Chapter 151 What Are You Thinking About

Chapter 151: What Are You Thinking

It was a weekday, and the cinema wasn’t crowded. After browsing the options, the two settled on a recent romance film that was supposedly quite good.

Perhaps the film truly had decent word-of-mouth. When they entered the screening room, they were surprised to find that the spacious theater was about half-full. Upon closer inspection, most of the audience were young faces, sitting in pairs, radiating youthful awkwardness.

The two instinctively exchanged a glance before casually looking away moments later.

Their seats were near the middle-front, an ideal spot for viewing.

They took their seats one after the other. There was no one beside them, but diagonally in front sat a pair who appeared to be a young couple, likely fresh out of their college entrance exams.

Shen Qingye glanced over. The boy and girl were sitting extremely close, whispering into each other’s ears now and then, their closeness leaving no doubt.

Whether Yue Lingchuan noticed their actions or not, his hand tightened almost imperceptibly around hers, though he made no further move.

Shen Qingye lowered her lashes, veiling the laughter in her eyes.

The film soon began. Accompanied by the sound of drizzling rain, the story gradually unfolded before the audience.

Both were new to dating. Though they had come to watch a movie on a whim, they weren’t entirely sure what else to do. So, they focused on the screen, trying to immerse themselves in the plot.

But after one minute, two minutes, ten minutes… twenty minutes later, Shen Qingye blinked slowly at the flickering scenes, the shaky cinematography, and the still-unclear character relationships, completely lost about what story this was trying to tell.

Shen Qingye had little appreciation for artistic films, and this slow, meandering narrative style didn't speak to her. Yet, when she glanced sideways, she saw the man sitting upright, his gaze fixed intently on the screen, appearing utterly engrossed. She hesitated for a moment but ultimately stayed seated.

What followed was even more unpredictable. Somehow, the sudden intimacy taking viewers by surprise, the two characters in the car began kissing passionately. The slick sounds of their kissing echoed through the theater.

Normally, Shen Qingye wouldn’t have cared much for such scenes, but today was different—she was sitting beside her brand-new boyfriend…

She blinked and slowly averted her gaze from the screen.

Yue Lingchuan sat rigidly upright, looking the picture of composure, but the heat and slight stiffness of his hand gripping hers gave away his tension.

Shen Qingye paused, then unconsciously twitched her fingers. He immediately tightened his hold, only to loosen it again a second later.

She hesitated, then lifted her eyes to look at him. Yue Lingchuan lowered his head just in time, his dark eyes gleaming strikingly under the glow of the film.

Their gazes locked, and both found themselves holding their breath. Shen Qingye hooked her fingers slightly, tickling his palm. In response, he firmly clasped her restless hand again.

Shen Qingye curved her eyes and flashed him an angelic smile. Yue Lingchuan’s breath hitched, and he mouthed soundlessly:

*Don’t mess around.*

On screen, the protagonists’ kiss continued. Off screen, the smattering of young couples in the theater also became handsy, using the cover of darkness to sneakily engage in some mischief.

At this point, how many people were actually here for the movie itself?

The air in the theater grew charged. She could feel the heat coming off his hand.

*Thump, thump.* Her fingers inadvertently brushed against his wrist, and through the rhythm of his pulse, Shen Qingye could almost feel his racing heartbeat.

The man had already turned his head back, feigning interest in the screen. Sensing his stiffness and noticing his tense jawline, Shen Qingye blinked, then suddenly shifted closer to him.

Before Yue Lingchuan could react, her warmth settled against his shoulder.

He went completely rigid.

Shen Qingye withdrew her hand from his grasp, patted his arm as if urging him to relax, then snuggled into a cozy position and leaned against his shoulder.

Yue Lingchuan's breathing slowed slightly. After keeping one arm stiff for a long while, he finally lifted it tentatively to slip around her waist.

Shen Qingye also feigned casualness as she nuzzled against his shoulder, though only she knew how fiercely her ears were burning.

...

The movie was said to last over two hours, but how much time had actually passed, Shen Qingye had no idea.

In truth, few were actually watching the movie.

When the lights in the theater came on, many young couples hastily pulled apart, their ears flushed red, looking thoroughly wrapped up in each other.

Shen Qingye pretended not to notice what they had been doing, lowering her gaze as she walked out of the screening room hand in hand with Yue Lingchuan.

Outside the cinema, the sun was shining brightly.

Hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, the two wandered without direction.

After a while, Shen Qingye suddenly asked, "What was that movie about just now?"

Yue Lingchuan paused mid-step.

Shen Qingye took a step forward, stepping around to face him, tilting her head slightly with a questioning "Hmm?"

Yue Lingchuan looked down at her for a moment before letting out a wry chuckle. "Beats me."

Shen Qingye laughed, lifting a hand to poke his chest. "Then why were you watching so intently?"

Yue Lingchuan caught her fingers in his grasp. "Whether I was paying attention—don’t you already know?"

Shen Qingye blinked, meeting his fond, exasperated look, and felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to tease him. "So, Captain Yue, what were you thinking about for over two hours just now?"

She teased his palm with her finger. "Don’t tell me it was about a case?"

Yue Lingchuan shook his head. "My mind was...otherwise occupied."

Then what were you thinking about?

Meeting his eyes, which were holding nothing but her reflection, Shen Qingye bit back the question on the tip of her tongue.

For some reason, she suddenly recalled the young couple sitting diagonally in front of them earlier.

She hadn’t followed the movie’s story at all, only vaguely aware that it had plenty of steamy scenes.

And that young couple in front of them had been all over each other the entire time—the shifting glow from the screen had clearly outlined their silhouettes, making it impossible to miss what they were doing.

They looked like they were barely in their teens.

Shen Qingye tutted, her gaze inexplicably drifting to the man’s perfectly shaped lips.

She shakily lifted her eyes, only to meet his dark, smoldering gaze as he looked down at her.

Her breath hitched, a subconscious shiver running down her spine—but in that moment, a burst of daring came over her. She placed both hands on Yue Lingchuan’s shoulders, suddenly rose onto her tiptoes, and swiftly pressed her lips to his.