Dragon Clan: Lu Mingfei Returns from Japan

Chapter 661 Holding Hands
After finishing lunch at McDonald's, there was less than an hour left before the movie started.

Lu Mingfei and Aki took the elevator to the Wanda Cinema on the fourth floor of the Ocean Crystal Mall. A poster for "Secret" was prominently displayed in the cinema. Forty minutes before the movie started, a queue had already formed at the ticket gate.

Fortunately, Lu Mingfei and his group arrived relatively early, and they were positioned in the middle of the queue with Aki. They didn't wait too long before the entrance to the screening room started pre-screening their tickets.

Lu Mingfei and Aki handed their tickets to the ticket inspector, who tore off the ticket and returned the stub: "Secret is in screening room 10. Go straight in after you enter, and it's at the very end."

"Thank you," Aki said with a smile.

Lu Mingfei and Aki had just entered the screening room when Zhao Menghua arrived at the cinema entrance. His mix of a Burberry sugar-coated top and Balenciaga color-blocked shorts made everyone who passed by take a second look.

Zhao Menghua showed no impatience whatsoever, maintaining his composure throughout. Shouldn't the protagonist be the one who stands out? Holding the flowers, he glanced down at the dial of his Patek Philippe watch. There was still nearly half an hour before the movie officially started; he shouldn't be too late.

"Zhao Menghua?"

A familiar voice rang in his ears, but Zhao Menghua's smile froze, revealing a somewhat surprised expression... because the voice greeting him was a man's.

Zhao Menghua subconsciously turned around in the direction of the sound. The class monitor looked at Zhao Menghua with a look of astonishment that made it hard to tell whether he was looking at a god or a human... or rather, he was looking at a god-like figure.

The class monitor suddenly hesitated, and the thought arose in his mind that he regretted taking the initiative to greet Zhao Menghua.

Because this guy's outfit was so avant-garde, mixing and matching all sorts of this year's trendy elements, and he was holding a large bouquet of red roses, he looked like a performance artist.

However, he was, after all, an acquaintance of Zhao Menghua's. His relationship with Zhao Menghua had always been decent, and Zhao Menghua had often given him benefits when he sought information about Lin Huihui through him. It was only natural to greet him since they had bumped into each other at the movie theater.

The class monitor's gaze fell on the bouquet of flowers in Zhao Menghua's arms, and he said, "What a coincidence... waiting for someone?"

Zhao Menghua nodded hesitantly, thinking to himself, "Isn't this obvious?" He felt a little out of place about his encounter with the class monitor at the movie theater entrance, thinking that the other person was really too oblivious.

His carefully crafted smile was reserved for Lin Huihui, not for this guy. What should have been a perfect day would likely be marred by this little incident.

Fortunately, he was still in a very good mood, and he said, "Yes. You've come to see a movie?"

"Yes."

The class monitor nodded, feeling the glances from those around him, and wanted to end the conversation quickly: "...Shall I go first? You can continue with your work?"

Zhao Menghua was more than happy to agree and readily nodded in agreement. After waving his hand, the class monitor immediately stepped into the movie theater. Zhao Menghua readjusted his smile and continued to wait for Lin Huihui.

He stood there for a while at the movie theater entrance, but no one came. Zhao Menghua glanced at his watch again; it was almost time for the movie to start. He scratched his head, wondering if he was too late.

Lin Huihui had actually arrived long ago, but she didn't wait for him, so she went in first.
Zhao Menghua took out his phone to call Lin Huihui, but then suddenly realized that he didn't seem to have Lin Huihui's phone number.

Regardless of the situation, it was time to get into the theater. Zhao Menghua turned and walked into the cinema to have his ticket checked. Following the ticket collector's instructions, he found screening room number 10. The movie had just started when he entered the room, and the familiar word "Dragon" appeared on the big screen at the beginning of the film.

All the lights in the screening room were off, making it pitch black and impossible to see where you were going. Zhao Menghua could only find his seat by the faint light from his cell phone.

"Row 7, Seat 8, Row 7, Seat 8..."

He looked at the ticket stub in his hand while scanning the glow-in-the-dark signs on the movie seats. He found his seat in row 7, squeezed through the gap between people's legs, and his heart skipped a beat when he got to his seat.

There's someone sitting in seat number 9 of row 7 next to me!

Seat 9 in row 7 was the movie ticket Zhao Menghua gave to Lin Huihui. The movie had just started to play its opening credits in the dim light. In the dark theater, people couldn't see each other's faces, but with the faint light from the screen, Zhao Menghua could still vaguely make out the outline of a person in seat 9 in row 7.

