Chapter 7397
One-Day Boyfriend
"Sigh, all the good cabbages are eaten by pigs! Oh well, let's go see a movie!"
"You can't say that, the young man is quite handsome!"
……
A chorus of heartbreak and sighs quietly rose and fell outside the cinema. Who could have imagined that this stunningly beautiful woman, with her aloof and unapproachable demeanor, would be so affectionate and proactive towards a seemingly ordinary young man?
……
Inside Laser Cinema Hall Two, the lights slowly dimmed.
The movie playing on the screen is a romantic comedy that has recently received rave reviews, and bursts of light laughter can be heard from time to time in the theater.
However, Xiao Chen's mind was not on the movie plot at all.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze falling on Zhou Keying beside him.
She watched intently, sometimes chuckling with a smile at the humorous scenes, her eyes crinkling; other times, she was touched by the heartwarming moments, her gaze shifting slightly, revealing a hint of emotion.
Xiao Chen could clearly feel that Zhou Keying was holding his hand very tightly, as if she was afraid that if she let go, she would lose something precious.
What's wrong with this girl today?
Her words and actions were completely different from those of the calm, composed, and well-mannered Zhou family heiress she usually was.
Seemingly sensing his probing gaze, Zhou Keying slowly turned her head, her clear, beautiful eyes meeting his gaze, appearing exceptionally bright in the dim light.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with apprehension. "Do I... look strange today?"
Xiao Chen shook his head and said truthfully, "It's not surprising. It's just that such behavior might be perfectly normal for an ordinary girl, but it happened to you, Zhou Keying..."
He paused, carefully choosing his words: "On the contrary, it seems somewhat unusual."
Zhou Keying remained silent, her gaze returning to the screen.
At this moment, the male and female protagonists in the movie are embracing each other in a snowy forest, creating a beautiful and romantic scene.
"Xiao Chen".
After a long silence, Zhou Keying finally spoke, her voice soft yet exceptionally clear in the quiet theater.
"If we set aside her status as the Zhou family's daughter, and set aside those so-called family responsibilities and halos..." Her voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly, "I am actually just an ordinary girl."
"I also yearn for simple love, want to watch a movie with someone I like, stroll through a night market, and taste the barbecue skewers and milk tea from a roadside stall... These are the most ordinary wishes in other people's eyes, but they have always been out of reach in my heart."
“Sometimes, I really envy Yun Yuyan.” She turned her head and looked at Xiao Chen, her eyes seemingly filled with the shattered stars in the sky, carrying a hint of envy and a hint of helplessness. “I envy her for being able to live so freely and love so openly. I even… don’t wish I had been born into the Zhou family.”
The light and shadow on the screen flowed across her delicate face, making her eyes seem to shimmer with moisture.
She took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and asked earnestly, word by word:
"So today, I suddenly wanted to try out what it's like for an ordinary girl to be in love. The internet says that being in love means watching movies together, going to night markets together, and having someone you like by your side... even if it's just for one day."
"Xiao Chen, would you... be my boyfriend for 'one day'?"
Her eyes were fixed on him, and the complex emotions in her gaze made Xiao Chen pause slightly.
There was anticipation, trepidation, and a barely perceptible sense of...humiliation. Zhou Keying had no choice.
Lu Wenhou, and his unfathomable master who lived in seclusion in Zhongnan Mountain, are already on their way back.
The sky over the western region may completely collapse at any moment.
Before this, she just wanted to seize this last bit of time to fulfill that humble, dusty thought in her heart... to spend a day like an ordinary girl, with the person she likes, in the most ordinary yet warmest way.
She even wanted to give him everything she cherished most.
Xiao Chen was the only glimmer of light in her long night, and the only way out she had when she had nowhere else to turn.
As for Lu Wenhou? He was nothing but a shackle bound by his family; he was not worthy of even a fraction of her sincerity.
Today, she only wants to set aside her identity as the Zhou family's daughter, set aside all family responsibilities and impending misfortune, and simply be "Zhou Keying" to fully appreciate this moment of warmth.
Even if... this is the last day of freedom she can have.
"Xiao Chen, are you willing?" she asked again softly, her voice as light as a falling snowflake, as if afraid that any force would disturb this fleeting beauty.
Although Xiao Chen didn't fully understand the turmoil churning within her heart, he clearly sensed the earnestness and anticipation hidden in her eyes, along with a hint of barely perceptible despair. He nodded slowly, his gaze softening slightly: "Give it a try."
Actually, he felt somewhat helpless. He didn't want to accept this ambiguous invitation, but Zhou Keying's emotions were clearly off at the moment, and the vulnerability in her eyes was almost overflowing. So he had no choice but to reluctantly cooperate with her in this charade for the time being.
By the time the movie ended, it was already dark.
Zhou Keying took Xiao Chen's hand and led him straight into the nearby night market. The lights were dim, the market was bustling with people, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.
Like a child breaking free from its constraints, she stared curiously at the roadside food stalls, and for the first time ever, she tried a few things that she would never have touched before... grilled skewers, stinky tofu, sugar paintings... With each bite, her eyes lit up, and she couldn't hide the smile on her lips.
After strolling through the night market, she dragged Xiao Chen to the most famous lantern festival in the western region. The streets were adorned with dazzling lanterns, their light and shadow shifting. She looked up at the smiling faces of the lanterns, which shone brighter than any other lamp.
At nine o'clock in the evening, Zhou Keying glanced at her phone, her fingers tightened slightly, and she gently tugged at Xiao Chen's hand: "It's nine o'clock, let's go back. Today... I'm already very satisfied."
"Okay," Xiao Chen replied, clearly sensing the reluctance in her tone.
Back at the villa, the two went to their respective rooms to take a shower.
The warm water washed over his body, but the strange feeling in Xiao Chen's heart grew stronger. He had already instructed Di Tianyan to thoroughly investigate the Zhou family's recent movements, and the feedback he received was completely normal.
Could it be... a problem with the Lü family?
Xiao Chen's eyes darkened.
The Lü family is currently still in Zhongnan Mountain and has not yet set off to return to the west. He has already been closely monitoring all transportation hubs in the western region through the martial arts army's network of connections, and he will know immediately as soon as any member of the Lü family enters the territory.
At that time, what he needs to do is not only to know, but also to completely eliminate this potential threat before the Lü family stirs up trouble!
However, the Lü family has not yet returned, so logically, it shouldn't affect Zhou Keying's emotions at all.
"Never mind." Xiao Chen turned off the tap, picked up a towel to dry himself, and stopped dwelling on it. (End of Chapter)