Chapter 24: Game Cartridge Fang Qingzhuo revealed his true colors. He really loves this...
In the IMAX theater, a newly released comedy film had just begun, and the humorous lines made the audience burst into laughter.
Fang Qingzhuo couldn't laugh, only feeling the irony and sentimentality overflowing from the screen. He put his Coke in the handrail and suddenly realized the person next to him hadn't made a sound in a while, so he looked over curiously.
“…”
I didn't know whether to continue watching Luo Shu or the movie. I enjoyed the male protagonist with gusto in the first half, and fell asleep in the second half with half a bucket of popcorn in my arms.
Fortunately, she could sleep peacefully in this environment, unlike him, who was distracted many times.
Across the cumbersome armrest, Fang Qingzhuo propped up his chin, observing the flickering screen light with an incurable curiosity. Is this movie bad? Isn't it more interesting than the last time he played tricks on the Japanese? Or is it just boring to watch a movie with him? I'm so sleepy. What happened last night? Did I stay up late? What did I do? Insomnia or infidelity? Why didn't I look for him?
Just when Fang Qingzhuo was asking countless questions and was at a loss for the answer, all the lights above his head suddenly switched on, and everything was bright white, revealing everything.
Swallowed by the bright light, Luo Shu, who was catching up on her sleep, frowned unconsciously, blinked her eyelashes a few times, and after adapting to the environment, she woke up little by little like a chick breaking out of its shell.
Looking around in a daze, there were only the two of them and a man who was eager to take action, holding cleaning tools and secretly observing the staff. It seemed that they were in a hurry to clear the place and go home.
Qianqian stretched lazily: "Is it over? Then let's go eat."
Fang Qingzhuo raised his eyebrows in dissatisfaction, glancing at the unnecessary light bulb that came in from the employee passage: "Are you a pig? After getting enough sleep, all you think about is eating?"
Having woken up too early and not slept well enough, Luo Shu's mind was now filled with the chaos of the creation of the world. She yawned, forgetting to fight back even when being called a pig. She pondered for a moment, staring at the person in front of her for a long moment: "What else should I be thinking about?"
Fang Qingzhuo couldn't tell for a moment whether she was pretending to be stupid or trying to make him happy. It was she who proposed the date, and she was the one who was late; it was she who wanted to watch the movie, and she was the one who slept.
This morning, for this date, he almost ran a red light during rush hour, and when the traffic was at its worst, he even had the urge to crash into the car. But he couldn't say these absurdities and grievances, and his self-esteem wouldn't allow him to say it.
There was nothing I could do about her, so I could just sulk by myself. I said "Whatever you want", stood up and left.
He left in such anger that Luo Shu was also confused. Is it wrong to want to eat at mealtime? Since she was born, she has never met a master like Fang Qingzhuo, who is destined to be a young master and has princess syndrome and is difficult to serve.
He is already an adult, but is it interesting to always imitate a rebellious little brat and throw tantrums for no reason? I have to suspect that he is the reincarnation of a steam engine, because he is so good at getting angry.
This time, no matter what, he must not be spoiled. There's a saying that goes, "Spoiled and spoiled." He threw away the uneaten popcorn, grabbed his shoulder bag, and strode out the door, no less than Fang Qingzhuo.
The cinema was on the sixth floor, and Luo Shu was waiting at the elevator entrance. Fang Qingzhuo lagged behind by a few meters, and when the elevator arrived, it was still motionless. The two of them spontaneously separated, one on each side, one bent over his phone, the other distractedly checking his watch. There was a distance between them, neither too far nor too close. Their expressions were far from cheerful, even more so than the door gods you see on doors during Chinese New Year to ward off evil spirits.
The atmosphere became increasingly silent, and on the surface there was a hint of a cold war.
After confirming the time for the third time, the elevator still hadn't arrived. Fang Qingzhuo glanced at the floor display area and saw that no one had pressed the button at all.
No, who is in the phone? Is it so fun that I forget to press the elevator button?
His legs were faster than his brain. He passed Luo Shu, who was concentrating on another world. His coat brushed against her intentionally or unintentionally. He slammed the elevator button repeatedly in front of her. The sound was so loud that he seemed to want to poke it into pieces to attract someone's attention.
As if it wasn't enough, his lips moved as he turned back, and he let out a very clear and obvious "stupid" sound.
