Chapter 101: Room 101

Women’s words can sometimes be even less reliable than men’s,

for instance, when they say they’ll be ready soon or in a moment, it often means half an hour or an hour.

Li Shuru was no exception.

She said it wasn’t far, but it took them a good twenty minutes to reach their destination, not including the time they spent chasing and teasing each other along the way.

"This is my first time watching a movie."

Inside the elevator, Li Shuru pressed the button for the floor where the cinema was located.

"Shu Rui, I treat you as a friend, but you treat me like a fool. That’s not quite appropriate, is it?"

Li Shuru couldn’t help but chuckle and turned to laugh, "When have I ever treated you like a fool?"

"You’ve never seen a movie before? That’s like burning paper offerings for the dead, you’re trying to fool a ghost here."

Li Shuru’s laughter didn’t subside, and after a while, she added, "What I mean is, it’s the first time I’m watching a movie alone with a guy."

Jiang Chen realized and then gave her a slightly strange look.

"What? Don’t believe me?"

It seemed Li Shuru guessed what he was thinking, leisurely saying, "Do you know, some girls might seem popular with many pursuing them, so everyone naturally assumes their emotional life must be full. In reality, it’s not the case at all."

Jiang Chen nodded thoughtfully, as if he understood, but then suddenly blurted out, "But now it’s not you accompanying me, it’s me accompanying you."

Li Shuru’s expression stiffened, then she couldn’t help stomping her foot in a very girlish manner.

If someone from school saw this, they would be utterly shocked.

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Calm down, we’re in an elevator, think about safety."

Li Shuru’s face went pale, and after grinding her teeth, she quickly walked out as soon as the elevator doors opened.

Jiang Chen followed at an unhurried pace.

There weren’t many showings at this time; there were only two options: a foreign sci-fi blockbuster and a domestic romance drama.

As a bona fide man’s man, Jiang Chen’s preference was clear, but Li Shuru seemed to deliberately oppose him. After seeing his choice, she decisively bought two tickets to the romance.

"Shu Rui, do you like watching romance movies?"

Jiang Chen was slightly surprised, as Li Shuru didn’t strike him as the type to get sentimental over the seasons.

Li Shuru didn’t respond, but as they walked into the screening room, she turned to ask, "You must have come to watch movies often before, right?"

It was now after nine, but the turnout was good, the theater was about seventy to eighty percent full, mostly couples.

Their seats were in the second-to-last row.

"No, you know, I had to work before, so I didn’t have much time. The number of times I’ve been to see movies could be counted on one hand."

Jiang Chen answered honestly, holding the tickets as they found their seats and sat down next to Li Shuru.

Li Shuru had bought the tickets while he had bought the drinks and popcorn.

"Sometimes I really can’t guess what you uber-rich kids are thinking,"

Li Shuru could understand hiding one’s background, but the idea of diligent work and frugality puzzled her now.

Was the persona of a poor boy really that captivating?

She had witnessed Jiang Chen working with her own eyes; if not for irrefutable evidence, she would find it hard to associate the generous benefactor who easily gave away over ten million in gifts with that humble figure in a small suit at the KTV.

"Why ponder someone else’s thoughts? Sometimes, we don’t even understand our own, right?"

Jiang Chen said with a smile.

Li Shuru gazed at the big screen as if a chord in her heart had been struck, and fell silent.

After several minutes of advertisements and fire safety warnings, the main feature began.

Even though he had long been a loyal admirer, Jiang Chen truly had no interest in romance films. The few times he’d gone to the movies were to accompany Ai Qian.

However, despite his lack of interest, he watched attentively, munching on popcorn and discussing with Li Shuru.

After all, he knew what it felt like when he was excited about something while someone next to him was falling asleep.

Like most mainstream fare now, this movie also ended in tragedy; the leading man and woman did not end up together. Nonetheless, there were no melodramatic turns like an illness befalling either of them. While unavoidably sentimental, in the end, both of them were still alive, each walking towards their own lives.

A lifelong partnership was after all a beautiful dream; love unattained was the common lot of life.

"If such a handsome guy can’t win over the girl he loves, it seems we ordinary folks have nothing to fret about."

Jiang Chen sighed as they left the cinema.

"You’re not bad-looking yourself."

Li Shuru joined in.

Jiang Chen grinned, turning his head to tease her, "Shu Rui, don’t start flattering me just because I have money. I don’t like that."

Li Shuru didn’t respond to him.

The two of them walked in the direction they came from.

"It should be fine to drive now, right? I only had a few sips; the alcohol must have worn off by now."

Jiang Chen muttered.

"What time is it?"

Li Shuru asked.

"Let me check."

Jiang Chen took out his phone and glanced at the time.

"It’s almost eleven."

"We must have been locked out by now."

With Li Shuru’s reminder, Jiang Chen realized this issue.

Watching a movie, time had passed without their awareness, and it was already so late.

Although the university was lenient with its policies, for student safety, they still locked the buildings promptly at eleven each night.

Even if they hurried back by car, it would take at least half an hour; they certainly wouldn’t make it.

"No problem, I’m quite familiar with the dormitory supervisor. He can help me unlock the door."

"What about me?"

Jiang Chen paused, hesitant, "Don’t you have a dormitory supervisor too...?"

"She won’t open the door."

Li Shuru stated flatly.

Jiang Chen frowned slightly, suddenly at a loss.

"So what do we do?"

He did have a way to make the dormitory supervisor bend the rules so he could return to his room, but what about Li Shuru?

Leave her behind?

That was obviously not an option.

Li Shuru silently walked ahead.

"How about we go to a hotel?"

Jiang Chen tentatively suggested.

Given the current situation, there really wasn’t any other choice, and his cautious approach was solely because when a guy suggests getting a hotel room, it could potentially carry certain implications.

Of course.

He was very clear in his conscience, assuring himself he had no ulterior motives.

Li Shuru remained silent.

"Shu Rui, why don’t you contact some friends outside of campus and see if you can stay with them for the night? Or, I could drop you off at your aunt’s place?"

To avoid any misunderstandings, Jiang Chen quickly suggested two alternatives, but Li Shuru dismissed both.

"Staying at someone else’s place isn’t any better than a hotel, and besides, it’s so late now, I don’t want to disturb my mom."

Jiang Chen nodded, understanding.

"Then we’ll have to stay at a hotel."

Li Shuru kept silent, seemingly consenting.

Jiang Chen didn’t know, so it was somewhat excusable.

But it seemed that Li Shuru herself had also forgotten that she didn’t stay in her dormitory that often. She actually rented an apartment off-campus.

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