"Mu Qi, let's go wait over there," Yun Shulian said, returning with a movie ticket. She led Mu Qi to a row of chairs.
Mu Qi followed Yun Shulian and sat down. Yun Shulian put the movie ticket in her pocket and reached for Mu Qi's popcorn.
The movie was about to start. Mu Qi hesitated several times, wanting to speak, but ultimately said nothing.
After the movie began, Yun Shulian took the popcorn from Mu Qi and led him into the theater.
The movie started with eerie music, followed by a terrifying headless female corpse.
Yun Shulian, witnessing the gory scene, dropped all her popcorn and suddenly buried her face in Mu Qi's chest.
"Baby, what's wrong?" Mu Qi put his cola aside and immediately hugged Yun Shulian.
"Mu Qi, it's so scary," Yun Shulian said, hiding further in Mu Qi's arms.
She had thought that after experiencing rebirth, what could a mere horror movie do to her?
However, Yun Shulian now realized that rebirth and horror movies were entirely different matters.
Mu Qi stroked Yun Shulian's head and looked up as if he could pierce the screen.
*Could I get this movie taken down?*
Mu Qi thought this and tightened his hold on Yun Shulian in his arms.
"Then we won't watch it, baby. I'll carry you out," Mu Qi said, standing up. His hand was already on Yun Shulian's lap, as if he were about to pick her up.
"No, Mu Qi, I want to watch," Yun Shulian said, peeking through her fingers with a small gap, her gaze bypassing Mu Qi.
Mu Qi had no choice but to sit back down, his gaze fixed on Yun Shulian, constantly checking if she was feeling unwell.
Soon, more grotesque and bizarre entities appeared on screen, and Yun Shulian shrieked.
Mu Qi immediately pulled Yun Shulian onto his lap. Yun Shulian, dazed, suddenly opened her eyes.
"Mu Qi, how can you..."
"Aren't you scared? Is this any better?"
Yun Shulian smelled Mu Qi's pleasant scent and indeed felt a sense of security.
But this posture made it seem as though Mu Qi were pacifying a daughter, and with so many people around...
Yun Shulian glanced around, wanting to get off Mu Qi's lap.
"What is it?" Mu Qi pulled Yun Shulian closer into his embrace as she tried to get up.
"Mu Qi, this appearance is not good," Yun Shulian whispered in Mu Qi's ear.
By this time, Yun Shulian's cheeks were completely flushed, though the dim lighting helped to conceal it.
"It's okay. Everyone is focused on the movie. It's dark, and no one will notice us."
Yun Shulian felt that Mu Qi had a point. Moreover, in Mu Qi's arms, she truly felt at ease.
With this thought, Yun Shulian turned back to the screen.
This time, Yun Shulian was less frightened and found herself drawn into the plot.
"How old are you? Stop hugging! Get down."
"Mommy, that big sister is so old, and the big brother is hugging her. I want to be hugged too, Mommy."
Suddenly, a conversation between a mother and son came from behind Yun Shulian and Mu Qi.
Upon hearing this, Yun Shulian abruptly got off Mu Qi and returned to her seat, trying to conceal the fact that she was that big sister.
Back in her seat, Yun Shulian covered her face with her hands, feeling utterly mortified.
Mu Qi subtly glanced at the child, who immediately dared not speak and shrunk back.
"Ahem, the big brother is willing, but Mommy isn't," the mother behind them said, pulling the child back to her seat.
Fortunately, the movie was nearing its end. All the mysteries were slowly revealed, and the terrifying scenes had logical explanations.
Finally, the movie ended. Yun Shulian and Mu Qi, whose emotions had been on a rollercoaster throughout the film, left the cinema together.
"What do you want to do next?" Mu Qi said, taking the popcorn from Yun Shulian's hand.
"Next..." Yun Shulian was contemplating what couples usually do besides watching movies together when a familiar figure suddenly caught her eye.
Yun Shulian narrowed her eyes like crescent moons.
Then, she turned back and said to Mu Qi as if nothing were amiss, "Mu Qi, I need to go to the restroom. Buy another bucket of popcorn, and we'll take it home."
After speaking, Yun Shulian walked away. Mu Qi's gaze followed her until she disappeared from sight, then he headed towards the popcorn stand.
However, Yun Shulian didn't go to the restroom. Instead, she quickly approached the man who had called Mu Qi a gigolo. She covered his mouth and nose, lifted him up, and dragged him into a room.
Yun Shulian was very familiar with this cinema; she knew which areas were less crowded and which were blind spots for surveillance.
*Hmph hmph...*
The man struggled but couldn't break free from Yun Shulian's grasp.
Yun Shulian kicked the back of the man's leg, and he immediately fell to his knees.
Yun Shulian grabbed the man's hands with one hand and then, with the other, untied the ribbon from her hair and tied him up.
"What do you want?" The man, seeing Yun Shulian's seemingly harmless face, immediately relaxed.
"Are you interested in me?" The man gave Yun Shulian a flirtatious look he thought was charming.
The man recognized Yun Shulian as the girl with Mu Qi and obviously mistook her for a rich woman.
"Tsk." Yun Shulian shook her head and patted the man's head.
"Dream on?"
The man became angry. "What exactly do you want? Let me go immediately."
"Do you remember what you said before the movie started?" Yun Shulian asked, sitting on the room's sofa and narrowing her eyes.
"I just called him a gigolo," the man said dismissively, his eyes slanted.
"It's good that you remember." Yun Shulian's gaze grew increasingly dangerous.
She stood up and walked step by step towards the man. His expression remained arrogant. He didn't believe a seemingly defenseless girl could do anything to him. He thought her bringing him here earlier was just because he was caught off guard, a coincidence.
But now...
*Hmph hmph*
The man watched Yun Shulian approach. He then threw the ribbon he was tied with to the side.