It's not that I'm afraid, I just don't like watching that kind of stuff

Lin Yu took a taxi to the mall where they had agreed to meet. As soon as he got out of the car, he spotted Gu Yue right away.

She stood at the entrance of the mall, holding a tan paper bag in her hand, bundled up in a stylish yet adorable outfit.

She wore a vanilla-white puffer jacket, oversized black straight-leg jeans, a white scarf, and topped it off with a cute round tower hat.

She really knew how to put an outfit together!

After meeting up, the two instinctively headed into the mall, eager to browse around and grab some snacks or drinks.

Passing through the revolving doors, they were momentarily taken aback by the deserted scene inside before quickly realizing why.

Well, of course.

It was the Lunar New Year—most vendors had gone home for the holidays.

Who would still be open for business?

The spacious mall was mostly empty, with only a handful of stalls selling New Year couplets and nuts stubbornly remaining open, barely keeping the place alive.

Staring at the quiet scene, Lin Yu, whose pockets were comfortably full, couldn’t help but feel annoyed.

Damn it!

He had money to burn, but nowhere to spend it—how unfair was that?

After wandering around the few open stalls, the two eventually stopped at a nut vendor. With a grand gesture, Lin Yu splurged on a full two pounds of pistachios!

No big deal!

Just flexing his financial freedom!

After paying and collecting their haul, each of them cradled a paper bag of pistachios, cracking them open like sunflower seeds as they strolled leisurely through the empty mall.

As they walked, Lin Yu, feeling a bit bored, suddenly remembered what Gu Yue had mentioned on the phone. He turned to her and asked,

“Didn’t you say there was a really fun place to go?”

“Where is it?”

“Let’s head over.”

Gu Yue checked the time on her phone, thought for a moment, and then hesitated slightly before replying,

“It’s still a bit early to go now.”

“Let’s do something else first.”

“We can head over when the time’s right.”

Lin Yu tossed a pistachio shell into the large paper bag, which already had a thin layer of white shells at the bottom, then popped another whole pistachio into his mouth. Curious, he asked,

“Where are we going, anyway?”

“And why do we have to wait?”

Remembering that Tang Manman was waiting for him later, Lin Yu didn’t want to keep her waiting too long. He found an excuse to nudge Gu Yue, saying,

“I’ve got something to do at home tonight.”

“Can’t stay out too late.”

Gu Yue shook her head.

“It won’t be late.”

“We’ll head over around four.”

“We’ll be done by six!”

At this, Gu Yue lifted her delicate face slightly, her bright eyes shimmering with anticipation as she looked at Lin Yu earnestly. Her voice carried a hint of nervousness as she asked,

“Do you have time for that?”

“...”

Lin Yu hesitated.

In his original plan, his time with Gu Yue was supposed to wrap up by around three in the afternoon.

After that, he was supposed to meet Tang Manman.

By four, she should have finished whatever she was busy with.

But Gu Yue wanted him to stay until six…

That clashed with his schedule.

Lin Yu was about to refuse, but seeing the hopeful look on Gu Yue’s face, he couldn’t bring himself to disappoint her.

What to do?

If he didn’t want to ruin Gu Yue’s mood, he’d have to meet Tang Manman later.

But then he wouldn’t get to spend much time with her…

No way!

The extra time spent with Gu Yue couldn’t be taken from the time reserved for Tang Manman!

After some thought, Lin Yu quickly made a decision.

If push came to shove, he’d just shift the entire schedule back a bit.

Qing Mo would have to endure a little inconvenience.

He’d take the blame...

Wait, no!

That woman Qing Mo would probably enjoy it!

Might as well scold her over the phone first.

She wouldn’t be upset anyway.

With that in mind, Lin Yu nodded without a shred of guilt and said:

"Alright."

"Let’s make it six o’clock."

"Any later is really pushing it!"

"It won’t be late!" Gu Yue looked thrilled, her tone firm as she assured him:

"I’ll give you a surprise—guaranteed not to disappoint!"

Lin Yu nodded, then asked:

"So, what should we do now?"

"We can’t just stand around waiting, right?"

"How about catching a movie?" Gu Yue tilted her head and suggested.

"Sure, sure." Lin Yu agreed with a nod.

The mall had its own cinema.

The two took the elevator up, but as they reached the theater entrance, Lin Yu’s mind wandered again.

Unlike the rest of the quiet mall, the cinema was packed, buzzing with a festive New Year’s energy.

Walking into the theater with Gu Yue, Lin Yu kept his eyes on the movie posters behind the ticket counter and asked without turning:

"What do you wanna watch?"

Gu Yue was also studying the posters. Hearing his question, she shook her head lightly and said:

"Not sure yet."

But soon, she found a film that caught her eye. Pointing at one of the posters, she turned to Lin Yu excitedly:

"I want to watch this one!"

Lin Yu glanced over, following her finger to the poster.

The background was eerie, and at the center was a half-portrait of a little boy—his face ashen, his expression grim. Though his lips weren’t curved, there was something undeniably unsettling about him, as if he were smiling.

A creepy, unnatural smile.

No trace of it in his expression, yet the impression was unmistakable.

Pure horror, dialed up to the max.

Lin Yu’s body gave an involuntary shudder. He quickly averted his gaze, refusing to look in that direction again.

Masking his fear with a frown, he put on an annoyed face and grumbled:

"Who watches horror movies during the New Year?"

"It’s bad luck!"

"Let’s watch this instead!"

He pointed at an anime movie poster he’d never even heard of and declared:

"This one’s good."

"I’ve been wanting to see it for ages."

"Fine."

Since Lin Yu liked it, Gu Yue had no choice but to relent—what could she do? She liked him.

But where he couldn’t see, she pouted her soft, glossy lips in silent protest.

Her plan had fallen through, and she was genuinely unhappy.

It wasn’t just about the horror movie.

She’d been counting on using the scary scenes as an excuse to act frightened, cling to Lin Yu, and maybe even snuggle up to him.

Now?

An animated film.

All her schemes ruined!

Hmph!

So annoying!

Why would they even show cartoons during the New Year?

Ugh, the worst!

Gu Yue was sulking hard, but Lin Yu was ten times more irritated.

Seriously?!

What kind of cinema screens horror movies during the New Year?

Are they out of their minds?

And you had to make the poster so scary, deliberately trying to unsettle people who are afraid of ghosts... (scratch that)

deliberately trying to annoy those who don’t like horror movies, right?

So annoying!