Oh no, the aloof school beauty has been reborn too!

When Lu Xing returned to the dormitory, Zhao Lin was slumped in a chair.

Hearing the door open, Zhao Lin looked away from the screen.

"You're back?"

Lu Xing placed the cloth bag in his hand on the table.

"She agreed to let the photo be used in the competition."

Zhao Lin sat up straight.

"real?"

Lu Xing nodded.

"real."

"She said the photo was very well taken and it was fine to submit it for a competition."

Zhao Lin immediately turned around, grabbed the mouse, and opened the official website of Getty Images.

Lu Xing watched as he skillfully logged into his account, entered the submission page, and dragged in the photos he had prepared beforehand.

Title, brief description, shooting time, shooting location.

He filled out each item very carefully.

Lu Xing stood by and watched for a while, then couldn't help but ask:

"Does the introduction really need to be this long?"

Zhao Lin didn't even look up.

"nonsense."

"Photography competitions aren't just about the photos themselves; thematic expression is also very important."

As Lu Xing watched him write the introduction, his ears inexplicably felt hot.

After filling in the last column, Zhao Lin took a deep breath.

Then I clicked submit.

The webpage froze for a couple of seconds, and then a message popped up in the center of the screen.

[Submission successful]

Zhao Lin stared at those four words for a long time.

He didn't say anything, but slowly leaned back in his chair, as if he had finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lu Xing smiled.

"Is it really necessary?"

"As for..."

Zhao Lin rubbed his face, his tone still lazy, but his eyes were very serious.

"This is the first time I've submitted a photo that I truly like to a formal competition like this."

Lu Xing was slightly taken aback.

"Haven't you voted before?"

Zhao Lin shook his head.

"I've placed some small bets."

"Activities from the school, the district, and some platforms."

"But Getty Images is different; this is a national-level competition."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xing casually asked:

"Aren't you a software engineer?"

I thought you'd prefer computers.

After listening, Zhao Lin smiled helplessly.

Actually...

"I still prefer photography to computers."

Lu Xing was a little surprised.

"Then why didn't you study photography-related majors?"

Zhao Lin looked at the camera bag on the table and gently touched it.

"It's not that easy!"

"My family's financial situation is just so-so."

"Learning photography costs far more money than learning computer science."

"Camera body, lens, computer, post-production, travel expenses for shooting..."

"What's free?"

Zhao Lin paused, then pointed to the camera bag on the table.

"I bought this camera when I was in high school."

Lu Xing glanced at it; the camera and lens together weren't cheap.

Even now, it would still be considered expensive for students.

"You bought it back in high school?"

"Um."

Zhao Lin nodded, his tone very calm:

"I secretly worked part-time and saved some money."

"Plus the prize money I won in some competitions in high school, I managed to scrape together the money to get it."

Lu Xing sincerely said:

"You're amazing! You can earn bonuses while working part-time."

"This is something that not just anyone can do."

Zhao Lin could only manage a wry smile.

"They were all forced into it."

He looked at the camera bag, his gaze gradually drifting into the distance.

"I chose this major because I thought it had a promising future; at least if I studied hard, I could get a job."

"At the same time, I also have some talent for computers."

Lu Xing nodded.

"Judging from the trend, computers do indeed have a promising future."

As he spoke, he thought for a moment and then added:

"It just means that from now on it might be all about paperwork and overtime."

Zhao Lin was amused by his words.

The way you're saying it makes it sound like you've already experienced it beforehand.

Lu Xing paused slightly, then smiled nonchalantly.

"Just a guess."

"In the internet industry, you can usually tell the trends by reading the news."

Zhao Lin didn't dwell on the topic.

He simply looked back at the computer screen.

"I first got into photography because of my dad."

Lu Xing looked at him quietly.

Zhao Lin's tone gradually softened.

"My dad really enjoys photography."

"I really like it."

"When I was a child, I often saw him going out with a camera on his back."

"Sometimes we go to the mountains to photograph the sunrise, and sometimes we go to the riverbank to photograph the sunset."

"He takes very good photos and has won several awards."

