A Single Person's Infinite Wonderful Life

Sui Jin laughed and said, "That's the unique feature of this place. Anyway, the owner is rich. The land and building of the movie theater belong to him. He can do whatever he wants with it. Locals like to come here to take advantage of the cheap prices. You can watch a movie for just 100 yuan and enjoy air conditioning. How comfortable is that?"

Li Wei smiled and shook his head. If this boss is really just creating a persona, then he's really willing to invest too much.

Chapter 4. Claw Machine

Li Wei and Sui Jin, looking like a real couple, arrived at the claw machine in the lobby. Since there was still some time before the movie started, and they had nothing to do in the lobby's rest area, they went to the entertainment area.

Sui Jin exchanged some game tokens at the front desk to use in the claw machine game.

Sui Jin said, "Let's try our luck today. I've played claw machines here before, but I've never been able to win a prize. The money I've spent on claw machines is enough to buy several large plush toys."

Li Wei laughed and said, "There's a saying that claw machines are like piggy banks, only the kind where you can't withdraw money."

Suijin said, "I've read both the anime and the original manga of Lucky Star, and I've seen Konata Izumi's famous quote."

Li Wei said, "I didn't expect you to have seen them too. But now it's a new era, and these old works have almost become tears of time."

Sui Jin said, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, I don't watch anime just because it's trendy. I care more about my own feelings, so I only watch anime that I like. Nowadays, the new otaku style has a lot of people who are 'normies' mixed in. Those guys can't be considered real otaku."

Li Wei said, "Oh? There's such a saying?"

Sui Jin inserted the game tokens into the claw machine, pressed the start button, and began to control the movement of the machine's claw arm.

Sui Jin said, "Isn't it obvious? Those guys are just trying to attract attention at anime conventions. They all cosplay whatever character is currently popular, making most of the cosplays at the convention the same character. Although it's their freedom, to traditional otaku, these people are just like mullet that jump into the pond and cause trouble. Mullet will eat other fish."

Li Wei didn't seem to mind such things. After all, whether it's a new or old otaku, they're all members of the otaku community, and as long as what they do doesn't directly harm others, there's no problem. Direct harm here refers to physical harm, verbal or cyberbullying, and other forms of psychological harm. As long as these two taboos aren't violated, every otaku has the right to do what they like. And in his view, cosplaying a character because of a love for them, or simply to ride the wave of popularity, is perfectly acceptable.

Of course, Li Wei can't tolerate everything. There's a saying in the cosplay community: "Don't criticize a cosplayer's appearance." This means that if a cosplayer's looks and physique don't match the requirements of the character they're portraying, and they still manage to portray the character, even if the effect doesn't meet expectations, others can't directly criticize that cosplayer.

In Li Wei's opinion, it depends on the situation. If someone's physical attributes aren't up to par and they insist on cosplaying a character, it's fine as long as it's not too outrageous. But if someone is 1.4 meters tall, weighs 100 pounds, and is as fat as a beer barrel, yet insists on cosplaying a cute girl character, that's going too far. Appearing like that at a comic convention is creating mental pollution for others. In this case, Li Wei thinks it's quite reasonable for the cosplayer to be criticized; after all, mental harm is still harm.

Li Wei said, "There's really no need to care about this kind of thing. Time will wash away the sand, and those are just people who are into socializing for fun. Once they get tired of it, they'll go back to their own circles. They're just passersby in the otaku culture. But to be honest, most of the otaku culture in Japan is indeed not very impressive. Although a few elite individuals are raising the bar, there are some oddballs who are lowering the bar."

This world also has Tsutomu Miyazaki, and similarly, Hayao Miyazaki in this world almost destroyed the entire otaku community and ACGN industry.

However, in the real world, Tsutomu Miyazaki was executed, while in this world, he was bailed out of prison by the angry members of the main family through special means, and then brutally dismembered. This serial rapist and murderer who almost destroyed the ACGN industry, a devil who specifically targeted young girls, had his flesh sliced ​​off piece by piece by the wakizashi. It has to be said that daring to touch the main family's cake will result in such a miserable end.