He was instantly overjoyed and quietly sat down in seat number 8 of row 7. Suddenly, he complained that the ticket inspector at the door wouldn't let him bring the roses in, otherwise he could have given them to Lin Huihui right now. That bouquet of fragrant roses had cost him quite a bit of money.

On screen, Jay Chou followed the sound of a piano into a piano classroom, where he bumped into Gwei Lun-mei. Zhao Menghua, however, was no longer interested in the movie; his mind was preoccupied with Lin Huihui sitting next to him.

How could Gwei Lun-mei be as pretty as Lin Hui-hui? He's not blind. The reason he pursued Lin Hui-hui in the first place was because he happened to see her without makeup at the hospital on a rainy day, and she looked several levels prettier than usual. She was even better than Su Xiao-qiang.

If Lin Huihui hadn't been in front of him in line and he hadn't caught a glimpse of her name on her ID card, he might not have recognized her. It has to be said, Lin Huihui's makeup skills are truly terrible. How much prettier does she look without makeup?
That's not right either. If Lin Huihui didn't wear makeup, she would probably have many more suitors, which would mean more competition. It's fine as it is now.

The more he thought about it, the more complicated his mind became. He felt that Lin Huihui's acceptance of his date meant that his position in her heart had definitely improved and that he was different from others.

In the movie, Jay Chou rides his bicycle to take Gwei Lun-mei home. Gwei Lun-mei gently puts her hands on Jay Chou's shoulders, and the two chat about their favorite musicians.

That being said... it shouldn't be a problem if I hold Lin Huihui's hand now, right?
Girls aren't stupid; the fact that she accepted the boy's invitation means she also accepts his feelings. Today is the day to seize the opportunity. Who knows what might happen next year when she's in her second year of high school and her studies are more demanding?

The more Zhao Menghua thought about it, the more reasons he had, and he felt it was time to take the initiative. But suddenly grabbing the girl's hand might seem too abrupt.

He thought for a moment, then glanced sideways at the hand resting on the armrest to his left, and suddenly had an idea.

He could first pretend to put his hand on the armrest, then pretend to accidentally touch Lin Huihui's hand. If she didn't flinch, it meant she accepted the touch, and he could then take the next step and hold her hand.

"Let's do it!" Zhao Menghua took a deep breath, pretending to put his hand on the armrest, but actually touched the hand next to him, glancing sideways at him discreetly.

Lin Huihui didn't dodge!

Zhao Menghua was overjoyed, thinking that the water he had been watering for so long had finally sprouted. Without hesitation, he decisively covered the other hand with his own, their fingers intertwined!
Why are Huihui's hands so big?

Zhao Menghua muttered something strange to himself, then turned his head with a smile—

Then I saw the terrified face of the class monitor.

Zhao Menghua: "???"

He was completely dumbfounded.

Wait, what's going on? Where's that big guy, Huihui? How come the person sitting next to him is this guy?
The class monitor was also dumbfounded. Looking at Zhao Menghua's hand intertwined with his own, he wondered when Zhao Menghua had changed his taste... and he hadn't even worn white socks today.
"How did you end up here?" Zhao Menghua couldn't help but ask.

The class monitor couldn't help but speak up, "Could you let go of my hand first..." Zhao Menghua paused upon hearing this, only then realizing that he was still holding hands with the class monitor. No wonder he had thought the hand was so big and rough before... He immediately pulled his hand away from the other person's hand.

The class monitor also withdrew his hand; the back of his hand, which had just been covered by Zhao Menghua's broad palm, still retained its warmth...

He replied, "I'm here to watch a movie, Jay Chou's 'Secret.' Aren't you here to watch a movie too?"

"Of course I know you're here to watch a movie."

Zhao Menghua said irritably, "How could I be irritable? Damn it, after something like this happened, I'm probably going to have nightmares all night."

"I'm asking why you're sitting in this seat," Zhao Menghua said. "Shouldn't this be Lin Huihui's seat?"

"Lin Huihui?"

“你跟我说的林绘绘喜欢周杰伦。我特意找我爸托关系，搞来的《不能说的秘密》试映会的电影票，还是特意选了7排8座7排9座这两个最中间的黄金座位。7排9座我给了林绘绘。”

The class monitor suddenly seemed to understand something, and took out the movie ticket from his pocket and unfolded it in front of Zhao Menghua. Zhao Menghua looked at it with the light from the screen and saw that the ticket stub clearly showed the seat number of row 7, seat 9.

Zhao Menghua was stunned: "How did the ticket end up with you?"

