The Movie Night

Xu Shuche was a little overwhelmed as everyone surrounded him and brought him into the center of the living room.

Sui Xiang somehow found a Christmas hat and insisted on putting it on his head.

“Senior, senior, we need a bit of ceremony.”

The hat was pink and looked like something meant for children.

Xu Shuche couldn’t refuse her enthusiasm and had no choice but to let her place it on his head.

A tassel hung from the edge of the hat and brushed against his temple.

Jian Yixun naturally reached out and moved the tassel aside.

“Don’t let it block your eyes.”

“It won’t look good in photos.”

Photos too?

Xu Shuche widened his eyes slightly.

He instinctively wanted to refuse, but someone grabbed his arm and pulled him into position before he could say anything.

“Senior Xu, look at the camera!”

One of the group members set up a phone on the tripod placed in front of them.

Then he hurried back to stand with everyone else.

Almost as soon as everyone was in place, the flash went off and several photos were taken in quick succession.

Surrounded by the noisy and cheerful atmosphere, the suspicion and fear Xu Shuche had felt outside earlier slowly disappeared.

What remained was a warmth that left him somewhat at a loss.

“Brother Xun said senior’s birthday is in January,” Sui Xiang explained.

“So we combined it with the year-end gathering.”

“The more lively it is, the better.”

Xu Shuche paused.

“Jian Yixun?”

“Of course.”

Sui Xiang spoke openly, completely unaware that someone nearby looked like they wanted to kill her with their eyes.

“Brother Xun said he didn’t know how you celebrated your birthdays before.”

“But now that we know, we can’t not celebrate it.”

“When we asked you to choose earlier in the activity room, it was just to make sure you had more fun.”

“I told you not to say anything!”

Jian Yixun rushed forward with a fierce expression, pretending he was about to perish together with Sui Xiang.

“You traitor!”

Sui Xiang immediately hid behind Xu Shuche.

“Senior, save me!”

“Alright.”

Xu Shuche tried to return to his usual calm expression.

But he couldn’t stop the smile rising at the corner of his lips.

“It’s a good thing.”

“Don’t hide it from me.”

“That’s different.”

Jian Yixun muttered unhappily.

“If you don’t know, it’s a surprise.”

“If you know already, then the surprise becomes—”

“It’s still a surprise.”

Sui Xiang ran off to help the others prepare the hotpot.

Soon only Xu Shuche and Jian Yixun remained in the living room.

Xu Shuche deliberately lowered his voice, but Jian Yixun still heard him clearly.

“For me… it’s also a surprise.”

For a brief moment, the air around them became quiet.

Jian Yixun heard every word clearly.

He looked into Xu Shuche’s beautiful eyes and suddenly felt his heart slam hard against his chest.

Heat rushed to his face.

He almost couldn’t speak properly.

“I…”

He scratched his head awkwardly.

His gaze darted around the room before finally locking onto a speaker behind Xu Shuche, as if the speaker had suddenly become extremely interesting.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“Um… I’ll go help wash the vegetables.”

“You can sit here and wait.”

After saying that, Jian Yixun hurried away.

He loudly complained as he left.

“How come the vegetables still aren’t washed yet?”

“And you guys still wouldn’t let me help.”

“You see? If I don’t help, can you even finish washing them?”

Xu Shuche watched his retreating figure.

A helpless smile slowly appeared on his face.

Although everyone else was rather clumsy when handling hotpot ingredients, fortunately Feng Zhou was there.

Previously Xu Shuche only knew Feng Zhou as someone who loved academic research.

He hadn’t expected that Feng Zhou was also highly skilled at cooking.

Compared to him, Jian Yixun’s claim that he “knew how to cook” seemed extremely unreliable.

Soon a steaming hotpot was placed on the table.

One side contained spicy red broth.

The other side contained mild soup.

Those who could eat spicy food sat on one side.

Those who couldn’t sat on the other.

Xu Shuche was pushed by the group members into the main seat.

Sui Xiang was about to sit on his right side when someone tapped her shoulder.

“I reserved this seat.”

Jian Yixun smiled kindly.

He looked very easy to talk to.

“Be good.”

“Move over a bit.”

“Jian Yixun.”

Sui Xiang immediately argued back.

“Don’t be so domineering.”

“Why can’t I sit next to senior?”

“No reason.”

Jian Yixun lifted his chin slightly.

“Go over there.”

Sui Xiang threw a couple of colorful curses at him before linking arms with her friend and moving away.

“Aren’t you someone who eats spicy food?” Xu Shuche asked in surprise.

“I thought you’d sit over there.”

“My stomach hurts these days.”

Jian Yixun lazily raised his eyes and glanced smugly at Guan Jingshan, who had innocently taken a seat at the spicy hotpot side.

“Eating something mild is better for my health.”

“What’s wrong with avoiding spicy food?”

“Skipping it for one day won’t kill anyone.”

Xu Shuche had no idea what scheme he had in mind.

He whispered softly.

“Then move over a little.”

“You’re squeezing me.”

“Oh? Am I?”

Jian Yixun shifted slightly to the right.

“Still crowded?”

In reality he barely moved at all.

“If it’s still crowded, just tell me.”

“I’ll move more.”

