Chapter 51 – Excitement (part 2)

 Lu Qingzhuo immediately sat back down, took a sip of warm water, and lowered her head, lips tightly pressed together like she’d just been subjected to some sort of cruel punishment.

Fu Yumian couldn’t hold back her laughter. The corners of her mouth lifted into a playful smile, and she gently licked the spot where she’d just been kissed. Seeing Lu Qingzhuo’s ears and cheeks burning red, she chuckled and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”

“You’ve got some nerve asking that,” Lu Qingzhuo muttered while nibbling at her sweet and sour pork, voice muffled. “You made me kiss you in a place like this. It’s so embarrassing.”

“When did I make you kiss me?” Fu Yumian said, doing her best to look innocent and suppress her amusement. “I just asked you to help me wipe my mouth. You’re the one who leaned in and kissed me. I was actually wondering when you became so bold.”

Lu Qingzhuo’s face turned even redder at Fu Yumian’s casual tone. She cupped her cheeks with both hands, her pale pink lips pouting in protest—adorably wronged and helpless.

It really wasn’t Fu Yumian’s fault. She had just asked for a simple wipe, and Lu Qingzhuo had completely misunderstood, sneakily stealing a kiss.

Hopefully, no one had seen it.

All she could do was pray that the other diners were all passionate foodies who wouldn’t be easily distracted—and that none were creepy enough to secretly take photos of them.

After the meal, Lu Qingzhuo put on a mask. Once they stepped outside, she said she wanted something to drink and dragged Fu Yumian to a nearby bubble tea shop. They ordered two cups of classic pearl milk tea and sat by the window.

Lu Qingzhuo held her warm cup in both hands, gazing out the glass as snowflakes fluttered gently from the sky. 

The jingle from a “Youlemei” milk tea commercial echoed in her mind, and for a moment, she felt like the leading lady in a romantic drama.

She didn’t usually take photos, and most of her bubble tea sessions were with Xie Yun. That girl always tempted her into ordering tea, fried skewers, and hotpot—rich, salty, greasy things that forced Lu Qingzhuo into days or weeks of dietary repentance.

But today, the person beside her was Fu Yumian.

Lu Qingzhuo glanced over just as Fu Yumian struggled to suck up a pearl, her cheeks puffing out slightly. It was so cute.

Before she could think it through, her hand was faster than her brain—she snapped a photo of Fu Yumian mid-sip.

Outside, snowflakes danced through the air. Pedestrians rushed by. Across the street stood a row of cozy townhouses. And right in front of her, Fu Yumian was locked in battle with the tapioca pearls in her tea.

Every frame of the scene was picture-perfect. After admiring the shot for a few moments, Lu Qingzhuo set it as her phone’s wallpaper.

Fu Yumian finally managed to chew down on a pearl. The sweet treat slid down her throat, and as she looked up, she caught Lu Qingzhuo holding her phone with a suspiciously giddy grin—like she was texting some omega behind her back.

Her fingertips tapped the same spot on the table, snapping Lu Qingzhuo back to reality. She smiled and asked, “President Fu, what’s wrong? Is the bubble tea good?”

“It’s not bad.” It was Fu Yumian’s first time trying something like this. Even though it looked unhealthy, the moment she took a sip, all her concerns vanished. “What were you looking at?”

“Oh, nothing.” Lu Qingzhuo changed the subject. “So... would this count as a date?”

She definitely couldn’t admit she had just been secretly taking photos of Fu Yumian. Lu Qingzhuo quickly turned off her phone screen and set it face-down on the table. But the very next second, two WeChat notifications popped up with a chime, lighting up the screen—and Fu Yumian caught it all.

“Date?” Fu Yumian saw Lu Qingzhuo’s phone wallpaper and immediately recognized that familiar face. Her lips twitched upward before she could stop herself, and she nodded. “I suppose it is.”

Lu Qingzhuo hadn’t expected Fu Yumian to actually go along with it, and honestly, this didn’t really feel like a proper date to her.

She’d never had a girlfriend before and wasn’t really sure what people did on dates. So she opened Xiaomoushu and typed into the search bar: “What do you do on a date?”

The top result was just one word.

"Do."

Lu Qingzhuo pressed her lips together, debating whether to block the post or mark it as uninteresting. But her fingers moved faster than her brain and tapped into the post before she could stop herself.

She glanced over at Fu Yumian—relieved to see she was also on her phone—then started scrolling through date suggestions.

The blogger had listed over a hundred ideas. Lu Qingzhuo skimmed through them and saved the image to her gallery.

Make crafts?

Lu Qingzhuo looked at her hands. Her fingers were long and looked somewhat capable, but when it came to actual crafting, she knew she was hopeless.

Amusement park?

