IMGH Chapter 52

Swallowing One’s Pride

“Jiang Yi, let’s go watch a movie later!” Chen Yuhe blinked her big eyes and gazed eagerly at the man across from her who was fiddling with his phone.

After hearing Chen Yuhe’s words, Jiang Yi turned his wrist to check his watch, then said apologetically, “Yuhe, I’m sorry! I haven’t finished writing today’s chapter yet, so I’m afraid I can’t keep you company!”

Chen Yuhe’s delicate little face scrunched up in disappointment. “This is our first date — how can you not come watch a movie with me!”

“I’m truly sorry, but I’m afraid today won’t work!” Jiang Yi said in a gentle, soothing tone. “Another day — I’ll definitely make it up to you another day!”

Chen Yuhe raised her little fist in protest. “No, I want you to watch a movie with me today!”

“But…”

Before Jiang Yi could finish, Chen Yuhe had already pulled him up from his chair. “Come on, come on! One movie won’t take that much of your time! You can go home and write after we’re done!”

Unable to refuse, Jiang Yi had no choice but to agree, and let Chen Yuhe drag him by the arm out of the cold drink shop.

Although Chen Yuhe had agreed to help Qiu Rui break the formation, she had done so on one condition.

That condition was that Jiang Yi had to be her boyfriend. Upon hearing this, Jiang Yi immediately objected. Saving Qiu Rui was important, but not to the extent of trading away his appearance and feelings to do so.

In the end, Chen Yuhe relaxed her terms — the two would spend time together as friends first, but Jiang Yi would occasionally have to accompany her on dates.

Having a beautiful girl by one’s side was every homebody’s dream, and in the past, Jiang Yi would have been over the moon about it. But things were different now — his heart had no room for two people.

Still, Jiang Yi was well aware of the consequences of angering Chen Yuhe, and in the end had no choice but to swallow his pride and bow his arrogant head.

And so, today was the day Chen Yuhe had requested for their date.

The little enchantress walked ahead in high spirits, while the man behind her was visibly unable to share in her excitement — his heavy steps carrying the resigned air of someone marching to the execution grounds.

Qiu Rui cast a cold sidelong glance at the man beside her, who wore a fawning expression on his face, and snorted, “I’d say you’re enjoying this quite a bit.”

Jiang Yi raised his right hand in alarm, as if taking an oath. “I swear, I have no interest in her — it’s not like you don’t know that you’re the only one in my heart!”

Faced with the man’s shameless lack of self-awareness, Qiu Rui was utterly speechless. Taunting him or retorting would only give him an opening to push further — once he started, there would be no end to it.

Ignoring him was the best approach. Qiu Rui turned his head, unwilling to continue this conversation with Jiang Yi.

Jiang Yi, showing a rare sense of self-restraint this time, pursed his lips in a sulk and said nothing more.

Up ahead, Chen Yuhe had already stopped at the entrance to the cinema, tilting her head as she studied the film listings on the large screen — she was clearly torn over which movie to see.

Jiang Yi leaned over to take a look. There were quite a few new releases, both domestic and foreign.

In an inconspicuous spot in the lower right corner of the screen, a film title glowing in red caught Jiang Yi’s attention. He stared at it for a few seconds, and then a sly smile crept across the corners of his lips.

He turned to Chen Yuhe, who was still deliberating, and said, “Yuhe, which film do you want to see?”

Chen Yuhe tapped her chin lightly with a slender finger, her beautiful eyes drifting back and forth across the listings with a rather troubled look.

Seeing that she was hopelessly undecided, Jiang Yi smiled and said, “Since you can’t make up your mind, just leave it to me!”

Chen Yuhe nodded obediently. “Alright, I’ll leave it to you then!”

Jiang Yi queued up to buy the tickets while Chen Yuhe ran off to get popcorn, French fries, and the other little snacks that were essential for movie-watching.

By the time Chen Yuhe returned carrying the shopping bag, Jiang Yi had already bought the tickets.

They had their tickets checked and walked into the screening hall, where Chen Yuhe discovered that she and Jiang Yi were the only two in the audience.

“Hey, Jiang Yi, how come there’s almost no one in this hall?” Chen Yuhe looked around at the empty theater and asked him, puzzled.

“Who knows!” Jiang Yi shrugged and smiled. “Isn’t having a private screening a good thing?”

The confusion came and went quickly. After a brief moment of thought, Chen Yuhe brightened up. “You’re right — this way, no one will disturb us!”

They picked the best seats in the house and sat down side by side.

Qiu Rui, who had been forced into the role of a third wheel, felt deeply uncomfortable. Noticing that there were no other audience members in the hall, he felt even more as though he was getting in the way of Jiang Yi and Chen Yuhe’s date.

So, with a sensible regard for the situation, he half-floated to a spot about five meters behind the two of them, clearly not wanting to intrude.

Jiang Yi glanced subtly back over his shoulder, his brow furrowing in an almost imperceptible crease.