Chapter 82: The Taste of First Love

With that, Zhou Xuan finally felt at ease, waiting quietly for the upcoming high school entrance examination. The May Day holiday arrived, and Zhou Xuan and his peers were naturally on break, allowing them to return home for a well-deserved two-day rest.

The year 1998 was marked by many major events. Beyond the booming growth of the internet—often dubbed the inaugural year of the web portal—there was also a once-in-a-century catastrophic flood in the Yangtze River basin.

Of course, there were many other happenings, but in the world of cinema, one romance film was igniting a fervor across China: Titanic, a movie that would dominate the global box office for over a decade.

The film had premiered in the United States on December 19, 1997, and reached the Chinese mainland on April 3, 1998. It had been playing for nearly a month by then, achieving stellar box office numbers. By March 10, it had grossed 1 billion dollars, becoming the first film to cross that threshold and effectively sweeping the global market. On March 23, at the Academy Awards in the United States, it took home 11 major prizes, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, and Best Cinematography.

In his previous life, Zhou Xuan had been strapped for cash and never even thought about going to a cinema, so he remained oblivious to this legendary film. It was only later that he learned of its existence and its staggering global haul of 2.1 billion dollars, a figure that had left him utterly stunned. After all, the total annual box office for China in 1998 was only 1.4 to 1.5 billion yuan—barely 200 to 300 million dollars when converted.

Back then, Zhou Xuan had no interest in romance. Even when he tried watching it at an internet cafe, he lost interest after the opening sequences. He never revisited it, even when the 3D version was released in 2012, which prompted many to return to theaters to relive the experience.

He remembered a popular joke from that time: if the same two people went to watch the 3D version together in 2012, it must be true love. He had envied those couples back then.

Zhou Xuan never expected to have the chance to be reborn, but if he had the opportunity, he was determined to seize it. So, when Liu Yixue suggested going out, Zhou Xuan proposed they go to the movies.

Liu Yixue didn't seem to have seen many films herself, so she happily agreed.

The only cinema in their county had been open for just two years. It featured only one auditorium, seating three or four hundred people. Zhou Xuan and Liu Yixue arrived at the town square, headed to the ticket booth, bought two tickets, and after a ten-minute wait, had their tickets checked and entered.

It must be said that in 1998, moviegoers were still relatively few. In an auditorium meant for hundreds, there were only twenty or thirty people. Zhou Xuan and Liu Yixue found seats toward the back and waited for the show to start.

Perhaps because this was her first time at the cinema with him, Liu Yixue seemed a bit nervous. After sitting down, she remained silent, staring at the distant screen, lost in thought.

Zhou Xuan looked at Liu Yixue with a soft smile. He leaned in quietly and whispered into her ear, "Yixue, how about I treat you to a meal after the movie?"

"Okay," Liu Yixue replied softly, feeling the warmth of his breath against her ear.

"What would you like to eat?" Zhou Xuan continued.

Liu Yixue thought for a moment and said, "Something simple is fine."

"Haha, there's no need to save money for me. How about we go for some skewers?" With the entrance exam approaching, Zhou Xuan felt they should have something good. Besides, skewers were inexpensive, though for Zhou Xuan, the cost was merely a drop in the bucket.

"Sure, that sounds great," Liu Yixue agreed.

Just then, the movie began, and the two turned their full attention to the screen.

To be honest, the initial buildup was a bit too long; Zhou Xuan had stopped watching after the first act in his previous life, preferring action, sci-fi, comedy, or disaster films.

However, Liu Yixue watched with earnest focus, clearly captivated. As the plot unfolded, her emotions rose and fell. Zhou Xuan sensed she would surely cry at the end, so he took a tissue out of his pocket, keeping it ready.

Perhaps having lived through a previous life, Zhou Xuan had become too numb, having seen too many disaster films and too many displays of sentimentality. To his eyes, this was just a movie; while moving, it wasn't enough to make him weep.

Beside him, Liu Yixue, like the other sensitive souls in the theater, was moved to tears by the romance and humanity portrayed as the massive ship prepared to sink forever into the cold, vast Atlantic.

Zhou Xuan offered the tissue at the right moment and gently held Liu Yixue’s hand, comforting her with his presence. Liu Yixue gripped his hand tightly, as if she never wanted to let go.

After the film, the two walked out of the cinema hand-in-hand, strolling slowly toward the place they would eat. Having shared the film, Liu Yixue felt closer to Zhou Xuan and cherished him even more. Yet, thinking of how exceptional he was, a flicker of worry for the future crossed her mind.

"Zhou Xuan, do you think we can keep walking this path together forever?"

Zhou Xuan turned his head, looked at her steadily, and said with complete sincerity, "We definitely will. We will certainly walk this path together forever."

He thought about how he would be heading to the provincial capital for university next year. Perhaps he could convince Liu Yixue to attend high school there as well. With her excellent grades, schools would surely welcome her. The trickiest part would be persuading her parents to let her live alone in the city. In his view, if he had such a beautiful and intelligent daughter, he certainly wouldn't agree to it easily.

Liu Yixue pouted and smiled, "You promised. If you ever stop wanting me, I'll die."

Zhou Xuan quickly pulled her into a tight embrace. "Don't talk about dying; it's bad luck. Never say such things again. Rest assured, I, Zhou Xuan, will only ever love you in this life."

"Zhou Xuan, I love you too!" hearing his words, Liu Yixue replied with deep affection.

In that moment, no words were needed; only a deep kiss could express the love Zhou Xuan felt for her. Right there on the bustling street, they embraced and kissed.

A few seconds later, Liu Yixue broke free, her face burning, and noticed the strange looks from passersby. She stamped her foot, shyly scolded, "It's all your fault," and ran off, leaving a trail of her faint fragrance behind.

Zhou Xuan watched her bashful retreating figure and laughed, chasing after her.

Nearby, an elderly man watched them run off, shaking his head. "Today's middle schoolers... kissing and cuddling on the street. It's scandalous, the way morals are declining."

For Zhou Xuan, this remained the most profound memory of May 1998—the taste of first love.