Chapter 50: The Movie Date
Sheng Wanyan nodded and walked away, deliberately ignoring him like a heartless woman. She left behind a man who was gritting his teeth in sheer excitement, nearly jumping for joy behind her back.
Only when the beautiful figure completely vanished from his sight did Gu Tingxiao finally loosen his clenched fists. The cold sweat pooling in his palms was practically ready to drip. He took a few deep, stabilizing breaths to calm his racing heart, then immediately sprinted toward the cinema to secure their tickets for that evening.
The moment Sheng Wanyan clocked out of work, she found Gu Tingxiao waiting faithfully by the factory gates, a massive pile of snacks cradled in his arms.
He had made a special trip to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative just to buy a pound of roasted melon seeds, a few bottles of soda, and a box of fresh pastries. He had been terrified that she might get bored or hungry while watching the film later. The second he saw her emerge from the building, he instantly smoothed down his military uniform and strode over, carefully balancing the treats.
“I bought some snacks,” he said, his chest rising slightly. “We can grab a bite to eat first and then head straight to the theater. Is there anything else you’d like?”
Gu Tingxiao proudly displayed his haul. Sheng Wanyan looked over the pile and quickly shook her head. “No, this is more than enough.”
After all, she didn’t dare waste a single scrap of food. The memory of his relentless cleaning of her lunch bowl earlier that day was still vividly etched in her mind.
“Alright, then let’s head over to the State-Owned Restaurant for dinner first.”
“I need to go home and let my family know I won’t be eating there,” Wanyan noted. If she didn’t warn them, Mother Sheng would undoubtedly cook her portion, and the leftovers would just end up being saved for the next day.
“I’ve already stopped by and informed Auntie,” Gu Tingxiao admitted. He looked at her nervously, suddenly worried she might blame him for acting without her permission.
After all, when Mother Sheng had seen him at the door, her eyes had lit up as if they were already an official couple. But the reality was that he was still strictly in his trial period. He merely harbored a few tactical schemes of his own, hoping to enlist the Sheng elders as allies to firmly solidify his position.
Since he had already taken care of the logistics so efficiently, Sheng Wanyan had nothing left to say. She could only nod and go along with his arrangements.
Seeing that she wasn’t angry, Gu Tingxiao let out a massive sigh of relief. He handed the snacks over to her, took charge of her bicycle, and swung his long legs over the frame.
Sheng Wanyan carefully tucked the pastries and sodas into her canvas bag, stepped onto the back rack, and reached out to grip the fabric of his jacket around his waist. Gu Tingxiao’s mind instantly fractured at the sudden, delicate touch. His entire body went rigid, and he stared straight ahead at the road, not daring to glance left or right.
“Let’s go,” she murmured.
Gu Tingxiao slammed his foot onto the pedal, steering them smoothly toward the State-Owned Restaurant.
At the restaurant, they ordered a large braised fish and two steaming bowls of chicken noodles. This time, Sheng Wanyan was fully prepared; she pulled out her wallet ahead of time, waiting eagerly at the cashier’s counter.
But Gu Tingxiao was a elite soldier, and his reflexes were terrifyingly fast. Before she could even extend her hand halfway across the counter, his cash and coupons had already landed in the waiter’s palm.
Once they settled at a corner table, Gu Tingxiao fixed her with an intensely earnest, solemn stare.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, please give me a proper chance to perform my duties,” he requested seriously.
Sheng Wanyan: “…”
Is it too late to revoke his trial period? she thought blankly.
“Comrade Sheng Wanyan, it is highly improper to form a bond with a man and then immediately cast him aside,” he added smoothly.
Sheng Wanyan felt a sudden lump form in her throat, her eyes widening as she stared at him. Was Gu Tingxiao a mind reader? It truly felt as though he could track every hidden thought running through her brain.
Under her unblinking gaze, the tips of Gu Tingxiao’s ears secretly flushed a deep crimson, though he managed to maintain a perfectly stoic, icy mask on the surface. Sheng Wanyan found herself constantly fascinated by this stark contrast. In the modern world she had left behind, it was incredibly rare to find a formidable man so innocent that a simple look could make him blush.
“Order forty-eight! Braised fish and two bowls of chicken noodles are ready!” the waiter bellowed, shattering the thick atmosphere.
Gu Tingxiao let out a quiet breath of relief, stood up, and retrieved their trays. He set the steaming bowls before her, pulled two pairs of wooden chopsticks from the communal container, and carefully handed her a pair.
