Chapter 1685: The Kind-Hearted Person

Lu Qiaochuan flipped through the photos and couldn't help but sigh aloud: "Truly, comparing people makes one want to die. We're all the same kind of people, so why are his photos taken so well? And on film, no less!"

"Don't put pressure on yourself; there are geniuses in this world, and geniuses make no sense," Xiao Haiyang said with a tone of acceptance.

Bi Shisan spoke in a drawn-out voice: "Realizing your own mediocrity and acknowledging another's genius means you've already taken a solid step in life; congratulations on your growth."

He looked seriously at the photos Wang Yan had taken, admiring them one by one.

At that moment, Lu Qiaochuan let out an "Ai": "There's something you might not know: today Teacher Ye instructed us to look after Old Wang more because he is..."

"... an orphan," Yu Hao sighed, finishing the sentence.

"You knew this already?" Lu Qiaochuan asked, very surprised.

"I said it during military training: apart from Shisan, I probably know a bit about everyone else's situation in our class."

Lu Qiaochuan said, "Then you probably only know Old Wang is an orphan and nothing more. His parents died in a car accident when he was in his teens; he has no other relatives or friends. I heard that back home he often fought and brawled, making him a regular at the local police station until he beat everyone into submission. At the same time, his parents left him a substantial inheritance, which we all just felt."

"This 'nothing more' of yours is obvious just by looking at Old Wang, thanks," Yu Hao rolled his eyes. "Now do you understand why Old Wang was so reasonable during military training? Doesn't it make your back go cold?"

"At the time, I was indeed a bit carried away, but he couldn't have beaten me to death, could he?"

"Even getting hit hurts, and we couldn't hold him back," Xiao Haiyang added from the side.

Bi Shisan delivered another cutting remark in his drawn-out voice: "Besides, you may not be as able to bend and stretch as Pan Zhen."

In the original drama, because of Gu Yixin, Bi Shisan had taken a dislike to Pan Zhen; now, however, Bi Shisan was actually admitting Pan Zhen's merits. To be publicly proven wrong yet still continue joking with Wang Yan was not something an ordinary person could do; many people cannot save face or endure such humiliation.

Lu Qiaochuan thought for a moment, then let out a long breath: "You're right; not everyone can be like Pan Zhen."

"There's nothing shameful about that; everyone is a unique individual with different thoughts, so you don't need to feel ashamed of it."

"Listening to Shisan's comfort makes my whole body feel warm..." Lu Qiaochuan said somewhat irritably, then added, "Anyway, my unpleasantness with Wang Yan is long past, but Teacher Ye too, asking me to look after Old Wang—how am I supposed to look after him? With my head?"

"Just having the intention is enough," Xiao Haiyang said with a smile. "Although Old Wang doesn't suffer losses and isn't someone to mess with, he leaves all the troubles to others and keeps the happiness for himself; he's not as pitiable as imagined. In fact, I think he might be the happiest and most content person among all of us in the class."

Yu Hao echoed, "How so?"

"Because he knows what he likes and what he wants to do, and he is walking that path," Xiao Haiyang said, looking at the photos. "At least I believe he is happier than I am."

Lu Qiaochuan said, "It's fine; you're not alone, because I don't know what I want to do either."

"As if anyone knows," Yu Hao scoffed.

"I know," Bi Shisan said, returning the phone to Yu Hao and lying straight on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling.

He said, "I just think studying photography can make money. Taking photos for people at scenic spots costs at least five yuan per shot; if it's a set including styling, makeup, and props, that's several hundred yuan. Working in a studio, one can earn several thousand a month. Shooting weddings, when business is good, can bring in over ten thousand a month. Joining a film crew can also bring fame."

"If you become a contracted photographer for some magazines, you can even get sponsorships; like those landscape photographers who travel domestically and internationally all over the world, you can also gain status in the industry."

"Then you should buy a camera first," Lu Qiaochuan said. "Get a Canon; we all use Canons, and Old Wang's room uses them too, so they have every lens you could need. You just need to equip one common lens like a 35mm or 50mm."

The plan for the day lies in the morning; when Xiao Haiyang got up to run, he saw Wang Yan, who routinely practiced boxing with the old man.

He greatly admired Wang Yan, who could really fit in anywhere. It had been only a week since returning from military training, yet he had watched the number of old men and women gathering here increase day by day, all coming to learn Wu Gong from Wang Yan.

Wang Yan, in order to improve national fitness and conduct research related to life sciences, had spent several hundred years developing a set of strengthening exercises; he was not stingy with guidance for those willing to learn. Just a few casual teachings from him were enough for these people to benefit greatly.

However, there were indeed some unreasonable old fools, but since there is always someone better outside and skies beyond skies, and since everyone here was a retiree collecting a pension, who was easy to get along with? Wang Yan didn't even need to trouble himself; they solved their own problems.

It was just that Wang Yan couldn't dedicate himself specifically to instructing them; at most, he would spare ten or eight minutes to answer questions.

