Chapter 176 - 102: Jiang Wanyi’s Reflections on Life

Chapter 176: Chapter 102: Jiang Wanyi’s Reflections on Life

However, Jiang Wanyi didn’t have a large appetite. She was full after just a little and sat there watching Chen Yuan eat.

Jiang Wanyi had always believed that a good appetite was a blessing. Seeing Chen Yuan eat and drink with gusto, his appetite nearly triple her own, filled her with a growing sense of satisfaction. She wished she could cook every dish she knew for him and watch him finish every last bite.

"We don’t have any other plans for later, do we?"

"Didn’t we say last week we’d see a movie after dinner?"

Jiang Wanyi nodded. "If there are no other plans, I’ll book the tickets."

Opening the Meituan app to book the tickets, Jiang Wanyi fell into deep thought.

’Should I book a regular screening, or a couple’s theater...?’

"Alright. BUUURP~~~"

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Chen Yuan let out a satisfied burp. Jiang Wanyi handed him his drink.

"Drink some soda to help it settle."

Chen Yuan took it and downed a large gulp.

"Ahh, refreshing!"

"Don’t eat the rest. You’ve already eaten a lot today."

"But there’s still..." Chen Yuan counted. "There are seven skewers left. I should just finish them. It’s a waste to leave them."

"There’s also the ham and chicken wings. You can’t possibly eat all that. Let’s get it to go. If you get hungry tonight, I can make you some fried rice and mix this all in. I think it would taste pretty good."

Chen Yuan copied a gesture Jiang Wanyi often made and gave her a thumbs-up.

"Brilliant."

They both shared an unspoken understanding. Jiang Wanyi knew what Chen Yuan meant.

But in Jiang Wanyi’s mind, this was a perfectly normal thing to do. It was nothing special.

Sometimes, the gap between two people is greater than the gap between a person and a dog.

In a guy’s eyes, a girl who gets leftovers to go, even if she has other flaws, will have her overall score raised to at least a passing grade.

After the food was packed up, Jiang Wanyi went to pay the bill. Chen Yuan finished the last of his drink, and the meal was officially over.

"Honey, should we get a bag of salted peanuts to go? For you to have with a drink tonight?"

"No thanks. I’ll eat what you make."

"Okay."

Chen Yuan got into the car with the leftovers, feeling a bit puzzled.

The barbecue at this place was delicious, but that plate of salted peanuts was just mediocre—not good enough that you’d want to get it to go.

Besides, when they were home, Jiang Wanyi rarely encouraged him to drink. Why had she suddenly brought up getting a snack for drinks?

Just as Chen Yuan was pondering this, Jiang Wanyi got in the car.

"What’s wrong?"

Pulling her seatbelt across, she noticed Chen Yuan staring at her. She subconsciously pulled down the sun visor, which had a vanity mirror.

’My mouth is clean, and my makeup is fine.’

"What is it?"

"Why did you offer to buy me a snack for drinks just now?"

Jiang Wanyi covered her mouth and laughed. "I saw the strange way the proprietress was looking at me. She probably thought I was some kind of unsavory person. I had to clarify our status so she’d know what was what."

"Wow, the proprietress is pretty nosy."

Chen Yuan looked at Jiang Wanyi, then at himself. "Are our styles that mismatched?"

"I’m dressed much more maturely than you are. We really do look a bit mismatched."

"Then you should change your style. You look young. If you wore younger clothes, we’d look about the same age."

"Emmm..."

Jiang Wanyi thought for a moment. "Actually, I’ve considered it, but I always feel like it’s out of place when I put them on. I’m already a mother. Wearing the kind of clothes young girls wear... isn’t that just trying too hard to act young?"

"What’s wrong with being a mom? Can’t moms be young and cute?"

"That sentence has no substance whatsoever. It’s pure emotional validation."

"That’s the effect I was going for."

"Your words are sweeter than honey. Hmph."

Fastening her seatbelt, Jiang Wanyi started the car and drove off.

"I booked it at the mall where we saw the movie last time. It’s close to home, and we can do some shopping while we’re there."

"We already agreed. If it’s not a couple’s theater, I’m not watching."