Sheng Wanyan didn’t eat quickly; she chewed her food slowly and thoroughly, a graceful etiquette that was deeply ingrained in her bones. Noting this, Gu Tingxiao deliberately slowed his own pace, quietly sneaking glances at her between bites.
Sheng Wanyan caught him in the act and couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. This man truly possessed a unique ability to make her feel entirely amused and bewildered all at once.
Once Wanyan was completely full and laid down her chopsticks, Gu Tingxiao efficiently polished off the rest of the braised fish. With him around, there was absolutely no world in which food was allowed to go to waste.
Leaving the restaurant, the two pushed the bicycle along the sidewalk toward the theater, using the stroll to digest their heavy dinner.
Gu Tingxiao had selected a highly rated new release that centered on the profound revolutionary camaraderie between a heroic male and female protagonist. The cinemas of this era were incredibly rudimentary, consisting of nothing more than long rows of rough wooden benches facing a massive projector screen.
They navigated through the crowd to find their seats, matching the handwritten numbers on their paper slips. Their spot was situated dead-center in the fifth row—the premier vantage point that Gu Tingxiao had meticulously staked out early that morning to ensure she had the best experience possible.
As the lights went down, the room plunged into darkness, illuminated only by the flickering beam of the projector. Since it was a grainy, black-and-white print, the viewers relegated to the back rows could barely make out the details.
Sitting in her seat, Sheng Wanyan began cracking the melon seeds. Her personal habit was to painstakingly peel a small handful first, then pop them into her mouth all at once; she found the flavor tasted infinitely richer that way.
Noticing her preference, Gu Tingxiao quietly reached into the bag. He began peeling the seeds in silence, his fingers working rapidly until he accumulated a decent pile, then gently reached out to take her hand.
The moment his fingers brushed against her silky, delicate skin, Gu Tingxiao’s breathing instantly hitched. His mind automatically flashed back to the memory of her slender waist—so small, soft, and fragile. He forced himself to take a deep, steadying breath and carefully tipped the pile of clean kernels into her palm.
“Here,” he whispered. “I’ll peel them for you.”
Sheng Wanyan offered a small nod of thanks. Seeing that she didn’t reject his gesture, a massive wave of relief washed over Gu Tingxiao. As long as the clever girl didn’t actively resist his advances, it was an exceptional start.
Gu Tingxiao possessed impressive physical dexterity, and his hands moved with mechanical speed. The second Sheng Wanyan finished swallowing her current handful, another clean pile was smoothly deposited into her palm.
“You should eat some too,” she murmured, dividing the latest batch and holding half out to him. It was his money that had purchased the treats, after all; it felt wrong to let him do all the manual labor without a single complaint while she reaped the rewards.
Hearing her instruction, Gu Tingxiao instantly took the seeds and popped them into his mouth, determined to demonstrate that he was a compliant man who listened to his woman’s every word.
Sheng Wanyan found herself genuinely enjoying the film. The movies of this era were intensely idealistic, packed with rich character arcs and vibrant, patriotic messaging. Whenever a thrilling climax unfolded on the screen, the entire audience would erupt into synchronized, thunderous applause, creating an incredibly unified and harmonious atmosphere.
Wanyan watched with rapt attention. It was her first time experiencing a theater in this timeline, and she realized it was a spectacular way to pass the time. Since she had never seen these vintage archival films in her past life, the story felt entirely fresh and novel.
Seeing how focused she was, Gu Tingxiao refrained from interrupting her thoughts, silently uncapping her soda and passing her a sweet slice of cake at regular intervals. In his mind, watching a film without snacks reduced the enjoyment by half. It was a slight shame they lacked modern popcorn and cola, which would have made the experience truly perfect.
By the time the final credits rolled and they stepped out into the night air, the clock had already ticked past eight-forty—an exceptionally late hour by the standards of the town.
Gu Tingxiao pedaled his bicycle through the quiet streets, escorting her all the way into the tube-shaped compound and stopping right before her apartment door.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, glinting object, presenting it to her with a slightly hesitant look. “I bought this for you at the cooperative today. Take a look and see if you like it.”
It was a smooth, polished hairpin. Though the design was incredibly simple, it possessed a clean, elegant look that wasn’t the least bit tacky.
“The selection at the local cooperative was quite limited,” Gu Tingxiao added quickly, terrified she might find it plain. “Next time I’m assigned to a mission near the capital, I’ll have someone pull strings to source some premium pieces from the Friendship Store for you.”
