Chapter 23

With Xiao Yuanhang speaking to this extent, if Jiang Shan refused again, it would be inconsiderate. She had no choice but to nod and say, "Alright, then let's have a bottle of wine."

The waiter noted it down and left without asking what kind of wine they wanted. Xiao Yuanhang naturally did not ask either. In fact, at that time, there was only one type of wine available in the market, which was the Hongmei red wine, a specialty of Tongshui. In the future, it would become a very famous brand. Moreover, in that era, there were very few specialized wine manufacturers in the country.

At this moment, Xiao Yuanhang heard a "splash" outside the window. He turned his head and looked out through the screen, seeing a figure dart into the grass outside the window. The area outside the window of the Luming Village hotel was a wasteland where the hotel stored miscellaneous items, overgrown with wild grass and mugwort. Since the grass was less than half a meter tall, it could not completely hide a person. The white shirt was clearly visible, and Xiao Yuanhang immediately recognized that it was Zhang Mingwei, as he was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt today!

Jiang Shan also heard the sound and looked out almost simultaneously with Xiao Yuanhang. Seeing that he was still watching her even while she was eating, and had even crawled into the grass behind the restaurant to spy, she felt extremely disgusted!

Zhang Mingwei's behavior was indeed annoying. He even spied while they were eating. Xiao Yuanhang was a bit angry. How could one feel comfortable with someone watching while eating? No, he had to let Wang Dahai teach him a lesson tomorrow.

Xiao Yuanhang saw that there were curtains on the window, so he stood up and pulled them closed. Since the electric fans were already on, it wouldn't be too hot. If Zhang Mingwei wanted to squat in the grass, he could stay there and feed the mosquitoes. The mosquitoes were very fierce, and a single bite would leave a large red bump!

Jiang Shan, seeing Xiao Yuanhang's considerate action, couldn't help but look at him with gratitude...

The dishes at the hotel were quickly served. The waiter opened the wine, and Xiao Yuanhang poured a glass for Jiang Shan and one for himself. At this time, they couldn't be as refined as in the future, where one would pour just a little wine and savor it slowly. The hotel didn't have wine glasses, only glass teacups. Xiao Yuanhang poured a full glass and raised it to Jiang Shan, saying, "I'm glad to meet you. Let's have a toast to our acquaintance!"

Xiao Yuanhang's words were sincere, making Jiang Shan feel very comfortable. Indeed, they had just met. She raised her glass and gently clinked it with Xiao Yuanhang's, saying, "I feel the same. I'm glad to meet you. Thank you!" She then took a small sip.

Xiao Yuanhang also took a small sip and put down his glass, saying, "Jiang Shan, how do you find the food here..."

The two began to chat while drinking. They talked about Jiang Shan's school in Haibin and Xiao Yuanhang's frequent trips to Huanghai. Both being young, they had many common interests and found each other increasingly engaging. However, Zhang Mingwei, hiding in the grass outside, was suffering. The mosquitoes and gnats were numerous in the evening, and when Xiao Yuanhang and Jiang Shan looked in his direction, he dared not move, allowing the hungry mosquitoes to bite his face and arms, leaving several large red bumps that itched terribly!

Only after Xiao Yuanhang closed the curtains did Zhang Mingwei straighten up and scratch fiercely. The wind blew, lifting a corner of the curtain, and he saw Xiao Yuanhang and Jiang Shan raising their glasses to each other, their faces filled with warmth and smiles. He instinctively lowered his head and squatted back into the grass, where the mosquitoes that he had driven away earlier swarmed back...

More than an hour later, Zhang Mingwei saw through the gap in the curtains that Xiao Yuanhang and Jiang Shan were getting up to leave. He quickly stood up from the grass, climbed over the nearby wall, and squatted in the corner, secretly watching the hotel's entrance. By this time, his body was covered with numerous large red bumps!

Xiao Yuanhang paid a total of 26 yuan, which was four to five times the usual cost of a meal for two, about 5 to 6 yuan. This made Jiang Shan feel very uncomfortable. She had just started working, and her monthly salary plus bonuses amounted to only about 40 yuan, equivalent to more than half a month's salary!

Xiao Yuanhang, being a reborn person, found the price very cheap, even though he had lived through this era. In the future, a simple meal for two would cost a couple of hundred yuan, and if they had a bottle of wine, it could cost even more. After paying, he said to Jiang Shan, "Jiang Shan, let's go to the movies? It's 6:30 now, and we can catch the 7:00 show!"

"Okay!" Jiang Shan was still feeling apologetic, but she couldn't refuse Xiao Yuanhang's request and nodded in agreement.

After leaving the hotel, Xiao Yuanhang looked around but didn't see Zhang Mingwei. As he and Jiang Shan sat on the cart and occasionally looked back, they noticed a shadowy figure following them. Jiang Shan, seeing him look back, also turned and spotted Zhang Mingwei. Seeing that he was still following them, she felt relieved that she had agreed to Xiao Yuanhang's request.

During their school days, Xiao Yuanhang knew that Zhang Mingwei was devious, but he didn't expect him to be so annoying. Although he had already decided to have Wang Dahai teach him a lesson tomorrow, he resolved that if Zhang Mingwei just followed them, it would be fine, but if he dared to interfere, he would personally deal with him!

At the cinema, there were still some tickets left. Adult tickets were 25 cents each, and children's tickets were 15 cents. Xiao Yuanhang bought two adult tickets and entered with Jiang Shan. There was a food stall in the aisle, run by the cinema staff. Xiao Yuanhang bought a pack of sunflower seeds and two bottles of soda, then found their seats and sat down.

There were five minutes left before the movie started, and the cinema was already full. Since they arrived late, there were only a few tickets left, and they could only get seats in the last row, near the edge. They had just sat down when the first bell rang, indicating that the movie would start in three minutes. The lights in the cinema gradually dimmed, leaving only the central ceiling light on, creating a very dim atmosphere.

The cinema could hold nearly a thousand people, and it was almost full when the movie started. During this time, Xiao Yuanhang searched around but didn't see Zhang Mingwei, possibly due to the dim lighting. Jiang Shan also looked around and felt relieved when she didn't see Zhang Mingwei either.

"Highland Flowers" was a popular movie at the time. Although Xiao Yuanhang remembered the name and the theme song, he had forgotten the plot. After the movie started, he focused on watching it. After a while, he felt a bit dizzy, realizing that the aftereffects of the Hongmei red wine were setting in. The wine seemed like a drink when consumed, but its aftereffects were more intoxicating than liquor!

They had shared the bottle of wine, each drinking about half. Xiao Yuanhang turned to look at Jiang Shan, noticing that her face was very red, indicating that she was also feeling the effects of the wine.

Jiang Shan, noticing Xiao Yuanhang's gaze, rubbed her temples with her white, tender hand and whispered, "Xiao Yuanhang, I feel a bit dizzy."

Xiao Yuanhang explained, "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. The Hongmei red wine has a strong aftereffect. I'm a bit dizzy too. Drink more soda, and you'll feel better soon!"

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