Lady

I forgot to mention the model.

Ju Hui only remembered this the next day before leaving the house, so she had to bring another iced Americano to the studio.

But just as Ju Hui thought Sheng Qijing had forgotten their seven o'clock agreement, the house on the other side of the glass became empty and deserted, and the ice cubes disappeared.

After waiting another ten minutes, Ju Hui poured the coffee into the backyard pond, pushed open the door to go back, and the door frame, rusted and stuck, made a sound like a long yawn.

Ju Hui looked up and realized, no, that was a yawn.

Sheng Qijing appeared from the front door, tears welling in his eyes.

"Sorry, I overslept. Let's go."

He walked lazily from the wooden floor by the door to the concrete workbench, his white headphone cord hanging from his oversized short-sleeved shirt. He squatted down, the long headphone cord coiled up and casually placed on the high table.

The two didn't exchange contact information, and Ju Hui didn't know that Sheng Qijing was sleeping upstairs. The studio was buzzing all day; the 3D printer in the corner sprouted thousands of tree trunks, and the waste bin was indeed overflowing when opened.

Ju Hui glanced at it in the afternoon; he had printed out Shin-chan's best friend, Chubby Saemon.

Ju Hui: "Okay, but I have something to do. Could you wait for me outside for a bit, senior?"

Can't we wait here?

Sheng Qijing looked up and asked with his eyes.

The back door faces the setting sun, and the temperature is still scorching. Ju Hui looks serious and doesn't say anything to refuse him.

"……knew."

Five minutes later, Ju Hui came out with a backpack. When she looked up, she saw Sheng Qijing standing under the shade of a tree, staring blankly at the sunlight shining on the edge of his shoes. The arrogant vampire was frightened and retreated to a corner.

"Let's go, senior."

Ju Hui called out to him.

Their eyes met, and for a fleeting moment, something unusual flashed across Sheng Qijing's face.

Ju Hui changed her clothes. Sheng Qijing finally saw what the "evening dress" in the bag looked like: a slightly formal white dress. The top was a simple round-neck short-sleeved top, and the bottom was made of white tulle that went past the knees. The style seemed to be something he had seen in a magazine, and it also looked like the dress worn in front of the shop on the school's commercial street.

"You changed inside?" Sheng Qijing relaxed his brow. "It's a glass house, and the door isn't locked yet."

“Yes, of course we should be more formal when meeting the artist-in-residence at Mochen.” Ju Hui thought it through thoroughly; upon closer inspection, she was even wearing light makeup today.

Sheng Qijing laughed out loud, not understanding why it was necessary to dress up so formally when going to Mo Chen: "The place we're going to isn't that nice."

"Yes, this artist was recommended by my senior, so I can't perform too poorly." Ju Hui's words were somewhat sarcastic. She felt that Sheng Qijing was laughing at her face and clothes, and she muttered to herself that he was being nosy, even asking for permission to change clothes.

They're all petty people who borrow things.

Sheng Qijing nodded and stepped forward: "But there are surveillance cameras inside, panoramic shots, and they are backed up to Pei Yao's phone in real time."

Ju Hui paused for half a second in surprise.

Whether it was the setting sun or shyness, the usually mild-mannered Ju Hui finally stirred up, hurriedly saying that she hadn't noticed, and asked Pei Yao if he usually watched the surveillance cameras, and in what direction the cameras were positioned so that they wouldn't show the tool table. Sheng Qijing stared straight at her and said, "They're filming right there."

The two walked all the way to Mo Chen. After Ju Hui finally accepted it, Sheng Qijing said that he remembered that he also had a monitoring app on his phone and would help Ju Hui clean it up.

Ju Hui awkwardly thanked her.

Ju Hui had visited Mo Cun Gallery twice before. Once was before university when her portfolio teacher recommended it to her to see an art exhibition and find inspiration. The other time was when she accompanied Yun Aonan, who was invited by the brand as a VIC (Visa Influencer) to see a silk scarf exhibition.

