A group of six were sitting at the sofas in the lobby area of the theatre. Chen Su and Ye Fan had gone to buy tickets, so the rest were chatting amongst themselves. Occasionally some people would steal glances at their group, which made Zhang Li very happy.
Actually even though the new Waspman movie was already in its third week, it was still quite popular. So the theatre was a little crowded.
"Do you think there will be enough tickets? Maybe we should have booked them earlier." Cao Wen was worried, the next showing was only in thirty minutes.
"Don't worry, I checked online before and there were still quite a few seats left, most people will come in the evening." Zhang Yin tried to assure her, "And anway it would be a waste to pre-book so many tickets since most people didn't even show up."
Liu Wei's face twitched.
"Yes, yes, why worry so much?" Zhang Li shook his head carefreely. "Look at us two, we don't get anxious about little things like this." He put his arms around Lin Yuan's shoulder, who expertly shuffled it off.
"Ah, ah, okay, uh…" Cao Wen was stumbling over her words.
"You can call me Boss Zhang." Zhang Li waved his hands magnanimously.
"Oh, uh, Boss-" Cao Wen was embarrassed.
"-Don't bother, just call him Idiot Zhang!" Zhang Yin snorted.
"Hah! Isn't your name also Zhang?!" Zhang Li felt excited, he felt he had caught her tail.
"It's okay, when you say 'idiot' everyone will know who is being talked about."
"You!" Zhang Li was enraged. He pointed at Lin Yuan and himself, "Why are you demeaning us honour students?!"
"Why are you including Lin Yuan with you?"
"Of course, I have to include him. If you add my English onto his everything else, then the top mark in the college exam is obviously ours."
Everyone was impressed by his audacity. Even Lin Yuan looked up from his phone for a moment.
Actually this whole time he was reading through his elder's sister's messages in the group chat. She was bragging about hanging out with Zhou Ye and Ning Qing. Lin Yuan would occasionaly humour her by liking a few of her messages.
At this time, Chen Su and Ye Fan were walking back to the group.
Chen Su glanced at the 6 ticket receipts and then at Ye Fan. This kid is really relentless.
"Brother Chen, don't look at me like that. This time it really wasn't my fault!"
"So before it was you?"
"Hehe." Ye Fan touched the back of his head.
"What are you guys talking about?" Zhang Yin realised they had come back at some point but were just whispering to each other.
Chen Su explained to the group that they could only get 6 tickets in the same area, thankfully the seats were all close next to each other, but two people would have to sit in a different place.
Chen Su thought he shouldn't make it easy for Ye Fan so he was about to say something when Lin Yuan suddenly spoke.
"Then you guys go together, I'll get another ticket."
"Lin Yuan you…" Zhang Li didn't expect his deskmate to suddenly speak up, "Then I'll-"
"-I'll go with you." Jing Yao interrupted him, and quickly took Lin Yuan away.
"Huh? What's wrong with her? I already said I would go with him." Zhang Li complained while watching the two figures head towards the ticket box.
Chen Su glanced at Ye Fan's ugly smile and then at Liu Wei's excited expression.
"You really are a fool." He muttered to Zhang Li.
"What did you say?! You kid, are you trying to annoy me?!..."
Zhang Li and Chen Su began arguing back and forth.
…
…
…
At the same time.
Lin Yuerong was walking through the busy movie theatre lobby with Zhou Ye and Ning Qing behind her.
Whenever she thought she saw a familiar figure she would jolt over only to be disappointed every time she was mistaken. However, soon she would get excited again.
"Senior, why don't you ask your brother which theatre he's in?" Zhou Ye was feeling embarrassed.
He was a grown man spending his weekend trying to crash a teenager's get together. They didn't even know if they were in the right theatre.
"Of course I can't do that, it won't be any fun if I do that!"Lin Yuerong turned around to seriously reprimand him.
Zhou Ye was speechless, "Are you sure this is enjoyable?"
At this time Ning Qing suddenly said with a smile, "Well it's a little fun."
"..."
Listening to her soft chuckle, Zhou Ye was instantly fired up. Dammit Lin Yuan! I will find you today!
They turned a corner.
"Oh."
