Chapter 12

A tall figure walked up to Li Chi'an, holding a camera in his hand. "Why are you sitting here alone?"

Li Chi'an was stunned, staring at the handsome young man in front of him, unable to recall where he had seen him before.

“I am Yu Shi.” Seeing her bewildered expression, the young man smiled. “Last time, you rode in my car to Six Senses. You weren’t wearing shoes that day, do you remember?”

Oh, that driver.

“Hello, Mr. Yu.” Li Chi’an suddenly realized, his gaze falling on the camera in Yu’s hand.

"The sunset is beautiful, let's go for a walk." Following her gaze, Yu Shi explained.

"It looks good."

With something on my mind, I have no heart to appreciate the beautiful scenery before me.

Yu Shi's appearance pulled Li Chi'an out of his thoughts, and his gaze fell on the place where the sky and the sea met. At this moment, the entire sky there had become a furnace, with orange-red, crimson, and gold-leaf-colored flames flowing among the clouds.

The sponge became an inverted sky, each wave edged with flowing fire, yachts and fishing boats passed through the rosy light, and the gardenia stalks became ink lines that ripped through the color palette, casting long indigo shadows in the shimmering waves.

Each frame is like an oil painting.

While Li Chi'an was immersed in the beautiful scenery, the young man took many photos of the surroundings with his camera.

"You're a photographer, aren't you?"

He was holding professional equipment.

As a former media worker, Li Chian has a relatively good understanding of cameras.

“I’m the photographer now,” the young man said with a smile, a statement that sounded quite philosophical to Li Chian. “Want me to take a few pictures of you?”

Li Chi'an shook his head, "I'm not used to having my picture taken."

That's not it, it's just that I'm not in the mood to be photographed right now.

After a moment of silence, he said, "I'm sorry, I was in a hurry last time and got on the wrong bus."

"You noticed?" Yu Shi also smiled.

Li Chian chuckled, "When I went to pay later, I found that the taxi ride had been canceled at the last minute."

Then I realized I had gotten on the wrong bus and encountered a kind-hearted god.

Yu Shi waved the camera in his hand, and small waves rippled at his feet. "You're welcome. It seems we're quite destined to meet."

"I was so lucky to have met you that day." Li Chi'an looked at the handsome young man in front of him and felt a strange sense of emotion.

Yu Shi took a few steps forward, and a few drops of seawater splashed up with his movements, landing on Li Chi'an's bare ankles, feeling cool. "You were in such a terrible situation that day, no one could bear to kick you off the bus."

He paused, a handsome smile curving his lips. "Besides, you don't just happen to meet someone this miserable."

Li Chi'an looked down at his toes sinking into the fine sand, recalling the scene in the car that day. "I'm sorry, I encountered some unacceptable things that day, and I was in a very bad mood."

It's not just bad, it's downright awful.

"Is the matter over?" Thinking of what happened that day, Yu Shi couldn't help but ask with concern.

"It's being processed." Li Chi'an changed the subject, his gaze falling on the camera on Yu Shi's chest. "Can I see the photos you took?"

He then took a few steps across the stretch of beach between them, which was wet with seawater, and sat down beside her, maintaining a just-right distance.

He skillfully operated the camera, retrieved the photos he had just taken, and then handed the camera to her.

Li Chi'an looked down at the photos, but his tense shoulders gradually relaxed.

Yu Shi's camera has a kind of magic, able to bring the most ordinary scenes to life.

A close-up of a fishing net; water droplets cling to the rough fibers, resembling a string of shattered diamonds in the setting sun. In the distance, the silhouettes of fishing boats are blurred, their masts dividing the sky into geometric shapes. A solitary string of footprints stretches across the beach towards the sea…

“Your photos…are very different.” She carefully chose her words.

"How are they different?"

Li Chi'an pondered for a moment, "You not only saw them, but you also understood them."

Yu Shi's lens has a unique language.

A hint of surprise flashed in Yu Shi's eyes, then he smiled and said, "This is the best compliment I've ever heard."

He pointed to the setting sun sinking below the horizon in the distance. "Look there," he said, "most people only see the sunset over the sea, but if you look closely, you'll see that the clouds change seven colors in ten minutes, the angle of the reflection on the sea changes every minute, and the ripples stirred up by that fishing boat disrupt the entire composition..."

Li Chi'an followed his finger and suddenly realized that the scenery in front of him had indeed changed.