She nearly threw up after riding a pirate ship once, and Lin Zhiyu had even dared her onto a roller coaster. Her body ran ahead while her soul lagged behind—she’d sworn never to step into another amusement park again.

Karaoke?

Everyone in the entertainment industry knew she was tone-deaf. Lu Qingzhuo had never dared upload a singing clip online, let alone join a music variety show.

Claw machines?

She hadn’t tried it herself, but watching others do it looked fun. No clue how she’d perform, though.

Noticing that Lu Qingzhuo was zoning out at her phone, Fu Yumian set down her half-finished bubble tea and smiled. “What’s up? Planning today’s date?”

It was already past two in the afternoon, and since the sun set early around here, there wouldn’t be time for many activities anyway.

“How’d you know I was thinking about that?” Lu Qingzhuo was startled by how accurately Fu Yumian read her mind. She opened her phone’s memo app and jotted down a few options she thought were doable. Then she opened a certain app and suggested, “How about we watch a movie when it gets dark?”

Lu Qingzhuo handed her phone to Fu Yumian. The screen displayed a list of movies. Fu Yumian’s eyes were immediately drawn to the poster of a newly released domestic horror film.

A red wedding dress and embroidered shoes—classic Chinese horror aesthetics. But compared to Lu Qingzhuo’s look as an NPC in the first episode of the show, this fell a bit short.

“This one.” Fu Yumian scooted closer and pointed at the horror film titled "Midnight Manor". “I want to watch this.”

Lu Qingzhuo glanced at the poster. The lead actress used to be a popular name in the industry but had disappeared after offending someone and getting blacklisted.

Horror movies were perfect for dates. Lu Qingzhuo wasn’t scared of them at all—her only concern was whether Fu Yumian might be.

“President Fu, aren’t you scared?” she asked cautiously.

Fu Yumian gave a flawless answer: “Why would I be, if you’re with me?”

“Well then, let’s pick some good seats.”

Lu Qingzhuo tapped on the seating chart and saw that tickets were selling well. Only the far-right corner seats were still available—every other spot had been taken.

She was just about to pick the best viewing seats when Fu Yumian, quick as lightning, snatched the phone and selected the two innermost seats in the lower-right corner. Then she paid for the tickets.

Lu Qingzhuo blinked. “President Fu, why did you pick the corner?”

Fu Yumian opened her mouth but had nothing to say. She tossed the phone back to Lu Qingzhuo with a helpless expression. “Oops. Clicked the wrong spot.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

What kind of excuse was that?

After buying the tickets, Lu Qingzhuo finished off the last of her milk tea.

Fu Yumian wasn’t used to sucking up the tapioca pearls. After finishing the drink, nearly half a cup of black pearls remained—too dense to drink, too stubborn to shake loose.

It was still early. Their movie tickets were for 7 PM. Noticing a large shopping mall nearby, Lu Qingzhuo grabbed Fu Yumian’s hand and dragged her over.

On the first floor, Lu Qingzhuo spotted a reptile pet store with a long line in front. Her curiosity piqued, she tugged Fu Yumian along to check it out.

“Wow, President Fu.” It was Lu Qingzhuo’s first time seeing such large, docile snakes. She was instantly drawn to the black and white ones in the enclosure. “Let’s go take a look!”

Back in Sydney, Fu Yumian kept a green tree python at her home. Its color was stunning—like a dreamy blend of ocean and sky in spring and summer.

She hadn’t been back in two months. The caretakers had been looking after the snake. If not for Lu Qingzhuo’s sudden interest, she would’ve forgotten all about it.

Fu Yumian found herself intrigued by Lu Qingzhuo’s new fascination. “You like snakes?”

“I’m just curious.” Lu Qingzhuo had always enjoyed watching documentaries about snakes—there was something mysterious and elegant about them. She grabbed Fu Yumian’s hand. “Come on, let’s go take a look together.”

Aren’t snakes supposed to hibernate in winter? How come they’re out in this cold? Then again, thank goodness the mall has heating.

When Lu Qingzhuo got closer, she was immediately captivated by the shiny black snake. After a brief introduction, she learned that this cool-looking snake was called a Black King. Even the name sounded cool—it looked mysterious and elegant.

“President Fu, snakes are so mysterious.”

Egged on by the store manager, Lu Qingzhuo took the Black King from his hands. The moment her fingers brushed against it, the cold, slippery scales slid over her skin, making her nearly cry out in surprise.

Fu Yumian noticed that the black snake still seemed half-asleep, its dark tongue flicking out slowly. Lu Qingzhuo had just described it as aloof and mysterious, which reminded her of the green tree python she once had.

Mysterious, maybe—but aloof? Not really. With a brain that small, even if it became a spirit, it’d still just be a pretty little idiot.

