On the way back to the classroom that day, her mind was filled with the image of Jiang Yan's mischievous smile and teasing expression, along with his words, "Next time."
Next time, when would that be?
During today's break, everyone was discussing the events on the basketball court, and for some reason, their voices seemed louder than usual. She could hear them clearly.
Today, he had won the game again, as expected. It seemed he had also gained a few more little fans. After all, a boy as lively and sunny as him was quite appealing, especially at this age when feelings were beginning to stir. Li Xiao thought that there were probably many who hadn’t voiced their admiration yet.
"Li Xiao, the Lao Ban is calling for you."
"Oh, okay." During the long break, Li Xiao was fiddling with her precious camera at her desk when she heard the class monitor calling her from the door.
"Reporting."
"Come in."
"Hello, Teacher."
"Come here, Li Xiao. You know our school is going to hold a sports meet soon? This will be your last sports meet before graduation. The school wants to make it a grand event and hopes to capture some moments, so they’ve established a real-time Photography Team. I thought of you since you enjoy photography. Would you be interested in joining?"
The homeroom teacher was their Chinese language teacher, a gentle and knowledgeable special-grade educator.
Indeed, she was a special-grade teacher—an outstanding Chinese teacher who covered everything comprehensively.
Li Xiao was thrilled to hear the news. Photography had always been her passion, and during the long, tedious hours of study, it was the only thing that brought her relaxation and joy.
Her eyes sparkled, but she remained silent, as she had initially planned to use the time during the sports meet to catch up on physics.
On her way there, she felt anxious about why the Lao Ban had called for her, fearing it was due to her unsatisfactory performance in the recent comprehensive assessment.
The homeroom teacher seemed to sense her hesitation and patiently waited for her. Then, adjusting the seating to face Li Xiao, he slowly began to speak.
"Li Xiao, I have always thought of you as an outstanding student—serious, diligent, and capable of managing your studies without much concern from others. That alone is commendable. I hope that alongside your academic responsibilities, you can actively participate in class activities. I've noticed your interest in photography; having a passion is a wonderful thing. I want you to be cheerful and vibrant every day."
The teacher's words touched Li Xiao's heart. She was pleasantly surprised by his acknowledgment of her efforts and felt drawn to the Photography Team.
Outside the office window was a playground with a brick-red track, bathed in bright sunlight that made the colors particularly vivid and refreshing to behold.
Such beautiful sunlight was perfect for capturing images.
"Teacher, I would love to participate," she said cheerfully, filled with anticipation for that day.
The homeroom teacher nodded with satisfaction. "Then it's up to you to capture your classmates' most beautiful moments. Even the less flattering ones can be kept; let them edit those themselves."
His tone was playful, as if he could already envision them sweating profusely.
"Alright then, go ahead, Li Xiao. Don't worry too much about your studies; your hard work will pay off."
"Thank you, teacher. Goodbye, teacher."
The homeroom teacher looked at the quiet girl before her. Unlike those top students who consistently ranked high on the Honor Roll and were well-known around campus, she did not seek the spotlight. She was not like the mischievous students who caused headaches for the teachers, always worrying about their antics. Nor was she like the outgoing and flamboyant students who drew attention effortlessly. Instead, she quietly sat in her seat, rarely speaking up in class, yet diligently completing every assignment and task given to her. Most of the time, when the teacher saw her, she was bent over her desk, writing furiously or staring intently at her books, her expression almost unreadable. Only on a few occasions did the teacher catch her fiddling with her camera, her gaze focused and her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
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