The lady was blus.h.i.+ng too hard.

"Don't mind them. If it makes you uncomfortable just don't look at them." Zhu Li Qiang said rea.s.suringly while staring straight at the giant screen in front of them.

His ears were so red too, and he too was somewhat quite affected by the couples around. It was his first time in a cinema watching a romantic comedy film so he had not expected anything of this sort.

He trying so hard to keep calm and casual, else the lady might also feel awkward with him, as if she wasn't yet.

"Popcorn." He offered, still keeping his gaze up front.

The lady obliged and scooped a handful. "En. Thanks."

What an ordeal it was for them! Especially when some cheesy lines popped out.

"I can't live without you, it seems." The leading man was saying.

Zhu Li Qiang turned his head towards Teng Man Rui. The lady also turned to look at him quizzically. "What's wrong?" She asked, troubled.

"Teng Man Rui…"

"Mhmm?"

"I can't live without you, it seems." Zhu Li Qiang repeated the leading man's lines with the same attempt at the delivery.

"Pfttt… Ahahahahaha!!!!" Teng Man Rui laughed hard. "Hahahahaha!!!!!" Her laughter reverberated in the whole cinema. The couples who were kissing suddenly halted to look at their direction.

'What so funny? Am I funny?' Zhu Li Qiang asked.

"Ahahaha!!!" The lady was still laughing albeit in controlled nature. She was also bowing apologetically to the people around them. She was laughing so hard that she was already cradling the side of her tummy with one hand, and the other hand was wiping the side of her eyes which already developing unshed tears from too much laughter.

"Am I that funny, Man Rui?"

While still laughing, she nodded her head.

"Really?" Zhu Li Qiang was reflecting on himself. "How?" As to what really made her laugh, he wouldn't have reckoned. He was slightly shaking his head while still figuring it out.

Finally, her laughter subsided. She was taking deep breaths. A smile still lingers her mouth. "You caught me unawares." She giggled. "You're really funny Zhu Li Qiang."

"Whatever. As long as you're happy, Man Rui." He retorted, giving up in figuring it out.

They resumed watching in peace.

By the end of the movie, the two were all smiles thanks to the feel-good nature of the movie, and the unexpected comical moment of Zhu Li Qiang.

Teng Man Rui's inhibitions were completely lifted. She was still smiling at him. "Thank you Zhu Li Qiang." Her eyes were forming small arches from smiling too much.

Zhu Li Qiang was stunned for a moment. It was the first time that the lady showed this side of herself to him. He had not seen her this… happy. With wide eyes and burning cheeks, he replied, still mesmerized, "W-Welcome. Anything for you, angel."

The lady giggled her lovely bell-like laugh which was music to the man's ears. "What did you call me?"

"I-I mean… uhm, angel. Sorry, I…" He was stuttering.

The lady laughed again. "It's fine. It's funny though. Angel? You still think I'm a tennyo? Hahaha!"

"Y-You… You certainly look like one." He shook his head trying to get back some sense in him. 'd.a.m.n it I look like a complete idiot. She's laughing at me. Get a grip of yourself.' He thought.

"Would you like to proceed with our dinner? I'm glad you're enjoying." He shot her such a comforting smile. He offerd his arm for the lady to hook her hand with.

It really wasn't hard to be comfortable with Zhu Li Qiang. She was well-taken care of.

However, one thing worries her. Actually there were two. For now, she decided to enjoy every moment with him. She shrugged her concerns at the back of her mind in the meantime.

"Okay." She smiled back at him. She took his arm with her left hand.

On their way to the parking lot, some men in black coats blocked their path.

Instinctively, Zhu Li Qiang pulled Teng Man Rui close to his side. The lady did the same, and got closer voluntarily to the man and tugged his arm a little tighter.

"Excuse me sir, but we're here to retrieve a treasure that isn't yours to begin with." One of the men in black said.

"What do you want? Leave us in peace, please!" Zhu Li Qiang retorted, his voice getting sterner.

"We'll leave you if you surrender the lady to us peacefully." The same man in black gave the condition. He seemed to be the leader.

"No way! Who's behind this? Is this s.h.i.+ Fan Hai's doing?" Teng Man Rui blurted out, getting furious at the a.s.sault. "Leave us alone!"

"Young Miss, please go with us peacefully. Yes, it's the boss's instruction to specifically grab you, take you away from that man."

"The h.e.l.l! Then tell your great boss that I refuse! Now go, all of you!" Teng Man Rui commanded, like the lady boss of a gang, standing tall, but still maintaining her elegance and poise.

"Apologies, Young Miss… But… The boss also instructed that if you refuse, then the man will have to suffer. You decide, Miss."

Teng Man Rui was clenching her fists so hard that her nails were starting to dig into her palms. It was painful but she was ignoring it because she was too furious. Her chest was heaving up and down from swell of emotions.

"No! I'm not going with you, AND you're not going to hurt him!! Now go away!"

"Sorry, Young Miss, just following orders." The man in black, unabashed, signaled the other men to take offence.

"No!" Teng Man Rui protectively threw herself to Zhu Li Qiang. She closed her eyes while hugging him tightly.