After all this, Wang Yan strolled off to Daoleshitang for breakfast.

Arriving outside Daoleshitang, he encountered Gu Yixin again, her face bare of makeup, wearing a cap, and walking slowly.

"What a familiar scene, though you don't seem as refined as before. I still remember our first meeting: you wore light makeup and tied your hair in a ponytail, yet now you look like this."

Gu Yixin glared at Wang Yan: "Press down that tuft of hair sticking up on your head before you speak; why don't you wear a hat to hide your ugliness?"

After this brief exchange, the two naturally entered Daoleshitang together, got their food one after the other, and sat down together.

Of course, it was Wang Yan who took the initiative to sit opposite Gu Yixin; otherwise, if he had sat first, Gu Yixin, for the sake of face, would not have voluntarily come to sit opposite him. This was the little ambiguity, the little reserve, the little push-and-pull between a man and a woman.

But even so, Gu Yixin had to open her mouth to express her stance.

"With so many places to sit, why must you sit opposite me?"

"If I didn't sit over here, I'm afraid you'd secretly wipe away tears in a while."

"Pfah, just seeing you ruins my appetite."

Wang Yan said with a smile, "I heard from Bi Shisan that you're collaborating with him?"

"Is there a problem with that?"

"Didn't I say yesterday that you are a kind-hearted person who is beautiful, good-natured, tough-mouthed but soft-hearted?"

"Then if you're such a kind-hearted person and say so much, why don't I see you helping?"

"Your help is my help," Wang Yan said, picking up a steamed bun and handing it over. "Here's a bun for you, a reward."

"Get lost, are you teasing a dog?" Gu Yixin became irritated again.

"Look at you; I'm showing sympathy for your difficulties and telling you to eat more, yet you don't recognize a good person's heart."

Gu Yixin said fiercely, "Do you want me to scratch you?"

So Wang Yan, as if helplessly, changed the subject: "Why are you the only one coming out for breakfast? Where are the other good classmates?"

"Are you asking about Lin Luoxue, or are you asking about Li Shuci?"

"Why are you grinding your teeth? Jealous?"

"Get lost, only a ghost would be jealous of you."

"Then tell me, what are those two doing?"

Gu Yixin snorted, "Shuci stayed up late studying yesterday and also read your updated Weibo; she's sleeping in."

Wang Yan hummed in acknowledgment and began eating his breakfast in large bites, showing no other reaction.

It was still Gu Yixin who couldn't hold back: "Why don't you ask about Lin Luoxue?"

"Perhaps you would say Lin Luoxue is also sleeping in, except she might have been chatting with some male classmate very late."

Gu Yixin...

"You knew and you still asked! Pervert, hooligan! Why don't you ask Zhong Bai?"

Wang Yan retorted, "What do you think I didn't ask him for?"

"It's so obvious. Zhong Bai and Lu Qiaochuan grew up together, she likes Lu Qiaochuan, and Xiao Haiyang seems to have feelings for Zhong Bai too. I'm telling you, several times now I've caught Xiao Haiyang staring at Zhong Bai like a lovesick fool."

"Look at you — knowing the answer and still asking. Honestly, you talk way too much."

Inhale… exhale…

Gu Yixin's hand holding the chopsticks went stiff, but in the end she still said nothing…

The students of the Communications University did have their top scholars; not everyone was just coasting through. At the same time, because the freshmen's excitement hadn't worn off yet, and this was the first rest day of the official school term, everyone generally arranged to go out and have some fun. Add to that the club and student council recruitment activities, so there really weren't a few students up early for breakfast.

At this moment, Bi Shisan walked out from the crowd of people hunting for food and stood in front of Wang Yan.

"Brother Shisan, up pretty early." Wang Yan greeted him with a cheerful smile.

Bi Shisan just stood there, glanced at Gu Yixin, and then said directly, "I just went to the ATM to check my balance, and there was an extra one hundred twenty thousand in there. I wanted to ask if you transferred it by mistake?"

"You should have checked the transaction details while you were at it." Wang Yan smiled and shook his head.

Bi Shisan was silent for a moment, embarrassed by his own small foolishness: "Then maybe someone transferred it to my card by mistake. Whatever, I'll wait for the owner to contact me, I won't bother with it."

With that, he turned and left to get his food.

"I didn't hear wrong, did I?" Gu Yixin's eyes went wide. "One hundred twenty thousand?"

"You heard wrong. Twenty thousand was an unknown person mis-transferring, the remaining one hundred thousand is what I transferred to him."

Gu Yixin paid no mind, still sighing in amazement: "You're way too generous, aren't you? Lending out one hundred thousand just like that?"

"To be precise, it's actually fifty thousand lent, and another fifty thousand for him to build me a computer."

"Wouldn't have guessed — you're a rich guy."

Wang Yan said, "Families that study art can't afford it if they're not well-off, and they wouldn't choose this kind of major either. Of course, Bi Shisan is the exception."

