Blue Cheese
After 99 Entertainment initiated a wave of collective disclosures, other artists quickly followed suit to boost their own popularity. Soon, the fashion week news settled down as most of the celebrities who planned to attend had announced their participation, creating a lively buzz within the industry.
Due to this burst of activity, Ling Miaohan, who had initially caused some ripples, suddenly quieted down. Compared to the celebrities who made headlines afterward, Ling Miaohan, a newly debuted artist, was simply outmatched. Even the top female star from her own company stepped in to stir up more attention, adding insult to Ling Miaohan's already precarious situation.
While Ling Miaohan fumed over this, Qin Ran and Yu Shuman started to plan what outfits to prepare and what to bring for their trip. After the lesson learned from their last trip home, Yu Shuman was adamant about not letting Qin Ran bring any small bottles. She meticulously checked Qin Ran's suitcase, and under Qin Ran's watchful eyes, took out the small bottle from her luggage.
Qin Ran was unwilling to part with it, clinging tightly to Yu Shuman's waist, refusing to let her take it away. However, her resistance was futile, and her beloved little bottle was removed. Right in front of Qin Ran, Yu Shuman placed it on the dressing table and informed her that she would check again the next morning.
Qin Ran muttered under her breath, "It's okay, if worst comes to worst, I can always use my tongue!"
Yu Shuman didn't hear her clearly and instinctively asked, "What?" Qin Ran quickly shook her head, saying it was nothing. Early the next morning, the two boarded a plane heading abroad.
When it comes to fashion weeks, the most renowned is the London Fashion Week. Since the four major fashion weeks are scheduled around the same time, to avoid the exhaustion of flying back and forth, it's best to choose one to attend. Naturally, Qin Ran chose to take Yu Shuman to the most famous one, the London Fashion Week.
Although Fashion Week hadn't officially started yet, London had already transformed into a fashion city, with fashionable people seen all over the streets. Their hotel was located on Rue de Rivoli, one of London's most famous streets, almost on par with the Champs-Élysées. The London Fashion Week event was set at 99 Rue de Rivoli, and because of its proximity, they chose this hotel.
On the trendiest street in London, there were handsome men and beautiful women everywhere, especially tall, long-legged models. Normally, Qin Ran and Yu Shuman's heights were quite impressive, but among the models, they didn't quite stand out. However, neither of them was the type to feel inferior in such situations; instead, they admired how good-looking the models were.
Moreover, Yu Shuman's elegant oriental beauty stood out among the fashionable clothes and jewelry, drawing the attention of foreign media. Some even approached, asking if they could photograph Yu Shuman and Qin Ran. Yu Shuman glanced at Qin Ran, who shook her head. Being socially anxious, she was definitely not interested in being photographed by strangers.
Yu Shuman smiled and agreed to the photos but stated that her companion, Qin Ran, wouldn't participate. The photographer was a bit disappointed but quickly cheered up and took a couple of shots of Yu Shuman, praising her beauty with great enthusiasm, making Yu Shuman a bit shy.
Qin Ran's jealousy radar went off, and after the photographer finished, she quickly pulled Yu Shuman away.
With their assistant and bodyguards, they arrived at their hotel and left them behind to explore the city. Qin Ran argued that in a foreign country, no one would recognize them, and having a large entourage would only draw more attention. The bodyguards had no choice but to stay at the hotel.
Leaving Rue de Rivoli behind, they ventured into the famous historic buildings of London. The foreign architecture gave Yu Shuman a unique feeling, and she took out her phone, snapping pictures to send to her mom, sharing the London vibes with her.
Before coming, they had done plenty of research and decided against the expensive Michelin-starred restaurants, opting instead for a local favorite—the Red Children Market. The market's name, "Red Children," came from a historical orphanage nearby where the children all wore red clothes. Although the orphanage had long been buried in history, the market remained and was still a popular spot for Londoners.
As they walked into the market, they found it to be a true marketplace rather than a food street like those back home. They saw many stalls selling fruits, vegetables, and a variety of meats and seafood.
Seeing such a market, Yu Shuman's eyes lit up. She pulled Qin Ran further in, and turning a corner, they both caught a strong aroma mixed with a slightly odd scent.
Around the corner, they found a cheese shop.
The storefront resembled a bakery back home, with a green-painted iron awning above and a glass display below, showcasing various kinds of cheeses. In this country, there are over 400 types of cheese, many of which are quite peculiar.
