Chapter 21
Su Rui didn't sleep all night, and the next day he went to school with dark circles under his eyes. He looked like his soul had been drained out of him, listless. He subconsciously avoided any path that might lead him to Ling Yao, and even huddled in his seat during breaks, motionless.
He anticipated Ling Yao's various reactions: angry questioning, cold warnings, or worse - complete, utter indifference.
Yet, the entire day was quiet. Ling Yao didn't send a single message, didn't even glance at me. He was even more lively than usual, his laughter and banter with Azhe and the others audible from several rows away, as if the person who had been "teasing" last night wasn't him at all.
This complete neglect, more than any reproach, made Su Rui panic and feel lost. He felt like a kite whose string had been deliberately loosened, instantly thrown high into the sky, but losing all direction, and could only drift helplessly, waiting for a crash that would come at any moment.
He regretted it. He shouldn't have been so impulsive. Ling Yao was just in a bad mood, how could he expect him to understand his pressure? He should have been like before, taking the photo and sending it, in exchange for that pitiful "okay"...
After school, he lingered until the very end, almost with a death-like mood, and clicked on Ling Yao's chat box. He chose his words carefully, wanting to apologize, wanting to explain that he was too tired yesterday...
Before he finished typing, Ling Yao and Azhe walked out of the back door of the classroom, chatting and laughing. As they passed by his seat, a breeze blew up, and Ling Yao didn't even glance over.
Su Rui's fingers froze on the screen, and the courage she had just mustered disappeared in an instant.
He returned home in a state of despair. His grandmother noticed that he looked unhappy and asked him a few questions out of concern. He managed to deal with it with a forced smile and then locked himself in the hut.
The expensive camera lay quietly on the table, like a silent mockery.
He picked it up, as if possessed, and walked to the window. The sun was setting, painting the sky a gorgeous orange-red. He raised his camera, instinctively trying to capture the scene, but his fingers trembled, and he couldn't press the shutter.
In the past, the world he saw through the lens was always accompanied by a secret desire to share - would Ling Yao see it? Would he like it?
Now, that desire has vanished. The world behind the lens is nothing but boundless emptiness.
Just then, his cell phone suddenly vibrated.
Su Rui's heart skipped a beat and she almost rushed over to grab the phone.
Not Ling Yao.
It was an unfamiliar number. The message read: [Hello, I'm Chen Wei from the school's Arts Department. I saw some of your photos and really liked them. I was wondering if you'd be interested in chatting?]
Su Rui was stunned. Chen Wei? He knew her name. She was a well-known talent in the school, often publishing articles in the school magazine. She was also beautiful and had many boys secretly in love with her. How did she see his photo? How did she find him?
He hesitated for a moment and accepted the friend request.
Chen Wei quickly sent a message, her tone bright and direct: "Hey! Su Rui, is this you? Sorry to bother you! I saw the photos you took of Grandma Liu at her house, and they're so special! We're planning to do a "City Corners" photography feature in the next issue of our school magazine, and I think your style would be a good fit. Interested in submitting? There's a fee for submission!"
Su Rui's heart began beating violently again, but this time it was because of a completely different emotion - the excitement of being recognized and needed, rather than cautious panic.
Contributing to the school magazine? Royalties? Did Chen Wei approve of his photos?
It all felt like a dream. He held the phone, looking at the message over and over again, his fingertips numb with excitement.
This was a completely new and unfamiliar experience. For the first time, his value was not defined by Ling Yao's "charity" or "evaluation", but was seen and affirmed by a completely unrelated, outstanding person.
He took a deep breath, his fingers trembling, and replied seriously: [Thank you! I'd love to try! What do you need me to shoot?]
He and Chen Wei talked for a long time about the topic, the style, and the deadline. Throughout the whole process, he was in a state of excitement and concentration, temporarily forgetting all his worries and anxieties.
It was not until late at night that the conversation came to a temporary end.
Su Rui put down his phone, feeling a surge of renewed energy. He picked up the camera again and once again gazed at the night sky outside the window. This time, his finger pressed the shutter button firmly.
"Click." The crisp sound was particularly clear in the silent night.
This time, he wasn't doing it to please anyone. He was doing it for himself.
At the same time, on the other side of the city, Ling Yao threw his phone on the sofa in frustration. The screen was still stuck on the dialog box with Su Rui.
He didn't receive the apology or flattery he had expected. Instead, an uncontrollable anxiety gnawed at his nerves like an ant.
It seemed like the string of his kite was broken.
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