Chapter 79: Softness Made His Hands Hot

Xia Li realized that this action felt somewhat embarrassing.

She was being held tightly as if she were a little chick, pressed firmly against him.

The distance was too close.

She could even hear his heart beating loudly, faintly in her ear.

The steady rhythm resonated, making her ears ring.

She blinked rapidly and pushed him away. “I’m fine…”

The man only felt her softness in his hands, so soft that they were burning.

His throat tightened, his thin lips slightly parted, and he forgot to continue speaking.

“I said, I’m fine.”

A gentle voice called from behind, amusingly coaxing the children.

A pair of eyes was sitting on the low bench, staring at them:

“Ahem, you’re blocking the view.”

The sister-in-law’s tone hinted at teasing, and she reminded them from the front, “The movie is about to start.”

Xia Li snapped back to reality, abruptly pushing the man away and quickly pulling him to sit down.

Her face felt hot, and she didn’t glance at him again, digging out two small biscuits to hand to the children behind her, a shy smile lingering on her lips as she turned back to sit properly.

The man sat rigidly, not daring to glance sideways, his posture steady and composed.

Only he knew how loudly his heart was pounding, beating like a drum.

Unknowingly, the sky had completely darkened.

They sat on opposite ends of the long bench, the man’s sturdy back straight and upright, while the woman’s figure was delicate and graceful, leaving enough space in the middle for another person to sit.

Finally, a colorful image started to play on the screen not far away.

The audience was drawn in, and the surrounding noise gradually quieted down.

The movie began.

……

“What is this about?”

“Mom… my brother wet his pants.”

“Shh—”

“Hey! Keep it down over there!”

In the quiet atmosphere of the theater, a few coughs or murmured comments occasionally broke the silence.

Most people were extremely focused, staring at the movie screen without moving.

As the gentle light reflected on every face in the audience, accompanied by flowing music, the title slowly appeared on the screen:

“Red Skirt on the Street”

Everyone cheered in excitement.

This movie was especially popular in the city, discussed in every corner, but they hadn’t seen it in their village yet.

Xia Li raised her face, paying close attention.

Unbeknownst to her, the tall man beside her was feeling a bit awkward.

Jiang Cheng glanced at her and secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his cold gaze shifting back to the young man sitting on the other side.

The young man was happily engrossed, thinking that the girls in the movie were all incredibly beautiful!

Suddenly, he sensed something was off.

Meeting the cold, piercing gaze next to him, his eyes widened in shock!

He was almost scared out of his wits!

What, was it wrong to misname a movie? Wasn’t he just trying to figure out what film was showing?!

That man was so intimidating!

Why were the people from Shinian Village so unfriendly?!

With that cold stare bearing down on him, the young man trembled and scooted over awkwardly, biting his lip in distress.

Xia Li, like everyone else, was captivated by the novelty of the film, completely unaware of the commotion nearby.

“Red Skirt on the Street” is the first fashion-themed movie in the country, considered very trendy for its time.

It mainly tells the story of Tao Xing’er, a model worker at the Shanghai Dafeng Cotton Spinning Factory, who is usually cautious and doesn’t like to dress up. Encouraged by her colleagues, she bravely wears a sleeveless red dress and goes to the park to compete in beauty with the stylishly dressed young girls, embarking on a journey of self-discovery.

The film showcases how, in an increasingly open environment, Tao Xing’er gradually breaks free from the old constraints of traditional views and dares to display the fashionable beauty of modern women, sincerely embracing the new era and boldly pursuing beauty.

Tao Xing’er is played by actress Zhao Jing, one of the most popular movie stars.

On the screen, she wears an elegant and stunning red dress, her lively eyebrows and expressions captivating everyone.

The concept of “boldly showcasing beauty” conveyed in this film leads a new trend for young women.

The young men looked up at Tao Xing’er in her sleeveless red dress, her long, flowing hair resembling ink wash, revealing her fair chest and arms, unable to take their eyes off her, even feeling a bit shy.

From the front, someone whistled twice, and laughter erupted.

The young girls watched enviously as the red silk skirt fluttered, wishing they could own such a dress, feeling it would be worth everything!

Xia Li was also watching intently.

She wasn’t envious of the red dress in the movie, but the women in the park showcasing various fashionable outfits made her realize that fashion really is a circle!

