Chapter 535: Chapter 554: Everyone Pilots a Mecha! Woohoo

The two of them left the showing amidst a chorus of praise.

Several other theaters let out at the same time.

Just as Mo Si and Jiang Qiuqiu stepped out, they ran into a huge crowd. It seemed the movie was especially popular with young men, women, and children.

They were all enthusiastically discussing the plot.

A little boy with a sweet, high-pitched voice raised a fist. "Mama, when I grow up, I wanna go to the battlefield at sixteen, too! Just like the Important Blade!"

His adorable antics made everyone around them chuckle.

His mother gave him a gentle poke and picked him up. "Sweetie, you said it wrong. It’s not the ’Important Blade,’ it’s the Imperial Blade."

"The Important Blade! I wanna be as handsome as the Important Blade!"

"And pilot a mecha!"

"Well, you’ll have to work very hard then. You need to drink lots of Nutrient Liquid and exercise a lot, okay?"

The mother, holding her child, brushed past Jiang Qiuqiu and Mo Si. Mo Si looked up at the little boy.

Children are always sensitive to being watched. The boy noticed Mo Si looking at him, shrank back, and tilted his head. Then he peeked back out and gave him a goofy, unexpected smile.

Once they were out of the movie theater, the crowds thinned immediately. It was clearly not a good idea to eat nearby, so the two of them decided to take a walk and then fly the mecha home.

The ornamental trees lining the road were already beginning to sprout green buds.

Mo Si had been lost in thought ever since they left the theater. After a moment, he asked, "What did you think of the movie?"

"I thought it was great," Jiang Qiuqiu replied. "It really gets your blood pumping."

"I think... I’m suddenly starting to understand the point of movies."

"Hm?"

Mo Si explained, "Before this year, I never really understood why livestreams are so popular, or why some movies aren’t filmed realistically. Now, I think I’m starting to get it."

"What’s brought this on? So pensive all of a sudden?" Jiang Qiuqiu took his hand.

"It was hearing what that child said."

’Sometimes, the point of a story about heroism is simply to convey the concept of a hero. A truly realistic portrayal would have to be bloody.’

’And something that bloody wouldn’t be suitable for so many people to see.’

"Thank you for bringing me to see a movie, Qiuqiu."

"...You change your mind so fast." Jiang Qiuqiu nudged him playfully and linked her arm through his. "Just a little while ago, you didn’t even want to watch it."

’Oh, right.’

’That reminded him. He’d almost forgotten that they had made a little deal before the movie.’

’His mind was in turmoil. Mo Si urgently needed a kiss to regain his composure.’

He pulled Jiang Qiuqiu completely into his arms, demanding payment for having accompanied her to the movies.

Jiang Qiuqiu pushed against him forcefully. "What are you doing out here?!"

"Aren’t we supposed to be heading back?!"

"Can’t wait. I don’t want to go back yet." ’Going back is for later. Now is for this.’

As they walked, talked, and dawdled, they circled half of the Outer Ring Park. Gazing at the verdant scenery, Mo Si remembered something. "There’s something else I need to tell you."

"Oh? What is it?"

"The Insect Race’s hibernation period ends at the beginning of March, so I’ll likely be heading to the front lines at the end of February..."

"I won’t be able to return until the end of July." They hadn’t been together for very long, and now they were already facing a lengthy separation.

"That long?"

"Yeah."

The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet.

Qiuqiu was quick to smooth things over. "It’s fine! We can still video call. Besides, I’ll be off to school by then, so you wouldn’t be able to see me every day even if you were here."

"Mm, I’ll message you every day."

’He was going to miss Qiuqiu every single day.’

The honeymoon period is always fleeting, and their time of pure, uncomplicated romance passed by in a flash.

「The 5th of the month arrived.」

Mrs. Ai’er, who had gone to visit her late husband’s family, was back.

Jiang Qiuqiu, having taken several days off, also had to resume her livestreams.

The Mo Family had urgent matters to discuss with Mo Si. At the Military Department, Qiudao sent out a notice: the New Year holiday was officially over, and the entire department had to get back into gear.

It seemed everyone was getting busy.

-

Of course, for the Ju people, the arrival of the fifth was a cause for absolute celebration.

The community, which had been dormant for days on end, finally roared back to life.

Fans everywhere were spreading the word to their friends and family: Juju was finally going to stream again!

This was cause for celebration! A feast for the ages! Time to fill our bellies!

[THIS is the real start to the new year!]

[Locked in and waiting!]

[8 PM, I LOVE YOU!]

...

Same time, same channel, same livestream, same host.

And the same phrase everyone never tired of hearing:

"Welcome to my food livestream! I’m your host, Jiang Qiuqiu. Happy New Year, everyone!"