Just as Xiao Shaowan was considering stepping outside to make a phone call to clarify the situation, Yang Haoran followed the crowd into the cinema entrance.
Xiao Shaowan hadn’t noticed Yang Haoran, but he spotted her first. Her black pleated skirt, beautiful face, and aloof aura made it hard to ignore her presence in the crowd.
“Shaowan, you’re here too?”
Yang Haoran feigned surprise, weaving through the crowd as he quickly stepped forward, arriving before Xiao Shaowan and Xu Liang.
Xiao Shaowan looked up and saw Yang Haoran. A strange light flickered in her beautiful eyes, though on the surface she appeared astonished by his sudden appearance.
Seeing Yang Haoran, Xu Liang frowned. This was his second time meeting this rival, yet for some reason, every time he saw Yang Haoran, he felt as if he were facing a formidable enemy.
“You⦔
Just as Xu Liang was about to greet him, Yang Haoran turned his head as if noticing Xu Liang for the first time. He appeared momentarily stunned upon seeing Xu Liang, then turned back to glance at Xiao Shaowan. His gaze shifted back and forth between the two, as if realizing something. Yang Haoran couldn’t help but ask, “Shaowanβ¦ youβ¦ you two?”
Seeing Yang Haoran’s surprised expression, Xu Liang finally felt much more comfortable inside, even a bit secretly pleased. A smile spread across his face, turning from overcast to clear, as he enthusiastically introduced, “Haoβ¦ Haoran, right? Wan’er has accepted my pursuit. She’s my girlfriend now. We’re on a date.”
To be fair, Xu Liang didn’t harbor any ill feelings towards Yang Haoran. On the contrary, his first impression of Yang Haoran, who had beenηζ (enthusiastic) andε¦ηΆ (forthright) during their first meeting when they agreed to compete fairly, was quite good.
If they weren’t love rivals, he would quite like to be friends with him.
Upon hearing Xu Liang’s confirmation, Yang Haoran’s facial expression showed obvious disappointment, which was quickly swept away. He smiled bitterly at Xu Liang and said, “Buddy, I’ve been chasing Shaowan for almost a year. How did you manage it?”
Hearing Yang Haoran’s tone of envy rather than anger, Xu Liang felt somewhat embarrassed. After all, his introduction just now seemed a bit like showing off, making him appear narrow-minded instead.
Xu Liang comforted Yang Haoran, “Haoran, Wan’er might not be suitable for you. Feelings can’t be forced. There are many pretty girls at school. If you need, I can introduce you to one.”
“Really⦔
Yang Haoran had just begun to answer when Xiao Shaowan interrupted him: “What are you doing here?”
Her attitude towards Yang Haoran was clearly disgusted, full of impatience.
This was both an act for Xu Liang’s benefit and her venting her emotions; she was very dissatisfied with Yang Haoran’s late arrival.
Before Yang Haoran could speak, Xu Liang was the first to step forward. Looking at Yang Haoran with an apologetic expression, he said, “Haoran, don’t mind it. You know Wan’er, this is just her temperament.”
Seeing Xu Liang playing the peacemaker, Yang Haoran let out a bitter laugh: “It’s fine, I’m used to it already.”
With the pleasantries over, Xu Liang noticed Yang Haoran was alone. He found it strange and couldn’t help but ask: “Are you by yourself?”
Yang Haoran scratched his head, looking embarrassed as he explained: “I was bored at home during the National Day holiday. I originally planned to meet a friend to watch a movie tonight, but he’s on a date with his girlfriend and can’t come. Since I had nothing else to do, I came alone.”
Seeing Yang Haoran’s awkward appearance, Xu Liang didn’t ask further. Watching a movie alone was indeed quite awkward, especially since the surrounding pairs were basically all couples; being alone made one seem solitary and lonely.
The two weren’t familiar with each other. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they ran out of topics. Couples around them were steadily passing through the ticket check and entering the cinema. It was almost nine o’clock.
Xiao ShaowanιζΆ (opportunely) instructed Xu Liang: “Xu Liang, go buy some popcorn. The movie is about to start.”
Xu Liang had been meaning to do just that. He had wanted to buy some earlier, but Xiao Shaowan had found it troublesome to carry, asking him to wait until just before the movie started to buy it.
“Haoran, do you want some? My treat?”
Thinking they were acquaintances, Xu Liang politely offered to Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran thought for a moment and shook his head; he couldn’t be bothered to take advantage of such a small favor.
