Chapter 122: Watching a Movie

Accompanying her two sisters, Lin Yufei spent over an hour more shopping. She ended up buying a dress, a pair of shoes, a belt, and some cosmetics, spending just over forty-nine thousand yuan—right up to the fifty-thousand limit on her card. At last, she wore a satisfied expression, fully content.

Encouraged by Lin Yufei, Lin Yuxin tried on several outfits but, after consulting Hong Chen, finally purchased only a simple, light-colored dress.

Around four o’clock, they found a Western restaurant for dinner. Afterward, the two cars drove home first to drop off the many shopping bags. Then, Lin Yuxin, no longer driving herself, rode with Hong Chen to escort Lin Yufei back to school.

“I feel like you’re the real boss of Hongcheng Group,” Lin Yuxin suddenly remarked as Hong Chen turned the car around at the school gate. Without asking where to go next, he started driving, but her words made his heart skip a beat.

“Bentley, GTR, SUV, plus this car—each one a luxury worth over a million yuan. Are you really just a driver serving the executives at the company?”

Lin Yuxin’s voice came again, seemingly casual, but Hong Chen recognized the doubt behind it. The earlier joke about him being the group’s owner was lighthearted, but this second remark carried suspicion.

Hong Chen silently breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t yet time to fully reveal himself, but since he had willingly spent nearly a hundred thousand yuan that afternoon, he was prepared to let a little of the iceberg’s tip surface. Recently, there had been some stirrings in their social circle; outsiders had caught wind of rumors, but everything about Lin Yuxin’s connection to him remained tightly sealed. That was hardly fair.

After all, even if their marriage was one of convenience, she was still his wife.

Hong Chen didn’t answer Lin Yuxin’s question directly. After a moment’s thought, he said, “The son of Gao Tianxiong, president of Hongcheng Group, was my high school classmate. The director of the investment department is someone I met through gaming; we’re friends in real life too. Officially, I’m the driver for Hongcheng Group, but in reality, I hold quite a few privileges.”

“Besides, after the car accident, the young master of the Jiang family was pulled back from death’s door by Old Qi and me. He’s become a friend now. That Blue Young Master this afternoon—he’s less afraid of offending me than afraid of offending Jiang Tao.”

Lin Yuxin’s eyes flickered slightly but she showed no particular surprise. After a pause, seeing Hong Chen had nothing more to add, she said quietly, “Networks of connections aren’t one-way; they’re mutual. You’re definitely hiding more from me. I won’t ask, and you don’t have to tell me now—just wait until you think I’m worthy of knowing, and then be honest with me.”

Her words felt bittersweet, a mix of reproach and provocation.

Hong Chen smiled wryly to himself, wondering if he should reveal more—perhaps about the betting winnings he’d recently pocketed at the racetrack, or the reward the Jiang family gave him for saving Jiang Tao’s life.

But Lin Yuxin changed the subject: “You moved out almost half a month ago and haven’t called me once, not even sent a message. If I hadn’t reached out last night, would you have planned to never contact me again?”

Hong Chen hesitated. Lin Yuxin’s tone softened, becoming low and tinged with guilt: “I know I gave up thirty-five percent of Lin Feng Trading to the Lin family for nothing. And I went on that blind date arranged by my mother and uncle. Then there was the Lin family banquet. After all these things, you must be very disappointed in me.”

The traffic light ahead just changed from green to red. Hong Chen gently pressed the brake and glanced sideways, meeting Lin Yuxin’s clear, bright eyes. There was no longer the calm stillness of a clear pool; emotion rippled softly beneath the surface.

She pressed her lips together and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

She actually said those words to him—“I’m sorry.”

Hong Chen doubted his ears. They had been married two years, and those three words had only ever come from his mouth.

“Actually, you haven’t contacted me, and I didn’t contact you either. I was sulking. I thought you had resigned and gone back to living like before—playing games all day, wasting your life away.”

