Study Monster Cultivation System
Chapter 223 - 222 The Romance of Science Students

After bidding farewell to his family, Li Zheng took the subway, rode a bike, and sprinted, finally reaching Chang’an Cinema at 2:52 PM.

The cinema was located at the boundary between Western Market and Haidian, quite a distance from Lake Ying’s usual haunt.

If it were a regular movie, settling for a cinema closer to home would have sufficed, but both had long coveted seeing "The Wandering Earth" in IMAX; anything less would be a disservice to themselves.

Moreover, purchasing tickets during the Spring Festival was challenging, and "The Wandering Earth" wasn’t highly distributed, which led Lin Yujing to secure the cinema and press Li Zheng to comply a week in advance.

This layer of complexity, Li Zheng only realized once he reached the cinema’s entrance.

Many looking to buy tickets on-site could only secure them for the next day, either leaving disappointed or settling for movies like "Old Pig Peyton Celebrates the New Year."

Indeed, those who could plan and calculate had an advantage wherever they went.

Li Zheng, observing the crowded crowd, was wondering how to squeeze through when he suddenly felt a tap on his lower back.

"Hmm..."

Without turning around, Li Zheng just laughed and glanced at his phone.

14:59:55.

Just as some always manage to enter class right when the bell rings, certain people are just magical.

Turning around, Lin Yujing was pouting and looking elsewhere, still in that brown coat.

"Not changing your clothes for New Year’s," Li Zheng laughed foolishly.

"Says Mr. Perpetual Black Leather," Lin Yujing didn’t even look at Li Zheng, only at the cinema’s small entrance and exit, "So many people…"

"Yes, several movies are releasing today," Li Zheng responded, "What time does it start? If we’re not in a hurry, we can wait for fewer people before entering."

"Not in a hurry," Lin Yujing nodded, "10 minutes left."

"???" Li Zheng suddenly panicked, "Couldn’t you have scheduled it earlier?"

"What would we do so early there..."

"Damn! You don’t buy popcorn or go to the toilet?" Li Zheng twisted around and dove into the crowd, "I can’t be bothered to explain, just follow me!"

"Hmm."

This time, Li Zheng was truly formidable.

Not caring about the consequences, he just squeezed and pushed hard.

Lin Yujing, clutching his coat, quietly followed behind him, quite comfortably.

Afterward, buying popcorn, exchanging tickets, and getting glasses were all swiftly handled by Li Zheng, while Lin Yujing played the role of a pampered baby.

When they finally sat down in the cinema, they even had five minutes to spare.

"Phew…" Li Zheng finally relaxed and grabbed a handful of popcorn to chew on, "That was close."

"It’s fine, we still got here a few minutes early~"

"Easy for you to say, I fought for this. Two guys almost started a fight with me, didn’t you see?" Li Zheng chewed ferociously, "Next time I’ll manage the timing, you’re too unreliable."

"…" Lin Yujing hung her head low, instinctively grabbed a handful of hair, and covered her cheek.

"Ah… um…" Li Zheng quickly handed her some popcorn, "Don’t mind, I’m not questioning your time management skills, I just prefer to have more cushion."

"Tch…" Lin Yujing glared away, "Missing the point, no wonder you’re bad in literature."

"What are you miffed about then? I’m not sharing my popcorn with you?"

"Shut up…"

"Haha." Li Zheng laughed heartily while munching away, "Last time I came to the cinema was for ’Interstellar Travel.’

"Oh." Lin Yujing spoke absentmindedly, "Me too."

"What a coincidence?" Li Zheng continued, "The time before that, it was ’Inception.’

"Me too…"

"The time before that… I can’t remember."

"Me too!"

"Then we might have already bumped into each other here." Li Zheng excitedly looked around, "The sci-fi aficionados here, we might bump into them again in the future, but I can’t see clearly; they all seem to be buzz-cut men with glasses."

Lin Yujing played with her hair and murmured, "Might bump into again…"

"Definitely, in this environment, sci-fi fans must blindly support sci-fi movies." Li Zheng turned his head, "Don’t worry, next time I’ll buy the tickets, won’t take your advantage."

"…" Lin Yujing lowered her head further, "I haven’t agreed yet…"

"… Stop making me guess the truth or falsehood, lately my brain’s almost fried by emotional intelligence algorithms."

"You and emotional intelligence… better work on your memory first." Lin Yujing enunciated each word, "The next sci-fi movie is soon, remember to keep an eye out."

