Before Jiang Cheng could even recall who she was, the other party spoke first.
"Are you... Jiang Cheng??"
The voice sounded familiar, but Jiang Cheng couldn't place it right away.
Yet when she smiled, a face suddenly flashed through his mind.
"You're Teacher Huang??"
Compared with her time as a volunteer teacher, Huang Yuqi now looked like a completely different person.
Back then she'd always worn an exaggeratedly ugly layer of make-up, her face dotted with spots to deliberately hide her beauty.
But now her skin was clean and fair—clearly, today she was showing her true appearance.
Bathed in the sunset glow, her un-made-up cheeks looked softer, fresh and charming like the girl next door.
That natural, unadorned beauty felt wonderfully comfortable.
In truth, Jiang Cheng had long ago learned through the system that Huang Yuqi had been deliberately making herself look ugly.
After all, a girl with a sallow, spot-covered face, no matter how good her features, would find it hard to reach an 88-point charm, right?
As he looked at the now un-disguised Huang Yuqi, ripples stirred in Jiang Cheng's heart.
Huang Yuqi reached out, smoothly plucked the phone from Jiang Cheng's hand, and said to him,
"I saw you getting ready to take a photo—here, let me shoot it for you. This spot is perfect; stand there and you can get the whole Great Wall behind you. Come on, right here!"
Seeing her so enthusiastic, Jiang Cheng obediently moved to the spot she'd indicated, then grinned at the lens and gave a big thumbs-up.
"Wow, your proportions are perfect! Handsome face, gorgeous weather, and such a beautiful sunset behind you—plus hardly any tourists. These shots are going to look amazing."
Huang Yuqi was still as casual and unreserved as when they'd first met.
While adjusting the phone's angle she chatted happily, and Jiang Cheng's mood lifted along with hers.
He'd meant to take just one photo, but after her torrent of praise he ended up posing for more than a dozen.
When Jiang Cheng checked the results he cocked an eyebrow and joked, "Not bad at all. You're not camped here taking photos for money, are you?"
Huang Yuqi giggled behind her hand. "Since you've guessed—ten yuan a shot. wechat or Alipay?"
Jiang Cheng answered solemnly, "The photos are worth it—ten yuan it is. wechat; I don't have your Alipay anyway."
After the banter they looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Just kidding—relax, this is the capital, photos are free. Other scenic spots might charge you. Weren't you studying in Modu? What brings you here?"
"I came to visit my granddad. I'd never seen the Great Wall before, so I thought I'd take a look—never expected to run into you."
"Ever since you walled off our school and built the canteen and other facilities, three more volunteer teachers have joined. With Principal Zheng that makes five teachers now. It's the anniversary of my mom's passing, so Principal Zheng gave me half a month off."
Jiang Cheng nodded in understanding.
"The school rebuilding hasn't started yet; we'll wait for summer break. How's the canteen doing?"
Gratitude filled Huang Yuqi's face. "It's wonderful! Before, every dawn I had to ride to the market for food. Now you've sent two big fridges so we can store plenty. The market boss in town delivers everything, and Principal Zheng personally checks the accounts at his desk—he says it's to live up to your kindness."
Jiang Cheng knew what she meant; the daily food cost was only a few hundred yuan—pocket change compared with what his system earned every minute. He didn't mind at all.
"As long as the kids eat well."
"They absolutely do—free two-dishes-and-a-soup lunches every day. The children are thrilled; they say even festivals at home weren't this good. For kids from poor families it's rare warmth and care."
At her words Jiang Cheng pictured those innocent faces—children in tattered clothes but beaming with pure joy.