Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 40. The Secret of Lucky Stars

July 27, 1996, Saturday. Guan Xuchen saw Gao Xinglang waiting under the big banyan tree in front of the residential quarter. He trotted up to him, greeted him with a warm smile, and said, "Hi, Lang!"

"Hi, Soupy," Gao Xinglang replied with a smile. He looked at the schoolbag on Guan Xuchen's back and asked with a smile, "Soupy, do you really need to bring so much stuff every time you go to the movies?"

"The snacks at the movie theater are expensive. They're much cheaper if you buy them at the department store," Guan Xuchen replied with a smile.

Gao Xinglang got on the bike, patted the back seat, and said to Guan Xuchen, "Soupy, get on."

After Guan Xuchen had straddled the back seat, Gao Xinglang teased, "Hey, Soupy, you seem to have gained so much weight. Is it because you're carefree, with no exams to worry about, and you eat well and sleep soundly?"

Guan Xuchen gently punched Gao Xinglang's back, pretending to be upset, "Lang, you're so mean! If you keep saying I'm fat, I won't go to the movies!"

"Hehe, Soupy, don't be angry. Can't I even joke around?" Gao Xinglang turned his head away and laughed, "Anyway, this summer vacation is so long. How about I teach you how to ride a bike? Then we can hang out on bikes."

"Well...let's talk about that later," Guan Xuchen responded evasively. He then urged, "Lang, let's go, or we'll be late."

"Okay, hold on tight, Soupy." With that, Gao Xinglang pedaled the bicycle forward.

"Okay." As usual, Guan Xuchen put his arms around Gao Xinglang's waist. And when he looked closely, he could see the strong muscles on Gao Xinglang's back, faintly visible under his slightly sweaty shirt.

Guan Xuchen gently rested his head on Gao Xinglang's back and closed his eyes contentedly. He felt as if he was surrounded by a warm aura, blocking out all the noisy distractions, potential dangers, and even the stifling summer heat.

Guan Xuchen felt inexplicably that this feeling was somewhat familiar. Upon reflection, he realized that it was akin to how he had felt as a child, when he was sitting on the back of his father's bicycle.

"Soupy, Soupy!" Gao Xinglang's voice pulled Guan Xuchen back to reality.

Guan moved his head away from Gao's back, opened his eyes, and saw the signboard of Rainbow Cinema. He got off the back of the bike and muttered, "We're at the cinema already?"

"Soupy, why do you fall asleep every time you ride on my bike?" Gao teased, "You sleep comfortably, but I have to pedal hard."

"I'll make it up to you by giving you more snacks later," Guan Xuchen patted the schoolbag on his back and said with a smile.

"Okay, deal," Gao Xinglang laughed heartily.

After he parked the bike, Gao Xinglang walked towards the cinema with Guan Xuchen.

As they walked, Guan Xuchen asked, "Lang, I read in the newspaper that this Toy Story is some kind of '3D animation'. Do you know what that means?"

Gao Xinglang raised his eyebrows and explained, "The cartoons we watch on TV are two-dimensional, like a comic strip. A 3D animation looks more vivid, like something you would see in real life."

"Oh, I see," Guan Xuchen nodded thoughtfully, and then praised with a smile, "Lang, you're amazing. You know so many things."

"Of course I do," Gao Xinglang grinned proudly.

While waiting for the movie to start, Gao Xinglang pointed at the schoolbag in Guan Xuchen's hands and said excitedly, "Soupy, what delicious snacks did you bring? Do you have 'Bok Bok Sing'?"