Go to buy tickets for a movie.

Outside, the architecture was predominantly in the ancient style, with traditional Chinese buildings reminiscent of the grand mansions once inhabited by imperial nobility. Two stone lions stood guard outside the entrance, solemn and imposing.

What an extraordinary sight! "Wow! Chinese cinemas are truly something special!" Ai’s eyes sparkled with delight as she clasped her hands in front of her, utterly captivated as she gazed at the entrance.

Xiao, though accustomed to old architecture, had never seen a cinema of this kind before. No wonder it was hailed as the capital’s finest theater—its grandeur was truly unmatched!

Unable to contain her excitement, Ai dashed inside. The rest of the group followed closely behind, only to be completely taken aback by what they saw. Was this the legendary fusion of East and West?

It was simply too cool! Upon entering, they were greeted by two enormous vases flanking the door, each filled with blossoming plum branches. Above, a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, while below, Western-style sofas awaited guests wishing to rest before the show.

The deep red sofas, trimmed with gold, bestowed a splendid opulence upon the entire hall. Along the wall stood the ticket counter, behind which beautiful and charming attendants provided service with gentle smiles, putting every guest at ease with their mere presence.

Xiao stood aside, admiring the striking scene, then nudged Yu, who was standing beside her. Without even turning her head, she instructed, "Hey, you go stand in line and buy the tickets."

Without leaving room for refusal, she pushed Yu forward. "Remember, I want to watch 'My Deskmate and I.' Off you go!" She remained where she was, smiling as she watched Yu walk away.

All that was left was for Yu to buy the tickets, and then they could all enjoy the movie together! She’d heard it was supposed to be excellent, so there was no way she was going to miss it.

Yu, pushed to the front, cast a cold glance at the sea of people ahead, the line stretching as far as the eye could see. An icy aura radiated from him—he despised crowded places more than anything.

He looked back at Xiao’s expectant face. The words of refusal were on the tip of his tongue, but he simply couldn’t say them. He didn’t want to disappoint her. Looking ahead with a resigned sigh, he felt utterly drained.

Somewhat sullen, he stepped forward to join the queue. Xiao, standing behind, grinned secretly in delight. Ai, noticing Xiao’s expression, asked Dongfang Shuo in confusion, "Brother, why did Shangguan ask Ouyang to line up for tickets?"

The others, too, were full of questions. At this rate, they were all turning into little question machines! Heaven help them—who could possibly answer?

Dongfang Shuo shook his head at Ai, indicating he was just as clueless. They all knew that Ouyang loathed crowded places. In fact, this was the first time they’d ever seen him in such a throng.

To say they weren’t curious would have been a lie! Eyes wide, they watched Ouyang Xianyu standing amid the crowd, hands in his pockets, cold air radiating from him.

With his exceptional height, he stood out like a crane among chickens. The chill he exuded seemed to affect those around him as well. The person in front of him turned around, eyes nearly popping out at the sight of him, then quickly regained composure and obediently stepped aside.

One after another, others followed suit, clearing a path for him. In no time at all, Ouyang Xianyu was at the ticket counter. The whole process had taken only three minutes!

Ai and the others were dumbstruck by the scene. They had always known Ouyang had a formidable presence, but they hadn’t realized just how powerful it truly was.

Who would have thought someone could use such an intimidating aura just to buy movie tickets? Together, they turned to look at Xiao, instantly understanding why she had sent Yu instead.

What an efficient way to save time! Too bad that even knowing the secret, none of them could ever get Ouyang to do the same for them.

——— Author’s Note ———

Don’t forget to add this story to your bookshelf! Thank you, everyone! (*^__^*)