Chu Yueyi suspected she was digging her own grave, truly hurting herself more than her target.
She was certain Shi Guanghua didn't understand the process and had checked privately, so she deliberately teased him. But she didn't expect his response to have such an impact, completely setting off fireworks in her heart.
After speaking, Shi Guanghua felt a bit embarrassed. His gaze didn't dare land on Chu Yueyi, instead drifting to the side.
Chu Yueyi lowered her head and began counting flower petals. Her face flushed at this moment, and she was momentarily speechless, allowing the scene to become awkwardly still.
Both felt nervous and shy, silently agreeing to remain quiet for a long time.
Finally, Shi Guanghua broke the silence first, saying softly, "I'll go get the tickets."
He stiffly turned to walk towards the ticket machine, but his retreating upright figure seemed a bit off, giving people the feeling that something was awkward.
Chu Yueyi observed carefully and discovered that he was actually moving his arms and legs on the same side simultaneously.
What the heck.
Appearing calm on the surface, but actually panicking inside?
She couldn't help but smile, suddenly no longer feeling tense and constrained, with many of her worries dissipating.
Chu Yueyi was a person who thought things through thoroughly and logically. She was constantly anticipating the future and wasn't someone who could easily get carried away by emotions. But she had to admit that interacting with Shi Guanghua was simple. Sometimes he didn't even try to hide his feelings, making everything crystal clear.
Because she feared having to repay kindness received, she simply chose to only offer kindness to others, willing to help people while not owing anyone. This had always been Chu Yueyi's approach.
The reason she wasn't good at handling direct approaches was simple. Setting aside smooth social skills, people communicate with sincerity, but she might not be quite used to that yet. When someone said they didn't need anything in return, she instead became unsure of how to react.
She still felt out of her element now, but seemed to have found a bit of a knack for it, perhaps able to show some genuine feelings.
Learning to be just like him.
When Shi Guanghua returned with the tickets, Chu Yueyi had already calmed down.
She took the movie tickets and, upon seeing the film title, her eyebrows immediately twitched. She said slowly, "To be honest, your choice of this movie makes me suspect you're trying to evaluate my work."
Chu Yueyi had lost her wits the day she agreed to the invitation and hadn't specifically asked which movie they would watch. She hadn't expected Shi Guanghua to choose "The Rise of Xinghua."
"The Rise of Xinghua" was a mainstream patriotic film, and Chu Yueyi had actually played a role in it. She really admired Shi Guanghua's thought process. If it weren't for his confession still ringing in her ears, she would have suspected he was trying to mess with her.
Shi Guanghua asked in confusion, "Is that so?"
Chu Yueyi nodded numbly, "Yes, but I can understand your choice. I guess this information isn't available online, but I still wouldn't recommend choosing a film the other person has acted in when watching movies with girls in the future."
Shi Guanghua: "Then next time, you can tell me which movie you want to watch?"
Chu Yueyi widened her eyes in surprise: "How come there's already a next time? Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?" We haven't even watched this one yet?
Shi Guanghua hesitated: "But you just said about watching movies in the future..."
Chu Yueyi: "..." I said when you watch movies with girls in the future, how did this default to me again!?
Shi Guanghua was truly first-class at messing with people's minds.
Chu Yueyi had just calmed her emotions, and now she was nearly set off again.
Fortunately, she had experience dealing with frequent direct approaches, so she adjusted quickly and followed him into the cinema to watch the movie.
Although Chu Yueyi had acted in "The Rise of Xinghua," she had been too busy with filming to watch it when it was first released. Now, sitting in the theater appreciating the finished product was quite an interesting experience. The film set during shooting had been chaotic and rough, but the final presented scenes were quite good.
Shi Guanghua gazed at the period costume of the patriotic female singer on the silver screen, then used his peripheral vision to observe Chu Yueyi, but was accidentally caught red-handed.
"The Rise of Xinghua" had been showing for a while now, so there weren't many people coming to watch it, making the theater feel a bit empty.
Chu Yueyi noticed him peeking and immediately lowered her voice, saying disapprovingly, "What are you looking at me for?"
Shi Guanghua: "Looking for differences."
Chu Yueyi snickered: "Did you find any?"
Shi Guanghua remained silent.
Chu Yueyi: "Didn't find any?"
Shi Guanghua: "...I dare not say."
