CH 63

“Coke, popcorn… Hmm, I’ll also have some eggettes. I’m a bit hungry.”

Chu Ge stood alone at the movie theater counter, leaning against it, while Qiu Wuji stood by with a sour face, waiting.

Considering that he always bought tasty things.

Who does he think he is, leaning all painfully that? After training the Golden Bell Shield to such an extent, it can’t be that painful, hmph.

Chu Ge’s pain was in his heart, he almost cried… After leaving the haunted house, he reflected on himself and almost slapped himself ten times.

At least he was from a background of writing harem novels, so the male protagonists in his writing should know how to act! How did he become so clueless when it came to himself? Waaah…

If he were writing a book, how would the male protagonist behave?

He should lovingly lower his head and gaze into her eyes, softly saying, “No matter the danger is real or not, I will protect you.”

Or maybe switch to the overbearing CEO template: “This is a man’s duty.”

That would be a perfect scene with background music, but he missed that chance.

So don’t rely on studying novel writing guides because authors can only write, they can’t perform in real situations. It’s useless to realize it afterwards. Sob…

Chu Ge squeezed through the crowd and found Qiu Wuji, eagerly handing the snacks to her. “Are you hungry? Want to eat some?”

Qiu Wuji found his fawning behavior both annoying and amusing. It’s good that he’s not experienced with flirting. Should he become like the male protagonists he writes about, that wouldn’t just be stepping on his foot; it would be a slap to his face.

Looking around, many people were eating this ‘popcorn’. Qiu Wuji was quite excited, thinking it must be a delicious treat. However, after trying one, it was just average.

“This thing is so-so. It’s not as tasty as the other things you picked before. Why are so many people eating it?”

“Um… popcorn is a standard snack when watching movies. I don’t know why, but some movies even gave rise to a dedicated term called ‘popcorn movies.'”

“I see…” Qiu Wuji decided to go along with the local customs, holding the popcorn bag with the hand holding the rose and using the other hand to eat the popcorn.

The movie was about to start, and the crowd behind them surged forward. Since Qiu Wuji didn’t use her magical powers to protect herself, she was pushed back. She quickly used her magic to shield the rose, but soon she found herself colliding into someone’s chest.

Looking up, she saw Chu Ge completely enveloping her, even using his Golden Bell Shield armor. He stood firm like a rooted pine tree.

At that moment, he was looking down at her, about to say something softly, “No matter…”

“Shut up,” Qiu Wuji interrupted him angrily, “Haven’t I read all your books?! If you dare to use the cliché lines, I’ll slap you.”

Chu Ge: “…”

He felt fortunate in his heart and quickly grabbed Qiu Wuji’s free hand. “It’s too crowded here. Be careful not to get separated.”

Qiu Wuji looked down at their hands and didn’t say anything.

Amidst the surging crowd, the two stood close together, hand in hand, flowing with the current. The female sect leader didn’t use any powers to protect herself. The only thing she protected was the rose in her hand.

“What are these glasses for? I don’t need glasses.”

“They’re for watching in 3D. It adds a sense of realism. That’s probably the biggest appeal of going to the movie theater. Computers and televisions can’t replicate this effect, although there are some devices you can buy…”

Is that so… Qiu Wuji felt that the significance was not that great.

Including the answers she found online about “why go to the movie theater,” like sound effects, picture quality, atmosphere, and the overall experience, none of them seemed important.

The true significance was… in the dim lighting, in the back row’s corner, a faint sense of being in a dark room, as if something was growing in her heart, making her heart beat rapidly.

His hand is still holding hers and hasn’t let go. She could feel the slight sweat in his palm, sensing that he is also nervous. His heart beat becomes even faster.

What is he thinking?

In any case, it’s not about watching the movie.

The movie scenes, perhaps not even a single frame, entered their minds.

Instead, it felt more like that moment in the nightclub’s sensual atmosphere, when the two of them hid in a corner on a couple’s seat, that moment of romance.

In fact, it was just a low-budget version of that time, no wonder men like to take girls to the movies…

Qiu Wuji thought calmly about it. What storms haven’t I encountered before?