"Look at you, getting picky."

Jiang Wanyi didn’t say whether she had booked the couple’s theater or not, simply driving on.

The movie started in over half an hour, so Jiang Wanyi went into a cosmetics store. She browsed casually, just to kill time.

In the end, she bought some facial cleanser and a few towels.

"Take these to school with you tomorrow."

"The cleanser is fine, but the towels aren’t necessary."

"The towels are the most necessary part. I bet you don’t even change your towel once a month. From now on, you need to get into the habit of replacing it regularly."

"I guess I’ll be a man of refined taste from now on."

"I knew it. You’re definitely careless about these things usually."

"I’ll treat you to popcorn and Coke later. It’s my turn to treat you."

"No Coke for me. Go buy a Luckin Coffee instead. A sea salt latte."

"Wait for me."

"Order it on your phone first, then go pick it up in the store. It’s much cheaper that way."

"I was trying to act like a big shot, and you just brought me right back down to earth."

Jiang Wanyi covered her mouth and chuckled. "Why act like a big shot with me? We’ll do whatever saves the most money."

"I’m placing a group order online now."

He opened Meituan, selected one caramel latte and one sea salt latte for in-store pickup. The total was 28.8 yuan, which was indeed a cheap and good deal.

Carrying the coffees, the two of them arrived at the cinema on the fifth floor. Chen Yuan went to buy popcorn, and after a few minutes, they started checking tickets.

"Which theater number?"

Jiang Wanyi looked at the tickets. "Theater 8."

"Last time was Theater 5, wasn’t it?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Theater 5 was a couple’s theater, right? If it’s Theater 8 now, I’m not watching."

Chen Yuan turned as if to leave. Jiang Wanyi spun around and grabbed him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry in exasperation.

"Who told you they only have one couple’s theater?"

"In that case, this movie is still worth watching."

"I’m gonna pinch you, you’re so annoying."

After her playful complaint, the two entered Theater 8.

The seating inside was similar to Theater 5 from last time, except the blankets had been changed to gray ones.

Almost everyone who came in together was a couple; some were a man and a woman, and some were two men.

Following their seat numbers, the two found their spots.

Because they had booked the tickets in advance, they managed to snag great seats with the best view.

"The AC is a bit cold. You should cover your legs too."

Jiang Wanyi shook out their blanket and covered both her legs and Chen Yuan’s. Her eyes, however, were darting around, looking at the two men sitting close together.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop staring. It’s rude if they notice," Chen Yuan whispered.

Jiang Wanyi gave an embarrassed smile. "I saw a video once that described the typical characteristics of people like that. It seems like it was spot on."

"We have one in our dorm."

"Huh?"

Jiang Wanyi looked at Chen Yuan in surprise, then a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "You’d better be careful not to get... assimilated."

"My mom already warned me. She said if I became gay, she’d break my legs."

"Right? I just can’t understand it."

"I can’t understand it either. How can a man smell as good as a woman?"

As he spoke, Chen Yuan took a deep breath.

He savored the scent as it filled his lungs.

"I’m going to pinch you," Jiang Wanyi said, smiling shyly.

Just then, the lights in the theater dimmed, and the young couples had already begun their own private dramas.

Chen Yuan and Jiang Wanyi were sitting very close, and they turned their attention to the movie.

The movie was very interesting, and from time to time, it would make the audience roar with laughter.

Jiang Wanyi was also laughing happily, which was evident from the way her chest was shaking.

But in the second half, the tone of the movie began to shift.

At the end, when the male lead rushed into the wedding and whisked the bride away, a wave of whispers rippled through the theater.

But the movie wasn’t over yet.

The two of them escaped and got into a car. The only sound was the slightly somber score. Neither of them spoke. Both the bride and the male lead had dazed expressions, as if they were at a complete loss.

And at that moment, the movie drew to a close.

"This director is really good," Jiang Wanyi remarked with emotion.

"Good?"

"The final scene was excellent. A masterstroke."

"I just saw two people looking lost."

"Freed from the pressure of their parents, they lost their purpose in an instant. They have to face life on their own now. It’d be strange if they weren’t lost."

"I guess that makes sense..."