Chapter 18 Going to the Movies
Wen Xiaoxiao pulled away from Zhao Fei's embrace, her voice still hoarse: "I...I'm going to the shop."
After saying that, he didn't even look at Zhao Fei, and turned to walk out.
Zhao Fei stood there, the turbulent emotions in his heart unable to subside for a long time.
He was somewhat distracted throughout the day at the pig farm.
After finishing his business early in the afternoon, he rode his bicycle to the city center.
When I returned, I had two more movie tickets in my pocket.
It's the 7:30 PM showing, a newly released domestic feature film.
He held the two tickets in his hand, his palms slightly sweaty.
He knew the idea was bold and dangerous, but he just wanted to take her out for some fresh air, even if it was just a short escape.
In the evening, Wen Xiaoxiao returned as dusk fell, her face showing exhaustion.
Zhao Fei stopped her in the courtyard, his voice low: "Are you free tonight? I...I bought two movie tickets."
Wen Xiaoxiao was taken aback, looked up at him, "Go to the movies? I...I'm not going."
She subconsciously looked around, as if countless eyes were watching from the shadows, "What would it look like if someone saw this...?"
Zhao Fei's heart sank. He whispered, almost pleadingly, "It'll be dark when I go, no one will notice. The show will end late... just... just go out for a walk to clear my head."
Wen Xiaoxiao was struggling internally.
Afraid of gossip,
Afraid of being gossiped about behind their backs
This is a concern ingrained in her very being.
But then I thought, what about Zhao Qingda? Has he ever cared about her feelings?
She raised her head, steeled herself, and nodded very lightly: "...Mm."
Zhao Fei's eyes lit up.
That evening, the two left the alley one after the other.
They were separated by more than ten meters, like two complete strangers.
Only when he turned onto the main road leading to the cinema, where the lights were dimmer and there were fewer pedestrians, did Zhao Fei slow down and wait for her to approach.
The two still didn't exchange any words, silently queuing, having their tickets checked, and entering the dimly lit cinema.
Wen Xiaoxiao hardly remembered what the movie was about.
All her senses seemed to be focused on the man beside her.
It was a strange experience, tense and uneasy, yet with a hint of stolen sweetness.
It was nearly 10 p.m. when the movie ended.
Her cotton-padded coat wasn't thin, but it couldn't withstand the cold wind of the night.
"Cold?" Zhao Fei asked.
"A little." Wen Xiaoxiao rubbed her hands together.
Zhao Fei didn't say anything, but took off his military overcoat and draped it over Wen Xiaoxiao's shoulders without saying a word.
"No need, you can do it yourself..." Wen Xiaoxiao tried to refuse.
"Wear what you're wearing." Zhao Fei interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument.
After a moment of silence, Zhao Fei suddenly spoke up: "I've calculated the money I have. It's enough to buy a car..."
Wen Xiaoxiao turned to look at him in surprise.
Car?
In the early 1990s, that was a very big purchase for an ordinary family; it was a symbol of status and wealth.
Zhao Fei didn't look at her, his gaze fixed ahead, and continued, "With a car, you won't have to worry about getting cold when you go out in winter. From now on... it will be convenient for you to go anywhere."
These words are simple, even somewhat clumsy.
He wasn't showing off; he was planning—planning for a more "respectable" future.
She turned her head away: "What a spendthrift! Why buy that thing? It's ridiculously expensive, and it costs gas to keep it running! You have money to burn? Don't buy it! Save your money wisely!"
Hearing her words, tinged with reproach yet genuinely concerned for him, Zhao Fei's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. "Okay," he said, "I'll listen to you."
The atmosphere softened inexplicably.
As we approached the small square outside the cinema where bicycles were parked, the crowds thinned out a bit.
Wen Xiaoxiao subconsciously wrapped her coat tighter around herself and lowered her head.
Just then, a familiar, nauseating voice, mixed with a woman's coquettish laughter, came from afar.
"Hey, this lousy movie isn't very interesting either, we might as well go home early..." It was Zhao Qingda.
Wen Xiaoxiao froze. She looked up abruptly and saw Zhao Qingda with his arm around Wang Juan at the movie theater intersection. The two were chatting and laughing as they walked out.
Wang Juan was still holding the unfinished sunflower seeds in her hand, laughing so hard she was shaking.
Wen Xiaoxiao's face turned deathly pale under the streetlights, her anger erupting like a volcano! There was also the fear of being discovered by Zhao Qingda.
She couldn't stand it for another second. She ripped off her military overcoat, shoved it back into Zhao Fei's hand, and ran away.
Zhao Fei wanted to chase after him, but was stopped by Zhao Qingda calling out "Big Brother".
“Brother,” Zhao Qingda said with a forced smile, his eyes darting back and forth in the direction of the blurry figure that had just run away, “who were you watching the movie with? What a coincidence.”
Zhao Fei gripped the military overcoat tightly in his hand.
Looking at Zhao Qingda's face,
Thinking back to how Wen Xiaoxiao had run away in fright, a surge of anger rushed to his head.
He looked up, staring coldly at Zhao Qingda, and deliberately spoke in a clear voice, "With my girlfriend. What, you have a problem with that?"
After speaking, his gaze swept over Wang Juan, who was clinging to Zhao Qingda, and asked, "And you? And who is this?"
Zhao Qingda was speechless for a moment, his face turning red and white in turns.
Wang Juan was even more embarrassed. She pinched Zhao Qingda's arm hard, muttered something under her breath, and dragged him away quickly.
Zhao Fei ignored them, pushed his bicycle, and quickly chased after Wen Xiaoxiao in the direction she had run off to.
Fortunately, there were few people around at night, and he didn't ride far before he spotted Wen Xiaoxiao squatting on the ground with her face buried in her knees.
"Xiaoxiao." He stopped the car and walked to her side.
“He saw it…he must have seen it…I…” she stammered, overwhelmed with shame and indignation.
"He didn't see it, and besides! So what if he saw it!" Zhao Fei was furious, but he felt even more sorry for her in her current state.
"How dare he criticize others for what he himself has done? Get up, let's go home."
He helped her up and let her sit on the back of the bicycle.
Wen Xiaoxiao hugged his waist tightly, pressed her face against his broad back, and remained silent the whole way.
When I arrived home, the courtyard was completely silent.
Wen Xiaoxiao did not immediately return to the east wing. She had her back to Zhao Fei, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
Zhao Fei parked his bicycle and walked behind her. Suddenly, Wen Xiaoxiao turned around, and in the dim light, her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.
She didn't say anything, but suddenly lunged forward, wrapped her arms around Zhao Fei's neck, stood on tiptoe, and firmly kissed his lips.
Zhao Fei felt a "boom" in his mind, and the last dam of his rationality completely collapsed.
He responded to the kiss, with a long-suppressed desire and equally surging emotions.
In their confusion and infatuation, they stumbled into the main house without realizing who had moved first.
The door was closed, isolating a forbidden yet passionate world.
This time, there was no numbing effect from alcohol, only a clear longing.
Zhao Fei's movements were gentler and more patient than last time.
He carefully avoided any old wounds she might still have, using his body heat to soothe her cold skin as if handling a fragile treasure.
His gentleness, like a fine net, tightly enveloped Wen Xiaoxiao.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com