The overall output value of the ACGN-related industry is enormous. Because of this one bad apple, the whole pot of soup was almost overturned. Therefore, most people applauded Miyazaki Tsutomu's death. Ordinary people had long wanted this devil dead, but the Japanese death penalty system is notoriously slow; a case from 2000 was dragged on until 2000, after the turn of the millennium, before the execution was carried out. And the otaku community also wanted this piece of trash who tarnished the reputation of otaku culture to pay the price.

When the video of Tsutomu Miyazaki being tortured appeared online, it caused a nationwide uproar in Japan. Even the reputation of yakuza organizations was boosted during that time, proving that evil people could be punished.

Sui Jin said, "Humans are complex. With so many people, all kinds of people can appear. There are powerful saints, ordinary people who just lie down and do nothing, and even beasts who can't even be considered human. So it's normal for the otaku community to have a few oddballs who lower the bar."

The robotic arm reached its designated position, lowered itself, and precisely caught an adorable cat plush toy. The arm then lifted, hoisting the cat plush toy up.

Sui Jin's eyes lit up as she looked expectantly at the cat plushie. The robotic arm began to move, approaching the glass side. Just as it reached the end of the track, the robotic arm trembled, and the cat plushie fell straight down.

"Ugh! That's really bad, it shook way too hard!" Sui Jin complained as she inserted another game coin into the machine.

This time, she was eyeing the cat plush toy that had fallen off the corner of the track earlier. If she tried to catch it the first time, the track would only need to be traversed once, unlike before when it had to make a ten-degree turn. With fewer swaying motions, the chances of catching the plush toy would increase significantly.

However, this time, when the robotic arm tried to lift the cat plushie, it slipped and fell. Sui Jin spent almost all her remaining game tokens, but still couldn't pick up the cat plushie.

Sui Jin sighed and said, "Sure enough, claw machines are like piggy banks where money only goes in and never comes out. If we keep playing, the money we get from exchanging game tokens will be enough to buy a plush toy. We only have one token left, let's go exchange it back."

Li Wei laughed and said, "How about I give it a try? This is my last chance."

Sui Jin asked in surprise, "Li Weijun, have you ever played claw machines before?"

Li Wei shook his head.

Sui Jin said, "Then let's not waste this money. Even if you have money, you shouldn't waste it like this."

Li Wei said, "I had never tried playing claw machines before, but I was very lucky."

Li Wei wore a confident smile, and his sunny disposition captivated Sui Jin. Not only her, but all the other women in the hall frequently glanced in his direction, including the ticket seller at the front desk.

Chapter 1. Old Movies

Sui Jin stepped aside, and Li Wei took over the controls. He casually pressed the start button, and the robotic arm began to move. Soon, it stopped above the cat doll's head. Li Wei's movements were very fast, and the swing amplitude of the robotic arm was very small when it stopped.

Sui Jin was somewhat surprised, but she didn't say anything and patiently continued watching.

The robotic arm wobbled as it picked up the kitten plush toy and moved it towards the exit where it was supposed to fall. Although the arm seemed very shaky, the plush toy didn't fall. Before, the toy had fallen after just a slight wiggle of the arm, which she found incredibly unfair.

The doll spirit fell into the exit, rolled down with a gurgling sound, and stopped at the barrier tape at the feet of the two people.

Suijin said, "This... can only be explained by luck."

Li Wei raised a finger, like a self-important king, and laughed: "If I want, the world will change according to my will."

Sui Jin was stunned by Li Wei's almost shameless confidence. After a moment, she said, "I'll take it as true. But if that's the case, do you have a way to solve the problems that Tokyo is currently facing?"

Sui Jin decisively chose to undermine him, after all, there's a limit to boasting.

Li Wei laughed and said, "It's a bit difficult, but not impossible. The difficulty lies in your safety. I'm not alone anymore."

Sui Jin fell silent. She could sense that Li Wei was speaking very sincerely. Perhaps Li Wei really did have the ability to quell the chaos, but because they were by his side, he dared not act rashly. Moreover, Li Wei had no motive to do so, since it was not in his own interest.

