Jiang Ran felt as refreshed as a spring breeze.
Standing at the street corner, she watched Su Wanqing walk off to buy movie tickets and exhaled a breath of warm air.
She replayed Su Wanqing’s recent words in her mind, thinking how quickly everything was moving.
How did the two of them end up going to a movie together?
Jiang Ran did not quite understand it.
Quite a few people were entering the theater now.
Most were couples or students walking side by side, looking very familiar with one another.
She assumed they were all out on group outings.
Just then, Jiang Ran received a new message from Gu Ge.
It turned out that Gu Ge was already preparing to be discharged from the hospital and asked if she should pick Jiang Ran up.
“Why are you leaving the hospital now? Shouldn’t you stay a little longer?”
Jiang Ran calculated the time.
Gu Ge had not even been there for a few days yet; she was clearly being restless.
“There is no need. I can hire a private doctor anyway. Staying in the hospital does not necessarily mean I will get better; it is just a way to kill time. Once I am recovered, I will take you to see the ocean.”
‘This…’
Jiang Ran sighed.
Only a female lead could drop a flag like that.
She did not try to persuade Gu Ge further, as she had already said enough.
During the lull, she glanced at the app and found that everything was calm, with no fluctuations at all.
Gu Ge’s mission was complete, and it had rewarded a large number of attribute points, all of which had been dumped into Charm.
Now, the app had rotated to a new mission.
[Mission Description: Her Reflection in the Water.]
[I saw my past through the mirror. She was humble, perhaps even a beggar, but that was me.]
[A version of myself that I loathe.]
Jiang Ran fiddled with her phone, unsure of who this was describing, but the subsequent text seemed a bit familiar.
[If I were to disappear from everyone’s sight, would this current Midsummer be the last glimpse of me I leave behind?]
Disappear?
Who?
Before Jiang Ran could figure out who it was describing, Su Wanqing walked over holding the electronic tickets.
“Jiang An, let’s head in. The movie is about to start.”
Jiang Ran looked up, her gaze landing on Su Wanqing.
Seeing Jiang Ran staring at her, Su Wanqing asked.
‘You keep looking at me like that… is there something on my face?’
Su Wanqing touched her cheek, feeling a slight ache in her eyes.
“No.”
Snapping out of it, Jiang Ran waved her hand.
“I was just spacing out. Let’s go.”
Jiang Ran grabbed her bag and followed Su Wanqing inside.
Su Wanqing watched her walk past and followed with an excited heart.
Entering the screening room, Jiang Ran found the space surprisingly large.
The walls were covered in soundproofing foam; as they walked, she could almost hear the sound of her own heartbeat.
“It is so quiet in here,” Jiang Ran could not help but remark.
“This is a special screening room. They say watching a movie here is a wonderful experience. I thought since we were already here, I should let you try it.”
Hearing Su Wanqing’s explanation, Jiang Ran’s mind cleared.
She had initially thought there might be some strange reason, but that was all it was.
After finding her seat, Jiang Ran sat down.
She reflected on Su Wanqing’s words but said nothing, instead pulling some snacks out of her bag.
These were leftovers from the gifts Bai Ranran’s parents had sent previously.
Since she had not finished them, she decided to keep snacking.
Seeing Jiang Ran take out the snacks, Su Wanqing glanced over and said in surprise, “Those are actually imported snacks. Jiang Ran, you are quite trendy.”
“These? A classmate’s parent gave them to me. I am just trying them out. Do you want some?”
“No, thank you. Since they were a gift for you, you should eat them.”
Su Wanqing chose not to join in and left them all for Jiang Ran.
The two sat in their seats, waiting for the movie to begin.
As the lights dimmed, Jiang Ran saw a glow slowly appear in the distance.
A giant logo popped up on the screen, followed by promotional stills of the protagonists.
Several girls began running across the screen.
To the sound of cheerful music, they hopped down a set of stairs, followed by someone struggling to keep up while pulling a suitcase.
“Slow down! Why are you running so fast?”
As the subtitles rolled and the movie began, Jiang Ran watched the screen and noticed Su Wanqing’s hand was now where her own hand was resting.
When Jiang Ran looked over, Su Wanqing jerked her gaze away as if she had received an electric shock.
“Ah, what a coincidence. Jiang Ran, you are watching too? I thought you weren’t looking at me.”
“Why wouldn’t I watch the movie? Didn’t you come here to see it?”
Jiang Ran continued watching.
Beside her, Su Wanqing muttered under her breath, “You really did come just to watch the movie.”
The surrounding light was dim.
Because this was an animated film, there were hardly any people, and very few couples came to see animations.
She felt that Jiang Ran was a bit dense, but Su Wanqing said nothing.
She knew that even if she spoke up now, Jiang Ran likely still would not understand, so she simply kept quiet.
As the images flickered on the screen, Su Wanqing’s attention drifted from the film to Jiang Ran.
She realized Jiang Ran was truly engrossed in the movie.
She felt a bit frustrated.
She noticed a button on Jiang Ran’s collar was not fastened correctly, and from Su Wanqing’s angle, she could see a glimpse of Jiang Ran’s chest.
In an instant, Su Wanqing’s face turned red.
Her sense of morality and her conscience fought a fierce battle.
Since the theater was so dark, no one would care what happened here; surely just one look wouldn’t be a problem.
However, her heart was racing.
She was truly worried Jiang Ran would notice.
If she were caught, how would she explain herself?
After some thought, Su Wanqing pulled out her phone.
Under the guise of checking it, her gaze drifted toward Jiang Ran from time to time.
So fair.
At first, Su Wanqing had thought Jiang Ran was quite thin and bony, but she hadn’t expected her skin to be so pale.
It was hard to imagine; she had thought Jiang Ran’s complexion was a bit sallow, but underneath, it was snowy white.
As she was thinking, Jiang Ran noticed Su Wanqing’s gaze.
She realized Su Wanqing had been glancing at her intentionally or unintentionally for a while now.
She didn’t know what she was looking at, but those eyes were scanning her as if there were dirt on her body.
Jiang Ran did not bother to manage it, guessing Su Wanqing probably had her own little thoughts.
She continued watching the movie, while Su Wanqing remained restless.
The more she looked, the more excited she became, wishing she could start “exploring” right then and there.
If her rationality hadn’t been holding her back, she would have treated this place like her own bed.
Helpless, she forced herself to calm down and then took another cautious glance.
This time, she could even see Jiang Ran’s underarm.
Dammit, why wouldn’t this girl just let her touch her?
Realizing this might be her best chance, Su Wanqing lightly poked Jiang Ran’s shoulder.
“I have some food over here. Help me grab it.”
‘Oh, okay.’
Jiang Ran stood up.
Just as she leaned over to reach for the items, Su Wanqing suddenly pulled Jiang Ran into her arms.