Capítulo 446: Chapter 446: The Wind Direction
Qu Fang was extremely surprised. This kid really had money.
Where did that money come from?
He spent it so casually, not afraid of going home and getting his legs broken.
Although Qu Fang thought this way, he was thankful that these people had witnessed him trying to court Yang Peiying. It was part of his plan to have them spread the word.
“Smart kid, you’ve got your ways!” Qu Fang walked ahead.
Xiao Tong and a few others followed suit.
Soon, they entered the movie theater. Xiao Tong followed closely behind Qu Fang, not bothering to find his own seat yet, determined to see what would happen next.
Qu Fang confidently found his seat, and the first thing he did was check out the woman sitting beside him. He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but Yang Peiying seemed much prettier than usual today—slim and svelte. Her side profile was delicate and fair. Could it be she had put on makeup especially for him? Qu Fang’s heart fluttered uncontrollably. If makeup could make such a difference, he’d make her wear it every day, and preferably to look just like her sister.
“Sister Lu!”
Qu Fang was startled.
What’s going on with Xiao Tong? Why’s he calling out to someone else?
Xiao Tong’s voice continued, “Sister Lu, it really is you. So you are seeing Brother Qu! Wow, you guys kept it so under wraps. There wasn’t even a whisper of it before?”
Lu Hailing turned her head in shock, too.
Looking directly at Qu Fang next to her.
Now Qu Fang could clearly see that it was the newly moved-in Lu Hailing!
“What are you doing here? Where’s Yingzi? Did she send you?” Qu Fang looked around, growing anxious not seeing Yingzi, then turned back to Lu Hailing, “Mr. Lu, where did you get this movie ticket from?”
Lu Hailing felt guilty but kept a calm face, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I bought this movie ticket with my own money.”
Xiao Tong, not caring about what they were saying, blustered, “Alright, let’s stop pretending. The movie is about to start; we should get back to our seats. People behind us are getting impatient.” And off they went, decisively and straightforwardly!
Qu Fang became anxious; he hadn’t expected this turn of events. If they went back and talked about this, he wouldn’t be able to clear his name even if he jumped into the Yellow River. Just yesterday, he had clearly stated he was going to watch a movie with his girlfriend. Now Lu Hailing was sitting next to him, and they all knew each other, “Don’t leave just yet, it’s not like that!”
He tried to stop Xiao Tong, but they were already far away, and people behind him were complaining, “What’s wrong with you? Are you watching or not? If not, stop blocking our view.”
Qu Fang indeed lost interest in the movie and hurried after Xiao Tong and the others.
But Xiao Tong and his friends were seriously watching the movie, and there were no seats left nearby. Besides, it wasn’t right to disturb others in a movie theater.
Meanwhile, Lu Hailing watched his actions, deep in thought.
She wondered if the Yingzi he mentioned was the same Yingzi she knew. Oh right, when she found the movie ticket, it was Yang Peijun who had thrown it away, cursing something at the time. Could it be that Yingzi was having an affair with this Qu Fang? And could she possibly gain something from this?
Lu Hailing chuckled to herself and started watching the movie intently. Picking up that ticket had been no mistake; now she knew a juicy secret!
However, when she got back from work to the courtyard in the afternoon, she noticed people looked at her differently. She prided herself on being observant, and she could not be fooled by their hints and insinuations.
But what a neighbor said next truly surprised her, “Oh, Hailing, back from the movies? Were they any good?”
How did she know she went to the movies?
Oh right, it must have been Xiao Tong and those guys. Hadn’t she seen them at the theater? They must have told everyone.
So she nodded and smiled at the neighbor, “It was quite good. Sister-in-law Guan, you should go watch it with your husband when you have time.”
Sister-in-law Guan laughed, “Ah, we’re an old couple now; we don’t need all that. It’s different for you youngsters in a relationship. I hear that going to the movies is a popular date—it’s said to foster revolutionary feelings.”
Lu Hailing quickly explained, “You’re mistaken, Sister-in-law Guan. I went to watch it alone.”
Sister-in-law Guan squinted at her, full of teasing, “Stop trying to bluff your sister-in-law. Everyone in the courtyard knows already. You and that young Qu Fang are a good match, living in the same neighborhood. And here I was, wondering why I had never seen him with a girlfriend—turns out he was waiting for you to arrive!”
Lu Hailing’s head exploded, she couldn’t believe her ears. Was she suggesting she was with Qu Fang? That would be a whole mess to deal with! She quickly tried to set the record straight, “Sister, listen to me, I have nothing to do with Qu Fang!”
“Why deny it? Everyone saw you two go to the movies together. It’s not like the old days now, it’s free love. I’m just joking around, not accusing you of anything!” Sister-in-law Guan seemed a little offended. Going to the movies with someone and still acting like an innocent maiden—just for show?
“It’s not like that, sister-in-law. The thing is, the movie ticket wasn’t mine; it was Yingzi’s. Qu Fang originally gave the ticket to Yingzi, but then she felt unwell and gave it to me. As you know, we can’t refund movie tickets here, and it would have been a waste if she didn’t go. She felt sorry for me since I had never been to a movie and gave it to me. Please don’t get the wrong idea, sister-in-law!”
“Yingzi? The Peiying from Yang Family next door? That’s impossible. If you’re going to make something up, at least make it believable. How is she related to you? Letting her good friend go to the movies with her own date, is she out of her mind? Alright, alright, I’m not interested in your business anymore. You deal with your dates, and if it’s not someone from our compound, I couldn’t care less!” With that, Sister-in-law Guan walked away.
Lu Hailing felt desperate. Looking around, everyone had that sly, ambiguous smile on their faces.
She rushed back to her dormitory to ask Mrs. Lu, “Mom, what on earth is going on outside in the courtyard?”
Sitting on the bed, Mrs. Lu looked grim, “Silly girl, I was about to ask you. Are you dating Qu Fang? He was helping us fix the window and gather the laundry yesterday! And today you went to see a movie with him? Have you grown too big for your britches? Have you forgotten your own situation?”
“Mom, you too don’t believe me?” Lu Hailing stomped her feet, visibly upset.
Mrs. Lu knew her daughter and seeing her like this, it seemed she was indeed telling the truth, but “Then why did you go to see a movie with him? And others saw you!”
“I didn’t know picking up a movie ticket would lead to such trouble! If I had known, I wouldn’t have picked it up!”