Chapter 1688: Right and Wrong

After school started, the news that Wang Yan was going to open a studio off-campus spread like wildfire.

Actually, there were traces to follow.

It happened when Yu Hao asked Bi Shisan about his holiday plans; Bi Shisan briefly mentioned it, Yu Hao seized on the detail to probe further, and soon the rumor had spread everywhere.

Opposite the university's north gate lay a row of shops, representing the second-best location near the campus. After all, although the school had many gates, the south main gate saw the most foot traffic, followed by this north gate.

This area had small and medium-sized restaurants, as well as the inevitable clusters of small and medium-sized hotels found near universities, along with internet cafes, supermarkets, and so on.

Being less bustling than the south gate had left some street-facing shops here vacant; in a position slightly to the east was exactly the spot Wang Yan had chosen.

"Whoa, Old Wang, do you really need such a large space? Three floors, over eight hundred square meters! You're usually not even here; this area is excessively surplus."

Yu Hao stood with arms crossed, offering suggestions to Wang Yan.

Jiang Yunming nodded in agreement: "I also think the place is too big. Old Wang, there's no need to spend so much money; it seems there are smaller areas over there."

Everyone sincerely worried for Wang Yan, feeling sorry for his wallet. Even though they were all from wealthy families, they felt Wang Yan was being somewhat extravagant. They only knew Wang Yan had an inheritance but had no idea exactly how much.

So they worried Wang Yan, like a prodigal son, would squander it all and end up destitute in the future. Thus, they all lectured Wang Yan on the ways of thrift.

"I understand your good intentions, but do you think I'm a fool in your eyes?" Wang Yan said with a smile. "I just think this building is nice; there are no obstructions in front, sunlight can reach inside, and it will be comfortable to live in.

This is the only suitable place on this street, so bigger is fine. I have no other ambitions in this life; being comfortable and carefree is enough. Moreover, I won't necessarily lose money; after all, once the photography studio opens, I can hire people to work. I don't expect to make much; just covering some of the rent will suffice.

Alright, alright, stop looking at me with pity. You all take a look yourselves; I need to discuss renovation details with Shisan."

He only said he had spent money to rent the place; what he didn't say was that he had already communicated with the shop owner and bought it outright. Not to mention he didn't care about money anyway, but even if he did, this was actually a foolproof investment.

After all, it was now 2015, the final glorious stage of the real estate market; in the following few years, especially in the period before the pandemic, housing prices continued to rise.

This was already a big city, and furthermore, it was right next to a university; even if it didn't double in value, a guaranteed increase of fifty percent would be easy. Even factoring in his renovation costs, living expenses, and potential business losses, everything was already covered, with considerable surplus remaining—wealth that ordinary working people would struggle to save up over many years.

Bi Shisan said he would help, and he truly meant it; he walked around the interior with Wang Yan, recording Wang Yan's requirements for the renovation. He would go back to create a 3D model based on those requirements and also help contact suppliers for renovation materials, labor, and so on. Except for not handling the money directly, he essentially took charge of the entire job.

Wang Yan could certainly have handled it himself, but considering Bi Shisan's kind intentions, Wang Yan patiently communicated with Bi Shisan, letting Bi Shisan take responsibility for the matter...

Everyone had come to see the location and recognized the entrance, so there was nothing novel left. Only after the renovation was nearly complete would they come again to see the excitement, and then gather at Wang Yan's place, at which point everyone would appreciate the benefit of having such a home base.

Academic life continued.

As another class neared its end, Ye Jiping finished critiquing everyone's photos and, as usual, spoke with earnest sincerity.

"In our class, only three students—Wang Yan, Bi Shisan, and Zhong Bai—are taking photos seriously; what about the rest of you? At the beginning, you somewhat decently took photos outside, but later you all just submitted photos taken on campus to get by.

For this National Day holiday assignment, you just casually pressed the shutter a few times and handed in the photos; some of you, despite having cameras, weren't even willing to press the shutter and instead used mobile phones to take photos to fool me.

This week's photos must be taken outside. Only by going out, only by shooting extensively, can you capture good photos and truly understand what you like and what suits you. Look at Wang Yan; how many years has he been shooting? How many photos has he posted on Weibo? The ones he posts are certainly carefully selected; how many has he not posted? You all need to think about these things, students..."

Thus, just like in the original drama, Ye Jiping had Lu Qiaochuan organize everyone to go out and shoot together.

After some discussion, it was ultimately nominated by Lu Qiaochuan and decided by everyone's vote to visit an ancient town in the suburbs. Lu Qiaochuan contacted the scenic area, purchased discounted group tickets, and everyone paid their share. Lu Qiaochuan arranged the groups so that everyone could look out for each other and photograph collaboratively.

Thus, by Saturday, everyone set off separately to meet at the entrance of the ancient town.