"Then that kind person…"

"That kind person advises you not to daydream. The top priority right now is still eating a good breakfast."

"Honestly." Gu Yixin pulled a scary face at Wang Yan, then said, "What are you planning to do today? Go out and take photos?"

"Together?"

Gu Yixin sighed, "Thanks to you, I still have to help contact clients to sell computers and cameras. Bi Shisan already drew up the spec list yesterday. Once we find buyers, I still have to negotiate with the merchants, and finally handle the after-sales service."

"That's not thanks to me — it's your own kind nature. Kind soul, the Jade Emperor, the Heavenly Father, and all the other immortal gods will bless you."

"Can't you just say you'll help us expand clients together, help us sell computers? Kind soul?"

"I have no interest in money."

Gu Yixin was already making the subway-old-man face…

In the end, Wang Yan didn't go start a business with Gu Yixin and Bi Shisan. Instead, he brought breakfast back to the dorm to feed everyone, freshened up, slung a Canon digital camera and a film camera across his shoulder, pocketed a few rolls of film, and headed out.

At this hour the campus was much livelier. Quite a few people were up, and the clubs and student council continued recruiting. Some freshmen, having survived military training, had clearly paired off. Though it was autumn, the air of spring permeated the youthful campus.

Wang Yan, a cigarette dangling from his lips, sat on a shaded bench in a corner, fiddling with his camera every now and then to secretly snap passing students.

Lin Luoxue, in a floral dress with the hem falling two inches above her knees, walked up to Wang Yan while talking on the phone.

"Okay, I still have some things to do, I'll talk to you later. See you tonight."

She hung up, sat down beside Wang Yan, leaned over to look at the photos on the screen, and said, "You really are — no matter when, you never forget to take photos."

"Since I've got the camera, pressing the shutter is just a casual thing."

"Then why don't I see you posting to your Moments?"

"I post everything on Weibo."

Lin Luoxue laughed, "I mean you should post some text, write a little essay. Art needs interpretation, and the photos you take need a good story to go with them. It could be the perfect light and shadow, stray cats and dogs on the roadside, a youth running under the sunset, an old couple together at dawn and dusk. Are you about to say that I've spent too much time with Lu Qiaochuan and become a pretentious literary youth too?"

"You're overthinking it. I don't hold that much of a grudge against Lu Qiaochuan, and I won't get jealous."

Wang Yan shook his head with amusement: "I don't think I've ever said being a literary youth is bad — only that literary youths at this age moan without being sick, it's too affected. What you said about pairing photos with little essays — that's insight, that's life sketches.

I used to be too lazy to write, but from now on I'm focusing on photography, so I do need to think about self-promotion. You're right, I should pair them with some text. I accept your suggestion. Once I've saved up some photos recently and gathered some stories, I'll try writing a bit the next time I post on Weibo."

"I just knew you were heartless — taking such liberties with me, getting every advantage, and in the end still calling us good classmates." Lin Luoxue's voice was slightly hoarse, her tone low — what a little drama queen.

So Wang Yan directly reached for her thigh: "Before I only held your hand, put my arm around your shoulder. Now I'll add your beautiful legs — that's the real 'taking liberties.' From now on you can say it with a clear conscience."

Different methods for different people — Lin Luoxue clearly didn't mind some physical contact. After all, in many cases, a bit of bodily contact with the opposite sex was her efficient weapon for playing with people; a touch of the hand was enough to make most hearts race. Only when she was with Wang Yan, she couldn't control the rhythm.

Lin Luoxue maintained an awkward but polite smile, smacked Wang Yan's hand with a slap, pried it away, and changed the subject at the same time.

"Heard from Lu Qiaochuan that you transferred one hundred thousand to Bi Shisan yesterday?"

"Heard from Bi Shisan that his card had an extra twenty thousand mis-transferred by someone."

Lin Luoxue laughed and shook her head: "Looks like I was worrying for nothing — all for nothing."

"Borrowed?"

"From the guy who treated us to Western food last time. Even so, I still want to say that right now he and I are very innocent — the one I was just on the phone with is him."

"I'll give you twenty thousand to pay it back. You can come clean with Bi Shisan later. It works out neatly to put it all on my account, and you can have peace of mind — no more always worrying about it. If you still can't make up your mind, it's fine not to come clean. I wasn't planning to rush him to pay me back anyway."

Wang Yan put his hand back on her leg, while his other hand caught the hand she used to stop him. "Looks like you had no choice, that's why you went to him to borrow money…"

"What's the difference — you're all perverts!" Lin Luoxue pouted.

"Way too different. Our bond is way too deep. And haven't I always been a pervert? Why does it sound like you just met me?"

Lin Luoxue beamed: "That one photo you took of me looks really good."

"A lost college girl on the street. Take a good look at the photo and reflect on yourself. Don't forget to send me the card number."

With that, Wang Yan got up and left, fiddling with his camera and shooting as he walked.

Lin Luoxue smiled softly as she watched the retreating figure…

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