Chapter 53
Time flew by, and Su Rui entered his final year of university. Courses were reduced, and internships were on the agenda. Thanks to the solid foundation he'd accumulated over the years in the photography club, the skills he'd honed from working part-time at a photo studio, and his natural, gentle, and disarming patience, he was incredibly popular within the department. A senior student who greatly admired him happened to be interning at an influential fashion magazine. Upon learning that the photography department was looking for an intern assistant, she immediately recommended Su Rui.
The interview went surprisingly smoothly. While Su Rui's portfolio wasn't as technically impressive as those from professional photography schools, it was filled with delicate emotional capture and a unique sense of narrative. His portraits, in particular, were particularly captivating; the storytelling in their eyes captivated the interviewer. He successfully secured the internship opportunity, a highly coveted one for many photography students.
The moment Su Rui stepped into the Fashion Weekly office building, she felt like she had entered a whole new world. The air was filled with the aroma of coffee, printer ink, and a hint of perfume. Editors were discussing story selections at a rapid pace, and stylists were moving around with racks crammed with the season's newest pieces. Everywhere was a sea of glamorous, hurried figures.
The initial work was mundane and basic: organizing equipment, managing the dressing room, helping the official photographer with reflectors, and processing a vast amount of images in post-production. But Su Rui never complained. Like a sponge, he absorbed everything. He meticulously observed how the official photographer set up the lighting, how he directed the models, and how he communicated with the editor. He silently memorized the pronunciation and style of well-known brands and studied the color matching and layering of clothing.
The influence of his surroundings subtly changed him. He remained frugal, but he began to consciously pay attention to his appearance. Instead of just throwing on a washed-out T-shirt, he opted for a well-tailored solid-color shirt, paired with well-cut jeans or slacks, and his hair was neatly trimmed. His clothes were still not particularly expensive, but his attention to detail and coordination gave him a fresh and energetic look. This clean and gentle aura became a unique and recognizable feature in the ever-changing fashion world.
His photography skills also rapidly improved under the high-pressure environment. On a pressing shoot, the lead photographer was suddenly busy, so the editor, just to give it a try, asked Su Rui to take over. The shoot involved a notoriously challenging up-and-coming designer. Su Rui, as always, was patient and focused. He didn't try to direct the photographer, but through subtle adjustments and quiet patience, he captured the designer's most authentic and engaging moments at work. The resulting images were surprisingly impressive, imbued with power and artistry, earning even the discerning designer's approval.
This "immediate assignment" earned him a small reputation within the editorial department, and he began to receive opportunities to shoot independent columns. His models were no longer cold clothes hangers, but always possessed a vivid emotion; his still lifes were ingeniously composed, with light and shadow imbued with emotion. His professionalism rapidly improved, and his aesthetic taste continued to enrich and deepen.
Yet, the smooth start to his career didn't diminish his longing for those far away. News from Ling Yao remained sporadic, like a broken signal. His debut plans were like mirages, repeatedly seeming to turn around, igniting a faint glimmer of hope, only to be quietly extinguished by endless waiting and vague "strategic adjustments," leaving only deeper disappointment and numbness.
Every time Su Rui tried to ask, all she got was Ling Yao's silent sigh.
He could imagine Ling Yao's struggle and pain over there, the repeated crushing of a heart behind the numb defenses built up through frantic practice. He stopped questioning, simply working harder and living his life to the fullest. He carefully shared with Ling Yao the new things he saw in fashion magazines, the interesting people he met, the satisfying photos he took, like dropping a small stone into a deep well, hoping for a response, even if it was just to tell him that the person at the bottom was safe.
He still saved most of his salary, thinking that Ling Yao might need it one day. He still kept the living expenses Ling Yao had given him in a separate card, rarely touching it.
The wait became long and hopeless, but Su Rui didn't stop. He found his own niche in the fashion world, slowly building strength. No longer the humble boy who could only look up and wait, he was becoming stronger in his own way, waiting for the day when he could truly stand beside that person as an equal, or even... catch him.
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