My Terrible Life in Those Years

Just as I was about to put down the steel pipe and go over to greet her, she had already seen me.

After a brief pause of half a second, he immediately shouted at me, "Carry the steel pipe on your shoulder, I'll take a picture of you!"

I laughed. What's gotten into this girl? She's been going crazy these past few days, always taking photos of migrant workers.

But since the young lady made this arrangement, I'll cooperate. It's just a photo of me carrying steel pipes, getting a little dirty, and looking a bit like a migrant worker. I'm just a temporary worker, as long as the young lady is happy!

They took several photos in a row, and even asked me to change my carrying position a few times, shooting from every angle, before finally stopping.

I put down the steel pipe and smiled at Miss Panpan, who was walking towards me, saying, "Why have you been filming migrant workers so much lately?"

Miss Panpan smiled and said, "Recently, I've been thinking about creating a piece about migrant workers. How can I create something if I don't come to construction sites to gather materials?"

I nodded in agreement: "That makes sense. Works that don't delve into the front lines have no soul!"

"Why are you back at the construction site again? And carrying steel pipes?" Miss Panpan asked curiously.

"If I don't carry steel pipes, where will I get the footage to shoot?" I felt that my whole demeanor was very different from usual after I left the company today.

These past few days, I've been busy with company matters, Du Yan's affairs, and the barbecue stall, and I've been handling things in a relatively rational way.

But today, especially after arriving at the construction site, I feel like I've relaxed.

Carrying pipes, smoking, bragging—it's as if a completely different version of myself has returned.

It feels so good to have this feeling again after so long.

When I'm with a young lady, I communicate with her in a carefree manner, since bragging doesn't cost me anything!

Besides, we've just fooled a bunch of migrant workers, so one more won't make a difference!

Miss Panpan's eyes lit up when she heard what I said, "What do you mean? Looking at your face, you don't look like a migrant worker!"

"Think about it, if you photographed a real migrant worker, wouldn't your work seem too ordinary?"

"But it's true!"

"It is true, but a work of art, like literary creation, must originate from life, but it must also transcend life."

I rambled on in a condescending manner, sounding like an expert or scholar.

Now that they've all gone to work, there's no one left to brag to. This young lady in front of me is perfect for me to chat with and let off some steam.

"Then, why would it be better to photograph you?" she asked, intrigued.

I took a closer look at her outfit today. It was still the same casual wear, running shoes, and her hair was tied up. She looked quite capable.

He still had that professional camera hanging around his neck, but he wasn't holding that light-up thing in his hand.

"Think about it, think about it carefully. If you're going to film an ordinary migrant worker, you can find tons of them on construction sites. Right?"

She nodded.

"Then you filmed me, a college student, carrying steel pipes on a construction site. What did that feel like? Didn't it start to create a noticeable contrast?"

She nodded decisively again.

"Then you find out that I, a college graduate, am also an employee of a soon-to-be-listed company. Think about it carefully, think about it even more thoroughly. Doesn't the contrast become even stronger?"

"Suddenly, something else has been added to the photos you take. For example, you could put a headline like: 'College Student Migrant Worker'? Or 'College Student Migrant Worker of a Pre-IPO Company'?"

"When you create a piece like this, which do you think is more eye-catching, more captivating, and has more charm and tension—a photo of an ordinary migrant worker?"

I feel that after I opened my heart, my thinking improved significantly, and I even developed a sense of confidence and exuberance.

Miss Panpan is overjoyed!

"Have you studied photography before? Or taken directing courses?" I was secretly laughing to myself. This girl, I've fooled her?

"Hey, back in college, I audited every class imaginable, they were all child's play!" At that moment, I felt like my bragging skills had reached a certain level!

This time, the young lady seemed to believe it but not quite!

"I think you're wasting your time at GG. You're smart enough to be a journalist!"

The young woman spoke casually as she fiddled with her camera, examining the photos she had just taken.

It would have been better if she hadn't brought it up, because the moment she did, that nameless anger inside me flared up again!

"Don't mention reporters in front of me. If I ever run into that guy, I'll kill him!"

I'm really grinding my teeth in anger!

Miss Panpan was startled: "What did the reporter do to offend you? Why are you holding such a grudge?"

"If that bastard hadn't left his lousy column half-finished, would I be in this sorry state today?"

As soon as I said it, I regretted it. Didn't I say something I shouldn't have said? I blurted it out without thinking.

Miss Panpan looked a little downcast, and seeing my exasperated expression, she suddenly understood.

"Hey handsome, you...you were sent here by the company today, right? Because of that report?"

I quickly looked up, instinctively surprised: "How did you know? Oh, no, I mean, how did you know there was a report about it?"

"Such big news, who wouldn't see it? Besides, I read that column every single day...every single day! Oh dear, handsome young migrant worker, looks like you're in a bit of trouble. Did you get a beating from the company?"

I suddenly remembered General Manager Liu's instructions, widened my eyes, and looked at her, saying, "Are you kidding me? Why would the company punish such an excellent employee like me?"

She looked at me with a half-smile: "So, my handsome young migrant worker, what's with that hard hat, that old cloth mat, and that steel pipe in your hand? You've really come to the construction site to work?"

After I came to my senses, Mr. Liu's instructions hung over my head like a sword, as if saying anything more would be slashed down.

"Wasn't that migrant worker injured? And another older man went to take care of him, so suddenly there are two fewer people. Won't this delay the construction schedule?"

"There's not much going on at the hospital. I'm here to help out, and also to experience life. I haven't exercised in a while, and my muscles have gotten a bit loose. I'll carry a steel pipe for a few days, and you'll see, my muscles will definitely get back in shape."

"Don't believe me? Take a picture then, make it clear. This is a biceps brachii, this is a forearm muscle..."

Just as I was about to lift my shirt to show her my deltoids, I remembered that the person in front of me was a young lady. I couldn't just let anyone see me, or let anyone see me for free!

Especially women! Especially women who are pleasing to the eye, well-mannered, cultured, beautiful, and have curves!

"Take this photo today, and come back in a few days to take another one. Let's compare and see if my muscles have recovered noticeably."

I only started joking around because I had just let some information out and remembered Mr. Liu's instructions. I was trying to get away with it.

To my surprise, she actually came up and started slapping her arm.

After the shoot, I was told to strain and tense my muscles, and to keep poking with my slender, scallion-like fingers.

"He does have some muscle, and it's firm, but his skin is a bit rough, with large pores and a lot of hair..."

I was furious and embarrassed: "Are you looking for a nude model or are you going to dissect me? How can you be so superficial? Shouldn't a cultured person like you be more concerned with the inner qualities of a person?"

She smiled and took half a step back, looking at me with a half-smile, then said softly, "I already know a bit about your inner self, so what I just did was get to know your outer self!"

I'm shocked! Is this girl running a fever? She knows everything about me after only meeting me twice?

"Hmm, I can tell you're a very perceptive person, starting with my inner self and ending with my outward appearance!"

You tell me, how come there's such a huge difference between two people named Panpan? They're worlds apart!

Her face flushed red, then turned green, as if she was about to explode, but she held back.

"Miss, your expression is weird. Could it be that you've fallen for me?"

After I finished speaking, I regretted it a little. Damn, how did I get so lewd?