"Oh?" Li Zheng immediately took out his phone to search, "Are you talking about ’Shanghai Fortress’?"

"Yeah…"

"This… does not look very promising…"

"Didn’t you just say sci-fi fans should blindly support?" Lin Yujing scolded.

"Blind support is needed…" Li Zheng frowned at his phone, "Okay, I’ll read the original novel first and then decide."

"Backpedaling after saying it, liar, scum!"

"Got it, got it, got it! Look, look, look!" Li Zheng waved his hand and put away his phone, "Even if it’s not good, I don’t mind, who can blame us sci-fi fans for being so desperate?"

"Hmph." Lin Yujing finally fixed her hair and, looking at the advertisement on the giant screen, said, "Just a reminder, ’The Wandering Earth’ might not be that good either, it’s probably just a commercial film that borrowed the setting of the novel, and it might not have much depth or Physics."

"That’s a pity then..."

"Plus, the budget isn’t big, so we’ll probably find it boring, unlikely to be as stunning as ’Interstellar Travel.’"

"Then... if we’re not satisfied, should we catch another screening of ’Old Pig Peyton’?"

"Why don’t you watch ’Bear out of the Mountain’..." Lin Yujing said as she put on her 3D glasses, "in any case, lower your expectations, it can’t compare with ’Interstellar Travel.’ If we can watch it without getting bored or feeling awkward, that’ll be good enough."

Li Zheng shook his head and sighed, "Ah, you’re always so pessimistic."

"That way, I won’t be disappointed."

"But you won’t have hope either."

"Then go ahead and hope for everything."

"No, my hope is also based on reason, like this ’Shanghai Fortress,’ I also tried really hard to have hope but just couldn’t..."

"Alright, the movie’s starting, no talking."

"Not discussing Physics issues?"

"No discussing, no talking during the movie."

"Then I’ll text."

"I regret coming with you."

"You’re out of popcorn."

"No talking!"

"..."

Li Zheng shook his head, put on his glasses, and looked towards the standard opening logo on the giant screen.

If you say you don’t chat during movies, why did you invite me?

It’s so dark, you can’t even see if I use sign language.

Although Li Zheng really wanted to talk about Physics, as the movie began, he was engrossed in it within the first few moments.

It couldn’t be helped, the opening was too epic, too sci-fi.

Using the method of world news combined with a voiceover, it introduced the intensified solar activity and humanity’s need to survive by setting up thousands of engines to push Earth out of the Solar System.

This was right, very right.

After a voice said, "Look up, and there’s Dad."

The view entered space.

As the thrusters fired up one after another with blue flames.

That planet known as Earth began its wandering.

"Goodbye, Solar System."

"Goodbye, solar system."

Watching those numerous blue flames, watching Earth slowly move away in a white trail.

Along with those repeated "goodbyes."

Li Zheng cried.

Nothing had even started yet.

It was just the first scene...

But he was already in tears.

No plot needed, no dialogue needed, no development or twists needed.

Such imagery, such wandering.

That was the ultimate romance for a science student.

Li Zheng covered his mouth, even choking up a bit, trying hard not to make noise to avoid being laughed at by Lin Yujing or anyone else around him.

However... the uncle in the seat next to him was shaking so much that Li Zheng couldn’t sit still.

The uncle continuously raising his glasses to wipe his tears, his eyes were crying, but his face was smiling.

The joys and sorrows of people are shared, at least here they are.

With such difficulty finding like-minded people, Li Zheng immediately pulled out a tissue and handed it over.

The uncle took the tissue, wiped his face, and nodded repeatedly, unable to speak.

Similar scenes were also being played out in cinemas everywhere, one after another.

Without a doubt, just these five minutes, were already an unimaginable feast for all sci-fi fans.

Li Zheng of course glanced at Lin Yujing again.

He saw Lin Yujing covering her mouth tightly, tears flowing like water down her hand.

Even though she tried hard, the sounds of "mmm mmm mmm" still seeped through her fingers.

"Damn..." Li Zheng quickly passed over a tissue, "Weren’t you the one who said to lower expectations and not to hope?"

"Ugh... who can withstand this..." Lin Yujing said as she grabbed a tissue and started wiping, "Hurry, grab your phone... Buy tickets for the later shows, as many as you can..."

"Decided on a second viewing so soon?" Li Zheng murmured, "Aren’t you saving your New Year’s money for ’Shanghai Fortress’?"

