Eat Less Fish in the Future - Chapter 9

Zheng Yimian grabbed the piece of fabric and looked at it, then immediately said, “Let’s see if we can salvage this using another method. Can I draw on this clothing?”

“You can draw on it.” The senior student was stunned for a moment, then quickly nodded and turned to the people behind her, saying, “Find some paint!”

By the time someone found the paint, Zheng Yimian had just finished conceptualizing her idea.

She took a white cloud brush, dipped it in water, dabbed a bit of light blue, and asked, “How long until we go on stage?”

Liang Yu glanced at his wristwatch and looked up, saying, “Fifteen minutes.”

Zheng Yimian lowered her eyelashes, the light and shadow creating fan-like shadows on her lower eyelids.

She pondered briefly, then quickly said, “That’s enough.”

…

Backstage, everyone let out a momentary gasp, like a boulder sinking to the bottom of the sea, quickly subsiding.

All eyes fell on Zheng Yimian.

There was no sign of frustration between her brows; she didn’t treat this as an annoying accident.

While everyone else was collectively discouraged, the aura around her was comfortably positive.

Someone watched her outline the basic shapes on the clothing and said to a friend. “She’s so optimistic.”

“You can only be that optimistic when you have ability and confidence, right?”

“I don’t think so. I think she’s just the type to naturally think positively about things, kind of like that… what’s it called…”

“Energetic girl?”

“Yes, yes, that’s it.”

Amidst the low discussions, Zheng Yimian had already drawn the basic shapes and, after sewing the torn part, started coloring.

Due to the material of the clothing, the sewn part indeed didn’t look good and was particularly noticeable.

She drew an epiphyllum flower along the tear.

The tear was around the shoulder, so she simply drew stems along the tear, following the stems upwards, and drew petals on the side of the senior student’s neck.

Finally, she used black to outline the stems, creating a visual illusion that the flower was tied to the clothing.

This way, the previously obvious stitching was completely hidden.

Everyone exchanged surprised glances.

“The art department’s treasure truly lives up to her reputation. Her quick thinking and transformation skills are no joke.”

“The artist matches her art, it’s too beautiful.”

Moreover, the flower she drew was an epiphyllum, which coincidentally matched the theme of this outfit and the fashion show.

Zheng Yimian sat on the empty long table, her body turned sideways for too long, causing the strap on her shoulder to slip down unstoppably. After she said “It’s done,” the senior student quickly stood up to check the result in the mirror.

Liang Yu stood in front of Zheng Yimian, watching her glance at the distant water bucket. She maintained her sideways sitting position on the table, holding the wooden handle of the brush horizontally between her lips. Her lips were coated with a velvety true red, the lip line distinct.

Her makeup today was exquisite, with one or two loose strands of hair falling from her ears to her cheeks.

She leaned on her left hand, lowering her head to pull up the strap with her right hand. The hollow of her collarbone was deeply indented, revealing a section of beautiful, fair collarbone.

Her fingers brushed her shoulder as she pulled up the disobedient strap and hung it on her shoulder.

Liang Yu’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he was reminded of Hong Kong films from the 70s and 80s.

The background seemed coated in an ambiguous warm yellow, with her at the center of vision. Every movement exuded a beauty that was both restrained and unrestrained.

Liang Yu walked up to her, bent down, and reached out to take the brush.

Zheng Yimian was startled for a moment, only then remembering to open her mouth.

He rubbed the brush handle with his fingertips, wiping off the lipstick she had accidentally gotten on it, before tossing the brush into the bucket.

Though it was a very ordinary action, due to Liang Yu’s silence and deep gaze, it inexplicably caused Zheng Yimian’s cheeks to flush.

“Alright, it’s time for us to go on stage!” the senior student laughed. “Someone help Mianmian up.”

A nearby male student stepped forward, about to reach out to help Zheng Yimian, when he suddenly received a gaze as cold as winter frost.

He looked at Liang Yu and was actually intimidated by that gaze, withdrawing his hand. His elbow made a circle in the air before he ended up scratching the back of his own head.

…

Liang Yu tilted his head slightly, looking somewhat satisfied. He walked in front of Zheng Yimian, bent down, and extended his hand.

Zheng Yimian hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his dry palm.

For some inexplicable reason, she was again reminded of the various events behind that classroom door – his voice tinged with laughter, his scorching breath, and his slightly cool fingers.

Zheng Yimian closed her eyes, shaking away these thoughts.

The music started, and the first group of models successfully completed the opening walk.

After seeing many singing and dancing performances, a visually pleasing fashion show was also quite enjoyable.

When the senior student went on stage wearing the outfit “modified” by Zheng Yimian, exclamations arose from the audience.

Even the girl behind Zheng Yimian craned her neck to look, saying as she watched, “It really looks good, like a haute couture piece. It’s as if we’re watching a show at a Dior runway.”

Just as one wave of exclamations subsided, another rose.

Zheng Yimian and Liang Yu had taken the stage.

Perhaps it was the power of rumors, or perhaps people were simply admiring their looks and figures.

From the moment the two of them stepped on stage, waves of screams and excited shouts surged forth. Many people stood up to get a glimpse of these two popular figures, waving their glow sticks to create a blur of light.

After walking a few steps, Zheng Yimian heard someone near the edge of the stage ask, “Why is everyone so excited?”

