Chapter 8: Hiding in Wife’s Embrace

When they arrived at the cinema, Su An’an went to collect the tickets. After retrieving them, the group sat in the lounge, waiting for the movie to start.

Su An’an looked at Qiao Yanyan and said: “Sister, shall we buy some snacks to eat inside?”

“Sure, let’s go together.” Qiao Yanyan agreed, getting up—only to realize that Fu Shiyuan was still clinging to her arm.

Fu Shiyuan also stood up. “Wife, wherever you’re going, I’m going too.”

Fu Shixu spoke up quickly: “How about I accompany An’an to buy the snacks? Big Brother, you can sit here with her.”

Qiao Yanyan thought about it and agreed, sitting back down.

Fu Shiyuan was too clingy. Was it because she had treated him too well?

In the novel, it never described Fu Shiyuan as being this attached to Qiao Yanyan.

She watched as Su An’an and Fu Shixu walked off together—their backs so well-matched it was almost picturesque.

At the concession counter, Su An’an lowered her head, not daring to look directly at Fu Shixu. The staff politely asked: “Hello, what would you like?”

“Hi, we’ll have two popcorns and four drinks.” Su An’an said. She was about to scan the code to pay when Fu Shixu pressed down on her hand and scanned his own code instead.

“How could I possibly let you pay?” he said.

Su An’an’s face gradually turned red.

They bought two portions of popcorn and four juices—one juice per person, one popcorn shared between two.

Just then, ticket checking began.

The group had their tickets scanned and entered the theater. The corridor was pitch dark, with no lights except for glowing lines along the wall that resembled illuminated ribbons.

As soon as they entered, Fu Shiyuan tightly gripped Qiao Yanyan’s hand. She winced from the strength of his grip. Fu Shixu came over and supported Fu Shiyuan’s arm, asking: “Big Brother, can you see the path clearly?”

Qiao Yanyan found it strange. Though it was dark, it was still possible to see the way.

Fu Shiyuan was walking rather slowly. He said: “I can’t really see clearly.”

Qiao Yanyan asked: “Shiyuan, why can’t you see? I can see just fine.”

Fu Shixu explained: “My brother has night blindness.”

Night blindness? Fu Shiyuan had night blindness?

Qiao Yanyan had a friend in the real world who also had night blindness. As soon as it started getting dark, she could barely see. But with a flashlight or some sort of lamp, she could still manage. Night blindness was also known as chicken eye.

The meaning being: chickens in the countryside would return to their coops at dusk. At that time, people with night blindness wouldn’t be able to see anymore.

Qiao Yanyan held Fu Shiyuan’s arm with a bit more force.

Whenever there were steps, Fu Shixu would remind him: “Brother, there are steps, be careful…”

Eventually, the group reached their seats at the back of the theater and sat down to wait for the movie to begin.

Two minutes later, the cinema was filled with people. Maybe it was because it was the first day of a long holiday, and everyone had come to see a movie.

The movie started—it was a horror film!

Su An’an saw a scene where someone was hiding under the bed and quickly covered her eyes. The girls in the cinema screamed, and those with boyfriends huddled into their arms.

“So scary, ahh…” Su An’an’s heart pounded in her chest. Qiao Yanyan laughed and asked: “If you’re so scared, why did you choose a horror movie?”

“Because my idol is acting in it—he plays the second male lead.” Su An’an pointed at the screen at a young, handsome actor.

“Wife, I’m scared too, I’m scared…” Fu Shiyuan snuggled into Qiao Yanyan’s arms.

Qiao Yanyan gently stroked his head. “There, there, don’t be scared.” His hair was a little stiff, and it tickled her palm with a slightly numbing sensation.

Fu Shixu watched Qiao Yanyan’s tender gesture toward his brother, and a swirl of complex emotions rose in his heart.

Fu Shiyuan was overjoyed—hiding in his wife’s arms felt so safe. In truth, he wasn’t scared at all; he just wanted a hug from her.

Honestly, the horror movie wasn’t that frightening in content, but the eerie background music made it feel spooky.