Chu Yueyi asked puzzled: "What's there to be afraid of saying? I won't eat you."
Shi Guanghua hesitated for a moment, then confessed: "The real person is a bit fiercer."
In fact, when Chu Yueyi first met Shi Guanghua, her temper was very good, always pleasant and amiable. Then one day, she suddenly changed.
He remembered it was around the time he said he could always make food for her. After that, she would occasionally flare up for no apparent reason, as if taking off a mask of perfection and harmony.
The patriotic female singer's character was closer to the initial Chu Yueyi. Now she was a bit more feisty.
Chu Yueyi glared at him, then felt like this action proved his point, so she simply turned her head silently to ignore him and continued watching the movie attentively.
"It's okay to be a bit fiercer," Shi Guanghua said softly, fearing she was displeased. He lowered his gaze and added in a small voice, "...I'm happy too."
That was also the real her, an impression unique to him alone, equally precious and meaningful.
Chu Yueyi kept her eyes straight ahead and followed his words, saying coldly, "Shut up."
Shi Guanghua obediently lowered his head: "Okay."
She thought to herself, he must be sick.
Actually asking to be treated harshly, there must be something wrong with him.
Chu Yueyi had now grasped the mode of interacting with him, which was to express herself simply and directly, otherwise he might not understand.
Although Shi Guanghua looked quite aloof, he was actually casual and easy-going inside, not complaining about various decisions, and far more tolerant than she had imagined.
After leaving the cinema, they had lunch together. Afterwards, Chu Yueyi discovered a handmade craft shop and suddenly felt like trying it out. Shi Guanghua accompanied her into the store to create, and they each chose an art piece to work on.
The store's lighting was warm yellow, soft music played, and the decor style was excellent.
Chu Yueyi started off enthusiastic, but she quickly began to feel overwhelmed, losing patience amid frequent setbacks.
She had felt some novelty when entering the store, but now she turned her head to stare at Shi Guanghua's work, watching as the craft under his hands gradually took shape.
After finishing his own craft, Shi Guanghua noticed her wistful gaze and suggested, "Shall I help you make yours?"
Chu Yueyi had been waiting for these words. She stood up in an instant to give up her seat, saying decisively, "Yes!"
Chu Yueyi was a theoretical giant.
What's a theoretical giant?
It's someone who doesn't do things themselves but will give instructions.
Chu Yueyi watched Shi Guanghua's hands closely as he worked, occasionally offering suggestions, like a client who only talks but doesn't do.
Shi Guanghua was quite patient. He didn't say much throughout the process, methodically carrying out the task.
A moment later, she realized this wasn't very good and carefully observed his expression, hurriedly trying to make amends: "You're not angry, are you?"
Shi Guanghua was always quiet, so Chu Yueyi wasn't sure if he was annoyed or just the same as usual.
Shi Guanghua calmly replied, "No, this isn't difficult."
Chu Yueyi, who couldn't even put it together earlier, immediately frowned: "This isn't difficult?"
Shi Guanghua hesitated: "...Anyone with hands can do it?"
Chu Yueyi: "..."
This was what Chu Yueyi had once said to him when playing games, and now he was parroting it back to her word for word!
For a while on set, after learning that Shi Guanghua only brought food for her, her mood became a bit chaotic, and she would inexplicably like to provoke him. When Shi Guanghua asked for advice on how to improve his gaming skills at that time, Chu Yueyi deliberately replied with "Anyone with hands can do it."
What goes around comes around, he learned it and used it.
Chu Yueyi instantly lost any sense of guilt and shamelessly commanded him, even making various difficult demands, to vent the frustration caused by her own poor crafting skills.
Shi Guanghua accepted it all and excellently completed the task in the end.
Looking at the finished product she had envisioned, Chu Yueyi should have been elated, but seeing that he wasn't stumped at all, she felt oddly depressed and said sourly, "It really is something anyone with hands can do, but there's quite a difference between hands..."
Noticing her low spirits, Shi Guanghua proactively reached out his hand and said, "Do you want me to give it to you?"
Chu Yueyi asked in surprise: "Give what? Your hand? How would you give that?"
A bloody scene flashed through her mind, and a dark little thought secretly emerged.
Shi Guanghua: "It can be kept with me, and when you need it, you can come find me."