Someone replied, “That’s Zheng Yimian and Liang Yu, the ones who were caught kissing behind the Third Teaching Building.”

Zheng Yimian almost stumbled. ???

The discussion continued below.

“Zheng Yimian doesn’t look like such an aggressive person. She looks quite pure.”

“Without makeup, she has that fresh beauty look. With makeup, she has a bit of allure. That’s how she can hold her own with the great Liang Yu.”

“But you really can’t tell. I can’t believe she dared to do that at school…”

Zheng Yimian’s head started to ache.

Liang Yu, however, was different. He smiled throughout, clearly in a great mood.

In the audience, Zhao Yuan was discussing with his roommate. “Today, brother Yu is in a good mood. He finally doesn’t look like I owe him five million.”

“Why is he in a good mood?”

Zhao Yuan gazed into the distance and sighed slightly, “Maybe he’s in love.”

Finally, the fashion show ended, and everyone retreated backstage together.

Zheng Yimian, walking in sky-high heels, had just reached the backstage when she saw Li Min waving at her.

She walked over and asked, “What are you doing here?”

Li Min said softly, “I’m here to tell you that your romantic love story with Liang Yu is now known to almost the entire school.”

Zheng Yimian: “…”

Yes, the whole school thought that she, Zheng Yimian, was so desperate that she pinned someone against the classroom door for unspeakable acts. How very romantic indeed.

“No, that’s not it.” Li Min held out her phone for her to see. “I was afraid you hadn’t seen the group message, so I came to notify you. After two days of rest, we’re going out for a sketching trip.”

Zheng Yimian was surprised. “…Sketching? So soon?”

“I think the school has gone mad,” Li Min complained. “Usually, only second-year students go on sketching trips. I don’t know what’s going on this year, even freshmen have to go… Is it because we were too naughty during military training? Or do they want to see our skill level?”

Zheng Yimian asked, “Where are we going?”

“I forgot the name of the village, but it’s very far. It takes over ten hours by bus,” Li Min said. “Remember to buy art supplies.”

As Zheng Yimian was pondering this, Li Min bumped her shoulder. “During the sketching trip, everyone will be staying in the same building.”

Zheng Yimian: “…What are you trying to say?”

Li Min gave a thumbs up. “Liang Yu might be staying on the floor above us.”

Zheng Yimian: “…”

After Zheng Yimian’s program ended, she and Li Min were the first to return to the dormitory.

As they approached the dormitory and were about to go downstairs, they saw a row of flickering lights below.

Looking down from above, they could clearly see the shape – it was a heart formed by candles.

Next to the heart, several balloons were rising, making the whole scene very romantic.

Li Min linked arms with Zheng Yimian and said, “Wow, a confession. I wonder who it’s for?”

Zheng Yimian: “Let’s go quickly. It has nothing to do with us anyway.”

Halfway down the stairs, they saw a large crowd gathered around the heart-shaped candles, with someone in the middle holding a giant teddy bear.

When they saw Zheng Yimian, a sudden burst of screams erupted.

Zheng Yimian was stunned as she saw someone walking towards her.

Li Min tugged at Zheng Yimian’s sleeve, whispering, “Is someone confessing to you??”

Zheng Yimian looked at the approaching person’s face and frowned, thinking for a while. “But I don’t know this person.”

“Don’t you know Xiao Feng?” Li Min was anxious. “You might not know him, but he might know you!”

The two of them walked to the middle of the path.

Xiao Feng held out the teddy bear and, amidst a chorus of whistles, calmly began. “Hello, I’m Xiao Feng from the Design Department. I’ve been paying attention to you for a long time.”

As soon as the person in front of her spoke, Zheng Yimian began to think of reasons to refuse.

Meanwhile, Liang Yu was watching the program with Zhao Yuan in the audience.

He had originally wanted to leave directly, but Zhao Yuan insisted on dragging him to watch some instructor performance, so he had no choice but to stay.

Zhao Yuan saw him playing a game on the side and took out his own phone to play as well. As soon as he lit up the screen and saw a few messages, he almost threw his phone away.

“Holy crap!!”

This caused everyone to turn and look at them frequently.

Liang Yu glanced at him. “What are you making a fuss about again?”

“I’m not, no.” Zhao Yuan blinked, coming back to his senses, “Damn, I was wondering why Xiao Feng didn’t come to watch the show today. Turns out he had other plans!”

Zhao Yuan grabbed Liang Yu’s shoulder, remembering Xiao Feng’s extensive history of flirting that could fill a book, and said with a complicated expression. “Brother Yu, remember that guy I told you about before, Xiao Feng, who has girlfriends by the handful? Tonight, he’s confessing to sister-in-law at the bottom of her dormitory building.”

Liang Yu’s gaze moved away from his game screen, eyes narrowing. “Is he done confessing?”

“No, it’s just starting,” Zhao Yuan rubbed his head. “They say the scene is set up really romantically. A friend said it’s the type that all girls like…”

Zhao Yuan continued to chatter. “I wonder what type sister-in-law likes? What should we do? Do we have any countermeasures? Should we…”

Liang Yu yanked his chair back and quickly stood up, leaving the scene.

Zhao Yuan grabbed his clothes and chased after him. “Wait for me!”