, "Tang Yike"

The first thing to do upon exiting the private room is to lower one's head and examine one's attire, ensuring that there are no inappropriate aspects, before sitting down next to Hua Qi.

I received it, and upon taking a look, it was a blank message interface, which made me understand that he wanted to type out the name

"Which soup?" he asked while reaching into the side of his coat to pull out his phone, opened something, and then handed it to me

From the moment my mother agreed to let me continue working at the restaurant, I began to grasp what they might be hoping for

Regarding the arrangement for my aunt, I feel somewhat hesitant. Although I am not a particularly ambitious student, I have not fallen behind in my studies. In fact, the time I spend helping out at the restaurant is not significant. If I am to receive a salary, it implies that I should take this job seriously, which indeed gives me a sense of discomfort as if my time is being taken away.

My attention was entirely focused on the soup bowls, ensuring that they safely landed in front of each diner. However, I was unaware of how this table had fallen silent. When I slightly raised my eyes, I found that they were all looking at me, which caused a momentary panic in my heart, but fortunately, I did not show it.

My aunt drove me out of the kitchen, and it was evident that the guests had already taken their seats in the private room. Only a few hostesses were gathered together, whispering to each other. I leaned in closer and overheard them saying that there were executives from an entertainment company among tonight's guests

Until a guest entered, she stood up to greet them. I let out a sigh of relief, only to see her leading the person up the stairs, not forgetting to wave at me, urging me to follow.

To my surprise, as I turned around, I encountered the male server bringing several dishes of soup with bitter melon and Wagyu beef. Instinctively, I opened the door and walked in, softly saying "Excuse me," and then proceeded to serve them the dishes

At that time, I thought that such a person would have no connection with me

You see, while others are worried about the short class hours and need to put in effort to study hard, I am counting down the days until the holidays. This shows that I am not a diligent student. Furthermore, I have not signed up for any clubs or participated in any social events, and the remaining time is spent honing my skills in the restaurant.

I thought he was looking for the restroom and intended to speak up to direct him, but I saw him walking towards me, and I was momentarily taken aback, forgetting to get up

At that time, I did not respond to him

The person who reserved the table specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare a basin dish

Although more than half of the diners here are prominent figures from the business world, there have been no unpleasant incidents during the time. As long as you do not take the initiative, they are equally gentlemanly, refraining from engaging in conversation with you, exhibiting a remarkably high level of quality. This is because the dining table serves as a stage for showcasing personal cultivation. As for deeper nuances, I had not yet paid attention to studying them at that time

He originally intended to say 'when a star', speculating that in my youthful arrogance, I would find the term 'star' to be a vulgar title, inferior to 'actor', which could prove one's worth. This was something he later told me

At this moment, the song that lingers in the home seems to drift out from this small window of mine, "The sunset has poetic charm, the dusk has artistic intent, although poetic charm and artistic intent are beautiful, in my heart there is only you..."

The third floor consists solely of private rooms, designated for entertaining esteemed guests. When I first visited the restaurant, I caught a hurried glimpse of the upstairs, which was exquisitely decorated. The male servers wore black shirts, impeccably neat, while the female attendants donned ivory-white qipaos made of imitation silk, exuding elegance and grace

In the blink of an eye, it was the day I started work, and my aunt came by to help me style my hair, arranging my long hair into a low bun.

The young woman is made up a bit heavily, dressed simply yet fashionably, with her golden-brown hair shining as if it has been waxed. Upon hearing the call, she approaches with a beaming smile, unashamed and unreserved; she must be a rising star.

I hurriedly responded to him with a smile and then immediately left

I am a producer...'' He glanced in the direction of the private room and said to me in a low voice, ``A little better than them.''

Perhaps it is because I am still young, possessing a lofty and naive heart, believing in fairy tales, and feeling that emotions obtained through manipulation are dry and tasteless, not worthy of being called love

I opened the window and looked outside. Opposite me was an apartment building with pink walls, adorned with fluttering clothes, while below were colorful billboards.

