The next morning, Jiang Ran went to Professor Yan Chonghan’s office and told him about Old Tian’s situation.
Professor Yan nodded.
“Jiang Ran, I understand. To be honest, if this Old Tian is truly willing to let his daughter participate as a volunteer in the experint, we would naturally welco it—and we would also provide full financial support.”
“However… I’m concerned that you may not have explained everything clearly to him, especially the side effects, flaws, and possible consequences of the experint.”
“Of course, that’s not your fault. After all, you’re just a kind interdiary. So, it’s very important for to communicate with Old Tian in person and explain everything to him in more detail.”
“No problem.”
Jiang Ran picked up his phone and made a call.
“Then I’ll have Old Tian co over right now.”
After telling Old Tian the office location over the phone, Jiang Ran hung up.
Then—
He felt a bit uneasy and looked at Professor Yan.
“Professor Yan, do you think the success rate of this experint is high? You’ve really never conducted a single human trial before?”
Professor Yan listened, then smiled aningfully.
“Jiang Ran, you need to understand—those of us in scientific research have principles and bottom lines.”
“In movies, they like to portray mad scientists—people who, in pursuit of breakthroughs, conduct illegal human experints, violating ethics and laws.”
“But in reality… think about it. What is the purpose of researching this technology?”
“The purpose is to save people. To preserve life.”
“So if achieving a technology ant to [save lives] requires [harming or killing people] through illegal human experintation, wouldn’t that be completely backward?”
“We have always needed volunteer participants—but the premise must be voluntary participation, with full awareness of the risks.”
“So you can rest assured about that. I will explain everything thoroughly to Old Tian. And if you have any concerns, you can stay and listen. In fact… I would prefer that you be present to observe and add anything necessary.”
About ten minutes later, Old Tian arrived at the office.
After a brief exchange of greetings, Professor Yan began formally introducing the project.
True to his principles, he spoke in great detail—and nearly eighty percent of his explanation focused on the dangers, flaws, and potentially fatal consequences of the experint.
After hearing everything, Old Tian’s face was filled with worry, his expression shifting uncertainly.
“I’m sorry… I need to think about this more.”
“That’s completely fine.”
Professor Yan reassured him.
“Take your ti. Think it through carefully, weigh your options. You should also consider your daughter’s specific condition and consult her attending physician.”
Then he took out a note, wrote down his phone number, and handed it over.
“This is my number. If you have any questions or need clarification, feel free to contact anyti.”
“The sa goes for your daughter’s condition. I know many renowned experts around the world—if you can provide her dical records, I can have them reviewed.”
And just like that—
Old Tian and Professor Yan were now connected.
Jiang Ran’s task was complete. He left the office.
Today, there was another important matter to attend to—
[Club Recruitnt Day!]
The freshn had finally finished their military training. The long-awaited day for all club presidents had arrived. For the entire day, all clubs were allowed to set up booths in designated areas for promotion and recruitnt.
Chi Xiaoguo had already prepared everything with great enthusiasm, waiting for today to make a big push.
Jiang Ran had promised her last sester that he would help with recruitnt. So after leaving Professor Yan’s office, he hurried straight to the student activity building.
“Senior! You’re here!”
The mont he pushed open the door to the Film Cara Club activity room, Chi Xiaoguo jumped up excitedly.
“Look, look! I’ve sorted everything! All the welco gifts are here! I wonder if fifty sets will be enough!”
Jiang Ran looked toward the coffee table.
Sure enough, it was covered with carefully prepared small toys and gifts, most of them related to film caras, film rolls, and photo fras.
Chi Xiaoguo had even thoughtfully designed a raffle box, so that every student who submitted an application could draw a prize once.
“No one leaves empty-handed~ no one leaves empty-handed~”
Hands on her hips, Chi Xiaoguo looked full of confidence.
“Our Film Cara Club has strict admission requirents! So not every applicant will be accepted—but we still need consolation prizes.” “Alright, no ti to waste, Senior! Let’s quickly move the table and display boards outside!”
Right outside the Film Cara Club window was the designated booth area. Jiang Ran and Chi Xiaoguo made several trips back and forth before finally moving everything outside.
One table, two chairs, and two display boards—that was the entire setup.
The display boards had clearly been made with great care—all handcrafted by Chi Xiaoguo.
One introduced the history of the club and the unique charm of film caras.
