Chapter 99: Next step, propose!

The first item on the date battle plan:

Watching a ballet.

The couple arrived at the ticket counter of a theater.

Due to venue constraints and performance schedules, ballet performances usually only had three or four shows per day.

And the couple’s date time was only for that day. So, the key to this first item was to catch whichever show was available.

The ticket attendant smiled as soon as they saw the couple’s attire and asked, “Are you two in a romantic relationship?”

Leon and Rosvitha glanced at each other, then sighed simultaneously, reluctantly nodding.

“Alright, I’ll arrange a couple’s seat for you, and the ticket price remains the same,” the attendant said.

Leon blinked. “Just to watch an opera, do they really need separate couple seats and regular seats?”

“Yes, it’s a thoughtful service newly introduced by our theater,” the attendant replied.

Leon smirked, “Well, you guys are certainly considerate.”

After purchasing the tickets, there was still half an hour until the show started. The couple sat together on a bench outside the theater, quietly waiting.

The plaza outside the theater was freely open to the public, and some elderly people and children would come here to feed the pigeons.

Leon and Rosvitha sat side by side on the bench, occasionally having a few pigeons approach them for food.

But unfortunately, they didn’t have any biscuits or bread in their pockets. Seeing that they couldn’t get any food, the pigeons cooed twice and flapped their wings away.

As Leon’s gaze wandered with the pigeons, he inadvertently noticed an ice cream stand. Immediately, he turned to Rosvitha beside him.

She was lowering her head, her mouth hidden under the collar of her hoodie, her hands in the pockets of her top, stretching her long legs, looking at her shoes.

The tips of her shoes touched each other and then separated, then lightly touched again, seemingly enjoying herself quite happily.

“Want some ice cream?” Leon asked.

Hesitation.

A nod.

“What flavor?”

“Anything.”

Leon’s mind stirred slightly. “How about cilantro flavor?”

Rosvitha glared at him. “Carrot flavor.”

Leon chuckled and got up to the ice cream stand.

While paying, Leon’s peripheral vision caught sight of something in the nearby bushes. He hesitated for a moment, then quickly looked away, muttering quietly, “Disguise skills need improvement.”

But deliberately choosing to hide near the ice cream stand, was there some ulterior motive, my little cotton ball?

Leon returned to the bench with two ice creams. “I got strawberry and banana flavors, which one do you want?”

“I want orange flavor,” Rosvitha said, trying to tease him.

Unexpectedly, Leon had predicted her little scheme and handed her an orange-flavored ice cream directly. “Here, orange flavor for you.”

Rosvitha was taken aback, raising her eyes and blinking her lively eyes, her long eyelashes fluttering. “Didn’t you just buy strawberry and banana flavors?”

Leon shrugged. “Just messing with you. I knew you’d pick orange flavor.”

Rosvitha snorted and took the orange-flavored ice cream from him. “Let’s go inside and eat while walking.”

“We still have twenty minutes before it starts.”

“Well, but the assistant director might not wait for twenty minutes,” Rosvitha said.

“Huh?”

Leon didn’t explain further. He reached out and took Rosvitha’s arm.

Rosvitha panicked, almost dropping her ice cream, but she was still pulled up by Leon, and they walked together towards the theater entrance.

As they walked away, three figures emerged from the bushes near the ice cream stand.

Anna patted the grass off the two little princesses and then straightened her own attire.

“Anna, Anna, I want ice cream too!” the assistant director pointed to the stand ahead, her eyes sparkling.

Anna nodded and led them to the stand. “Hello, three ice creams, please.”

Never doubt a father’s judgment of his daughters!

The film crew chose to observe secretly here not only because it was a good location for footage but also because they could conveniently buy ice cream!

Meanwhile, Leon and Rosvitha had already entered the theater. After they took their seats, other audience members began to trickle in.

Leon noticed that there were indeed separate sections for couple seats and regular seats, but he still couldn’t understand the significance of such a distinction.

