Wen Xi flipped to a photo of the seaside that Shen Yu had taken of her. At the time, Shen Yu was accompanying her at the beach to sketch; she was standing there with her easel, and Shen Yu just happened to capture that moment.
Shen Yu’s question involuntarily echoed in Wen Xi’s mind.
Why did you give up painting? Why did you go to study photography?
Giving up painting was a matter of necessity. At that time, her right palm had been almost pierced through by a blade, damaging the foundation. Without half a year of rest, she couldn’t move it at all.
As for studying photography… at that time, Wen Xi was like a walking empty shell. In six months, she learned how to write with her left hand and forced herself to take the National College Entrance Exam. When she was asked by Yu Qiao about her choice of major, she only felt dazed.
Back then, Wen Xi lived in a rather dilapidated rented room. She didn’t have much money, and because her hand was injured, she couldn’t do much work. Not much of the inheritance left by her parents had reached her hands, so she had to use it sparingly.
Wen Xi sat in the chair, blinking her dry eyes. “What can I go study?”
Yu Qiao knelt halfway in front of her, looking up at her. “You can study whatever you want.”
Wen Xi’s emotions weren’t stable then. How old was she? She was still a few months shy of nineteen. Yet in just half a year, she had experienced so much.
She wept silently. “I can’t paint anymore.”
Yu Qiao really wanted to reach out and wipe her tears, but she knew clearly that she simply didn’t have the standing to do so. “It’s okay. If you can’t paint, there are many other majors. Shall we pick one slowly?”
It was probably a coincidence, but as soon as Wen Xi looked up, she saw the photo frame on the nightstand, it was a photo of the two of them taken by Shen Yu.
Wen Xi was quite self-torturing back then. After breaking up with Shen Yu, no matter how sad she was, she insisted on filling her room with things related to Shen Yu. Others want to sweep away even a single hair of an ex after a breakup; Wen Xi was exactly the opposite.
When Yu Qiao asked out of curiosity, Wen Xi would just hold the photo of her and Shen Yu and say with a smile, “But I can see her in my dreams.”
In short, Wen Xi saw that photo frame and then filled in her preference for a photography major.
It was also a stroke of luck that her grades landed right on the cutoff line for that major, so she wasn’t reassigned to another one.
Alright, end of memory.
Revisiting these photos again, she was older now and her state of mind was different.
Later on, she really couldn’t stand the self-torture and put away everything related to Shen Yu, those cups, scarves, notebooks… they were all locked in a box by her.
The photo album was an accident, but she didn’t look through it much anymore.
Even thinking this, when she was packing her luggage, she very carefully placed the album in the inner layer of the suitcase, fearing it would be bumped or damaged.
The new apartment she had her eye on was near a river. Being in the sea breeze for too long makes one tan easily; blowing in the river breeze wasn’t bad either.
As early as a few days ago while resting at home, she had already picked out the apartment.
Wen Xi snorted coldly in her heart. No matter how powerful Shen Yu was, could she possibly find out where her new home was?
She had already planned that if any friends asked where her new home was, she would brush it off by saying, “I’ll bring you over to visit sometime.”
When the weekend arrived, Pu Tao found a moving company early in the morning. However, she hadn’t asked Wen Xi in advance how much stuff there was. She booked a medium-sized truck, and only after the driver moved the things up did they realize she had booked one far too large.
…The luggage didn’t even fill a third of the truck bed.
The driver didn’t even break a sweat moving things up and down. He joked, “Thanks to you both, I’ve hit the jackpot.”
Pu Tao stood to the side, looking at Wen Xi sheepishly.
Wen Xi: “…”
Once they moved the things over, Pu Tao leaned on her waist and toured Wen Xi’s new home. “Boss! The scenery here is great, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows!”
As soon as you opened the door of this apartment, you were facing a large set of floor-to-ceiling windows. The river channel outside was extremely wide, it was an estuary river.
Although this wasn’t a sea view, it had a similar charm.