Li Wei said, "There is no such thing as a perfect solution in the world. Even I can only make changes, and I dare not guarantee that I can make an absolute final decision."

Sui Jin realized she had oversimplified things. She looked at the display screen; the movie was about to start.

Li Wei said, "Now is not the time to talk about these things, the movie is about to start."

Li Wei took the kitten plush toy out of the cordon and placed it in Sui Jin's hand. He then took the food from her hand, as the food took up a lot of space and it wasn't convenient for the girl to hold.

After having their tickets checked, the two entered the cinema and found their seats. Because it wasn't peak time yet, the occupancy rate wasn't very high, only about 70%. There were no other audience members in front of, behind, or to the sides of their seats.

As the movie began, the lights in the theater dimmed, and Li Wei folded the armrests of their seats back, closing the distance between them.

Ten minutes into the movie, Sui Jin's expression changed considerably because the two of them had "confessed." The owner of this movie theater was an eccentric who loved to insert restricted B-movies into regular old films. The movie, "The One-Armed Swordsman vs. Zatoichi," which sounded like a sword fight film, was actually a bizarre horror movie.

Faced with this situation, Sui Jin could only smile wryly. Although it wasn't the first time she had used it, the previous ones were all old foreign B-movies. Although they were full of ketchup, they were just visually impactful. In addition, due to the limited technology at the time, what seemed terrifying to people back then actually looked somewhat comical to today's audiences.

However, this movie is a horror film produced in Japan. Japan and the country of ladyboys have a very high level of expertise in horror films, and even this old movie is very scary.

Li Wei could sense the girl's feelings, but he didn't say anything. He simply took her hand, and at that moment, Sui Jin's palms began to sweat.

Li Wei used to dislike watching horror movies. He disliked the feeling of helplessness, watching the protagonist make endless mistakes and end up wiping out the entire group. Such plots were truly unsettling.

In comparison, Li Wei prefers Uncle Ying's zombie movies. Even when he was just an ordinary person, watching Uncle Ying's horror movies filled him with a sense of security. After all, Uncle Ying and his fellow disciples had never failed in their demon-slaying missions. Of course, Uncle Ying's two apprentices were always a handful.

There's a master in the story who can subdue demons and monsters. Even if something unexpected happens, this master can keep things under control. That's the type of person he likes.

Unfortunately, due to policy restrictions, ghost movies in China are not allowed to feature actual ghosts; instead, actors have to pretend to be supernatural, making it impossible to produce traditional horror films. Furthermore, with the passing of veteran actors and the current generation of young actors lacking the capacity to carry the horror genre, coupled with the fact that budgets and popular stars don't favor horror films, the domestic horror film industry is declining further.

Sui Jin gripped Li Wei's hand tightly. She was completely absorbed in the story, her emotions shifting with the protagonist's experiences. The so-called One-Armed Swordsman and Zatoichi were actually dead monsters. In life, both were heroic figures, but after their deaths, they were transformed into monsters by the resentment of the Thousand-Man Pit. The protagonist, Xingren, a modern person, was a frontline worker for a real estate company and needed to understand the construction site. So, he only brought about ten people with him into the monsters' territory, which led to the adventure that followed.

Although the movie only lasts for about ten minutes, it has already explained everything that needed to be explained. It has to be said that the older generation of directors are indeed very skilled; their sense of pacing is something that not many people can control.

Li Wei released his grip, startling Sui Jin. This was precisely the dramatic moment in the plot. However, Li Wei's hand slipped over her shoulder, and he put his arm around her, pulling her close to his chest.

Watching a horror movie like this, with no other viewers around, can easily create a feeling of loneliness, so Li Wei pulled her close to his side.

Li Wei said softly, "No matter what, I will be by your side, so the movie is not scary."

With her shoulder embraced, Sui Jin felt a surge of courage. The terrifying scenes on the big screen suddenly seemed less frightening, all thanks to the courage Li Wei had given her.

Held tightly in Li Wei's arms, Sui Jin calmed down, letting go of her previous anxieties, and began to genuinely enjoy the movie. She was unaware that she felt no resistance whatsoever to this state of mind, finding it perfectly normal.