Su An’an felt goosebumps all over her body. She wanted to watch but didn’t dare to look directly.

“Wife, aren’t you scared?” Fu Shiyuan asked from her embrace.

“No.” Qiao Yanyan replied. She just thought the plot of the movie was boring.

“Why not? Look, all the other girls are scared.”

“I have a brave heart, that’s why I’m not scared.”

“Wife, you’re so amazing!”

As the movie neared its end, Su An’an wanted to go to the restroom. She nudged Qiao Yanyan and whispered: “Sister, will you come with me to the restroom?”

“Sure, I’ll go with you.”

“I want to go too!” Fu Shiyuan clung tightly to Qiao Yanyan’s arm.

Fu Shixu, thinking about his brother’s night blindness, figured it would be troublesome for him to go out and come back in again. Plus, Qiao Yanyan was small and might not be able to support him properly, so he said: “Let me go with An’an instead.”

Su An’an wanted to refuse, but she was also a bit scared. So in the end, she silently agreed and let Fu Shixu accompany her. The two of them left the theater one after the other.

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The movie ended, but Su An’an and Fu Shixu had not yet returned. Qiao Yanyan helped Fu Shiyuan out of the theater. Since he couldn’t see well, she reminded him: “There’s a stair down… okay, done… now we’re going up…”

Once outside, Fu Shiyuan returned to normal. He then asked: “Wife, where are Shixu and your sister?”

“I don’t know either. They said they were going to the restroom. Let’s go check.”

“Alright.”

The two of them walked over to the hallway near the restrooms—only to see Fu Shixu pinning Su An’an against the wall!

Fu Shiyuan was about to call out to Fu Shixu, but Qiao Yanyan immediately raised a finger to her lips and gestured “shh.” She whispered: “Shiyuan, don’t make a sound!”

Fu Shiyuan whispered back: “Why not?”

“Just don’t!” Qiao Yanyan leaned around the corner and peeked at the scene unfolding.

Su An’an was pressed against the wall, her face bright red. She said: “Brother Shixu, what are you doing?”

Fu Shixu lowered his head and looked at the petite girl in front of him. “Why didn’t you reply to my messages?”

“I—I didn’t…”

“You didn’t?”

“I—I…”

“In the past, you ignored me and I let it go. But from now on, if I message you, you have to reply. If I call, you must answer!”

Su An’an lifted her head in frustration and questioned him: “Says who!”

“Because my heart is full of you. Because I like you!”

Su An’an was stunned. “You… you like me?”

Fu Shixu blinked and said: “Yes. From the moment I saw you at my big brother’s wedding, I knew I liked you. Will you go out with me?”

Qiao Yanyan nodded in admiration—so fast, so direct. The male lead truly acted like one.

Behind her, Fu Shiyuan asked: “Wife, what is Shixu doing, pinning your sister to the wall? Is he bullying her?”

“No. Let’s go!” Qiao Yanyan pulled Fu Shiyuan away.

“Why are we leaving? Shouldn’t we help your sister?”

“Shiyuan, let’s just wait for them outside.” Qiao Yanyan pulled him along.

“Alright then, I’ll listen to Wife.”

The two of them went outside and sat in the lounge to wait.

A few minutes passed. The two still didn’t come out. Fu Shiyuan touched his stomach and leaned his head on Qiao Yanyan’s shoulder, saying: “Wife, I’m hungry. When are they coming out?”

Qiao Yanyan turned her head and found Fu Shiyuan’s face very close—so close that their faces were nearly touching. She quickly looked away, feeling awkward.

Just then, Su An’an came running out in a fluster. Qiao Yanyan quickly called out: “An’an.”

Su An’an stopped running and, blushing, walked over to her. “Sister.”

Qiao Yanyan teased her on purpose: “Why is your face so red?”

Su An’an touched her cheeks. “It’s not!”

Fu Shixu also came out, smiling as he said: “It’s getting late. I made a reservation at a restaurant. Let’s all go eat together.”

“Yes, yes, let’s go! I’m starving.” Fu Shiyuan said, jumping to his feet and tightly holding onto Qiao Yanyan’s hand.