“How is my aesthetic?” Although Wen Xi didn’t have high material desires, it didn’t mean that now that she had money, she wouldn’t let herself live well. “I picked this apartment out after quite a while.”
“It’s very good!” Pu Tao nodded hurriedly. “The layout is also quite nice.”
“Help me tidy up,” Wen Xi stretched her back. “The sooner we finish tidying, the sooner we can rest.”
“Let’s go to the supermarket after tidying,” Pu Tao suggested. “We don’t have to cook, but we should put some food in the fridge, right? I see there’s a microwave in the kitchen; let’s go see if they have rice balls or something later. You can’t just eat bread and takeout at home all the time.”
“Fine, fine, fine,” Wen Xi thought to herself that she really couldn’t handle anyone nagging in her ear. “We’ll do as you say, alright?”
Pu Tao hummed twice. “Your stomach isn’t good anyway, so pay more attention.”
Wen Xi reached out and rubbed Pu Tao’s head. “Let’s go, let’s go. Time to tidy up.”
Wen Xi didn’t have many things, so tidying went quickly. They were finished by 11:00 AM.
Pu Tao looked at the time. “How about I cook some food for you? Treat it as a housewarming feast?”
After finishing the tidying, Wen Xi was huddled on the sofa scrolling through her phone. Hearing this, she refused. “No. Unless you take the oil and seasonings back with you after cooking here, otherwise it’s a total waste.”
Pu Tao leaned in. “How about going to my house? My place isn’t far from here. We can go to the supermarket to buy groceries first, and after coming back from my place, we can go to the supermarket again for your supplies?”
Wen Xi and Pu Tao had worked together for several years and were of similar age. Many times they interacted more like friends. Wen Xi had been to Pu Tao’s house many times.
Pu Tao’s cooking skills were quite good, so Wen Xi had no objections.
Once the two of them settled on the plan, Pu Tao drove toward a nearby large supermarket. While they were buying groceries, they unexpectedly ran into a fan.
It was a young girl who very shyly asked someone for paper and a pen, asking if she could have an autograph.
Wen Xi was surprised for a moment and smiled. “Thank you for the support, but I’m not a celebrity. There’s no need for an autograph.”
Even as she said this, fearing the girl would feel awkward, Wen Xi took the pen and paper and signed, adding a few words of blessing.
After Wen Xi and Pu Tao left, the girl was left standing there with her face flushing red.
Her hands trembling, she clicked into a certain group chat.
【Oh my god, I ran into Teacher T!!! An introvert finally had an extrovert moment! I even went and asked for an autograph!】
【I’ve really had enough of you guys being in the same city as Teacher T. How can you just run into her like that!】
【I want a chance encounter too, boohoo】
【Damn, I’m jealous. Where did you run into her!】
【Met her at a supermarket! She was buying groceries with a friend. She’s already left now!】
Coincidentally, Shen Yu had just picked up her phone and saw this conversation.
Buying groceries… was she going to cook for her friend?
While thinking this, Shen Yu began typing, imitating the tone of the others in the group chat.
【Can I ask about Teacher T’s upcoming schedule? I scrolled back and couldn’t find it QAQ. I want to have a chance encounter too ><!!】
【? Why are you asking that】
【A sasaeng fan?】
【If Teacher T wanted us to know, she would say it herself. If she doesn’t tell us, it means she doesn’t want us to disturb her. Don’t fans understand not to disturb the subject’s life too much?】
【@Admin, there’s a suspected sasaeng fan here.】
Before Shen Yu could even react to the continuous messages, the screen displayed that she had been kicked out of the group chat.
Shen Yu: ???
She had been lying down, but now she sat straight up.
Not long after, the admin who kicked her out sent her a private message.
【Hello, baby. I know you might be a new fan and not quite understand our rules here. Since Teacher T is just a photographer and has a lot of work, we tend to keep our fandom activities to ourselves. We try our best not to disturb Teacher T’s life and work, and we are very sensitive to sasaeng behavior. Consider this a warning~ You can message me after 30 days, and I’ll let you back into the group.】
Shen Yu: …?
30 days???