…
…
…
"It's you."
Lin Yuan was surprised to see Ning Yao as they were waiting at the ticket box. He thought if he'd meet anyone today it would be his sister.
Ning Yao was alone and still wearing her school uniform, he guessed she was coming after afternoon classes.
Jing Yao saw that Lin Yuan had gotten out of line and was talking to a young girl, so she also walked over, "Your younger sister?"
"Well…" Lin Yuan felt like saying she was the younger sister of his sister's friend seemed confusing and he was a bit lazy to explain.
However, he didn't need to elaborate as Ning Yao was already greeting her.
"Hello. I'm Ning Yao." She said politely, "Thank you for taking care of my older brother."
"..." Seeing her lying with a straight face Lin Yuan thought this girl was really cut from the same cloth.
"Ah, hello, I'm Jing Yao, uh, your brother's classmate." Jing Yao responded. She noticed they had different last names even though they were siblings.
Maybe it's their mother's last name or maybe…they're step-siblings? Jing Yao shook her head and quickly stopped her mind from wandering.
"Why are you alone?"
"I just went to the restroom."
"Oh." Lin Yuan nodded, then he asked "You came with your classmates?"
"Yes."
"Are you going to the next showing?"
"Hmm."
"Did you buy snacks?"
Ning Yao shook her head. She wasn't planning to buy anything at the theatre, "It's too expensive."
Lin Yuan glanced at her and only said one word.
"Come."
Lin Yuan started walking to the store a bit farther away. Ning Yao looked at Jing Yao for a moment and then went after him.
"..."
This guy is still so rude! Jing Yao thought angrily, then she quickly followed them.
At the confectionery stand, Lin Yuan mainly ordered fried foods and bags of potato chips.
Seeing the large stack on the counter, Ning Yao's eyes were gleaming but she offered a half-hearted refusal, "Elder brother, it's too much, it's a lot of money…"
Being called elder brother Lin Yuan started chuckling to himself, he felt like he understood his sister at this moment.
Then he put on a straight face, waved his hands and said proudly "Don't worry about it, my allowance is very large!"
"…" Is that something to brag about? Jing Yao didn't really understand.
However it seemed to work for Ning Yao as she had stars in her eyes. She turned to the cashier, "Can we get a bag?"
After everything was stuffed into the plastic bag, Lin Yuan was about to pick it up, however Ning Yao took it quickly before he could reach it.
She said very seriously, "It's very light, I won't bother you with it."
"Well, you have some sense." Lin Yuan's face was much brighter. He felt like having a younger sister was not bad, so he took out his phone and went to her wechat, "I've sent you some spending money, so you can have fun later."
"Thank you, elder brother!"
"By the way, where are your classmates?"
"They're waiting in the lobby."
"Hmph! Are your classmates all girls?" Lin Yuan had a paternal face.
Ning Yao's face twitched, but feeling the stuffed bag in her hands, she still replied, "Yes, girls from my class."
"Good, good." Lin Yuan nodded seriously. He was about to lecture her more when he noticed two girls in the distance staring at them. They seemed to be wearing the school uniform of Xinjiang No.1 Middle School.
"Your friends?" Jing Yao also noticed them.
Seeing Ning Yao nod, Lin Yuan said, "Alright, you can go. But don't stay out too late playing!" He didn't forget to add a stern warning at the end.
Ning Yao was a little exasperated however she still played along and said she understood.
Watching Ning Yao return to her friends, Jing Yao turned to Lin Yuan.
"I didn't expect you to be an older brother."
Lin Yuan's smiling face faltered.
He had gotten so caught up in the act that he had forgotten Jing Yao was there with them. It would be a bit embarrassing if she found out later they actually weren't brother and sister…
But then he thought, the chance of her finding out wasn't very large, and if even she did, it's not like it mattered that much. Lin Yuan quickly convinced himself.
They returned to the ticket line.
"By the way, thanks for before."
Lin Yuan was confused but Jing Yao just smiled and didn't explain any further.
"I also have a younger brother, but he's only in elementary school. Ah, the picture books last time, they were for him."
"Oh."
The conversation became awkward again.
"..."
This guy is too hot and cold!