Chapter Twenty-Eight: Private Cinema

When it comes to private cinemas, many people misunderstand them, assuming such places are disreputable. In reality, whether a private cinema is proper or not has little to do with the venue itself; it all depends on who walks through the door. Some people are drawn by the allure of privacy, while others genuinely come for the cinema experience.

When Zhou Miao went to book a private room, the receptionist gave the two of them a suggestive look. Hu San’s face flushed so red she looked about to bleed, while Zhou Miao was left speechless—wasn’t this only making things look more suspicious?

Inside the room, the setup was simple: a screen, a projector, a table, and a large sofa. Zhou Miao asked the attendant to play Godzilla, then closed the door behind them, sealing them together in the quiet space.

He sprawled comfortably on the sofa, but noticed Hu San standing nervously by the door, her face burning with embarrassment as if lost in her own thoughts. He patted the seat beside him. “Come sit down. Why are you standing there like a fool?”

Hu San shuffled over with difficulty. In the dim room, only the glow of the screen provided light. Her mind raced with imagined scenarios, spinning out a thousand-word essay of possibilities. What if… Should I resist? No, maybe I shouldn’t. What if I scare him off… But isn’t this a bit too soon? He hasn’t even said he likes me yet.

By the time Hu San snapped out of her reverie, the movie had already been playing for ten minutes. Zhou Miao’s eyes were fixed on the screen, utterly absorbed.

The sofa was large, leaving half a meter between them. Hu San waited for ages, but Zhou Miao made no move, so she quietly scooted a little closer his way.

Still no reaction.

Spotting some snacks on the table, Hu San had an idea. She got up, grabbed a bag of chips, and this time sat down right next to Zhou Miao. “Want some?”

Zhou Miao shook his head. “No, who knows how long they’ve been sitting out.”

“Oh,” Hu San replied. She hadn’t wanted to eat them anyway—nothing ruins the mood like having chip breath.

After a while, Hu San tried mimicking Zhou Miao and half-reclined on the sofa. Their shoulders touched, and she could feel the warmth radiating from him. A smile tugged at her lips.

This idiot really did just bring her to watch a movie. Hu San waited and waited, but he made no move. The dim lighting and a long day of classes caught up with her, and soon her head drooped further and further until she finally dozed off against Zhou Miao’s shoulder.

Zhou Miao turned to look at her sleeping face, her lips curled in a faint smile, lost in some sweet dream. He hesitated, then decided not to wake her, sighing softly instead.

Two hours passed quickly. Zhou Miao patted her cheek gently. “Wake up, the movie’s over.”

Hu San, who had curled up completely in his arms and was sleeping soundly, a little drool threatening to escape her lips, sat up in a daze. “What?”

“The movie’s over. I’ll take you home.”

Hu San finally snapped awake. “Ah, it’s finished already? Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“I saw how soundly you were sleeping—I couldn’t bear to. Come on, it’s getting late.” Zhou Miao stood and stretched; after being used as her pillow for so long, his body had gone numb.

Behind him, Hu San knocked herself on the head in frustration. How could she have fallen asleep!

As they stepped out of the cinema, this time Zhou Miao didn’t even have to say anything—Hu San wrapped her arms around his waist on her own. “Giddy-up!”

It was nearly midnight, and the street was deserted. Hu San glanced around, then pressed her face shyly against Zhou Miao’s back.

She could feel him tense; his back was stiff, and his heartbeat raced.

“Do you like me?”

Faced with the girl’s bold question, Zhou Miao hesitated, unable to answer.

But Hu San didn’t mind. She only hugged him tighter, pressing her whole body against his back and giving a soft, determined hum. “Anyway, you’re not getting away.”

“I’m leaving for Beijing tomorrow.”

The smile faded from Hu San’s face, a growing sense of dread settling in. “Why? When will you be back?”

“The entrance exam for the Central Conservatory’s composition department is tough. I need to go early and study with a teacher there, maybe stay until after the college entrance exam.”

Hu San said nothing more, only held him tighter, so tightly that Zhou Miao could barely breathe, and he felt a dampness spreading on his back.

They walked in silence until they reached her building. Zhou Miao glanced up—her family’s lights were still on; her parents were obviously waiting for her.

His back was soaked; clearly, the girl had cried quite a bit. Even now, her eyes were red and puffy, her expression heartbreakingly forlorn.

Zhou Miao patted her head. “Come on, it’s not like we won’t see each other again. Go on up.”

“Can you hug me?” Hu San whispered.

Before Zhou Miao could answer, she had already thrown her arms around him, making it impossible for him to refuse.

He gave a wry smile and held her close, breathing in her faint, girlish fragrance. Neither of them spoke; they simply savored the tranquility of the moment.

Just then, footsteps echoed in the stairwell. A middle-aged man pushed open the entryway door and looked at the pair, puzzled. “San?”

Hu San’s face turned crimson in an instant. She buried herself deeper in Zhou Miao’s arms, her mind going blank, and in a panic, she actually reached back and shut the door!

Her father’s nose was nearly caught by the door, and he and Zhou Miao stared at each other through the glass, both mortified.

Zhou Miao coughed awkwardly and patted Hu San on the shoulder. “Well, your dad’s here. I’d better go.”

Her father’s face was dark as thunder; Zhou Miao suspected if he didn’t leave now, he might get punched.

Hu San gave Zhou Miao one last, lingering hug before reluctantly letting go. “Come back soon. Reply to my messages, okay? Don’t ignore me.”

Out of the corner of his eye, Zhou Miao saw her father’s fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white. Giving a nervous laugh, he said, “I will. Go on up now.”

Without daring another glance at her father, he mounted his bicycle and sped away, vanishing in the darkness. Hu San watched his retreating back until he disappeared around the corner before turning to go inside.

Her father was on the verge of exploding. Hu San winced as she opened the door. “You’re still up this late?”

“If I’d gone to bed, would you two have just hugged out there until morning?”

Hu San shrank her neck and stayed silent. Her father, seeing her like this, grew even angrier. He grabbed her by the ear and marched her upstairs. “I see your courage is growing by the day, lying to me about seeing a movie with your best friend!”

“Ow! Dad, that hurts!”

“So you remember I’m your father now? Did you remember that when you slammed the door on me just now?”

“Keep your voice down! Don’t let the neighbors hear…”

“Oh, now you care about keeping quiet? You’ve disgraced me completely!”