The Stars In Your Eyes

The restaurant they attend right now is a French restaurant located on the seventh floor of one the biggest shopping malls in B city. The ambience is sophisticated with a distinctly Parisian manner. The restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows overlook one of B city most intensely urban scenes.

They sit in the middle of the restaurant. There was a big blue sofa in round oval shape. The table's arrangement encircles the sofa, paired with comfortable chairs in front of the sofa. The potted plants were placed on the top of the sofa head, and a big chandelier hung above them. The city's night flickered with light from the skyscraper outside the window.

It was so beautiful and homey at the same time. Unfortunately, for Bai Yutang he doesn't feel comfortable at all at this moment.

Bai Yutang really felt awkward with this situation. He firmly stated over and over to his friends that he was not interested in having a girlfriend.. He admitted that he did not clearly reject their action in front of Feng Mian. But he always drew a fine line between them, that they're just friends.

He was mad and anxious. Mad with his friend's attitude, anxious with his lover's response. He knew from his lover's tone, his lover must be jealous and angry. If it was him in his lover position, he would also explode with rage.

But how could he say that he was in a relationship with Jian Kang Lu here? In this restaurant? In front of Fei Hong and Feng Mian? He was not that close with them.

In this situation, he could only pretend to be deaf and divert the conversation. "Have you guys decided what to order? DongDong? Xiaoya?"

Mu Xiaoya understands what Bai Yutang means. That guy asked for her help. She hurriedly said, "I never been here. Do you have any recommendations, Jian Ge?"

Jian Kang Lu tried to smile, and answer in a mild manner. "This restaurant is famous for their beef tenderloin served with foei gras. But i personally like their iceland halibut."

Mu Xiaoya knew that the price here was still reasonable for a man like Jian Kang Lu, but she felt uncomfortable to order something too expensive.

Jian Kang Lu could see that they were afraid to order something too expensive. Just like his kitten. He smiled inside, it was good to know that these kids were not the kind of people that like to take advantage of others. He then suggested, "Why don't you order a different menu each, then you could share later. That way, you guys could try every menu here."

Mu Xiaoya grinned. It was really a great idea, that way, they won't worry who ordered the expensive menu, and also could try every dish the restaurant offered. She really admires this handsome man. With her admiration grew, she glared at the dumb lamb beside this handsome man. 

This dumb lamb is so lucky to have this high quality gong as his lover, why he doesn't want to shout at the world, announcing that this high quality gong is belong to him?

After they ordered, they chatted between themselves. Then Mu Xiaoya saw Liu Xiang being stiff and his face straightened. They all turn their heads, look at Liu Xiang's eye direction.

The God has arrived.

Jian Kang Lu wants to laugh at this moment, and forget about his sour feeling for a moment. To see these kids abruptly stand up and their face turn nervous, is really funny. They look like his residents when doing the grand round. Looks like an ordinary citizen meets the leader of the country.

Fei Hong even almost stumbled and knocked her glass all over the table. Luckily Tang Yuxuan's reflex matched his reputation as one of the best basketball players in architecture faculty. He catches the glass, and the water just spills a few drops on the table and nothing spilled over to Fei Hong's dress.

These girls look so nervous, even Ling Yue brushes her hand to her skirt over and over. Only Feng Mian looks calm between them. Even so, Feng Mian also knows Zhen Guo. Who doesn't know this man that often popped up in magazines because of his magnificent masterpiece. B City tallest skyscraper.

Zhen Guo came with Luo Jiao. They greet this group, and Zhen Guo politely shakes their hands while Jian Kang Lu introduces themselves one by one. Luo Jiao smiled and hugged Bai Yutang.

"TangTang, JieJie missed you! You still owe me your lemon chicken, and that mango mousse."

Bai Yutang smiled and received a big hug from Luo Jiao. She always gives him a big hug every time they meet, and even tighter if she was drunk. Just like an octopus.

"I will cook it for you next time we meet, Luo Jie. Did you cut your hair? You look younger with this hair style." Bai Yutang knew this big sister liked it so much when he praised her.

"Ah, I wish my wooden husband was as attentive as you. He doesn't even know that i have a hair cut. Maybe I should look for a younger husband, a cute one like you." Luo Jiao winked her cat's eyes to Bai Yutang.

Jian Kang Lu reflexively put his hand on his kitten's shoulder. It was an instinct to protect the one that belonged to him.

Luo Jiao laughed. She always loves to see this man's reaction every time they tease his little lover. Jian Kang Lu was never a man this possessive. It was refreshing to see a side she didn't know existed inside this gentle man before.

After they eat the appetiser and drink the wine, the atmosphere gradually becomes warmer and these kids start to loosen their stiff attitude. They talk politely, but are very enthusiastic. Clearly these kids really admire Zhen Guo. Luo Jiao smirked, they don't know how stiff this man is in real life. It was a miracle they happily married until now, considering their personality differences.