The Black King coiled around Lu Qingzhuo’s wrist and began slithering up into her sleeve. She froze, not daring to move as the snake’s cool body wriggled under her down jacket, its tongue gently flicking out. The sensation on her arm made her squirm—it tickled.

“President Fu, help! It went into my sleeve!”

Smiling, Fu Yumian skillfully grasped the snake and gently pulled it out, cradling it in her hands while stroking its cheeks and neck with practiced ease.

Lu Qingzhuo stared wide-eyed. She hadn’t expected Fu Yumian to be completely unafraid. Her snake-handling skills looked far too natural—like someone who’d raised them before.

“This Black King’s pretty tame. Do you want it?” Fu Yumian eyeballed its size—over a meter long, probably a year or two old. “If you do, let’s buy it.”

The store manager, seeing that Fu Yumian knew her stuff, smiled and said, “Yes, we’ve had this one for over a year. Super tame—never bites. She’s a female.”

Lu Qingzhuo hesitated for a moment, locking eyes with the snake. Then, when the snake opened its mouth and yawned, she found—for the first time ever—something adorably dopey about a snake’s face.

“I want her.” She leaned in close to Fu Yumian’s ear and whispered, “I want this one.”

In the end, Fu Yumian bought the snake. Lu Qingzhuo felt that naming her “Little Black” wasn’t fitting for such a dainty lady snake.

Fu Yumian smiled. “So what name are you thinking?”

After a moment of serious thought, Lu Qingzhuo solemnly said, “Let’s call her Flower Girl.”

They handed Flower Girl over to the production crew and had Han Tian arrange a private jet to fly her back to the Fu residence in City B. They even had Han Tian find a professional reptile keeper to care for her properly.

On the flight back to City B, Han Tian sat face-to-face with Flower Girl, who was coiled like a mosquito coil. Watching the snake flick its tongue at her again and again, she suddenly felt that Lu Qingzhuo and Fu Yumian were a perfect match.

Fu Yumian had kept snakes too—back in Sydney, a doctor friend had once given her a turquoise python that could change color. When she asked about the price, it nearly matched her monthly salary.

The cinema was already packed when Lu Qingzhuo and Fu Yumian arrived early and took their seats. Glancing around, Lu Qingzhuo noticed that most people coming in to watch the horror movie were couples holding hands.

“President Fu, when will our movie be released in China?”

Just thinking about all the kiss scenes and bed scenes in the film made Lu Qingzhuo blush furiously.

“Probably not anytime soon,” Fu Yumian said, intertwining their fingers with a gentle but firm grip. “But in my experience, artsy films with themes like ours are more likely to win awards overseas.”

Seeing that Lu Qingzhuo seemed a little disappointed, Fu Yumian gently patted the back of her hand and consoled her, “It’s okay. Plenty of people will still watch it through online drives.”

Lu Qingzhuo: “…”

President Fu, your idea of comforting someone is really something.

“Do you think Director Shen will cut some scenes?”

Lu Qingzhuo was worried. Both she and Fu Yumian had shown quite a bit on-screen—if nothing got cut, it would really be a full-on artistic sacrifice.

Fu Yumian didn’t seem to mind. “No idea. Depends on her mood, I guess.”

The theater smelled sweet with popcorn. Lu Qingzhuo saw a girl in front of them holding a big tub. She whispered something to Fu Yumian and left.

When she came back, she was carrying two tubs of popcorn and two cups of soda.

Meeting Fu Yumian’s gaze, she awkwardly tugged at her cap. “I forgot to buy snacks earlier.”

Seeing how clumsy she was at all this, Fu Yumian curiously asked, “Have you ever watched a movie with someone before?”

“No,” Lu Qingzhuo shook her head. “I’ve barely been to the theater. Zhiyu invited me before, but I never had time.”

Fu Yumian nodded, clearly satisfied—though she kept a neutral expression. So that meant she was the first omega Lu Qingzhuo had ever watched a movie with.

The film began. All the lights in the theater went out, and there was no one else sitting near them.

As the darkness settled, the big screen flared to life. Lu Qingzhuo opened her eyes just in time to see a couple in the front row already making out.

“…”

A sudden, piercing cat screech rang out, making Lu Qingzhuo nearly toss her popcorn. Her eyes widened as her heart pounded, then she glanced at Fu Yumian beside her—who remained expressionless while munching popcorn.

Weren’t people always saying Chinese horror films weren’t scary? Why did she already feel like screaming?

Even though she knew the usual tricks of horror movies, the sound effects were still jarring. This one had that authentic Chinese horror vibe.

Trying to avoid getting scared, Lu Qingzhuo focused on eating her popcorn and deliberately averted her eyes from the screen.

