Every day was filled with anticipation.
After hanging up the phone, Jane Sampson removed her makeup and followed James Carter barefaced to the dining hall that he and John Young had agreed upon.
Springtown is the most representative city of the southland, so naturally, the dining hall that James Carter chose was also the most famous southern cuisine restaurant in the local area. When the car stopped at the doorway, Jane couldnāt help but take a few extra glances at the buildingās facade.
It looked like the siheyuan courtyards of Capital Province, but it was built up from gray stones, one upon another. The wooden eaves resembled swallowtails, a design seen in many cities in the south.
"Do you like this kind of architecture?" James Carter asked, noticing how intently Jane was looking.
"I love it! Itās so beautiful! I have a thing for buildings with a sense of age, they look like they have stories to tell." Jane smiled and nodded.
"Next time we meet, if we have time, Iāll take you to walk around these storied places in Springtown." James Carter leaned on his cane, waiting for Jane to enter the restaurant first, then slowly followed in.
To avoid making it obvious that she was waiting for James Carter, Jane slow her pace after climbing the steps, pretending to admire the restaurantās decorations earnestly.
James Carter looked at Janeās unhurried figure and smiled gently to himself; he didnāt call her out on it. Jane had shown him the greatest respect and care, yet she never made him feel pitied.
The private room they booked was on the first floor. When Jane pushed open the door, John Young was inside making a call. Hearing the door open, he turned to look and raised his hand in greeting, then quickly ended the call.
"Youāve finally arrived!" John Young stood up. "Jane Sampson, Iāve heard so much about you. To finally see you in personādonāt take this the wrong way, but you look even better than in real life!"
"Do you have X-ray vision? She hasnāt even taken off her mask and hat, and youāve already seen her?" James Carter chuckled.
"To see if someone is beautiful, first look at their skin, then their eyes. Fair skin coupled with spirited eyesāwithout a second glance, I know for sure sheās a beautiful lady." John Young had barely finished his sentence when Jane took off her mask and hat. He couldnāt help but take another look, "Wow, a bare face, beautiful!"
These days, there werenāt many female artists brave enough to meet people without makeup.
"I was shooting an MV outdoors this afternoon. The makeup I had on wasnāt suitable for everyday wear, so I took it off after we finished," Jane explained. "I came straight here without going back home, so I arrived bare-faced."
"No worries, Iām not into all that formality. I just came to see old and new friends," John Young waved it off. He didnāt take her bare face during their first meeting as a lack of respect. He had known early on that Jane was coming directly after work with James Carter. John Young, around James Carterās age, had a similar temperament to become friends with him. Despite gaining fame at a young age like James Carter, he didnāt put on airs and was an easy person to get along with.
The three sat down, and James Carter ordered the food. John Young glanced at the menu and said, "Previously, I remember having a sweet banana slice from here, what was it called again? It was quite fragrant."
John Young turned to Jane and asked, "Want to try it?"
At that, Jane instinctively shook her head, then followed with an explanation, "Iām allergic to bananas, canāt eat them. They make me itch. You and Mr. Carter can have some, though."