Chapter 2, Torrential Rain

Oh, Xiaocheng, I have seen the photos you submitted to the website last time, they are very well taken! You know about the newly developed resort in the new area, right? They also need a few landscape photos and such.

Luo Youqian raised his head to look at the girl across from him

Manager Fan is in a difficult position.

He Ming also raised his head and followed Luo Youqian's gaze.

As soon as I withdrew my gaze, the craving for smoke was once again stirred, thus I severed it at the source

He tilted his head back, raising his chin, the lines of his neck flowing naturally. His eyes narrowed slightly, and then he whistled at the young woman.

She has tried in front of the mirror several times and has played a few minor roles, but unfortunately, lacking connections and means, she has never made it.

Perhaps due to poor nutrition in her childhood, her complexion is quite poor, her lips are pale, and without any makeup, her face appears ashen, a ghastly pallor that suggests she has not seen the light of day for a long time

He Ming sighed and said, "Hey, Master Luo, give me a cigarette."

Back facing the road

The instant noodle soup bubbles vigorously under a low flame, the golden broth appears rich and glistening with oil

I have not achieved much in my field, but I have gained a bit of recognition in photography

Chen Cheng is a third-year student at the Film Academy, majoring in acting. Tomorrow is the assessment for the dance class

"Hiss, it's overcooked," Chen Cheng mumbled, taking a pair of chopsticks from the shelf and standing by the kitchen counter to start eating, slurping as he went.

On the side where Luo Youqian stands, there is a vibrant atmosphere filled with the sounds of vendors calling out, couples embracing, brightly lit shops, and a variety of aromas wafting through the air

The opposite side of the road appears much colder—only a young woman is standing there

He is not exactly the kind of pampered person who cannot endure hardship, and such a house is not uninhabitable.

Chen Cheng should hang up the phone now

Luo Youqian withdrew his gaze and glanced at He Ming, feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the inquisitive eyes.

Moreover, especially during such a tumultuous time as now

Chen Cheng has a Weibo account with around 70,000 to 80,000 followers, who are not drawn to her for the minor roles she plays, but simply because they appreciate the work she produces.

This afternoon, when he left the rental place, he indeed intended to change his residence. However, now that he calms down and reflects on it, it is merely a place to sleep, nothing of great significance.

The smell of smoke wafted through the gentle evening breeze. Smoke, in itself, does not evoke much feeling until it is detected... At that moment, Luo Youqian's craving was stirred.

Master Luo, you are unlike us; you actually do not need to worry about financial matters

The young woman across from me is wearing a dark red dress, which is blown by the wind, causing the hem to flutter and cling to her thighs, outlining her slender figure, with her shoulder blades protruding.

He pointed his finger at the sky and continued, "If it rains later, all her photos might be ruined, which is purely schadenfreude."

A thin layer of sweat appeared on the forehead

Lu Ming laughed and scolded him, giving him a push, with a sarcastic tone: "You are quite naughty!"

Hello, Manager Fan

She took off the loose short-sleeved shirt she was wearing

He took out his phone and glanced at it; there was nothing but silence. Luo Youqian curled the corners of his lips and put the phone back.

She paused for a moment, quickly stuffed the camera into a black canvas bag, and then wrapped the bag into a bundle, holding it close to her chest

I plan to reach for a cigarette again, my index finger pushing open the cigarette box to reveal the last one inside

The steaming noodles slid into the stomach, providing a warm and comforting sensation, only to realize a few seconds later that they had burned the mouth

She turned and entered the bedroom to choose her clothes and apply makeup

Chen Cheng was too lazy to cook, so he used a mini electric pot to boil a pot of instant noodles, which was the popular "Dormitory Essential Instant Noodle Pot" on Taobao, priced at 49.9

And once makeup is applied, with blush and lipstick on, one seems to transform into a completely different person

Appears indifferent yet alluring

Hmm?

He Mingyang raised his eyebrows and said: "It's nothing! Master Luo! Who do you think I, He Panger, am! I will definitely be loyal and devoted to you! If you like it, just say it directly, and I will definitely get your phone number for you."

She quickly wiped her mouth, rinsed her soup-stained hands under the sink, and answered the phone

When Luo Youqian emerged from the internet café with He Ming, it was already 10 PM, and the nightlife of the city was just beginning

The movements appear quite professional

No

After finishing her makeup, Chen Cheng casually gathered her hair into a bun at the back of her head, tugged at some loose strands at her temples, and admired herself in the mirror for a moment, smiling with satisfaction.

A slap landed on He Ming's head, and two fingers pinched the cigarette out from between his teeth, forcefully extinguishing it on the ground

In the blink of an eye, only the unpleasant smell of exhaust fumes and various fragrances remain

With a "click," he turned off the heat. Chen Cheng wrapped the pot handle with a wet towel and poured the instant noodles into a nearby bowl, the steam rushing up and hitting his face.

"Is this the last one? Then you should smoke it yourself." He Ming hesitated for a moment and did not take the cigarette.

The person beside me lazily straightened up, slightly curling the corner of their mouth and said, "I told you before, don't bring that up."

