Chapter 1

May 20th, evening.

Chen Wen squeezed off the subway and slowly made his way to the entrance of Wanda Plaza. His handsome profile caught the attention of many passersby.

He checked his phone and found that he was half an hour early.

Well, this early arrival made him feel very at ease.

As for why he was here, of course, it was for a date.

However, it wasn't with his girlfriend, but with his childhood friend, with whom he was going to have dinner and watch a movie.

Chen Wen was a loner and never took the initiative to make friends.

Even if he added someone on WeChat, there would be little to no communication.

Now in his third year of college, he was unfamiliar with over 90% of his classmates, and only the three roommates from his first and second years were still somewhat familiar.

But since he moved out this year, his contact with his roommates had also gradually dwindled to zero.

Chen Wen spent his days either attending classes at school or making crafts in his rented apartment, creating various small items that interested him.

Apart from that, the only time he went out for entertainment was when his childhood friend took him out to play.

"Hey!"

A clear and sweet voice came from behind him.

At the same time, Chen Wen's shoulder was tapped.

He turned his head and saw his date, Jiang Qiuyi, standing behind him, looking lively and vibrant.

The girl was wearing light makeup, a long-sleeved white shirt tucked into her seven-eighths pants, and a pair of white sneakers, which accentuated her slender waist and long legs.

Her collar was unbuttoned, revealing an alluring and delicate collarbone. At Chen Wen's 185 cm height, he could clearly see the deep neckline.

Perhaps because he was used to the beauty of his childhood friend, Chen Wen showed no reaction, just raising his hand in acknowledgment.

"I knew it," Jiang Qiuyi said, grabbing Chen Wen's wrist with a helpless expression. "We agreed on 5:30, and you always arrive so early."

"There's nothing much to do at school, so it doesn't matter whether I come early or late," Chen Wen replied, shaking his head.

The two walked along the bustling commercial street.

Jiang Qiuyi held onto Chen Wen's wrist, and seeing his lack of reaction, she happily didn't let go.

When they reached the restaurant, Jiang Qiuyi reluctantly released his wrist, glancing at Chen Wen, who still had an indifferent expression, and sighed.

What a big dummy...

"You order," Chen Wen said, sitting down and handing the menu to Jiang Qiuyi.

Taking the menu, Jiang Qiuyi saw Chen Wen take out his phone, and she helplessly held her forehead, quickly ordering a few dishes he liked. Then, she casually moved to sit next to him.

"What are you looking at?"

"Oh, I'm watching your new video," Chen Wen said, showing the screen of his phone, which displayed a Bilibili video of a girl playing the piano.

The camera only captured the girl from the neck down, but Chen Wen, of course, knew that the music zone UP main "Qiuyi yiyi" with over a million followers was his childhood friend.

"The real deal is right here, what's so good about watching a video?" Jiang Qiuyi said, exasperated.

"Better safe than sorry," Chen Wen said calmly. "Last time, you asked me about the latest video, and since I hadn't watched it, you said I didn't care about you."

"..." Jiang Qiuyi was speechless, placing her hands on her hips. "Does cramming at the last minute show that you care about me?"

Chen Wen was stumped and simply nodded. "I guess not, then I won't watch it."

Jiang Qiuyi's eyes widened, and she pouted, pretending to be angry. "What should you do after watching the video?"

Startled by her intensity, Chen Wen's hand, which was about to close the video, paused. In the end, he could only reluctantly long-press the like button, giving her a precious triple-click.

Chen Wen: "Satisfied now?"

Jiang Qiuyi: "???"

"Is that what you meant?!" Jiang Qiuyi slapped Chen Wen's shoulder, angry. "After watching the video, you should compliment me!"

"..." Chen Wen was momentarily speechless.

For Chen Wen, complimenting someone face-to-face was something he would rather be locked in a dark room for three days and three nights.

"Piano and girls are a perfect match."

"Your pure white wings, gliding through the sky, are as poetic as a song, touching my heart."

"Drawn by your figure, loyal to your talent."

Chen Wen began to compliment her seriously.

"No reading the comments!"

Jiang Qiuyi blushed and pressed her hand over the phone screen, and Chen Wen, unable to see the praise from the audience, fell silent.

At this moment, a plate of sesame chicken was brought to the table.

"Let's eat. The food will get cold if we don't," Chen Wen tried to change the subject.

"Sesame chicken is a cold dish, you know," Jiang Qiuyi rolled her eyes but didn't press the issue, serving Chen Wen a piece and then taking one for herself.