The class monitor truthfully replied, "Lin Huihui gave it to me... Ah, it's not what you think. On Friday afternoon, our class had a big cleaning session, right? Lin Huihui was in charge of cleaning the windows, but she accidentally fell off the table while cleaning them, and it seemed like she was quite badly hurt. A few girls from the class and I rushed her to the hospital, and I even paid for her medical expenses. Lin Huihui gave me this ticket as a thank you gift, saying that in her condition, she probably wouldn't be able to go to the movies on Sunday."

After hearing what the class monitor said, Zhao Menghua suddenly realized what had happened. He had originally thought that Lin Huihui didn't want to watch the movie with him, so she had given the ticket he had given her to the class monitor.

It turned out that things weren't like that at all; she had injured her foot and that's why she couldn't come... He almost misunderstood Huihui.

Knowing that Lin Huihui hadn't deliberately stood him up, Zhao Menghua felt a little better.

The reason Lin Huihui didn't tell him she couldn't keep the appointment was probably because she didn't have his contact information either.

However, the originally happy date was suddenly ruined, and Zhao Menghua couldn't help but feel annoyed. He stared at the class monitor and said, "Lin Huihui is already quite petite, why did you arrange for her to clean the windows? There are some places on the top of the windows that she can't reach, so she'll have to stand on tiptoe."

The class monitor was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself, "So it's my fault that Lin Huihui fell and was hospitalized?"
Just then, a clear female voice came from behind, sounding listless and impatient: "Can you please stop talking? If you want to chat, go outside and chat. This is a movie theater."

Upon hearing this, both of them subconsciously turned around and glanced at the screen. The screening room was dimly lit, and all they could see was a high ponytail and a beautiful profile that made it hard to look away.

She turned out to be a stunning beauty.

If it weren't for the intimidating aura emanating from the other person, the class monitor felt he would have definitely taken a second look.

Hearing the two little kids in front of her finally stop making a sound, Su Enxi couldn't help but whisper, "Long legs, you're so cool!"

"You shut up too!" Mai Shude said coldly.

Su Enxi pouted, feeling wronged, thinking to herself, "Mai, you're being too harsh... It's not like I'm the one who's bothering you to watch Jay Chou."

The theater finally quieted down again, with only soothing music and the awkward dialogue of the movie playing, interspersed with the "crunch" of popcorn being eaten and the "slurp" of slurping cola through a straw.

The classic scene of Jay Chou and Yuhao's piano duel was shown on screen. Aki rested her head on Lu Mingfei's shoulder and whispered, "Jay Chou looks kind of handsome playing the piano."

Lu Mingfei said, "Aki-chan, just a heads-up, you're leaning on your boyfriend's shoulder right now. Is it really okay to praise another guy's looks in front of your boyfriend?"

Aki raised her eyes, smiled faintly, and said, "What, junior brother, are you jealous of Jay Chou?"

Lu Mingfei nodded: "Yes, I'm jealous. Senior sister, how are you going to coax me?"

Since it was her first time dating, Aki was a little unsure whether Lu Mingfei was genuinely jealous or just pretending. She could only say, "Um... I want to apologize to you?"

"How should we apologize?" Lu Mingfei asked.

As soon as she finished speaking, Aki gently closed her eyes and suddenly looked up.

Before Lu Mingfei could react, Aki had already pulled away, her face flushed slightly in the light of the movie screen. It wasn't until the soft touch slowly spread across his lips that Lu Mingfei realized what had just happened.

Aki just kissed herself.

To be honest, Aki's sudden attack was somewhat unexpected by Lu Mingfei.

After all, whether it was Liu Miaomiao, Xiaotiannv, or Chen Wenwen, these girls were all quite shy when they first started dating Lu Mingfei. They definitely wouldn't have been able to take the initiative to kiss Lu Mingfei in a crowded place like a movie theater.

Lu Mingfei had to adjust... no, I mean, guide... step by step, slowly.

Is this what a senior student looks like? Even in her romantic relationships, she's more proactive than girls her age like Miaomiao and Wenwen.

However, looking at Aki's slightly flushed face, Lu Mingfei knew that Aki was actually still very shy.

Aki bit her lip and looked up at Lu Mingfei, asking, "Is this enough of an apology?"

Lu Mingfei clicked his tongue, still somewhat unsatisfied: "I didn't fully grasp it just now, could you apologize again, Senior Sister?"

Aki snorted: "Lu Mingfei, you're getting a little greedy, aren't you?"

……

Zhao Menghua's eyebrows suddenly twitched.

What did he just hear?
Lu Mingfei?
……

(End of this chapter)