Polka dot dresses, gradient skirts, elegant stripes, tropical floral patterns, delicate silver strap high-heeled sandals, color-blocking combinations… and so on.

She found it truly eye-catching and inspiring, belonging to the avant-garde fashion of this era.

Wasn’t it true that these styles had become popular again in later years?

But it was evident how this film had sparked a new trend across the country.

After the movie had played for over twenty minutes, latecomers squeezed through the crowd, causing some discontented murmurs.

Another person squeezed in next to Xia Li, forcing her to move toward the middle of the bench.

The soft light from the screen illuminated her profile, highlighting her clear eyes and well-defined nose, her eyes sparkling.

In the soft glow of the night, her delicate features were beautifully fluid, her lips occasionally curling into a smile in response to the plot, resembling tender, budding petals.

Jiang Cheng kept his eyes on the movie while subtly shifting closer to the middle.

They were positioned one tall and one short, their shoulders lightly brushing against each other.

The man had originally placed his right hand steadily on his knee but was now moving it.

In the darkness, he slowly lifted it.

As the audience gasped at a sudden turn in the movie, Xia Li widened her eyes in surprise.

He quickly clenched his fist and then relaxed.

They remained still for five minutes.

Xia Li remembered she still had candy, pulled out two White Rabbit candies, popped one in her mouth, and offered the other to Jiang Cheng.

Puffing her cheeks, she quietly asked, “Here, do you want one?”

The man glanced at her.

His stern face softened as he reached out to take the candy from her delicate fingertips, almost instinctively wanting to tightly grasp her small hand…

“Stop it, you rascal! Let go, let go…”

In front of them, a man and a woman had somehow snuggled closely together, their figures blurred, only their silhouettes tightly pressed against each other.

The girl’s tone was filled with complaint as she insisted that she wouldn’t let the man hold her hand, but her voice clearly revealed a hint of shyness.

Xia Li couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows and smile, quickly covering her mouth to stifle her laughter and not disturb them.

Well, it seems that watching a movie is indeed the best place for dating, and this hasn’t changed in any era!

The man clenched the candy in his hand, his face dark like charcoal.

Xia Li smiled and looked up at him, puzzled. “What’s wrong? Don’t you like milk candy? If not, just give it back to me.”

White Rabbit milk candy was still quite expensive in this era, so if he didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be worth wasting.

Jiang Cheng sat upright, broad-shouldered and straight-backed, looking like a sturdy figure beside her.

She could clearly see the strong lines of his jaw.

There was also a faintly defined brow bone, a straight nose with a slight upward curve, and his lips, always slightly pursed, had a hint of coldness.

Jiang Cheng held back for a moment.

His chest rose and fell, and he said darkly, “I… I don’t know how to peel it.”

Xia Li was taken aback, reaching out to him gently, saying, “You just need to unwrap the candy wrapper. There’s a layer of glutinous rice paper that you can eat; give it to me, and I’ll peel it for you.”

The man’s throat moved silently.

In the restless night breeze, a hint of tension was palpable.

In the darkness, the dialogue from the movie echoed around them, close and far.

Just then, Xia Li took the milk candy from him but was suddenly gripped tightly by a rough, warm hand.

.

Not far from the village square, near a cluster of trees.

Four or five young men in their twenties were half-sitting on bicycles, staring at the movie screen, completely absorbed.

Zhou Xiangbin wore a khaki shirt and a deep blue leather jacket over it, with black pants cinched by a noticeable leather belt, and on his feet were a pair of large-toe leather shoes.

His hair was slicked back with oil, fashioned into a pompadour style as he leaned on his triangular bicycle, his fierce face biting down on a cigarette as he exhaled a puff of smoke.

“Don’t say that; the girls in this movie are incredibly provocative. Damn it, that skirt is so short! It’s shorter than my shorts, right?!”

A careless voice chimed in.

Someone retorted, “You’re the one who’s dazed? Is it your pants that got wet?”

Zhou Xiangbin’s eyes were glued to the female lead’s beautiful, flowing red dress, squinting slightly and smoking without saying a word.

“Hey, Bin Ge.”

A brother asked, “That girl we’ve been eyeing, is she as hot as the lady in this movie?”

