Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 36 The Couple Under the First Snow, Being Photographed Secretly
"Okay."
Lin Xi didn’t forget her pink mask, hopping and skipping as she followed Xue Yang downstairs. Their newly rented apartment was on the fourth floor of an ordinary, eight-story residential building.
The midnight streets were nearly deserted. There wasn’t a single car in sight in their residential area. All was still and silent as snowflakes fell gently, like little elves dancing in the air. They twirled and sparkled, like stars from the heavens descending upon the mortal world.
The snow blanketed the ground, enveloping the world and turning the earth a pristine white. It was like a fresh, new world where every color was hidden beneath the snow, and everything became quiet and peaceful.
"It’s so beautiful."
Lin Xi had seen the first snow of the year more than once, but none had ever been as beautiful and enchanting as this one. To her, it was the most beautiful sight in the world.
The two snuggled close together downstairs, looking up and quietly enjoying the snowy vista that filled the sky. The snow was beautiful, but the people admiring it were even more so. While you admire the scenery, in the eyes of others, you become the scenery.
CLICK—
Suddenly, the sound of a camera shutter echoed in their ears. Xue Yang and Lin Xi turned around in unison and saw a young man their age pointing a camera at them. The very moment they turned back in perfect sync was also captured by the camera.
The combination of the handsome man and beautiful woman against a backdrop of falling snow created an impossibly beautiful scene. Although the girl wore a mask, it didn’t detract from the overall aesthetic; instead, it added a touch of mysterious charm. For the first time, the young man was completely satisfied with a photo he had taken.
"I’m sorry for taking your photo without your permission," he said. "It’s just that the scene was so beautiful. A planned shot wouldn’t have captured this effect, which is why I did it. I’m truly sorry."
"I’m a freshman in the Photography Department at Yanbei University. My name is Zeng Yuheng. I’ll send you the photos I just took. Would it be okay if I kept a copy as a souvenir? I’ve never taken such beautiful photos before, and I would love to preserve them."
Upon seeing a stranger, Lin Xi hid behind Xue Yang, peeking her little head out to look at the man. When his eyes met hers, she ducked away again, looking just like a shy little kitten.
Zeng Yuheng felt his heart skip a beat. This guy is so lucky to have such a beautiful and lovely girlfriend. While feeling envious, he also thought he might have seen the girl somewhere before.
He couldn’t help but ask, "Hello, have we met somewhere before?"
Xue Yang’s gaze turned wary. Even a fool could see through such a flimsy excuse.
Zeng Yuheng immediately took two steps back and apologized. "Sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. Your girlfriend just looks familiar, and I got a little ahead of myself. I have no ill intentions, I swear. Here’s my student ID."
Xue Yang glanced at the student ID in his hand. It was identical to his own, which made him relax slightly, but he continued to shield Lin Xi, keeping her completely out of Zeng Yuheng’s line of sight.
Zeng Yuheng suggested, "Let’s add each other on QQ. If you’re willing, I can take a few more photos for you. You two are a perfect match."
Xue Yang took out his phone and added Zeng Yuheng on QQ. "My friend is shy around strangers, so no more photos. Just send us the ones you just took. That’ll be enough."
"Alright then. Thank you, and again, I’m really sorry," Zeng Yuheng said, his expression a mixture of apology and regret. If he hadn’t been so impulsive, he might have been able to take a few more pictures for them.
Xue Yang turned and led Lin Xi into a nearby alley. He waited until Zeng Yuheng had left before taking her back upstairs.
Once they entered the warm stairwell, Lin Xi was no longer as shy and took off her mask.
"With all this snow, we can build a snowman when we wake up tomorrow! That’ll be great! Xue Yang, let me tell you, I’m really good at building snowmen. They turn out incredibly cute."
"Then I’ll have to see which is more beautiful: our lovely snow-maiden or the lovely snow."
"Is there even a comparison? It’s me, obviously."
By the time they got back to their apartment, it was already three or four in the morning. They both took off their coats and took showers.
Warm and cozy, they lay down on the bed. Xue Yang, being from the south, was used to showering daily. For some reason, Lin Xi, a northerner, showered even more frequently than he did. Xue Yang just assumed it was her habit, too.
"Xue Yang, are you cold?"
"No, I’m not."
"Well, I am."
"..." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶
The next second, Xue Yang felt an icy form press against him, followed by a familiar, fresh scent. Lin Xi clung to him like an octopus, even placing her freezing feet on top of his. A shiver ran through him from the cold.
"Are all girls this cold in the winter?"
"I don’t know, but you’re really warm. You’re the perfect human heater."
"...Aren’t you afraid I’ll get the wrong idea?"
Lin Xi’s voice was tinged with guilt. "How... how did you know?"
"You might as well have the words, ’Xue Yang, please don’t misunderstand and think I like you,’ written across your face."
"So, did you get the wrong idea?"
"Do you want me to?"
Lin Xi’s body stiffened for a moment before she replied, "No."
Because it’s not the wrong idea. I do like you. I like you very, very much. Lin Xi added silently in her heart.
A flicker of sadness crossed Xue Yang’s face. "Let’s get some sleep," he said softly.
After returning to his dorm, Zeng Yuheng began reviewing the photos he had taken that night. Nearly every time he went out, he would wander through Yancheng, capturing beautiful, fleeting moments. He had waited for hours in the frigid wind for this year’s first snow.
He wasn’t disappointed. He had captured it perfectly. Every single frame was good enough to be a cover photo.
Flipping to the last one, his gaze froze on the camera’s display. It showed a man and a woman in matching lambswool outfits with bunny-eared hoods. The man’s hood was down, resting behind his head, while the woman’s was up, covering half of her small face and revealing a pair of sparkling eyes. They stood side-by-side, looking up at the snowflakes filling the sky. Bathed in the dim light, it seemed as if they were the only two people left in the world. The image was so heartwarming it made one want to fall into a sweet romance right away.
Zeng Yuheng stared at it for a long time before moving to the next one. This photo captured the moment Xue Yang and Lin Xi had noticed him, both turning their heads at the same time. The surprise in their eyes was natural and unforced. From this angle, they even had the look of a married couple. After taking pictures for so long, these two were the ones that satisfied him most. He felt like he could look at them forever.
Still, Zeng Yuheng couldn’t shake the feeling that the girl in the photo looked familiar.
Remembering Xue Yang’s fiercely protective gaze, he decided not to dwell on it. He did some minor edits to the photos, then sent both the originals and the edited versions with a message: "Wishing you both happiness!"
