The credits rolled to the end, and the lights gradually came on. Yue Tingfeng helped Yan Qingsi wear the mask before they left, her hand in his.
They took the elevator down after they came out of the hall. Yue Tingfeng huddled over Yan Qingsi protectively, shielding her from the people crammed in the same space.
Yan Qingsi truly felt the benefits of being a woman then. She smiled, arms wrapped around Yue Tingfeng’s waist.
The surrounding people cast multiple glances in her direction once they saw her.
Yan Qingsi heard someone behind speaking, a grin in her tone.
“Doesn’t that woman look a little like Yan Qingsi?”
“No way. Her? Coming here of all places? Please. She’s the type of woman who’s always in vogue, the kind who only buys branded outfits and gets on branded cars. Watching a movie in a cinema is beneath her. She definitely wouldn’t squeeze into an elevator with us…”
“You’re wrong. She’s a great person. Sure, she has a temper, but she isn’t a diva. She has a good character. I like her. She’s my idol. Don’t you dare speak against her so carelessly. You don’t understand her.”
“Sure, sure. As if you understand her all that much…”
“Of course I understand her better than you do. See, she posted a picture of herself watching an animated movie with her boyfriend about ten minutes ago on Weibo. She’s so down to earth. Nothing like how you’ve described her. I want to watch that movie tomorrow too.”
Yan Qingsi listened to the conversation between the two girls. She nearly burst out in laughter.
This was the first time she heard a stranger defending her reputation. A warm feeling bubbled in Yan Qingsi.
She thought of the comments on her Weibo account. She had so many adorable fans, who voiced nothing but encouragement and positivity.
She wanted to become a better actress to repay those who supported her.
After they walked out of the cinema, Yue Tingfeng drove Yan Qingsi to the riverside for a walk.
The riverside night market was a famous hotspot in Hai city. It was a bustling, beautiful place with neon lights that glowed and flashed in the night, resembling a cluster of stars in a galaxy.
People flooded the area; everything and anything under the sun was sold here. There was even a night river cruise. The wind was strong and cool, the scents of various snacks wafting along with it. Life sparked in every corner. One could observe the many aspects of human life here.
The two wore masks; Qingsi still wore her hat. They wove through the crowd, hand in hand, occasionally brushing the shoulders of passersby. There was an odd sense of realness to the entire experience—walking amidst the crowd. It allowed the city’s atmosphere to sink into their bones, doing what every normal person here did; walking the same roads as they did, seeing the same views.
Yan Qingsi felt as though she were pulled back to reality from a listless state. She felt every crunch beneath her feet as she took a step forward; she savored what a regular person usually lived with.
The only downside was that Yan Qingsi could not remove her mask, not with her status. If she was recognized, there was no way she was getting out of here.
Yue Tingfeng noticed that a couple just got up from the bench in front of them. He immediately pulled Yan Qingsi over to sit down.
Yue Tingfeng wrapped his arm over Yan Qingsi’s shoulders. He watched the couple feeding each other snacks, the interaction between them sickeningly sweet. He felt a little jealous. “If you weren’t a celebrity, I could be like those people there,” he said. “I could buy something to feed you.”
“I want to lose weight.”
“What weight? What if you don’t lose weight on your body, and your chest shrinks instead?”
Yan Qingsi rolled her eyes at him, speechless. Yue Tingfeng realized that he had said something wrong. “Dammit, there are mosquitoes here,” he recovered hastily.