Chapter 49
Because the art center's official WeChat account doesn't have a large number of followers, not many people know that old romantic movies are being re-released on Christmas Day. When Xu Qingzhou and Zheng Yangshu went through the ticket check, they found that there were only four people in the entire hall, including a couple in the row behind them.
The movie theater was pitch black, with only the large screen continuously playing advertisements, projecting flickering lights and shadows.
They thought there would only be four audience members, but when the commercials ended and the main feature began, another person suddenly entered through the left aisle.
At first, Xu Qingzhou and Zheng Yangshu didn't notice the figure, assuming it was just another audience member who was almost late.
Until the dark figure walked straight towards them, getting closer and closer, and then, instead of sitting in one of the empty seats, it actually sat down to Xu Qingzhou's left—
Xu Qingzhou subconsciously turned his head to look, and was instantly stunned.
...Chi Jun? ??
Wasn't he supposed to be watching the play "Jane Eyre"? How did he end up here?
Zheng Yangshu was clearly also puzzled, but he reacted faster and asked in a low voice:
"Brother, what brings you here too?"
Chi Jun stared at the big screen, straightened his clothes with a serious expression, and said, "I heard this movie is very famous, so I came to see it."
Zheng Yangshu was about to say, "Didn't you come to see the play?" when he realized that the big screen had already started showing the main feature, so he had to swallow his words and watch the movie quietly first.
This is a globally renowned classic romantic film with magnificent visuals, exquisite costumes, and a captivating storyline.
With immersive surround sound, everyone was completely absorbed in the movie. From time to time, the crunching sounds of popcorn being eaten could be heard from the couples in the back row, and the sweet aroma of cream wafted through the dark theater.
When the pace of the plot slowed down a bit, Xu Qingzhou finally remembered to pick up his cola and take a sip.
Just as she put the Coke back on the cup holder, her arm was lightly touched.
Xu Qingzhou turned his head.
Zheng Yangshu leaned slightly to the side and handed over the popcorn bucket in his hand.
Want some popcorn?
It's already a bit strange for a man and a woman to watch a movie alone, but sharing a bucket of popcorn on top of that seems even stranger.
Xu Qingzhou smiled and waved his hand, politely declining.
In the dim light, Zheng Yangshu nodded somewhat awkwardly, about to pretend to be nonchalant as he took the popcorn back.
Just then, through Xu Qingzhou, he heard a familiar voice—
"I'll eat it."
Xu Qingzhou: "..."
Zheng Yangshu: "..."
The two looked at Chi Jun at the same time. Chi Jun remained expressionless and said, "Shouldn't you eat something while watching a movie? I forgot to buy one."
As he spoke, he didn't forget to return the favor by taking out two lollipops from his pocket and handing them to Xu Qingzhou and Zheng Yangshu.
"Want to eat?"
Xu Qingzhou had just refused the popcorn, so accepting the lollipop now would make Zheng Yangshu feel awkward. She shook her head, indicating that she didn't need it.
Zheng Yangshu waved his hand, "No need, brother, you eat."
After saying that, he tactfully handed the popcorn bucket to Chi Jun.
Chi Jun didn't stand on ceremony; he reached out, grabbed two kernels of popcorn, and popped them into his mouth.
Thanks.
Zheng Yangshu whispered, "You're welcome."
Just when everyone thought the little incident was over, Chi Jun kept reaching out his arm across Xu Qingzhou's face to get some popcorn, and then reaching out again to grab a little more a short while later.
After a while, I reached out and took a little more.
"..."
Zheng Yangshu simply handed the bucket to Chi Jun: "Brother, you can take it and eat it."
Chi Jun: "No, I won't be able to eat if I hold you."
"It's okay, I won't eat it."
"You're not going to eat it, why did you buy popcorn?"
"..."
Zheng Yangshu was at a loss for words. Just then, Chi Jun reached across Xu Qingzhou's face and grabbed a few kernels of popcorn.
