From the moment she held the movie tickets in her hand, a sense of foreboding had already taken root in Qianling’s heart.
The movie was titled “Raging Sea Fireworks 3.”
A title composed of an ambiguous scene and specific imagery felt exactly like most pretentious art films that tried too hard to be deep. Plus, the “3” written after the title… was usually a sign that a series was beginning its decline.
Still, she took her seat, clinging to the fantasy that “maybe the ratings and word-of-mouth didn’t lie.”
The group’s luck was decent. Although the movie was a spur-of-the-moment decision, they managed to get three adjacent seats near the middle.
Qianling sat on the left, with Yang Mo and Yang Xia next to her on the right.
She looked around from her seat and noticed that most of the audience were young people. A significant portion were couples who spent the waiting time being all over each other in their seats.
After waiting a bit longer, the lights illuminating the screening hall dimmed, and the movie finally officially began.
The opening was a flashback.
A middle-aged man with a weathered face sat behind a reef, his tank top stained with a large patch of blood from someone unknown.
His hands shook as he tried to light a cigarette soaked in seawater, but he failed repeatedly. In a fit of rage, he threw the cigarette on the ground, and then the scene transitioned.
Qianling thought the texture of this scene was quite good, and she couldn’t help but look forward to what was coming next.
However, everything that followed was a massive disappointment.
To summarize, the man at the beginning was the protagonist, a fisherman. His son had died mysteriously while out at sea with others, so he began a private investigation.
The film spent a great deal of effort describing the “son’s” private life, involving puberty and his original family environment.
All of this information was, of course… completely useless.
The son’s death was simply because he got into an argument with a complete stranger on the boat and was accidentally killed. There was no complex truth.
Despite such a simple incident, the narrative was split into the perspectives of several different characters. Combined with messy editing, Qianling was left at a loss as to what the movie was trying to express.
The climax of the film occurred when the protagonist finally learned the truth. He originally intended to kill the murderer with his own hands, but halfway through, he suddenly chose to forgive him and burst into tears.
It was at this moment that, in the dark screening hall, the sound of faint sobbing gradually began to spread.
On the contrary, Qianling felt absolutely nothing in her heart; she actually felt like laughing.
…Am I the weird one here?
She couldn’t help but doubt herself.
Ah, right! If she wanted to know the answer to that question, wasn’t there another person’s reaction she could use as a reference?
Thinking this, she turned her head to look at Yang Mo in the seat to her right.
In the reflection of the screen, she could barely make out Yang Mo’s expression.
Yang Mo was frowning, staring at the screen with wide eyes and a gaze that was either confused or disgusted.
Now Qianling could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Recalling her experiences watching TV with Yang Mo, she thought: if this movie were truly a tear-jerker, Yang Mo would definitely be the one crying the hardest.
Conversely, if even Yang Mo didn’t cry, then there was definitely something wrong with the movie.
While she was quietly observing Yang Mo’s reaction, following the direction of her gaze, she suddenly noticed something else.
Yang Xia was wiping away tears during this scene.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
She couldn’t help but let out a remark. However, Yang Xia seemed to be immersed in the sad atmosphere and didn’t notice her voice.
Yang Mo, however, heard her. She quickly turned her head toward Qianling, then followed Qianling’s line of sight to Yang Xia. Finally, she turned back with her jaw hanging open, giving Qianling an expression of pure disbelief.
Qianling silently shrugged and held out her hands in a “what can you do” gesture.
Before the movie even ended, she immediately pulled out her phone to search for the title.
She discovered that the general consensus wasn’t “mostly positive” as Yang Xia had claimed, but rather “polarized.” It was just unclear if those two poles existed on the same website.
After a while, the credits began to roll on the screen, and the lights came back on. Qianling was finally able to escape from this prison.
Though, truth be told, the process wasn’t actually that torturous. At least Qianling had found parts of it funny in the middle.
Afterward, people left from both sides of the hall, and the three of them were no exception.
On the way out, the corners of Yang Xia’s eyes were still a bit red.
She asked Qianling and Yang Mo beside her, “The movie was pretty good, right?”
