Chapter 22: Sketching
The activity was set for this Sunday, with plans to hike in the morning and sketch in the afternoon.
Wen Yu couldn’t muster much interest in such activities, but if Ye Qizhen wanted to go, she could go along. Being with an interesting person might make her slightly less boring, right? She also guessed Ye Qizhen would want to go; Ye Qizhen liked photography, and this was a lively group outing.
Early Sunday morning, many students gathered at the North Gate of Z University, chatting and laughing. Most of them carried drawing boards on their backs, very characteristic of the Art Academy.
Ye Qizhen habitually slept in and woke up late. By the time she ran and walked to the North Gate, she found Wen Yu already there. “I accidentally woke up late.” Walking too fast, Ye Qizhen was panting slightly as she spoke.
“It’s okay, just in time.” Wen Yu wasn’t surprised at all; she had seen how much Ye Qizhen could sleep.
When Ye Qizhen walked up to Wen Yu, she attracted the attention of a bunch of people around them. After all, everyone was eagerly anticipating Wen Yu’s “family member.” They had been looking forward to it all morning, curious about what kind of person the usually arrogant Wen Yu would take a fancy to.
Result.
It was a girl.
Anticipation in vain.
Tang Xiao was also one of those staring. Seeing Ye Qizhen, he looked bewildered and walked up to ask, “Ye Qizhen, why are you here?”
Ye Qizhen was still panting and had no time to answer Tang Xiao. Wen Yu explained to Tang Xiao, “She’s with me.”
Tang Xiao suddenly realized that the family member Wen Yu said she would bring was Ye Qizhen, not a boyfriend. What a huge misunderstanding. Knowing Wen Yu was bringing a partner on the trip today, the hearts of the boys in the department had almost shattered.
“Want a drink?” Tang Xiao took two bottles of orange juice out of his bag and asked Wen Yu enthusiastically.
Wen Yu shook her head perfunctorily.
Ye Qizhen glared at Tang Xiao, warning him with her eyes.
Tang Xiao felt aggrieved. Not helping me chase her is one thing, but not letting me chase her myself? He pulled the tab of the can and gloomily gulped down a mouthful of orange juice.
Afterward, Ye Qizhen turned to ask Wen Yu, “Did you eat breakfast?”
“No, not hungry,” Wen Yu said.
Ye Qizhen knew it. She took out the bun and milk she had prepared the night before and stuffed them into Wen Yu’s hands. “Eat a little even if you’re not hungry.”
Wen Yu accepted them with a smile.
Ten minutes later, everyone had arrived.
About fifty people participated in the hiking activity, seven or eight of whom brought family members. Unsurprisingly, they all brought partners. Ye Qizhen, following Wen Yu, became the unique one.
Since there were many people, they chartered a bus directly from the school gate to the scenic area, saving a lot of trouble.
“Everyone’s here, right?” After getting on the bus, the monitor took attendance with the list. After confirming everything was correct, she told the driver to start.
The sketching location was Xuanshan. Although in a neighboring city, it was only seventy kilometers from Nancheng. The bus ride to the scenic area took about two hours. Since they also hired a tour guide who was good at livening up the atmosphere, playing small games and chatting and laughing along the way, the two hours passed quickly.
Departing early, the group arrived at the scenic area at nine o’clock. The bus stopped at the foot of the mountain. After getting off, the person in charge explained some precautions, dismissed the group, and free time began.
Xuanshan Scenic Area wasn’t big, and the altitude wasn’t high; half a day was enough to tour it. However, since they had come all this way, they wouldn’t go back after just half a day, so sketching was arranged for the afternoon, which also happened to cover next week’s assignment.
This wasn’t a particularly famous scenic spot, but the scenery was truly nice. Ye Qizhen didn’t regret carrying her heavy camera out.
Basking in the warm sun, following the winding hiking trail upwards, Ye Qizhen and Wen Yu soon left the main group behind.
It had rained in Xuanshan last night, and it had just cleared up today. Upon entering the mountain, one could feel the freshness after the rain. Ye Qizhen took a deep breath, feeling refreshed.
