Food, Desire, and the Human World

When Xie Tan was thirty-two, her elders arranged a blind date for her.

Her date was Chong Younian, a young Peking opera performer from a family of Peking opera artists.

Wearing a long dress, she had a graceful figure and exquisite makeup. Every gesture radiated the elegant composure of a refined young lady.

The two had nothing to talk about, and their conversation stalled repeatedly. The meal was painfully awkward.

Afterward, when asked what they thought of each other, they gave the same answer.

"Boring."

They had no further contact until one day, when Xie Tan spotted Chong Younian sitting alone by the window in her restaurant.

She was still dressed with exquisite elegance, but her gaze was fixed intently on the menu.

Xie Tan went over to say hello before leaving, only to find the usually gentle, unruffled eyes brimming with tears, utterly pitiful.

"Miss Chong, what's wrong?" Thinking she was in trouble, Xie Tan asked politely.

Chong Younian looked up at the sound of her voice and gazed at her mournfully. "Why? Why is the braised pork sold out every time I come?"

Xie Tan took off her suit jacket and put on an apron. "Who said it's sold out? I'll make it for you right now."

During preparations for a Peking opera heritage program, the media started a livestream to show viewers how Peking opera performers maintained their figures and voices. When they opened Chong Younian's dressing room, the aroma of food wafted out. Five or six lunch boxes sat on the table, all filled with hearty dishes.

Reporter: "...This must have been arranged by the production team, right?"

Chong Younian elegantly wiped the corner of her mouth and shook her head. "My wife made it."

An elegant foodie Peking opera performer x a cool, doting CEO

Theme: Good food and traditional Chinese opera are both too precious to neglect