Chapter 4
The movie hadn’t started yet, and the screening hall was dim.
Bo Chi took a couple of steps. Unable to see the path clearly, she reached for her phone to turn on the flashlight.
Just as she unlocked her phone, she accidentally missed a step.
Bo Chi cried out instinctively. Her flailing hand hadn’t yet found something to grab onto when Yu Zhao, sensing the movement, firmly caught her around the waist.
“Are you alright?” Yu Zhao asked, frowning, as Bo Chi clung to her arm. “Did you twist your ankle?”
Bo Chi, recovering from the near-fall, patted her chest and stood up straight. “I’m fine. Thank you for catching me.”
—Otherwise, falling face-first on these stairs would have sent her straight to the plastic surgeon instead of the movie.
Surrounded by darkness, Yu Zhao couldn’t see Bo Chi’s face but could hear the girl’s crisp and grateful tone.
Although it was the first time she’d heard the other girl thank her, the feeling… wasn’t bad.
Yu Zhao’s lips curved slightly as she led Bo Chi to their seats.
Shortly after they sat down, the movie began.
Yu Zhao’s eyes were on the screen, but her thoughts were on the person beside her. Through a series of deductions and tests, she had confirmed Bo Chi’s feelings.
This arrogant young lady seemed to have developed a crush on her at some point.
Moreover, her methods of pursuit were childishly clumsy and outrageous, like a kindergartener seeking attention by resorting to all sorts of bullying tactics.
Yu Zhao had no masochistic tendencies and harbored great animosity towards those who had wronged her.
Bo Chi was the sole exception. It seemed that ever since that cup of honey water, every time she met the girl’s sparkling eyes, her heart instinctively softened. All negative emotions were forgotten, and she couldn’t help but curve her lips into a smile.
This unfamiliar reaction felt strange, yet she didn’t resist it.
But to call it love was clearly an overstatement.
Yu Zhao had never been in love, nor did she have the desire for it. Compared to intimacy with another person, she preferred to spend her time working, saving the money she earned. A portion would go towards her mother’s regular checkups, another portion to support her studies, and if there was any left over, she would invest it. She simply didn’t want to be idle.
Therefore, logically and emotionally, she couldn’t be with Bo Chi.
She had to find a way to let her down gently.
Yu Zhao stared thoughtfully at the screen for a moment, then suddenly turned to Bo Chi, lowering her voice. “Have you noticed? This is a love story between two girls.”
Bo Chi, her eyes glued to the movie, nodded. “I noticed.”
Yu Zhao: “Don’t you find it strange?”
Bo Chi replied matter-of-factly, “Not at all.”
Yu Zhao’s emotions became complex.
So Bo Chi really was gay. Choosing this movie was indeed a subtle hint.
Bo Chi munched on popcorn, oblivious. Back in their reality, when they were still in school, Yu Zhao often took her to watch movies. Eighty percent of those movies featured two beautiful women together. At first, she had been awkward and uncomfortable, but later she became unfazed, even writing an 800-word fanfiction fueled by the sweet and touching love between the women.
Although Yu Zhao’s expression had been a bit odd at the time…
But who cared? Even if it was her nemesis she watched movies with, a nemesis was still a nemesis!
Bo Chi continued crunching on her popcorn. Yu Zhao, however, was no longer willing to wait. Taking a deep breath, she said directly, “But I find it strange. I’ve never thought about being with a girl…”
—She didn’t even want a relationship! All she wanted was to make money!
Bo Chi finally tore her gaze from the movie and turned to her in confusion.
Her movement was so sudden that Yu Zhao didn’t react in time. She only felt something soft brush against her cheek. Though the touch was light, it made her heart skip a beat. She recoiled as if electrocuted, the side of her face that had been touched quickly flushing.
Bo Chi, feeling nothing out of the ordinary, continued her previous thought. “Why would you suddenly bring this up? Normal girls wouldn’t think about that, right? Wait, I just noticed that most of the people watching this movie are girls. Could it be… could it be that you… brought me here on purpose?!”
Yu Zhao pursed her lips. Despite her racing heart, she had to remind her, “You chose the movie.”
Bo Chi instantly snapped out of her shock, chuckling sheepishly. “Oh, right, I forgot.”
Her silly mistake cooled Yu Zhao’s flushed face. Exhaling deeply, and feeling her indirect rejection had been sufficiently clear, Yu Zhao didn’t say anything more, calmly continuing to watch the film.
When the two female leads on the big screen, their feelings finally reciprocated, intertwined their fingers and kissed amidst falling cherry blossoms, Yu Zhao suddenly raised her slender, white hand and slowly rubbed her cheek, her thoughts drifting.
She remained lost in thought until the movie ended and Bo Chi, wiping her hands, stood up contentedly.
Bo Chi poked her, puzzled. “Why aren’t you leaving?”
Yu Zhao was startled awake, a blush coloring her pale cheeks.
She stood up and walked out of the cinema with Bo Chi. The night breeze outside cleared her muddled thoughts.