“I thought you wouldn’t like participating in such activities.” Ye Qizhen was slightly surprised.
“Participating occasionally isn’t bad,” Wen Yu said.
Ye Qizhen slowed her pace, raised the DSLR in her hand, and started taking pictures as she walked. Seeing she wanted to take photos, Wen Yu also slowed down.
A moment later, Ye Qizhen moved the lens towards Wen Yu. In the viewfinder, she saw Wen Yu looking at her. Exquisite features were just photogenic; it felt like any casual shot would look good.
“Can I take a picture of you?” Ye Qizhen looked at Wen Yu in the viewfinder and asked loudly.
Wen Yu tacitly agreed. Her indifferent temperament was also reflected in the lens, without any awkwardness, incredibly natural.
“You walk yours, I’ll shoot mine.” With Wen Yu’s permission, Ye Qizhen became bold, following Wen Yu and shooting all the way—various angles, various candid shots—almost forgetting the fatigue of climbing.
Strolling through the forest.
“Wen Yu.”
“Mn?”
“Smile.”
Wen Yu gave her usual faint smile.
Ye Qizhen wasn’t satisfied. Grinning, she said again, “Wen Yuyu, smile happier.”
Hearing Ye Qizhen’s childish tone, Wen Yu instantly broke into a smile. Just like that, Ye Qizhen took several shots, freezing the most beautiful moments.
…
Ye Qizhen’s lively state didn’t last long.
After walking for over an hour.
Just as Wen Yu wanted to praise Ye Qizhen for her good stamina today, she saw Ye Qizhen’s steps getting heavier and heavier; she was wilting.
Looking at the winding path with no end in sight, Ye Qizhen felt the camera on her back was like a brick.
Wen Yu walked forward to take the camera for Ye Qizhen.
Ye Qizhen wouldn’t give it to her. “It’s heavy.”
“I know, I’ll carry it for you.” Wen Yu took the camera from Ye Qizhen’s hand anyway. “Let’s rest ahead.”
There was a rest pavilion a dozen meters ahead.
After resting for a few minutes, the slope became steeper as they walked up, still endless. By this time, some people had already started descending and happened to meet them. “Keep going, almost there.”
Wen Yu laughed at Ye Qizhen. “If you can’t climb anymore, let’s not climb. We’ll go down.”
Ye Qizhen was persistent: “Haven’t reached the top yet.”
After walking for a few more minutes, Ye Qizhen was panting, her legs sore and weak. Wen Yu saw Ye Qizhen’s physical exhaustion and said again, “Not climbing anymore.”
Ye Qizhen shook her head stubbornly. Having climbed for an hour, giving up now would be a pity. Except for taking cable cars, she had never climbed to the top of a mountain before, and she quite wanted to challenge herself once.
Seeing she couldn’t dissuade Ye Qizhen, Wen Yu stood on a slightly higher slope and helplessly extended her hand to Ye Qizhen. Seeing this, Ye Qizhen paused, then consciously took Wen Yu’s hand. Wen Yu walked in front, and she followed behind. When she had no strength, Wen Yu pulled her forward.
The higher they climbed, the better the scenery. Stopping and going like this, they spent another half hour and finally reached the summit.
Walking to the observation deck at the top, overlooking the mountains shrouded in thin mist, both let out a long sigh of relief.
“Tired?” Wen Yu asked.
“Not tired.” Ye Qizhen said with a panting smile.
“Looks like you’re tired silly,” Wen Yu couldn’t help saying. She didn’t feel relaxed climbing up herself, let alone Ye Qizhen.
Ye Qizhen giggled foolishly. Feeling the mountain breeze now, looking down at the scenery beneath her feet like a fairyland, any amount of tiredness was worth it.
Fortunately, Wen Yu is with me.
Is it true that two people together can walk a longer road?
Palms warm, she and Wen Yu were still holding hands, just like the couples next to them.
Walking all the way here, Ye Qizhen’s thoughts stopped several times on her hand tightly clasped with Wen Yu’s. She liked the feeling of Wen Yu holding her, so Wen Yu didn’t let go, and neither did she.
