A Guide to Wasting Life - Chapter 10

Later, as Zhou Qi recalled, that moment was the most vivid and expressive he had ever seen on her face. Displeasure, slight anger, surprise, fluster, joy, excitement… all in the blink of an eye.

He teased in a completely serious tone, “If that scene were filmed, it would probably make it into the top-tier textbooks at the Film Academy.”

Xu Nianzhu burst into laughter, slapped the bed as she got up, and almost threw a pillow at him.

The mixed-race beauty was named Sonia, an independent photographer who had come to invite Xu Nianzhu to do a photoshoot together. As Sonia introduced herself, she prepared to share her profile with Xu Nianzhu.

“I’ve got a friend over there,” she said, pointing to another girl sitting on a nearby bench. “It’ll be quick, I promise it won’t take too long.”

Xu Nianzhu’s mouth was slightly open. The words entered one ear and left the other as her hand hovered, hesitating to hit the button to accept Sonia’s friend request on WeChat.

This time, it was Sonia who kindly offered reassurance: “No problem, no problem. If you’re not comfortable, you can just reject me.”

It’s not that… Xu Nianzhu tried to speak, but all she could do was exaggerate the joyful expression on her face. Fluttering her eyes quickly, she accepted the friend request before her phone screen could go dark.

During her graduate years, Xu Nianzhu’s favorite way to vent her emotions was to go out and take photos.

One day, by chance, she came across some reposted works by an indie photographer. Art is emotion; in that instant, it was as if she’d been injected with a new soul. She saw the romantic stories behind each photograph, feeling completely relaxed and at ease. What amazed her even more was that this photographer was actually colorblind.

That year, she had even gone out of her way to bypass the internet firewall, register on Instagram, just to view the photographer’s original work.

However, the “mother” behind these photos had never shared a picture of herself on any social media platform. Xu Nianzhu had never imagined she’d meet this person in real life.

Xu Nianzhu’s eyes widened in surprise, her excitement obvious. “Of course, I’d love to! I was just caught off guard for a second.”

“You know who I am?” Sonia asked, delighted.

“Yes, yes! I’ve been following you for such a long time!” Xu Nianzhu wasn’t the kind to fangirl over celebrities, but at that moment, she couldn’t help but feel a rush of excitement.

Sonia chuckled, waved toward her partner, then turned back to Xu Nianzhu. “Once the photos are ready, I’ll send you the originals through this WeChat,” she said, glancing over at Zhou Qi. She noticed his attention was completely fixed on Xu Nianzhu.

With a warm smile, Sonia wrapped an arm around Xu Nianzhu’s shoulder and said, directing her words at Zhou Qi, “So, now can we exchange contact info?”

Xu Nianzhu’s bright, glistening eyes darted back and forth between the two people beside her, like a small animal guarding its food. The subtle gulp she made didn’t escape Zhou Qi’s notice. Amused, he stifled a chuckle, turning his gaze back to Sonia and repeating, “No need. It’ll be easier if you just send it directly to her later.”

“Mm-hmm.” Sonia shrugged nonchalantly. She had only brought up the playful comment earlier because of something the guy had said. Now, seeing Xu Nianzhu’s cheeks turn as red as the sunset, Sonia couldn’t help but laugh. “Too cute,” she murmured, linking her arm with Xu Nianzhu’s and guiding her toward a quieter spot away from the crowd. “So… are you two close friends? Or-” She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully, “-or something more… romantic?”

Xu Nianzhu froze, her heart skipping a beat. “Why would you ask me that all of a sudden?”

“It’s your eyes,” Sonia said with a knowing smile, her tone light and straightforward. She raised an eyebrow and leaned slightly closer, adding playfully, “The way he looks at you says it all. Honestly, it reminds me of how my husband looked at me when he was trying to win me over.”

“What do you think of him?” Sonia asked, not entirely subtly.

“Huh?” Xu Nianzhu came to a halt, her mouth moving faster than her brain. “Um, I mean… he’s pretty… good.”

“Pretty good? That’s all you’ve got?” Sonia teased, clearly unconvinced. “He’s said a lot more about you.”

“What’s that supposed to mea-”

Before Xu Nianzhu could finish, she suddenly realized Zhou Qi had appeared behind her at some point, without her noticing. Startled, she clamped her hand over her mouth in an exaggerated gesture, as if sealing it shut with an imaginary zipper, and took a step back like a kid caught sharing a secret.

