PSMD – Chapter 156

This time, Le Yu didn’t organize an escape room like last time, but a card game.

The location was a card and mahjong hall in Yuncheng, and they were playing mahjong.

Neither Qiu Yang nor Shen Ningruo were very good at it, but Le Yu had been coming here frequently for years and was well-acquainted with the owner, so the word “reserved” didn’t apply to her.

The reason for coming here was because the person she was interested in, the female university student, said she didn’t know how to play mahjong.

Le Yu immediately said: Then I’ll teach you.

Now that she had taught her, it was time to put it into practice.

To put it nicely, it was inviting Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo to play along; to put it bluntly, it was asking them to be companions.

However, Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo had no objections.

Le Yu’s current crush was a completely different style from the last one. The young woman was named Dong Yu, very shy, easily blushed, and always looked at Le Yu with a hint of bashfulness.

A waiter came into the private room to pour water. After he left, Le Yu suddenly brought up a new topic: “Oh right, Xiao Qiu Yang, did you find a new job after you finished with the photography?”

“Yes.”

“Gotta earn money, huh?”

Qiu Yang played a tile.

Le Yu glanced at Shen Ningruo: “How about Miss Shen supports you?”

Qiu Yang curved her lips: “I’m already living off her, don’t worry.”

Dong Yu was slightly stunned by this. She couldn’t tell if it was true or a joke, so she widened her eyes slightly, looking a bit confused: “Is… is that true? Xiao Qiu Jiejie.”

Qiu Yang nodded seriously: “It’s true.”

Shen Ningruo also chimed in: “It’s true.”

Le Yu smiled, looking at Dong Yu: “You gotta work hard! I want to live off someone too. Honestly, I don’t want to work another day.”

Dong Yu mumbled a “Mm” hesitantly: “Okay, I’ll do my best.”

Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo exchanged a look, feeling that Le Yu’s taste this time wasn’t bad. At least she didn’t seem like someone who was two-faced.

Otherwise, she’d be too good at acting.

The card game lasted for three hours before ending. Although there was laughter and chatter throughout, they were serious when it came to settling the score.

Dong Yu was the only winner. She was a bit flustered, but Le Yu comforted her: “It’s okay, take it. This is the money you’ll use to support me in the future.”

Dong Yu blushed again.

Qiu Yang and Shen Ningruo’s role as companions ended here. Before they left, Le Yu tried to keep them: “Let’s have dinner together? It’s rare to see each other.”

Shen Ningruo raised an eyebrow: “Rare? Aren’t we available whenever you call?”

Le Yu waved her hand: “Then hurry up and go! Seriously, I was originally going to treat you.”

Qiu Yang tilted her head and curved her eyes: “Next time, Senior. I’m going to take some photos today.” She looked at Dong Yu, “See you next time.”

“Bye-bye.”

After saying goodbye and parting ways, Qiu Yang opened the passenger door, and Shen Ningruo walked around the front of the car and sat down beside her.

“Le Yu won’t have such bad luck,” Shen Ningruo withdrew her gaze and comforted Qiu Yang. “The way Dong Yu looks at her is genuine; her liking is written all over her face.”

Qiu Yang turned her head to look at her: “Then is my liking for you also written on my face?”

Shen Ningruo looked into her eyes and chuckled: “More than just that.”

She cleared her throat: “Even your desire to be slept with by me is written on your face.”

Qiu Yang’s lips curved up: “I’ve noticed, Shen Ningruo, you’re just taking advantage of the fact that I have my period and you can’t sleep with me, saying these things on purpose.”

Shen Ningruo raised an eyebrow, not denying it.

“I’ve figured out what kind of photos I want to take,” Qiu Yang said after Shen Ningruo started the car.

Shen Ningruo looked at the road: “Tell me about it.”

“This was inspired by going to the hospital today,” Qiu Yang blinked. “The scene I’m imagining is a person sitting on a chair, holding a medical report. He should look very tired, alone in the long corridor, his head slightly bowed, looking somewhat conflicted.”

Shen Ningruo furrowed her brow: “Conflicted about what?”

“Conflicted about whether to tell his family about some bad news, but he’s long been alone, with no children or grandchildren around…” Qiu Yang closed her eyes, the image in her mind becoming clearer. “There are two main interpretations for the theme 《Corners》: one is a physical corner, and the other is a corner of human nature. I want to combine these two.”

Shen Ningruo immediately understood Qiu Yang’s idea: “Okay.”

“And preferably at dusk?”

“Yes.”

“The setting sun is infinitely beautiful, but it’s near dusk.”

“This line of poetry best expresses this loneliness.”

Shen Ningruo looked at the sky: “The time is just about right now, and you brought your DSLR. Why don’t we just go to the hospital now?”

“Tomorrow,” Qiu Yang said. “I’ll have time tomorrow too. I don’t have the energy today.”

Shen Ningruo nodded: “Alright. I was planning to visit my dad again tomorrow anyway, so we can go see him in the afternoon.”

Qiu Yang didn’t refuse the suggestion. She had only met Shen Yuankai a few times, but their interactions after yesterday wouldn’t be as awkward as before.

She could continue to go to the hospital with Shen Ningruo to see him.

After a night passed, Shen Yuankai seemed to have aged several years. His expression was haggard. Lao Yu was also in the ward.

When Lao Yu saw Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang arrive together, he was surprised for a moment, then smiled: “Miss, Miss Qiu, you’re here.”

“Uncle Yu, you can go ahead and be busy,” Shen Ningruo smiled at him. “We’ll take care of things here.”