I said, "I have no stories to tell"

If the guests in the evening are in high spirits, the restaurant will operate until 2 or 3 a.m., transforming into a dance hall! Of course, young people gather in Lan Kwai Fong, while this place serves as a ballroom for middle-aged and elderly individuals, with songs that are older than I am.

I only work on the second floor where there are no private rooms. In the morning, there are many elderly people having dim sum, fewer people at noon, and then it gets busy again during dinner. My Cantonese is quite poor, making it difficult for customers to place their orders with me. The more people there are, the more relaxed I become; it is only when I encounter tour groups from the mainland that I become busy.

I put on the small vermilion round bead earrings, which made my face appear even brighter and fairer. Unfortunately, they are made of fake chalcedony, a pair costing sixty yuan

As time went on, I made significant progress in my language skills, and daily communication is no longer an issue. I have also come to understand quite a few idioms and seem to have discovered some tips for interpersonal interactions: when encountering those who intend to tease me, I maintain my composure, and when treated kindly, I respond with even greater politeness

The second and third floors are where the restaurant is located, and they are quite different. I went up to the second floor and looked around; the waitstaff were all dressed in black shirts

After I received my salary for two months, someone booked the third floor for a banquet, marking the end of my first job

The first year of university, the days of waking up early and burning the midnight oil to do homework are a thing of the past, it can truly be described as a vacation—there is a week of study break before the midterm exams, and holidays for Easter, Christmas, the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as various festivals from both ancient and modern times, and even the school anniversary.

Current celebrity artists can be divided into several categories. Some debuted early and lack the time and inclination to pursue their studies. Others focus excessively on maintaining their physique, leading to extreme dieting that affects their cognitive abilities, resulting in disjointed speech that makes it difficult for others to grasp the main point. Lastly, each individual has their own temperament. After all, no one is perfect.

At that moment, I asked why. He replied, "Your face tells a story"

In my childhood, I often heard adults praise my beauty, but I took it lightly, feeling that my eyes were not big enough, my chin not sharp enough, and my cheeks not slim enough. I pretended to be picky about food and secretly tried to lose weight. As I grew older, I seemed to understand why others complimented my appearance

The proprietress outside the restaurant is my aunt, whom I haven't seen in many years. She held onto me tightly, praising me with eloquence, saying that I have grown up to be sensible and that I possess outstanding looks. I found it somewhat difficult to handle.

Grandmother raised my mother to be a lady, who does not even know how to play mahjong. My father is particularly fond of her quiet demeanor, which aligns with his temperament. Influenced by them, the friends I associate with are also not overly passionate, so I rarely interact with people who are so talkative and cheerful

Poon Choi, a traditional dish originating from Yuen Long, does not have specific requirements for the ingredients used. The mountain delicacies and seafood are cooked separately, then layered into a large basin, filling it to the brim, making it quite substantial and requiring someone strong to carry it. At first glance, it appears quite rustic, with the top layer featuring glistening white cut chicken, flavorful abalone and sea cucumber, and delicious mushrooms, culminating in a steamed lobster resting in the center, making one's appetite whet.

My aunt looked at me for a while, then gently touched my earrings and said with a smile, "Hanging on your ears, I thought they were real agate"

Settling down and establishing a home, unlike the previous fleeting stays, truly integrating into life in Hong Kong, for me, the most challenging aspect is this 'language'

At this moment, as I write this paragraph, I think that perhaps he merely praised me a few times, like a butterfly in a tropical rainforest, fluttering its wings and inadvertently pushing me towards the entertainment industry

My mother suggested an idea for me to work as a helper at the Cantonese restaurant run by my grandfather, where my duties would involve serving and delivering dishes

I have never dressed like this before, and surprisingly it suits me well, even I find myself staring blankly at the mirror

