Chapter 35: Brother is Very Gentle

When Du Long arrived at the Golden Classic Cinema, Ji Yunshan was already waiting impatiently at the entrance. However, she still said gently, "Du Long, where have you been? Why are you in such a hurry? You're all sweaty. The movie is about to start, let's go in quickly."

Ji Yunshan used a tissue to wipe the sweat off Du Long's forehead. Du Long chuckled and said, "I had something to do. The mayor summoned me and gave me a good scolding."

"Who would believe you!" Ji Yunshan tapped Du Long's temple and said, "Let's go, or the lights will go out."

"The lights going out would be better..." Du Long thought to himself. He was half-dragged into the cinema by Ji Yunshan. Ji Yunshan exchanged the tickets for two 3D glasses and handed one to Du Long. She hesitated for a moment and said, "Du Long, how is your eye? Is it okay to watch a 3D movie?"

Du Long smiled brightly, took off his sunglasses, and looked at Ji Yunshan, saying, "Does my eye look like there's something wrong with it?"

Ji Yunshan carefully examined Du Long's left eye. She saw that his pupil was clear and moved freely, just like his right eye. She said happily, "It's good that there's nothing wrong. If there's nothing wrong, why do you still wear sunglasses all the time?"

Du Long smiled and said, "Wearing sunglasses is very cool, and there are many benefits. For example, when you lie, others can't see your eyes. When you talk to others, they think you are mysterious. Also... I am a hero who was injured in the line of duty. Wearing sunglasses makes people remember my great achievements and quietly promote me. With so many benefits, of course, I will keep wearing them."

Just as Du Long finished speaking, the lights in the cinema went out with a click. It was pitch black inside. Ji Yunshan complained, "Now we can't even find our seats."

Du Long held Ji Yunshan's hand, took the large cup of popcorn from her other hand, and said with a smile, "Wearing sunglasses has another benefit. When everyone is in the dark, I can still see clearly. Come on, my little princess, just follow my steps, and you won't get lost. Let me take you to our seats..."

Du Long indeed led Ji Yunshan to their seats safely and smoothly. They had just sat down when the movie started.

The 3D movie was much more realistic and immersive. Du Long was initially worried that Ji Yunshan might be uncomfortable with the bloody and violent 3D scenes in the movie. However, when the dinosaurs started eating people, Ji Yunshan watched with great interest, even stopping her hand from reaching for the popcorn.

Du Long suddenly remembered her profession. She was a nurse who saved lives and treated injuries. What bloody scenes hadn't she seen? The scenes in the movie were not enough to impress her.

"Wow..." The movie was very exciting, and the audience often burst into exclamations. Du Long also screamed with Ji Yunshan. Ji Yunshan's small hand was clenched into a fist, and Du Long held her hand tightly, his thumb caressing her soft hand.

"If only this exciting movie were a bit longer..." When the credits finally rolled, Ji Yunshan said with a lingering sense of satisfaction.

"I didn't expect you to like this kind of..." Du Long deliberately twisted the words "blockbuster." Ji Yunshan was taken aback and then giggled. She hit Du Long and said, "Don't talk nonsense. I've liked Jurassic Park since I was a child. I've watched all three parts many times. I didn't expect to wait so long for the fourth part. Spielberg is one of my most admired directors, along with Lucas and Cameron."

Du Long also liked these three directors, but after hearing Ji Yunshan's words, he said boastfully, "I never worship foreign things. The three domestic directors I admire most are Old Zhang, Old Chen, and Old Jiang. Their movies have won numerous awards internationally, promoting our Chinese civilization. It's impossible not to admire them!"

The audience leaving the cinema turned to look at Du Long, their faces showing varying degrees of disdain and contempt. It was understandable, as most people who came to watch Hollywood blockbusters were not interested in domestic films. Du Long's words here were bound to be despised.

Ji Yunshan kicked Du Long and said, "Don't talk nonsense. You made me be despised too. Let's go, it's getting late, and I need to go home."

Du Long, holding the half-eaten popcorn, came out of the cinema. He suddenly said, "Oh no, my stomach..."

Ji Yunshan was alarmed and asked, "What's wrong? Is your stomach uncomfortable? Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

After making a fuss and making Ji Yunshan very nervous, Du Long finally took a breath and said, "I'm better now. My stomach is protesting. It wants to eat some late-night snacks."

Ji Yunshan realized Du Long was just being silly and said irritably, "Eat this half-bucket of popcorn as a late-night snack. It's already ten o'clock. If you don't go back, your mother will suspect something."

Du Long said, "Can we just have a quick snack nearby? You were so engrossed in the movie that you didn't talk to me at all. We rarely go on dates, and we didn't even say a hundred words. I'm embarrassed to talk about it."

Although Ji Yunshan knew Du Long was making excuses, she thought it made some sense. She said, "Who made you late? If you had come earlier, we could have talked a lot. Okay, I'll have a quick snack with you, but I must be home by eleven, or I won't be able to hide it from my mother."

"Better if you can't hide it," Du Long said with a grin. Seeing Ji Yunshan about to leave, he hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, I promise you'll be home by eleven. Let's go, we're running out of time."

Du Long took Ji Yunshan to a snack street near the cinema. There were many local and regional specialties, such as the stir-fried rice cakes that Du Long loved most. They are also known as "Da Jiu Jia," which means "Great Rescue." According to legend, when the Ming Dynasty fell, Emperor Yongli fled to the south. When he was starving, the locals served him a plate of stir-fried rice cakes, and the emperor praised them, saying, "The stir-fried rice cakes saved my life." Thus, they got the nickname "Da Jiu Jia."

Du Long ordered a plate of stir-fried rice cakes at the busiest stall on the street. Ji Yunshan thought for a moment and only ordered some lotus root, eating it slowly.

Watching Du Long devour the rice cakes, Ji Yunshan smiled and said, "You must be really hungry. Eat slowly, don't choke."

Du Long, with his mouth full, mumbled, "Yeah, I've been busy all day and haven't had a proper meal. I'm really hungry."

Ji Yunshan smiled and watched Du Long quietly. Du Long asked, "Why aren't you talking?"

Ji Yunshan tilted her head and thought for a moment, saying, "I don't know what to say. Didn't you want to talk to me? I'm waiting."

Du Long smiled and said, "Yunshan, you're not from Yuming City, right?"

Ji Yunshan said, "No, I'm from a small village in Dehong Autonomous Prefecture."

"Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. I thought you were from Xishuangbanna," Du Long said with a smile. "What's wrong with a small village? The beautiful scenery there nurtures beautiful people. Otherwise, how could you be so pretty?"

Ji Yunshan said, "I'm not that pretty. Your mother is very beautiful. She was much prettier than me when she was young."

Du Long said proudly, "That's true. My mother's admirers were said to line up from Beijing to Yuming City."

Ji Yunshan laughed and said, "That's a pity. I found that you didn't inherit any of your mother's good qualities."

Du Long said, "Well... My father was very handsome when he was young. Otherwise, how could he have won my mother's heart? I inherited many of my father's good qualities. Look closely, am I not quite handsome?"

Ji Yunshan, seeing him make faces, covered her mouth and laughed, "I've never met anyone who says they are handsome..."

Just as Ji Yunshan finished speaking, a man at the next table loudly chimed in, "Yeah, I've never met anyone with such a thick face. Little girl, this guy is not a good person. Don't be deceived by his sweet talk. These pretty boys just use sweet words to deceive girls' feelings. You should dump him as soon as possible. If you want to find someone, find someone like me. I may not be handsome, but I am very strong and gentle. You'll know what a good man is like once you try me!"