Entertainment from Divorce

The Peony Swallow's Nest looks like a blooming peony. It is made with shredded radish and topped with shredded ham and cilantro. The soup is clear.
The soup with sliced ​​meat contains sliced ​​meat, wood ear mushrooms, and glass noodles, and the soup is rich in flavor.

The fried meatballs are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and taste especially delicious when dipped in salt and pepper.

"Delicious! Even better than I imagined." Chen Ziyu scooped up a spoonful of Peony Swallow Soup, her eyes sparkling. "You should try this soup, it's incredibly flavorful."

Tan Yue took a bite and found it to be quite good; the shredded radish was soaked in the broth, making it crisp and refreshing.

He pushed the fried meatballs towards him, saying, "Eat less of these, they're a bit oily. We'll be having sweet soup later."

The two chatted as they ate, discussing their plans for the afternoon.

Chen Ziyu said she wanted to go back to her guesthouse to rest for a while and recharge before going to the night market at Shizijie in the evening to eat soup and barbecue skewers.

Tan Yue nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you. Anyway, this trip is for relaxation, so there's no need to rush."

After finishing their meal, the two returned to their guesthouse along the same route.

The afternoon sun was a bit strong. Chen Ziyu held an umbrella, linked arms with Tan Yue, and walked slowly.

The old locust trees by the roadside cast dense shade, and occasionally a breeze would blow, rustling the leaves.

She suddenly stopped and pointed to the ancient city wall not far away, saying, "Look, there's a small city gate over there. It looks like we can go up there. Shall we go for a walk there tonight?"

"Okay, let's finish dinner early tonight and go for a walk on the city wall to see the night view."

Tan Yue helped her tuck her wind-blown hair behind her ear. "Let's go back to the guesthouse and rest. You got up early this morning, you must be tired."

Back in her guesthouse room, Chen Ziyu lay down on the bed and quickly fell asleep.

Tan Yue sat on a chair by the window, looking at the ancient city wall outside, holding the peony pastry she had just bought, and slowly ate it.

Sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with a warm glow.

He took out his phone and took a picture of Chen Ziyu sleeping. In the photo, her eyebrows were relaxed and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, as if she was having a sweet dream.

He recalled that before setting off, Chen Ziyu said that he had wanted to go to Luoyang for a long time, to see the giant Buddha in the grottoes, to hear the bell in the White Horse Temple, and to walk on the bluestone streets of the ancient city and feel the thousand-year history.

At that time, he made up his mind to bring her here so that she could fulfill this wish.

Now, they've finally arrived.

On this sunny afternoon, on the outskirts of the ancient city of Luojing, he and she embarked on this long-awaited trip.

Looking at the sleeping Chen Ziyu, Tan Yue felt a surge of tenderness in his heart. He knew that in the coming days, they would see more beautiful scenery together and create more wonderful memories, which would become the most precious treasures in their lives.

In the room on the second floor of the guesthouse, the sunlight filtering through the blackout curtains was as soft as cotton, falling on the ends of Chen Ziyu's hair scattered on the pillow.

Tan Yue leaned back in the wicker chair by the window, his fingertips tracing the map of Luoyang Ancient City on his tablet, but his gaze kept drifting toward the bed—Chen Ziyu's eyelashes cast a faint shadow under her eyes, and her breathing was so light that it could blend into the quiet of the afternoon.

The phone screen lit up, displaying the time 3:15. He walked over quietly and gently touched the back of her hand with his fingertips: "Ziyu, it's time to wake up. We need to do our Hanfu makeup and styling at 3:30."

Chen Ziyu's eyelashes trembled, like startled butterfly wings. She opened her eyes groggily, her gaze not yet focused, and reached out to grab Tan Yue's wrist, her voice still slurred from just waking up: "Sleep for five more minutes... just five minutes."

"You'll be late if you keep sleeping." Tan Yue smiled and leaned over to pull her out of bed, handing her a beige cardigan draped over the back of the chair. "You kept confirming the time with the makeup shop yesterday. If you're late, you'll have to wait in line for ages."

Chen Ziyu then snapped out of her daze, sat up abruptly, her hair sticking up in a mess: "Oh right! I almost forgot!" She shuffled to the mirror in her slippers, scratched her hair in front of the mirror, and then looked back at Tan Yue: "Where's my hairband? It's the one embroidered with little peonies, I need it to match my Hanfu."

Tan Yue opened the side pocket of the suitcase, took out the light green hairband and handed it over, while also stuffing her phone and power bank into her small bag: "I've put everything away for you. The makeup shop is only a few hundred meters from here, so it's just the right time to go."

The two got ready and went out. The afternoon breeze carried the unique atmosphere of the ancient city. There was the aroma of tea from the teahouse next door, the sweet scent of sugar painting from the roadside stall, and the warm smell of the old locust tree leaves after being dried in the sun.