After all, her goal wasn't really to make Chen Wen compliment her, but to sit next to him naturally.

Compared to sitting across from each other, sitting side by side, with occasional arm contact, was more to Jiang Qiuyi's liking.

Glancing at Chen Wen, who was calmly eating, Jiang Qiuyi smiled secretly. Then, she seemed to think of something, and a light blush spread across her face, her heart beating faster.

To ease her nervousness, Jiang Qiuyi tried to start a conversation to distract herself.

"Is your next video almost ready?"

"The ring was finished yesterday. After some editing, it should be ready to post tomorrow," Chen Wen answered honestly.

As he spoke, Chen Wen took a deep blue ring from his pocket and placed it on the table for Jiang Qiuyi to see.

After moving out this year, encouraged by Jiang Qiuyi, Chen Wen, who loved making crafts, began to post craft videos on Bilibili.

The first two videos, "Silver Wire Bracelet" and "Inlaid Silver Wooden Comb," had both garnered over ten thousand views.

And this time, the "ID Card Ring" video, with Jiang Qiuyi's creative input, was almost complete.

"Can you use this to swipe?" Jiang Qiuyi picked up the ring, examining it, and casually put it on her right ring finger. "It's quite pretty."

"I tried it at school today. You have to press the chip side against the card reader," Chen Wen said. "If the ring is made thinner, it should be more sensitive."

"Also, embedding the chip in a bracelet, necklace, or earring should be feasible."

"But it's too noticeable when swiping, not suitable for me."

When the topic turned to crafts, Chen Wen became more talkative.

Jiang Qiuyi raised her hand to admire the ring in the light, asking curiously, "So, you'll have to use this ring to swipe for meals from now on?"

"Not really." Chen Wen took out another ID card from his pocket. "After testing the ring, I got a new one. The chip in the ring is no longer usable."

"..." Jiang Qiuyi was speechless, then her eyes twinkled. "So, this ring is useless now?"

"Yes."

"Then this ring is mine~"

"Okay."

With Chen Wen's agreement, Jiang Qiuyi didn't take the ring off her right ring finger.

After finishing their meal, Jiang Qiuyi paid the bill in advance, and Chen Wen transferred half the cost to her. Then, the two left the restaurant and headed to the cinema.

With two tickets for "The Last of Us," they bought popcorn and milk tea. When it was time, they walked into the cinema one after the other.

Chen Wen followed Jiang Qiuyi to the last row of the screening room, paused, and asked with a puzzled look, "Why is it a couple's seat?"

"Who cares!" Jiang Qiuyi grabbed Chen Wen's wrist and pulled him to the couple's seat in the far corner of the last row.

Under the warm lighting of the cinema, Jiang Qiuyi's blush was well hidden, unnoticed by the inattentive Chen Wen.

A couple's seat, as the name suggests, is a seat specifically designed for couples.

Unlike regular seats, a couple's seat can accommodate two people without a center armrest, making it convenient for couples to cuddle or engage in more intimate actions.

Since it is in the last one or two rows, and each couple's seat is separated by a tall partition, it provides a semi-private space, so there's no need to worry about drawing attention from other viewers.

Of course, as long as you don't make strange noises.

However, these details were not what Chen Wen was focused on.

"Couple's seats seem to be a bit more expensive than regular seats," Chen Wen said, putting down the milk tea and rubbing his chin in thought.

Jiang Qiuyi looked at Chen Wen with exasperation and said, "Then I'll make up the difference, okay?"

"..." Chen Wen replied, "That's not necessary."

The lights in the cinema dimmed, and the movie began.

The film told the story of two young people who met, fell in love, and then broke up during the Spring Festival travel rush, and finally reunited ten years later.

The story was touching, but Jiang Qiuyi's mind was elsewhere.

In the dimly lit cinema, in the farthest corner of the couple's seat, only the light from the screen fell on the face of the boy next to her.

Jiang Qiuyi frequently turned her head to steal glances at Chen Wen's handsome profile, her hands clenched into fists, her palms sweating, and her heart beating faster and faster.

As the movie played on, Jiang Qiuyi finally mustered the courage, closed her eyes, and extended her left hand.

In the next moment, Chen Wen's right hand was tightly held by a warm and soft hand.

"Chen Wen."

Jiang Qiuyi's shy voice reached Chen Wen's ears.

"Hmm?"

After a long pause, just as Chen Wen was about to turn his head, he heard the girl's trembling voice again:

"I've liked you for a long time..."

"Will you be my girlfriend?"