Lady

The favor I needed from her was actually quite simple.

That afternoon, after leaving the gallery at six o'clock, Ju Hui stood in front of the gallery admiring the rainbow after the rain. The sudden rain was simply breathtaking.

He walked out from behind her, cleared his throat, and asked, "I've noticed you've been going to the studio a lot these past few days. Did you go back?"

"Yes, the plan has been improved, and I can complete the rest myself."

Ju Hui showed no resentment at being bullied; on the contrary, she was happy to hear the word "go back" and took the opportunity to report on the latest progress of her work.

You Zhong gave a wry laugh, glanced around, and happened to bump into Sheng Qijing walking in the distance.

He paused for a moment, then nodded several times to Ju Hui, "It's okay, school starts soon."

Her tone was tragic, her turn was resolute, and it seemed as if several red ropes had suddenly appeared around her waist and drifted away in the wind.

Let's go.

Sheng Qijing stood at the bottom of the steps with his hands in his pockets.

Today, Ju Hui is going to help him with his second favor.

Yesterday I helped him with his first favor by accompanying the young master, who didn't want to drive, to the stone quarry. Ju Hui had only had her driver's license for less than a year, but as soon as she gripped the steering wheel, her arms automatically straightened, and she swallowed faster than the car was moving.

The young master couldn't bear to watch any longer, so he had Ju Huicheng, a car ornament, accompany him on a 30-kilometer drive.

After selecting the right stones and gaining priority in purchasing materials for his graduation project, Sheng Qijing also set up a photography studio for his workshop and bought a new electric kiln.

Sheng Qijing said that this was a gift he gave to Pu Yin as an apology for making her angry.

When they heard this, the store manager was leading them to the back of the equipment store, and Ju Hui felt an unusually sticky heat.

It turns out that Sheng Qijing can tell whether someone is angry or not, and he will apologize for even the most unpleasant remark. This electric kiln is not cheap, and is even somewhat expensive, but he doesn't skimp on the purchase price. He even contacted an electrician and asked her to accompany him today to help Pu Yin connect the new wiring and install the electric kiln.

Ju Hui pursed her lips, her mood dipped for a second, but she quickly recovered.

Actually, it's good that they can maintain the status quo.

Thank you.

Pu Yin glanced at Sheng Qijing, then bent down to stroke the smooth steel body of the electric kiln, quite satisfied with this new toy.

Sheng Qijing gave a light "hmm" and turned to look at Ju Hui in the front courtyard.

Pu Yin's cultural and creative store is like the colorful heart of a broken robot, full of dazzling items. In the 798 Art Zone, which used to spew coal smoke, it is like a forgotten candy box. Ju Hui stands in a corner of the store, head down, playing with small ornaments, becoming one with the dream.

Pu Yin happened to notice Sheng Qijing's gaze, and something seemed off.

Ju Hui was called over by Pu Yin and stood between them. The three of them talked about the recent surge in couple pottery in 798.

She listened quietly. The task that Sheng Qijing had arranged for her to "join in" was actually unnecessary. The atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious, and Pu Yin wasn't very upset.

A moment later, knocking sounds came from the studio behind them. Pu Yin gestured for Sheng Qijing to go and supervise the work, leaving only the two of them in the shop.

"Xiao Hui, are you dating him?" Pu Yin pointed to the door he had just disappeared through and mocked, "He brought you here just to show off to me."

"Huh?" Ju Hui chuckled, then shook her head several times. "He hates me."

“It’s not that I hate him,” Pu Yin thought for a moment and then affirmed her, “But then again, he’s probably pursuing other girls.”

She almost forgot about making him a hair clip, and Pu Yin smiled reassuringly at Ju Hui: "School's starting soon."

Ju Hui smiled.

She understood that everyone was saying this to comfort her, as she would have a school studio available when school started and wouldn't have to depend on Sheng Qijing's attitude.

But in fact, Ju Hui didn't want to go back to school. Going back to school meant she would have to choose where to do her homework. Staying at school would allow her to find a tutor to guide her anytime, while staying at a loft would allow her to have more contact with models. She was torn.

