Cinema

Cree was amused when Qiao Ruo started kissing him angrily. It appeared that he had met his match in jealousy. For every spark of envy he had for Lu Hanyang, she had double or triple the amount of envy in her. As the saying goes, a jealous woman is a faithful woman. As long he kept her jealous, did it mean he had all the more a better chance to have her to himself?

But then, at the same time, there existed the risk that she might give up entirely on him! Cree didn't feel comfortable about that. 

He broke the kiss gently before it escalated to something more than kisses, and covered her with his blanket. She was bewildered by his sudden impedance and stared at Cree for a long time as if the answer was inscribed on Cree's face.

Tenderly, he lay her head on his shoulder instead and whispered, "Not now, Xiaoruo. There will be plenty of time for this when you become my real girlfriend." She couldn't fathom what was going on, and Cree didn't meet the description of the average man. Before she and Cree were entangled together, she had expected men generally to be unable to withstand the desires of women. Remembering the question she had poised to Cree at the hospital about the nurse, she scratched her head as she contemplated if he had been telling the truth.

"You still owe me a date." She pouted, and he imitated her actions. She pinched him on his side, gingerly.

He glanced at the clock by his bedside, and inquired, "Do you mean that you still want to go to the cinema?"

"Definitely!" she exclaimed profusely. "It was you all along who wanted to go for a movie."

It was already past midnight, and the last possible movie showing in the cinemas would have started broadcasting already, but Cree had an idea. As Qiao Ruo hastily got dressed, he was on the call with an unknown male, and in ten minutes, they were already on their way. He stopped the Mini after some twenty minutes of driving.

"The back door?" she asked, puzzled, as she saw that the exit leading to the cinema lying ahead of them. Indeed Cree did not intend to enter the cinema this way unless he had a friend who worked there?

"I have my ways," he said confidently, sensing the question on her mind, and she followed him quizzically. A smiling older man opened the door and allowed them entry, and Cree thanked him, greeting him as 'uncle'. They had a short conversation, and judging by their closeness, Qiao Ruo knew the man had to be someone Cree knew personally. But even then, the man did not appear to be someone important enough to have the cinema's back door opened to Cree at will. What other tricks did Cree have up his sleeve? She wondered.

It was her first time being in the cinema, and Qiao Ruo nervously scampered around, unsure of which seat to select. Cree held her hand securely, and she took him to one of the couple seats located at the back of the cinema. 

"Xiaoruo, is it your first time going to the cinema?" he asked.

She answered with the affirmative. The countryside was too secluded from the city to have any cinemas, and when she was in university, she hadn't had enough for three meals a day, much less watch a movie. She would stream movies online if she could, but she hadn't watched most of the latest films broadcast in cinemas. She had lived so frugally that just living in Cree's guest room and not in a flat was pure luxury to her. Even a simple date with Cree was enough to make her happy. But was that the life she wanted to lead? She queried herself. If it was, then, if she was in a relationship with Cree, what if he thought she was after a life of luxury instead? She cast aside her worries and then asked Cree the same question he had asked her.

"What about you? Have you been to the cinemas with...anyone?" She had wanted to say with a girl, but after the whole jealous episode earlier, she didn't want to make herself look sillier. 'Anyone' was broad enough. In the cities, it wasn't weird for anyone to watch movies in a single-sex group. Her female classmates in university often did that together, but due to how poor she was, she was always omitted from social gatherings.

"I watched them alone." He seemed just as desolate as she was, and she hadn't realized it. "Xiaoruo, will you be the one to watch movies with me from now on?"

She blushed and told him, "Sure, we can watch movies together if you need a date."

He wasn't pleased with her answer, and he rubbed her hand in his. "Xiaoruo, you know that's not what I meant. I want you to be the person who accompanies me in everything. I promise to give you the best lifestyle I can manage, Xiaoruo. With me by your side, I won't allow you to suffer or have to starve yourself again. Be with me, Xiaoruo. I want to take care of you."

Moved by his words, she felt a tear descend her cheek, but being only twenty-one, there were so many considerations about being in a relationship that she was unsure about. She loved her freedom, but a part of her also wanted to be with him.

"Cree, I need more time."

"I won't push you," he said softly. "I will always be by your side if you need me, but I hope that we both don't have to wait too long."

Qiao Ruo wrapped her arms around Cree and presented him with a bear hug. It was not every day that a dignified man like Cree existed, and she did want to value his presence as well. But the idea about being in a relationship seemed so strenuous to Qiao Ruo. She knew she couldn't mask her feelings for him any longer, and it dawned upon her that she should at least let him know her feelings. He ran his fingers through her hair, before cupping her cheeks and kissing her slowly and respectfully, allowing her to feel the tenderness of his love and care.

As their lips met with passion, everything was beginning to be crystal clear to her. She had wanted him, and it was not just a physical need. She knew she couldn't bear to keep him out of her sight, and she had wanted him entwined around her finger. Every girl out there was a threat to her, and like he had said, she had denied herself the chance by not accepting him. Instead of watching the movie, they were kissing each other so fervidly that they lost all track of time. She savoured the taste of his lips, playfully exploring his mouth with her tongue as their bodies pushed against each other, leaving almost no space between them.

"Cree, who's the man you called uncle?" she asked after he ended the kiss.

"He used to work for my parents. I helped get him a job with his current boss, and his boss is also an associate of mine."

"You sure have many connections, for someone your age."

She gazed deeply into his eyes in admiration as she spoke with a smile.

"Are you thinking that you like me already?"

"I don't want to tell you," she playfully teased him with a mischievous look in her eyes, while twirling a strand of her hair around her finger. He knew she was flirting with him, and then he played back.

"I'm going to tickle you until you admit."

"If you catch me first."

She got out of the seat and ran around the theatre, beckoning for him to chase her. As she ran, she failed to see a part of the carpet jutting out abnormally, tripping over it and falling over. She was getting very exhausted, and in the nick of time, he had caught her smoothly. He spun her around and held her in his arms as they both gazed into each other's eyes lovingly.

She knew she had fallen for him in just that one split second, but how should she tell him? 

Unable to restrain herself, she leaned forward for another kiss, which they took on the carpet, disregarding how unceremonious their actions were. Eventually, she succumbed to weariness and fell asleep. Cree lifted her and placed her in his arms meticulously, transporting her out of the cinema, depositing her in the front passenger seat and reclining the chair so that she could continue to sleep. She was a heavy sleeper, and even when he carried her and placed her on his bed, she was still in deep slumber. 

He watched her sleeping peacefully in his bed, and couldn't abstain from placing his lips on her, commencing from a peck on her forehead to move downwards in a trail of kisses. He couldn't have enough of her kisses, but it concerned him that she was still not accepting him. What had he to do until she would? He had already admitted his love for her, but she had fallen asleep then.

She was only twenty-one while he was already twenty-six. At her young age, she hadn't experienced much and merely getting into a relationship was hard for her. He didn't want to pressurize her, but he wanted her to be his of her own free will. He couldn't stand the thought that someone would have her, and he was greedy. He wanted her all to himself.

"Good night, Xiaoruo, my love," he whispered, and covered her in the blanket, before moving over to sleep on his side of the enormous bed.