The next day, before dawn, the highland morning carried a chilly air, and Su Tang smelled a rich aroma of rice.
Her long eyelashes fluttered, and she opened her eyes. The spot next to her was empty, still warm from his body.
A series of tinkling sounds came from the kitchen, very soft and deliberate, as if afraid of waking her.
She put on her coat and quietly walked to the kitchen door.
Qin Ye's tall and upright figure was seen somewhat comically wearing her faded blue floral apron, standing in front of the stove, seriously stirring the bubbling white porridge in the pot with a spoon.
He looked even more focused than when he was rehearsing tactics in front of the command center sand table.
On the stove, two freshly boiled, plump white eggs lay obediently in a bowl, and a small dish of pickled cucumbers was neatly arranged, sliced evenly with a military knife.
Su Tang leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, and watched him clumsily prepare breakfast for her with a smile on her face.
"woke up?"
Qin Ye seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; without turning around, his deep voice carried a subtle, almost imperceptible tenderness.
"The porridge will be ready soon. Go wash up, the floor is cold."
"I've come to inspect Commander Qin's culinary skills." Su Tang walked over with a smile, stretched out her arms from behind, wrapped them around his waist which was as strong as a rock, and gently pressed her cheek against his broad back, feeling his muscles stiffen instantly.
"Stop fooling around," Qin Ye's body tensed instantly, a surge of heat rushing from the base of his neck to his earlobes, turning his entire ear bright red. "The pot is hot, be careful not to burn yourself."
"Don't be silly." Su Tang's voice was soft and sweet from just waking up, like a kitten's paw gently scratching his heart. "I just wanted to hug you. You've worked hard, Commander Qin."
Qin Ye's heart melted instantly, and he almost dropped the spoon into the pot.
His tense body slowly relaxed, allowing her to hold him.
He cleared his throat, trying to hide his unease, and said in a commanding tone, "Go quickly, wash up and eat right away. After dinner, we'll go see a movie."
After having this simple yet incredibly heartwarming breakfast, the two changed into casual clothes and went out hand in hand.
The rising sun cast golden rays onto the ancient streets of Sunshine City, dispelling the chill of the early morning.
The cinema in Sunshine City is an old-fashioned Soviet-style building with huge red slogans painted on its gray walls: "Never forget class struggle!" and "Carry the revolution through to the end!"
A huge hand-painted movie poster hangs at the entrance. Today's screening is "Heroes and Daughters". On the poster, Wang Cheng holds a demolition charge, his eyes wide with anger, and he looks incredibly lifelike.
The entrance to the movie theater was crowded with people, including soldiers, cadres, citizens, and students, all dressed in blue, gray, and green clothes, creating a lively scene.
Qin Ye acted like a moving city wall, firmly protecting Su Tang by his side, using his broad shoulders to separate her from the crowded people, preventing anyone from touching her even slightly.
"Wait for me here, don't wander off." He settled Su Tang in a corner, then turned and squeezed into the long ticket queue.
Su Tang stood there, watching his tall figure stand out in the crowd, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curved up.
Just then, she suddenly felt a cold gaze.
The gaze swept across the throng, lingering on her for a fraction of a second without being noticed.
Su Tang felt a chill run down her spine, but her smile remained unchanged. However, she casually raised her eyes and looked in the direction from which the gaze came.
The crowd was bustling, mostly simply dressed citizens and soldiers, chatting and laughing in twos and threes, with nothing unusual about them.
That gaze disappeared as well, as if it were just her imagination.
Am I overthinking things? Perhaps her recent experiences have made her a bit overly sensitive?
"Tangtang, what are you looking at?" Qin Ye returned after buying the tickets, and as if by magic, he also had two packets of sunflower seeds wrapped in brown paper and a bottle of orange-flavored soda in his hand.
He handed the bottle of soda, which was considered a luxury at the time, to Su Tang, his eyes sparkling like a big boy waiting for praise.
"I bought this for you to quench your thirst."
Seeing his eagerness to present it as a treasure, Su Tang's initial wariness dissipated with overwhelming sweetness, and she smiled as she accepted it, saying, "Thank you, Commander Qin."
The movie theater was dimly lit, and the air was filled with the smell of old wooden chairs and dust.
Inside, there were only a few dozen simple wooden chairs and a white curtain.
The two found a seat in the middle, and immediately the sounds of people cracking sunflower seeds and chatting filled the air.
The movie began, rousing music played, and the words "August First Film Studio" appeared on the screen.
In the darkness, Qin Ye's hand, somewhat stiffly and tentatively, reached out from the armrest of the seat and gently and cautiously touched the back of her hand.
Su Tang could feel the heat and slight trembling of his fingertips.
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