The allocation was still the same as in the original drama: Lu Qiaochuan and Lin Luoxue; Zhong Bai, Li Shuci, and Xiao Haiyang; while Bi Shisan and Gu Yixin joined Wang Yan.

Ren Bao Yifan also popped up unexpectedly as usual, stuffed money into Gu Yixin's hand, joined the outing activity, and ended up in the same group as Wang Yan and the others...

The four walked at a leisurely pace along the stone-paved roads of the ancient town when Gu Yixin asked, "Wang Yan, have you been here before?"

"No."

"Aren't you someone who visits various scenic spots..."

Wang Yan shook his head: "I've basically been to all the spots within the city; these suburban attractions are relatively far, so I haven't started coming out this way yet."

Ren Bao Yifan said, "Hey, Old Wang, I heard from Lu Qiaochuan that you rented a shop at the university's north gate planning to open a studio?"

"Your information seems a bit outdated." Bi Shisan interjected from the side, "Renovations are already underway."

"Isn't that not shocking enough yet?" Ren Bao Yifan grinned, putting his arm around Bi Shisan's shoulders, "I also know you helped with the design; as expected of you, so multi-talented."

Bi Shisan brushed off his hand, looking at him as if he were an idiot: "Since you know, why are you still asking?"

"Isn't this just acting as the supporting comedian, letting Old Wang show off and feel a sense of achievement? Shisan, we must help others succeed; we must provide emotional value to others."

Gu Yixin curled her lip: "You've just said so many pretty words while chasing women that it's become a fixed mindset."

"No, actually, what he said is correct." Bi Shisan corrected, "Emotions are indeed a form of value; often, to get things done well, one must make people feel comfortable and happy; so-called human relations and worldly wisdom are nothing more than this."

"Only you are so clear-headed." Gu Yixin snorted softly.

Wang Yan asked, "Why are you so idle? On a big weekend, instead of dating girls, you come wandering around an ancient town with us?"

"Even with many dates, one must sober up occasionally and change one's mindset. I learned you guys were going to take photos, so yesterday I specifically bought a new camera. I plan to learn properly from you; taking good-looking photos, plus being as handsome as I am, makes me invincible."

Ren Bao Yifan waved the camera, maintaining that same carefree, grinning expression.

Of course, that wasn't the real reason; rather, recently Lu Qiaochuan had been getting very close to Lin Luoxue, making Zhong Bai jealous, and with Xiao Haiyang pursuing her, she also couldn't stand Lu Qiaochuan, leading to frequent friction with him, which consequently left Ren Bao Yifan as a loner, with neither of them having time to hang out with him at school.

But since he was the type who could put aside his own joy of chasing girls to go play with Zhong Bai and Lu Qiaochuan, their current treatment of him naturally made him sad and hurt. Yet he had no other choice but to get closer, trying to find some sense of existence.

Gu Yixin said, "I think you're just homeless, with no one taking you in, and you even have to pay me a 'good friend fee'."

"Hey, is it necessary to be so cutting?" Ren Bao Yifan widened his eyes, slightly breaking down, "We two have no grudge against each other."

Bi Shisan didn't quite understand and asked Wang Yan, "Was Gu Yixin's remark implying that Ren Bao Yifan has no friends? Isn't he on very good terms with Zhong Bai and Lu Qiaochuan? Is it because they didn't bring him along?"

Finally not determining a conclusion on his own, Wang Yan explained to him: "Zhong Bai likes Lu Qiaochuan, Lu Qiaochuan is getting close to Lin Luoxue, the two are having conflicts, and that has affected him."

"So you are in a dilemma, unsure who to side with?" Bi Shisan looked at Ren Bao Yifan, but without waiting for an answer, he shook his head, stopped listening, having lost interest.

"No, you... I..." Ren Bao Yifan stood there stunned.

Wang Yan laughed heartily: "None of us are strangers; you two are from the two most awesome clubs in the school, aren't you familiar with each other?"

Bi Shisan said, "There's a bench here; let's rest a bit."

This suggestion received Ren Bao Yifan's instant agreement; he had no mind to wander around anymore, just wanting to see what further antics Lu Qiaochuan and Zhong Bai would pull.

"Are you tired? You certainly aren't!" Gu Yixin looked at Wang Yan, then at the other two, "Look at those two; one has poor physical health, the other poor mental state; clearly, neither has the heart for photography."

Wang Yan nodded with a smile: "Then you two rest; we'll go tour the scenic spots. There are quite a few people here; there might be something worthwhile to see. Let's meet for lunch."

Having said that, he departed together with Gu Yixin, wandering through the ancient town.

