"What the hell, Huang Yifan, you really went all out with that act."
The class photo didn't take long, barely ten minutes, and the whole thing was done.
Afterward, a few classmates who usually hung out with Huang Yifan made their way over.
"Yeah, I always thought Zhu Jun was the best-looking guy in class, but turns out, you're on a whole school-heartthrob level."
Xia Hui, who was usually more reserved, said this sincerely.
"Damn it, Huang Yifan, step aside! With your looks, you're putting the rest of us to shame. You standing here just makes the rest of us look like your background props."
Zhu Songbin laughed as he playfully shoved Huang Yifan to the side.
"Right, right, guys like you who can get by on nothing but their faces should be outlawed."
Class monitor Liu Guiquan joined in, laughing.
Everyone joked and teased, laughing and chatting away. Soon, a bunch of them asked to take solo photos with Huang Yifan.
"Huang Yifan, can I take a photo with you?"
After the group photo came the individual ones. Everyone could snap whatever they liked, solo or with friends. Huang Yifan had already been pulled into dozens of photos, and only now did he finally get a breather. That's when Jiang Weiwei, who had organized the class picture earlier, walked up alone.
"Sorry… I guess I've had the wrong idea about you all this time."
She looked a little embarrassed and hesitant, afraid Huang Yifan might say no. Still, she gathered her courage and said, "If you don't want to, that's fine."
Then she turned to leave, looking a little dejected.
"Jiang Weiwei, I never said I didn't want to."
Seeing her turn away, Huang Yifan spoke up.
Jiang Weiwei… well, how to put it? She'd definitely been a bit of a headache during the entrance exam period. But Huang Yifan was mentally older; he wasn't the type to hold a grudge against a young girl. Now that graduation had come, all the little grievances had become distant memories. Just like he once said, as time passes, the days of our youth become things to look back on fondly.
"What now, don't feel like it anymore?"
Seeing her freeze in place, Huang Yifan asked curiously.
"Of course not."
Seeing how casually and warmly Huang Yifan responded, Jiang Weiwei's awkwardness began to fade. With a mix of shyness and relief, she stepped over, and they took two friendly photos together.
"Picture-perfect couple, huh."
The photos weren't even developed yet, but the school photographer couldn't help commenting as he reviewed the shots. Whether it was Huang Yifan's otherworldly charm or Jiang Weiwei's fresh beauty, both stood out enough to make the photographer a little envious.
"Hope you two end up together in ten years."
"Come on, sir, what are you saying?"
Jiang Weiwei's face turned red, and she stepped aside.
"Hahaha, the pretty girl's shy. Don't worry, when you grow up, you'll be bolder when it comes to love."
The photographer seemed like a bit of a love guru, tossing out a philosophical nugget.
…
"Where's Zhang Huiping?"
After the photos with Jiang Weiwei, Huang Yifan took a few more with other classmates. But then he noticed someone was missing.
"Xia Hui, have you seen Zhang Huiping?"
He turned to ask.
Xia Hui shook his head. "Nope, haven't seen her."
"Zhu Songbin, where's Zhang Huiping?"
"No idea, I didn't see her either."
He asked a few more people. Everyone said the same thing.
"That's weird… I just saw her a moment ago. How'd she vanish all of a sudden?"
He searched for several minutes but still couldn't find her.
Eventually, he glanced at the school's north field and, after hesitating for a moment, quickly ran over.
…
"Zhang Huiping, oh Zhang Huiping. You're just an ordinary girl, don't overthink it."
At that moment, Zhang Huiping had unknowingly wandered to the north field.
She was lost in thought, her emotions tangled after witnessing everything that had just happened.
Huang Yifan had shed his usual messy appearance and revealed a glow like a celebrity.
When he first appeared, she had barely recognized him.
Yes, Zhang Huiping knew better than anyone that Huang Yifan was handsome, not just a little, but strikingly so. Still, she hadn't expected that once he revealed his true appearance, it would cause such a stir in class.
Suddenly, a wave of self-doubt crashed over her.
She wasn't as beautiful and poised as Jiang Weiwei; she still looked like a kid.
She didn't have the grace and elegance of Li Luozhi, just shyness and insecurity.
They looked like beautiful swans, and she… she was just an ugly duckling.
Zhang Huiping, Huang Yifan is a star in the sky, shining and brilliant, while you're just a blade of grass at the foot of a mountain, plain and ordinary.
For thousands of years, grass has only ever looked up at the stars.
But the stars never gaze back at the grass.
Even the occasional dewdrop that lands on a blade of grass is nothing more than an unintentional kindness.
…
"Zhang Huiping? What are you doing here?"
Sure enough, the missing Zhang Huiping was in the north field.
"Ah, Huang Yifan! Why are you here?"
She was clearly flustered when she saw him.
She quickly wiped her eyes, adjusted the bangs on her forehead, and turned away in a panic, as if afraid he'd see her like this.
"Don't come over!"
"Zhang Huiping, what's wrong?"
Huang Yifan looked puzzled.
"Nothing."
"If nothing's wrong, then let's go back and take pictures."
"No need. You go ahead. I'm not really into photos."
"Honestly, I'm not either."
Since persuasion wasn't working, Huang Yifan didn't push. He just walked over and plopped down beside her on the grass.
"Huang Yifan, you…"
Seeing him sit next to her, Zhang Huiping instinctively scooted away a bit.
Huang Yifan was a bit confused. Why was she acting so strangely today? But he didn't press her. Instead, he asked, "Zhang Huiping, after today, we're officially graduates. Got any plans for the future?"
"What plans could I have? Just study hard and aim high."
"Nice. That's a great goal. Who knows, maybe our Class 2 will produce a future PhD."
"A PhD?"
Zhang Huiping nodded. "Hmm. Being a female PhD sounds pretty cool."
"No way, can't let that happen. Don't you know the higher your education, the harder it is to get married? If you become a PhD, you might end up one of those 'leftover warriors'. You know… leftover as in single."
"It's fine. I think being alone suits me. What about you, Mr. Prodigy? What are your plans? Keep charming the girls at No.2 High?"
"Well, uh…"
Caught red-handed, Huang Yifan looked embarrassed. "Zhang Huiping, honestly, I think you're the smartest one in our class."
"Quit teasing. I'm really not that bright."
"Not bright? I haven't noticed. Honestly, I think you're even sharper than Jiang Weiwei and Li Luozhi. At the very least, you're more focused and meticulous. I think you've got real potential. You might just become that future PhD."
"Really?"
"I, Huang Yifan, never lie."
"There you go again."
Zhang Huiping giggled. "Just off the top of my head, I can think of at least ten times you've lied."
"Ah, busted again. But seriously, I meant it this time."
Huang Yifan scratched his head. He was starting to think this girl was harder to deal with than Jiang Weiwei, Li Luozhi, or even Yu Bin.
Still, he enjoyed chatting with her. Somehow, talking nonsense with Zhang Huiping made him feel at ease.
Zhang Huiping seemed to feel the same. Even though she'd been so self-conscious earlier, being with Huang Yifan made her feel calm and safe, even if most of what they talked about was just silly banter.
"Come on, let's go take a picture together."
As they talked, Huang Yifan suddenly asked.
"A picture?"
"Didn't we already take one?"
"The group one, yeah. But not a personal one. Like… you and me."
"You and me?"
Zhang Huiping blinked, pointed at him, then at herself, clearly in disbelief.
==========
Support the translation and help me keep the work.
patreon.com/Childish_Patriarch