The other showcased award-winning works from previous club mbers.
At the sa ti, several antique film caras were placed on the long table for freshn to admire and handle.
“My cara… isn’t here?”
Jiang Ran glanced over the table but didn’t see the massive cara Nan Xiuxiu had given him.
There was no way he could miss it.
The Fujifilm cara Nan Xiuxiu had given him was far larger and heavier than ordinary film caras—on any shelf, it would stand out like a crane among chickens.
“Your Fujifilm GW690 is too valuable! Of course we didn’t dare bring it out!”
Chi Xiaoguo said.
“And… no matter what, that cara is your personal property. We have to protect it.”
“I rember you said there’s a photo inside that you want to develop this sester.”
Jiang Ran nodded.
He had indeed said that.
That cara had been a gift from Nan Xiuxiu for his nineteenth birthday. At the birthday gathering, he had used it to take a photo of her.
Nan Xiuxiu had said she wanted him to develop it and give it to her.
But now…
Given the current situation, the two of them had essentially broken up.
Did that photo still need to exist?
But—
That was the drawback of film caras.
Once a photo was captured on film, it couldn’t be undone, deleted, or altered. It was like a mark etched into spaceti itself—permanent, unerasable.
There was no way to remove that negative.
“But don’t you have to finish the whole roll before developing it?”
Jiang Ran said helplessly.
“I don’t even know what to shoot, and I don’t want to waste film casually. Who knows how long it’ll take to finish it.”
“It’ll be quick!”
Chi Xiaoguo explained:
“Your GW690 is a dium-format cara, using 120 film, so it can only take eight photos total.” This was new to Jiang Ran.
“You’re saying a whole roll only takes eight shots? That’s way too few.”
“It can’t be helped—dium format is just like that.”
As she spoke, Chi Xiaoguo picked up a regular film cara from the table.
“Caras like this use 135 film, which can take 24 or 36 shots. Of course, the image quality can’t compare to yours.” “So once we start club activities, your cara will fill up very quickly! Then we can apply for funding, buy chemicals and reagents, and develop it in the darkroom!”
Jiang Ran said nothing.
He wasn’t thinking that far ahead.
He only hoped today’s recruitnt would go smoothly.
Hopefully…
It wouldn’t disappoint this enthusiastic little club president.
In the morning, freshn passed by one after another. Most of them only glanced at the Film Cara Club booth before turning toward the bigger clubs—badminton, basketball, film, ani…
Chi Xiaoguo sat there like she was on pins and needles, picking at her nails, staring intensely at each passing student.
“Relax, relax.”
Jiang Ran reassured her.
“Everyone’s still in class right now. Wait until lunchti—when everyone heads to the cafeteria, that’s when the crowd will co. That’s the peak period.”
“Mm!”
Chi Xiaoguo nodded vigorously.
She believed that too.
“I—I’ll go hand out flyers!”
The little club president couldn’t sit still any longer.
If the mountain wouldn’t co to her, she would go to the mountain!
If they wouldn’t take flyers, she would put them directly into their hands!
So—
With her little bun hairstyle, the girl darted around like a busy little bee, stopping every passerby and trying to hand them a flyer.
Unfortunately…
The mont people saw “Film Cara Club” and the outdated-looking caras on the flyers, they would curl their lips, push the flyer back, and politely refuse.
The little bee bounced around all morning, only managing to hand out a dozen or so flyers.
As for applications…
Not a single one.
“Ah… what’s going on!”
Chi Xiaoguo was so anxious that sweat beaded on her forehead.
She couldn’t help but look enviously at the ani club booth, where several pretty seniors in cosplay outfits were handing out flyers. In fact, they didn’t even need to—groups of boys flocked there on their own.
So took photos, so rushed to join the club group chat—their booth was by far the most popular.
“Envy! Jealousy! Hatred!”
Chi Xiaoguo squatted nearby, grinding her teeth.
Then she glanced down at her own modest figure, wondering what character she could possibly cosplay.
“I can’t exactly cosplay Nezha, can I?” she muttered self-deprecatingly.
“Better not.”
Jiang Ran rested his chin on his hand and said dryly:
“We already have one demon child here. If we add another, sothing bad’s bound to happen.”
“Don’t get discouraged! Trust ! When school ends at noon and the crowds co, people will definitely stop by!” “Besides, the ani club only looks popular because of the cosplayers.”
