Chapter 10: The Cinema’s Twisted Wrath

Hearing the young man’s earnest yet simple declaration of affection, Xia Zhiquiu’s heart could only manage a cynical ‘hehe.’

Like her?

More like he was lusting after her body, she scoffed inwardly.

Though she vehemently disliked being a woman, she still held a certain confidence in her physical form, having once been a man herself.

The thought immediately stirred a conflict within Xia Zhiquiu.

Even if her plan was merely to feign acceptance and become this fellow’s girlfriend, it all felt far too rushed.

However, the realization that the sooner she agreed, the sooner this guy would leave Xia Wei alone, prompted Xia Zhiquiu to take a deep breath.

Her crimson lips parted, feigning a look of surprise.

She stammered and mumbled for a long moment before awkwardly turning her head away, her voice hushed.

“Then… then let’s try it,” she murmured. “It’s not like I’ll be losing anything anyway…”

Upon hearing the woman’s words, a knowing glint of triumph flashed in Bai Hao’s eyes, and he spoke immediately.

“Big Sister,” he said, “you heard yourself. Once you’re my girlfriend, there’s no turning back, okay?”

For even if she were to reconsider, he possessed countless ways to ensure she remained by his side…

Yet, Xia Zhiquiu’s beautiful eyes flickered at the young man’s remark, for just as he implied, her agreement now was indeed merely a temporary measure.

The moment this little rascal left her daughter alone, she would immediately break up with him.

Of course, Xia Zhiquiu couldn’t possibly voice this thought, so she merely gave a light cough.

“Well, that depends on your performance,” she replied.

Upon hearing this, Bai Hao’s lips curved into a slight smirk, and he said meaningfully.

“Big Sister, just you watch,” he promised. “I’ll definitely perform very, very well…”

Given their location in the cinema, however, both spoke in hushed tones, leaning so close that they could feel each other’s warm breath as they conversed.

Consequently, to the eyes of other patrons, they appeared to be nothing less than a couple deeply engrossed in their nascent romance.

***

The film continued to play, yet at this moment, hardly anyone in the cinema was truly focused on the plot, and Xia Zhiquiu was no exception.

Ever since agreeing to be with the young man, she had felt a persistent sense of unease, particularly under his fervent gaze, which made her distinctly uncomfortable, as if she might be devoured at any moment…

“Bai Hao, do you smell anything?”

Suddenly, Xia Zhiquiu leaned closer to the young man and whispered.

Bai Hao merely gave a fleeting glance around, yet in that brief moment, he had already taken in the entire situation.

For him, however, unless something directly concerned his interests, everything else was of no consequence.

“It does seem like it, Big Sister,” he replied. “This movie isn’t very interesting. Let’s leave.”

Xia Zhiquiu nodded at his suggestion, for the strange, inexplicable scent was indeed making her feel unwell…

However, just as they rose and before they could exit the screening room, a lone figure blocked their path: the young man who had been sitting by himself.

“Are you two not going to wait until the movie finishes before leaving?”

Xia Zhiquiu looked at the young man before her, her brows furrowing as she spoke.

“No need,” she stated. “We have other matters to attend to.”

The young man, however, responded with an eerie calmness.

“What a pity to leave now,” he remarked. “I think you two should wait a little longer.”

“Just like you were doing earlier, whispering intimately into each other’s ears, or perhaps, like others, indulging shamelessly in this dim environment.”

Upon hearing his words, Xia Zhiquiu’s brows furrowed even deeper.

What exactly was this fellow talking about?

Was he simply being nosy?

With that thought, she turned directly to Bai Hao beside her.

“Let’s go,” she instructed. “Don’t mind him.”

However, just as they reached the exit, a bizarre phenomenon unfolded!

The main door was suddenly ensnared by numerous eerie demonic vines, which burst forth with clusters of vibrant purple flowers, appearing exceptionally seductive and sinister in the glow of the screen!

