Chapter 36: Popcorn-flavored love.

“Baby, what do you want to eat?”

At the cinema, Yan Qingxin retrieved their tickets from the machine, glancing at a nearby snack stand.

Fresh from lunch, Lu Zhao had no room for snacks. “Just a cola. I’m full.”

“Okay, wait here. I’ll grab it.”

“That girl’s appetite is something else,” Lu Zhao mused, watching her cheerful figure.

He sank into a massage chair, scrolling his phone while waiting.

Two women approached him directly. Puzzled, he looked up, but before he could speak, the one in a yellow floral dress spoke first.

“Hi, are you a university student?”

His gaze flicked between them, detecting no ill intent.

With people around and cameras everywhere, it seemed safe.

“Yeah, I’m a student. What’s up?” He pocketed his phone and stood.

They exchanged a glance. The woman in yellow smiled, handing him a business card.

“Hello, we’re from Luyue Group. We’d like you to interview at our company.”

Lu Zhao’s expression turned odd as he took the card and read it.

“Shen Yuqiu?”

“Yes, nice to meet you.” She smiled politely.

He rubbed the card—high-quality material.

“Hi, I’m Lu Zhao. But why me?”

Shen Yuqiu, the honest type, opened her mouth, but Han Qingqing jumped in.

“Our company’s recruiting university students for internships with great benefits. You seem like a good fit, so we wanted to ask if you’re interested. It’ll boost your academic record too.”

Social practice, sure. But as a sophomore, Lu Zhao hadn’t thought that far.

“I’ll think about it.”

Shen Yuqiu had only approached with slim hopes, not expecting much.

“Alright, call me if you decide to come. We won’t keep you.”

They left, leaving Lu Zhao slightly baffled.

“Luyue Group? Let’s check it out.”

He reached for his phone to look it up when Yan Qingxin returned, arms full with a giant popcorn bucket and two colas.

She’d seen the women talking to him. “Baby, who were they?”

“Dunno. Said they’re from some company recruiting and gave me a card. Are companies this desperate now, scouting on the street?”

He chuckled, shaking his head, and handed her the card.

Yan Qingxin glanced at it and nearly burst out laughing.

What the…? Shen Yuqiu? Don’t know her—probably a branch employee.

Her eyes gleamed with a fun idea.

“Baby, what’re you doing?”

“Was gonna look up this company.”

“No need.”

“Hm?” His typing paused. “Why not?”

“I know them. They make baby products. Pretty famous back home.”

He set his phone down, shifting to listening mode.

“There’s really such a company?”

She handed the card back, suppressing a grin to seem calm.

“Yeah, it’s been around forever. It was there before I was born.”

Technically true—her mom had started it before she existed.

With time before the movie, Yan Qingxin shared what she knew about “the company,” sticking to public info, avoiding internal details.

She didn’t want Lu Zhao questioning her familiarity and blowing her cover.

She’d thought about them working at her family’s company after graduation.

But her mom might not approve of Lu Zhao, and she worried about hurting his pride with nepotism accusations.

The first hurdle was cleared—her mom seemed fine with him.

Now, the second: if he joined through proper channels here, a future transfer would be legitimate.

Though she hadn’t interned yet, growing up around her mom taught her the corporate ropes.

Plus, imagining Lu Zhao’s face when he learned it was her family’s company? Priceless.

From her info, Lu Zhao figured the company was legit.

“I’ll check it out sometime?”

“Yeah, why not? It’s free. We’re free Wednesday afternoon—go then.”

“Hm… sure.”

Living off Yan Qingxin had crossed his mind, but he’d scrapped it.

He hadn’t fully adapted to this world’s mindset. Being supported by a woman felt unsteady.

Learning Yan Ruyue was her mom made it worse—he needed an exit strategy, not a cozy “we share everything” story.

Late summer meant fewer moviegoers, especially for romance films.

In this world, with its gender imbalance, love was rare, so filmmakers—often loveless themselves—struggled with the genre.

Hugs, kisses, and groping counted as romance, right?

Maybe, with an action tag.

The theater had just four people: them and two women.

Lu Zhao was dozing off, but Yan Qingxin was into it.

Especially when the heroine pinned the hero against a wall for a kiss—her breathing quickened.

“Mmm~”

A stifled moan snapped Lu Zhao awake, fully alert.

What the…?

He glanced at Yan Qingxin, who nodded toward the other two women.

He raised a brow. “Tch…”

No way. Even with few people, this was public. Not cool, right?

Just as he mentally judged them, he caught Yan Qingxin’s odd look.

“Qing… Qingxin? You’re not…?”

In the dim theater, the screen lit half her flushed, beautiful face.

The other half, in shadow, was likely the same.

Her eyes burned, glossy lips inching closer.

He instinctively leaned back, but she mimicked the movie, hand behind his head, blocking his retreat.

He didn’t know the taste of movie romance, but with Yan Qingxin, it was popcorn-sweet.