In her mind, this place represented professionalism and high-end. Ju Hui was curious whether he had these resources and could really allow her to meet artists during closing hours.

Soon, Ju Hui received her answer upon arriving at her actual destination. Sheng Qijing did indeed take Ju Hui on a tour of the exhibition hall after it closed. The ink-wash style was minimalist, preserving the Bauhaus style of the original site. Silent staff members walked around, and if they accidentally made eye contact with Ju Hui, they would suddenly smile and nod.

Ju Hui wanted to say hello, but Sheng Qijing pulled her away, turned a corner, and left through the side door before she could understand the combination of these media. She returned the way she came and arrived at a small courtyard near the loft.

"We've finally arrived, Qi Jing! Hurry up and bring out the grilled meat!"

Ju Hui looked up at the roof of the bungalow. Before she even entered the house, someone called her name. The stars had just risen overhead, and the thin smoke and laughter made her a little dazed.

Sheng Qijing lowered his eyes and glanced at her white outfit: "That great artist has been waiting for you here. Let's eat and chat."

To get to the rooftop, there was a narrow staircase. Sheng Qijing reached out his hand, but it was too dark for Ju Hui to see him.

She carefully lifted her feet and climbed the stairs, where her view suddenly opened up.

This place could seat more than a dozen people. Folding tables of different sizes were pieced together in a row at varying heights, but the men and women sitting around didn't mind. They chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere. What they had in common was that they were all dressed in very casual clothes.

Ju Hui's eyebrows twitched, and she suddenly seemed out of place.

Sheng Qijing raised his hand to point to a spot for her: "His name is You Zhong. Just call him senior, don't call him teacher."

As soon as she finished speaking, someone from the group at the table waved to her, but it was Pu Yin.

Ju Hui smiled at Pu Yin, then turned to Sheng Qijing and asked, "Which one specifically..."

Before she could figure out who was in the game, two boys came over to the barbecue grill, hurriedly greeted her, and pulled Sheng Qijing away, their eyes scanning her face.

Sheng Qijing stretched out his arms and straightened the two of them.

"No wonder they suddenly organized this gathering today; it's quite beautiful."

"Don't talk nonsense."

The path to the crowd seemed exceptionally long for a person. Ju Hui glanced at Sheng Qijing. He stood among his friends, a gentle breeze ruffling his hair, thick smoke drifting behind him, a helpless smile on his face. He grabbed a pair of white cotton gloves and put them on, and before he knew it, he had everyone laughing.

She should be as gentle as I remember.

"Ju Hui".

Ju Hui was lost in thought when someone suddenly called her from the side.

"Senior!"

It turned out to be Pei Yao, Yun Aonan's boyfriend, the person whose phone contained footage of her changing clothes.

Pei Yao is from Qinghai. She has a striking and unique appearance and a self-disciplined and courteous personality. She is a top student who consistently ranks first in her major and is also her and Yun Aonan's training assistant. Seeing him at this moment is a happy thing. Pei Yao handed over another plate of grilled fish: "Here you go."

Artists, also known as painters, like to flock together, like sparrows on a telephone pole. When a newcomer arrives, they invite her to drink and keep warm. Ju Hui, who thinks she is high-class, is actually just a graduate student who graduated two years ago and is busy playing Uno.

"You look beautiful today." Pu Yin greeted her warmly, placing the ice bucket in front of her and smiling mischievously. "Can you drink?"

"Can."

Of course, she was happy to oblige. Ju Hui had drunk with her classmates twice before, and this was the fastest way she knew to integrate into a group. Once everyone started chatting, no one asked any awkward questions; they only talked about barbecue, oil paintings, and cheap materials. Ju Hui took the opportunity to mention her ideas for her portfolio to You Zhong.

You Zhong nodded: "Focusing on measurement, forcing humans, who resist being measured, to become the reference point. That sounds good, is this your graduation project concept?"