It is due tomorrow, are you able to manage it

Her fingers were long and slender, with the tips displaying an unhealthy pallor, unlike many girls today who have manicures with a layer of clear nail polish that glimmers with a faint pink sheen under the incandescent light

"So broken." Luo Youqian held a lighter in his hand, flicking the flame on and off in the darkness, feeling utterly bored

She also earns some money by providing materials for the website

This matter was originally entrusted to someone else, but I was not satisfied with the photos they took. Since I noticed that your photos have received quite a few likes, I thought I would let you give it a try

The fragrance is overflowing

The myriad aspects of human life, the mundane affairs of the world

Chen Cheng inexplicably felt that it resembled a red-light district

He Ming lit a cigarette and took a puff

The constant flow of vehicles, the continuous stream of people

Are there any hotels nearby

He Ming remained skeptical

Chen Cheng paused for a moment and then said: "How about this, the resort should need some night views, I will go take some photos tonight. If it's urgent, you can find someone else to take the daytime part. If you can wait, I will go take photos right after I finish tomorrow at noon"

Manager Fan readily agreed, his tone so cheerful that Chen Cheng felt as if his shoulders had been heavily patted.

She

Chen Cheng responded a few times, stirring the noodles with chopsticks, thinking that the noodles would cool down faster once he hung up the phone.

The young lady looked around and then ran across to the other side of the road

Due to the rain, she lowered her head with a furrowed brow, making it difficult to see her face clearly

Instantly, black dots were smashed onto the ground, and soon the entire surface was soaked

Generally speaking, the difference between a beautiful girl with and without makeup should not be significant, but for Chen Cheng, the difference is quite considerable

She picked up the camera, took out a pair of lace-up sandals from the shoe rack, and after a moment of hesitation, decided to wear a simple pair of white sneakers

"Let's talk about it later." Luo Youqian sighed

"Hotel?" He Meng turned his head to look at him, "Didn’t you rent an apartment?"

After all, having grown up wild and free, there were times when I would sleep overnight in an internet café. However, leaving home and immediately moving into such a place is quite different

Luo Youqian glanced at him sideways and said, "I will buy a pack later."

It is still somewhat difficult to manage

He originally thought that the girl would hold the canvas bag over her head to shield herself from the rain, but unexpectedly, the camera took precedence over everything else. Raindrops poured down heavily, soaking her hair and clothes.

Chen Cheng touched the roof of his mouth with his tongue, and after being scalded, he experienced a somewhat slippery and strange sensation.

He Ming cautiously glanced at him, and seeing that he did not react, added, "You can earn without relying on your parents."

She placed the dishes into the sink and decided to wash them later in the evening

The rental unit is a typical example of being small yet fully equipped

This road separates two streets, resembling a massive insulating board.

"Master Luo, what a beauty!"

Luo Youqian was too lazy to move and unwilling to go buy cigarettes, so he thought about shifting his attention

To exaggerate, it is akin to transforming from a skeleton demon into a fox spirit

Luo Youqian took a moment, handed him the last cigarette, and tossed the cigarette box into the trash can from a few steps away

Luo Youqian sighed: "There really isn't, I was just thinking—"

"Tomorrow?" Chen Cheng paused his hand holding the chopsticks and slightly tilted his head.

The two individuals returned to the internet café, took out their backpacks, and suddenly, it began to rain outside, with large raindrops falling to the ground one by one

Across the road where they stood was a footbridge, separated by the river, and even in this early summer season, it still felt somewhat cool there

She quickly finished the noodles that had cooled down a bit; they had become somewhat clumpy from soaking too long. However, observing Chen Cheng eat the noodles, it seemed to have no effect on him.

The curtains in the bedroom are drawn; they are pink and were left by the previous tenant. The sunlight streaming in casts a pink hue over the entire room

"Go ahead! Go ahead! If the person I am looking for tomorrow still cannot be reached, I will call you again"

Manager Fan, I apologize, but I have an exam tomorrow

Luo Youqian remained silent, lazily squatting by the roadside, his gaze fixed on the young woman.

Next comes the makeup application

As the phone rang, Chen Cheng stretched his neck to bite off a mouthful of noodles while pulling out his phone from his back pocket, glancing at it out of the corner of his eye

Luo Youqian was taken aback, as he seemed somewhat familiar.

Are you still planning to change your place of residence

After a moment of frivolous thought, she took out a burgundy dress from the wardrobe, featuring a V-neck and a subtly revealing slit at the back

She raised her head again and picked up the camera, pointing it at the opposite side of the river, not knowing what she was photographing

Changing angles

"Are you... interested?" He Ming asked uncertainly, wondering when Luo Youqian had ever stared at a girl like this

The young woman had a camera strap hanging around her neck, and she seemed to be pressing something while lowering her head

The disparity is indeed significant

Primarily, the back of her dress has a slit, and from their angle, the sheen above can also be seen, making one very much want to... lift it slightly to take a closer look

Oh, that's fine, I understand. When do you need the photos?

Click, click

Photography website, Fan

Luo Youqian smiled and said, "I really didn't."