The lively sounds from the open-air movie screening were so loud that they seemed to scare the moon into hiding behind the large trees.
Zhou Zhijun sat up, grabbed the matches from the cabinet, and lit the kerosene lamp.
Turning his head to look at the small figure wrapped in the quilt, his Adam's apple bobbed. "Tao..."
He reached out and gently turned her body toward him. Seeing her face covered in tears, Zhou Zhijun's heart gave a sudden jolt.
"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
Chuntao didn't say a word, just kept shedding tears. Suddenly, she covered her mouth and let out a soft whimper.
"Brother Zhijun, I'm begging you, please don't do this anymore in the future, okay..."
Zhou Zhijun pulled up the edge of the quilt to wipe her tears. "Tao, I can't live without you!"
Chuntao suddenly thought of the strange man she had met on the road before the new year, and that little mirror. Her heart ached even more.
"I want to go back!" Chuntao clutched the quilt and tried to sit up, but Zhou Zhijun wrapped his arms around her, quilt and all.
"Don't rush. The first movie just finished, and the second one is just starting..." He rested his forehead against hers.
His voice was incredibly hoarse. "Tao, you are so beautiful..."
"I can't bear to let you go. Let me hold you for a little longer. As long as I'm holding you, even if we do nothing, I feel so good!"
Thinking of his madness just moments ago, Chuntao couldn't believe him anymore.
He was full of endless energy. Staying here for even one more minute would be too dangerous; she wanted to leave quickly.
Her arms were held tightly. She tried to push him away but couldn't move an inch. "Let me go quickly, let me go back. If it gets any later, the movie will be over!"
Zhou Zhijun released her and wiped the tears from her face with his hand. "Are you hungry? I bought you something delicious!"
He hopped out of bed. Chuntao quickly turned her face away, her small face burning hot.
He poured a mug of warm water and handed it over. "Drink some tea to soothe your throat!"
Chuntao kept her face toward the wall, her eyelids drooping, and said nothing.
"Be good, listen to me!" He turned her face back with one hand and brought the mug to her lips with the other, coaxing her gently. "Open your mouth, drink some tea!"
Chuntao's throat was dry and sore, so she didn't stubbornly resist. She opened her mouth and held the rim of the mug between her lips.
Zhou Zhijun carefully tilted it up a little. "Slow down, don't choke!"
Chuntao drank a few mouthfuls of the warm water, and her throat felt much better.
Zhou Zhijun placed the mug on the cabinet and then grabbed a brown paper bag, opening it up.
Inside the brown paper bag was a baked wheat cake and several large slices of braised donkey meat.
Zhou Zhijun split the cake open, stuffed the donkey meat in the middle, and handed it to her.
"Here! Eat it quickly, it smells amazing! I went to Nangang specifically to buy this earlier this morning!"
Chuntao had only eaten half a bowl of porridge for dinner, and after being tossed about by him, she was truly hungry.
Yet she didn't take it. "I'm not hungry!" Chuntao reached around under the covers but couldn't find her clothes.
"Where are my clothes?" her voice carried a hint of a sob.
"Silly girl, take it. Once you finish eating, I'll find your clothes for you!"
"I already heard your stomach growling, eat up!" He pulled one of her hands over and forcefully pressed the stuffed cake into it.
Eating nothing but plain and watery food every day, and only having a little thin porridge tonight, there was no nutrition in her stomach. How could she have any strength?
Zhou Zhijun truly felt a deep ache in his heart for this little woman. He hadn't even dared to use much force, yet she had still been brought to tears.
Chuntao didn't look at him and turned her face away again. This man was just so overbearing and unreasonable; if she didn't eat, he would never let the matter drop.
Bringing it to her lips, she took a bite. The savory aroma spread from the tip of her tongue all the way down to her stomach, leaving her in a slight daze and easing the fear in her heart just a bit.
Zhou Zhijun hopped onto the bed, sat behind her, and pulled her into his embrace.
With her back pressed against his burning hot chest, Chuntao's tears flowed out unstoppably once again.
The second movie had already started. Chuntao's heart clenched tighter and tighter, and she polished off the cake in a few quick bites.
"Slow down, don't choke!"
"Give me my clothes!"
"Your clothes are right here!" Zhou Zhijun crawled to the other end of the bed and pulled them out from under the quilt.
"Let me dress you!"
Shameless! "I'll dress myself!"
Even though he had already seen every inch of her, Chuntao still couldn't accept it.
"I've seen every single pore on your body, what are you being shy for?" The corners of his mouth tugged up, revealing a roguish smirk.
But in the next second, his warm lips came crashing down on hers again...