Luo Jiao saw the beautiful girl sitting beside Bai Yutang. If she was not mistaken, they introduce her as an economic faculty student. 

"What's your name again? You're really pretty. Studying economics?"

Feng Mian startled with that sudden question from Luo Jiao. She nodded her head and smiled. "Yes, JieJie."

"What year?"

"Almost graduated, JieJie. I will defend my thesis next month."

"Congratulations! I hope it went well! What do you plan after you graduate?"

"I was planning to apply for a position in S group. I had an internship there last summer."

Luo Jiao turned her head to her husband and Jiang Kang Lu. "S Group, isn't it belong to Sun Hongjia? Which group belongs to his brother?"

Jian Kang Lu nodded, "En, that company was under him. His brother took the IC group and S group was taken by Hongjia."

Feng Mian and the others were surprised to hear that. Do these people know the son of the Sun Group owner?

Zhen Guo nodded, "Yes, I design his office there. It reminds me, Hongjia still waiting for your answer in the group chat. You better answer him soon, Kang Lu. If he knew we have Christmas dinner today without him, he'll be sulky again."

Feng Mian was suddenly nervous. Who are these people? They seem very close to Sun Hongjia. 

Luo Jiao looked at Bai Yutang, "Ah, it reminds me about Lihua's complaint. She was mad at you, TangTang. She said she was the only one that didn't taste your lemon chicken. She said why are you excluding her? You better appease her soon, she was very upset."

Bai Yutang speechless. These big sisters could eat dishes one thousand times more delicious than his cooking. Xie Lihua and Sun Hongjia even have 3 chefs at their big house. What's so special about his lemon chicken?

"Then, I'll cook it later and send it to Lihua Jie's house, and to you JieJie." Bai Yutang can only answer obediently.

Jian Kang Lu frowned, "TangTang will have his final exam soon, why are you girls pestering him to cook?"

Luo Jiao sipped her wine, "You bastard, you could eat TangTang's cooking everyday. Why being so petty? His lemon chicken is really divine. Even Song Lixia said that if Bai Yutang doesn't want to be an architect, she will build a restaurant for him."

Even Zhen Guo nodded his head. That lemon chicken is really tasty. The meat was so tender, and the lemon is not sour at all. As a husband who never eats a meal cooked at home, Zhen Guo really envies Jian Kang Lu. 

Luo Jiao looked at Feng Mian again, "If you want to apply there, I guarantee you'll be accepted immediately, without interview, if you can cook the same lemon chicken like this guy made."

Feng Mian smiled nervously, and softly said, "Then i'll ask TangTang to teach me how to cook it." She wanted to ask Bai Yutang why he didn't tell her that he knew the owner of S group, when she told him that she was having an internship there last time. But she can't ask that here.

Tang Yuxuan winked at Bai Yutang, and teased them. "You could teach her privately, TangTang." The way Tang Yuxuan said it clearly conveys his meaning to the people in this table. Feng Mian blushed to hear that.

Bai Yutang just stiffly smiled and sipped his own wine. He doesn't dare to say anything right now.

Luo Jiao was stunned to see this scene. Moreover when she heard the other guy next to a stiff faced girl saying, "I bet Feng Mian is a better cook compared to me and Xiaoya. You guys could use the dorm's kitchen to practice and we could be the tester."

Luo Jiao is not stupid, she could see this beautiful girl besides Bai Yutang bashfully curving her small lips, and stealing glances to Bai Yutang. Luo Jiao and Zhen Guo look at Jian Kang Lu. Jealousy displayed in their friend's face. It was very subtle, but they could guess what their friend felt inside.

If Luo Jiao is in Jian Kang Lu's position, she will feel disappointed. Sad. Angry. Humiliated. 

To have your lover, the person you put in the highest position in your heart, matched with someone else in front of you and your friends. To see the one that should belong to you, and only you, coveted by other people right in front of eyes. And you're not even allowed to do anything about it.

It hurts.

Luo Jiao tried to conceal the pity she had inside for her friend, and they hurriedly diverted the conversation. Trying to divide these kids' attention towards Feng Mian and Bai Yutang, preventing them from having a conversation together again. Hope these kids didn't tease them again.

Luo Jiao wants to let Jian Kang Lu have his dignity in front of her and her husband. She still talks to Feng Mian and the other girls sometimes, pretending they didn't notice anything.

This was what Luo Jiao feared. Her friend's little lover is still so young. Clearly this girl likes him, and is supported by Bai Yutang's friends. If someday this young man decides he wants to have a wife instead of a husband, then the whole heartbreaking scene will repeat once more. Just like when Jian Kang Lu was crushed from Zhang Min's decision.

Even Luo Jiao feels she can't face it again, moreover Jian Kang Lu. Luo Jiao didn't know what Jian Kang Lu would do when that happened. Maybe he will just shut his world, and let no one enter it once again.

It hurt the most when you already opened yourself, laid your heart bare naked with hopes and wishes, only to find the one you trusted so much shattered it into million pieces.