67

 The sound of footsteps gradually faded away, signaling Xiang Ran's departure.

Liu Shuyao felt a bit lethargic; the screen and background image on her desk blurred before her eyes. She tried to concentrate, but her thoughts were scattered, and her eyelids grew heavier.

So, she decided to rest her head on the table for a while.

By late September, Ningzhou was no longer sweltering. The evening breeze felt quite cool. Combined with the unique warm light of the 306 room, the campus beauty indeed started to feel sleepy.

At first, she propped herself up with her arm, thinking about finishing the remaining graphics.

But who knew that when she lowered her head, sleepiness became impossible to resist?

When Xiang Ran returned, this was the scene he found.

The campus beauty had her head turned to rest on her delicate arm, breathing softly. Her long hair fell like a waterfall to her waist, and due to her position, her top had ridden up slightly, partially revealing her slender waist, making her appear even more delicate.

In the quiet atmosphere of the lab, a gentle breeze occasionally stirred, brushing her hair across her forehead. Liu Shuyao furrowed her brow slightly, seeming uneasy, and shifted a bit, but her already precarious position caused her to lose balance.

Suddenly, her upper body slipped down, and the sensation of weightlessness jolted her awake.

"Ah~"

Just as she thought she might fall, Xiang Ran caught her from behind.

With one hand still holding the thermos, he used the other to secure her waist, lifting her up slightly to restore balance.

Liu Shuyao came to her senses and grabbed her boyfriend's shoulder, sleepily humming, "I think I fell asleep~"

"Yeah."

Xiang Ran set down the thermos. "So let’s not work tonight; we can finish it tomorrow, okay?"

Feeling the softness in his hand, Xiang Ran thought: Not good!

He quickly lifted her up, saved the files, and shut down the computer.

Liu Shuyao watched her boyfriend's swift actions, relieved that not much was left to do. She lazily stretched and followed him out.

The next morning, Liu Shuyao had a full schedule, so she had to carve out some time at noon to finish what was left from the night before.

Zhao Ying lay in bed, playing on her phone, watching Liu Shuyao busily writing and drawing below.

“Are you still not done?”

“No, I need to show it to Teacher Wu this afternoon. If he approves, I’ll have to report to the department heads too.”

“Wow, so diligent~”

Liu Shuyao was focused on making the final adjustments, so she responded softly and didn't say more.

Fortunately, when she showed it to Teacher Wu in the afternoon, he thought it was good, which relieved Liu Shuyao. She immediately took out her phone to share the news with her boyfriend.

Campus beauty: 【The background image passed!~】

Campus beauty: 【I need some praise~ heehee~】

Praise?

How should he respond?

Just outright say "You're amazing"? Isn't that a bit strange? Like talking to a child!

Thus, Xiang Ran, who was in class, rarely fell into deep thought.

Meanwhile, his classmates, puzzled by his expression, noticed that the teacher was writing about SQL query language on the board.

Xiang Ran frowned at the “UPDATE statement,” deep in contemplation.

Xiang Ran, wanting to express his admiration for the work, replied:

【Incredibly crafted, a stroke of genius, uniquely creative...】

Liu Shuyao looked at the three idioms on her phone screen and pouted; it felt so perfunctory.

Now that the background image had passed, she wouldn’t take responsibility for the next steps; she’d leave that to Fatty and the others.

The second presentation was done by Liu Shuyao. Teacher Wu wanted her to explain the ideas and design philosophy to the department heads.

So, Liu Shuyao specially changed into a more formal shirt, its meticulous cut showcasing her tall and slender figure. Her hair was neatly tied back, glinting softly in the light coming through the office window.

“The design philosophy of this background image aims to celebrate the school’s glorious history and diverse culture. Using bright red as the base, it combines different artistic styles, symbolizing the school’s prosperity while conveying its ideals in cultural integration.”

“Through the colored blocks in the texture, we demonstrate the convergence of various artistic styles within the school, reflecting the diversity of disciplines and cultures here, showcasing the unique academic richness of our institution.”

“What do those art supplies represent?” one of the department heads asked.

Liu Shuyao quickly adjusted the image, zooming in on that section for emphasis.

“The painting tools and palettes in the design are presented in an abstract manner, expressing not only the process of creation but also alluding to the school’s outstanding achievements in nurturing creativity and the arts.”

“The faint lines in the background outline the school’s architectural contours, intertwining artistic elements with the campus environment, enhancing the design's unique aesthetic.”

Liu Shuyao spoke at a steady pace, clearly and methodically, her gaze focused and determined.

“This design concept strives to pay tribute to the school’s past, present, and future through the medium of art. While celebrating the school’s anniversary, we hope this design adds a distinctive touch and a unique visual feast, highlighting the school’s remarkable contributions to culture and art.”

Xiang Ran sat at the back, captivated by Liu Shuyao on stage.

They say that a man who works seriously is handsome; the same goes for women, especially when they're as beautiful as her.

Beauty + Ability = Unstoppable!

On stage, Liu Shuyao radiated beauty and confidence. Her presentation drew nods and praises from the teachers in the audience.

Watching the dazzling campus beauty, Xiang Ran suddenly felt a sense of admiration, and his previously bright smile slightly drooped.

When Liu Shuyao finished her presentation, her gaze found her boyfriend in the audience.

Meeting her fiery eyes, Xiang Ran couldn’t help but smile back at Liu Shuyao, secretly giving her a thumbs-up with his right hand.

Liu Shuyao felt immensely happy at her boyfriend’s affirmation, smiling even brighter than Xiang Ran.

“Great job! The revisions are fantastic!”

The department heads concluded, marking the end of the virtual gallery project for now.

Soon, Teacher Wu and the department heads left the office, leaving just Xiang Ran and Liu Shuyao behind.

Liu Shuyao let out a sigh of relief, packed up her laptop, and leaned her head against Xiang Ran’s shoulder.

In a muffled voice, she said, “I’m glad it’s over~”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t know how to revise it~”

Xiang Ran knew that Liu Shuyao had put a lot of effort into redesigning the background image and had stayed up several nights. Feeling her weight leaning against him, he gently patted her back.

“You did great; it definitely passed~”

“You’ve worked hard during this time.”

Liu Shuyao originally wanted to act cute, but seeing her boyfriend so serious, especially since they were still in the classroom, made her shift her thoughts.

The two of them walked side by side out of the teaching building.

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