Times of Our Lives - Chapter 36

Ji Qinyang didn’t immediately take the money. He crossed his arms and looked at Qian Mo, lifting his chin. “What’s the meaning of this?”

Qian Mo’s expression was innocent. “What do you mean? Aren’t you short on money? I’m lending it to you.”

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch,” Ji Qinyang said unmoved. “You need to state the conditions first before I can decide whether to take the money.”

“Haha…” Qian Mo laughed in exasperation. “Well, do as you please. The money is here; you can take it or leave it.”

Ji Qinyang watched Qian Mo stand up and leave the classroom. Just before Qian Mo reached the door, Ji Qinyang called out to him.

“What’s up?” Qian Mo turned around impatiently.

Ji Qinyang waved the envelope in his hand lazily. “If you’re joining the band, we need a concrete plan. We should sign a contract.”

Qian Mo: “……”

Almost half a month into the second year, Zhang Ganggang joined a news club at the school. When a senior in her third year wanted to see his work, she asked him about it.

“What kind of photos do you take?” the senior asked.

Zhang Ganggang replied, “Life, friends, hometown scenery, people…”

The senior spread her hands. “Really? Show me.”

Zhang Ganggang pulled out his Weibo account and opened the album titled “Through the Years” for her to see.

The senior looked at the photos seriously for a while and then smiled. “You have a really happy life.”

Zhang Ganggang awkwardly scratched the back of his head and smiled foolishly.

The senior continued to look through the album. She pointed to other people in the photos. “Are these your friends?”

“Yes,” Zhang Ganggang said, flipping through each person’s photo. “This is Mengmeng, Ji Yimei, Qi Mama, Zhuo Tieman, Old Man Han… Ah, Old Man Han is the one who often visits me.”

The senior said, “Oh, I’ve seen him before.” She flipped to some recent photos of Zhuo Jinjin and said, “Why are these in black and white?”

“This is Zhuo Tieman’s younger sister, our little princess Jinjin,” Zhang Ganggang said after a moment of silence. “She passed away recently due to illness.”

“I see…” The senior expressed her regret. “I’m really sorry.”

Zhang Ganggang waved his hand casually. “It’s alright. The little princess left peacefully. Zhuo Tieman is holding up well. His third-year practical activity is to go to poor areas to provide medical care for children.”

The senior sighed, “That’s really impressive.”

Zhang Ganggang agreed. “Yes, yes, so I need to work hard too.”

The senior smiled and continued to browse through Zhang Ganggang’s album. She finally kept the photos of Zhuo Jinjin. “I’d like to keep these, is that okay?”

Zhang Ganggang said, “Sure.”

The senior added, “Your name will be credited when they’re published in the school newspaper. This kind of poignant and gentle material is really a great topic.”

Zhang Ganggang admired her. “Senior, you really are great at writing news articles. Your summary is perfect!”

The senior chuckled. “It’s not that exaggerated. It just comes with practice. You’ll also be involved in practical activities when you’re a senior, so pay attention and don’t miss out on what interests you.”

After finishing tutoring, Xie Meng saw Zhang Ganggang posting some fourth-year practical themes in the WeChat group. Qi Fei couldn’t take it anymore and said, “Come on, you’re only in your second year. There are still two years to go. Why are you so concerned now?!”

Zhang Ganggang replied, “Tieman is going this year. I’m actually late.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan: “I’m different from you. Don’t mix things up.”

“Exactly,” Qi Fei interjected. “He’s turning his grief into motivation, and you?”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan: “…… What grief motivation? Jinjin didn’t teach me any of this.”

Han Dong: “Then what did she teach you?”

Xie Meng held his phone, and after a long time, he saw a message from Ji Qinyang.

Ji Qinyang: “I think it’s about gentleness and strength.”

Zhuo Xiaoyuan sent a grinning face emoji.

Xie Meng smiled at the screen. He put away his phone and was about to go to the school library to borrow some books when he noticed a crowd gathered there.

“Excuse me…” He sidestepped a few people and saw Li Ruixin among them. “Senior?”

Li Ruixin, now in her fourth year, had heard she found a good internship and was usually so busy she was hardly seen.

“Oh,” Li Ruixin greeted Xie Meng warmly. “Have you had a good class?”

Xie Meng nodded. “Yes… What are you doing here, senior?”

Li Ruixin said, “Director Zhang’s film is here for location shooting. The lead actor is Zheng Ming.”

Xie Meng couldn’t immediately place who Zheng Ming was.

“The male lead from last year’s ‘The Deer King,’” Li Ruixin said excitedly. “He won the Best Actor award.”

“……” Xie Meng’s mind flashed to the day with Xiong Baobao and his seemingly endless stomach capacity…

“It can’t be that coincidental,” the boy murmured.

Li Ruixin: “?”

Xiong Baobao had arrived at the set early. As a second-year directing student, he was someone who diligently studied, sought advice from seniors, and worked hard.

Director Zhang was a heavyweight in the industry, almost like a mentor to Xiong Baobao. Since he was shooting Zheng Ming’s film, Xiong Baobao had come along.

Zheng Ming was very busy, mostly occupied with filming. He even managed to keep up with his classes, which Xiong Baobao admired greatly.

Director Zhang was discussing scenes with Zheng Ming. Xiong Baobao wandered near the bookshelf and spotted Xie Meng when he reached the second row.

“Hi,” Xie Meng greeted with a smile. “Have you eaten yet?”

Xiong Baobao had a good memory for good-looking people. “Not yet; it’s not mealtime.”

Xie Meng asked, “Want to have a meal together later?”

Xiong Baobao thought for a moment. “Sure.”

“I’ll come find you later,” Xie Meng said, pointing behind him. “I need to get a few books first.”

Xiong Baobao nodded. “I’ll also look for some books.”

When Xiong Baobao said he wanted to look for books, he was just talking. Every time he saw books on the top shelf, he felt the world had a deep-seated malice towards short people.

He looked up at the book titled *World Film Encyclopedia* on the top shelf and debated for a long time whether to get a ladder.

Until Zheng Ming walked up beside him.

Xiong Baobao: “?”

Zheng Ming, with a neutral expression, looked down at him and asked, “What are you doing?”

This was Xiong Baobao’s first time talking to his idol. He took a deep breath and tried to stay calm. “I want to get the book on the top shelf.”

Zheng Ming glanced up.

Xiong Baobao decided to make a move on his idol. “Could you help me get it down?”

Zheng Ming looked at him, considered for about a second, and agreed, “Okay.”

Just as Xiong Baobao was about to thank him, Zheng Ming suddenly bent down, hugged his legs, and lifted him up.

Xiong Baobao: “……”

Zheng Ming, lifting his face near Bear Baby’s waist, asking, “Can you reach it?”

Xiong Baobao: “……”

Zheng Ming lifted him a bit higher. “How about now?”

Xiong Baobao: “……”

“Why aren’t you speaking?” Zheng Ming frowned.

Xiong Baobao’s face turned red. Trembling, he said, “Y-you can put me down now… It’s… It’s too conspicuous…”

Zheng Ming, with an emotionless “oh,” didn’t let go. He asked persistently, “Did you get the book?”

Xiong Baobao: “…………”