Chapter 55 : Cinema

Huang Shumin was genuinely shocked. She stood up from the bed, her breathing quickened. She hadn’t expected the offer to be so generous. However, thinking that the other party was a small leader at a pork factory made it seem less surprising, everyone knew that the meat industry was quite lucrative!

“This is such a rare opportunity for a good marriage, it’s hard to find even with a lantern. I’m introducing it because of you. It’s a win-win, it helps you get rid of someone you dislike, provides a good match for your little sister-in-law and I get a referral fee. So you should go back tomorrow and discuss it with your mother-in-law. We need to settle this quickly since the other party is urging us.”

Huang Shumin looked at her mother with a feeling of unease. After hesitating for a couple of seconds, she said, “I’ll think about it.”

“Are you out of your mind? Is there anything to think about?” Huang’s mother poked Huang Shumin’s head, decisively adding, “Don’t think about it. Ask your mother-in-law’s opinion tomorrow and I’ll bring someone to visit the Liang family during the next holiday.”

“Why the hurry?” The more anxious her mother seemed, the more suspicious Huang Shumin felt. Her brows furrowed even tighter.

“Are you dumb? If you don’t seize the opportunity, it might fly away and then you’ll regret it. It’s settled now. If you don’t handle this well, don’t come back. I’m rolling my eyes at you!” Huang’s mother said, standing up and leaving.

Huang Shumin was uneasy and her heart raced. On one hand, she felt that the marriage was indeed rare. If it worked out, Liang Qingqing would have a good match, which could make her life easier with her in-laws. On the other hand, she felt that there was definitely something off about this situation based on her understanding of her mother.

After much hesitation, Huang Shumin decided to discuss it with her mother-in-law the next day.

Marriage decisions are not made so easily. Over time, no matter what tricks are up someone’s sleeve, they will reveal themselves!

Meanwhile, Liang Qingqing was unaware that her marriage had already attracted someone’s attention, and Fan Yanxing did not know that his partner had already been eyed by others. The two were happily heading to the city.

Since the science popularization conference, the villagers’ attitudes toward them had completely turned around. Especially Liang Qingqing, who used to have few people willing to interact with her. Now, wherever she went, she could hear greetings.

For today’s date, Liang Qingqing dressed up carefully, wearing the blue and white plaid dress that Fan Yanxing had bought. The dress highlighted her fair skin, and her long hair was styled up, giving her an elegant, aristocratic appearance.

Before entering the city, the two avoided being too close, and only walked side by side once inside the city.

“I’ve never been to a cinema. What’s it like?” Liang Qingqing tilted her head and asked Fan Yanxing. Her smile was as charming as a kitten’s, her eyes sparkling like stars, and her tone was filled with excitement.

Fan Yanxing’s smile had not faded. He shook his head and said, “I’ve never been to this cinema either.”

“Then tell me about the cinemas in the capital. They must be a thousand times better than ours, right?” Liang Qingqing’s large, sparkling eyes were like a clear autumn pool, making it hard for anyone to refuse her request.

Fan Yanxing scanned the surroundings and decided not to tousle her hair, despite wanting to. Looking at her curiosity, he smiled and replied, “There are many cinemas in the capital, and most are similar. The most interesting one is on East Street. Its architectural style is modeled after French buildings. Before the movie starts, there are singers who perform a few songs to warm up the atmosphere. It’s very lively.”

“There’s singing too?” Liang Qingqing’s eyes lit up. Modern cinemas are filled with endless advertisements before the show starts; they don’t have special segments for live performances. She hadn’t expected that cinemas from this era would have such unique features to attract audiences.

“Yes, I’ll take you to see it next time,” Fan Yanxing replied, noticing her interest and nodding in agreement.

Hearing this, Liang Qingqing’s smile deepened. She subtly hooked her index finger around his pinky. Her stunningly attractive features, which were inherently captivating, gained an additional layer of charm from today’s outfit, making her even more endearing. Fan Yanxing found it hard to look away.

As they chatted and walked, they soon arrived at the entrance of the only cinema in the city.

The cinema in Fuzhen County, compared to the ones Fan Yanxing described in the capital, used to be a small villa owned by a big boss. It was later requisitioned and converted into a cinema.

The entrance had a carved wooden door, and inside, there were ticket windows on both sides. Fan Yanxing went to buy tickets, while Liang Qingqing sat on a nearby bench, her eyes darting around, observing her surroundings discreetly.

The cinema wasn’t crowded. Most of the people here were stylish young folks, dressed appropriately. Liang Qingqing touched her dress and felt a bit relieved about her choice. She was glad she wore this dress today otherwise, if she had come in her usual clothes, she would have looked out of place compared to the other girls.

“Let’s go.”

