Chapter 153: Are you really not going to have some? [Part Four]

“Why aren’t they turning on the lights as soon as we enter this theater? No wonder things are falling apart here, with service like this,” Wang Ping complained.

Lu Yuanqiu held Bai Qingxia’s hand and, guided by intuition, made his way toward the last row. Because the lighting was dim, their hand-holding went unnoticed by others.

At this moment, Lu Yuanqiu had his arm half around the girl’s shoulder—not to take advantage, but because he was feeling unwell. Bai Qingxia allowed it obediently.

After finding their seats and sitting down, the lights finally came on.

Bai Qingxia sat in her seat, curiously scanning the surroundings.

The seats were soft, the screen was large, and soon light would shine on that white cloth, casting big shadows... This familiar description floated through her mind again, seemingly fitting perfectly.

Though she had never been to a cinema before, this description of a movie theater left a deep impression on her.

Though the lights were now on, their hands remained intertwined.

Lu Yuanqiu knew Bai Qingxia had forgotten to let go. She was still curiously looking around. If she wouldn’t let go, well, he wouldn’t either. Holding her small hand felt so comfortable—soft, smooth, tender, almost boneless.

He gently squeezed her hand. Bai Qingxia looked down, realizing what had happened, and awkwardly withdrew her hand.

Damn, if only I hadn’t squeezed, Lu Yuanqiu thought, speechless.

In the row ahead, Brother Xu sat down with his blind date, followed by Chu Lan. Further forward, six of them sat in a row, with Zhong Jincheng at the far end and Wang Ping beside him, whose resentment seemed to hang palpably in the air.

The movie began swiftly; the lights went off, and the sound boomed. Bai Qingxia looked up curiously toward the source of the sound, while Lu Yuanqiu glanced at her. In the dim light, her cheeks appeared even paler.

Right, the lights went off again. Maybe I can say the screen isn’t bright enough! Lu Yuanqiu pouted in mock grievance, his hand searching instinctively, and in the darkness, he once again touched her smooth little hand.

Bai Qingxia turned to look at him. Almost before he spoke, she understood and turned her hand over to grip his.

Lu Yuanqiu tried to interlace their fingers, slipping his fingers between hers, but Bai Qingxia didn’t let him. She looked at him with puzzled eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s better this way...” Lu Yuanqiu explained as he linked their fingers. Bai Qingxia complied immediately once she understood.

“Better now?”

Lu Yuanqiu made a pitiful sound: “Mmm...”

Actually, as long as the big screen in front was lit, it didn’t really matter.

---

But men who know how to be sweetly dependent are luckiest of all.

The movie was indeed terrible.

If it weren’t for being able to casually squeeze her hand, Lu Yuanqiu might have dozed off. Yet Bai Qingxia watched attentively, even giggling softly at the lowbrow, awkward comedic scenes, as if utterly absorbed.

Lu Yuanqiu understood she wasn’t pretending. Out there, she probably would have found the movie awful too, but this was her first film viewed in a cinema. No matter how bad the plot, she genuinely found it interesting.

She wasn’t watching the movie itself, but something fresh and exciting to her; the film was just the icing on the cake.

“Want some popcorn?” Lu Yuanqiu offered.

Since their hands were entwined in the middle, he had to lean sideways, using his other hand to reach.

Bai Qingxia leaned over too, dipping her hand into the popcorn bucket. She took a kernel and chewed it, momentarily distracted from the film because the novelty of popcorn outweighed the movie.

Seeing the expression on her face, Lu Yuanqiu knew she must have found the popcorn delicious. But Bai Qingxia only ate one, then stopped, focusing on the movie again.

Lu Yuanqiu understood why.

Because the popcorn was something they shared, she felt shy taking more—either waiting a long time before reaching again, or only doing so after he had taken many handfuls.

When it came to sharing, Bai Qingxia let Lu Yuanqiu have the advantage; only then did she feel the balance was fair. This was her own sense of balance.

The solution was simple.

Lu Yuanqiu ate a bite himself, then grabbed a handful to feed her.

No one was watching, so Bai Qingxia opened her mouth without hesitation, though she looked a little shy, after all, it was Lu Yuanqiu feeding her.

Back and forth several times, although the popcorn was delicious and he was willingly feeding her, Bai Qingxia soon felt embarrassed to open her mouth.

“Enough, I’m done, really...” she turned away.

Lu Yuanqiu knew she’d say that. He glared mockingly: “If you don’t eat it, I don’t like it either. Every time, there’s always a big pile left at every seat, and the cleaning ladies dump it all in the trash. Such a waste.”

Bai Qingxia’s eyes widened in surprise. How could anyone leave such delicious food uneaten?

Thinking of this, she quickly reached for more popcorn, eating much faster than before. But after several bites, she shyly explained to Lu Yuanqiu, “I... I don’t want it to go to waste. You eat some too, don’t let me be the only one.”

“I don’t really like it,” he said, waving it off. “If I didn’t think you wanted it, I wouldn’t have gotten any.”

Bai Qingxia hesitated, then tentatively asked, “Then... I’ll eat it?”

“Go ahead, it’s all yours.”

Relieved, Bai Qingxia resumed eating, genuinely enjoying the popcorn. She glanced at the movie, took a bite, and after finishing more than half the bucket, she checked again: “Are you really not going to eat?”

“Ask me again and I’ll hit you!”

She dared not ask further, quietly turning their shared snack into her own.

Just then, the theater’s sound abruptly stopped.

Lu Yuanqiu was startled and noticed the screen had frozen.

After a moment with no response, Zhong Jincheng in front called out, “No way?!”

“This place has too many problems!” Wang Ping said. “Let’s wait a few minutes to see if it recovers. If not, I’ll find a staff member.”

What a lousy theater... Lu Yuanqiu cursed inwardly.

Bai Qingxia paid no mind. She looked down at the popcorn bucket, her face nearly buried in it. After confirming it was empty, she showed it to Lu Yuanqiu as if completing some task. “All done.”

Five minutes later, Wang Ping couldn’t take it and got up to find help.

The girl beside him quietly asked, “Will they throw this bucket away afterward?”

Lu Yuanqiu turned to her, amused. “What, do you want to take it home?”

Bai Qingxia said nothing, staring at him blankly—as if silently asking, “Is that okay?”

Eleven chapters owed, ten already repaid, last one due on the 23rd.

(The End of This Chapter)