"I can't wait for school to start!" Pu Yin exclaimed, looking up at the sky. "Once school starts, you can call me 'senior'!"

Ju Hui was taken aback, while Pu Yin chuckled, "I'm also from Ruomei, I just got into the printmaking department for graduate studies."

"Xiao Hui, can you introduce me to some pretty girls when school starts?"

Ju Hui nodded, keeping the matter in mind. That evening, as usual, she and Sheng Qijing worked in their respective studios.

She didn't need him to remain still like a life model for long periods of time; she just wanted him to be in her sight when her inspiration stalled, close enough for her to observe how the lines could be more beautiful.

Of course, it would be even better if you could touch it.

Sheng Qijing's muscles are clearly defined, possessing the dynamic tension only a real person could have in space, as if he stepped out of a textbook on human anatomy.

Sheng Qijing turned around. He was wearing a mask and used his eyes to wake Ju Hui from her daze. He glanced at her work progress.

Come and take a look.

Ju Hui walked over.

Sheng Qijing tossed aside the sandpaper gloves, grabbed her hand, and easily enveloped her entire body in his palm. Ju Hui could feel his heartbeat emanating from his palm.

"Why so often lately?" He gently squeezed her hand, as if to express his reluctance. "Where did it get stuck this time, your back?"

Ju Hui lowered her head, hid it in her arms, and said sorry. Then he opened her hand, pulled it away, and instead felt a blurry warmth through her clothes on her fingertips.

It's a toned waist and abdomen, and the rise and fall of breaths.

"Excuse me, I'm stuck in my chest," Ju Hui said in a muffled voice. "I can do it myself."

Ju Hui tilted her head, pretending to admire the plaster cast he was polishing, then pulled her hand away and boldly groped his body.

"Senior, is this life-size figure your graduation project? It looks very detailed. Or is it for an exhibition you'd like to submit..."

"Focus."

Sheng Qijing interrupted her, his voice very soft: "I'm not as professional as you. I can only treat myself as a work of art and you as a mold maker. Ju Hui, those uncles probably don't like chatting with clay figures."

Ju Hui responded with an "oh".

After a while, Ju Hui calmed down and helped him up: "Senior, stand up, bend over a little, yes, lower your head a little more..."

Sheng Qijing placed his hands on his sides. If Ju Hui wrapped her arms around his neck in this position, the two could have a close embrace. But she clearly had no such intention. Her fingers were tracing down his neck to his collarbone, and her Adam's apple bobbed up and down between her fingertips.

“Sure enough, the sternocleidomastoid muscle needs to be more defined…” Ju Hui murmured.

Two seconds later, Ju Hui helped Sheng Qijing stand up straight by the shoulder, saying, "Okay, thank you."

The process was so fast that Sheng Qijing didn't have time to react. Ju Hui would always be shy at first and then generous. After it was over, she would pat him on the shoulder, walk up to her clay sculpture, and strike while the iron was hot, disregarding his life or death, like a scumbag who would just pull up his pants and leave.

"Ju Hui." A flash of impatience crossed Sheng Qijing's eyes. "Do me a favor."

Ju Hui gave a soft "ah" and walked back to her original position.

Helping out meant having Ju Hui wear a mask and work with him on the human body. She was a little annoyed; she had just received the data, and although the tactile sensation wouldn't immediately disappear, it wasn't as intense as before.

Ju Hui pressed the sandpaper firmly with the pad of her index finger and carefully rubbed it against the folds of the clothing. The favors Sheng Qijing asked her to do were always so harmless, yet strangely so…

"Senior, I'll pay you by the hour instead."

"Wipe for another five minutes, then I'll let you touch it again later."

“No.” Ju Hui stopped and looked at him. “School is about to start, so I probably won’t be working in the studio anymore. I might be working more frequently in the last few days. Paying money will at least prevent me from wasting a lot of time at school.”

Sheng Qijing gave a casual "hmm," his voice disappearing into the sound of sandpaper.

"This is important. If you don't want to discuss the hourly rate, let's set it at four hundred. We've been working on this for about two hours now. I'll transfer the money to you now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sheng Qijing's phone beeped.