"No, I'm only a sophomore in the second half of the year."

“You’re only a sophomore, so why are you doing this experiment?” You Zhong paused, holding his wine glass. “Don’t tell me it’s for art.”

He was afraid she would say something like "die for art." Fortunately, he was quite satisfied with Ju Hui's answer—in order to apply for the artist residency program at the Ink Crinkle Gallery.

This was a script that Ju Hui had prepared in advance.

As a chain gallery that has been operating for over a decade, Mo Cun Gallery has abundant resources. Students from major art academies all yearn to be selected for the residency program and be nurtured by this fertile ground. You Zhong is one of the few flowers among them.

Those who want to apply for residency programs have probably heard the rumor about Ruomei's Bagua Wall—

The current owner of Mochen Gallery, Liuli, is just a partner, not the behind-the-scenes investor. The real bigwig is currently studying for his undergraduate degree at Ruomei University. This rumor has been circulating for several years.

Thinking of this, You Zhong glanced at Sheng Qijing.

After some thought, You finished the rest of his drink: "Then I suggest you don't rush it. Wait until your senior year to do it. If you start now, you won't be able to finish it at all. Putting aside the types of materials you'll use for the artwork, tell me first how you're going to ensure that this three-meter-tall steel chair won't fall over?"

"Use anchor bolts to secure it?" Ju Hui swallowed a mouthful of wine, her voice lacking confidence. "I haven't really thought about that yet..."

You Zhong gave her a "see?" look. At that moment, Sheng Qijing walked over and placed a plate of grilled shrimp on the table with his white gloves, which were stained with oil.

Sheng Qijing: "Don't get drunk."

Ju Hui: "Okay."

Two seconds later, You Zhong, who had witnessed everything, took a deep breath and relaxed his brows: "But speaking of which!"

Based on her current level, You Zhong suggested one or two improvements. Ju Hui listened attentively, took notes on Bian Jiaping's WeChat, and sent them over when they were almost finished. She then turned off the screen. You Zhong picked up a wine bottle and touched it to her, winking, "As for how to improve it later, just ask your senior, Qi Jing."

Ju Hui laughed, and in her excitement, she bumped into Pei Yao, spilling the wine from her glass onto his thigh, causing a commotion and attracting a lot of attention.

Ju Hui pulled a tissue from the table and hurriedly wiped his legs.

"Okay, okay, no..."

Pei Yao stood up and stepped back, but Sheng Qijing caught him steadily.

"Ju Hui, are you drunk?"

Ju Hui was also pulled away by Pu Yin.

She paused for a moment, then turned around and saw Sheng Qijing and Pei Yao leaving downstairs.

“You can’t get drunk. You haven’t drunk with me yet.” Pu Yin sat in Pei Yao’s seat. “Why does Pei Yao always get splashed with wine? Yun Aonan splashed wine on him like that too.”

"Do you know Aonan too?"

Only after Pu Yin said this did Ju Hui realize that she and Yun Aonan's elders were acquainted and could be considered half friends.

"But you guys are still the most familiar with each other. Is it true that Yun Aonan and Pei Yao had sex in one night?"

Ju Hui looked at the wine glass, which she had filled with the rich, red liquid.

She knew that Pu Yin must be referring to the rumors on the hateful gossip wall of Ruomei Tieba, where an anonymous netizen photographed Pei Yao putting his arm around her as they entered a hotel, and other netizens commented below, claiming to have seen them having breakfast together, acting like strangers.

“No way.” Ju Hui lowered her eyes. “Senior Pei Yao used to be my and Ao Nan’s teaching assistant in the art training studio. They’ve always had a good relationship.”

"Okay, I must have misheard."

Pu Yin changed the subject: "So you knew Sheng Qijing before? He once said that he was Pei Yao's teaching assistant and that he was almost asked to strip naked and be a nude model."

