No Wonder Couples Love Watching Movies
How could she possibly blame her senior? Qin Ran understood Yu Shuman's intentions—everything she did was for her own good. Of course, Qin Ran wouldn't hold anything against her.
As they strolled down the tree-lined avenue on campus, holding hands, Qin Ran and Yu Shuman walked side by side. The evergreen trees flanked the path, their leaves still lush even in winter. Yu Shuman's hands weren't particularly soft, a result of three years of part-time jobs, working hard even in the heat of summer, leaving her hands somewhat rough. But Qin Ran's hands weren't much better—both had come from poor circumstances.
Yu Shuman had no choice but to work; her situation demanded it. Qin Ran, on the other hand, chose this life willingly. Now that they had better conditions, Qin Ran began to scheme. She planned to have Li Jie encourage Yu Shuman to take better care of her hands. It wasn't that she wanted to erase Yu Shuman's past hardships, but seeing her rough hands made Qin Ran feel a pang of heartache.
They walked together, soon arriving at the library. Even during the New Year holiday, the library was filled with diligent students. There would always be studious types preparing for exams, camped out in study rooms and at library desks. After wandering around for a bit, Qin Ran and Yu Shuman finally found a couple of open seats, though they had to sit apart.
Qin Ran placed her bag on the seat, then went to the shelves to pick out a few books and started reading. Unlike the diligent Yu Shuman, who immersed herself in borrowed notes, Qin Ran opted for something lighter, even picking up a copy of Fashion & Trends.
Qin Ran was relaxed, just as she had been in her previous life—she didn't have to worry about her future. She could enjoy the conveniences that money brought her without a care. She was lucky. In her past life, her parents were wealthy, and she never had to worry about money, only needing to follow the path laid out for her to inherit the family business. This time around, it was even simpler—she didn't even have the pressure of becoming an heir; she just needed to enjoy life and spend money.
But this kind of life was empty. She had no personal goals, no dreams like everyone else. Aside from binding herself to Yu Shuman and starting an entertainment company for her, she had hardly ever considered doing anything on her own initiative.
Maybe that's why the system had her bind herself to someone—to actively pursue something for someone else.
Reading became dull quickly, especially since Qin Ran had stayed up late the night before. In the air-conditioned study room, she began to feel drowsy. Before she knew it, she set her book aside and laid her head down for a nap. She had only intended to rest her eyes, but she ended up drifting off.
In her dream, Qin Ran found herself recalling events from her past life. She had reached the age when it was time to marry, and her parents pressured her into attending blind dates. They didn't care how impressive the man's family background was, as long as he wasn't a complete disaster. What they wanted was a man willing to marry into the family and give them a grandchild who would carry their surname. Qin Ran, lacking a strong will in these matters, went along with their demands.
She went on those dates, but in the end, she never found anyone she liked.
In the dream, Qin Ran couldn't remember what the man across from her looked like, mainly because she barely paid attention during those dates, only having meals before heading home. To be blunt, she found those men unimpressive. Her parents wouldn't arrange dates with someone from a similarly wealthy background because such a person wouldn't agree to marry into their family. They also avoided men who were the only sons; any potential suitor had to have an older brother, so her parents could be sure of their decision. And besides family background, personal accomplishments were crucial too.
Her parents had gone to great lengths to help her find a match. In the dream, she sat in a restaurant, watching one man after another until a bright and lively woman appeared. The woman wore a dress that resembled one of Qin Ran's favorite anime characters' outfits, her face beaming with a smile. Then Qin Ran heard her say, "Junior…"
Did I have a senior like that? Qin Ran wondered, still in a daze, when she heard the next words: "Wake up."
The senior's voice was soft, as if she were whispering in Qin Ran's ear. But the next moment, Qin Ran jolted awake. She instinctively wiped her mouth, worried she might have drooled in her sleep. Dreaming about going on a date with Yu Shuman could definitely make someone drool!
Fortunately, her mouth was clean—no drool in sight.
Qin Ran lifted her head to find Yu Shuman gently poking her cheek. Her face flushed instantly, embarrassed that she had dozed off in the study room instead of reading seriously. Sure enough, Yu Shuman's eyes sparkled with amusement as she said, "Junior, it's already four-thirty. Let's pack up and head out."
Qin Ran was surprised she had slept until four-thirty. She remembered checking her phone just before resting her eyes; it had only been a little after two. Yet here she was, waking up two hours later. Feeling awkward, she turned her face into her arms.
Yu Shuman chuckled softly. "Come on, stop being shy. Let's go." She helped Qin Ran up from the desk, gathering her things. Qin Ran returned the books she had borrowed, keeping the copy of Fashion & Trends to check out, and followed Yu Shuman outside. After grabbing a simple dinner on campus, Yu Shuman suggested they go see a movie.
