On the way back, Chen An sat in the back seat of the car and brought up the plaza renovation matter with Cheng Lele.

Cheng Lele listened attentively and excitedly. Retro nostalgia was a currently popular element. She herself also very much missed the film reels of earlier years. Digital cinema had clear images and stable projection, combining all advantages. In contrast, during film reel projection, the occasional thin black bars appearing on screen and the blurred edges weren’t so perfect, yet inexplicably conveyed a cultural sense inherited from projection history that complemented the essence of film itself. Some classic old films, after being converted to digital for re-release, instead lost their charm, always making people feel something was missing.

Cheng Lele said: “Since you’re hiring someone to handle this, I recommend someone to you.”

Chen An didn’t like Cheng Lele being overly absorbed in work, but he very much liked seeing the fighting spirit she displayed at work—bright and dazzling, like a small star radiating heat: “Who?”

“Uncle Zhong from the projection room. He has great insight into film equipment.”

Chen An recalled the old man at the ramen shop who had been overly enthusiastic toward Cheng Lele, and said somewhat unhappily: “Oh, the one who almost became your father-in-law?”

Cheng Lele’s eyes widened: “What father-in-law? He’s not that old, right?”

Chen An pinched her face: “Playing dumb when you know perfectly well. Forget it, I won’t hold past matters against you.”

Cheng Lele pretended not to hear and asked about the approximate budget for this project.

After hearing a figure, Cheng Lele’s expression visibly changed. She secretly thought that Chen An had spent 6 million yuan to buy her a cinema, and now was going to spend a fortune on large-scale construction for her. She couldn’t help but admonish: “Little Brother, we memorized ‘Rhapsody on the Epang Palace’ when we were students. Do you know how the Qin Dynasty was destroyed? You should learn from history. No matter how rich you are, you can’t squander like this.”

Chen An was successfully made angry, glancing sideways: “You have the nerve to mention ‘Rhapsody on the Epang Palace’? Can you recite it now? Every day after school you were kept behind by the teacher to recite this text. You couldn’t recite it, so you had me buy expensive gifts to bribe the teacher. Why didn’t you say money couldn’t be squandered like that back then?”

Cheng Lele pretended to have amnesia: “Really? I don’t remember. I only remember when I was young, when the Chinese teacher assigned us to write about people, I always wrote about Little Brother.”

Chen An snorted: “Yes, including ‘The Person I Miss Most.'”

Cheng Lele laughed. Chen An lowered his hand to hold hers. Cheng Lele’s fingers were slender, her wrist also very delicate. Chen An thought, his good baby was still too thin—he should hire a nutritionist to properly adjust her health.

After playing with her hand for a while, Chen An discovered something unusual: “Hey Lele, I notice you don’t really wear jewelry? Necklaces, bracelets and such—aren’t those what you young ladies like most?”

Cheng Lele said: “Cinema employee regulations stipulate we can’t wear these.”

“You’re not an employee.” Chen An remembered Cheng Lele really liked these jingling things when she was young. “Next time I’ll take you shopping.”

Cheng Lele said: “Little Brother, do you know you’re very much like a foolish ruler who neglects state affairs and indulges in women? Have Tang Xin and the others reminded you? You’re not also a foolish ruler who closes his eyes and ears, refusing advice and covering up mistakes, are you? Ping’an Xile is in danger.”

Chen An stared dumbfounded at Cheng Lele for a while. Seeing her completely unrepentant appearance, he wanted to give her a beating on the spot. Considering she was still sick, he silently endured it, pulled out his phone and pretended to start working. After pretending for a few seconds, he entered work mode. So Cheng Lele also pulled out her phone and got busy.

Until the private car dropped them off at the residential complex entrance, neither had finished what they were working on, but Chen An was first to put away his phone, ordering Cheng Lele to watch the road, pulling her hand and stuffing it into his down jacket side pocket.

Along the way they successively encountered several old neighbors. They weren’t surprised by the couple’s intimate behavior, only asking “Made up?” as if the two being together was a very natural thing. Only the warm-hearted Auntie Zhao blocked them halfway, asking whether they’d held a banquet, when they would hold it, where they would hold it, and such questions. Chen An seriously replied that the banquet would be held in Taixi, and asked her to definitely come.

After Auntie Zhao left, Cheng Lele secretly whispered with Chen An: “Did you notice? Auntie Zhao’s eyes looking at me were very fierce. This time back, I didn’t bring Auntie Zhao a gift. All the others got one. She must be very angry.”

Chen An pinched her hand in his pocket: “I also don’t have a gift. I’m also very angry.”

On matters where she was at fault, Cheng Lele’s mouth was sweet: “I gave you my whole heart. What more do you want?”

Chen An was caught off guard by the sugar, insincerely arguing: “Where’s a whole heart? Clearly more than half is given to the cinema.”

Cheng Lele rolled her eyes: “If you keep this up, I’ll give my whole heart to the cinema.”

Chen An said: “You don’t even care to coax me anymore. After sleeping with me you’re so casual? Be devoted from beginning to end.”

Cheng Lele waved impatiently with her other hand: “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll make up a gift for you later. After giving so many you still want more. People’s hearts are never satisfied—a snake trying to swallow an elephant.”

When the two reached the building entrance, Chen An asked Cheng Lele whether he should move downstairs to live, or she should move upstairs.

Cheng Lele asked in surprise what was the necessity of moving back and forth between upstairs and downstairs. Chen An thought for a moment and said: “Only children make choices. Adults want both. When your health gets better, let’s go to the imported supermarket in the north of the city, buy some daily necessities, and put some in both apartments.”

Cheng Lele didn’t quite understand: “What things?”

“Toothbrushes, cups, towels and such.”

“You mean living together?”

Chen An expressed that it was strange: “Isn’t that the case? I already told Auntie Zhao we’d hold a banquet. Don’t make the old lady wait too long. In a couple days I’ll have the old abbot look at dates.”

Cheng Lele opened the door with a face full of black lines: “I thank Auntie Zhao. Little Brother, at your pace, you’re not going to have me give birth next year and have two kids in three years, are you?”

Chen An said: “I only ask that between me and the cinema, I can be prioritized. I temporarily don’t want too many competitors.”

Cheng Lele had taken off half her coat when she heard this, went over and kissed him: “Little Brother, you’ll always rank first with me.”

Chen An satisfactorily patted her forehead and went into the kitchen to make porridge.