This fuse was ignited, successfully pushing Luo Shu to the brink of a rampage.
With a ding, the elevator opened from bottom to top. Fang Qingzhuo stepped in first and turned around slowly. He found that Luo Shu was still standing at the door, refusing to take the same elevator with him out of spite because of her verbal revenge. A hint of anger appeared on her delicate, palm-sized eyebrows. This stubborn look had a unique charm.
Meanwhile, Luo Shu was torn between her wits and her own desires. After much hesitation, she finally decided to get on the elevator first. Why should Fang Qingzhuo just sit back and enjoy the benefits? According to the first-come-first-served principle, she had been waiting for this elevator first. Unfortunately, the weather was not good, and just as she was about to get in, she was too late.
Seeing that the elevator door was about to close, Fang Qingzhuo was quick-witted and raised his arm, using his long fingers to hold the door gap to block it. Thanks to him, the elevator door opened again, but unexpectedly, Luo Shu did not come in, but a burly man came in instead.
The first second the big man caught up with him, he warmly thanked him: "Thanks, buddy, it's all thanks to you."
Fang Qingzhuo nodded politely without any emotion, while stealing a glance at Luo Shu who came in dejectedly with her tail between her legs, and released the finger that was usually pressed on the door-opening button.
After many twists and turns, the elevator finally descended, but no one pressed the floor button. The big man looked at Fang Qingzhuo who was standing in front of the button area as if nothing had happened, and then looked at Luo Shu who was hiding in the corner behind him and was autistic. He shook his head and thought that these two people were really lazy, and then he decisively pressed the floor button.
When they got to the fourth floor, a group of people came in one after another. It was easy to guess that they were a family, including men, women, young and old. Fang Qingzhuo could have stayed in his seat, but he stepped back and politely used his body to completely block the contact between others and Luo Shu.
Only he himself knows the reason.
In the square, enclosed and crowded space, the birthday boy let his grandmother hold his hand with one hand while he carefully protected the cake decorated with an Ultraman candy man in his mother's hand with the other hand to prevent any accidents.
Luo Shu was attacked from both sides, Fang Qingzhuo in front of her, warning her to stay away, and the elevator wall, rubbed by countless people, behind her. She wasn't short for a girl, but encountering Fang Qingzhuo was like Monkey King encountering the Buddha. His unbridled presence practically obscured her view, leaving a sliver of space for movement, but Luo Shu dared not move. It wasn't out of anger, but rather her mind was preoccupied. With that shoulder-to-shoulder ratio, it was perfect for a nap.
If the two of them weren't angry with each other, she really wanted to take advantage of her.
Suddenly, the little boy called out innocently, "Mom, every year on my birthday, Ultraman turns into a cake to accompany me. But he can't return to the M78 Nebula. Will his mom be worried?"
The boy's mother was instantly stumped by the question. Not only her, but also the boy's father, grandparents looked at each other and could not answer.
The big man beside him touched his chin and jumped out to help: "Little boy, you should order three cakes for your birthday every year, so that the family can be reunited."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the elevator burst into laughter. Luo Shu was no exception and covered her mouth with her hands to delight. The only ones who were left were the little kid whose facial features were wrinkled and about to cry and Fang Qingzhuo who was staring at the cake with a hint of complicated emotions.
Luo Shu was not sure what the look was composed of, but she vaguely felt that it was empathy. When she looked over to examine it carefully, Fang Qingzhuo had returned to normal.
As for the little boy, he could still understand it. Sometimes adults can never put themselves in a child's shoes. Similarly, children can't understand the twists and turns of adults.
But Fang Qingzhuo was different. Luo Shu noticed his mismatch more than once, especially in a happy scene. He was as out of place as clothes that had not been dried thoroughly on a cloudy day, stuffy and damp with a persistent dampness, that were mistakenly put into a row of wardrobes that had been bathed in sunlight.
Interlude: As time passed, a group of people walked out of the elevator in an orderly manner and headed in all directions. Luo Shu was preoccupied and distracted, but Fang Qingzhuo had already left her more than ten meters behind, standing tall with his hands in his pockets. He was probably not waiting for her, but his eyes were fixed on a used game cartridge that the host on the stage was introducing.
She remembered that there was a cabinet in his house, and the entire wall was covered with game cartridges.
The host's clear, articulate voice emanated from the speakers: "This round's prize is a highly collectible game cartridge. Which warrior is willing to step up and accept the challenge?"