Zhou Qi, unaware of what the two had been discussing, hesitated. He didn’t want to interrupt their conversation but could sense something was up. So, he mouthed silently to Xu Nianzhu, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, nothing!” Xu Nianzhu replied quickly, her voice finally emerging, though her tone betrayed her flustered state. “Just… fans meeting their idol, that’s all…” Her breathing was unsteady, and she knew that saying anything more would risk exposing the chaos inside her heart.

Sonia, observing the situation from the side, saw a picture-perfect scene steeped in unspoken emotions. It was the kind of moment that could tell a whole story on its own. She smiled knowingly. Handing the camera to Xu Nianzhu, she lightly patted her hand and said in the tone of someone who had been through it all, “Follow your heart, girl.”

The words sent a ripple through Xu Nianzhu’s chest.

She had thought she’d already figured out what she wanted earlier that afternoon. But now, deep down, she realized that maybe it had just been her selfish attempt to convince herself.

She gave Sonia a bright smile that showed all eight of her front teeth in a gesture of gratitude. Then, glancing at the reflective panels and tripods set up nearby, she asked casually, “So, should I touch up my lipstick… or maybe fix my makeup?”

When she stepped out in the afternoon, she had only applied sunscreen and a base layer. Her makeup was slightly smudged on the camera, which made her a bit anxious.

“No need to worry, girls always look beautiful,” Sonia smiled and tilted her chin towards Zhou Qi. “Right, male lead?”

Xu Nianzhu’s face flushed bright red, and she quickly turned her head. In that moment, as Zhou Qi opened his mouth to speak, she stood on tiptoe and covered his mouth with her hand.

She hadn’t expected it to fit so perfectly; her hand completely covered his mouth and nose, leaving no room for air at all.

Zhou Qi found it amusing. He slightly crouched down to match her height but was also mindful not to let her legs cramp, so he opened his hands and let them hover near her waist. They remained like this for a few minutes until he was running out of breath. Finally, he raised his hand to try to remove her stubborn hands.

His palm was very warm.

She wasn’t sure if it was just in her head, but when Zhou Qi’s hand touched her skin, Xu Nianzhu felt an overwhelmingly strong sensation. She quickly let go of her grip and looked at Zhou Qi, realizing his eyes were filled with laughter, showing no signs of discomfort or annoyance.

He gazed at her and slowly added, “You’re very beautiful.”

Those four words made Xu Nianzhu’s mind explode with fireworks. Feeling extremely flustered, she hastily turned around but didn’t expect to stumble over two people walking by. She lost her balance and fell completely into his embrace.

“There were people in front…” she stammered, “I, I, I’ll get up now.”

Zhou Qi chuckled and stood up straight. After a moment, he leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “Not planning to get up again?”

Xu Nianzhu pouted in mock indignation, her palms sweaty. “My legs went numb…”

He chuckled softly, his right fist pressing against his lips to stifle his laughter, while he remained a solid “wall” for her without doing anything else.

Sonia and her friends were going wild on the side, snapping pictures at angles with gusto.

“Let’s switch locations; maintaining this pose is fantastic-way beyond what we expected!” Sonia was in great spirits, and after learning they would be heading to the Sunset Pavilion, she collected quite a few more scenic shots along the way.

“I’ll send you the photos by this Friday,” Sonia said with satisfaction as she waved goodbye to them.

“Okay, thanks a lot!”

“Not at all. It’s been such a pleasure meeting you all!”

The joy of the photographer was simple: capturing beautiful, satisfying photos and encountering friendly people could make their day delightful.

At the time, Xu Nianzhu was in the same kind of mood. Later that night, back in the dorm, she lay on her bed, feet swaying as she flipped through her photos. Wen Yi would often hear soft exclamations of delight from behind her bed curtains, as if Xu Nianzhu could barely contain her excitement.

Back on the stone steps, Xu Nianzhu surged forward with a burst of energy and ran up to the flat terrace first, catching sight of the golden molten sunset.

The sky was awash with a tapestry of vibrant colors, the clouds painted in hues like silk embroidery. She managed to perfectly capture the “runny salted egg yolk” effect in her photo.