Xia Zhiquiu’s pupils constricted at the sight.

‘An ability user?!’

At that moment, the young man behind them let out a paranoid, twisted laugh.

“Trying to leave?”

he sneered. “You’ve already missed your chance.

All of you, stay here.

Even if you haven’t done anything truly outrageous, it’s your fault for being a young couple, isn’t it?”

At this, Xia Zhiquiu, paradoxically, grew calmer.

She glanced into the distance, noticing that all the other couples in the screening room had fallen unconscious.

Was it due to the floral scent?

“What do you want?”

The young man merely tsk-tsked in response, then murmured something with a hint of curiosity.

“Strange…”

However, he quickly dismissed his musings, speaking in a chilling tone.

“What I want to do isn’t important. What’s important is that you’re all going to die. But before you do, how about I tell you a story?”

“Just yesterday, my most beloved sister died…”

Three days prior, he had watched his beloved sister walk into the cinema, hand-in-hand with a hooligan.

When they emerged, their clothes were disheveled…

What shocked Liu Hai even more was that his sister had been seen entering and exiting the cinema with several different men over the course of several days!

Liu Hai confronted her about this, asking why she would debase herself in such a manner.

Yet, she merely offered a flippant reply: “Because it’s thrilling, isn’t it? Mom and Dad don’t care, so what right do you have to interfere?”

In that moment, Liu Hai felt as though the docile sister he remembered had become utterly unrecognizable…

Just yesterday, his sister had been murdered, killed by one of her so-called boyfriends, who had yet to be apprehended.

It was on that very day that Liu Hai awakened his ability.

He discovered he could control these potent mutated vine flowers, and his physical prowess had also become incredibly formidable, akin to a superman!

Thus, Liu Hai grew arrogant, for his sister’s tragedy had twisted his heart.

At midnight today, he had come to the cinema, intending to kill all the shameless men and women present, while sparing those who had come alone to simply watch the film.

In this moment, Liu Hai felt exceptionally righteous, believing he was merely eradicating some malignant tumors from society…

Having listened to the young man’s narrative, Xia Zhiquiu concluded that he was nothing short of a madman.

While his sister’s death might have been a profound blow to him, what did any of that have to do with her?

Moreover, his sister hadn’t exactly been a good person either…

Ultimately, Xia Zhiquiu realized she was suffering an undeserved calamity.

She sighed, speaking with resignation.

“I think if you stop now and go see a psychiatrist, you might still be saved,” she suggested.

“Don’t give up on treatment.”

These words, however, utterly enraged the young man.

He let out a cold scoff, speaking with a hint of madness.

“A tumor like you naturally wouldn’t understand,” he snarled. “So just obediently go die!”

Perhaps, to the young man, all modern couples had become malignant tumors?

The very next moment, he directly manipulated the demonic vines, sending them surging towards Xia Zhiquiu!

Seeing this, Xia Zhiquiu abandoned all other thoughts.

She immediately dodged the attacking vines and raced towards Liu Hai, intending to ‘catch the leader first to capture the bandits.’

Once she subdued this guy, the demonic vines would pose no further threat.

Such speed, swift as a soaring eagle, far surpassed that of an ordinary person!

The young man was momentarily stunned by it, then immediately understood.

“You’re an ability user too! How is that possible!”

No wonder the intoxicating scent of his vine flowers had no effect on her…

In that instant, Liu Hai’s heart twisted even further.

He wasn’t the most special being in this world after all?

This stark disparity was something he simply couldn’t accept!

Xia Zhiquiu let out a soft scoff upon hearing him.

By now, she had already reached the young man, and with a swift motion, she delivered a kick.

Bang!

The next moment, the young man was sent flying like a kite with a snapped string, crashing heavily onto the aisle!

Though they were both ability users, it was clear that the young man was not adept at manipulating his power, and controller-type ability users were generally weaker themselves, their strength lying in the objects they controlled.