Luo Yuqi also noticed this scene and chuckled with schadenfreude. While he wasn't planning to make things difficult for her, he didn't want to let her off so easily after what he'd just heard.
"Sister, what would you think if Brother saw us like this? Especially since you just pacified him, right?"
Shen Jianxi was no longer as nervous as before. She clasped Ji Zhaoyun's hand, her other hand releasing the young man's collar and tracing along his collarbone to his chin, her slender, long fingers lifting his jaw.
"If we get caught, I'll have to reluctantly abandon you."
She hadn't expected such an answer, and the smile on Luo Yuqi's face froze.
After a moment, he released her as if nothing had happened.
"Look what you're saying, Sister. How could I bear to make things difficult for you?" As he spoke, he thoughtfully straightened her clothes. "Don't worry, Sister. I'm a guardian of your love, and I'll absolutely protect it!"
Shen Jianxi playfully hit him, and Luo Yuqi, using the darkness, slipped back to his seat.
As soon as he sat down, the lights in the venue flickered on.
Shen Jianxi pretended to have just taken off the VR headset, squinting uncomfortably. Ji Zhaoyun beside her was also unaccustomed to the sudden brightness, but he still shielded her eyes with his hand.
He only lowered his hand after she had fully adjusted.
Luo Yuqi looked at the two of them with displeasure. Ji Zhaoyun, sensing his gaze, looked over, and Luo Yuqi quickly reverted to his harmless demeanor.
"It's getting late, Sister. Let's go back. Mom and Dad might check up on us soon."
Shen Jianxi knew in her heart that there was no "checking up"; it was just the younger man's pique.
If it were this morning, she might have chosen to go back, but now…
Comparing their current favorability points, Shen Jianxi decided to prioritize Ji Zhaoyun.
So, she looked up at the young man standing there and smiled reassuringly, "You go back first, Brother. I might be a bit late today. Shall I call you a car?" A closer look revealed the apology in her expression.
Her words made Ji Zhaoyun feel very comfortable, giving him a sense of triumph. He immediately became animated. "Yes, you're young, you shouldn't go home too late." He paused, then added earnestly and meaningfully, "Boys need to protect themselves when they're out too!"
"Pfft!" Shen Jianxi couldn't help but laugh.
Luo Yuqi's words implied he was younger, so he'd simply adopted an elder's tone, leaving the other speechless.
"Ow—" Luo Yuqi rubbed his left cheek. He was already getting a toothache from anger today. He really didn't know why he'd come running over, only to be fed dog food.
"Sister, are you sure you're not coming back with me?" Ignoring the older man, Luo Yuqi's gaze crossed over him and landed on the girl hidden behind. His voice was filled with menace.
Under his dangerous glare, Shen Jianxi, unafraid, nodded firmly. "Have a good trip!"
"Heh! Have a good trip?" He repeated the simple four words back and forth. "Fine! Have a good trip!"
Luo Yuqi's lips closed, pressed into a tight line. He couldn't even be bothered to maintain his outward smile. With a tense face and narrowed eyes, he glanced at the two "accomplices in wickedness," then suddenly deflated.
He shook his head, looking both tired and annoyed. Finally, under Shen Jianxi's indifferent gaze, he turned and strode away.
Knowing he was angry, but since his favorability hadn't changed, Shen Jianxi didn't chase after him.
Don't ask why, the answer is cold-blooded and heartless.
…
After Luo Yuqi left, the atmosphere between them returned to the relaxed mood of the afternoon.
Ji Zhaoyun's mood visibly improved, and his steps became much lighter.
"There's a new sci-fi movie out. Are you interested? Want to go see it together?" he asked, looking down at the person in his arms, his voice gentle.
Shen Jianxi looked at his much softer expression and nodded. "Okay, I was thinking of seeing a movie recently."
They chose a nearby cinema and, with the power of money, booked the entire place.
The screening room was a 4D theater. There were no crying children or idle chatter from the audience throughout the entire session, only their quiet discussions.
Compared to the plot, Ji Zhaoyun was more interested in the movie's special effects.
"Little darling, if you like the entertainment industry, should I invest in a movie for you?"
Hearing this, Shen Jianxi, who was intently watching the plot, quickly snapped back to attention, waving her hands frantically. "I don't like the entertainment industry anymore! Let the professionals handle professional matters."
She was here to conquer, not to build a career. Once she succeeded, she would leave. Why bother with all these extraneous things?
Fortunately, Ji Zhaoyun didn't mention it again for the next hour, allowing her to focus on finishing the rest of the film.
It was around ten o'clock when the movie ended. There were far fewer people on the street.
As they walked out of the mall, a cold wind blew, and Shen Jianxi shivered. The next second, Ji Zhaoyun's jacket was draped over her shoulders.
Without his jacket, Ji Zhaoyun was only wearing a thin shirt, and his pace immediately quickened.
Shen Jianxi took off the jacket and handed it back. "You should put it on! I'm not that cold, but you might catch a cold."
Ji Zhaoyun didn't take it and pushed her hand back. "It's fine. Wait for me here. I'll go get the car."
The bustling commercial street during the day was now sparsely populated. The streetlights were dim, possibly due to disrepair, and the distant cameras flickered intermittently before falling silent.
By then, Ji Zhaoyun had already reached the middle of the road.
"Beep—" The harsh blare of a truck horn came from not far away.
Shen Jianxi turned her head and was horrified to see the truck heading straight for Ji Zhaoyun.
The man also noticed the problem and, making a swift decision, started running.
But the truck seemed to have eyes, chasing him wherever he went.
Seeing the truck getting closer and closer, and thinking of the remaining favorability points, Shen Jianxi gritted her teeth and rushed forward, not forgetting to instruct 77 as she ran, "Help me block the pain!"
Human speed couldn't possibly match that of a vehicle. Ji Zhaoyun was soon unable to escape.
He had resigned himself to standing still, thinking with some relief that it was fortunate he had asked the young lady to wait by the roadside. She wouldn't be able to endure such pain.
A powerful force pushed him down to the ground.
He opened his eyes, and the scene before him made him tremble with rage.
The girl who had been by the roadside moments ago had taken his place and been hit. Although the truck driver had braked as hard as possible upon realizing it was her, the immense inertia still sent her flying a considerable distance.
Ignoring himself, Ji Zhaoyun's body was stiff, and he couldn't stand steadily. He stumbled, scrambling on hands and feet to reach her and hold her in his arms.
His voice was so choked with emotion that he couldn't even form a complete sentence. Tears streamed down his face, and only broken sounds came from his throat.