"Never mind, let’s watch it five times first... ugh..."

"Okay then... So, all five times together?"

"You can come or not, just help me buy them first... I’ll pay you back with my New Year’s money."

"No worries, my dad’s card never runs out of money."

As the movie progressed, Li Zheng found Lin Yujing’s assessment was not wrong—it really was a commercial film using a novel’s background, more like a disaster movie with a rescue main storyline, albeit inevitably with some flaws and awkward points.

But damn, the Space Station, the frozen Earth, AI rebellion, igniting Jupiter—those moments were just too freaking invigorating combined together, like a chain bombardment for sci-fi fans.

And with each round, Lin Yujing and Li Zheng were blown away.

Finally, in the narrow trail of Earth, the movie ended.

Even though the music played and the lights came on, no one left their seats.

This group of hardcore moviegoers from the premiere day was still immersed in the romance of physics, knowing there were no Easter eggs yet hoping against hope, deceiving themselves that there was more to come.

Looking at Lin Yujing again, she was completely spent, leaning back in her chair, her cheeks flushed, breathing lightly yet profoundly.

Li Zheng hadn’t been affected much, but seeing her like that made his cheeks flush too.

For someone who loved physics, this movie was probably the most exhilarating experience of their life so far...

"I... got them..." Li Zheng said with a trembling voice, "Two for tomorrow, three for the day after... Are you sure you won’t get sick of it?"

Lin Yujing took off her glasses, blissfully looking at the ending credits: "If I get sick, I’ll come alone; otherwise, I can give the tickets to my parents, I’m willing to use all my New Year’s money to support its box office."

Li Zheng sighed, "So this is a fangirl, huh..."

"You’re calling me a fangirl! I’m doing this to combat the fandom culture by supporting ’The Wandering Earth’!"

"Still, it seems a bit wasteful... Maybe save some money for ’Shanghai Fortress’."

"Why do you still remember that!"

"Diversifying investments..." Li Zheng smirked, "Let’s do this, we’ll watch tomorrow’s shows and if we get sick of it we could give the tickets for the day after to our parents, or if that fails, to Xiaoke and Qinghua."

"Okay." Lin Yujing agreed reluctantly, then added with some emotion, "So many scenes, I really think it’s comparable to ’Interstellar Travel’..."

"Technologically, ’Interstellar Travel’ is still superior." Li Zheng remained rational, "But ’The Wandering Earth’ is grander, more epic, harnessing all of humanity’s wisdom and collective power to fight for survival, which is more thrilling than individual heroism and also aligns better with scientific understanding... Speaking of scientific understanding... I was eager to discuss it with you in the middle of the movie... Couldn’t wait."

"Hmm?"

"Based on our current knowledge in physics, can we calculate how much work is needed to stop the Earth’s rotation using its rotational speed and mass?"

"Yes."

"Can we calculate the specific parameters needed to use Jupiter as a gravitational slingshot?"

"Hmm... That should be doable, I calculated the conditions for a gravitational slingshot in junior high."

"And the thrust of igniting Jupiter’s shockwave."

"That involves some thermodynamics."

"Yes, and also mechanics, electromagnetism, nuclear physics, and physical chemistry, there are too many interesting things."

"Except for physical chemistry... the rest really are interesting."

Upon hearing this, Li Zheng’s expression began to animate: "Then... shall we find a place and calculate everything from start to finish?"

Lin Yujing’s eyes also sparkled: "Let’s make our own ’The Wandering Earth’ plan."

"Right, that’s what watching a movie is all about!" Li Zheng laughed loudly, "We agreed, no sneaking peeks at the original, all calculations on our own."

"You, my friend, won’t be able to calculate it; to accelerate, you first need to adjust the orbit around the Sun, and you wouldn’t know how to calculate that first step."

"Don’t joke, my math is stronger than yours."

"??? I scored higher than you on the final exam."

"That doesn’t count, only Zhu Hongbo’s grading is authoritative."

"Loser! He’s a loser too, loser cherishing another loser."

Right then, the cleaning lady, clearly disdainful, came over: "The show’s over, time to leave."

It was only then that the two noticed the theater was nearly empty.

After apologizing, Li Zheng quickly stood up and said, "Eat something, then find a quiet place to do the calculations?"

"Good!"

The two of them cheerfully left the theater.

The movie was truly worth watching, both entertaining and packed with many interesting physics problems.