“That’s the spot. From that corner, you can get the shot you saw on your phone,” Zhou Qi said from behind her, gesturing toward the location. “Think we can climb a bit higher? The view might be even better from up there.”

“Of course we can.”

Xu Nianzhu turned her head, and a shaft of sunlight filtered through the leaves, landing softly across Zhou Qi’s face, gentle and breathtaking. He approached her, so real yet somehow surreal.

It was strange how, with certain people, even after knowing them for just a few days, there could be an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Maybe they had known each other in another lifetime, separated by vast distances in this one, only to meet again by chance.

Zhou Qi stood next to Xu Nianzhu, the two of them gazing in the same direction: toward the tangerine ocean of the setting sun, the people rushing home to reunite with their loved ones, the occasionally congested streets, and the 1314 bus turning a corner and disappearing from view.

“Did you ever take the 1314 bus?” Zhou Qi asked.

“I did. I took it coming back down from Fa Xi Temple,” Xu Nianzhu said with a smile. “It was so crowded. Everyone just wanted to be part of the moment.”

Like all the other visitors who scrambled for snapshots, Xu Nianzhu had also pulled out her camera when she spotted the bus. She adjusted the focus, zoomed in, tweaked the lighting, and pressed the shutter. Afterward, she rummaged in her bag and pulled out two lemon candies, unwrapped one from its foil, and handed the other to Zhou Qi.

The tangy sweetness rolled across their tongues.

Every time she watched a sunset, Xu Nianzhu would feel her eyes sting slightly. How could something, in its final act, still shine with a beauty so moving?

As she grew older, she realized she was more willing to “waste” time savoring the fleeting beauty of a day. Sometimes, the splendor of the scenery would overwhelm her spirit, bringing her to tears.

We can afford to spend our time on the people and things we love, but we mustn’t trap ourselves in a lifestyle we despise.

Xu Nianzhu took a deep breath, climbing up a few more steps until she could see Zhou Qi at eye level. A sudden thought struck her, and she turned to him with a curious smile. “Can you guess what sunsets really are?”

“What is it?” Zhou Qi lifted his gaze, catching sight of a single tear quietly clinging to the tip of Xu Nianzhu’s nose. He froze for a moment, instinctively raising his hand to wipe it away, but midway, he hesitated and let it fall. He guessed she didn’t want him to notice-just like earlier that afternoon. Respecting her subtlety, he went along with her words and began to ponder playfully. “A metaphor?”

“Yes,” Xu Nianzhu nodded, then paused, realizing she might have made it a bit too hard for him. “Okay, let me give you a hint.”

“Alright.”

The serious concentration on his face made Xu Nianzhu laugh, her excitement bubbling over. For a moment, they looked like mischievous kids back in grade school, caught up in a silly, spontaneous game. It was pointless yet oddly delightful.

Clearing her throat in the most dramatic way possible, she suppressed her smile and said, “It’s related to the wind and clouds. It starts with… ‘The wind-‘”

“The wind got drunk and whispered sweet nothings to the clouds,” Zhou Qi blurted out, the phrase suddenly leaping to his mind. When he saw Xu Nianzhu’s eyes widen with surprise, he knew he’d nailed it. Encouraged, he continued, his tone playful yet poetic: “The wind confessed that all the rouge in the world couldn’t match the blush of her cheeks. And so, we mortals behold the sunset.”

It was almost too…

Xu Nianzhu was stunned. For a second, she couldn’t find the right words to describe how she felt.

Was he her soulmate or what?

Clapping her hands in delight, she exclaimed, “Not a single word off!”

“It feels like I might’ve missed a line or two. I don’t have a photographic memory,” Zhou Qi replied modestly. As he spoke, he instinctively reached out to steady Xu Nianzhu, who nearly lost her balance from her excitement.

“I read that just last night too!” she said, her voice rising with enthusiasm. “What are the odds? Could we have actually come across the same post?”

Her animated voice drew the attention of two nearby couples. Realizing this, Xu Nianzhu awkwardly shrank back, trying to hide herself as though the world might forget she was there.

“I hate most of this world, yet there’s always that small part of it that makes me stay.”

Xu Nianzhu had copied this line into her notebook long ago.

And now, it all made sense again. Here she was, surrounded by beauty-both in the scenery before her and the person beside her, who seemed to share her wavelength.

In that moment, she felt completely full.