Su Yue truly put in a great deal of effort to immerse herself in writing her thesis.
With other matters to attend to, Bai Li Qing's conversations no longer disturbed her as much.
By around four in the afternoon, two-thirds of the thesis was finally completed. She stretched, took a sip of the coffee her friend had given her, and her mood brightened considerably.
Just as she had thought after meeting his grandmother that day, her life had begun to be illuminated. The darkness of the past, her impure motives in approaching Chen Ziming, could no longer shake her resolve.
She had to be clear about what she wanted in the present.
Whether it was to be serious with Chen Ziming, to follow him and experience a wider world.
Otherwise, she would be letting down the person who had lit the way for her.
And also letting down her own efforts and hard work over the years.
Picking up her phone, she saw a pile of unread messages. As she was replying to the important ones, Ji Chan's call came through.
"Precious Yue Yue! I've finished editing your photos, do you want to take a look?"
Her cheerful voice rang out, completely dissipating the last trace of gloom that had settled in Su Yue's heart.
Su Yue grew happy with her, arranged a meeting place, packed her things, and headed out.
On the way, she sent Chen Ziming a message, and even threw him the address.
Ji Chan could be considered one of the top tier among online photographer influencers.
But more than her photography, her photo editing skills were even more outstanding.
The afternoon set of photos focused on highlighting a sweet atmosphere of sunshine, afternoon, and forest.
Many featured intimate interactions.
For instance, when he smiled, about to kiss her, she playfully dodged.
Or the impossibly gentle gaze in his eyes when he tucked stray hairs behind her ear.
Or the mystery and thrill of that particular moment when she whispered in his ear.
And the twilight set of photos was impossibly beautiful.
By the lakeside at sunset, he wore a white shirt, his arm around her waist, the girl's slender waist arching backward in a stunning curve, while the handsome man leaned towards her.
A deep kiss.
As if a breeze rustled past their ears.
As if a romantic ancient song hummed around them.
Migratory birds took flight, streaking across the sky.
The human world would forever hold poetry and books that Qin fires could not burn away, and tenderness that dharma bowls could not contain.
The sun would not set, and love would not fade.
Su Yue was mesmerized by this set of photos.
"When I was editing, I even yearned for love myself," Ji Chan sighed contentedly, her gaze also fixed on the screen.
"Chan Chan," she suddenly spoke, her voice soft, "I love you."
Ji Chan: ...
"Don't do that, my sexual orientation is normal! Officer Chen would kill me!"
Su Yue, however, did not joke with her. She looked at her and continued quite earnestly, "I mean it, you captured exactly the feeling I wanted."
She suddenly remembered a saying:
All things in the world are bitter, and your blatant favoritism is salvation.
He was the salvation she had received in her life.
When Chen Ziming arrived at the restaurant, the two were still lost in the atmosphere of the photos, unable to extricate themselves.
They looked at them again and again, savoring and discussing every single picture.
Therefore, when he sat down beside Su Yue without making a sound, the two were startled.
"Officer Chen, quickly look at my masterpiece!" Ji Chan, eager to claim credit, presented the computer screen to him.
She truly couldn't wait to post them.
Su Yue, however, felt that familiar nervousness and flutter of the heart from when they first met.
Perhaps it was the beautiful atmosphere in the photos, but her gaze towards him was filled with infinite tenderness.
So, she quietly looped her arm through his and softly said,
"Chan Chan took them exceptionally well."
Sensing the gentle attitude of the girl beside him, he chuckled. His long fingers tapped on the laptop's touchpad, moving to the next page icon, clicking through each photo.
The man did not possess the same sensitive and passionate heart as they did.
Although he looked at each photo diligently, after flipping through them all, he simply smiled and replied,
"They are very good."
Ji Chan and Su Yue: ???
"Just... very good?" Ji Chan couldn't help but ask, and Su Yue looked at him in disbelief.
"Then... exceptionally good?" Sensing their craving for praise, he paused, then added another sentence.
The romantic hearts of the two shattered into pieces.
Su Yue, slightly displeased, withdrew her arm and instead looped it around Ji Chan, "Chan Chan, let's not talk to him anymore."
The latter agreed, "A handsome guy's face really comes at the cost of emotional intelligence, he's such a mood killer."
Chen Ziming: ...