Especially when discussing it with a like-minded sci-fi enthusiast, the joy doubled.

Tonight, they were going to have a blast with the calculations.

They could even go until dawn.

Although the two were amped up and ready to tackle the night energetically, some laws couldn’t be avoided.

Such as the "must visit the bathroom after a movie" law.

Restroom corridors during exits are usually crowded, but they lingered so long that nearly no one was left, just a few men waiting by the door.

It must be said, in some respects, men definitely have an efficiency advantage.

For instance, peeing takes much less time, basically no need to queue.

But if accompanying a lady, even after you’re done, you still have to wait outside, which can be a bit annoying.

To avoid being so annoyed, Li Zheng deliberately took his time, carefully aiming while keeping his head down, releasing at a steady pace, trying to achieve the feat of not splashing a single drop.

However, just as he was striving for perfection, he unfortunately noticed the man in the next stall splashing all over, even onto his own shoes.

So inconsiderate.

Getting the aim right and controlling the pressure would suffice.

How much trouble would this add for the cleaning staff?

Li Zheng looked up somewhat resentfully to his left.

That profile, sharply defined, those glasses, bright and shiny.

And that gray shirt, with the high-waisted belt.

"Xing Zhuo?"

The man shuddered in surprise, turned his head, and more drops fell.

"Li Zheng?"

Li Zheng was delighted, "You’re here to see ’The Wandering Planet’ too?"

"Damn right, I had to see it." Ou Xingzhuo gave a couple of vigorous shakes, hurriedly zipped up, then slapped Li Zheng’s shoulder, "Pretty hardcore to come on the first day."

Li Zheng dodged hastily, pointing to the paper towels in front of the stall, "You might want to wipe your shoes first…"

"Ah? Oh…" Ou Xingzhuo hurried over, and as if suddenly remembering something, he hurriedly said, "I’m slow, don’t wait for me, we’ll chat later."

"Oh…" Li Zheng had no choice but to wash his hands by himself.

Watching Ou Xingzhuo bending over his shoes, he felt something was amiss.

An accidental meeting after a movie, with such an interesting physics-based film, Wu Yaizi meets Xu Zhu, were we not supposed to chat for 300 rounds?

Unless…

Li Zheng thought of something?

"Did you come alone?" Li Zheng asked as he dried his hands.

"Ah… Yes… yes, yes, I came alone, haha." Ou Xingzhuo’s voice trembled as he wiped his shoes, "You came alone too?"

"I came with a classmate." Li Zheng stood tall and righteous, "Physics is also her strong suit, we were planning to find a place to calculate the physical quantities in the movie, you want to join?"

"Ah, no, no, I already took the physics competition last year, otherwise I wouldn’t make it for this senior year." Ou Xingzhuo hastily waved his hand, "Go find your classmate, don’t let him… her..."

Ou Xingzhuo’s expression suddenly changed: "Your classmate is a girl?"

At that moment, Ou Xingzhuo also realized the key point.

If Li Zheng had been with another male classmate, they would have gone to the restroom together.

Only if accompanied by a female classmate would they act separately.

"Yes, Lin Yujing, I’ve mentioned her before." Li Zheng smiled as he walked to the door, "Are you really not joining us for a fun night of physics?"

"No thanks, you better go, don’t keep her waiting."

"Well, we’ll chat in the group then."

"Chat in the group, chat in the group."

Li Zheng then left the restroom, and seeing Lin Yujing still hadn’t come out, he had no choice but to stand foolishly at the door and wait.

As he waited, a tall, aloof-looking girl with short hair came out.

She directly met the eyes of the anxiously waiting Li Zheng.

"Wu Shu!"

"Li Zheng!"

Without a second thought, the two huddled together.

"What a coincidence." Li Zheng pointed toward the men’s restroom, "Xing Zhuo was in there too."

"Ah? You saw him?"

"Yeah, he came by himself."

"Huh… look at him, such a disgrace." Wu Shu sneered with a curl of her lip, "Where is he?"

"Wiping his shoes."

"Wiping his shoes?"

"Just now…" Li Zheng, realizing it wasn’t nice to expose someone else’s flaws, quickly corrected himself, "It seemed like he had to wipe his shoes, quite unexpected."

"Hey, he isn’t really…"

"…" Li Zheng swallowed and turned his head away, "I don’t know, I didn’t see it myself."

"I… never mind, I won’t ask."