Social Anxiety

"How did you know I liked white?"

Tang Zhi Chu stopped walking. Instead of answering right away, he turned and tugged her black bucket hat down a little.

Seeing Chen Si Yang from this close, Tang Zhi Chu felt a little dazzled too.

Beneath her long lashes, her glossy black eyes were like pools that could draw people in. Her fair skin had a rosy glow, so flawless it seemed poreless and delicate enough to break with a puff of air.

Once the bucket hat was pulled lower and hid her eyes, her dainty nose stood out even more. Not to mention her soft lips just below it. Even taken separately, each of her features was pretty and exquisite.

"I'm not that famous. I just like wearing this hat," Chen Si Yang said softly, not resisting Tang Zhi Chu's movements.

Only then did Tang Zhi Chu take out his phone. After scrolling for a while, he showed the screen to Chen Si Yang.

It was a Penguin group chat called Forever Love Yang Yang!

That was right. Tang Zhi Chu hadn't chosen the box at random, either.

Finding this information wasn't difficult for Tang Zhi Chu. He searched forums and message boards for Chen Si Yang's fan groups that had entry requirements, where people either had to answer questions or pay a group fee.

The easiest things in the world were things with barriers. You just had to step over them.

Not only did Tang Zhi Chu know what color Chen Si Yang liked, he had a pretty good idea of how many people were in her family and what their situation was like.

Chen Si Yang froze for a moment, then raised her head and looked at Tang Zhi Chu with bright eyes. In a tone that was hard to tell whether it was shy or reproachful, she said, "How could you do that?"

Tang Zhi Chu put down his phone. "What did I do?"

"You... you went outside the rules. That's cheating, okay?"

Tang Zhi Chu burst out laughing, nudged Chen Si Yang with his elbow again, then strode into the mall.

Behind him, a lovely curve appeared on Chen Si Yang's lips. She called out loudly, "Wait for me!"

The moment they entered the mall, the noise of the crowd washed over them. Chen Si Yang instinctively followed close behind Tang Zhi Chu, pulling her hat even lower.

Tang Zhi Chu slowed down and said, "The cinema's on the top floor. Let's take the elevator straight up."

Chen Si Yang gave a quiet hum.

This kind of environment left Chen Si Yang at a loss. There were too many people, and her social anxiety flared up. Her head felt foggy, and both the people and everything she saw seemed to drift before her eyes.

The elevator stopped on the first floor. Tang Zhi Chu wanted Chen Si Yang to enter first, but she stopped in her tracks. There were at least six or seven people inside.

Chen Si Yang turned sideways toward Tang Zhi Chu, but she didn't dare raise her head, so all she could see was his neck.

What should I do? Get on? Or wait for the next elevator? There are so many people!

Just then, Chen Si Yang felt someone grab her hand.

It was a very large hand, as though it could completely wrap around hers.

As Tang Zhi Chu stepped inside, he pressed the elevator button with his other hand and said to the people beside him, "Sorry, we're going to the top floor."

The man was stunned at first, then took a few steps back.

The mall only had five floors, and no one had pressed the button for the top floor. So these two newcomers probably didn't want to stand by the door. That was likely what he meant.

Once the man moved aside, Tang Zhi Chu led Chen Si Yang to a spot in the corner. Then, naturally, he let go of her hand.

Chen Si Yang lowered her head and said nothing, no one knew what she was thinking.

The elevator rose. People came and went, until only Tang Zhi Chu and Chen Si Yang remained when it stopped on the fifth floor.

When the elevator doors opened, Chen Si Yang softly said thank you before walking out.

Tang Zhi Chu took Chen Si Yang into the cinema. Rather than collect their tickets first, he went to buy snacks.

Chen Si Yang had wanted to stop Tang Zhi Chu. She didn't like eating while watching movies. It always felt somewhat impolite and troublesome.

When watching a movie, shouldn't you just focus on the movie?

Tang Zhi Chu didn't bother with any of that. He bought popcorn, cola, and a pack of preserved plums.

Then he brought Chen Si Yang to an area with empty seats nearby.

"Here, sit for now. The movie doesn't start for another ten minutes or so. You can eat these. I'll go collect the tickets."

After saying that, Tang Zhi Chu hurried toward the ticket machine. Perhaps because it was Saturday, there were quite a few people there too.

Only after sitting down did Chen Si Yang's tense, hurried emotions ease considerably.

Though her eyes were watching Tang Zhi Chu line up for the tickets, her mind was on what had happened in the elevator.

Why hadn't she thought about it before? Because she had been too overwhelmed.

He seemed to have held my hand.

He found me a good spot.

The angle he stood at blocked most of my view. I feel a lot safer somehow.

Chen Si Yang realized that she hadn't been in an occasion like this for a very, very long time. Yet now, she felt that perhaps such occasions weren't all that bad.

You just had to speak up boldly like he did, then act with purpose and a plan.

Chen Si Yang glanced at the snacks before her and froze again.

So he noticed that I have social anxiety? He bought food first so I could sit down, then went to collect the tickets?

If it were someone else, wouldn't the first step be for both of us to go collect the tickets together?

Chen Si Yang suddenly began wondering what kind of person Tang Zhi Chu really was.

Why was he so thoughtful? What kind of family atmosphere could raise a boy like him?

He must be especially happy. Chen Si Yang could even picture what Tang Zhi Chu's Father and Mother looked like. They had to be kind and gentle people.

"Why aren't you eating?" Tang Zhi Chu stood before Chen Si Yang with the tickets in hand.

Chen Si Yang tilted her head up and softly said, "Sit down."

Tang Zhi Chu checked the time, then sat beside Chen Si Yang.

Only then did Chen Si Yang reach out, pick up a piece of popcorn, and put it into her mouth, chewing lightly.

Tang Zhi Chu smiled. "Watch me!"

Chen Si Yang really did turn to look at him.

Tang Zhi Chu grabbed a huge handful of popcorn and stuffed every last piece into his mouth without dropping a single one. He chewed in big mouthfuls and added, "So good!"

Chen Si Yang: "..."

After taking a gulp of cola, Tang Zhi Chu felt like he had come back to life.

He really hadn't eaten lunch. The movie was about to start, and if he ate first, he definitely wouldn't make it in time.

Chen Si Yang couldn't understand what Tang Zhi Chu meant. He seemed to have something seriously wrong with him.

But after seeing Tang Zhi Chu take a sip of cola, then simply hug the popcorn bucket and keep tossing kernels into his mouth one by one, Chen Si Yang finally realized. Wasn't that bought for me? Wasn't it for eating during the movie?

"Y-you leave some for me."

Tang Zhi Chu snickered. "I thought you didn't like it. You didn't even touch it."

Chen Si Yang snatched the popcorn away. "You're the one who doesn't like it!"

After hugging the popcorn to her chest, Chen Si Yang seemed to remember something. She rummaged around in her pocket, then finally took out two candies that looked like nougat.

"This is for you. I eat these when I run out of energy from practicing dance."

Tang Zhi Chu accepted them. "You practice dance?"

"Mm. I have classes every day, and I also fill in as an instructor for some trainees at the company."

"Then you must look amazing when you dance."

Chen Si Yang puffed out her chest. "I'm just okay."

"You're too modest. How could you teach trainees if you were just okay?"

"Maybe the company just wants to save money."