Chapter. Sense of security

Deep down, Sui Jin lacks a sense of security. Although she had a relatively happy childhood, the memories of which gave her the courage to keep going, the early death of her parents forced her to face the harsh realities of society prematurely. Without a mentor, she has paid a lot of tuition to get to where she is today.

It is precisely because of this that Suijin is very vigilant. She holds a pessimistic view of interpersonal relationships. The reason she was able to become friends with Sunohara Ayaka is because they had spent many years together and had a thorough understanding of each other, which enabled them to trust each other.

But now, Li Wei's presence has broken the shackles in her heart. Although she hasn't spent much time with Li Wei, she is already able to trust him.

Sui Jin said softly, "I'll never pick a movie with such a strange name again. It's easy to get caught if you're not careful. But actually, it's quite good now. Old movies were really amazing."

Li Wei simply smiled and said nothing. Old movies also evolved from newer ones; classics naturally survive to this day, but many more low-budget productions of mediocre quality are forgotten by time. It's not that all old movies are classics, but any old movie that can be seen by people today, no matter how bad, can't be too bad.

Suijin felt as if she had returned to her childhood, and she felt an indescribable sense of security. At this moment, she let go of her usual pride, and this feeling of relaxation was something she had not been able to experience since she became an adult. It was only when she was with Haruhara Ayaka, who liked to take care of people, that she could completely relax.

Sui Jin whispered, "Li Weijun, you smell like summer. It's incredible."

Li Wei said, "Scent? I take a bath every day, and I don't use perfume, so where would I get any special scent?"

Li Wei was pretending to be ignorant. This kind of scent is like a unique calling card for each person. Because everyone's DNA is different, their bodies will emit different scents. And this scent is a kind of hormone used to attract the opposite sex. The human external perception system is not so comprehensive. It focuses more on light and sound. As for smell, the human sense of smell is relatively weak. We can only vaguely detect the existence of this scent.

Having surpassed the limits of ordinary people and fundamentally elevated his status, Li Wei's scent was naturally different from that of ordinary people, and his attractiveness to the opposite sex reached a level unimaginable to ordinary people.

If we put ourselves in her shoes, just as a stunning beauty is to a man, Li Wei is just as dazzling to a woman.

Sui Jin said, "Hmm... this smell is very peculiar, so peculiar that I feel my language is so inadequate, I can't find the words to describe this smell. But when I smell this smell, I can calm down, my heart becomes stable and peaceful, all kinds of negative emotions seem to go out of control, it's a bit like the enlightenment that Buddhism talks about."

Li Wei said, "This is too exaggerated."

Sui Jin smiled and said, "Maybe so."

Sui Jin had convinced herself that she no longer cared about other girls around Li Wei. Now, all she needed to do was enjoy the time she spent alone with Li Wei.

When the movie ended and the lights came on, Sui Jin reluctantly moved her head off Li Wei's shoulder. Watching a movie while leaning on Li Wei's shoulder was a very enjoyable thing, but it was a bit bad for her heart. Throughout the movie, she found it difficult to concentrate on the plot on the big screen. The summer scent lingering in her nose made it hard for her to control her attention.

Sui Jin felt a little regretful; the movie ended far too quickly. She was still lingering in the ambiance of being alone with him, a slightly romantic atmosphere that she really enjoyed.

When she walked out of the movie theater, Sui Jin still seemed reluctant to leave.

"How about we get up and watch a movie another time?" Sui Jin's tone was calm, but she was cautious. Li Wei didn't have much time, so she didn't expect him to agree to her request.

"Yes, of course. I didn't expect the old movies from Japan to be so interesting," Li Wei said with a smile.

Li Wei's answer delighted Sui Jin, and she almost couldn't contain her excitement.

"Won't this delay your business, Li Weijun?" Sui Jin asked.

"How could that be? I'm currently in seclusion, and I don't have anything too important to do. I'm mostly free. Otherwise, how would I have time to tutor Cai Cai and the others?" Li Wei said with a smile.