Chapter One Hundred Fifty-Four: From Fake to Real
Two movies mashed together, three hours.
Years later, seeing the familiar and old film scenes again still sends Young Master Sang’s heart racing. He’s feeling all the feels.
The absurd jokes never fail to make him burst into laughter, even though he’s seen them countless times.
But in between giggles, Young Master Sang can’t help but keep an eye on Gu Yingmian.
Sometimes, she stifles a laugh at some scenes, but it’s nothing like his over-the-top reactions.
She seems just to be watching like a regular person.
… She must not be into this kind of movie anymore. Young Master Sang sighs.
Can’t blame anyone but himself.
Why does he have to drag his preferences into seeking her approval?
In this world, there are precious few who truly get each other.
When he can’t find that validation, and ends up feeling blue on his own, he can only say he deserves it.
So, Young Master Sang decides that once this movie wraps up, he’ll switch to some sugary, family-friendly flick for Gu Yingmian.
After all, let’s be real.
Every sugar-coated movie is forged from the blood and sweat of the industry, each one designed to tickle the masses’ fancy with pure, brainless sweetness.
The ability to resonate with people is undeniably powerful.
……
Time drags on.
Young Master Sang is so immersed in the film that it hardly feels slow.
But he’s worried Gu Yingmian might be getting impatient, so he also wishes for the movie to wrap up quickly.
However, when the Bodhisattva delivers that iconic line, “Once you wear the golden crown, you can no longer be a mere mortal; you mustn’t touch the desires of the world,” Young Master Sang feels all the emotions again.
Some movies, no matter how many times you watch them, or how long it’s been since, can always tug at those soft spots in your soul.
Right up to the moment he puts on the crown, the Monkey King finally realizes who he truly loves.
He understands that the girl he fell for at first sight, Bai Jingjing, and the one who quietly followed him for a sword, Zixia—who’s who in true love.
But it’s a pity he realizes this too late.
The ending remains tragically hollow.
Zixia dies, the Monkey King disappears, and all that’s left is the Monkey King returning to a world that’s lost its charm, helping couples on the city walls kiss.
And under that mocking line, “Look at that guy; he’s like a dog,” he quietly walks towards the journey to the West.
In Young Master Sang’s heart, this is a total tragedy.
A story of unrequited love.
It’s that line from “Love for a Lifetime”: “The sea of bitterness spawns love and hatred. One cannot escape their fate in this world.”
When the movie finally ends, Young Master Sang barely surfaces from his reverie.
He knows Gu Yingmian has patiently sat through this boring movie for way too long and must be fed up.
So, he quickly says with a laugh, “Sorry, this movie must have been a bit boring.”
“No problem. Next one! The next one will definitely spark those romantic feels for you…”
But when he turns his head, he’s stunned.
Gu Yingmian is staring at the screen, completely still.
Her expression is so focused. Those beautiful eyes forgot to blink, just staring dreamily at the screen.
She’s so engrossed, she hasn’t even noticed the two streaks of tears rolling down her cheeks.
“… Gu Yingmian?” Young Master Sang cautiously asks.
She turns her head slowly, and after a long pause, murmurs, “Huh? The movie… it’s already over?”
“It’s over.”
“Is it?” She suddenly glances down, a bit defeated.
Seeing her sulking, Young Master Sang can’t help but ask, “Do you like this movie, Gu Yingmian?”
“… I don’t know.”
Gu Yingmian thinks for a moment and says, “I realize I’ve been so focused on sword training that I’ve become too dull to the emotions of ordinary people.”
“I didn’t even know whether that guy, the Monkey King, was really telling Zixia his true feelings or just throwing around empty words.”
Young Master Sang knows.
She refers to that iconic line.
… There once was a genuine love laid before me, but I didn’t cherish it; only when I lost it did I realize my regrets. Nothing’s more painful in this world.
… If heaven could give me another chance, I’d say three words to that girl: “I love you!” If that love had to have a deadline, I’d hope for ten thousand years.
That line was something the Monkey King deliberately said to Zixia when she had her sword at his throat.
“I can’t tell.”
Gu Yingmian says wistfully, “If someone said those words to me, I wouldn’t be able to discern if they were genuine or just lying to save their neck.”
“I feel like if I were Zixia, I’d think the Monkey King’s words were sincere. That he truly liked me, really regretted not taking me seriously.”
“But what Zixia perceives as sincerity seems to be just his casual deception.”
She lowers her head, feeling a bit sad, and whispers, “I suddenly feel a bit scared.”
“I used to think the most complex and profound thing in the world was swordsmanship. One could spend a lifetime trying to grasp its subtleties.”
“But after watching this movie, I realized human emotions are even more complex. So strange.”
“In a way, they’re much weirder and more complicated than swordsmanship.”
Young Master Sang silently watches her.
After a moment, he says, “When the Monkey King said those words, maybe they were lies.”
“But before he put on the crown, they were real.”
Gu Yingmian turns to face Young Master Sang.
She sees him gazing silently at her face; moments later, he pulls out a handkerchief and gently wipes the corners of her eyes.
“Sorry.”
“Next time, I won’t subject you to a movie that makes you unhappy,” he says softly.
Gu Yingmian shakes her head: “I’m not unhappy.”
“I really liked this movie.”
“And I can tell you liked it too, which is why you wanted to share it with me.”
She tilts her head slightly, gazing softly at Young Master Sang: “If you have other movies you like, you can share them with me. We can watch together.”
“I like this feeling of sharing with you.”
Young Master Sang’s hand freezes for a moment.
Now that Gu Yingmian’s face is no longer hidden, her profile is especially beautiful.
Her hair gently cascades over her shoulder, slightly turned, her long eyes glancing towards him like a docile, sweet little bunny.
Young Master Sang knows Gu Yingmian’s words are just a pure expression of happiness.
No hidden motives, no tricks.
But he must admit that the instant she said she liked this movie, he genuinely felt a happiness that came from someone validating his preferences.
In that moment, he suddenly found himself at a loss.
He couldn’t tell if he was the Monkey King with a blade at his throat.
Or the Monkey King before wearing the crown.
“What’s wrong?” Gu Yingmian blinks at him.
“Nothing, nothing.”
Young Master Sang averts his gaze slightly, speaking softly: “I’ll go find you the next movie.”
This time around.
Let’s pick something lighter.
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