Chapter 219: He’s Just Within Reach

Ning Li instantly understood what he was laughing at.

Her cheeks felt warm and she immediately said, “I wasn’t…”

Ning Li had not expected the couple in front of her to be so bold and immersed in their own world…

Lu Huaiyu looked at her moving lips and nervous face with dark eyes.

Luckily, she was wearing a baseball cap and he was wearing the 3D glasses, so she could not see the thirst and desire in the depths of his eyes.

He looked forward and saw that the young couple was still embracing each other.

Thus, he did not move.

Somehow, Ning Li also maintained her posture.

This scene seemed to be frozen.

The air seemed to be stagnant.

The movie and music seemed so distant at this point.

Ning Li could not see anything, but could only hear the faint sounds coming from the front as well as Lu Huaiyu’s gentle breathing.

His cedar scent was getting stronger and enveloped her so tightly that it was difficult to break free.

Seemingly sensing her embarrassment, Lu Huaiyu let out a low chuckle.

“This view is not suitable for kids.”

The tips of her ears flushed red.

After what seemed like a long time, the couple in front of them finally stopped making out and started watching the movie again.

Only then did Lu Huaiyu lift the baseball cap from her head.

In that instant, Lu Huaiyu readjusted his expression.

When Ning Li looked at him, he looked as indifferent and nonchalant as usual.

It was as if this little episode had not affected him in any way.

Ning Li quickly withdrew her gaze and munched on the popcorn to cover her embarrassment.

Lu Huaiyu suddenly turned to her.

“Is it honey butter?”

Ning Li froze for a moment before realizing that he was talking about the popcorn.

“Mhmm.” She nodded and handed over the bucket.

“Do you want some?”

Lu Huaiyu did not take it from her. He just bent his head slightly, held her hand, and ate the one that she was just about to stuff in her mouth.

His slightly cool and soft thin lips lightly brushed past her fingertips.

Ning Li held her breath.

Lu Huaiyu had already leaned back on his seat.

After a while, he said casually, “It’s a little too sweet for me.”

Ning Li answered softly.

She subconsciously took another one and popped it into her mouth. When her lips touched her fingertips, she remembered the subtle touch of that moment earlier.

Ning Li lowered her eyes and swallowed the popcorn but did not eat the rest of it.

She concentrated on the second half of this movie.

An hour seemed very long, but it also seemed to fly by.

Ning Li looked at the curtain that was drawn in front of her, but some scenes intermittently emerged in her mind.

Lu Huaiyu was sitting next to her quietly, seemingly very absorbed in the movie.

However, his presence was just too strong.

Even if Ning Li did not think or look at him, she could still feel Lu Huaiyu right next to her, just within reach.

After a while, the movie’s cheerful end credits song played.

The lights came back on.

Ning Li looked up and felt like she had just woken up from a dream.

“Let’s go, Lili,” Lu Huaiyu said.

Ning Li looked up at him before taking off her 3D glasses and followed him out.

…

It was almost 10:00 pm when they came out.

HG mall was still very lively.

Ning Li looked around but felt that something was not quite the same.

“I’ll send you home,” Lu Huaiyu said.

Ning Li nodded.

…

On the way back, the both of them sat together in the backseat.

After the car had driven some distance, Lu Huaiyu asked, “Was the movie good?”

Ning Li had been looking out the window. When she heard this, she gently nodded her head. “It was good.”

The corners of Lu Huaiyu’s lips curled up slightly.

“You seemed to like it a lot since you were so focused.”

“Mhmm.” Ning Li was quite fond of this movie.

However, she had not expected the couple’s makeout session in front of her.

She did not mention this though.

The car was silent again.

Half an hour later, the car arrived at the Ye family home.

Ning Li held her backpack, which had a balloon tied to it.

She then said goodbye to Lu Huaiyu.

“Goodnight, Second Brother! Take care!”

“Wait.” Lu Huaiyu suddenly called out to her and handed something over.

It was the ticket stub of the movie ticket that Ning Li gave him.

Ning Li was a bit puzzled. “Second Brother, this…”

“Since you invited me to the movies, I naturally have to return the favor. Keep this ticket stub and exchange anything you want from me later. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

Ning Li subconsciously refused. “Second Brother, that’s not necessary. It’s just a movie, so it’s not worth it…”

It was very difficult to exchange something cheaper than a movie ticket from Lu Huaiyu.

Moreover, this movie ticket was a gift from HG.

If Ning Li accepted it, she would seem greedy.

Lu Huaiyu raised his eyebrows.

“This was my first time watching a movie with someone, so of course it’s worth it.”

His tone was nonchalant and carried his innate pride and elegance.

Ning Li blinked.

‘Lu Huaiyu had never been to the movies with anyone else?’

After a moment, Ning Li took the ticket stub from him. “Then…I’ll get going…”

Lu Huaiyu nodded his head.

Ning Li pushed the door open and got out of the car.

After she got out, Lu Huaiyu suddenly called out to her again. “Lili!”

Ning Li turned around and saw him roll down the car window. He looked over with a deep and clear gaze that was like a vortex, pulling her in as if he could easily swallow her.

He smiled charmingly. “Merry Christmas.”

Ning Li’s eyes curved into little arcs. “Merry Christmas, Second Brother.”

…

Ning Li went upstairs.

It was already very late, but Ye Ci’s room was still lit.

Ning Li did not pay much attention to it and went back to her room.

She put down her backpack, untied the balloon, deep in thought for a while. She then tied it to the small stool in the corner.

The balloon was not big, so it was not very noticeable.

Ning Li then put the ticket stub given by Lu Huaiyu on the table before taking hers out from her pocket and laying it out side by side.

There was not much use for these after the movie, so she would usually throw them away.

However, this time she folded up the two ticket stubs and put them into the candy jar.

Just then, her phone lit up.

It was a message from He Xiaochen.

[Ning Li, I think I saw you in HG today! Were you with your second brother?]

Ning Li’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

Before she could reply, He Xiaochen sent a photo.

[Is this you guys?]

The photo looked like it had been taken in a hurry from a distance away.

From that perspective, the person who took the picture would have been at the main entrance of HG.

There was a crowd outside, and the Christmas tree was bright and gorgeous with glimmering lights everywhere.

A little farther away from the camera, was Ning Li and Lu Huaiyu.

Lu Huaiyu was holding Ning Li’s wrist as he handed her a balloon.

They had been mostly blocked by the crowd, but their faces were clear and it was not difficult for those familiar with them to recognize them.

Ning Li was tilting her head slightly as she looked at Lu Huaiyu.

It was not captured in the photo, but Ning Li could remember what had been going through her mind at that exact moment.

Ning Li stared at the picture for a while before saving it.

[Yes.]