For some time now, various places have vigorously undertaken construction of various man-made scenic spots, yielding both economic benefits and political achievements. As for whether the scenic spots, once completed, are good or bad, or whether they are suited to local conditions and possess unique characteristics, that is of no concern. Anyway, there are benefits during construction, benefits when officially completed and operational, and by the time accounts are settled later, the benefits have already been claimed, leaving the next person to take responsibility.

This ancient town is exactly that kind of project.

Everything is new; the stone-paved roads lack the sediment of time, the walls show no mottling of age, and they always miss the accumulation of history...

"It feels like there's nothing much to see," Gu Yixin said. "I've been to Wuzhen and Xitang; this place pales in comparison."

"As long as it captures the gist, it satisfies people's short holiday trips; there are quite a few tourists here, making it quite lively."

Wang Yan and Gu Yixin chatted just like this, wandering through the ancient town.

However, this ancient town was not as large as imagined, or perhaps because they had only just entered and hadn't gone deep yet, they kept running into acquaintances.

"Old Wang, why is it just the two of you?" Seeing the pair strolling, Lu Qiaochuan looked surprised. "Where are Bi Shisan and Ren Bao Yifan?"

"One is in poor health, the other is in poor spirits; they're resting," Wang Yan repeated Gu Yixin's excuse.

Lin Luoxue, standing nearby, smiled and said, "I know Bi Shisan has anemia, but how is Ren Bao Yifan in poor spirits?"

"Troubled by love, obviously." Gu Yixin curled her lip, then immediately dragged Wang Yan away. "We won't disturb you two."

Watching the retreating figures of the pair, Lu Qiaochuan widened his eyes in astonishment: "Something's going on~"

"Obvious." Lin Luoxue displayed an eight-tooth smile, though her usually foxy eyes and brows remained unmoving.

"I truly never expected that the two of them, who clash the moment they meet, would actually end up together."

"Perhaps this is fate..."

The two continued walking forward at a leisurely pace, each with different thoughts in mind.

"Stop dragging me around; mind the impression you're making," Wang Yan, who had been dragged away, bit back first.

"Scram! Who's dragging whom? I was telling you to stop rambling on endlessly and getting in other people's way," Gu Yixin said irritably. "Besides, why didn't you say anything when you were taking advantage of me?"

"That is a colossal injustice; when exactly did I take advantage of you?"

"Earlier in the classroom, I was trying to sell computers, but Bi Shisan stole the business from me; afterward, you put your arm around me and walked me out of the class. Was that your doing or not?"

"Did that happen?" Seeing Gu Yixin glaring at him with gritted teeth, Wang Yan said, "Even if it did, what advantage did I gain? It's a new era; I bumped your shoulder, patted your shoulder..."

Wang Yan spoke while acting, "You can't get pregnant just from a touch, can you?"

"Scram! You dirty ruffian! You bastard!" Gu Yixin swung her Wang Ba fists.

"Alright, alright, are you really going to beat me to death?" While speaking, Wang Yan put his arm around her shoulder. "You say I took advantage of you; was it like this last time?"

"I'm really calling the police!"

"But you didn't resist then."

As soon as the words fell, Gu Yixin, who originally hadn't resisted, angrily raised her arm and broke free.

"My apologies," Wang Yan said with a laugh as he let go of his hand. "Looking at it this way, you're jealous. It's not that you were afraid I was disturbing them, but that you were afraid Lin Luoxue was disturbing us."

"Scram! Stop talking nonsense, or I'll scratch you," Gu Yixin said, her face turning red, her words contradicting her heart as she quickened her pace and moved away.

Before long, while Gu Yixin's embarrassment had not yet passed, they bumped into Zhong Bai, Li Shuci, and Xiao Haiyang, who were taking photos.

"Hello, what a coincidence," Xiao Haiyang made awkward small talk.

He was indeed awkward; currently fully equipped and holding an umbrella to provide shade and coolness for Zhong Bai, being stumbled upon by Wang Yan and Gu Yixin made him feel somewhat embarrassed.

Li Shuci stood quietly to the side, watching.

Wang Yan nodded a greeting to Li Shuci, then said, "What coincidence? We came over together, not separately. What is coincidental is that we just ran into Lu Qiaochuan and Lin Luoxue, and less than three minutes later, we immediately saw you lot."

Zhong Bai immediately followed up with a question: "Was it only Lu Qiaochuan and Lin Luoxue, just the two of them?"

"Yes, just the two of them."

Seeing Zhong Bai's face immediately drop and clearly become unhappy, and then looking at Li Shuci standing to the side, Gu Yixin dragged Wang Yan away again. "You really are something; bringing up exactly what shouldn't be brought up."

"I'm just stating the facts; them hiding things, not speaking their minds, and playing dumb makes even us bystanders feel upset."

Gu Yixin thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I think even if Zhong Bai and Lu Qiaochuan got together, they wouldn't last long. Let me tell you, Zhong Bai is too domineering, too self-centered..."

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