Chapter 15

Zhen Bao nodded with a smile.

Fu Ming Shi looked at her high school student attire. He first went upstairs to change into gray casual pants and sneakers.

Zhen Bao waited for him in the living room on the first floor. Five minutes later, seeing the white-shirted man descend the stairs, she felt this version of Fu Ming Shi seemed a few years younger than the suit-clad one.

"Let's go." Fu Ming Shi put on a black cap and came to her side.

Zhen Bao murmured in assent.

Fu Ming Shi took her to eat Beijing duck, a regional specialty. After eating, around 8 PM, he also brought her to watch a movie.

Fu Ming Shi kept holding the tickets in his hand without telling her what they were for. When the tickets were inspected, Zhen Bao tried peering down to see but was pulled away by Fu Ming Shi grasping her arm before she could make out the name. Zhen Bao pretended to be angry and ignore him until they were seated. Only then did she realize the seats in front of them each had one person while theirs was a couple's seat.

"How come the seats are different?" Zhen Bao placed her drink and asked the man beside her in a low voice.

Fu Ming Shi took out his phone and typed: Tickets bought late, only couple seats left.

Zhen Bao's face rapidly turned red, fortunately the theater lighting was dim.

Sitting properly, Zhen Bao held her drink, sipping it very attentively without looking elsewhere.

A few minutes later, the movie started playing. Zhen Bao looked up to see a fantastical castle on the big screen, followed by the title: Cinderella.

Zhen Bao saw a movie for the first time, and for the first time saw such a glamorous blue dress and crystal shoes.

She also saw people kissing in the movie theater for the first time.

The front row seats were also couple seats. At first, the boy put his arm around the girl's shoulders, then the girl leaned in, and at that point Zhen Bao was already too embarrassed to keep watching. But then the two leaned in closer and closer to each other...and actually kissed!

Zhen Bao quickly lowered her head.

The ambiguous atmosphere was infectious, and Fu Ming Shi casually rested his left leg on his right, his expression calm and distracted.

The movie ended after 10 pm, and the night breeze was refreshing and felt especially nice on the face.

"Did you like it?" Fu Ming Shi asked, sitting in the driver's seat and looking at her.

Zhen Bao nodded.

Fu Ming Shi smiled. "After you finish your exam, I'll take you to see another one."

Zhen Bao was tired. She covered her mouth as she yawned. She was used to going to bed early. During this month of exam preparation, she had gone to bed by 10 pm at the latest.

Fu Ming Shi put on some soothing music.

Zhen Bao leaned back in her seat. As she listened to the music, she fell asleep.

An hour later, the Maybach stopped in front of the villa. Fu Ming Shi undid his seatbelt and looked over at her.

The seat was comfortable, and Zhen Bao was sleeping very soundly without any sign of waking up. She had studied very diligently this past month, even dreaming about doing exam questions and taking tests. Going to the movies tonight was the first time she truly relaxed, body and mind. So she was sleeping more deeply than usual.

Fu Ming Shi sat in the car for almost three minutes before going around to the passenger side. He slipped one hand between Zhen Bao and the seat, and used his other hand to lift her legs. Carefully, he carried her out of the car. He turned around and saw the glaring light coming from the living room of the villa. Fu Ming Shi looked down at Zhen Bao in his arms, and quietly instructed Mrs. Wang, "Turn off the lights."

Mrs. Wang had learned from Master Fu that the two were going to be engaged. At first she assumed Fu Ming Shi was being forced into it by the old master and was unwilling, which was why he hadn't been around for a month. But just now, seeing how carefully Fu Ming Shi carried Zhen Bao out of the car, like he was holding a precious treasure, Mrs. Wang finally understood the feelings in this young Master Fu's heart.

She hurried to turn off the lights, leaving just one lamp on.

Only then did Fu Ming Shi carry Zhen Bao inside. He steadily climbed the stairs, all the way up to the third floor. Zhen Bao's bedroom was right next to his. Fu Ming Shi used his shoulder to push open the door. The light from the street lamps outside shone in, clearly illuminating the furnishings of the room. Fu Ming Shi slowly approached the bed, then carefully bent down to lay her on it.

Feeling the soft bed beneath her, Zhen Bao let out a comfortable murmur. She turned over, stretching out her left leg and drawing up her right leg, sleeping very freely. Fu Ming Shi smiled as he stood by the bed watching her. As he gazed at her, he recalled the passionate kiss he'd seen that couple share at the movie theater.

Fu Ming Shi suddenly had an urge to kiss her.

He had never felt this way before meeting Zhen Bao.

But Fu Ming Shi held back. Her college entrance exam was coming right up. Before that, he didn't want to distract her.

After helping to draw the curtains closed for her, Fu Ming Shi silently left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

~

Zhen Bao slept in very late, not waking up until after 10am.

Rubbing her eyes, she looked around the now-familiar bedroom. Zhen Bao only remembered going to see the movie with Fu Ming Shi last night, then falling asleep in his car. She couldn't recall anything after that. After laying in a daze for a bit, Zhen Bao got up, showered and changed into shorts and a T-shirt. Refreshed, she went downstairs and saw Mrs. Wang scratching the dog Hei Dan's belly.

"Miss is up. I was just about to go up to get you," Mrs. Wang said with a smile.

"Where's Master Fu?" Zhen Bao looked puzzledly towards the villa exterior.

"Master Fu left for the company at 7am. He said he'll come by this afternoon to pick you up."