Chapter 143 - 131: Long-Awaited Date

Chapter 143: Chapter 131: Long-Awaited Date

She felt his large hand suddenly tighten its grip on hers.

It’s hard to describe what Jiang Xueli was feeling in that moment, there in the darkness. She was both excited and flustered.

Her heart fluttered wildly.

Her eyes were glued to their intertwined hands, barely visible in the dim light.

Blushing, she followed Lin Zhengran to their seats in the middle of the row.

Lin Zhengran checked the seat numbers, then let go of her hand. "Here we are."

Jiang Xueli was impressed.

"How did you find them when it’s so dark?"

"It’s not that dark. Haven’t you noticed you can see clearly now?"

Jiang Xueli looked around, amazed. Her vision really had cleared up. "You’re right! Did they turn on some small lights or something?"

"I told you you weren’t great at your studies, and you didn’t believe me. Your eyes have just adjusted. Sit down."

"I know about eyes adjusting, but it still feels so magical."

Lin Zhengran thought to himself that she really was acting like it was her first time here.

The two of them sat down next to each other.

Jiang Xueli glanced behind her and then in front, discovering that aside from another couple in the distance, there was basically no one else here this early in the morning.

"There’s hardly anyone here."

"We got here too early. But think of it as having the whole theater to ourselves. It’s much more comfortable this way."

Since she’d never been here fully awake before, Jiang Xueli stared at the enormous screen in front of her, finding everything new and exciting.

The only thing that felt a bit awkward was the armrest between her and Lin Zhengran.

’Why would they design something like this in the middle? It puts so much distance between people.’

’Oh wait, I was groggy last time we went to the movies, but was this armrest even here?’

’She couldn’t remember one being there.’

Lin Zhengran noticed Jiang Xueli’s puzzled expression and showed her. "You can move this thing."

He flipped the armrest up.

Jiang Xueli was stunned. "It can do that?! I was just thinking how much this thing would get in the way for couples on a movie date."

Lin Zhengran turned his gaze to the big screen. "The movie’s about to start. Let’s watch."

Jiang Xueli followed his gaze to the screen, thinking, ’Even though it’s not a romance movie, this is still my first... no, my second time seeing a movie with Lin Zhengran!’

’I absolutely cannot fall asleep halfway through like last time! I have to finish it!’

’And then, if possible, maybe we could... just like before...’

Her face turned red again.

She recalled the moment they held hands on their way into the theater.

’It would be so nice if we could hold hands again. His hand felt so big and warm just now...’

’Right, stay awake and hold hands!’

The movie began. Instantly, the life drained from Jiang Xueli’s eyes. Her eyelids started to fight a losing battle, and not three minutes later, she was slumped in her chair, fast asleep.

Her body tilted slightly, and she fell sound asleep on Lin Zhengran’s shoulder.

Lin Zhengran seemed to have expected this. Although the girl had been full of energy when she woke up this morning, it was still easy to tell the difference between someone who had pulled an all-nighter and someone who’d had a full night’s sleep.

Even if she didn’t get drowsy while shopping, all the blood in her brain was now busy digesting the large meal she’d just eaten.

Add to that the comfortable environment of the movie theater, and it would be a miracle if she *didn’t* fall asleep.

But that was precisely why Lin Zhengran had chosen this morning show. It wasn’t really about watching a movie; it was to give this silly girl with the pigtails a chance to sleep.

Only after she was well-rested could they go see the romance movie at 10:30.

Jiang Xueli slept peacefully beside him. Lin Zhengran looked down at her playfully cute, yet slightly exhausted, face.

When it came to being playfully cute, Lin Zhengran had long thought Jiang Xueli was the cutest of the three girls. He Qing wasn’t playfully cute; she was more adorably dorky.

Jiang Xueli, on the other hand, was like a boisterous little girl from head to toe. Her height and appearance had changed since childhood.

But the way she would sometimes skip when she was happy, or stubbornly toss her head while saying something huffy...

...always made Lin Zhengran happy just to see it.

The movie, a little over an hour long, came to an end.

Walking out of the theater lobby, Jiang Xueli stood dazed at the entrance, her eyes vacant. "Where am I?"

Lin Zhengran replied, "At the movie theater entrance. The movie’s over. Of course, you definitely didn’t see it, because you were asleep."

Jiang Xueli completely petrified, turning into a statue.

Her head creaked around as if made of stone.

"It’s... it’s... it’s over?! Why did I fall asleep..." Invisible tears streamed from her eyes.

Lin Zhengran wanted to laugh. "I’m guessing you didn’t get much sleep last night, did you? In any case, you fell asleep."

Jiang Xueli clutched her head, screaming in disbelief in her mind, ’How did I fall asleep again?! Both dates, completely ruined! What am I even doing?!’

She sniffled pitifully, wanting to wipe away her nonexistent tears with her arm.

Lin Zhengran started walking ahead. "Let’s go. Now that the movie’s over, let’s go for a walk."

Jiang Xueli sighed and silently followed him.

Though she was full of regret after her nap, Jiang Xueli did feel much more awake.

The two of them walked slowly, step by step, down the street.

They arrived outside a shopping mall, looking at the bustling shops lining the street.

As Jiang Xueli gazed at the scene, she suddenly realized how long it had been since she and Zhengran had just wandered the streets aimlessly like this.

They had been together constantly since the fourth grade. Fourth grade, fifth grade, sixth grade—all the way until middle school, they were practically inseparable, eating together, going to school together, and coming home together every day.

They had spent those three years just like that.

Back then, it didn’t feel like anything special, but looking back now, it seemed like a very long time ago.

She couldn’t even remember all the little things that had happened during those three years.