Lu Xing nodded in realization.

"So that's how it is..."

He laughed:

"They really are father and son."

"Your photos are really amazing. Both the lighting and composition are very pleasing to the eye."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Lin lowered his head, a slight smile curving his lips.

"But he passed away when I was in junior high school."

Lu Xing was stunned.

These words seemed to suddenly strike the air, leaving all his voice stuck in his throat.

Zhao Lin didn't seem to care much about Lu Xing's reaction and continued speaking:

"Later, it was my mother who raised me until now."

"She's had a tough time."

"So I never thought about actually pursuing photography as a career in the first place."

"The costs are high, and the lifestyle is unstable."

Lu Xing didn't know what to say for a moment.

Zhao Lin noticed his helplessness and smiled instead.

Don't make that face, it's been so many years.

"Sadness and grief will pass eventually."

"All that's left are some obsessions."

Lu Xing looked at him.

Zhao Lin turned to look at him, his tone a mix of self-deprecation and seriousness.

"My biggest obsession is photography."

"I also want to be like him, win a big award, and get a photography certificate."

"Then let someone else say something..."

"This kid's a photography prodigy!"

After he finished speaking, he laughed out loud first.

"It seems like I'm getting a bit of a chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)."

Lu Xing smiled along, but there was a hint of helplessness in his smile.

"What are you saying?"

"You're a photography genius."

Zhao Lin raised an eyebrow.

"You're being so accommodating?"

Lu Xing said seriously:

"I definitely couldn't have taken such good photos."

"I'm lucky if I can even get a clear picture of people."

"And that photo of yours..."

"Well, just wait for the award to come."

Zhao Lin glanced at him, and her smile became more genuine.

"I like hearing that."

He leaned back in his chair.

"If I really win the award, I'll treat you to dinner."

Lu Xing immediately said:

"I'll remember that, I'll eat the expensive stuff too."

Zhao Lin: "..."

"Don't forget, we're still waiting for your meal."

Lu Xing's gaze immediately wandered.

"I've been busy lately and forgot about it."

Just as Zhao Lin was about to complain about him, the dormitory door was suddenly pushed open.

Lin Yuanzhou rushed in in a great hurry.

"It's all over, all over, all over!"

"I forgot my book, I'm going to be late for class!"

He muttered to himself as he rushed to his desk and flipped through a book.

Halfway through the flipping, Lin Yuanzhou realized that the atmosphere in the dormitory seemed a bit off.

He turned his head to look at Lu Xing, then at Zhao Lin.

What are you two doing?

"Sitting so close, are you having a secret meeting behind my back?"

Lu Xing explained:

"We were talking about the photos from the day I confessed my feelings."

"Zhao Lin just submitted a piece to Getty Images."

Lin Yuanzhou stopped moving.

"You submitted your work?"

The next second, he immediately gave a thumbs up.

"Great job, Zhao Lin!"

"If that photo doesn't win an award, I'll eat shit."

Zhao Lin looked at him expressionlessly.

"Could you change the stakes?"

"Even if I ate shit, nobody would want to watch. It's disgusting."

Lin Yuanzhou grabbed the book and ran outside.

"Never mind that, I've already peed here anyway."

"Let's go!"

After saying that, he rushed out of the dormitory again.

The door slammed shut, and the sound of him leaving could still be heard in the hallway.

"Oh no, oh no, the teacher is really tough on roll call this class..."

Lu Xing looked at the doorway, shook his head, and smiled.

"This guy seems to have a full schedule of classes today."

Zhao Lin slumped back into his chair.

"To forget to bring a book, that's quite a feat."

Lu Xing took out the girl's food box, intending to wash it first.

Before washing, secretly sip the remaining broth.

After washing the food container and returning to his dorm, he glanced at his computer again.

The tool is now taking shape.

Lu Xing sat back down and stretched.

"Let's keep working on the code; the tool is almost finished too."

Zhao Lin reminded him:

"Don't forget the freshman competition at the academy!"

"You've been juggling projects and dating lately, be careful things don't go wrong."

Lu Xing smiled.

"Don't worry, I already have a plan."