The screening room was dimly lit, with only the floor guidance lights and the screen’s glow, the movie itself leaning towards a dark aesthetic, making the entire environment feel subdued.
There weren't many people watching this film, and the male audience outnumbered the female audience by three to four times.
Chu Ningxiang had wanted to reach out and hold Xiao Xun’s hand several times, but she’d stop halfway, retracting her hand.
Just as she finally made up her mind to reach out, Xiao Xun stood up. "I'm going to the restroom, wait for me."
After leaving the restroom, Xiao Xun looked at the numbers on the screening room doors, having forgotten which one he'd come out of.
He saw a poster for the movie he was watching next to one of the screening room doors and walked in. The environment inside was equally dim. He found his original seat and sat back down.
Beside him, a woman was resting her chin on her hand, engrossed in the movie.
Xiao Xun watched for a couple of minutes, thinking, "How did the plot change?" But since they were all foreigners, it didn't matter what they were watching. As he watched without any context, he had no idea what was happening.
Before long, the entire screening room was filled with snores, creating a very awkward atmosphere.
Later, someone commented below a low-rated review of the film: "This movie achieved an unprecedented sleep-inducing effect. The snoring in the cinema was louder than the film's original soundtrack and lasted endlessly, truly becoming a 'boon' for insomniacs."
It wasn't until the movie ended that Xiao Xun was woken up by a cleaning lady.
The first thing he did upon waking was check his surroundings. No one was there. "Auntie, where's the girl next to me?"
The auntie, while cleaning up popcorn buckets and milk tea cups from the seats, said coldly, "She left arm-in-arm with a guy!"
Hearing this, Xiao Xun got up and walked out. It was only then, seeing the subtitles on the screen, that he realized it wasn't the movie he had been watching at all.
Embarrassed, he finally found the screening room he had entered earlier.
Chu Ningxiang turned to look at Xiao Xun. "Why did you take so long? It’s almost finished."
Xiao Xun, unwilling to admit he'd gone into the wrong room, lied, "I think I ate something that didn't agree with me at lunch and had diarrhea."
Chu Ningxiang anxiously raised her cold little hand to feel Xiao Xun’s forehead. "Are you okay?"
Xiao Xun had wanted to say, "Diarrhea doesn't cause a fever," but he felt that if he did, he must be out of his mind.
Shaking his head, he said, "I'm fine."
Chu Ningxiang glanced at her phone’s time. "If you're not feeling well, we can leave now!"
Xiao Xun pointed at the movie. "Didn't you say it was almost over? Let's leave after it finishes."
"It'll be another half hour after it finishes. Let's go!"
At Chu Ningxiang's insistence, the two left early.
In the evening, to take care of Xiao Xun's stomach, they ate congee and pancakes, along with a few easily digestible dishes recommended by the waiter.
Even though it was just these simple foods, the price was no cheaper than the barbecue at noon.
After eating, Xiao Xun checked the time, worried that Mu Jiahe might need him. "Let's go! I'll drive you back."
"Okay."
In the car, Chu Ningxiang lowered her head. "Xiao gege, am I..."
Xiao Xun, starting the car, asked, "What's wrong?"
Chu Ningxiang blushed. "Am I considered your girlfriend?"
Xiao Xun replied without hesitation, "Yes, of course you are!"
Chu Ningxiang's face grew redder. "Then... okay!"
Although she was the commanding female captain in the game and a confident young woman in real life, when it came to romance, she still displayed the characteristic coyness of women.
The car stopped at the entrance of the campus. Many luxury cars were also pulling up, and many "female students" were getting out.
These scantily clad 'female students,' after saying goodbye to the people in the luxury cars, would then take taxis back to their real residences.
Chu Ningxiang turned to Xiao Xun and said, "I can't unbuckle my seatbelt. Can you help me?"
Xiao Xun, without a second thought, leaned over. "This thing can't be unbuckled? This is..."
Before he could finish, Chu Ningxiang also leaned forward and gently kissed him on the cheek.
"This is a little reward."
With that, she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door. "I had a great day today. Thank you."
Xiao Xun's face immediately turned red. It was only then that he remembered the reward.
Closing the car door, Chu Ningxiang waved at Xiao Xun.
Xiao Xun, his heart pounding with excitement, said, "Let's chat on our phones then!"
After watching Chu Ningxiang disappear into the campus, he drove off, still feeling exhilarated.
While waiting at a red light, he felt as if someone was staring at him.
He looked back and saw the large doll he had won at the arcade, its captivating eyes seemingly mocking him.
Back at the villa, he opened the back door and held the doll. As he walked inside, he saw the table laden with all sorts of delicious food.
Mu Jiahe was sitting there playing on her phone. Seeing Xiao Xun holding the doll, she stood up with a smile.
She walked up to Xiao Xun and took the doll. "Thank you. I thought you'd forgotten."
Xiao Xun, not understanding, nonchalantly walked to the table. "Did you make all this?"
"I don't have that kind of culinary skill. I had a Michelin-starred chef come and cook. Sit down and eat!"
Mu Jiahe was clearly delighted with the doll Xiao Xun brought back, placing it on the chair beside her.
"This is my first birthday gift today, and it's my favorite."
Xiao Xun suddenly stood up, thinking, "This is bad. What if Chu Ningxiang remembers this doll and asks for it?"
Mu Jiahe looked at Xiao Xun curiously. "Why did you stand up so suddenly?"
Xiao Xun’s face showed embarrassment, but he immediately smiled and began to clap and sing, "Happy birthday to you..."
They barely touched the feast on the table. Mu Jiahe kept doting on the large doll next to her.
Xiao Xun secretly took out his phone, looking online to see if it was for sale. He was shocked by what he found.
Putting down his phone, he smacked his own hand. "Serves you right for being so casual, for showing off."
This large doll, with the "honorary title" of that arcade’s manager, was apparently a custom order from the owner himself, the only one in the world.
Many people had offered large sums of money to buy it, but the owner had refused.
Seeing that it was getting late, Mu Jiahe looked at Xiao Xun. "Are all your matters resolved? If you have time, come back to that place with me. There's a grand float parade there today."
Xiao Xun thought about it. Going would be good; at least it would give him ample time to figure out a solution.
Mu Jiahe carried the large doll upstairs. "Baby, we're leaving. Be good at home alone. We'll be back to see you tomorrow morning."
Looking at the doll’s seemingly pleading eyes, Xiao Xun suspected Mu Jiahe might be suffering from delusions.
The two returned to the other world, and they were no longer as awkward or shy as before.
After changing into their respective clothes, they lay down on the bed again.
"That doll isn't for me, is it?"
Mu Jiahe suddenly said this. Xiao Xun didn't reply, turning to look at Mu Jiahe.
"My lady, how did you figure it out?"
Her words were an implicit confirmation.
Mu Jiahe looked out at the moon. "What's there not to figure out? I'm not a child anymore. The perfume on it is the same as the one you're wearing."
Xiao Xun said sincerely, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I truly didn't know it was your birthday today..."
To his surprise, Mu Jiahe suddenly said, "There's nothing to apologize for. Yesterday wasn't my birthday anyway."