The movie hadn’t even been on for twenty minutes, and the couple in front had been kissing for all twenty of them. Their lips seemed glued together, and things were clearly escalating. Soon, they left the theater hand in hand—probably to take it further elsewhere.

Lu Qingzhuo: "…"

This is a movie theater, not a passion hotel with a big bed!

Sure enough, youth comes with fiery tempers. Judging by this posture, she must be eager to create some scandal.

After the couple left, the rows in front of Lu Qingzhuo were mostly empty. She popped another piece of popcorn into her mouth, the creamy sweetness lingering on her tongue.

Fu Yumian set the bucket of popcorn in her hands down, turned her head, and stared at Lu Qingzhuo's side profile. Seeing that Lu Qingzhuo was staring intently at the big screen, Fu Yumian took the initiative to grab her hand.

Lu Qingzhuo was still lost in thought, immersed in the tragic experience of a bride having her mouth sewn shut on her wedding night, when suddenly a somewhat cold hand gripped her wrist, startling her so much she nearly screamed.

Fu Yumian’s half-face was hidden in the dark, and she glanced helplessly at Lu Qingzhuo before tightening her grip.

"Are you scared?"

Lu Qingzhuo covered half her face with the popcorn bucket, seemingly too shy to speak, but then, with no dignity left, she nodded.

"Yeah... a little."

Fu Yumian took the popcorn bucket from her hand, set it aside, and smiled as she extended a finger, gently tracing the lower lip of Lu Qingzhuo with her thumb before leaning in to kiss her lips.

"Let me taste your popcorn."

The two kissed in that position. Lu Qingzhuo instinctively parted her lips, chasing Fu Yumian’s tongue with her own. A faint buttery flavor filled their mouths.

The rich, sweet taste exploded in her mouth, and for the first time, Lu Qingzhuo thought the popcorn tasted so delicious and sweet. She turned her head, stretched her neck, and easily captured Fu Yumian’s lips.

Fu Yumian’s tongue was nimble and soft, swirling between Lu Qingzhuo’s lips. Suddenly, she pressed her tongue against Lu Qingzhuo’s upper palate, licking it back and forth in that sensitive spot.

"!!!"

A tingling sensation shot through Lu Qingzhuo’s scalp, and she gripped the armrest of her seat tightly, hastily pulling back. 

But Fu Yumian grabbed her neck and pulled her back, forcing her to bite down on her teeth to keep any sounds from escaping.

The spot Fu Yumian had just licked now felt both itchy and uncomfortable, and Lu Qingzhuo didn’t know where Fu Yumian had learned this from.

Lu Qingzhuo licked her lips, her eyes catching Fu Yumian’s gaze, which flickered with a mischievous glint before disappearing in an instant, as though Lu Qingzhuo had imagined it.

"Continue."

Fu Yumian’s voice was hoarse, but with few people around, and most couples having already left holding hands, she didn’t mind being seen. She tugged at Lu Qingzhuo’s collar and pulled her closer.

She knew there were cameras in the theater—360-degree full HD with no blind spots—but she was willing to ignore it for now.

Lu Qingzhuo, deciding to be bolder, didn’t care about the consequences anymore. Since the horror film was scaring her, she might as well kiss Fu Yumian to distract herself. After all, no one was looking, and it wasn’t like she’d lose anything.

Still, she had to cover her face. After all, she was a public figure. If anti-fans found out she was playing such a “passion play” in the cinema, both she and Fu Yumian would be embarrassed.

There was a gap between their seats. Fu Yumian couldn’t get any closer to Lu Qingzhuo and wanted to sit directly on her lap. Their seats were in the last row, and the lights were dim, so no one would notice.

Their lips and tongues exchanged, with Lu Qingzhuo swallowing as she leaned in to lick the shiny moisture from the corner of Fu Yumian’s lips. She made Fu Yumian’s lips plump and red, like ripe peaches, ready to burst with sweetness at a bite.

"Mm…"

Fu Yumian let out a soft moan, and Lu Qingzhuo instantly widened her eyes, quickly pressing her swollen lips against Fu Yumian’s to stifle any sounds.

Lu Qingzhuo never imagined she would do this in a cinema with an omega, especially not here!

Fu Yumian squeezed Lu Qingzhuo’s hand, using her fingers to try and unzip her down jacket.

The moment Lu Qingzhuo realized Fu Yumian’s intentions, she quickly pulled her hand back and looked around in panic. "What are you doing?"

"What do you think?" Fu Yumian held onto Lu Qingzhuo’s stiff fingers, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth. "Haven’t you always wanted to pursue excitement?"

For the first time, Lu Qingzhuo’s face showed vulnerability. She looked at Fu Yumian with pleading eyes. "Please… don’t do this here…"

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