“Alright then, I’ll be going now. Old Shen, I’ll come see you again tomorrow.”

Shen Yuankai pretended to be impatient: “Hurry up and go, no need to come tomorrow either.”

Lao Yu pointed at him, but in the end said nothing and left the ward.

The smell in the ward was still not pleasant. Shen Yuankai, on the hospital bed, scanned Shen Ningruo and Qiu Yang with his gaze.

Shen Ningruo walked to the side and asked him: “Do you want some water? Dad.”

“No.”

He looked at the camera Qiu Yang was carrying and asked curiously: “Are you a photographer?”

“No,” Qiu Yang shook her head. “It’s a hobby.”

Shen Ningruo knew what Shen Yuankai was thinking, so she brought it up herself: “I know Mom also loved taking photos. There’s a very thick photo album at home, full of pictures she took of me.”

Shen Yuankai was momentarily stunned: “Yes.” He coughed. “Ah Ying also loved taking photos.”

He then asked Qiu Yang: “So, did you bring your camera out today to take pictures of something?”

Qiu Yang met his gaze: “Yes.”

“I’m participating in a competition recently. The deadline for registration is the 25th, and I plan to find material at the hospital.”

Shen Yuankai seemed interested: “What’s the theme?”

Shen Ningruo: “…”

She never expected Shen Yuankai could talk about photography with Qiu Yang like this.

“《Corners》.” Qiu Yang explained her idea to Shen Yuankai again. She now felt that this elder, Shen Yuankai, wasn’t so annoying anymore.

Shen Yuankai said “Oh” upon hearing this: “That’s not easy to shoot.”

“If you want to win, it’s not easy to shoot.”

Qiu Yang replied neither humbly nor arrogantly: “I don’t care about winning or losing.”

Shen Yuankai looked at her and suddenly chuckled: “Young people, so lacking in fighting spirit. Since you’re participating, you should aim for first place.”

“What’s wrong? Afraid of failing?”

Oh well.

Now he’s starting to lecture.

Shen Ningruo was a bit speechless: “Dad, say less. She’s being modest, do you understand modesty?”

Shen Yuan Kai snorted dismissively: “If you don’t care about winning or losing, then don’t enter the competition.”

He had been extremely confident for most of his life and couldn’t stand people like Qiu Yang.

Shen Ningruo: “…”

Shen Ningruo sighed: “Please say less. Sometimes participation is also important.”

After a few seconds of silence, Qiu Yang’s eyes lit up: “Uncle, you’re right. I think I was being narrow-minded. Ultimately, when I said ‘I don’t care about winning or losing,’ it was just because I was afraid of failing.”

“But there’s nothing to be afraid of in failure. If my work isn’t chosen in this competition, I’ll still participate if there’s another one. I want more people to see my work.”

Only then did Shen Yuankai nod: “Mm.”

The sky outside was just right, with the sunset glow filling the horizon. Qiu Yang then said: “Then I’ll go take photos now.”

Shen Yuankai didn’t say anything, while Shen Ningruo nodded: “Go ahead.”

The corridor outside the ward was relatively quiet, and she had noticed the lighting when they arrived. This was an excellent spot for shooting.

However, even if people came, they were always in a hurry. Few people sat on the chairs outside, let alone thin, frail elderly people.

Shen Ningruo chatted with Shen Yuankai for a while, then came out to check on Qiu Yang’s progress. She saw Qiu Yang sitting on a chair by herself, head drooping.

Shen Ningruo squatted in front of her and asked with concern: “What’s wrong?”

Qiu Yang raised her eyes: “I was too idealistic. That kind of scene is hard to come by.”

“Maybe I won’t be able to get the shot today.”

“I’ll wait a bit longer.”

But if she waited any longer, today’s dusk would pass. Shen Ningruo frowned, looking thoughtful. After a few seconds, she asked: “Perhaps you need a model?”

“A model?” Qiu Yang reacted, “You’re not talking about…”

Shen Ningruo looked towards the door of Shen Yuankai’s ward: “Him.”

“Taking a photo won’t take long or affect anything.”

“I’ll go ask him if he’s willing.”

Before Qiu Yang could even voice her concerns, Shen Ningruo had already stood up and turned back into the ward.

As soon as Shen Yuankai opened his mouth, it was a triple rejection: “Impossible, I refuse, don’t even think about it.”

Shen Ningruo: “…”

“However…”

“If there’s any benefit, I can consider it.”

Shen Ningruo thought for a moment: “There’s no benefit. If anything, it’s that if you win an award, this photo of you will be seen by more people.”

“Maybe someone will praise you.”

Since Shen Yuankai asked that, Shen Ningruo knew he was actually wavering, so she gave him an opening, allowing him to go along with it.

Sure enough, Shen Yuankai seemed to struggle for a moment, then nodded.

Qiu Yang didn’t expect Shen Yuankai to come out like that. She was a bit surprised and flustered.

She never imagined Shen Yuankai would become the model.

Shen Yuankai didn’t waste words. He pointed to a chair: “The light on that chair is best right now. I’ll sit there.”

“…Okay, Uncle.”

Qiu Yang responded and exchanged a look with Shen Ningruo, then composed herself and aimed the lens at Shen Yuankai.

However, instead of the expected medical report, it was Shen Yuankai’s phone, displaying a text message he had drafted.

He was thinking with a conflicted look, his head bowed, as if deeply troubled.

Qiu Yang pressed the shutter.