By mid-March, the chill of early spring had yet to fade, like a sweater that had been put away before it dried, carrying an inescapable memory of last year.
Shen Wanyu sat on a bench beside the school's artificial lake, flipping through the script in her hands as the white magnolia branches beside her swayed gently in the wind.
There was no one around.
Before filming the short movie, the two of them needed to rehearse their lines first.
"Department Head, want some water?"
"You're late."
Shen Wanyu closed her script and glanced at Jiang Linyuan, who stood before her holding two bottles of mineral water.
"I arrived on time."
Jiang Linyuan sat beside Shen Wanyu, leaving enough space between them for another person to sit.
So he placed the water there.
"Isn't arriving five minutes early the most basic courtesy?"
Shen Wanyu took one of the bottles and had a sip.
"Department Head, I was late because of the water you just drank."
You drank my water and still dared to complain about me! How bold!
"Is that so?"
Shen Wanyu said blandly, "I simply wanted to criticize you."
"No reason?"
"I don't need one."
Shen Wanyu revealed a mocking smile.
This Department Head!
Then I'll criticize you too!
"Department Head, your smile is so annoying it's hurting my eyes."
"Is that so?"
The smile on Shen Wanyu's face widened. "Then it seems I'll have to keep smiling at all times."
Spread the word: the Department Head was always smiling at me!
Shen Wanyu put away her smile. "The stupidest people are those who don't realize they're stupid."
"Shouldn't it be that the most handsome people are those who don't realize they're handsome?"
"Although you're quite human-like, I think I should still call the zoo."
"Department Head, refuse human