Then Lin Yuxin suddenly changed her tone: “Now I’ve realized I was too subjective before. I treated you coldly, spoke harshly to you, just to provoke you, to ignite your ambition, hoping you’d become the person I wanted. But maybe I wasn’t right, and maybe you weren’t wrong. You have your hobbies, your way of life. I shouldn’t have tried to force you to change without considering whether I should also change.”

Married for two years, Lin Yuxin had naturally been the one supporting Hong Chen. Her attitude had been condescending; seeing him loafing around, she had resented his lack of ambition. But recently, after she fell deeply into debt, then lost control of Lin Feng Trading—twice facing turning points in her life—and when everyone else had stretched out helpless hands, it was Hong Chen, whom she had always underestimated, who helped her through. That made her reconsider herself, Hong Chen, and their relationship, prompting reflection on the past and change for the future.

Her words struck Hong Chen like an electric shock. His heart pounded uncontrollably. He opened his mouth several times, wanting to say something, but found himself at a loss for words.

“Beep! Beep!”

A honk from the car behind startled him. Quickly refocusing on the road, he released the clutch and pressed the accelerator.

“Where are we going now?” Lin Yuxin exhaled softly, her tone suddenly lighter. “Where do you want to go?”

“Let’s go to the movies.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t smoke now; wait until we get out of the car.”

“I…”

“Fine, smoke if you want.”

Lin Yuxin rolled down the passenger window. Hong Chen hesitated briefly, then lit a cigarette, taking a deep drag before rolling down his own window to exhale a thick cloud of smoke into the night air.

He couldn’t help but smoke—his heart wouldn’t calm otherwise.

Going to the movies—this was the first time in two years of marriage.

Shopping and dining together might be the domain of friends, colleagues, or lovers, but watching a movie together was, except for special cases, almost exclusively for couples—or, of course, married spouses.

Hong Chen didn’t drive to the new plaza. After ten minutes, the BMW stopped at a small lifestyle complex. They got out and headed to the cinema on the fourth floor.

Hong Chen pointed at the schedule and asked, “What do you want to see?”

Lin Yuxin replied softly, “You decide. Just not too late.”

Hong Chen scratched his nose and scanned the options. There were three films tonight: a romance, an animated movie, and an action flick. He found himself torn.

The young ticket seller seemed to read his mind, wearing a professional smile. “Sir, ‘Noka and Jenny’ is a newly released romance, showing at 8:20 in a small theater, perfect for couples.”

Hong Chen glanced at Lin Yuxin out of the corner of his eye. She faced sideways, seemingly indifferent. He smiled and nodded. “Okay, two tickets, please.”

At the prime time, tickets were full price—two for 240 yuan. After paying via CloudPay, Hong Chen reached the seat selection screen. The clerk circled six seats on the screen, all couples’ seats in the last two rows.

“Six couple seats left, sir. Which would you like?”

Hong Chen hesitated a second before pointing at one. The two tickets printed. He then bought two drinks and a popcorn before entering.

The small theater had only eight rows, about fifty seats. Only a handful of people were scattered throughout. Hong Chen and Lin Yuxin took the leftmost couple seats in the last row. It was not only very private but also comfortable—two reclined sofas that could easily serve as a bed.

Once seated, Lin Yuxin quietly asked, “Have you ever taken another girl to the movies before?”

Hong Chen shook his head reluctantly. “No.”

Not an exaggeration—he’d never been in a relationship and had only been to the movies once with Su Ling.

“Oh,” Lin Yuxin said softly, her eyes flickering with a strange light. It was hard to tell what she was thinking.

Seven or eight minutes later, the lights dimmed. After two commercials, the feature began.

Hong Chen placed the popcorn between them and reached for some. At that moment, a soft, delicate hand also reached into the popcorn. Their fingers brushed lightly. Hong Chen paused briefly, then gently grasped her hand, smooth as silk, warm as jade.

The hand trembled slightly but did not pull away. Hong Chen made no move to let go. A faint, pleased smile flickered at the corner of his mouth.