“And once people join, they’ll realize that university ani clubs are basically just Genshin clubs. The real ani fans are actually in the computer science clubs.”
“Huh—?”
Chi Xiaoguo was stunned by this unexpected fact.
“Why? And how do you know this?”
“Heh.”
Jiang Ran just smiled without answering.
On Worldline 0, he had been a computer science major—he knew exactly how concentrated the “ani energy” was among his classmates.
Almost every student who represented the school in national competitions had an ani avatar.
It was said that at programming contests, seeing an ani-girl avatar could intimidate opponents—selfies didn’t an much, but ani avatars almost always belonged to experts.
Finally—
The bell rang.
Lunchti.
Crowds poured out from all directions like swarming ants, instantly filling the main path to the cafeteria.
The result—
The ani club got even more crowded.
The film club, basketball club, badminton club, cycling club, rollerblading club—all packed with people.
anwhile, the Film Cara Club…
Not a single person.
Not even soone who paused briefly.
At this mont—
Chi Xiaoguo was truly heartbroken.
She stared blankly at the carefully prepared gifts and raffle box on the table, saying nothing.
Jiang Ran hadn’t expected things to turn out this bleak either.
Donghai University was huge. There were so many freshn. Could it really be that not a single person was interested in film photography?
Well…
It was niche. Outdated.
But still—
Jiang Ran glanced at Chi Xiaoguo.
The sadness overflowing from her made his chest tighten.
He knew how much she had looked forward to this day.
Since last sester, she had been imagining a group of like-minded people gathering together—holding activities, chatting, capturing monts on film.
In the past few days, she had spent all her ti in the activity room, making posters, display boards, gifts—humming songs, swaying her little bun, completely imrsed in happiness.
Even though her family wasn’t well-off, she had still bought many gifts online for applicants.
And yet—
Not a single one had been given away.
All her careful preparations now sat ignored.
Anyone would feel disappointed.
“It’s okay. There’s still the afternoon.”
Jiang Ran picked up an application form, filled in his information, and handed it to her.
“Every beginning is hard. Let mine be the first.”
Chi Xiaoguo took the form and grinned.
“Alright, that counts as our first recruit. Now our Film Cara Club has two mbers!”
“Hm? Jiang Ran?”
Hearing a familiar voice—
Jiang Ran looked up.
It was Cheng ngxue, standing at the booth, tilting her head at him.
“What are you doing here?”
She glanced at the display boards and suddenly understood.
“Oh—Jiang Ran, so you’re in the Film Cara Club? I didn’t know you had this kind of hobby! You—”
She was about to continue—
When she noticed a small girl beside her, staring with wide, sparkling eyes full of expectation.
“Excuse ! Are you interested in film photography?!”
Chi Xiaoguo practically leaned in.
Cheng ngxue took a step back.
“Um… I don’t really understand it…”
“You’re the first person today to co to our booth!”
Chi Xiaoguo looked at her like she was so kind of savior.
“You must love film photography! Please join our club!”
“I—I’m not…”
Cheng ngxue waved her hands, about to refuse—
Then suddenly!
Her gaze landed on Chi Xiaoguo’s keychain. Her eyes widened.
“Eh?”
At the sa ti, Chi Xiaoguo noticed Cheng ngxue’s phone charm.
“Hm?”
“Hm?”
“Ah!”
“Eh!”
“Wah!”
“Wedding Rhine Cat!” “Spaceti-Particle Rhine Cat!”
The two girls blurted out at the sa ti, gasping.
Clap!
Four small hands clasped together instantly—kindred spirits eting, both Rhine Cat fanatics, eyes brimming with emotion!
“Please join the Film Cara Club!” “Please let join the Film Cara Club!”
The bond of Rhine Cat fans was ford in an instant.
Jiang Ran watched this dramatic scene unfold and shook his head.
Chi Xiaoguo had truly spoken it into existence…
The two of them, both obsessed with Rhine Cat, had instantly beco best friends.
Well—
No matter what, that made one more mber.
The club had now reached an unprecedented size of three people.
But according to university regulations, a club needed at least five mbers.
They were still two short.
“Is there still hope?”
Jiang Ran couldn’t help but feel concerned.
“The final two crucial mbers of the Film Cara Club…”
“Who will they be?”
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