Qin Ran agreed, and they headed to the mall in the university district to catch a recently released film, a domestic romance movie. Qin Ran hadn't expected to end up watching this genre, but it was the only movie with a convenient showtime.
Neither of them was particularly excited about watching a domestic romance film. Let's be honest, everyone knows that genre can be hit or miss. Usually, unless someone is paying to see their favorite actor, it's rare to go out of the way for this type of movie. And when the title includes generic words like "love" or "you," there's a good chance it'll be a flop.
But they didn't have much choice. After dinner, this was the only movie that fit their schedule, ensuring they'd make it back to the dorms before curfew. Qin Ran could stay out since she wasn't living on campus, but Yu Shuman hadn't yet been assigned to the artist dorms, so she had to return to school. Missing curfew would leave Yu Shuman with nowhere to go.
So, they exchanged a glance, and Qin Ran reluctantly said, "Let's go with this one."
"Sure," Yu Shuman agreed without hesitation, paying for the tickets. Qin Ran didn't argue about who should pay; in Yu Shuman's mind, she was still just a poor student. If Qin Ran insisted on paying, it would definitely raise suspicion. Besides… Yu Shuman's salary came from her anyway, so whether Yu Shuman paid or she did, it was practically the same thing. Not to mention, Qin Ran made sure Yu Shuman's salary was more than enough.
Yu Shuman was more financially comfortable now and even bought them both popcorn and soda. Though it was a combo deal from a review app, it still showed how her circumstances had improved. Qin Ran held the drink Yu Shuman handed her, slung her backpack over her shoulders, and followed Yu Shuman into the theater just in time.
To be honest, this was Qin Ran's first time at the cinema since crossing over, and it didn't seem much different from the theaters in her past life. But compared to the high-end cinemas she used to frequent in luxury malls, the university town cinema felt a bit rundown. There was nothing surprising about that, though—after all, the mall had been around for years, and it was natural that the cinema's facilities weren't top-notch.
Following Yu Shuman, they found their seats. Since they had bought the tickets late, they didn't get the best seats, but they weren't too bad—just a little close to the front. This was somewhat unexpected for Qin Ran; she thought a film that screamed "I'm a flop" wouldn't attract much of a crowd.
But to her surprise, by the time the movie was about to start, many student couples had entered, holding hands and taking their seats. As the lights dimmed, Qin Ran couldn't help but reflect: even the draw of popular young actors and actresses had its limits, but clearly, they still had enough star power to fill seats.
Maybe this was the power of star appeal.
Qin Ran didn't really understand the entertainment industry. Her family's business in her past life was in manufacturing, and while they needed spokespeople, those were handled by her subordinates; all she did was sign off on the proposals. Although a brand's reputation could be influenced by celebrities, companies in sectors entirely unrelated to fashion or trends were rarely affected by them.
She only researched the industry when her family acquired a gaming company, but before she could delve deeply, the company was handed over to a manager appointed by her parents.
Now, Qin Ran was willing to learn everything she could about the entertainment industry for Yu Shuman. The Fashion & Trends magazine in her backpack was proof of her effort. Her efforts weren't limited to just this magazine—she was quietly acquiring knowledge in ways others couldn't see.
In the dim theater, the screen began to glow, and as the film progressed, the title appeared on the screen. Though Qin Ran wasn't an expert, audiences are the best judges of an actor's performance. While they might not distinguish the subtleties between two seasoned actors, they would quickly pick up on anyone whose acting was subpar.
Recent domestic films and TV dramas, especially those involving romance, often showcased lead actors with questionable acting skills; even non-romantic films might shove a popular idol into the mix. If seasoned actors were involved, the comparison often highlighted the idol's inadequacies; if not, the entire production's acting would be a disaster.
These were the kinds of films Qin Ran found unbearable.
She even felt a bit bored, thinking she might doze off again. Qin Ran slouched in her seat, feeling rather lethargic. Taking advantage of the darkness, she snuck a glance at her senior. But maybe she was staring too intently because Yu Shuman caught her in the act.
Yu Shuman turned, meeting her gaze, and Qin Ran, embarrassed, quickly looked away. But as soon as Yu Shuman wasn't looking, she glanced back at her again. She thought to herself: Watching movies is great. The light from the screen illuminated Yu Shuman's face, highlighting her beauty in the shadows. And Qin Ran could secretly admire her without getting caught.
Every time she reached for popcorn, her fingers would sometimes brush against Yu Shuman's, making Qin Ran feel a shy thrill as if she were doing something mischievous.
—No wonder couples love going to the movies.
Qin Ran: I love watching movies!
Wipe your drool before senior catches you.