This question caused Qianling and Yang Mo to fall silent for a moment.
Then, Yang Mo put on a professional smile and told her, “…It was okay.”
Qianling quickly nodded along.
Yang Xia seemed satisfied with their reaction and smiled, saying, “I told you so. The online reviews were actually quite good.”
In the face of Yang Xia’s genuine emotion, Qianling had only one thought: next time we watch a movie, I have to be the one to choose!
By the time they walked outside the cinema, the sky had completely darkened.
It was time for Qianling and Yang Mo to say goodbye to Yang Xia again.
As Yang Xia had mentioned earlier, she chose to take a taxi this time. However, before the car she called arrived, the three of them still had some time to spend together.
“Since we’re rarely in this area, let’s go check that place out.”
She pointed toward a covered commercial street.
After nightfall, it was indeed much more lively than before. From where they stood, they could see the bustling crowds and the colorful light-up signs used by the street vendors in the distance.
Qianling and Yang Mo followed Yang Xia over. As soon as they reached the first small stall, she stopped. It seemed she had set her sights on this place from the start.
This was a stall selling small accessories. On the temporary tables, various plastic and glass products shimmered with a brilliant luster under the incandescent lights.
She told Qianling and Yang Mo, “Each of you pick one. I’ll pay for them.”
Hearing this, the stall owner thought a big customer had arrived and immediately came over to welcome them warmly.
Qianling asked in confusion, “How did your mood get so much better after watching a tragic movie?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you unhappy about it?”
With that, she shot a glare at Qianling.
Qianling answered, “No.”
Yang Xia first looked at Yang Mo beside her and said, “Today is a special day for us.”
Then she turned back to ask Qianling, “It should be the same for you too, right?”
“For me?”
She pointed at herself in question, and Yang Xia nodded, saying:
“You finally resolved something you’ve been worried about for a long time. Don’t you want to celebrate?”
“You mean…”
Qianling realized that Yang Xia was referring to the matter regarding her “sisters.”
Thinking about it, it made sense. She had kept Yang Xia and Yang Mo in the dark while acting on her own for so long; it would actually be stranger if they hadn’t noticed.
“True. It’s not bad to celebrate.”
So, she returned the smile to Yang Xia.
“Thank you.”
“Wait until you’ve picked a gift before saying things like that.”
After Yang Xia said that, she and Yang Mo couldn’t help but laugh.
In the end, Qianling chose a rabbit-shaped hair clip, while Yang Mo chose a starfish-shaped one.
“Ah, Qianling’s is a rabbit after all.”
“Look who’s talking. I knew you’d choose a sea creature.”
Neither of them was surprised by the other’s preference.
A short while later, Yang Xia took her car and left them. On their way home, they were already wearing the clips they had just bought.
As they left the busy downtown area, the surroundings gradually became quiet.
Walking leisurely with Yang Mo under the night sky, Qianling suddenly felt a sense of peace she had never experienced before.
Recalling the battle at the logistics port, it had honestly been very dangerous. If she had to exhaust all her strength just to face an enemy of that level, what would she do when facing a Witch in the future?
But regardless, after defeating Number One, there would be no more immediate threats to Yang Mo in the early stages.
At least for now, she could enjoy this peace.
If only this peace could last a little longer, just a little longer.
That was her only wish.
***
Meanwhile, inside a well-lit workshop.
A mature woman with indigo-blue hair was reclining in a chair, humming a melodious tune with her legs crossed.
An unfinished doll sat on the table in front of her, but she showed no sign of continuing her work.
What forced her tune to stop was the sharp ringing of a telephone.
She had no choice but to pick up her phone and answer.
“…”
“It was eliminated that quickly?”
“…”
“I still have some failed works on my end. Are you sure you want to use them?”
“…”
“Fine. I’ll leave the usage rights to you then.”
After that, the call ended.
She was left alone, letting out a frivolous laugh.
“Amber and Garnet of Star Lake Town? The next battle won’t be quite so easy.”
The woman with indigo-blue hair—the Doll Witch Enzhuola—restarted her work.