Accompanied by the hypnotic variety show playing on TV, Nora Scott took a nap on the sofa.
The rich aroma in the living room woke her up just in time to see Pedro Langley bring a bowl of noodles to the dining table.
Her nostrils moved slightly, catching the fragrance, and Nora squinted her eyes.
"Smells pretty good."
Pedro responded casually.
Nora chuckled lightly, "Do you really not know the meaning of the word ’modesty’?"
Putting down the chopsticks, Pedro glanced at Nora.
Taking her phone and heading over, Nora saw the longevity noodles looked good and handed the phone to him, "Can you take a picture for me? I need to send it to Easton."
Pedro didn’t take it and said, "I already took one."
"I also sent it to your grandfather."
Nora was taken aback and asked in surprise, "How did he get in touch with you?"
"Probably," furrowing his brows in thought, Pedro looked her over and said seriously, "he thinks I’m more reliable than you."
Nora couldn’t find a way to retort him.
Gripping the back of the chair, she dragged it backward, causing the chair legs to make a screeching noise on the floor.
She sat down, picked up the prepared chopsticks, pushed aside the slices of meat, poached egg, and vegetables on top, and lifted a long noodle.
Pedro curled his lips into a smile.
Lately, he visited Antonio Easton at the hospital a few times and had also exchanged contact information with him.
Yesterday, Antonio Easton reached out to him, mentioning Nora’s birthday, saying that every year on this day, no matter where she is, Nora would return on time to eat a bowl of longevity noodles.
Antonio Easton’s hint was quite obvious.
So yesterday, Pedro studied how to make longevity noodles, trying many times until Butler Loxley nodded his approval and then he stopped. The rich broth in Nora’s bowl was prepared by Butler Loxley early this morning.
"Did you really make this?"
After tasting a bite of the noodles and sipping some broth, Nora looked at Pedro with full of skepticism in her eyes.
"Delicious." Nora wasn’t stingy with her sincere praise, and after taking another bite of noodles, she suddenly thought of something and asked, "Didn’t you make yourself a bowl?"
"I had breakfast." Pedro said, "Loxley will come back to make lunch later."
Nora felt relieved, and as she lowered her head to eat, her eyebrows slightly raised, showing a good mood.
Pedro’s eyes lowered, laughter hidden within them.
Butler Loxley returned a bit late, and by the time lunch was ready, it was already two in the afternoon.
At Pedro’s invitation, Nora joined for a meal.
"Want to go to a movie? We can eat after it’s over."
Pedro handed the cut fruit to Nora.
Picking up a piece of apple with a toothpick, Nora took a bite, saying, "Sure."
The next moment, she turned to Butler Loxley and asked, "Loxley, want to join us?"
Pedro paused slightly.
Butler Loxley’s hand shook as he held the bowl and chopsticks, then turned his head to look over, smiling kindly, "I’ll pass, I have things to do."
"Alright." Nora took out her phone, sliding her fingers over the screen, she asked Pedro, "I haven’t watched ’Fire’ yet, are you interested?"
After hesitating for three seconds, Pedro gave his answer.
It didn’t really matter what they watched.
However, thinking of the way Nora talked about ’Fire’ and Henry Chapman, his heart felt stuffed with a wad of cotton, suffocating and a bit annoyed.
Biting down on the last piece of apple, Nora naturally asked, "Where should we watch it? I’ll buy the tickets."
Pedro said, "You choose."
Nora chose a theater they often went to.
Recently, ’Fire’ had been gaining traction in popularity, with box office figures surging, and every show was packed, so the screening volume was also high. The next available show had only seats left at the corners, so she picked the 4 PM show and managed to snag two seats at the back row.
After exiting and entering again, she found the surrounding seats had also been selected.
This scene made Nora pause slightly, and then she curved her lips into a subtle arc, smiling a bit contentedly.
Mall’s fifth floor, movie theater.
Nora and Pedro had just stepped out of the elevator when passersby started to notice them.
Pedro frowned and asked, "Didn’t you bring sunglasses?"
Running her fingers through her hair and tucking it behind her ear, Nora shrugged, "I forgot."
As a past-his-prime celebrity, she didn’t need to worry about being recognized on the road. However, even if she weren’t a celebrity, once she hit the streets, the attention she received was considerable.
