GDRG CH9

Chapter 9: The Green Tea Schemer’s Movie Invitation

Having a late-night movie to watch the next day, Shi Xueqing had to conserve his energy, even though he still hadn’t received a reply from Xing Wei. He went to bed early, wearing earplugs, determined to avoid any facial bloating the next day.

…But at one in the morning, he was woken up by his Indian neighbors partying upstairs.

Indians!

Shi Xueqing was on the verge of tears amidst the raucous party, frantically jamming the earplugs into his ear canals. On top of that, a sour, leafy smell drifted in from the window, making his mouth pucker.

This was the downside of a studio in an old apartment building: poor soundproofing. Shi Xueqing managed to catch a bit more sleep at seven in the morning. Before dozing off, he thought, well, there’s nothing to be done. He wanted to live in an apartment but couldn’t afford a 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom, so this was his only option.

No wonder this studio had been listed online for over half a year without anyone renting it, and for such a cheap price.

When he woke up again, it was one in the afternoon. Seeing the time, Shi Xueqing felt he was doomed. He looked down at WeChat and felt he was completely doomed.

Xing Wei hadn’t sent him a single message, but she had updated her Instagram story with a post from a club.

He dragged his feet to the sink and splashed his face with water. Staring at his pale reflection in the mirror, Shi Xueqing said viciously:

“Bad morning.”

It wasn’t morning anymore; it was noon.

He gathered a few cardboard boxes to throw out downstairs. As he passed the front desk, the receptionist called out, “Shi.”

?

“You have a letter here.”

Shi Xueqing was instantly wide awake. He ran upstairs with the khaki-colored envelope, sliced it open with a utility knife, and found a small note inside.

It was printed, and the content was brief.

“See you at the cinema at 10:20 PM.”

Ahhh!

Shi Xueqing was ecstatic, just as he had been when he saw the $8,000 scholarship right before his eyes. He ran back into the bathroom, splashed his face with cold water three more times, and stood by the window, waiting for the wind to dry his cheeks, hoping the puffiness would go down by nightfall.

The Sunday afternoon sun was warm, and a gentle breeze blew. While enjoying this moment of peace, Shi Xueqing saw the silver wings of a plane fly across the sky.

This was around the time Xing Jun’s flight was supposed to take off. Could that intimidating Ferrari-driving rich guy be on that plane?

Shi Xueqing didn’t bother to check if the plane was United or Spirit. He just felt that the sky was clear and bright, and he was filled with triumphant glee. The suffering from his sleepless night, tortured by his Indian neighbors, was swept away.

So long, Xing Jun!

Now, it was time for the green tea to work his magic again!

Before heading out in the evening, Shi Xueqing meticulously dressed up. Considering the word “Blue” in the movie title, he wore a light blue tie-dye shirt with the collar unbuttoned, revealing a sliver of a white T-shirt underneath, paired with light beige trousers. He looked fresh and clean.

Today, he didn’t wear a clavicle chain but instead opted for a long, thin silver necklace as an accessory.

A small Mercury planet dangled at the end of the chain.

Very clean, very suitable for summer. It was just that Shi Xueqing ran into the Balenciaga guy again while buying dinner. The Balenciaga guy was, as usual, decked out in Balenciaga. He scanned Shi Xueqing’s outfit from top to bottom and, looking at the necklace, said, “A fake Vivienne Westwood?”

Vivienne Westwood’s logo is Saturn, you idiot.

Shi Xueqing looked at the Balenciaga guy’s blue-top-green-bottoms outfit and smiled without a word, not wanting to talk to someone dressed like a globe.

As he walked past the Balenciaga guy, the latter continued, “By the way, I have some good news for you.”

“What?”

“I’m going to Rhode Island for a trip tomorrow—hey, isn’t that the kind of place you artsy-fartsy types love to go?”

The Balenciaga guy was as boring as ever. Ever since high school, this guy had always been trying too hard to be the king of the social scene. Shi Xueqing rolled his eyes internally but said with a casual air, “Congratulations. I can’t chat, I have to go see a movie with someone later.”

