"Recently, the club has been organizing activities such as barbecues and games at Prospect Park. Each participant only needs to pay 20 yuan to join. Those who wish to participate can scan the QR code on the poster to register. Come and join us!"
This club is composed of Chinese international students on campus. During traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival and Spring Festival, the club organizes activities, including inviting students on campus to participate in camping and barbecues, in order to meet and make more friends. Lin Shen, as the vice president of the Chinese club, is responsible for creating posters and sharing them in the group chat to keep everyone informed about the specific event details.
Five days after the club announcement was posted, Shen Jiahe woke up early before the sun had even risen to start working on her homework. As she worked, she grew too tired to continue and lazily lay back on the bed. She opened her phone, tapped into the club group chat, and saw the announcement in the group.
"The club has a new activity! Since Lin Shen is the vice president, he should be going too, right?" Shen Jiahe said to Ling Ke'in over the phone.
"He probably will. You've been busy with your homework these past few days, aren't you? Are you going?"
Two days earlier, during a professional course, the professor assigned a homework task to design product packaging. Shen Jiahe had no inspiration and procrastinated for several days before finally starting. She thought the deadline was still three or four days away, but when she woke up today and checked the website, she realized the deadline was only two days away. And the final day of the assignment deadline happened to be the day the club was organizing a camping and barbecue activity.
"Go ahead. Maybe you'll make it in time. I won't be going out these two days. If I pull two all-nighters, I'm sure I can finish it!" Shen Jiahe was full of determination, jumped out of bed, and quickly picked up her pen to continue drawing.
"Hahaha, good luck then. I won't disturb you anymore." Ling Ke'yin couldn't help but laugh out loud. She had realized a truth—dating could also improve homework efficiency.
Two days later, Shen Jiahe had pulled an all-nighter and finally submitted her assignment on time. She walked to the sink, picked up her toothbrush to brush her teeth, and looked at herself in the mirror. Her beautiful eyes were bloodshot, with dark circles under them like a panda's eyes, and her face showed signs of exhaustion.
"Oh my gosh, I only stayed up one night and I look this haggard?" Shen Jiahe exclaimed in astonishment. She quickly finished her morning routine, then hurriedly applied makeup to conceal her fatigue.
Finally, Shen Jiahe called Ling Kexin to urge her to leave. She put on her shoes, grabbed the keys by the door, and rushed to the subway station to meet Ling Kexin.
"You look so good. If I were a guy, I'd fall for you." Ling Kexin looked Shen Jiahe up and down, teasing her as she did so.
Shen Jiahe shot Ling Kexin a glance and said, "Stop flattering me. I dress like this all the time."
Despite the teasing, Ling Kexin truly believed her best friend had a face as beautiful as a carefully carved sculpture. Shen Jiahe wore washed denim jeans paired with a pale pink spaghetti-strap top. Her fair skin glowed like jade under the sunlight, her round, clear eyes sparkled, and her thick black hair was tied into two ponytails, giving her a playful and lively appearance.
At the club, the members were busy preparing ingredients and setting up the venue.
"Shen Shen, I'm here to help!"
Lin Shen hadn't seen his good friend Xiang Nan Yu yet, but he heard his voice from afar. Since Lin Shen and Xiang Nan Yu's parents had been old friends for years, Xiang Nan Yu had grown up with Lin Shen. Unlike Lin Shen, who had a calm and steady personality, Xiang Nan Yu was outgoing and carefree.
"Lin Shen, why aren't you responding to me? I've been calling out to you from a distance several times."
"I heard you, but I'm too lazy to respond." Lin Shen was accustomed to Xiang Nanyu's behavior and continued skewering the meat without batting an eye.
"How can you be like this? You're breaking my heart." Xiang Nanyu spoke while using his poor acting skills, pounding his chest as if he had suffered a great blow and injury.
Lin Shen no longer paid attention to Xiang Nanyu and simply urged, "Stop talking and help me."
"Coming, coming." Xiang Nanyu agreed. He picked up a small stool nearby, put on disposable gloves, and began skewering the meatballs one by one from the plate.
After skewering for a while, Xiang Nanyu grew restless. He looked around as if searching for something, and suddenly spotted Shen Jiaheng and Ling Keying standing at the camping registration desk.
He elbowed Lin Shen beside him and excitedly said, "There are two beautiful girls over there. Do you know them?"
Lin Shen raised his eyes and inadvertently locked gazes with Shen Jiahe. Shen Jiahe had come to the club's camping site and was just looking up to find Lin Shen when she met his deep gaze, which made her feel inexplicably flustered.
"Hi, Lin Shen!" Shen Jiahe forced herself to stay calm, raised her hand stiffly, and waved to Lin Shen, who was sitting not far away. Lin Shen nodded slightly in greeting, his bangs fluttering in the wind, occasionally blocking his eyes.
Xiang Nanyu, who knew that Lin Shen didn't usually interact much with women, was surprised to see him making friends with a girl so soon after the start of the semester. He exclaimed, "Wow, you two actually know each other. Why didn't you tell me you knew such a beautiful girl?" After speaking, he exchanged a mischievous glance with Lin Shen: "Bro, you've got something going on here."
"What are you talking about? Get back to grilling your skewers." Lin Shen spoke in a flat tone. When Xiang Nanyu turned to look at Shen Jiahe and the others again, his eyebrows raised slightly, and the corners of his mouth curved into an almost imperceptible smile.
After registering with the club president, Shen Jiahe and Ling Keyin walked toward Lin Shen, who was sitting by the grill.
"Hello, ladies. My name is Xiang Nanyu, and I'm Lin Shen's good buddy. Let's hang out together sometime when you're free." As a genuine e-person, Xiang Nanyu took the initiative to introduce himself to Shen Jiahe and Ling Keyin.
"My name is Ling Keyin, and my best friend is Shen Jiahe." Ling Keyin introduced herself.
"Hello, hello. Don't just stand there, sit down."
"I'll go to the milk tea shop to buy milk tea for everyone. Take a look and see what you want to drink." Lin Shen took off his gloves, revealing his fair skin. The phone he was holding was as small as a playing card in his long, broad hands. He opened the food delivery app and handed the phone to Shen Jiahe.
"I'll have the Zhi Zhi Matcha." Ling Ke Yin saw that the store name was Happy Tea, the milk tea shop she frequently visited, and immediately ordered her favorite drink.