As I am a family member of the boss, I am not truly here to work, so I can wear my own clothes, as long as they are comfortable and not afraid of getting dirty

I am secretly determined to master Cantonese at all costs

Due to my parents' divorce, I completed high school in Xuzhou before following my mother to Hong Kong to continue my university studies

I take another look at Mr. Fang, judging from his appearance, he is under thirty years old. However, he carries a hint of a smile in his expression, and his demeanor is the most relaxed among those present. It is a calmness that is not typical of someone in their twenties, making it difficult to accurately guess his actual age. If one were to simply appreciate his appearance without engaging with him, it would indeed be quite pleasant.

By the time I finish serving the dishes, I have more or less figured out what is going on. I feel a bit proud, yet also somewhat apologetic

Jianan Publishing Company plans to publish a book titled "True Book" for the young actress Tang Yike

Suddenly, he was right in front of me, smiling and greeting me, and then introduced himself; his name was Fang Bo'an

These elderly individuals, holding onto their seniority, knowing that I am not proficient in Cantonese, take pleasure in provoking me. I often feel angry, but when they see me get upset, they laugh even more.

Thus, my work state has instead become quiet

I set down my luggage and took a short rest, yet I could still hear the singing from the living room. After all, this home is a total of 80 square meters, and located in Tsim Sha Tsui, it can be considered quite affluent.

I touch this qipao, the fabric of the tattered floral velvet, its luster resembling a hidden current. I put it on and look in the mirror; it does not fit well, the waist is too wide, the hem is too long, overall it is a size larger than my figure

A maturely dressed lady with fully curled hair is enthusiastically calling out to a younger woman, "Come on, sit next to Mr. Fang."

However, when I think about my classmates, almost all of them have part-time jobs except for those from very wealthy families. Since they can manage to find a balance and still have time to meet for dessert, why can't I do the same?

I am not yet confident enough to believe that they would discuss my appearance, and even if they did, I would not be able to hear it

"Tang, Yi, Ke." He looked up from his phone and said to me, "Are you interested in becoming an actor?"

The apology is directed towards that young woman, who should have been the center of attention at this table. I do not know her name and have not encountered her again since.

Teacher Meng Pingsheng promised to help me write a preface, but I have not received it yet. I suspect he has forgotten. Recently, he has been busy with a concert, and once he successfully concludes it, I will remind him to finish it.

At that moment, my aunt came down from the third floor, followed by a gentleman whose steady gaze fell upon me, and he did not move his feet. I noticed them but paid no attention, focusing instead on singing while toasting the elderly seated around the table. As for what the gentleman said to my aunt, I was unaware.

The editor responsible for this book, Wang Yaxin, received an email this morning from Tang Yike, which contained Tang Yike's own written life experiences

"Are you a talent scout?" I suddenly realized that I had forgotten about the profession of agent.

Suddenly, he seemed about to cast his gaze over, and I took a half step back to avoid it

Once a person occupies a high position, their confidence stemming from a sense of assurance naturally adds to their charm, especially since they are already quite pleasing in appearance

When I was lost in thought, wandering far and wide, I lost track of how long I had been sitting, until the door of a private room opened from the inside, and Mr. Fang walked out.

They have their own plans, yet I cannot overestimate my abilities. Just imagine, a decade of meticulous effort may not necessarily win a man's unwavering devotion, akin to a play that can never reach its conclusion, continuing until the end of life. Not to mention whether the actors along the way might experience emotional breakdowns, without needing to compare myself to others, I can say with utmost certainty that I cannot achieve this.

On the day we moved into my grandparents' house, the CD player in the living room was playing "Seeing the Smoke Again," my grandfather was napping in the armchair, and my grandmother had gone out to meet a friend

I gazed at myself in the mirror, pinched my ears, then stepped out. I took the qipao to the tailor's shop, then went to the jewelry store to get my ears pierced, and with great interest, I bought several pairs of earrings