Since someone couldn’t drink alcohol, everyone replaced it with fruit juice instead.

Still, they managed to drink quite happily.

Even though Jian Yixun sat on the mild soup side, he occasionally glanced at the spicy hotpot.

He seemed to be contemplating whether the mild soup was actually not bad after all.

“Jian Yixun.”

Xu Shuche tugged at his sleeve.

Jian Yixun turned his head slightly.

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I want to try the spicy hotpot.”

Xu Shuche whispered.

“It smells really good.”

“Maybe not.”

“It’s very spicy.”

“You probably can’t handle that kind of spice.”

“I want to try it.”

Xu Shuche frowned slightly.

“Just one bite.”

“Okay?”

Jian Yixun clicked his tongue.

He deliberately avoided Xu Shuche’s gaze.

“Fine.”

“Just one bite.”

He stood up and reached over to pick some food from the spicy hotpot.

Guan Jingshan immediately seized the opportunity to mock him.

“Brother Xun.”

“Didn’t you say you were eating mild soup today?”

“Why are you reaching into the spicy pot?”

“Oh, that.”

Jian Yixun smiled slowly.

“Senior said he wanted to try the spicy pot.”

“I’m picking something that doesn’t absorb too much oil.”

“Otherwise he won’t be able to handle it.”

Xu Shuche didn’t expect him to say that so directly.

Half his face turned red.

“Stop talking.”

“Okay, I won’t.”

Jian Yixun placed two slices of beef onto Xu Shuche’s plate.

“Meat doesn’t absorb too much oil.”

“I couldn’t find vegetables without chili oil.”

“They’re all covered in red oil.”

Xu Shuche picked up the two slices of beef covered with peppercorns and chili oil.

After dipping them in sauce, he placed them into his mouth.

Just as he finished chewing, something was pushed toward his hand.

“Too spicy, right?”

Jian Yixun sounded anxious.

“Drink this.”

“Milk helps with the spice.”

Actually, it wasn’t that bad.

Maybe they had added too much water to the soup.

The spice level was mild.

Only a slight burning sensation remained.

Xu Shuche turned his head and met Jian Yixun’s worried eyes.

Suddenly he wanted to tease him.

So he lowered the corners of his mouth slightly and softened his voice.

“It’s spicy.”

“So spicy.”

Jian Yixun sighed heavily.

“I told you not to try it.”

“But you wouldn’t listen.”

“See?”

“Now it’s too spicy.”

Xu Shuche looked down.

The item in his hand was a bottle of strawberry milk.

It was the brand he had casually mentioned liking when they were at the supermarket before.

Strawberry milk tasted very good.

Xu Shuche bit on the straw.

He felt that pretending to be dramatic in exchange for a bottle of strawberry milk was definitely worth it.

Most of the food on the table had been eaten.

Everyone began excitedly discussing what to do after dinner.

Jian Yixun didn’t join the conversation.

Instead he stayed beside Xu Shuche and watched until he finished the milk.

“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming earlier?” Xu Shuche asked.

“Why did you suddenly change your mind?”

“Well…”

Jian Yixun rubbed his nose casually and lied without blinking.

“I thought it would be boring to celebrate alone.”

“I’d just be playing games anyway.”

“But if everyone else went out, there’d be no one to play with me.”

“So I might as well come join you guys.”

He paused before speaking again carefully.

“Senior… does that mean you’ve forgiven me?”

“Forgiven you for what?”

The strawberry milk was nearly finished.

But Xu Shuche hadn’t had enough yet.

He absentmindedly bit the straw.

“I don’t understand.”

“Senior.”

Jian Yixun sounded slightly aggrieved.

“You clearly know what I mean.”

“…Alright.”

Xu Shuche avoided his gaze.

“Then I forgive you.”

Jian Yixun’s eyes instantly lit up with joy.

“Really?”

“Then I—”

Before he could finish speaking, a boy standing near the projector in the living room suddenly said.

“Why don’t we watch a horror movie?”

“I know one that would be perfect tonight.”

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted.

They started shouting for him to hurry up and play it.

The disposable plates and bowls were thrown into the trash.

The remaining dishes were left in the sink for tomorrow morning.

Everyone had seen horror movies before.

But watching one together somehow made the experience completely different.

Xu Shuche’s face turned pale.

He was about to find an excuse to escape to the guest room upstairs.

But Sui Xiang noticed him immediately.

“Senior, don’t stand there!”

“Come here!”

“The movie is starting!”

Xu Shuche was trapped.

He didn’t dare watch horror movies.

But he also didn’t want to show weakness.

So he reluctantly walked into the living room.

Everyone had already crowded onto the sofa.

Only one couch that could seat two people remained—

For him and Jian Yixun.

Xu Shuche swallowed nervously.

Just then his hand was suddenly held.

“It’s okay, senior.”

Jian Yixun’s voice sounded strangely confident.

“I’ll protect you.”

“Don’t be afraid.”

Xu Shuche moved his lips slightly.

Then he asked quietly.

“Then why are your hands completely sweaty?”

“Huh?”

Jian Yixun coughed awkwardly.

“That’s because…”

“I just ate hotpot.”

“It’s hot.”

“That’s not important.”

“The important thing is—”

“I’ll protect you.”