Building The Strongest Family-Chapter 97: Watching A Movie [ 1 ]

The cinema lobby buzzed with an electric energy, a dazzling kaleidoscope of neon signs and flashing marquees casting vibrant reflections on the polished marble floors.

Crowds surged through the glass doors in waves,couples holding hands, groups of friends erupting in laughter over spilled popcorn, and families herding excited children toward ticket counters.

Arthur held the door open for Ophelia, a gentlemanly smile lighting up his face as he gestured for her to enter first.

"Thank you!" Ophelia replied lightly, returning his smile with a small nod.

As they stepped into the bustling lobby, a towering display poster caught their attention to the left: "Titanic," emblazoned in gilded letters.

The artwork was nothing short of breathtaking,the ship’s bow slicing through midnight-blue waves, Jack and Rose at the helm, her arms outstretched as if embracing the horizon.

At the bottom, the Osborn Media and Entertainment Group logo gleamed prominently.

"Your marketing team really outdid themselves," Ophelia remarked, studying the poster with admiration.

Arthur rubbed his nose and grinned. "Two months of promotions! Billboards, influencer campaigns... even an orchestral cover of the theme song in Aurelian Square!"

Ophelia chuckled before glancing around curiously. "Does your company own this theater too?"

"Yes!" Arthur nodded enthusiastically. "We have a chain of theaters across the entire country,and this is one of them!"

A subtle spark lit up Ophelia’s eyes as she glanced at him again before nodding appreciatively.

Nearby, a group of teenagers debated animatedly as they passed by Arthur and Ophelia.

"Dude! We have to watch Titanic! With all those promos and trailers,it’s gotta be good!"

"No way! I’m not sitting through three hours of a sinking ship! Let’s see Crimson Fury instead!"

"Are you kidding? Osborn Media has been hyping this for ages! My sister said the effects are insane!"

Listening to their banter made Arthur’s chest swell with pride.

Ophelia arched an eyebrow playfully as she caught sight of his puffed-up posture. "Enjoying your ego boost?"

"Yeah, I’m enjoying it immensely," he admitted with a grin.

The concession line snaked around velvet ropes, thick with the scent of butter and caramelized sugar wafting through the air.

Arthur guided Ophelia toward the VIP counter where an awestruck attendant gaped at them.

"T-Two Titanics?" The kid stammered, eyes darting between Arthur’s sharp suit and Ophelia’s effortless elegance.

"Yes please," Ophelia replied smoothly.

Arthur took a moment to admire her before adding, "And two Midnight Nebulas."

The attendant blinked in surprise. "The... uh... glowing one?" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"Yes please," Arthur confirmed with a nod.

As the kid hurriedly scrambled to prepare their order, Ophelia turned to Arthur, her beautiful eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

"Midnight Nebula?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Our signature cinema drink," Arthur replied with a grin. "It’s a carbonated starlight berry infusion sprinkled with liquid gold flakes. And guess what? It glows in the dark!"

Ophelia nodded slowly, intrigued.

When their drinks arrived in sleek black glasses, the liquid swirled with bioluminescent blue hues and shimmering flecks that sparkled like distant constellations.

The popcorn was served in an elegant engraved tin bucket emblazoned with "OMEG Premium."

"Truly overkill," Ophelia said, shaking her head in disbelief as she took in the extravagant display but couldn’t help breaking into a small smile as she accepted the bucket.

The usher guided them to their seats,plush, velvet-lined recliners nestled in the center of the VIP balcony, offering a breathtaking view of the screen below.

The general seating area was packed to capacity,a murmuring ocean of eager anticipation.

"Full house?!" Arthur exclaimed, his eyes widening at the bustling crowd below. This was Osborn Media and Entertainment Group’s first movie release; he anticipated a good turnout but never expected it would be this packed!

Ophelia rolled her eyes playfully and replied, "Your company has been promoting this film everywhere! They even used catchy songs and giant billboards right in the city center to draw people in. So how could it not attract a crowd?"

Arthur coughed slightly at her remark but felt a surge of satisfaction at witnessing such enthusiasm for the film.

After all Back on Earth Titanic was the first movie to cross $1 billion at the global box office from 1997 to 20010 and won 11 Oscars.

Arthur isn’t worried about the quality of the movie at all.

Just then, the lights dimmed dramatically. A hush fell over the audience as OMEG’s logo materialized on-screen,a silver phoenix soaring across a starry backdrop.

As the opening notes of the soundtrack began to swell, Arthur stole a glance at Ophelia.

The glow from her Midnight Nebula drink cast an ethereal light across her sharp features; her violet eyes sparkled as they reflected flickering images from the screen.

He had to admit,Ophelia’s beauty was simply breathtaking; while Clara was lovely too, she paled slightly in comparison.

"What?" Ophelia murmured softly, sensing his gaze before turning to meet his eyes.

"Nothing," Arthur stammered quickly, averting his gaze back to the film. "I’m just surprised you agreed to come watch a movie with me."

Ophelia popped a kernel of popcorn into her mouth and chuckled softly but chose not to respond further.

"Oh! I’ve always wanted to ask you this!" She suddenly seemed deep in thought before turning back toward him.

"When we first met, you called Benedict a ’simp.’ What does that mean?"

Arthur’s face twitched at the sound of Ophelia’s voice, a mix of surprise and nervousness bubbling up inside him. "Damn!" he cursed inwardly, forcing an awkward smile as he turned to her.

"Umm... how do I put this? Oh look, it’s starting!" His eyes darted around the room before landing on the screen, where the opening scene of the movie was beginning to unfold.

Ophelia glanced over at him, her interest piqued by the flickering images on the screen.

With a quick look back at the film, she seemed to settle in for what promised to be an exciting ride.

A wave of relief washed over Arthur as he noticed Ophelia becoming engrossed in the movie.

Phew! Maybe this night wouldn’t be so awkward after all.