Chapter 56: Dudu, please don't push yourself

Jiang Ye tightened his grip around her arm, his nose brushing against the top of her head as he caught a familiar, faint scent of gardenia.

The girl’s fragrance was delightful, mingling with the gentle warmth radiating from the airport’s heating system, like a breeze newly buddings in spring, gently tugging at the strings of his heart.

Beneath her fluffy down jacket, he could faintly feel the softness of her body and her slender waist, making him wish he could hold her just a little tighter.

"People online are saying that lousy show I filmed is pure trash, saying the production crew was so broke they couldn't even scrape together proper props, and that the plot is ridiculous and illogical... even the actors are getting dragged so hard we can't show our faces."

His voice dropped to a deeper hoarseness, his breath brushing softly across the crown of her head. "Sometimes, looking at those comments, I really wonder if I did something wrong... Whatever, why am I even bringing this up?"

When he released his grip, the corners of his eyes were slightly reddened.

Chen Duling froze in surprise, her initial shyness and slight annoyance instantly completely overwhelmed by a surge of heartache.

So the guy had been holding her so tightly just because he was feeling down...

She raised a hand intending to touch his face, but pulled it back halfway, ending up instead clumsily tugging at his cuff. "Those people are just talking nonsense! I thought it was really good!"

Anxious, she raised her voice slightly before quickly lowering it again, as if afraid someone might overhear. "Even though the production looks a bit simple, the plot is so interesting, and the actors' performances are totally natural... Look at how many people online are chasing after every update! They just can't stand seeing other people innovate!"

Scraping the bottom of her barrel for reasons, she spoke with increasing speed, her voice tinged with a grievance she hadn't even realized was there. "The last time I recommended it to my roommates, they start nagging me every day for updates, saying you captured that absurd vibe so brilliantly... Really, don't take it to heart. In my eyes, you're amazing."

With that, she even reached out and patted his arm, her awkward movements resembling someone petting a wronged, giant puppy.

Watching her look so flustered that the tip of her nose turned red, Jiang Ye barely managed to keep a straight face.

Lowering his gaze, he pretended to be comforted and let out a soft murmur: "Just having you say that makes me feel a lot better."

The airport broadcast chimed with Christmas Eve blessing melodies, and Chen Duling glanced up at the clock, suddenly feeling a bit lost. "It's getting so late... Should I just go find a hotel to stay in?"

"Sure," Jiang Ye answered almost immediately, his tone extraordinarily brisk as he reached for his phone. "Let me help you book one. There's a hotel near the airport with great reviews, close by and very clean."

His fingertips swiped across the screen as if about to place the order immediately, but then he suddenly paused, and when he raised his eyes, the trace of desolation he had just forced down resurfaced.

"However..." He scratched his head, his tone carrying a self-deprecating casualness. "Actually, heading back myself is pretty tough."

The brow Chen Duling had just relaxed furrowed slightly again.

Jiang Ye lowered his head to continue scrolling on his phone, his voice so soft it was as if he feared disturbing anyone. "You know how it is on Christmas Eve, going back to an empty room, closing your eyes and seeing nothing but those messy comments—I'll probably be staring at the ceiling until dawn."

He turned his profile to her, the corners of his mouth pulling into a forced smile. "Unlike you, tired after a full day, you can get a sound sleep once you reach the hotel."

Chen Duling: "..."

As Jiang Ye spoke, he hovered his finger over the order confirmation button, resting it there as though waiting for something.

Yet Chen Duling just stared blankly at him...

She had no idea what she was supposed to say right then, her mind completely blank.

Jiang Ye paused, as if a sudden thought had struck him. "Speaking of which, I think I saw on the cinema listings earlier that there's still a late-night screening of *The Taking of Tiger Mountain*..."

"Dudu, do you want to go see it? Of course, I'm just throwing it out there—if you're tired, please don't push yourself. I just figured that in a place with more people, it might not be quite so hard to get through the night."

Saying this, he quickly waved his hand, pretending it was just a casual suggestion. "Don't take it to heart, booking your hotel is more important, I'll confirm it right now for you..."

Watching him look so miserable, the thought of hurrying off to rest that had just taken root in Chen Duling's mind suddenly sputtered and stalled.

She twisted her scarf and muttered softly, "Booking a hotel isn't urgent... How about we go see the movie instead? I'm not tired anyway, and I happened to want to check this film out."

Jiang Ye’s hand swiping across the screen came to a halt. "Really? Won't that be too much trouble for you?"

"It's no trouble," Chen Duling shook her head, her voice gentle. "Seeing a movie sounds nice."

Jiang Ye immediately locked his screen, yet still earnestly admonished, "Well, if you get tired, you have to tell me, okay? Don't force yourself."

"If you want to see it too, I'll just go with you!"

"???"

Chen Duling always felt like something wasn't quite right.

...

The cinema on Christmas Eve was bustling with crowds, filled everywhere with clingy couples.

Aside from Director Tsui Hark’s *The Taking of Tiger Mountain*, there were two other major hits.

One was *Micro-Love*, a commercial comedy directed by Gu Changwei starring Zheng Kai and Angelababy, with guest appearances by Chen He, Momo Wu, and Dawei Tong.

There was also Jiang Wen's drama film *Gone with the Bullets*, starring Jiang Wen, Ge You, and Zhou Yun.

Holding two cups of hot drinks, Jiang Ye swept his gaze across the young couple in the front row sharing a single popcorn bucket, a playful smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"Dudu," he nudged Chen Duling gently with his elbow. "Do you know why cinemas do such good business on Christmas Eve?"

Chen Duling was looking down, adjusting her scarf, and blinked in confusion at the question. "Because... it's the Christmas season?"

"Wrong," Jiang Ye lowered his voice, analyzing with a completely serious expression. "Look here. First, the lights are dim, which makes it convenient to secretly hold hands. Second, the show lets out late, providing a natural excuse to walk someone home."

He suddenly leaned close to her ear. "And lastly, it's cold outside—classic tropes like 'letting you borrow my coat' finally come in handy, don't they?"

A warm breath brushed against her earlobe, causing Chen Duling's hand to jerk, nearly spilling her hot drink. "What... what on earth are you thinking about all day long!"

"I'm researching market marketing," Jiang Ye declared righteously. "Look at how full the screenings for *The Taking of Tiger Mountain* are—it proves that Director Tsui Hark has a deep grasp of the holiday economy."

Amused by his skewed logic, Chen Duling was just about to retort when she caught sight of the girl in the front row nearly shrinking entirely inside her boyfriend's jacket.

Jiang Ye instantly raised an eyebrow. "Look, a live-action case study."

"You're the only one who knows everything," she muttered softly with a blushing face, before suddenly thinking of something and asking with a straight expression, "Have you done this sort of thing often in the past?"

????????

The lights suddenly dimmed, and the moment the silver screen lit up, the two of them stopped talking.

A low laugh drifted from the girl in the front row, presumably amused by the plot on screen.

Jiang Ye tapped his fingers lightly against his knee, as if keeping time with the rhythm, when at a certain moment, he accidentally brushed against the back of her hand resting on the armrest.

Neither of them moved.

The wind and snow on the silver screen raged on, yet the air in the theater seemed to quiet down abruptly, leaving only the sound of each other's quietly accelerating heartbeats.