Ju Hui was bewildered and had no recollection of him whatsoever.

The two chatted for a while longer before Pei Yao and the others returned. Sheng Qijing, who was behind them, followed and urged everyone to part ways.

Time flew by and it got quite late.

Girls don't have to do dirty work. Pu Yin led Ju Hui to the side and saw that she was starting to sway. Only then did she realize that she was really drunk and had been chatting with her for so long subconsciously.

Ju Hui's vision had long since turned black. There were many voices around her, both men and women, and she chatted with them intermittently. At one point, she seemed to say something to Sheng Qijing.

"I need to pee."

"Wait a minute, we'll be fine when we get to school."

Pu Yin gently comforted her, lowered her head, and lightly poked her cheek. Ju Hui shook her head, lay down on Pu Yin's lap, and snuggled closer into his arms.

"Sister Pu Yin, what's the name of that red wine you brought? It's so delicious, I've drunk a lot of it..."

"Do you like it? If you do, I'll bring you some to drink next time."

"Ju Hui, don't touch her."

Sheng Qijing, who was driving back to school in the front seat, called out to her loudly. In the rearview mirror, Ju Hui's hand was lingering on Pu Yin's stomach...

"Why are you being so fierce? I didn't say no."

Sheng Qijing looked at Pu Yin through the rearview mirror, giving her a stern warning without saying a word.

Pu Yin scoffed.

A gust of wind rushed into the car, dissipating most of the smell of alcohol. Her belly felt nice to the touch, but Ju Hui was tired. She rested her head on Pu Yin's lap and looked out the window. The dim, glaring streetlights flickered again and again.

Whether it was the freedom of the wind or the fullness of alcohol, Ju Hui felt incredibly important now. Someone was helping her analyze her work, and someone was even taking her back to school.

When this feeling of satisfaction became so overwhelming, Ju Hui blurted out:

"Senior, would you like to be me...?"

"I don't want to."

As the car slowed down, Sheng Qijing stepped on the brakes.

Ju Hui successfully resolved her bladder problem in the dormitory, like a dream. The so-called satisfaction was diluted like unclaimed coffee with melting ice, dissipating into the increasingly clear reality.

Her portfolio, models, and accommodation—none of these issues were resolved.

That night, she fell into a deep sleep thanks to the alcohol.

Pei Yao lay in Sheng Qijing's house, where he had slept countless times, unable to sleep.

The two hadn't spoken for a month since the graduation project job fair. Sheng Qijing's attitude towards him had softened considerably, perhaps because he and Yun Aonan looked good in matching outfits.

That night, Yun Aonan took the initiative. She often used the tactic of splashing drinks on people, and Pei Yao happened to appear, making him her first choice. She had her eye on him for a long time. In the past, during training camp, Yun Aonan jokingly called him "senior" and he seriously corrected her, saying he should call him "teacher." Now that they were in the same department, if she called him "teacher" again, he would ignore her.

Pei Yao was a hypocrite; that night, she was only allowed to call him by his name. Yun Aonan laughed at him, saying he was like a golden lock—so what if it glittered? It could be easily opened.

That night should have been beautiful, but it ended in a flash.

After the incident escalated throughout the day, Pei Yao resorted to a desperate measure by unilaterally flaunting their relationship and admitting the authenticity of the photos. However, this caused his public image to plummet, and the two became the arrows shot by Cupid in the throes of romance.

Pei Yao turned over; the room was cold and quiet.

However, it shouldn't be because of them, but because of Ju Hui, the protagonist of tonight.

After Sheng Qijing learned about their affair, he punched him.

Pei Yao endured the stomach pain and went on stage to give his speech. The audience below was dark and gloomy. The number of people raising their hands made his vision blurry. Finally, his eyes settled on that pale yellow color.

He suddenly remembered that one day on his way to the teaching building, Sheng Qijing stared at Ju Hui's back.

She clearly stated her name.