Xu Liang was just being polite. Seeing Yang Haoran refuse, he asked Xiao Shaowan to wait for him there, then turned and walked towards the ticket check area, where peanuts,ηε (melon seeds), popcorn, cola, and more were sold.
After Xu Liang turned away, Xiao Shaowan did not exchange a single word with Yang Haoran. With many eyes around, she did not listen to Xu Liang’s request to wait. She quickly followed Xu Liang. As she passed Yang Haoran, her small hand swiftly slipped an item into Yang Haoran’s hand. Yang Haoran, understanding perfectly, took it, glanced at it briefly, and tucked it into his pocket.
It was a small, exquisite black remote control, clipped together with a movie ticket. Its purpose wasδΈθ¨θε» (self-explanatory).
Seeing Xiao Shaowan follow him, a smile appeared on Xu Liang’s face.
Yang Haoran walked past the two of them, handed his ticket to the ticket attendant, who gave him a pair of 3D glasses and his seat ticket. Holding these, he was the first to enter the cinema corridor.
After walking along the corridor for over ten meters, Yang Haoran turned left into the dimly lit screening room. The spacious screening room was already more than half full. The movie hadn’t started yet, and the environment was somewhat noisy. Yang Haoran found his seat according to the ticket, sitting down in the second row from the back, near the corner.
The seats Xiao Shaowan had booked were 707, 708, and 709. The one she gave Yang Haoran was 709.
After waiting dryly in his seat for about two minutes, Xiao Shaowan arrived and naturally took the seat next to Yang Haoranβseat 708. Xu Liang, carrying many snacks, followed behind her and took seat 707.
Yang Haoran was pressed close to Xiao Shaowan, his nostrils catching the waves of fragrance she emitted, like that of gardenias.
The cinema lights were dim, and with Xiao Shaowan between them and the noisy environment, Xu Liang’s attention was on Xiao Shaowan. For the moment, he didn’t notice his girlfriend’s neighbor was Yang Haoran.
However, Yang Haoran knew it was only a matter of time before they were discovered. So, about seven or eight seconds after Xiao Shaowan sat down, he pretended toζ ζδΈεη° (unintentionally discover) them and asked with feigned surprise, “Shaowan, Xu Liang, you’re sitting here?”
Hearing the voice, Xu Liang looked over and saw Yang Haoran on Xiao Shaowan’s left side. He was even more surprised: “Haoran!”
If Yang Haoran hadn’t gotten to his seat first, and if they hadn’t just met outside, Xu Liang might have thought he was mistaken.
“What a coincidence?”
Yang Haoran looked at the two strangely.
Already predisposed by their earlier encounter, Xu Liang, hearing Yang Haoran say this, didn’t think much of it, assuming it was merely a coincidence. He responded with a smile, “This is great, we’re all acquainted. Since you’re watching alone and might find it boring, this is also a kind of fate.”
Xiao Shaowan, as if just noticing Yang Haoran, frowned and said to Xu Liang, “Xu Liang, how about we change seats?”
Xu Liang had actually been considering the same thing. Seeing his girlfriend Xiao Shaowan say it first, he was about to agree. However, Yang Haoran said with clear dissatisfaction, “Shaowan, is that necessary? We’re all classmates. Why are you making it so distant?”
Seeing Yang Haoran’s indignant expression, Xu Liang immediately dismissed the idea of changing seats. He turned to his girlfriend Xiao Shaowan to persuade her: “Shaowan, how about we just leave it like this? After all, you and Haoran are classmates. Sitting close together isn’t a big deal.”
Xu Liang actually didn’t know why Xiao Shaowan displayed suchεζΆ (disgust) towards Yang Haoran, her pursuer.
Clearly, during their first meeting, Yang Haoran was supporting Xiao Shaowan, and the two seemed somewhat intimate. Something must have happened later that he didn’t know about. He thought he would ask his girlfriend about it later.
But for now, the more his girlfriend displayed disgust towards Yang Haoran, the more reassured Xu Liang felt.
He no longer considered Yang Haoran a hypothetical rival.
Hearing her boyfriend’s words, Xiao Shaowan was just about to speak when Yang Haoran mischievously turned on the vibrator switch. Xiao Shaowan immediately let out a soft moanβ”Mmn!”βher legs under the pleated skirt instantly clamping together tight, while a flush quickly rose on both sides of her beautiful cheeks.