Chapter 78: Side Story 4 [Flashback]

At the gathering, Sang Ning didn’t speak much. She only said during her self-introduction, “I’m Sang Ning—Sang from the mulberry tree, Ning from peace and tranquility.”

She couldn’t blend into the lively chatting atmosphere. For one thing, the environment was noisy, and she couldn’t hear clearly. For another, the topics everyone discussed were unfamiliar to her.

Although the club had no strict requirements, almost everyone who actively participated owned a camera. They talked about various camera models and lenses, which Sang Ning couldn’t understand at all.

Sang Ning quietly sipped her juice, occasionally stealing glances at the person across from her with the corner of her eye.

Shen Tingwan was the complete opposite of her. She thrived in such settings. Sang Ning vaguely caught some of what Shen Tingwan said, but they were all topics she couldn’t connect with. A sense of distance welled up in her heart.

She thought again of that evening when Shen Tingwan had performed her solo on stage. The senior was like the moon—beautiful, yet so far away from her.

That night, Sang Ning returned to the dorm alone. Sang Mingjuan called her, always worried that she couldn’t fit into groups. She asked about the evening dinner.

Sang Ning smiled and said, “Everyone was very friendly.”

Sang Mingjuan replied, “Mm, I’ll send you some fruit. Share it with your roommate.”

Sang Ning knew her mother was concerned. “My roommate is easy to get along with too. Xiaoqiu takes good care of me.”

Sang Mingjuan breathed a sigh of relief. She knew Sang Ning had recently joined the university’s Photography Society. “I asked your cousin. She said your club requires a camera…”

Sang Ning said, “It’s fine if I don’t have one.”

Sang Mingjuan fell silent for a moment. “If you need one, just tell me.”

“It’s not mandatory.” Sang Ning smiled. Their family wasn’t well-off, and the hearing aid had already been a huge expense. The pressure was considerable.

Sang Mingjuan said no more.

A few days later, eight thousand yuan suddenly appeared in Sang Ning’s account. Sang Mingjuan told her to use it to buy a camera.

She called Sang Mingjuan. “Mom, I really don’t need it.”

“If you’re interested in it, buy one. The family doesn’t lack this bit of money.” Sang Mingjuan wasn’t one for sentimentality; her words were plain. She didn’t want her daughter to be too sensible. “What others have, you can have too. You’re no different from anyone else.”

“Mm.” Sang Ning held back the sourness in her nose. From childhood, Sang Mingjuan had told her many times, “You’re no different from anyone else.” Her mother feared she would feel inferior.

Sang Ning used the money to buy an entry-level DSLR, saving the rest as living expenses. On weekends, she tutored as a part-time job. Mother and daughter were used to sharing the pressure like this.

After getting the camera, Sang Ning became completely enamored with photography. Her classes weren’t too demanding, and she had no other hobbies, so in her spare time, she wandered the campus with the camera on her back, wanting to photograph everything.

Tan Xiaoqiu said she had a talent for it. She always captured the same scenery more beautifully.

Sang Ning said it was probably because her ears weren’t good, so she put more attention into her eyes.

After getting into photography, Sang Ning’s life became much fuller, though still peaceful.

The only ripple in her otherwise bland life was Shen Tingwan—every time she saw her, she felt nervous or her heart raced. Whenever Shen Tingwan appeared, Sang Ning’s attention was drawn to her.

Summer passed, and Birch City’s temperatures plunged sharply.

Sang Ning’s hair had grown long enough to tie up. She stood in front of the mirror, looking left and right, clumsily tying it up to reveal the hearing aid on her ear.

Perhaps Shen Tingwan’s kindness that day had given her courage. She tried no longer to hide it.

“Sang Ning, what’s on your ear?”

“It’s a hearing aid.” As Sang Ning had expected, after revealing it, she received many curious questions, as well as concern and sympathy. But it didn’t matter. Now, she just wanted to be herself openly, not hide like an ostrich.

Actually, showing her difference wasn’t so bad. After taking the first step, Sang Ning began to accept her disability with relief.

On Friday evening, the Photography Society held a sharing session. Tan Xiaoqiu was busy connecting with friends for online gaming, so Sang Ning went alone.

Arriving at the small classroom, Sang Ning’s first glance swept the room to see if the senior had come.

Shen Tingwan hadn’t.

Sang Ning found an empty seat in the corner and sat down. She hadn’t signed up to share on stage; she was just there as an audience member. Quite a few people came that night, nearly filling the small classroom. She listened attentively to others sharing their photography insights and learned quite a few composition techniques.

Shen Tingwan arrived twenty minutes later. She entered through the back door, scanning for an empty seat. She spotted a quiet back view with an empty spot beside it.

“Can I sit here?”

Sang Ning heard the familiar voice and turned her head.

Shen Tingwan recognized her only after seeing her face clearly—the aloof underclassman who hadn’t added her contact info. Today, her hair was tied up, different from before, revealing the hearing aid on her ear.

Sang Ning’s heart suddenly pounded like a drum when she saw Shen Tingwan approaching, but she always appeared calm and composed.

Seeing her freeze, Shen Tingwan asked, “Is someone here?”

Sang Ning answered methodically, “No…”

Shen Tingwan sat down.

Sang Ning stared at the projector ahead, her mind wandering.

Though they sat together, they didn’t speak.

Sang Ning zoned out, thinking they wouldn’t have common topics anyway. The senior’s friends were all lively and outgoing types without exception.

The sharing session continued. Sang Ning sat ramrod straight, proper as could be, but she barely took in anything, her attention entirely on the person beside her.

Shen Tingwan glanced at her from the corner of her eye, then turned her head and asked with a low laugh, “Why are you sitting so far away?”

“Hm?” Sang Ning turned to look at her upon hearing. It was the first time she’d seen Shen Tingwan’s face so up close— so gentle and beautiful. Her mind went a little blank.

Shen Tingwan smiled.

Sang Ning’s heart raced out of control. Embarrassed to stare too long, she turned her gaze forward again.

Shen Tingwan looked at the quiet profile in front of her. She’d helped guide her that day, so shouldn’t she be more enthusiastic? On second thought, not everyone had to revolve around her or be interested in her.

That night, the two didn’t say anything else to each other.

After the sharing session, there was a group photo for memory’s sake.

After the photo, Sang Ning saw Shen Tingwan being called away by friends. She packed her bag and left the classroom alone.

Back at the dorm, Sang Ning saw the evening group photo posted in the society’s WeChat group.

She opened the photo and discovered she had sat very close to the senior that night, their shoulders almost touching. In the photo, she was stiff-backed, staring at the camera looking a bit dazed, while Shen Tingwan beside her smiled brightly and radiantly.

She carefully saved the photo.

Her heart still raced. Sang Ning stared at the photo on her phone for a long time and suddenly understood what the ripple Shen Tingwan brought to her was…

It was the thrill of a crush.