The person next to him shot him a cold glance: “Is that even a question? What the hell are you thinking?! If you can find someone in these villages who looks even half as good as Tao Xing’er, I’ll immediately lick ten pounds of cow dung right here!”

This young man had already seen the film in the city before; the leading lady in the red dress, Tao Xing’er, was his dream girl—he couldn’t even sleep without thinking of her! How could he let anyone compare village girls with his goddess?!

Several young men exchanged crude jokes and banter.

Zhou Xiangbin sat with his long legs over the bike seat, staring at the busy movie screen ahead with a smirk, saying nothing.

He flicked the cigarette butt with his fingers, sending ash to the ground.

The movie was now halfway through.

The projectionist yawned lazily, having watched this film countless times.

In this era, being a traveling projectionist going from village to town was a good job; not only did he get to watch movies for free, but each time he showed films in a village, local leaders secretly stuffed him with a couple of red tower cigarettes and twenty or thirty yuan, treating him with smiles and flattery—quite a lucrative deal.

He thought about finishing the screening and finding a place to drink some liquor to warm himself up.

Suddenly, a stir was felt beneath the projection platform.

Xia Li, sitting in the crowd, naturally noticed.

One minute earlier.

Her hand was gripped tightly by a strong force, a hand that was dry and powerful, completely enveloping hers.

She looked up and saw the man beside her, his profile resembling a silent yet vibrant statue, not saying a word, his ears gradually turning red.

He held her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

Xia Li struggled a bit and quietly glanced over, saying, “Let go.”

Jiang Cheng’s throat moved silently.

He turned his head slowly, winking at her, his voice deeper than the night:

“…I’m holding your hand. Everyone else is holding hands.”

Xia Li didn’t want to move too much, using her other hand to push him while coldly lowering her voice, “If you have the ability, hold your own.”

The man furrowed his brows tightly.

He was holding her slightly cool hand, so close to her, and it was the first time.

This hand, delicate and boneless, he had fantasized about countless times.

How could a woman’s hand be so soft?

Soft like cotton, like the slippery fish that had escaped from his grasp in the river.

He feared it would melt in his hand and didn’t dare to apply more pressure.

Yet now, holding her hand still felt insufficient.

Perhaps the chaotic movie sounds were too distant, or the dark night was too enticing.

Holding her hand without letting go, he even desired more.

The man gazed at her soft lips, memories of their unresolved argument surged in his mind, and he tilted his head, kissing her cheek.

Suddenly coming back to his senses, his narrow eyes shone brightly, his large palm still gripping her hand, he asked in a low, husky voice, “If you’re holding my hand, how else can I hold my own?”

Xia Li was furious, raising her head to glare at him.

Has he really started to be stubborn now?

Unbeknownst to her, beneath her dark long lashes, her sparkling eyes were glaring at him, her full lips forming a cute yet unhappy curve, and her soft cheeks flushed a vibrant red.

Looking at him so closely, she felt utterly powerless.

Jiang Cheng’s hand felt warm and hot, with a rough texture that transmitted entirely through his palm to her.

Sitting closely together, it felt as if his tall frame enveloped her, and they could hear each other’s breathing faintly.

The man’s heart thumped heavily, lowering his pair of dark eyes, gazing into the eyes that were staring back at him.

His high-bridged nose drew closer, slowly pressing down on her.

Xia Li noticed the depth and gravity in his gaze that was different from before, her mind blanking for an instant.

Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted from the direction of the movie screen.

People in the front row were chattering excitedly.

It turned out that amidst the light projected onto the big screen, at some point, a figure in a red dress had unexpectedly walked by, capturing everyone’s attention.

“Look, she’s wearing a red dress…!”

“How beautiful… Did she walk out of the movie? Am I seeing things?!”

From a distance, Xia Li looked up, stunned.

Like everyone else, she saw Zhao Xueling in a bright red dress, her silhouette enchanting and ethereal in the glow of the movie.

Under everyone’s gaze, she wore a gentle smile, gracefully walking in high heels as she slowly passed by under the screen.

Everyone saw a girl in a red dress stepping out from the light of the film.

They were dumbfounded, hardly paying attention to the movie anymore, just staring blankly at her, igniting a wave of discussion and excitement.