She secretly glanced at him. The popcorn and eggettes were placed between the two of them, but it was inconvenient to hold them like this… She thought for a moment, placed the flower on her knee, and quietly reached out her other hand, swiftly stealing an eggette and throwing it into her mouth. She hadn’t tasted it yet…

Hmm, this one is quite delicious, better than the popcorn!

She discreetly took the cola and sipped it.

Chu Ge caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye, feeling somewhat amused and exasperated. He was so nervous, sitting up straight, while she was carefree, eating and drinking as she pleased.

During the Qixi Festival movie season, there were mostly romantic films, and as expected, there was a kissing scene on the screen.

The atmosphere in the theater became a bit strange. In fact, even those kisses were not as intense as what they usually saw in TV dramas. However, the young couple sitting next to Chu Ge couldn’t help but move closer to each other. The woman buried her head in the man’s chest, and the man lowered his head to find her lips. It wasn’t that they couldn’t bear to watch an inappropriate scene; they clearly had been waiting for this moment, using it as an excuse.

Stealing a glance at Qiu Wuji, she was wearing 3D glasses and watching the screen, while sipping on the cola. This scene no longer had any impact on her anymore…

Do we also need such an excuse? Chu Ge wondered.

So, with trembling nerves, he moved his pinky finger that was holding her hand, gently hooking it with Qiu Wuji’s palm.

Qiu Wuji’s action of sipping the cola paused for a moment, and her delicate jade-like hand responded.

“Ah~”

The suppressed cry startled the nearby young couple, who were sitting up straight. They glanced at Chu Ge and saw him holding his hand, curled up like a shrimp.

Perhaps the only result of this failed probing attack was disturbing another couple who were entangled together like ferrets?

Chu Ge was almost in tears.

“The movie was good.”

After the two-hour movie ended, as the crowd gradually dispersed, the streets slowly became quiet. Everywhere, couples walked hand in hand, reluctant to part.

Qiu Wuji watched as a girl sat on the back of a boy’s bicycle, holding onto his waist and leaning against his back. The evening breeze made the girl’s long hair flutter, and her smile was sweet.

She didn’t know if the movie she referred to was good because of its content or because of the current scene.

Anyway, Chu Ge had no idea what the movie was about. He didn’t even pay much attention to the appearance of the main characters. And now, he only felt like a dog being tormented.

Everyone came out as a couple to watch a movie on Qixi Festival, and others might be enjoying their time in a hotel by now, while he still had sore hand bones.

Chu Ge had a constipated expression when he heard Qiu Wuji ask in a low voice, “Can you ride this bicycle?”

Chu Ge was startled, and his eyes brightened. “Yes! I must be able to!”

Shared bikes couldn’t accommodate two people. However, it had to be admitted that the current businesses were particularly clever. Just a short distance from the movie theater, there was a bike rental service available.

Moreover, they offered overnight rentals, allowing you to return the bike the next day.

The shop owner blinked at the man and woman in front of him, displaying a suggestive smile. “Ninety-nine for one night. Wishing you eternal love.”

Chu Ge looked at the beat-up bike that wasn’t even worth ninety-nine as a used one, but he took the blessing to heart.

Because Qiu Wuji didn’t refute it.

Thinking back to when the little girl was selling flowers, she didn’t refute it either… Perhaps she had become accustomed to being misunderstood and didn’t bother to argue?

Anyway, Chu Ge felt that his hand no longer hurt and happily hopped on the bicycle. “Let’s go. Creator God will show you the beautiful night scenery by the riverside.”

Qiu Wuji didn’t respond to his words but imitated other girls and sat on the back seat.

The bicycle raced along the riverside, with the breeze from the river blowing. Qiu Wuji’s flowing hair covered her cheeks.

She didn’t brush it away but looked up at the galaxy in the sky and then lowered her head to gently smell the rose in her hand.

Was this what girls in this world should experience?

If Chu Ge had eyes behind his back, he would likely see the perpetual smile at the corner of Qiu Wuji’s mouth, as if she were too beautiful to belong to this world.

(( TL Note- Qixi Festival is a traditional Chinese festival that celebrates the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in Chinese mythology. It falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, which is why it is called the Double Seventh Festival. According to the legend, the cowherd, represented by the star Altair, and the weaver girl, represented by the star Vega, were separated by the Milky Way and were only allowed to meet once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.))