Su Yue was taken aback. Jiang Ci wanted to book the entire movie theater?
“Sir, I’m sorry, tickets have been sold, and we can’t accept reservations for the time being,” the staff member quickly replied, hearing the gentleman’s request.
Jiang Ci scoffed. “It’s not a booking. I’m booking the whole movie theater.”
The staff member was instantly stunned. “Sir, please wait a moment; this needs the manager’s approval.” After a brief pause, they swallowed. This particular cinema offered a high-end experience with VIP lounge chairs, snacks, champagne, red wine, and blankets. Each ticket cost nearly three hundred, so reserving the entire place would be a significant sum.
The cinema manager politely and euphemistically explained to Jiang Ci that full venue bookings required advance notice, and many guests had already purchased tickets.
“Forget it, it doesn’t have to be reserved,” Su Yue whispered, hooking her finger around Jiang Ci’s.
Jiang Ci glanced at her, then took out his mobile phone, gave an order, and hung up.
Less than two minutes later, the cinema manager received a call. “Okay, I understand.” He repeatedly affirmed. “Sir, please wait a moment. I will immediately arrange for the staff to clear the venue for you.” After hanging up, the manager’s demeanor towards Jiang Ci became instantly more respectful.
“Mm.”
Then, Su Yue watched as the cinema staff individually explained the situation to customers, promising triple compensation. The large seating area of the cinema suddenly emptied, red barriers were put up, and customers stood outside, curious. Many hadn’t left, staring at Su Yue and Jiang Ci. Had they just heard correctly? Had someone booked the entire cinema just for these two? A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Hiss!
This was their first encounter with such a lavish display of wealth! Su Yue’s exquisite beauty only intensified the chatter.
“God, the national school flower is beautiful again. The man hugging her was the same one from the amusement park last time. I recognized the scar on his face. It turns out he’s a rich man.”
“I envy you both being able to meet the little fairy by chance. Their heights are perfectly matched. He’s tall, and she’s petite and exquisite.”
“Is she without makeup? Every time I look at her candid photos, her face isn’t completely perfect, but she’s still beautiful. This charming goblin, please debut quickly.”
“I’m so jealous. I heard that a ticket to this theater costs three hundred. How much does it cost to cover the entire movie theater? The world of the rich makes me green with envy.”
“Sure enough, I thought she looked so beautiful, why would she find a man with such a disfigured and ugly appearance? It turns out the other party has money, it’s true.”
“I was at the scene. When I saw this girl, I was shocked. I didn’t expect that she was the national school flower. The real person is more beautiful than the photo, and she is like a fairy.”
“As a girl, I have to say that I’m really convinced by the beauty of the young lady in the photo. It doesn’t matter if her boyfriend is ‘ugly.’ It’s better than those who are handsome but don’t care about you…”
Due to their previous two hot searches, many netizens recognized Su Yue instantly. This time, Jiang Ci’s heroic gesture and Su Yue’s stunning looks sparked a furious discussion, catapulting them back to the top of the hot search rankings.
At this very moment, Jiang Xuan had just forwarded Director Wu’s new message: “Looking forward to cooperation.” Her agent immediately released the news that she had successfully secured the heroine role in Director Wu’s play.
“Today is the weekend, when traffic is best. Don’t worry, with this promotion, the previous two endorsements have an even better chance of being secured.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Sister Fang.” Jiang Xuan’s fair face glowed with joy. Winning the role was an unexpected delight.
“Everyone knows Director Wu’s strength, and the script this time is not bad. Even if it won’t explode in traffic, it will be a small hit. You have to take advantage of the opportunity,” the agent reminded.
“I know.” Jiang Xuan didn’t need any tips from her manager. She knew exactly how to seize this opportunity to win the Best Actress award, reliving her life’s ambition.
Jiang Xuan was in a good mood. The news had just been released, and she was receiving a flood of congratulatory messages from fans, praising her kindness and talent. After scrolling for a while, she navigated to the hot search page. Her agent had assured her she’d be number one.
However, even before seeing the top headline, Jiang Xuan’s hand tightened on her phone. She had a bad feeling.
She clicked in, and the next second, she saw Su Yue’s photo, with Jiang Ci beside her. Her eyes darkened, and the happy expression on her face vanished. How could it be Su Yue again?
“What’s wrong?” Her agent, who had just finished a phone call, turned and saw Jiang Xuan’s changed expression. Jiang Xuan was usually so gentle and sweet; this was the first time she looked so upset. The agent’s eyes inadvertently fell on Jiang Xuan’s phone. “Why is it her again?” she exclaimed in shock.
Jiang Xuan lowered her eyes, staring at Su Yue’s beautifully smiling face in the photo. Every time Jiang Xuan was about to trend, Su Yue appeared.
“Xiao Xuan, are you and your sister-in-law mutually restraining each other?”
The agent’s thought mirrored Jiang Xuan’s. Every time Jiang Xuan aimed for the hot search, Su Yue appeared first, eclipsing her. Was it deliberate? But that couldn’t be right; Su Yue couldn’t possibly know Jiang Xuan’s whereabouts. It could only be fate, a strange opposition.
“It’s not mutual restraint,” Jiang Xuan murmured, thinking of her guilt towards Su Yue. “I owe her.” However, she felt the first and second hot searches were enough to offset that debt, and now, a third time… Jiang Xuan bit her lip, her grip on the phone tightening. She felt a little uncomfortable. Though she was kind and tolerant, being overshadowed by Su Yue repeatedly was tyring. She was human, after all, and it was impossible not to feel something.