She could just come to him next time she wanted a partner for crafting.
Chu Yueyi pursed her lips, unable to control the mischievous thoughts bubbling up. She deliberately made things difficult, saying, "No, I don't like keeping things. You give it to me now."
Shi Guanghua: "..." He was thinking of a romantic story, but her thoughts were so brutal.
Chu Yueyi looked at his conflicted expression as he pondered deeply, guessing that he couldn't bring himself to "chop off his hand" on the spot. She teased, "So you still can't give it?"
Shi Guanghua contemplated for a few seconds, then reluctantly compromised, "Then I can only go back with you."
Chu Yueyi: "!!?"
Chu Yueyi realized she shouldn't dwell on the strange points with Shi Guanghua, otherwise it would be like punching a pillow, or she'd be shocked by his direct approach that left no stone unturned.
As night fell, their outing came to an end. Shi Guanghua drove Chu Yueyi home.
In the car, Chu Yueyi held the bouquet in her arms. Sitting in the passenger seat, she felt something was off but dared not think too deeply about it.
The car arrived at its destination, and it was time for them to say goodbye. Shi Guanghua parked the car and turned to watch her unbuckle her seatbelt. He suddenly asked, "Can I ask you a question?"
Chu Yueyi casually released the seatbelt: "What is it?"
Shi Guanghua blinked: "Was today a date?"
"..." Chu Yueyi said stiffly, "...No, it wasn't!"
Shi Guanghua didn't seem upset. He pondered thoughtfully, "Oh..."
Chu Yueyi nearly bristled, but hearing his calm tone, she quickly calmed down too. She muttered, "What kind of reaction is that? Why are you asking this?"
Shi Guanghua answered honestly: "I'm just curious about your definition. Mainly because I don't have any experience."
Chu Yueyi was taken aback: "So if I say it's not a date, you just accept that it's not a date?"
Shi Guanghua nodded: "Yes, isn't it up to you to define it?"
Chu Yueyi: "..."
Chu Yueyi paused for a few seconds, then said earnestly, "Although it might be a bit rude to say this, I feel your way of thinking is quite dangerous. You could easily be deceived..."
Although Chu Yueyi knew he lacked some common sense, this was indeed a bit ridiculous, and she couldn't help but want to educate him. Even though she had never been in a relationship, she had heard countless love stories. Who would be so unguarded like him?
Shi Guanghua humbly asked for advice: "Why would I be deceived?"
"If you believe everything the other person says, won't you be strung along and end up as a backup option?" Chu Yueyi glanced at him. "Let's suppose I'm a bad person, and I'm stringing you along right now?"
"Why would you string me along?"
"For fun, of course."
Shi Guanghua thought seriously for a moment. Just as Chu Yueyi thought he had come to his senses, he good-naturedly said, "As long as you're happy."
He didn't understand her mischievous intent, but he could accept it.
Chu Yueyi tried to explain patiently, but found him completely unrepentant. She suddenly felt embarrassed and angry: "...You're really hopeless!"
It was like they were having a conversation on different frequencies; he completely missed the point!
Shi Guanghua, utterly confused about how he had angered her, asked bewilderedly, "So, will you string me along?"
Chu Yueyi believed he should have some sense of caution. She straightened up confidently, putting on the air of a villain, and said firmly, "Yes, I'm stringing you along. How do you feel about that?"
She couldn't believe she couldn't make this simple point clear to him. How could he not understand such basic logic?
Shi Guanghua didn't want to point out that her attempt to look tough with her chin up was like a cat pretending to be a tiger. She might think she looked formidable, but she actually had no intimidating presence and instead looked childishly cute.
He didn't know how to answer, and finally hesitantly suggested, "...Then, could you string me along for a long time?"
Chu Yueyi: "?"
Chu Yueyi was defeated by Shi Guanghua.
As a normal person with both intelligence and emotional intelligence, she was ultimately defeated by a not-so-smart simpleton.
She couldn't understand how their conversation had reached this point, feeling a bit dizzy and disoriented.
Chu Yueyi responded numbly and weakly, "Alright, fine. How about I string you along for a few decades?"
Shi Guanghua, who had shown little reaction before, now looked straight at her upon hearing these words and said seriously, "Then you must keep your word."
Chu Yueyi: "..." Why do you choose to be serious about such strange things?!