Chapter 48 Gu Ting: You're Not Photogenic

Shen Qing spent money to make arrangements in the capital, and the very next day sent Nie Yu there to prepare for scar removal surgery, with Nie Huan taking a few days off to accompany her.

With Nie Huan gone, Chu Yu found meals tasteless.

“Sister Qing, did Sister Huan tell you when she’ll be back? She can’t afford to fall behind in her studies!” Chu Yu asked.

Shen Qing lifted her head and glanced at him indifferently. “I don’t know.”

“Alright then.” Chu Yu replied, disappointed.

“The sports meet is tomorrow, and without Sister Huan, who’s going to witness my victory?” The chubby boy sitting next to Chu Yu propped his head up, sighing.

“Tch!” Yao Panpan rolled her eyes at him.

*

“Lin Ruiyang, the class beauty from Class One is looking for you.”

Liu Yichen snuck up to Lin Ruiyang’s shoulder, gesturing slyly toward the door.

“Mm.” Lin Ruiyang put down his pen, raised his head to look at the entrance, and frowned slightly.

The girl wore a white dress, surrounded by a crowd of boys and girls.

“Do you need something?” Lin Ruiyang walked to the doorway; the others melted away as he approached.

Yu Min’er, hands behind her back, produced an album. On the cover bloomed a vibrant red rose.

Lin Ruiyang glanced at it, instantly captivated, emotions surging in his eyes—but he quickly regained his composure.

With an icy expression, he asked, “What is it?”

“This is for you,” Yu Min’er extended her hand, smiling sweetly.

“For me?” Lin Ruiyang was momentarily stunned, hesitant to accept it.

“Hey, what’s this?” Liu Yichen quietly sidled closer and swiftly snatched the album from Yu Min’er’s hand.

Below the red rose was a line of elegant handwriting: “Stars shine bright in the sky, forever brilliant, always peaceful in Chang’an.”

“Give it back to her,” Lin Ruiyang’s face darkened at once.

Liu Yichen shrank back, annoyingly retorting, “No! She’s giving it to you, why return it?”

Lin Ruiyang’s face was rigid as he thanked Yu Min’er awkwardly.

“Lin Ruiyang, are you going to watch the National Day festivities at Star Plaza? I’ll be singing ‘Peace’ that day.” Yu Min’er looked up at him, her face full of hope.

Lin Ruiyang’s expression cooled at her words; Liu Yichen, knowing his temperament, realized he was about to refuse.

“Of course he’ll go! Our Ruiyang just agreed,” Liu Yichen interjected, elbowing Lin Ruiyang and winking at him.

“Mm.” Lin Ruiyang shot Liu Yichen a glare and answered with a cold face.

Yu Min’er’s lips curled slightly. “Alright, I’ll contact you after the sports meet. Well… I’ll go now.”

Liu Yichen, arm around Lin Ruiyang’s shoulder, waved at her. “Goodbye, class beauty.”

“Give it here,” Lin Ruiyang pulled the album out of Liu Yichen’s arms, caressing the engraved flower, his gaze deepening.

“Busybody,” he threw Liu Yichen a glare and tossed the album into his lap, heading straight into the classroom.

“Damn!” Liu Yichen nearly dropped it, caught off guard.

He raised his middle finger at Lin Ruiyang’s retreating back. “I was helping you, you know, you just don’t appreciate it.”

He was so handsome—why didn’t any girls invite him to Star Plaza?

*

Early the next morning, Shen Qing entered the classroom as the bell for morning reading rang.

Yao Panpan held a stack of athlete number tags, distributing them to the class’s logistics crew.

“Each athlete must have a logistics partner. If you’re on logistics, remember to meet your athlete at the finish line, cheer them on, and hand them water,” Yao Panpan announced from the podium, then sent the logistics students to confirm with the athletes.

“Sister Qing, my name is Zhu Qian, I’m your logistics partner.” A girl walked to the last desk, speaking shyly to Shen Qing.

“Mm.” Shen Qing glanced up at her, then lowered her head again.

At seven o’clock sharp, the athletes from Class Three followed Yao Panpan downstairs to the basketball court to await their events, their group lined up close to Class One’s.

“Yao Panpan, look at Yu Min’er from Class One—shirt and pleated skirt. Can’t you switch up your uniform?” The chubby boy emerged from the formation, approaching Yao Panpan.

“Why don’t you pay for it then?” Yao Panpan shot him a look. She thought she looked perfectly fine in her uniform.

Besides, the pride of Class Three wasn’t her, Yao Panpan—it was Sister Qing!

“Everyone, Teacher Gu is here to take pictures, remember to manage your expressions,” Xie Mingming called out from afar.

Shen Qing stood at the far right of the front row, lifting her head slightly at Xie Mingming’s voice.

Click!

She looked toward the origin of the sound, her brows barely furrowing. The man took a few more shots with his DSLR.

Chubby’s face was stiff from smiling; seeing the camera linger on the front row, he called out, “Teacher Gu, when will you take one of me?”

Gu Ting lowered the camera, glanced at him lazily, and replied, “Already did—you just don’t photograph well.”

Chubby: …