Hearing his familiar voice, Liang Qingqing looked up and met Fan Yanxing’s deep-set eyes. Today, he was wearing a white shirt and black trousers. His short hair was a bit longer than usual, and his features were striking well-defined but not harsh. As he checked the movie tickets, his long, thick eyelashes cast a soft shadow over his eyes.

His shirt was meticulously buttoned up to the top, exuding a reserved, elegant aura. Just standing there, he seemed to shine, drawing others’ attention effortlessly.

Liang Qingqing glanced at the people nearby and noticed several girls staring directly at him. A feeling of inexplicable discomfort surged in her chest. Before she could fully process it, she found herself stepping forward quickly, closing the distance between them.

Fan Yanxing was startled by her sudden move. Instinctively, he reached out to steady her arm, his tone urgent yet affectionate, “Slow down, don’t rush.”

After saying that, once she had steadied herself, he dutifully lowered his hand.

Hmph, he’s so well-behaved in public, but those hands have no idea how much mischief they’ve gotten up to in her room!

Various chaotic images flashed through her mind, and a hint of pink appeared on Liang Qingqing’s lotus-like face. She cleared her throat lightly and asked, “Which way are we going?”

“In the front, just follow me.”

Although they didn’t have overly intimate gestures, their every word and action clearly indicated that they were not just ordinary friends. The girls who had been eyeing them immediately dismissed their thoughts and looked away.

Liang Qingqing followed Fan Yanxing up to the second floor. Passing by a small shop, she bought two bottles of soda and a small pack of green bean cakes.

They then entered a room with a small light on. It was dim, but the seats and arrangement inside were vaguely visible. She walked carefully, worried about stumbling.

The next moment, her hand was taken. The warmth and dryness of his large hand provided a reassuring sense of security.

Liang Qingqing instinctively looked up at the person beside her. He didn’t turn around but softly reminded her, “Watch your step.”

Her heart began to race unexpectedly, and she softly replied.

Before long, they found their seats. With only a few minutes left before the movie started, most of the chairs were empty. Only a few people sat in the front, appearing to be acquainted and quietly chatting, adding a touch of noise to the otherwise quiet atmosphere.

Liang Qingqing took a deep breath, swallowed, and tried to pull her hand back, but he remained unmoved, instead tightening his grip. Her fingers brushed against his hard knuckles, creating an inexplicable intimacy.

Fortunately, the dim light inside the theater meant that no one could see their small movements.

The movie started on time. The only light in the room went out, the black-and-white subtitles began to roll, and the sound system played the deafening opening music. Liang Qingqing gathered her focus and looked expectantly at the screen, but soon she began to feel drowsy. In contrast, Fan Yanxing seemed engrossed.

She bit her lip, forcing herself to stay attentive. After all, they had paid for this and it was their first time out to see a movie, she didn’t want to spoil it.

But who wants to watch a war film when they’re on a date?

Liang Qingqing pouted. She knew that movie genres were limited in this era, and given the technical constraints, having a movie to watch was already quite good.

She originally intended to force herself to stay awake, but as the movie progressed, she became more and more excited, her eyes glued to the protagonist’s face, her mood rising and falling with the plot. By the end of the film, she even felt a bit reluctant for it to end.

“That villain got off too easily! It’s so frustrating!” Liang Qingqing took a deep sip of soda.

Seeing that the theater was emptying, Fan Yanxing dared to reach up and ruffle her hair. The smooth texture felt exceptionally good, and he couldn’t resist ruffling it again and again, smiling with satisfaction, “How about watching something even more exciting next time?”

“Okay, I don’t want to drink anymore.” She handed the unfinished soda to Fan Yanxing, who naturally tilted his head back and finished it in one go.

Without air conditioning, the indoor temperature felt like a closed oven. Fan Yanxing rolled up his sleeves neatly, revealing a section of honey-colored forearm with visible veins, giving off a different kind of allure.

Seeing this, Liang Qingqing followed his lead and started rolling up her long dress to cool her calves. However, just as she began, he grabbed her hand.

“What are you doing?” Fan Yanxing frowned as he looked at the fleeting white skin.

Liang Qingqing pursed her lips and pouted, feeling a bit wronged, “It’s hot.”

Realizing his misunderstanding, Fan Yanxing’s eyes showed a hint of awkwardness. He released her hand and cleared his throat, “It’s good to get some fresh air. Let’s go, we should head out now.”

“Okay.” The movie was over, so they couldn’t linger indoors. Liang Qingqing quickly lifted her skirt. The sweat-soaked legs felt somewhat relieved, and the annoying stickiness was significantly reduced.

“Shall we go?” After feeling better, Liang Qingqing lowered her skirt and turned to call out to Fan Yanxing. It was then she noticed he had been keeping his head turned and hadn’t looked at her.

“Sure.” She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she thought Fan Yanxing’s voice sounded a bit husky.

As they walked outside, Liang Qingqing noticed his red ears and only then realized the reason. She stopped in her tracks and her legs began to feel hot .