She no longer sees just a "twilight by the sea," but a dynamic picture composed of countless details: the textures of clouds in varying shades, the shapes of foam on the edges of the waves, and even the traces left by small crabs crawling on the beach.

"That's what photography taught me: if you look carefully, keep looking, keep looking, even the most ordinary scenery will become extraordinary." Yu Shi's voice was soft yet deep. "The world is far more intricate and magnificent than we imagine; it's just that we often skim over it and forget to observe carefully."

These words were like a key, gently unlocking a certain lock in Li Chi'an's heart.

She recalled her time working at a magazine, where she would spend the entire night at the shooting location to capture every subtle anomaly in order to get a good photo. But suddenly, she became incredibly busy, with endless plans and goals to achieve every day, and rarely had time to quietly immerse herself in observation.

"Your photos are very professional." Li Chi'an handed the camera back to Yu Shi, his eyes full of admiration. "Do you own a studio?"

Yu Shi took the camera, his fingers accidentally brushing against her fingertips, a subtle electric current causing them both to quickly withdraw their hands. "My studio is in MixC Mall. I mainly contribute to National Geographic and Traveler magazines, and occasionally take on commercial projects and promotional videos for various places."

MixC Mall

One of the most famous commercial plazas in Xianghai City.

"That's really impressive."

The two exchanged a smile, and the atmosphere became more relaxed.

Li Chi'an then noticed Yu Shi's appearance. He was very handsome and refined, with good-looking features both as a whole and individually, and a well-defined facial contour.

He was tall and muscular, with a tanned complexion from years of working outdoors. He looked somewhat unapproachable when he wasn't smiling, but his smile was very warm.

Because he has a pair of eyes that look gentle and deep, like the ocean embracing all rivers.

Looking into those eyes, one unconsciously relaxes, because one feels that no matter what, they will be accepted and understood. "Excuse me, if I may ask, did I interfere with your business that afternoon?"

She remembered that Yu Shi's car had stopped before she got in.

“Just a little bit.” Yu Shi smiled and sat down on a rock next to Li Chi’an. “I have a few houses in Xiyuan that I run as guesthouses. The other day, a guest mentioned that the water flow in the guesthouse was a bit low, so I plan to go and check it out myself when I have time.”

"Oh, really?" His own residential area is right by the sea, and within a five-kilometer radius are several of the most famous attractions in Xianghai City. He had heard that many houses in the area were being used as guesthouses, but Li Chi'an had never paid attention to it before.

Li Chi'an's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Which building is your guesthouse in?"

"Building 7, Building 13, Building 16."

"I'm staying in building 13." Li Chi'an quickly checked the location in his mind. "Is your guesthouse occupancy rate high?"

"It's fine." Yu Shi understood why Li Chi'an had this question. "What type of apartment do you have?"

The two talked about the house for a while, and the more they talked, the more Li Chi'an couldn't help but feel fond of Shi.

"Let's add each other on WeChat." The other person had a cool and aloof face, but was actually very practical. "Can I bother you again if I have any questions in the future?"

“Sure.” Yu Shi readily picked up his phone and added Li Chian on WeChat.

"A soft-hearted god?" Li Chi'an smiled when he saw Yu Shi's WeChat name.

Yu Shi hadn't thought there was anything wrong with his WeChat name, but today, for some reason, seeing the woman's gentle, smiling eyes, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed. "It was given to me by a guest."

He touched his neck somewhat awkwardly. "They say I always give in to their unreasonable demands."

"Oh~" Li Chi'an teased in a melodious tone, "That's a soft-hearted god~"

This person must be broad-minded and charitable, otherwise customers wouldn't always call him that.

Thinking back to their first meeting, Li Chi'an's smile deepened.

Yu Shi, however, felt somewhat embarrassed and didn't want to discuss it further. Instead, he pointed to the sky and said, "Look over there, the most exciting moment is about to begin."

The sun had completely sunk below the horizon, but the afterglow painted the entire sky a magnificent purplish-red, and the clouds seemed to be on fire, displaying a gradient from golden-red to deep purple.

He quickly raised his camera, aimed at the scenery he liked, and pressed the shutter button repeatedly.

Looking at his focused profile, Li Chi'an suddenly felt that the scene was somewhat surreal. Just ten minutes ago, she was still depressed because of Chen Li and Lin Ying, but now she was relaxed and sitting on the beach at dusk with a man she had only met twice, gazing at the sea view, listening to the waves, and sharing the tranquility of the moment.