With his view repeatedly blocked, Xu Qingzhou finally couldn't hold back any longer.
She gently tugged at Chi Jun's sleeve, gesturing back and forth between their seats with her fingers, asking with her eyes whether they wanted to change seats.
In fact, Xu Qingzhou brought this up not only because Chi Jun's behavior affected her movie viewing, but also as a rather obvious implication: it's not good to repeatedly and unceremoniously eat other people's popcorn.
Xu Qingzhou believed that Chi Jun was a smart person, and he would understand as soon as she mentioned it.
Who knew what would happen next—
Chi Jun nodded: "Okay, let's switch seats then."
Xu Qingzhou: "..."
Zheng Yangshu: "..."
In the end, Chi Jun sat in the middle, with Xu Qingzhou and Zheng Yangshu sitting on either side of him.
Sitting next to Chi Jun, Zheng Yangshu felt something was off. Staring at the big screen, she couldn't really process the movie scenes, let alone think about eating popcorn.
Whether it was because the second half of the movie was too captivating or something else, Chi Jun actually forgot to eat his popcorn.
So much so that after watching the movie, Zheng Yangshu couldn't help but begin to have doubts:
This guy wanted to change seats from the very beginning.
Not only Zheng Yangshu felt something was off, but Xu Qingzhou also felt that something was not right.
So when the movie ended and the three of them walked out, each lost in their own thoughts, they remained unusually silent the whole way.
As I stepped out of the art center, a gust of cold wind hit me, swirling withered leaves across the ground.
Zheng Yangshu pulled his collar up and spoke first:
"I'll be going now, Qingzhou, brother, bye-bye."
As Xu Qingzhou took his hat out of his bag, he waved it with his free hand.
Chi Jun also waved and said, "Bye."
The art center was quite far from the rental housing complex, requiring a taxi or bus ride. Just as they were passing a bus stop, a fairly convenient bus pulled up in the distance, and Chi Jun and Xu Qingzhou boarded it.
This was the last bus, and there was no one on board except for the driver.
Chi Jun and Xu Qingzhou sat in the front seats, moving along and stopping in silence as the bus bumped and jolted.
The two got out of the car when they were still a kilometer away from the rental compound.
As Xu Qingzhou walked, he suddenly stopped.
Standing under a streetlamp, she took out paper and pen and said, "Chi Jun, this isn't right."
Although Xu Qingzhou didn't say anything along the way, her unusual silence had already made Chi Jun keenly aware of her emotional changes.
Chi Jun looked down at the little girl under the streetlight.
She wore a thick, off-white coat and a red woolen hat because of the cold wind. Her long black hair hung down to the side of her face, making her small face look even more clean and fair, and her eyes were big and bright.
It was precisely because of the presence of the divine that Chi Jun seemed to see a trace of emotion hidden within.
He had his hands in his pockets, looking nonchalant.
"Oh? What's wrong with it? Is it affecting your puppy love?"
Xu Qingzhou: "..."
Early romance?
She paused, and before she could clarify, Chi Jun's right hand reached out and poked her forehead repeatedly without any politeness, sternly reprimanding her:
"Xu Qingzhou, do you know that you are currently in your final year of high school, with a heavy workload? Is puppy love something you can get involved in?"
Although the force wasn't strong, Xu Qingzhou was still poked so hard that his head tilted back and forth.
She instinctively covered her forehead and took a half step back.
So that's why Chi Jun temporarily gave up watching the play and went to their theater to watch a movie instead?
To be honest, when Zheng Yangshu first invited her to the movies, she also felt a little strange...
So, coupled with being questioned by Chi Jun, Xu Qingzhou naturally...felt guilty.
We didn't have a puppy love relationship.
She clarified somewhat hesitantly.
As soon as he finished writing the last word, Chi Jun let out a cold sneer.
"Not puppy love, but a lone man and woman going to the movies together on Christmas? Or is it a romantic movie?"
"..."