The bluestone pavement was slightly warm from the sun, and it felt solid underfoot. Chen Ziyu held Tan Yue's hand, her steps light as if she could fly. When they passed a shop with a wooden sign that read "Qingjin Hanfu Workshop", she suddenly stopped, her eyes shining like stars: "This is it! This is the place I booked!"

Pushing open the door, the wind chimes tinkled. Inside, two girls were already sitting in front of a dressing table, and a makeup artist was carefully outlining their eyebrows with a fine eyebrow pencil.

The proprietress, dressed in an apricot-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), greeted us with a gentle smile: "Are you Miss Chen? You made a reservation for 3:30, and we happen to have two seats available. Why don't you choose a Hanfu first?"

The Hanfu on the clothes rack were hung neatly, like an unfolded scroll—a vermilion Ming-style jacket and skirt adorned with pearl buttons, a moon-white Qi-Xiong Ruqun embroidered with lotus scrolls, and a dark blue straight-hemmed robe with subtle patterns; each piece exuded exquisite craftsmanship.

Chen Ziyu's fingertips gently brushed against a smoky pink, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress). As the skirt hem draped down, the peony pattern on it seemed to bloom in the wind: "A-Yue, look at this one! The color is so gentle, I'll definitely look good in it!"

Tan Yue nodded, and was about to say, "Go ahead and try it on, I'll wait for you," when Chen Ziyu grabbed his arm: "Don't just stand there! I already told the boss lady that you have to wear an outfit too!"

"I'll pass." Tan Yue was a little embarrassed. He was used to wearing casual clothes and always felt that Hanfu was too formal and he was afraid that he wouldn't look good in it. "I'll just take pictures of you from the side. You just focus on your makeup and styling."

"No way!" Chen Ziyu frowned, grabbed his hand and shook it, her tone slightly coquettish. "We're already here, so we should wear matching Hanfu to make it more fun! I've already picked out a style with the proprietress, it's that dark blue straight-hemmed robe. Look how comfortable the fabric feels, and the color suits you perfectly. Just try it on, I'll take responsibility if it doesn't look good, and if it does, we can take lots of beautiful photos in the ancient city!" The proprietress chimed in with a smile, "Don't worry, sir, our men's Hanfu is all modified from ancient styles, which are very flattering. You have a tall and straight figure, and great shoulders, so you'll definitely look good in a straight-hemmed robe. Add a simple hairstyle, and you'll have that classic ancient feel."

Looking into Chen Ziyu's expectant eyes, which seemed to hold stars, Tan Yue couldn't refuse.

He smiled helplessly: "Alright, I'll give it a try."

Chen Ziyu immediately cheered and pulled him to the men's clothing section, pointing to the dark blue straight-hemmed robe: "This is it! Look at the subtle pattern on the collar and cuffs, it's bamboo leaf, very understated yet beautiful, and it matches my smoky pink perfectly."

The two went into the fitting room separately. Tan Yue changed into a straight-hemmed dress and had some trouble tying the belt. The shop owner had to give him a couple of instructions through the door before he could tie it properly.

He looked at himself in the mirror in the fitting room—the dark blue fabric had a beautiful drape, flowing down his body and making his shoulders and back appear more upright, and his waistline also looked neat.

When the cuffs are tightened, the exposed wrists have clean lines, and the bamboo leaf pattern on the placket is faintly visible in the light, adding a touch of elegance.

"Ah Yue, are you done changing? I'm done!" Chen Ziyu's voice came from outside the fitting room, tinged with excitement.

Tan Yue took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and walked out.

The light outside was brighter than in the fitting room. As soon as he stood still, he saw Chen Ziyu standing in front of the mirror—a smoky pink, high-waisted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) hugged her slender waist, and the hem of the skirt reached her ankles, making her look like a pink cloud when she walked.

The makeup artist was styling her hair into a double bun, inserting a silver peony hairpin, with delicate pearl tassels hanging from her hair. She turned her head and saw Tan Yue, her eyes lighting up instantly. She quickly walked over and reached out to grab his sleeve: "Wow! Yue, you look so handsome!"

Tan Yue's ears burned from her straightforward praise. He subconsciously wanted to scratch his head, but then remembered that his hair hadn't been styled yet, so he had to pull his hand back: "It's alright, the main thing is that the clothes have a good cut."

"No, that's not true!" Chen Ziyu stood on tiptoe and carefully examined his eyebrows and eyes. "It's because you're good-looking that you look good in anything! Look at this dark blue color, it makes your skin look even whiter, and it makes you look particularly elegant, like a gentle and refined gentleman from ancient times, the kind of gentleman who can write beautiful calligraphy and play the guqin!"

The makeup artist who was doing makeup and hair for another girl next to him also looked up and said with a smile, "This gentleman is indeed suitable for wearing Hanfu. His eyebrows and eyes are well-proportioned, and his nose is straight. He looks particularly elegant in a straight-hemmed robe. He will definitely look even more outstanding after we do his hair later."

