Chapter 793 Zhou Zhe's Date Zhou Zhe's heart tightened, as if something was gripping it.
He didn't dare look at her, staring down at his feet in his faded white canvas shoes, and stammered, "Ah? No...no, ...the lab's been really busy lately, they've been pushing me hard, so I...I just didn't get around to it."
Su Xiaowen said "Oh," and lowered her voice, not asking any further questions.
A subtle silence fell between the two of them.
Zhou Zhe felt like he was going to suffocate if he stayed any longer. He picked up the thermos and practically fled: "Um... Comrade Su, I'm going back to the lab now."
Watching his hurried departure, almost as if he were walking in a trance, Su Xiaowen stood there, her brows furrowing slightly.
She could sense that Zhou Zhe was avoiding her, but why?
Did he feel bothered because I gave him ginger tea so abruptly this time?
What else...?
Zhou Zhe, who had run back to the lab, leaned against the cold wall, panting heavily, his mind a complete mess.
She noticed; she actually noticed that she hadn't gone to the archives.
She even asked, "Doesn't this mean... she actually is?"
He subconsciously touched the two movie tickets in his pocket.
The next day, the two movie tickets felt like two red-hot coals in Zhou Zhe's pocket, making him restless.
He turned back countless times on his way to the archives, and countless times he mustered up his courage late at night, thinking that he would definitely go and speak up the next day.
Finally, at noon on the day of the movie screening, he realized that if he didn't go now, it would really be too late.
He took a deep breath and walked straight to the archives.
The archives were nearly empty in the afternoon, and sunlight streamed slowly through the windows, casting long shadows in the dusty beams of light.
Zhou Zhe walked up to Su Xiaowen, feeling a dryness in his throat.
He dared not look Su Xiaowen in the eye, his gaze falling on the books she was organizing: "Comrade Su... Comrade Su."
"Comrade Zhou Zhe?" Su Xiaowen was somewhat surprised.
He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, before taking his hand out of his pocket and quickly placing the movie ticket on the table, pushing it in front of Su Xiaowen.
"This...this...'The Love of Lu', it's at 7 pm, I'd like to invite you to go with me."
Zhou Zhe didn't even dare to look at Su Xiaowen's expression. He felt his face was burning hot, and his heart was pounding so loudly in the quiet archives that it was deafening to him.
Su Xiaowen glanced at the young comrade in front of her, whose ears were flushed red, and smiled.
"Thank you for the ticket. I'm free tonight."
Ever since he made plans to see a movie with Su Xiaowen, Zhou Zhe has been walking with a light, airy gait, and the corners of his mouth have been unconsciously turning up in a smile.
Even when copying the most tedious data records in the lab, he could hum off-key tunes as he did so.
Lu Qingyang reminded her, "Since you've invited this lady to the movies, it wouldn't be right to go empty-handed. Remember to bring a small gift."
"A...gift?" Zhou Zhe was stunned.
The word "gift" was far removed from his impoverished life.
Lu Qingyang could guess seven-tenths of what was going on just by looking at his expression.
He patted Zhou Zhe on the shoulder: "Gifts aren't about how expensive they are, but about the thought behind them. Especially for a girl like Su Xiaowen, she might not like what you buy for a lot of money, and she might even think you're tacky."
Lu Qingyang's suggestion to "do it yourself" enlightened Zhou Zhe.
If he couldn't afford to buy ready-made ones, he would make them himself.
He thought of Su Xiaowen quietly reading a book and figured that sending her a flower wouldn't be a bad idea.
But flowers fade easily, and he wanted something that could last longer.
Several pieces of insulating tape of different colors salvaged from a scrap bin, a small roll of enameled wire as thin as a hair, a piece of old, smooth bicycle spoke used as a flower branch, and even a small piece of the finest sandpaper used to polish component contacts.
His tools are his treasured possessions: small pliers, tweezers, and that incredibly versatile, extremely thin little tongs.
Making flower petals requires the most patience.
He carefully cut the dark red insulating tape into thin, oval shapes of varying sizes, deliberately making the edges less regular to mimic the natural curve of flower petals.
Then, holding it with tweezers, quickly sweep it across the lit kerosene lamp, using the instantaneous heat to slightly soften and curl the tape, forming a three-dimensional arc.
Looking at the flower, Zhou Zhe felt a little uneasy, wondering if Su Xiaowen would think it was too strange or too shabby.
But Lu Qingyang glanced at it and said it was quite good; at least it didn't wither as easily as real flowers.
At 6:45 PM, Zhou Zhe was already at the movie theater entrance. He had changed into his most presentable outfit, which was spotless and buttoned up meticulously. He clutched the small paper-wrapped package tightly in his hand, his palms sweaty.
Su Xiaowen appeared right on time.
She had dressed up specially, changing into a light-colored plaid coat and wearing a soft beige scarf, which made her look even more delicate and quiet.
Upon seeing Zhou Zhe, a faint blush rose on her face, and she said softly, "You've come."
"Ah, I'm here, I'm here," Zhou Zhe replied hastily, almost stumbling over his own feet with nervousness.
The two, holding their tickets, followed the flow of people into the screening room.
Find a seat and sit down; a good spot is slightly towards the front of the middle.
Zhou Zhe felt that his own heartbeat was almost drowning out the pre-show radio music.
In the dim light, he took a deep breath and handed over the small package he had been clutching, his voice hoarse with nervousness:
"Comrade Su... this is for you. I made it myself. It's not worth much, just a small token of my appreciation."
Su Xiaowen was a little surprised and whispered "thank you".
She carefully opened the package, and when the uniquely crafted handmade flower was fully revealed before her eyes, she was clearly taken aback. She examined it closely in the dim light reflected from the screen.
Zhou Zhe's heart was in his throat, afraid that she would think the gift was too strange.
However, Su Xiaowen stretched out her slender fingers and gently touched the petals made of adhesive tape, then touched the smooth "flower branch," and a look of surprise gradually appeared in her eyes.
"This... did you make it with electrical tape and wires?" she asked softly, her tone not showing disgust, but only curiosity.
Zhou Zhe explained in a low voice, "We also...we added a small light."
He gestured to the contacts at the bottom of the flower stem, "Connect a button battery here, and it...it will light up."
Su Xiaowen's eyes lit up instantly, as if stars had fallen into them.
She carefully held the flower in her hands. "It's amazing. I've never seen a flower like this before. It's so...so unique. I really like it."
Then, the movie started.
The bright and beautiful visuals and the contemporary love story in "Lugu Love" immediately attracted the attention of the two.
The theater went dark, with only the changing light and shadow on the screen.
When Zhou Zhe saw the female lead, Geng Hua, wearing a beautiful dress, running through the wilderness and meeting the male lead, and those vibrant and romantic scenes flashed by one by one, he could feel Su Xiaowen beside him holding her breath slightly.
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