As he was about to finish his words, Luo Shu squeezed in from the stage, poked her head out, raised her arm and introduced herself in a resounding voice, "I".
Under Fang Qingzhuo's strange gaze, she resolutely stepped onto the small temporary stage.
His brows immediately frowned in dissatisfaction. He had intended to wait for her, but wasn't this action obvious enough? He was giving her a way out, not letting her take advantage and cause trouble.
When the audience saw such a beautiful woman coming, they screamed one after another, the atmosphere reached a climax, and the number of pedestrians gathered to watch increased dramatically in a short period of time. The host quickly handed over the microphone and asked Luo Shu to briefly introduce herself according to the procedure.
Luo Shu nodded and took it, her chin slightly raised, her white fingers tightly gripping the microphone and going straight to the point: "I can't find my boyfriend."
I’ve seen lost and found notices and missing person notices in shopping malls, but this is the first time I’ve seen a boyfriend being lost.
Immediately, someone in the audience joked with a playful smile: "Beauty, if you lose your boyfriend, just find another one."
"Yes, yes, please consider me."
"Beauty, I have three apartments at home."
A single stone caused a thousand ripples, and countless single young men, eager to try, signed up enthusiastically, turning the opening of a shopping mall into a blind date conference in seconds.
The host stepped in to control the situation and politely reminded: "Girl, this is a grand opening event, not a radio station."
"I know." Luo Shu paused, her eyes fixed on the all-black, sinister man. "My boyfriend really likes collecting game cartridges. I think I upset him a while ago, so I wanted to comfort him."
Fortunately, they weren't here to ruin my job, so the host breathed a sigh of relief: "If you want to win the prize in my hand, you have to perform a talent show, otherwise everyone won't agree, right?"
After he finished speaking, he pointed the microphone downwards and the onlookers echoed him.
Luo Shu looked at the electronic piano beside the stage: "Can you sing?"
She also has the talent of singing and playing the guitar by herself. Fang Qingzhuo raised his eyebrows slightly, which was really surprising.
Luo Shu sat down on the piano stool like a fluttering butterfly that had strayed into the human world. Her fingertips lightly touched the keys, and she played a simple chord. The pure and melodious female voice came through the microphone, like an invisible hand, calming the restlessness of the entire audience.
"Lend me your ears, for these few minutes, this song will speak for me."
"How do you describe it in your mind?"
"Like flowers blooming in the desert."
"Forgive my trembling fingers, I am treating the black keys as your hands."
"If you can also play the symphony in your heart, please give me a gentle nod."
Entering the chorus, the BPM speeds up. Luo Shu looks at the man with affectionate eyes across the audience, as if she had planned this for a long time.
"This song is for you, full of joy, like all the twists and turns in life, asking for your approval. I just wait for you to sing along, and I'll be by your side."
She also changed the lyrics without permission, changing "This is a song written for you, full of anxiety" to "This is a song sung for you, full of joy."
It’s not that professional, but it’s undeniable that few girls can perform R&B songs so lyrically.
In an instant, Fang Qingzhuo's wandering thoughts were brought back by the thunderous applause from the audience.
Luo Shu, draped in stunning glory, walked towards him step by step with determination, holding the trophy that belonged to him.
At this moment, she really looked like a female warrior charging into battle for love.
In the interval, the sour grapes suddenly opened up: "Men understand men best. If you are so self-serving, your boyfriend will not cherish you."
Without waiting for Fang Qingzhuo to express his opinion, Luo Shu directly retorted: "It's okay, I'm happy with it."
Until I felt the back of my hand being wrapped by another body temperature, and a thin, box-shaped, angular object was stuffed into my palm, and the piece on my left chest was also stuffed full.
Fang Qingzhuo's blurry, unfocused vision moved upwards, fixed on Luo Shu's silent but eloquent smiling eyes that begged for praise.
Why do these childish and flattering things? Why don't you play by the rules? According to past practices, wouldn't you have already tricked him and played tricks on him?
"Why give it to me?"
"Because you like it." Luo Shu told the truth.
"Who said I like it?"
"You looked at it several times..."
He interrupted with a sneer, "Looking at me a few more times means I like you? What gives you the right to judge me based on your own subjective assumptions?"