Even if it was for the sake of accommodating a few nuclear families, it didn’t seem necessary.

Well, it’s normal not to understand things about the Dragon Clan.

Leon pushed aside his thoughts and quietly waited for the ballet to begin.

“This play is called ‘Sunset Sonata of the Albatross,'” Rosvitha said.

Leon glanced down at the name of the play on his ticket and replied, “Hmm, I can read.”

“The story is about two people who accidentally become husband and wife, but initially, there’s no love between them. Through spending time together and getting to know each other, they eventually open their hearts and fall in love,” Rosvitha explained.

Leon pursed his lips and adjusted his posture. Why does it feel like this is hinting at my life?!

Even though he was very aware of how closely the characters in this play mirrored reality, he pretended to remain calm. “Oh, that sounds good.”

After a pause, he asked, “Oh, have you seen it before?”

Rosvitha shook her head. “I’ve only read the original novel of this ballet.”

“A novel?” Leon recalled the romance novels they stayed up late reading while planning their date last night, one of which was also related to albatrosses. “Is it the one we read last night?”

“No, but it’s by the same author.”

Leon uttered a mild “oh” and quipped, “It seems like this author really likes albatrosses.”

“Because in the life of an albatross, there’s only one mate, which coincides with the marital relationship of the Dragon Clan, so many authors often use albatrosses to symbolize unwavering love,” Rosvitha explained calmly.

“This book is the final installment of the author’s albatross trilogy, a masterpiece, and it’s been adapted into the ballet we’re about to watch because of its excellence.”

Leon gazed at Rosvitha’s profile in astonishment. When she explained these things, she was knowledgeable and articulate, completely different from her usual reserved demeanor when talking to Leon. It was evident that she genuinely enjoyed these art forms, something Leon hadn’t realized before.

“Have you ever watched ballets or operas before?” Rosvitha asked, glancing at Leon.

Leon quickly averted his gaze. “Uh… not really, I haven’t watched much.”

“Well, if there’s anything you don’t understand later, you can ask me, and I’ll explain it to you.”

“So kind of you,” Leon remarked.

Rosvitha gave him a faint glance. “Just worried that when we get home, if our daughter asks you about it, and you’re clueless, the date would seem too fake, wouldn’t it?”

Leon shrugged. “Okay.”

Ten minutes later, the performance began.

The first act was a wedding scene, romantic and extravagant, captivating the audience’s attention.

Ballet is a comprehensive art form that integrates music, drama, literature, dance, and stage design.

In addition to the compelling storyline, the actors’ singing and dancing skills also greatly enhance a ballet performance.

Leon’s artistic sensibilities weren’t very developed, so he focused more on the plot. Since it was a ballet adapted from a romance novel, some parts of the plot might come off as a bit melodramatic in the actual performance.

Leon refrained from commenting, knowing that Rosvitha seemed quite engrossed in the performance and didn’t want to disturb her mood.

In the final act, as Rosvitha had mentioned, after enduring various trials and tribulations, the lovers finally came together, and under the setting sun, the male protagonist proposed to the female protagonist.

Heartfelt music filled the air, and the dialogue touched the audience’s hearts, bringing tears to their eyes—no exaggeration, Leon saw a few girls in the front row wiping away tears.

Leon breathed a sigh of relief but couldn’t help but quip, “I would never propose like that, it’s too cheesy.”

Unexpectedly, Rosvitha nodded in agreement. “Yeah, in the original novel, the final scene is very romantic and beautiful, but when portrayed in ballet form, it does seem a bit exaggerated. Overall, though, it’s still a very impressive piece.”

Leon nodded, seeming to understand. “Indeed.”

After a pause, Rosvitha added, “Anyway, if it were me, I wouldn’t accept a proposal in such an environment either. It would feel too contrived.”

Once again, the couple reached a silent agreement. Fortunately, this was the final act of the ballet.