Wen Yu was the same. Seeing Ye Qizhen didn’t let go of her hand, she kept holding it. Warm, didn’t really want to let go.
…
They took many more photos at the summit. Once rested enough, Ye Qizhen and Wen Yu descended. As expected, they were the last group to go down. It was already noon when they reached the foot of the mountain. Lunch was resolved at restaurants in the surrounding small town, also free time.
In the afternoon, everyone sketched in the small town. The Xuanshan area had a long history and culture. The surrounding towns were antique, retaining many local characteristic buildings, making it a good place for sketching.
Early winter, the sun at two or three o’clock was warm, cozy and comfortable.
Having climbed the mountain in the morning, Ye Qizhen felt her legs were useless in the afternoon. She couldn’t walk anywhere, so she sat on a stone bench along the river, quietly watching Wen Yu sketch.
The pen tip scratched across the drawing paper, like magic; a line draft was created in the blink of an eye.
Then detailed outlining, details leaping onto the paper.
Ye Qizhen stared at Wen Yu’s agile and beautiful hands, lost in thought.
“Don’t you find it boring?” Wen Yu found time to ask Ye Qizhen, who was accompanying her, sitting on the side watching quietly.
“Quite interesting.” Ye Qizhen rested her chin on her hand, watching with relish, speaking the truth.
A smile on her lips, Wen Yu continued drawing, her speed gradually increasing.
Ye Qizhen’s gaze unconsciously shifted from Wen Yu’s hands to her profile. Although Wen Yu wore a black baseball cap, looking low-key, with just a little attention, one would notice how pleasing this face was to the eye.
Wen Yu was focused and immersed when painting, seemingly showing a rare serious side. Ye Qizhen hadn’t seen Wen Yu paint this close before, but she was certain Wen Yu’s appearance at this moment could charm a crowd. She carried an inherent attractive temperament; actually, she had felt this way since high school.
Before long, Wen Yu finished a landscape sketch. She turned her head and caught Ye Qizhen’s staring gaze. She smiled suddenly and said, “Am I very good-looking? You’re staring at me like this?”
Ye Qizhen was getting used to being rendered speechless by Wen Yu. After a long while, she looked at Wen Yu and said, “You are really thick-skinned.”
Wen Yu laughed outright. After looking at Ye Qizhen for a moment, she suddenly whispered, “Don’t move.”
Ye Qizhen: “Hm?”
Wen Yu changed to a new sheet of paper, picked up her pen, and started drafting again, staring at the person in front of her from time to time—sometimes for a second or two, sometimes for ten seconds.
Ye Qizhen understood Wen Yu was drawing her. But they were already close, and with Wen Yu staring at her so intently, she couldn’t quite concentrate. Wen Yu, on the other hand, entered that focused state again, with no distractions.
In ten minutes, Wen Yu improvised a figure sketch. Ye Qizhen looked at herself on the paper. “For… me?”
Wen Yu teased her: “No, have to hand in homework.”
Ye Qizhen pursed her lips: “…”
Looking at Ye Qizhen’s brows and eyes, Wen Yu added, “Come find me in the studio next time, I’ll draw a serious one for you.”
While the two were chatting, a boy walked over, hesitating. Ye Qizhen and Wen Yu exchanged glances; both saw the other party intended to strike up a conversation.
Ye Qizhen had good luck with romance today. During the mountain climb in the morning, she was hit on by two boys—one from the Art Department and one stranger.
Although both Wen Yu and Ye Qizhen were popular with boys, more people hit on Ye Qizhen than Wen Yu because Ye Qizhen had a sweet smile and didn’t give off a sense of distance like Wen Yu.
“Miss, can I add you on WeChat? I want to commission art from you in the future.”
Looks like this time it’s Wen Yu being hit on. Sure enough, drawing attracted people. Commissioning art—what a good excuse. Ye Qizhen remained silent on the side, secretly watching Wen Yu, curious about her reaction.
Wen Yu didn’t have much reaction. She glanced at the boy leisurely and calmly threw out a sentence: “I’m not interested in men.”
The other party was obviously confused for a short while. Looking at the two girls in front of him again… he apologized repeatedly: “Sorry, disturbed you.”