Although the various coincidences put together are indeed intriguing, the fact is that her relationship with Zheng Yangshu was completely innocent and there was no early romance between them.
Xu Qingzhou explained earnestly: "[That's because Zheng Yangshu helped me out, so when he asked if I wanted to see a movie, I didn't feel comfortable refusing, plus I really did like that movie...]"
Chi Jun clearly didn't believe her, looking at her with droopy eyes.
"Oh? What's so busy that you're leaving me to go to the movies with him?"
Chi Jun was indeed resentful about being abandoned by Xu Qingzhou, since he had never been treated this way since Xu Qingzhou took him in.
However, as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a little strange, since they gave off a jealous vibe.
Xu Qingzhou also found it strange.
She tilted her head and blinked at Chi Jun.
Although she kept reminding herself not to be presumptuous.
Judging from Chi Jun's expression and what he just said, it seems that he was indeed unhappy because she left him to go to the movies with Zheng Yangshu.
In the past, Chi Jun never cared what she did.
Now he was unhappy because he would be left behind by her. As Xu Qingzhou thought about it, her heart felt as if it were filled with feathers, light and comfortable, and she couldn't help but smile.
[Chi Jun, are you angry about this?]
She pursed her lips, grabbed the paper card with both small hands, and held it up in front of her face for Chi Jun to see, only revealing her big, round eyes.
Chi Jun glanced at the words on the paper:
"No."
Xu Qingzhou pursed his lips.
I think so... After all, so many people want to go to the play with you that they've gotten into fights, why would they care about someone as insignificant as me?
This is clearly mockery, yet they're putting on an innocent act.
Chi Jun chuckled and simply reached out and pinched the little girl's nose, gently twisting it left and right.
"Xu Qingzhou, have I spoiled you too much? You even dare to make fun of me like this? Hmm?"
Xu Qingzhou squinted and smiled, took a step back, shook her head and broke free from his hand, then looked down and took something out of her schoolbag.
Finally, she took out a white square box.
Then, she tiptoed, tilted her head, and handed the box to Chi Jun.
Merry Christmas, Ji Jun!
She mouthed it.
Just then, snow began to fall from the sky. Snowflakes swirled around her, landing on Xu Qingzhou's little red woolen hat, on her eyelashes, and on her innocent and bright smile.
This is a rare glimpse of Xu Qingzhou—radiating youthful vivacity and agility.
Chi Jun was stunned for a moment, staring at her for a long time. Finally, he awkwardly turned his head away.
My gaze returned to the box, where I noticed the phone icon.
"A cell phone?" he asked.
Xu Qingzhou nodded.
"Just bought it?"
The little girl nodded again.
Zheng Yangshu's uncle sells mobile phones.
So this is what Zheng Yangshu did to help her?
Seeing that Chi Jun stood there motionless for a long time, Xu Qingzhou simply took Chi Jun's hand and solemnly placed the box in his hand.
[Chi Jun, I told you I would buy you lots and lots of things—a phone, a game console, a computer, and so much more. Whatever you want, I'll buy it for you.]
You don't need to worry about anything, because I will always, always, always be good to you.
The little girl finished writing from the bottom of her heart, and then looked at him with bright, smiling eyes.
The lights shimmered in her eyes, twinkling erratically with the snowflakes, like countless stars, dazzlingly bright.
Chi Jun clutched the box in his hand, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily. As the snowflakes danced in the air and landed on his fingers, they quickly dissolved. He clearly felt something within him also rapidly dissolving.
He stared at Xu Qingzhou for a long time, then suddenly reached out and pulled down the brim of the little girl's hat, covering her eyes.
"..."
Xu Qingzhou stared at the pitch blackness obscured by his hat and wrote on the paper by feel.
[Chi Jun, Chi Jun, are you crying?]
In the darkness, she heard Chi Jun laugh and the sound of a packaging box being opened.
"Yeah, I'm so annoyed by how ugly my phone is."
Xu Qingzhou: "..."
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