"This will alleviate the financial burden on my seniors and allow me to focus on my performance."

Sheng Qijing glanced at his phone, then looked up and squinted briefly.

"So you mean we need to have multiple layers of monetary transactions so that you can focus on your work without worry."

Sheng Qijing spoke slower and slower, his up-and-down movements creating a natural sense of intimidation, which made Ju Hui feel uneasy.

No, you misunderstood.

"Give me a demonstration of how to perform with confidence."

Sheng Qijing stood up, took off his cotton gloves, walked quickly to Ju Hui, and pulled her high stool to his side.

"Ah!" Ju Hui exclaimed in surprise, scratching the back of his hand with her fingernails in her panic.

Sheng Qijing pulled her very close, and Ju Hui gripped his work clothes tightly with both hands to prevent being knocked over, making it seem as if she was hugging him for a moment.

"Do you want me to strip naked? Or should you hold your hand and place it on my body yourself?"

Sheng Qijing asked, but Ju Hui did not answer, feeling only her heart pounding and tinnitus filling the entire studio.

"You didn't even blush or skip a beat. I thought you knew how strange you were doing."

Ju Hui slowly raised her head, and Sheng Qijing was looking at her with the same eyes he was using to ask, "When you touched me, who did you take me for?"

"Treat yourself as yourself..."

Ju Hui couldn't think of any other answer.

Her bangs had grown long, revealing her beautiful eyebrows and eyes completely. Her moist eyes cautiously looked up at him, which made Sheng Qijing feel disgusted.

She gave such an unsatisfactory answer.

It's more accurate to say he's like a boyfriend.

Ju Hui didn't understand what he was saying. Sheng Qijing let go of her, slammed the door, and left, shaking off a layer of dust from the unrepaired brick wall behind the door. After a while, Ju Hui noticed him return to the other side of the glass wall without looking back, and then disappeared for several days.

Until Ruomei starts school in September.

If the new students at the North American College start school a week later than Ju Hui and her classmates, Ju Hui suggested to Pu Yin that they bring their friends to a bar near 798 this week.

She contacted senior students from the printmaking department whom she had known before, as well as classmates who had spent a week doing internships at the sculpture factory together.

Yun Aonan will also be there, but he will arrive a little later.

A few days ago, the two submitted a practice report on the Mo Cun charity exhibition at the end of July, which was rated as excellent. The counselor contacted Yun Aonan to discuss and revise the details, while Ju Hui organized a gathering at a bar.

The evaluation of the practice report was big news on the school's gossip wall. Before the start of the semester, everyone saw the interview video of Yun Aonan and the boss of Mo Chen Liuli. The two sat close together, and the boss's wife looked at her with great admiration.

An anonymous netizen commented: Could Yun Aonan be the real financial backer behind Mo Cun?

Today's dinner party naturally centered on this topic. Ju Hui looked past some figures at Pu Yin, who was chatting with her senior classmates in a daze in the light.

This quiet bar has an independent band performing in a corner. When they sang "Get on the Road," she was laughing happily. The orange-yellow lights flashed over everyone, and the melancholy lyrics only made Ju Hui look dark blue.

After the start of the school year, Ju Hui did not go to the studio either.

The human body was giving her a headache; it wasn't that she couldn't complete a particular part, but rather that she was struggling with the overall completion. The finished product looked like a dilapidated house that had been repainted—it didn't address the core issues at all.

But she didn't have time to dwell on it; the second human subject was urgently needed.

Ju Hui scrolled through the reference images on her phone, fiddling with the whiskey sourdough in her left hand. Water droplets dripped from her fingertips onto the table, and a new message notification sounded, causing ripples to spread across the water.

Bian Jiaping sent a WeChat message: 【Are you sure your senior in the studio has a girlfriend?】

Ju Hui's brow twitched: 【Yes.】

Ju Hui: [Why are you asking this?]

Bian Jiaping glanced down at the message, pressed the black screen, and while drinking tea, bent down slightly to scan Sheng Qijing at the other end of the table to confirm that he was seeing correctly.

Sheng Qijing, Ju Hui's senior, got angry when he heard that he had a girlfriend.