In the movie theater.
Zhou Hong watched the big screen boredly, almost falling asleep several times because it was a romance film.
Qiao Xiaoyu, on the other hand, seemed deeply moved, occasionally letting out a sob.
Zhou Hong was speechless.
Finally, the movie ended.
"Phew! I'm never watching a movie again," Zhou Hong couldn't help but grumble.
"Weren't you moved at all?" Qiao Xiaoyu shot Zhou Hong a look and said.
"What's there to be moved by? The male lead is an idiot, and the female lead is crazy. It was something that could have been solved by just taking off their pants, but they dragged it out with so much nonsense."
"I'm truly speechless about you. You've turned such a touching love story into this," Qiao Xiaoyu couldn't help but scold Zhou Hong. The movie told the story of a couple who, against the opposition of their parents, overcame numerous obstacles to stay together.
Yet, Zhou Hong suggested it could have been solved by taking off their pants, which completely ruined the mood.
"I think you just don't understand love," Qiao Xiaoyu huffed and said, walking out of the cinema with Zhou Hong.
"Love? No one understands it better than I do. No matter how earth-shattering your love is, the ultimate goal is still to take off your pants."
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't say another word, you're defiling the sacred love in my heart." Qiao Xiaoyu couldn't help but glare at Zhou Hong.
"Hahaha, I can't be bothered to argue with you."
Qiao Xiaoyu looked at Zhou Hong helplessly, surprised by his lack of romance.
Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu went home together.
It was almost ten-thirty when they got home.
"Good night," Qiao Xiaoyu said to Zhou Hong.
"Good night, wife," Zhou Hong grinned mischievously.
"Who's your wife?" Qiao Xiaoyu blushed and scolded Zhou Hong, quickly closing her door. However, a sweet smile played on her lips. Although this guy didn't understand romance and viewed love as something to be solved by taking off pants, it didn't diminish her affection for Zhou Hong.
The night passed uneventfully.
The next day, after breakfast, Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu went to Jizhou University for classes together.
When they entered the classroom, everyone looked at Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu with a peculiar expression, as they were all aware that Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu were now a couple.
Everyone seemed surprised because, before yesterday, Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu had no interaction. It was unexpected that they suddenly announced their relationship on the forum yesterday evening.
"Sigh! The prize has been snatched by a pig," several boys in the class who secretly admired Qiao Xiaoyu cursed inwardly. Although they knew Zhou Hong was more capable than them, when it came to love, everyone was selfish.
Qin Mengxue still hadn't arrived, as she was accompanying her father in the hospital. Therefore, Qiao Xiaoyu didn't have a desk mate.
Consequently, Zhou Hong immediately went to Qin Mengxue's seat and sat next to Qiao Xiaoyu.
"Why are you coming over here?" Qiao Xiaoyu asked hurriedly, seemingly blushing, as the whole class was watching.
"To sit with you."
"Then you have to listen attentively in class and not play with your phone," Qiao Xiaoyu instructed.
"Uh! I'd better go back and sit with Liu Hua." Zhou Hong thought about it and decided to return to the back row. Asking him not to play with his phone during class was impossible.
The morning classes finally ended.
"Zhou Hong, I'll be waiting for you at the school gate." Zhou Hong received a WeChat message from Shen Yanran.
Zhou Hong then remembered that he was going to Shen Yanran's house for lunch today. Her grandfather wanted to meet him. Zhou Hong initially didn't want to go, but he was curious about what Shen Yanran's grandfather wanted to say.
"Okay." Zhou Hong immediately replied.
After class, the students left the teaching building one after another, heading to the cafeteria for lunch.
"Zhou Hong, you'll be having lunch with your girlfriend today, right? I won't be a third wheel," Liu Hua quickly said to Zhou Hong.
"No, I have something to do at noon and need to go out."
"Oh, alright then. I'm going to eat with Wu Jinbin."
Zhou Hong nodded.
At this moment, Qiao Xiaoyu also sent a WeChat message to Zhou Hong, asking if he wanted to have lunch together. She seemed a bit shy, not daring to walk over, and only dared to ask via WeChat.
"I have something to do at noon and need to go out. You go with other classmates," Zhou Hong replied to Qiao Xiaoyu.
"Okay." Qiao Xiaoyu also seemed a bit disappointed and ended up going with other female classmates.
Zhou Hong arrived at the school gate.
"Beep beep!" A luxurious SUV honked at the gate. It was Shen Yanran.
"Get in."
Zhou Hong immediately got into the passenger seat. Shen Yanran started the car and headed towards her home.
"What does your grandfather want to talk to me about?" Zhou Hong asked curiously in the car.
"I don't know. He told me to bring you back today for lunch. Zhou Hong, when you meet my grandfather later, if he asks about you pushing my brother into the toilet, please be a little more sincere," Shen Yanran pleaded.
"Oh." Zhou Hong nodded.
"By the way, Zhou Hong, you posted on the Jizhou University forum yesterday saying you were with Qiao Xiaoyu." Shen Yanran quickly said with a smile, but her heart felt a pang of sadness. Although she had known about Zhou Hong and Qiao Xiaoyu's relationship for a while, seeing them announce it now still brought a wave of melancholy.
"Yes, I was already her fiancé before I came to university. We just hadn't announced it yet."
"I know. I envy her."
"Heh, you'll find someone better than me."
"You don't say." Shen Yanran shot Zhou Hong a look, as if to say, how dare he give her a platitude.
About half an hour later, Zhou Hong arrived at the Shen family estate.
"Grandpa, Zhou Hong is here." Shen Yanran led Zhou Hong to a separate courtyard, which was where her grandfather usually meditated.
Outside the courtyard, Shen Yanran's brother, Shen Dongyang, and their grandfather, Shen Wansi, were talking. When they saw Shen Yanran arrive with Zhou Hong, their eyes immediately darted over.
"You are Zhou Hong?" Shen Wansi asked indifferently.
"Yes, I am Zhou Hong."
"Come in with me, we need to talk," Shen Wansi invited Zhou Hong into his small courtyard.
Shen Yanran and Shen Dongyang also wanted to go in, but Shen Wansi stopped them.
"Grandpa, why can't we come in?" Shen Yanran asked anxiously.
"Zhou Hong and I need to talk privately. You two wait outside." After saying that, Shen Wansi closed the door.
"Don't be formal, please have a seat." After entering the room, Shen Wansi asked Zhou Hong to sit down. His tone was neither warm nor cold, as if he were deliberately putting on airs in front of Zhou Hong.