“You didn’t bring your bodyguards tonight, and you didn’t bring those friends of yours either. It’s not safe for you to be alone at night, so it’s best to go home early.” Yu Zhao didn’t look at Bo Chi as she spoke softly. “And don’t come looking for me anymore.”
Bo Chi didn’t grasp the underlying meaning, taking it as a sign of weakness after prolonged bullying. She lifted her chin, responding arrogantly, “Are you telling me what to do?”
Yu Zhao: “…”
She almost forgot that this girl wasn’t the obedient type. She advised her to withdraw for her own good, but if the girl insisted on clinging to her… there was really nothing she could do.
While feeling annoyed, Yu Zhao also felt a subtle sense of pleasure.
She remained silent for a moment, then started walking. “I still have work to do. I’m leaving.”
Bo Chi looked at the dark sky and caught up to her. “You know it’s late and not safe to be alone, so I’ll be kind and walk with you for a bit.”
She was genuinely concerned about Yu Zhao, but to Yu Zhao, it sounded like a lovesick girl’s clinginess.
Looking at Bo Chi with a complicated expression, Yu Zhao pursed her lips and ultimately didn’t refuse, tacitly accepting her company.
The night breeze was gentle, carrying a hint of coolness.
The small food stall where Yu Zhao worked was not far away, separated from the commercial street by a narrow alley. The alley was long and narrow, originally lit, but due to years of neglect, the lights flickered intermittently, going out suddenly from time to time.
Bo Chi had initially intended to maintain her haughty demeanor. However, surrounded by the silent darkness and startled by the flickering lights, she unconsciously moved closer to Yu Zhao.
Seeing her trembling and jumpy, Yu Zhao hesitated before pushing her away. Instead, she put an arm around Bo Chi’s shoulders, awkwardly comforting her, “We’ll be there soon.”
Just then, the sound of a plastic bottle being kicked echoed from up ahead.
Yu Zhao and Bo Chi stopped simultaneously, looking towards the sound.
In the depths of the dark alley, a man clicked his tongue in annoyance, then simply gave up hiding and swaggered out. He seemed to have been drinking; his gait was unsteady, and the smell of alcohol wafted from him. He was of average build, though still taller and stronger than the two girls. The mask on his face was askew. Holding a rusty metal pipe he’d picked up, he scratched his ear and growled impatiently, “I don’t feel like getting rough today. Hand over your money if you know what’s good for you!”
Bo Chi couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, “He didn’t even prepare a QR code. Who carries cash these days?”
Yu Zhao’s eyelid twitched. She pressed Bo Chi’s head, signaling her to be quiet.
The alley was too deserted. Even though Bo Chi’s voice was soft, the man still heard it. He flew into a rage, cursing, “You won’t give it, huh? I’ll beat it out of you!”
Drunk men are impulsive, and coupled with the inherent violent tendencies in most men, he didn’t waste any more words, raising the pipe to strike.
Bo Chi was startled. Seeing Yu Zhao hadn’t moved, she instinctively pushed her aside and quickly retreated.
The pipe whistled past. Bo Chi narrowly escaped unharmed.
Before she could feel relieved, Yu Zhao’s face darkened. She quickly approached the man, a swift knee strike knocking the pipe from his grasp, followed by an elbow to his face. The man cried out in pain, blood gushing from his nose and dripping down the bottom of his mask.
He seemed to have sobered up somewhat, but whether out of male pride or disdain for women, he continued to swing his fists at Yu Zhao.
Yu Zhao calmly parried his blows. After a brief exchange, she successfully landed a groin kick, neutralizing ninety percent of the man’s fighting capacity.
Watching him collapse to his knees, she picked up the dropped pipe, about to deliver another blow when the man, finally terrified, scrambled to his feet and limped away as fast as he could.
Seeing him finally gone, Yu Zhao breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to Bo Chi, her voice stern. “Who told you to push me?”
Bo Chi froze. Although feeling a bit wronged by the harsh tone, she honestly said, “I’m sorry.”
Yu Zhao almost laughed in exasperation. “Do you know that if you had reacted even a little slower, you would have been hit? I stood still because I was confident I could fight back. You should have run. Why did you push me first? Am I that important to you?!”
Bo Chi, initially shrinking back, immediately mustered her courage and nodded firmly. “Of course! You’re the most important person in this world to me!”
Her purpose in this world was to annoy her nemesis. The system even thoughtfully made every mission the opposite of Yu Zhao’s. If something happened to Yu Zhao, how could she complete her missions?
Yu Zhao’s breathing quickened. She had been alone since childhood, with no companions as far back as she could remember. Even her loving mother’s heart belonged to that ungrateful man.
She was used to being alone and didn’t crave anyone’s affection. Before, she even deeply resented the girl in front of her.
But who knew there would come a day when this girl, disregarding her own safety, would push her out of harm’s way, shining like a little sun, so honestly and fervently declaring her the most important.
Yu Zhao felt a sense of absurdity. Her soul felt detached from her body, light and unreal.
Yet this didn’t stop her eyes from welling up. Dropping the pipe, she pulled the girl into a tight embrace, her voice choked with emotion. “You idiot… don’t you ever do that again!”
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