“With who?” The Balenciaga guy was on high alert.

Shi Xueqing’s expression was a mixture of modesty and showing off. “Among the top rich kids you’re dying to hang out with… the most powerful one.”

With that, Shi Xueqing walked away with his matcha drink. On the way, he thought, it’s all the Balenciaga guy’s fault for being so low-class; he made me say such a low-class, show-offy thing.

But the feeling of showing off was just too good. A short while later, the Balenciaga guy started spamming him with WeChat messages, asking who he was going to the movies with. Shi Xueqing blocked him and planned to arrive at the AMC plaza half an hour early.

Who knew that his on-campus part-time job application required a supplementary document. A job worth a thousand dollars a week could not be neglected. Shi Xueqing had to rush to get the document ready. By the time he was done, he discovered with despair that there were less than fifteen minutes until the movie started.

He couldn’t worry about saving money now. He grabbed two drinks and quickly called an Uber.

“AMC, the one on 15th Street,” he said.

When he got out, he was already five minutes late. Shi Xueqing sprinted towards the cinema, his heart pounding with anxiety. Although everyone knew that AMC played over ten minutes of commercials before the movie started, he couldn’t just let a rich pretty girl wait for him.

He carried the two matcha drinks, looking around blankly for Xing Wei—and then.

His gaze froze.

“Good evening.”

Someone said.

Shi Xueqing froze solid. He stood there rigidly, looking at the tall, handsome man not far away, who looked like trouble. The man had his arms crossed and gave him a smile full of malice.

Extremely hostile.

Why is it you?

Why… why is it you?

“What’s wrong? You’re not happy that I’m the one who got the ticket?” the other man said slowly, pulling out the envelope. “A letter for the resident of 705, right?”

Shi Xueqing was done for. It seemed he really hadn’t written the recipient’s name.

“Of course not, Xing-ge. I just… I just didn’t expect you to still be here…” Shi Xueqing’s voice trailed off, his tone wavering. “Didn’t you go back to the Bay Area?”

Xing Jun said lightly, “I sensed someone had ill intentions, so I stayed behind to check things out.”

Shi Xueqing took a step back, but Xing Jun actually walked towards him and casually grabbed his arm.

Shi Xueqing was wearing a half-sleeve shirt today, so it was skin against skin. The other man’s hand was as strong as an iron clamp. In an instant, Shi Xueqing remembered Xing Jun saying at the party that he liked to box in his spare time.

…He was finished. He couldn’t help but tremble.

“Let’s go,” Xing Jun said. “The movie’s about to start. Aren’t you going in?”

People started looking their way. Luckily, they were two white people. Shi Xueqing was something of a celebrity in the international student circle and was terrified of being seen by other students. He quickly lowered his head and followed Xing Jun inside like a thief.

Good.

The tickets he bought were for the back row.

Shi Xueqing thought with relief.

Xing Jun handed their tickets to the attendant. He glanced at Shi Xueqing, who was stealthily holding up the two matcha drinks to cover his face.

Did he think his face was that shameful?

Xing Jun was initially irritated by Shi Xueqing’s unrepentant scheming and furious about his tardiness, but now, seeing his shameful appearance, he found him both laughable and pathetic.

Once inside the theater, Shi Xueqing tried to dart off, but Xing Jun said, “Last row.”

Shi Xueqing froze. The green tea stopped moving and obediently followed him to their seats. After sitting down, Xing Jun heard Shi Xueqing say, “Xing-ge, I bought drinks…”

His voice was pitiful and tactful, hoping this would make Xing Jun let go.

Only then did Xing Jun realize his hand was still gripping Shi Xueqing’s arm. He released his palm, thinking that he normally disliked physical contact with people, so how had he grabbed Shi Xueqing for so long without even noticing?

Shi Xueqing’s arm was quite slender.

His skin was delicate and smooth; he had rarely seen a man with such skin.