“You know what?” Yu Shi said while adjusting the lens, “this kind of light is called the ‘magic moment’ in photography, and it only lasts for a few minutes each day.”

Why is it called that?

“Because at this moment, ordinary things become magical.” Yu Shi put down his camera and looked directly into her eyes. “Just like people sometimes need moments like this to make an ordinary day unforgettable.”

When Li Chi'an was gazed at by such a pair of all-encompassing eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

Yu Shi's eyes took on a deep amber hue in the twilight, reflecting the sunset and her own image.

"Do you like philosophy?" Li Chi'an asked, almost as if possessed.

Yu Shi's eyes lit up. "How did you know?"

"Because of the words you unconsciously use when you speak," Li Chi'an laughed. "I also really like philosophy."

Some people are like treasures; the more you look at them, the more you discover.

Yu Shi's smile grew even brighter, and he exclaimed, "Quick, turn around and look!"

Li Chi'an turned around and couldn't help but hold his breath. The beach in front of him, with its shallow water reflecting the sky, made it seem as if he were walking on a galaxy.

"this……"

“The tide came earlier than expected.” Yu Shi stood up and held out his hand to her. “We should leave.”

Li Chi'an looked at the hand; the knuckles were distinct, and a sports watch was worn on the wrist.

She hesitated for a second, but still took it.

Yu Shi's hand was warm and strong, and he easily pulled her up.

“Be careful, the rocks are slippery.” He naturally supported her elbow and guided her toward the shore.

The seawater had reached her calves, and Li Chi'an's white skirt was somewhat wet, but strangely, she didn't feel uncomfortable.

The sea breeze brought not only the salty smell of the sea, but also the refreshing and pleasant scent of mint and lemon emanating from the young man beside me.

Clean, refreshing, and invigorating.

Back on the dry beach, it was completely dark.

The lights of the hotels in the distance gradually came on, like scattered pearls.

"Let me take you back to the city," Yu Shi suggested. "My car is parked nearby."

Li Chi'an should have refused, thinking that it wasn't far to walk home from here.

But seeing the young man's smiling eyes, he nodded. "Then I'll trouble you."

On the way to the parking lot, Yu Shi suddenly asked, "Is Gao Yinxi your friend?"

"You know her?" Li Chian asked in surprise.

"know."

Li Chian smiled and got into Yu Shi's car.

Today, Yu Shi is driving a Land Rover, which clearly suits his style better than the Mercedes he drove last time.

"Fasten your seatbelts," Yu Shi said softly. "Is this the same place as last time?"

"Yes, thank you."

The drive was less than ten minutes, but there was a slight traffic jam due to the heavy traffic along the beach in the evening. By the time the car slowly came to a stop at the entrance of Xiyuan, it was already dark.

This time, Yu Shi didn't get out of the car. Instead, he turned around, looked at Li Chi'an in the passenger seat next to him who was unbuckling his seatbelt, and smiled, "See you again, Li Chi'an."

Goodbye, Yu Shi.

...

Upon returning home, Li Chi'an immediately took a hot shower. After showering, he took out longan, red dates, angelica root, and other ingredients from the refrigerator and put them into a health pot to cook.

Soon, a warm aroma of tea filled the pot.

She hasn't had a good appetite lately and basically doesn't eat dinner, instead brewing tea to drink.

In the afternoon, Zui Zui was picked up by her grandfather again, and now she was all alone at home, with the sound of the waves outside the window faintly audible.

She looked around, recalling the cool touch of the seawater washing over her feet that afternoon, and Yu Shi's silhouette standing in the sunset.

The reason she's living in this house now is because she doesn't want Chen Li to take it over. Getting it back later would be a huge hassle, so she's enduring the disgust and continuing to live here, even sleeping in her son's room.

She had always wanted to wait until the divorce was completely finalized before trying to regulate it.

The housing market is not good right now, but this house has a good location. It is by the sea and close to hospitals, shopping districts and parks.

Initially, she planned to rent out the house and use the rental income as collateral for the mortgage.

She has a child and can rent a smaller apartment nearby.

As Yu Shi said, if the house is rented out, there is a high chance that the tenant will not cherish it and it will be damaged. Thinking of the nearly one year of hard work he had put into renovating the house, Li Chi'an was reluctant to give it up.

A bed and breakfast might be a good option.

The guests are mostly short-term visitors. If the occupancy rate is high, the money earned is higher than renting it out.

Thinking of this, Li Chi'an couldn't help but take out his phone and start scrolling through "The Soft-Hearted God's" WeChat.