Standing in front of the counter, Yu Shuman and Qin Ran saw a variety of cheeses, some with mold on them, others with blue veins resembling mold. Yu Shuman was extremely interested in these cheeses, her eyes shining. Qin Ran, however, took a step back, instinctively repulsed by such strange foods.
She had seen videos online describing blue cheese as having a stench comparable to that of fermented herring. She couldn't fathom why anyone would enjoy eating something like that. Then again, people back home love stinky tofu, so maybe it wasn't so hard to understand. But understanding didn't mean she was willing to try it herself.
Yu Shuman used her fluent English to communicate with the store clerk, who wasn't very good at English. Qin Ran found this amusing. It made sense, though, since the country's official language wasn't English but French. Even though English is a global language, it isn't always effective in every country.
Watching them struggle to communicate, Qin Ran laughed for a bit before stepping in to speak with the clerk in French. She managed to secure a sample of blue cheese. The clerk, however, was a bit too generous and gave them two small pieces. Seeing the extra piece, Qin Ran had a bad feeling.
Yu Shuman looked at her admiringly, "Xiao Ran, you even know French!"
Flattered, Qin Ran tried to play it cool, "I crammed for over a month, so I can manage some basic conversations."
Yu Shuman nodded, not probing further, as her attention was on the blue cheese in front of them. This wasn't just cheese that looked moldy—it was genuinely moldy cheese, with the blue veins being the actual mold.
Since it was cut into small pieces, the mold was more visible. The tiny cube of cheese had light blue mold that had corroded parts of it, creating little dips and pits, with some areas being even darker due to heavier mold growth.
To Qin Ran, it was a nightmare-level food. She didn't even need to bring it close to smell the moldy odor wafting from it. It had a sour scent that made her stomach turn just thinking about it. But Yu Shuman removed her scarf and brought the cheese close to her nose, sniffing it.
"How is it?"
"…It stinks."
Yu Shuman frowned. Although the clerk didn't understand what they were saying, he could guess from their expressions. With a smile, he egged her on, saying, "Give it a try." Although Yu Shuman couldn't understand him, his gestures made it clear he wanted her to taste it.
Though it was smelly, Yu Shuman was genuinely curious. With Qin Ran watching her like a brave warrior, Yu Shuman popped the blue cheese into her mouth.
Moments later, a pained expression crossed her face. Her brows furrowed deeply, and her complexion changed instantly. The joy she felt earlier transformed into discomfort. Seeing her reaction, Qin Ran and the store clerk both laughed out loud.
Qin Ran, being a bit more considerate, quickly handed her some bottled water. Yu Shuman took several gulps to wash away the taste. Qin Ran eagerly asked, "How is it, Shuman?"
"It's so salty..." Yu Shuman's main impression was how salty it was.
"Too salty, and there's a bitter taste too. It's both bitter and salty, and there's this astringent flavor. Overall, it's just... strange." Yu Shuman glanced at the small disposable plate in her hand, where another cube of blue cheese sat.
Qin Ran sensed trouble and shook her head, refusing to eat it. However, under Yu Shuman's persuasive pleas and sweet talk, Qin Ran couldn't resist. She closed her eyes tightly, letting Yu Shuman feed her.
With her eyes shut and her lashes trembling in fear, Qin Ran felt the blue cheese coming closer. Even before it reached her, she could already smell the strong odor. Unlike the faint smell it had earlier, this time the scent was so intense it made her shiver.
Yu Shuman chuckled, and Qin Ran thought she might be spared. But the blue cheese still reached her lips. Qin Ran had no choice but to open her mouth, and in it went. As soon as it entered, the cheese began to melt, and the salty taste exploded in her mouth, just as Yu Shuman had described. It was overwhelmingly salty.
The saltiness was followed by a wave of bitterness, making the whole experience both bitter and salty. And the most unbearable part was the subsequent sour astringency. Qin Ran suspected this was the moldy flavor of the cheese.
She barely chewed it, swallowing it down quickly before asking Yu Shuman for water. Gulping down more than half a bottle, she finally managed to chase away the bizarre taste of the blue cheese. Qin Ran took a deep breath, feeling like some of the flavor still lingered in her mouth.
Her expression was even more exaggerated than Yu Shuman's. Yu Shuman, who had watched her drink water, laughed so hard she bent over, while the clerk smiled broadly. After Yu Shuman finished laughing, they exchanged glances and burst into laughter again.
Friendly tip: Never try weird foods out of curiosity...