Especially when she saw Jiang Ci’s lips curving in the photo, a clear sign of his good mood, a complicated feeling welled up within her. In her past life, after marrying Jiang Ci, she had always kept her distance, fearing him. Jiang Ci had also treated her as if she didn’t exist, and their communication was almost nonexistent. He had never smiled at her, eaten with her, gone out with her, or even watched a movie with her. And now, Jiang Ci had done all of these things with Su Yue.
Did it mean that Jiang Ci liked Su Yue, and that she, Jiang Xuan, was simply not as good as Su Yue?
“I asked you before if your sister-in-law was interested in entering the entertainment industry. Now it seems it’s a good thing for you that she won’t,” the agent commented. If Su Yue truly entered the industry and became a peer, wouldn’t Jiang Xuan be constantly overshadowed?
However, the agent still felt a tinge of regret. Su Yue was frequently searched for her looks alone, and her influence was considerable. Some people were just born for this industry. If Su Yue were to enter, the agent believed she would undoubtedly become the most popular and dazzling star.
Jiang Xuan lowered her eyes, their bright depths gradually sinking. “Yes,” she softly replied.
At the cinema, Su Yue had no idea she was trending again. She led Jiang Ci into the theater. The vast hall was empty, save for the two of them and two staff members.
The chairs were dark brown chaise longues, arranged in rows of three sets, each with two chaise longues and a small table between them. One staff member replenished blankets and disposable slippers, while the other opened a bottle of champagne, serving it, and prepared two golden, honey-drenched popcorn buckets.
“You two, please take your time. If you need anything, please ring the bell next to your seat at any time, and we will come.”
At that moment, the lights in the movie hall dimmed, plunging the surroundings into darkness, and the large screen flickered to life.
Su Yue slipped off her shoes, put on the disposable slippers, and comfortably stretched out on the chair. Since she was wearing a skirt, she took a blanket and draped it over her legs. In the past, when she attended movie premieres, she sat in the front row, quietly watching the film. Reporters would be snapping pictures, and she had to maintain perfect posture and expression. Lying down in a cinema chair like this was a first.
As the movie began on the big screen, Su Yue picked up a piece of popcorn, popping it into her mouth, utterly absorbed.
“I also want some.” Beside her, Jiang Ci’s long legs were casually crossed, his posture even more relaxed than hers.
“You have some next to your hand; don’t try to eat mine,” Su Yue said without turning her head, her gaze fixed on the screen.
“I just want to eat what you have,” Jiang Ci stated, as if it were the most natural thing.
Su Yue looked at the popcorn in her hand. She picked a particularly golden piece, turned, and offered it to Jiang Ci. “Here you go.”
Jiang Ci didn’t reach out. He simply turned his head, leaned slightly towards her, opened his mouth, ate the popcorn from her hand, and deliberately brushed her fingertips with his cool, damp lips.
Su Yue’s face flushed. She withdrew her hand and continued watching the movie.
“Su Yue, sit here.” In the dim light, Jiang Ci glanced at Su Yue, who was intently watching the movie and eating popcorn, looking a little displeased. Was a date simply about watching a movie and ignoring him?
“What?” Su Yue shot him an annoyed look.
“I want to hold you.” Jiang Ci looked at the small table between them with disgust; it was getting in the way.
“No, there are surveillance cameras in the movie hall, and the staff in the back can see what’s happening,” Su Yue countered. The two of them cuddling would be too indecent.
Jiang Ci snorted coldly, then pressed the bell next to the chair. The staff appeared instantly.
“Turn off the surveillance in the cinema,” Jiang Ci said coolly.
The staff member hesitated. “Ah? Sir, this is against the rules…”
“Need me to find your manager?” Jiang Ci glanced at him blankly.
The staff member instantly shuddered. He remembered his superiors specifically warning him not to offend this gentleman. Clearly, the other party was not someone he could cross. With cold sweat on his forehead, he quickly replied, “Please wait a moment, I’ll turn off the surveillance right now.”
The staff member quickly left, leaving Su Yue blushing with shame, wanting to bury her head under the blanket. Jiang Ci had suddenly made such a bizarre request to turn off the surveillance.
“Come here,” Jiang Ci said, looking at Su Yue’s delicate face in the dim light.
Su Yue tilted her head, not wanting to humor this unsophisticated and shameless man. However, the next instant, her body was gently pushed aside and she fell into a warm embrace. She turned her head in surprise, only to see Jiang Ci’s face magnified before her eyes.
Jiang Ci looked down at her, slipped his arm behind her neck, then hugged her, settling them both onto the chaise longue. “If you won’t come, then I’ll come,” he said casually.
“It’s uncomfortable to sit like this,” Su Yue protested, pushing him. Didn’t he think they were awkwardly huddled together?
Jiang Ci looked at her with a stern face. “Sitting together is a date. If you don’t let me hold you, do you dislike me?” If they couldn’t sit together, couldn’t hold each other, what kind of date was this? He might as well stay home and comfortably sleep with her.
Su Yue didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she had to turn her body sideways. Thanks to her good figure and slim waist, she could lie down. “Okay, hug if you want.”
She couldn’t reach the popcorn lying like this, so she instructed Jiang Ci to feed her. At this point, the man was surprisingly obedient. He picked up a golden, shiny piece of popcorn with his slender fingertips and fed it to her lips. Su Yue found that Jiang Ci was very particular, selecting only the sweetest and crunchiest pieces.
After a while, Su Yue was enjoying herself, but the man impatiently tossed aside the popcorn. He said lazily, “Don’t just eat the popcorn; eat me.”