Chapter 21: Ask Ruan Meizi to Watch a Movie

Classroom.

When Fang Yi returned, his childhood friend Qiao Yingzi and goddess Huang Zhitao immediately rushed up to him; Qiao Yingzi, having heard the explosive news Diyishijian , launched into a tirade: “Are you insane? Why the hell did you go provoking him? Now look—you’ve gotten Uncle Fang arrested! Are you happy?”

“Enough, don’t say more—Uncle Fang won’t be in trouble.” Huang Zhitao tugged at her blunt friend.

After venting, Qiao Yingzi began comforting Fang Yi, then brought up their original plan: “You can’t go to the movie tonight…”

“Go? Why not go!” Fang Yi was furious and regretful that he’d gotten his father into trouble, but the evening movie was the one chance he’d finally managed to ask out his goddess—he couldn’t miss it.

He’d go even if he died.

Besides, his father had only been taken in for questioning—no one knew how it would end yet.

Qiao Yingzi and Huang Zhitao were stunned by his callousness—how could he still care about a movie right now? But they figured it might be his way of coping, so they said nothing more.

Today was the second day of school, but the morning was mostly taken up by the motivational rally and college entrance exam consultation; before they knew it, it was noon, and there were no formal classes in the afternoon—only self-study.

Before they knew it, it was dismissal time.

Qiao Yingzi, Huang Zhitao, and Fang Yi walked together toward the cinema; at the school gate, they ran into He Chen again, and Qiao Yingzi and Huang Zhitao had to pull Fang Yi away as his eyes turned red.

He Chen saw right through him: it wasn’t really about sparring with him—it was an excuse to get his goddess to comfort him.

“Want to see a movie?” He Chen tilted his head slightly and asked Ruan Liuzheng in the back seat.

“Huh?” Ruan Liuzheng was stunned by the sudden invitation; her face flushed, she dared not look up, unsure how to respond—when He Chen, without waiting for an answer, called out to their classmate Du Tiantian walking by: “Prince, come see the movie with us! Mission: Impossible 4!”

“You’re making stuff up again! When did I become a prince? Are you taking advantage of me?” Du Tiantian walked over, complaining but not refusing.

He Chen had long been mocked for practicing Crane Qi, imitating Emperor Jiajing from Ming Dynasty 1566; now he called him “Prince”—though it was teasing him about wanting to go home early to inherit his family’s corporation, it was still taking advantage of him.

After all, by that logic, calling him “Prince” was no different than calling him “son.”

“I haven’t even agreed yet!” Ruan Liuzheng, seeing He Chen invite Du Tiantian without waiting for her, pedaled off, panicked—she blurted out, then met He Chen and Du Tiantian’s gazes; her heart went wild with frustration, cursing He Chen over and over, but she covered it up: “I’ll ask Xiao Xue!”

She was thrilled he invited her—but now Du Tiantian was coming too, two boys and only one girl—it was too awkward.

She wanted to refuse, but this was He Chen’s first time inviting her to a movie—even if not just her—she couldn’t bring herself to say no.

Better to invite another girl, make it two boys and two girls.

She pulled out her phone and called her classmate Xia Xue, who immediately agreed; they were just discussing how to meet when a loud voice blared beside them: “You’re going to see a movie? Great! Count me in!”

“Two!”

“Three!”

Ruan Liuzheng knew instantly it was Lin Miaomiao joining in; she looked up—and sure enough, Lin Miaomiao’s eyes sparkled behind her glasses.

Beside Lin Miaomiao, her subtle rival Deng Xiaoqi stood with long legs crossed, smiling and raising her hand to join too.

The academic superstar Qian Sanyi, riding his bicycle, also came to join the fun.

“Perfect! More people, more fun!” Lin Miaomiao happily accepted the outcome and started organizing: “Too many of us to bike—let’s leave our bikes at school and take the bus together!”

“No.” He Chen flatly refused.

“Why?” Everyone turned to him, puzzled by his firm refusal; Lin Miaomiao pouted.

“I have no problem with the bus—but I will never, ever ride the bus with Lin Miaomiao, not in this lifetime!” Facing their confused stares, He Chen added something even more baffling.

“Lin Miaomiao, listen to me: from now on, no matter what, never take the bus. You can think of it as your innate ‘Bus-Danger Sacred Body.’”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“He Chen, are you not only practicing martial arts but also studying fortune-telling now?”

Everyone teased him, not believing a word.

He Chen just smiled, refusing to explain, his gaze locked firmly on Lin Miaomiao’s.

Sure, Lin Miaomiao was still just a carefree little brat with eight out of nine orifices open—but she had the exact face of Li Shiqing from the opening of the TV series.

And this was a domestic urban cinematic world—what was He Chen supposed to do after having watched the show?

Better safe than sorry—he’d just cut off any chance of riding the bus with her.

Time loops like Groundhog Day or Happy Death Day might sound fun, but bus explosions like in the show? Each one caused severe psychological trauma.

Painful memories accumulate!

It was truly painful!

If he could avoid it, he certainly didn’t want to try.

Even if he were dropped into a scenario like the show’s, where he wasn’t helpless like Li Shiqing and could easily prevent the explosion—he still didn’t want to experience it.

It’s not the one-in-ten-thousand chance you fear—it’s the one-in-a-million.

What if he was too slow?

That was a bomb inside a sealed bus—it could kill you for real!

Though Lin Miaomiao didn’t understand, when she met He Chen’s gaze, she paused, then nodded: “Fine, I’ll listen to you—I’ll never take the bus again!”

“Take a taxi,” Qian Sanyi spoke up: “Six of us—two taxis will do.”

Everyone turned to He Chen, waiting for his decision.

After all, he’d suggested this outing.

“Fine.” As long as he didn’t ride the bus with Lin Miaomiao, he had no objections; they went to park their bikes, split into groups of three, hailed taxis, and headed straight for the cinema.

On the way, Ruan Liuzheng kept in touch with her friend Xia Xue, who had left school early; by the time they arrived, Xia Xue was already standing there, elegant and waiting.

“What a crowd!” Xia Xue teased, looking at everyone: “He Chen, this is your first time organizing something like this, right? Why so happy today?”

Before He Chen could answer, someone nearby grumbled bitterly: “He’s happy because someone else is in trouble—how twisted is his psychology?”

Everyone turned—facing Fang Yi’s furious glare, beside him Qiao Yingzi and Huang Zhitao offered awkward smiles.

“It depends on who’s in trouble!” He Chen laughed. “If criminals suffer, I wouldn’t be happy—that’d mean I’ve lost my sense of right and wrong.

That’s what a twisted mind looks like!

Besides, if you’re in a good mood to see a movie, I’ve got even more reason to be happy—filial piety demands a smile!”

“You—!” Fang Yi, enraged, instinctively stepped forward—Qiao Yingzi, his childhood friend, quickly grabbed him and pulled him inside.

He Chen remained unfazed, joined the group to buy tickets, and went in to watch the movie.