Luo Shu was left speechless by his powerful logic and forced herself to restart her analysis with him: "Even if I don't particularly like it, I definitely don't hate it either. Some things are more obvious to those involved than to those on the sidelines."
"Luo Shu, never underestimate any man. If you always respond to a man's requests and try to please him, it will be cheap in their eyes." Fang Qingzhuo tightly grasped the hot gift, with a tone that was full of warning and persuasion.
"But you are my boyfriend, isn't it my responsibility to treat you well?"
Fang Qingzhuo's eyes became more and more confused, like suspicion and persuasion, and finally a rare split of helplessness. He stared at her, staring deep into his pupils. Even the color of his pupils was not pure black, but brown. Could he trust her just once?
Luo Shu couldn't understand his dilemma: "There's always a dark cloud hanging over your head. I just want you to be happier, just like your name, Qingzhuo, to thrive easily and healthily."
“In my eyes, this is not cheap.”
It was very strange. He was clearly on guard against her just a moment ago, but now he was so carried away by her words.
Fang Qingzhuo revealed his true colors and he really fell for it.
A beautiful appearance, nice and intimate words, and the willingness to voluntarily tie herself to him with chains.
After a long silence, he asked, "What do you want to eat?"
“…”
He was aggressive one moment, and acted as if nothing had happened the next. The sudden change made Luo Shu a little overwhelmed, but one thing was for sure, she at least coaxed the man into submission.
-
"I always cram at the last minute. Being a handsome guy means having no worries, no worries..."
Guan Siqi finished his shower and came out of the bathroom humming a little tune. He wiped his hair and glanced at the long-untouched bed at the entrance. "A few days ago, my old man was still lamenting why Fang Jueshan's son was so much better than the others, even though they both had sons."
As he passed by Gu Yang's desk, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "What are your plans for tonight? How about I set up a party and invite Azhu to join us?"
Gu Yang turned off his phone and placed it upside down on the table. Instead of answering, he asked, "Does he, such a busy man, have time?"
As he was talking, a small crack appeared in the dormitory door frame, and a furry head sneaked in: "Cousin, are you busy?"
Gu Yang and Guan Siqi both turned their heads at the sound and saw who it was. Guan Siqi even warmly gave him a loving lecture: "Hey, isn't this my dear cousin? How long has it been since you came to visit the elders?"
Zhong Zixu struggled to pry open the long arms locked around his neck and begged for mercy: "Cousin, I was wrong."
Guan Siqi showed mercy, dragging a chair over and slumping down, crossing his legs as he leisurely examined this cousin who had no business visiting him. "Tell me, what trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"
Zhong Zixu hesitated, scratching the back of his head and then his neck: "I didn't cause any trouble, I just got a girlfriend."
Gu Yang picked up the water cup on the table and asked, "Is this a bad thing?"
"Yes, so I want to treat everyone to a meal. It looks familiar." Zhong Zixu was still immersed in joy. "You guys decide on a suitable day, and I'll go reserve a table."
Guan Siqi shook his legs: "Except for your brother Zhuo who is too busy and needs to make an appointment, we are all free."
"Busy?" Zhong Zixu was slightly startled. "But I just ran into him at the cinema this morning. He was with our school's most beautiful girl, Luo Shu, in the newly opened shopping mall in Yifang City."
"I said he was the same. There's no need to hide a relationship."
Guan Siqi glanced at Gu Yang worriedly. Gu Yang was more violent than he expected. He jumped up and the legs of his chair made a harsh sound as they slid across the tiled floor.
"Are you seeing right?"
Zhong Zixu didn't know if there was something wrong with his wording or if there was something wrong with Gu Yang's ears, so he repeated, "I'm absolutely certain. I saw Brother Zhuo and Luo Shu watching a movie together in the newly opened shopping mall this morning..."
"Shut up, stop talking." Gu Yang roared angrily and smashed the cup uncontrollably to vent his anger.
There was no place to step on the broken glass on the ground. Guan Siqi's usual cheeky expression was now serious. He asked the confused Zhong Zixu to leave and then held Gu Yang down. "We just watched a movie together, it doesn't mean anything. Since he can push Luo Shu away again and again, you have to believe him, so as to avoid another unpleasant quarrel between the two brothers."
"Believe him." Gu Yang emphasized the word "believe" very much, and a cold smile appeared on his pale face. "I have a way. Let's try it and see if we can trust him."
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