As the proposal, embrace, and actors’ curtain call concluded, applause filled the theater, a recognition of the actors’ performances.

Rosvitha lowered her legs from where she had propped them up. “Alright, let’s go to the next item on our date.”

“Okay.”

“Please wait!

Everyone, especially those in the couple seats, please wait!”

The host’s voice rang out from the stage as he held a microphone, speaking passionately, “After the main performance, this theater has prepared a special surprise, a bonus scene at the end.

It won’t take up too much of your time, at most ten minutes. Those interested can stay to watch!”

Upon hearing this, those who had started to leave their seats sat back down.

“A bonus scene? What’s that about?” Leon asked.

Before Rosvitha could shake her head in confusion, the entire theater suddenly went dark, with only a spotlight remaining on the host on stage.

Bathed in the spotlight, the host raised his right hand high. “We will use this spotlight to select one couple from the audience to come onstage and reenact the final scene we just witnessed! What do you say, folks?”

“Wow, what an interesting surprise! I’m glad we stayed!”

“Who knew there would be an interactive session? I should’ve picked a couple seats too!”

“…”

Leon stood frozen in place. So, they intentionally separated the couple seats and regular seats for this?! Wait, now’s not the time to complain.

Alarm bells rang loudly in Leon’s mind. They needed to leave, and fast. If they didn’t go now, things could get messy.

In the darkness, he reached for Rosvitha’s hand — originally intending to grasp her wrist directly, but the light was too dim to see clearly.

Rosvitha, startled, instinctively curled her fingers, but after regaining her senses, she firmly clasped Leon’s hand in return.

Their thoughts were the same: Run!

Given their luck so far, even if there was a one in a million chance of being chosen, they had to flee.

The couple stealthily moved to the side aisle, ready to slip away. Unfortunately…

It was too late.

The spotlight roamed over the couple seat area as if Death were selecting its prey.

Unexpectedly…

Against all odds, the spotlight didn’t stop at the couple seats but landed on the aisle beside them.

Under the spotlight, a man and a woman held hands, appearing as though they were about to make a getaway.

The entire hall erupted in astonishment. The host, after a brief moment of surprise, hurriedly explained, “Oh, it seems like there’s a problem with our spotlight, which is why it shone on the aisle. But it’s okay, we still selected a couple!”

Leon and Rosvitha stood under the spotlight, feeling the intense heat of countless gazes upon them. It felt like they were being scorched by flames, with every pore on their bodies emitting heat.

Seriously, they were spotted even in the aisle? Was this some kind of ruthless pursuit?!

“N-no, we’re not a couple. We just ran out of tickets and had to buy a couple seats,” Leon explained awkwardly, trying to avoid being dragged into reenacting the proposal scene.

“Don’t be shy! You’re both wearing a couple outfits. How can you not be a couple?” the host insisted.

Couple outfits… So, this was all part of the director’s plan? Every detail meticulously arranged, leaving no loose ends?

Well done, dear daughter.

Rosvitha silently covered her face with her other hand. Indeed, there was no escaping fate.

“Come on, please come up and start your performance. Let’s all have some fun. As long as everyone’s happy, it’s all good!” the host encouraged.

“Yeah, you two are a perfect match. Everyone will definitely cheer for you!” another voice chimed in.

“Go for it, go for it!”

Then came a chorus of cheers and whistles.

The couple looked at each other, and then, they resigned themselves to their fate.

After all, the daughters were secretly observing somewhere. How could they not behave properly?

So, amidst the gazes and applause of the audience, they stepped onto the stage.

The male lead from earlier handed the ring to Leon.

It was a prop ring, but it felt real, sparkling on the surface, very attractive. From afar, it looked even more genuine than real diamonds.

Leon sneered, thinking to himself, “If this ring were big enough, I’d really like to put it around the necks of you dogs.”

“Alright, our brave male lead, now, please kneel and offer your most faithful—love to your female lead!”