Shi Xueqing breathed a sigh of relief. He took out the two matcha drinks, placing one by Xing Jun and one by himself. There were still five minutes of commercials before the movie started, and Shi Xueqing had another bad idea.

“Um, Xing-ge, I’m going to the restroom…” he said, about to stand up and make a run for it.

But Xing Jun also stood up, his expression leisurely. “What a coincidence. I’ll go with you.”

“…”

“What’s wrong? Not going anymore?”

Shi Xueqing looked up and saw two girls he knew rushing into the theater. If he went out now, he would definitely run into them. He held his breath and sat back down.

“…Never mind,” he said.

Then, a weight settled on his arm. Shi Xueqing looked at the hand, which was a starkly different color from his own skin, and felt like crying but had no tears.

“Xing-ge…”

“Weren’t you the one who invited the resident of 705 to a movie? Since you made the invitation, you have to see it through,” Xing Jun said provocatively, patting his cheek with his other hand. “Behave yourself. You should have known this would happen when you first thought of preying on my sister.”

“…”

“Your methods are too low-level.”

The voice was contemptuous and vengeful.

Shi Xueqing had nothing to say. He saw the two girls happen to sit in the row right in front of them. He was terrified they would hear the commotion and turn around.

What kind of situation was this? Being seen pinned down by a rich guy to watch a movie? If word got out, would he, Shi Xueqing, still have a reputation in the international student circle? How could he pretend to be straight in the future?

It’s fine, it’s fine, it’s just one movie… less than three hours… Besides, Shi Xueqing glanced around the theater. The audience was mostly female. Was this to be expected for an arthouse film?

Xing Jun remained perfectly still, watching Shi Xueqing out of the corner of his eye as he was held down, his eyes darting around.

The theater screen went dark.

“Focus,” Xing Jun said. “The movie’s starting.”

Shi Xueqing resigned himself to his fate. Since life had dealt him a shock, he might as well enjoy it.

He tried to calm himself, ignoring the hand on his arm. The image on the screen rippled like water, and two young boys appeared. They were in blue shirts and white pants, sitting on a bridge.

One boy was melancholic and gentle, the other silent and resolute. They dangled their legs, watching the thin mist rise from the river in the distance.

The blue-toned imagery was quite beautiful. Shi Xueqing remembered it was an arthouse romance film and felt the cinematography was suitably artistic.

The two boys spoke amidst the sound of the flowing river, talking about how the summer was about to end, their conversation youthful and sad. Just as Shi Xueqing was wondering when the female lead would appear, he heard the melancholic boy say, “I won’t be here next summer.”

“Mhm.”

“My mother says she’s taking me to Vienna.”

“Mhm.”

“Let’s… play that game one more time,” the melancholic boy said, looking down at the river, not at the person beside him. “Do you dare?”

“Of course.”

“I want you to wear your father’s glasses when you see me off. Do you dare?”

“Of course.”

“I want you to throw this stone into the river. Do you dare?”

The stone was thrown far into the river on screen. The more Shi Xueqing watched, the more he felt the atmosphere was off. Just as he wrinkled his nose, the melancholic boy on screen suddenly looked up at the person beside him, his eyes shimmering with tears.

“I want you… to kiss me,” the boy said. “Do you dare?”

Bang!

Shi Xueqing almost shot out of his seat. He made such a loud noise that the girls in front of them almost turned around. Luckily, Xing Jun’s hand held him down, preventing him from falling off the chair.

He was completely unwell, watching the two boys walk quickly, run, and chase each other on the bridge, but in the end, that kiss never happened. The movie’s white title gradually appeared on the screen, and one of the male lead’s voice-overs came through the speakers.

“Back then, I only thought that rain was just the end of a summer.”

“No one would walk into an eternal winter.”

And at that moment, Xing Jun tightened his grip on his arm.

He looked at Shi Xueqing, his hostile expression gone. Now, his Adam’s apple bobbed twice, and his expression was more bizarre than ever.

“So this is… the romance movie you invited my sister to see?”

He said.