With a hint of helplessness between his brows, Pedro took out a pair of sunglasses from his pocket and handed them to her.
Seeing him as if performing magic, Nora Scott was slightly taken aback, "Do you carry this with you all the time?"
Quietly staring at her, Pedro Langley’s voice was deep, "I’m used to it."
As she paused to take the sunglasses, Nora Scott looked at him, meeting his focused and tranquil gaze, seemingly as always, yet perhaps hiding some deeper meaning.
Nora Scott picked up the sunglasses, fingers flipping open the temple, slightly lowered her head, and put them on.
Pedro Langley chose traveler sunglasses, the lenses were grey-black, and once worn, a small face was half-covered.
She wasn’t wearing a hat; her black hair was down, dressed in a knee-length black woolen coat, her outfit focused on black, exuding an elegant and cool aura.
Even without seeing her face, one would be drawn to her charisma.
Entering the cinema, the promotional poster of "Fire" was immediately seen, taking the most prominent spot, overshadowing several commercial films released at the same time, showing its popularity.
Before the poster screen, Nora Scott paused momentarily, her fingers pushing her sunglasses down, and her bright dark eyes revealed a slight smile upon seeing a line of text.
[The legacy continues, ageless and undying.]
The sound drifting by her ear pulled Nora Scott’s attention back.
Pedro Langley said, "Same as usual, you go get the tickets, I’ll buy the food."
"Alright," pushing her sunglasses up, Nora Scott nodded, "Popcorn and Coke."
Pedro Langley went to join the queue.
Her gaze swept across the electronic poster screen again, Nora Scott chuckled and turned to leave.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the mall arranged a festive Christmas atmosphere with Christmas trees and lights, adorned like a New Year celebration.
Many couples went out for dates, and the cinema was especially crowded.
Ordinarily, there would be plenty of time, but this time, after queuing up and completing their respective tasks, they met again just as the entrance began.
Pedro Langley bought two cups of Coke and a bucket of popcorn.
"Aren’t you into health and don’t drink Coke?"
Taking a cup of Coke, Nora Scott jokingly asked.
Pedro Langley replied blandly, "For the atmosphere."
The scene was somewhat familiar.
Years ago, the first time watching a movie.
After picking up the tickets early, Nora Scott came to find Pedro Langley queueing for drinks, and upon knowing what he bought, she insisted on swapping his orange juice for Coke.
She raised her eyebrows, her smile bright, "Just for the atmosphere, what’s watching a movie without Coke?"
Impossible to get angry at her.
The thought flickered away.
Piercing the straw into the cup of Coke, Nora Scott took a sip, feeling chilled to the core.
Turned around and joined the line for entry.
Pedro Langley followed closely.
"Fire" is a movie about the inheritance of wood carving craftsmanship.
Master Simon, in the wood carving industry, had a grandson who was incompetent, and disdained wood carving from a young age, achieving nothing working outside.
After returning home in despair, under Master Simon’s influence, he learned the art of wood carving, and after Master Simon passed away, he spent two years completing Master Simon’s unfinished work, showcasing the ordinary life of a rural street through the piece "Long Street", eventually reaching the international stage.
A perfect script is just the foundation, with acting performance, detail depiction, camera presentation, background music... the completion level is extremely high, commendable in every aspect.
The whole story unfolds smoothly, along with fluid expression, presenting a perfect visual feast.
After the movie ended, it was silent for a while before people gradually began to leave.
"Oh my, I forgot to eat the popcorn."
"Why did I cry? No one told me it was such a tear-jerker!"
"Henry Chapman is too amazing, acting in everything as if it’s real. In interviews, he comes across as a serious person, so how did he portray a rogue image so vividly?"
"I just want to learn wood carving now."
Amidst the quiet discussions, Pedro Langley and Nora Scott exchanged looks.
Watched too intently.
Hardly ate any of the popcorn, and didn’t even finish the Coke.
Sitting down, Nora Scott took off her sunglasses, and the smile in her eyes was clear.
Despite any displeasure, Pedro Langley gave an honest assessment, "It was good."
Nora Scott smiled, vaguely pleased.
Pedro Langley’s heart fell into an ice cellar.
At the same time, suddenly hearing a girl’s surprised voice from behind—
"Oh, the cultural advisor is Nora Scott. Is it that very pretty celebrity?"