The proprietress pulled Tan Yue to sit down in front of the empty dressing table, picked up a comb and gently combed his hair: "Sir, your hair is in good condition, so you don't need a complicated style. Just tie it up in a half-crown and wear a headband in the same color. It's simple and makes you look energetic."

The comb brushed against her scalp, causing a slight tickle. Tan Yue looked at herself in the mirror—her hair was being neatly combed, and the proprietress had tied it into a small bun on top of her head with a black hair tie. She then took out a dark blue hairband and wrapped it around the bun twice, with the excess hanging down behind her shoulders, swaying gently with her movements.

He suddenly felt that this outfit wasn't as awkward as he had imagined; on the contrary, it had a wonderful sense of harmony—as if it had shed the restlessness of modern life and gained a touch of serene ancient charm.

"Alright, sir, take a look. Are you satisfied?" The proprietress put down the comb and handed over a small mirror.

Tan Yue took the mirror and looked at herself carefully—the half-up hairstyle made her head look fuller, and the headband hanging down to the side of her neck made her neck look longer.

He usually felt that his eyebrows and eyes were too sharp, but now, under the Hanfu, the sharpness faded and he became more gentle, even his eyes seemed softer.

"It looks so good!" Chen Ziyu moved closer to him, raised her phone and took a picture of the two of them in the mirror. "Look, when we stand together, it's like we've stepped out of an ancient painting! My smoky pink and your turquoise go so well together. When we look at the photos in the future, we'll definitely remember how we looked today."

Tan Yue looked at the photo on his phone screen—Chen Ziyu's eyes crinkled with laughter, pearl tassels swaying in her hair. He stood beside her, his tall figure accentuated by his dark blue straight-hemmed robe. Both of them had smiles in their eyes, and the scene was so warm that it was hard to look away. He couldn't help but reach out and gently brush a stray strand of hair from Chen Ziyu's cheek: "You look beautiful in this too, like a little fairy."

Chen Ziyu blushed at his words and patted his arm, saying, "You're always being cheeky. By the way, ma'am, do you have folding fans? I think A-Yue would definitely look better with one."

"Yes!" The proprietress turned around and took out a folding fan from the cabinet. The fan was painted with ink bamboo, the bamboo shadows were sparse, and the ink was of varying shades. "This folding fan is made by our family. It goes perfectly with a straight-hemmed robe. Please try it on, sir."

Tan Yue took the folding fan, gently unfolded it, and the bamboo shadows on the fan surface appeared particularly elegant in the light.

He mimicked the way he did in period dramas, gently fanning himself twice, the breeze carrying a faint scent of bamboo. Chen Ziyu immediately raised her phone and snapped a picture of him fanning himself: "Wow! This one is amazing! Look at your eyes, you really look like a young master from ancient times. When we get to the ancient city wall later, we must take a lot more pictures."

After packing their things, the two thanked the proprietress and left the store.

The afternoon sun was still warm, and its warmth felt comfortable on my skin.

Pedestrians on the roadside couldn't help but turn around to look at them, and a few girls whispered among themselves: "They look so good in Hanfu, especially that boy, he looks so handsome in a straight-hemmed robe!"

Chen Ziyu heard this, secretly tugged at Tan Yue's sleeve, and smiled even more: "Did you hear that? Everyone says you're handsome! I told you you'd look good in Hanfu, but you didn't believe me."

Tan Yue smiled helplessly and reached out to hold her hand: "I know, thanks to you, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to wear Hanfu."

The two walked along the bluestone path. Not far away was the ancient city wall, with gray bricks layered on top of each other and green vines climbing on the top, looking particularly vibrant in the sunlight.

Chen Ziyu held Tan Yue's hand and walked briskly: "Let's go take pictures under the city wall first. The light there is just right, and the photos will definitely turn out great. Oh, and after we've taken enough pictures, shall we go eat Bu Fan Tang? I read in a travel guide yesterday that there's a Bu Fan Tang restaurant in the ancient city that's really authentic, and the meatballs inside are especially tender."

“Okay, whatever you say.” Tan Yue nodded, his gaze falling on Chen Ziyu’s hair—the pearl tassels swayed gently with her steps, each step feeling like a tap on his heart. He looked at the girl beside him, at the ancient city wall in the distance, and at the folding fan in his hand, and suddenly felt that Chen Ziyu’s insistence on him wearing Hanfu was the best decision he had made on this trip.

A gentle breeze blew by, carrying the scent of the ancient city, stirring Chen Ziyu's skirt and Tan Yue's hair ribbon.

The sunlight stretched their shadows long, overlapping each other, as if trying to freeze this beautiful moment forever in the afternoon in Luoyang. Tan Yue couldn't help but slow his pace, wanting to firmly remember this warmth and beauty, making it the most precious fragment in his future memories. (End of Chapter)