A Lingering Affection in the Depths of Time

Chapter One: Memories Triggered by Old Photos

While sorting through old things, Zhong Hua's fingers inadvertently touched a somewhat worn notebook. He opened the notebook, and a faded Polaroid photo slipped out. He quickly reached out and caught it. Looking at the image in the photo, his thoughts were instantly drawn back to that evening by Qinghai Lake many years ago.

The setting sun cast its golden rays upon the shimmering surface of Qinghai Lake, bathing the entire landscape in a vibrant orange-red hue, a color as brilliant as molten gold, breathtakingly beautiful. Ah Yu, camera in hand, excitedly tried to capture this stunning scene, constantly shifting angles and pressing the shutter. But no one could have predicted that after taking those photos, Ah Yu would develop a high fever and become increasingly delirious.

Zhong Hua gently picked up the Polaroid photo, walked over to Ah Yu who was lost in thought by the window, handed her the photo, and said, "You said you'd retake it for me back then." Ah Yu took it with some confusion, looking at the familiar and beautiful scene in the photo, and the floodgates of memory slowly opened. "You had a fever after taking the photo that day, and it's been tucked away in your notebook ever since," Zhong Hua added.

Ah Yu ran his fingers along the creases on the edge of the photo, and the feelings from those days when he was delirious from a high fever suddenly flooded back. He seemed to feel again that cool, damp towel gently wiping his forehead again and again in that hazy state; the touch was so real, bringing him a sliver of comfort amidst the suffering. Zhong Hua turned to wash the coffee cup, the sound of running water echoing in the quiet room. Ah Yu watched his retreating figure and murmured softly, "So you'd already taken care of it."

Chapter Two: The Beginning of Our Acquaintance

Rewinding to their early days in college, Ah Yu was the most enthusiastic member of the photography club. He would always carry his beloved camera to every club activity, wandering through every corner of campus, trying to capture those beautiful moments. Zhong Hua, on the other hand, was dragged into the photography club by a friend; initially, he was just curious about photography.

During a student club outing, the location was a small park near the school. Ah Yu was adjusting her camera settings in front of a blooming rose, muttering things like aperture and shutter speed. Zhong Hua leaned over and asked curiously, "You sound so professional, can you teach me?" Ah Yu looked up at him, smiled, and said, "Sure, but photography isn't something you can learn in a short time; you have to take it slowly."

From then on, Zhong Hua always followed Ah Yu, and Ah Yu patiently explained various aspects of photography to him, from the most basic composition to the complex use of light. Gradually, the two became close friends who could talk about anything, and they could often be seen carrying their cameras and searching for shooting subjects together on campus.

Once, the school held a photography competition, and Ah Yu wanted to take a series of photos about the four seasons on campus to participate. Zhong Hua accompanied him through the campus at different times of the year. In spring, they waited together for the first rays of sunlight to fall on the newly sprouting willows; in summer, they braved the scorching sun to photograph the blooming lotus flowers in the pond; in autumn, they captured the beautiful scene of falling leaves; and in winter, they searched for unique scenery in the snow.

Chapter Three: First Love

As they spent more time together, a different kind of feeling quietly blossomed in their hearts. It was a breezy afternoon when Ah Yu and Zhong Hua sat on the lawn of the campus, looking at the newly developed photos together. Ah Yu picked up a photo and pointed to the lighting effects, saying, "Look, if the lighting here were adjusted a bit more, the effect would definitely be even better."

Zhong Hua didn't look at the photo, but stared at Ah Yu's earnest profile. Sunlight shone on Ah Yu's face, outlining his handsome features. His slightly trembling eyelashes and focused eyes made Zhong Hua's heart race uncontrollably. Ah Yu noticed Zhong Hua's gaze and turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Everything around them became a blurry background, and only the unique emotion in their eyes was clearly visible.

But being young, they were both a little confused and at a loss about this relationship. Neither of them took the initiative to break the ice. Instead, they paid more attention to each other's every move and cared about each other's joys and sorrows as they spent more time together.

When Ah Yu forgot to eat while filming, Zhong Hua would quietly run to the cafeteria to buy his favorite food, then sit beside him watching him wolf down his food, smiling and reminding him to eat slowly; Ah Yu, on the other hand, would try her best to help Zhong Hua when he encountered photography problems and frowned, consulting teachers or researching materials everywhere, just to see Zhong Hua smile again.

Chapter Four: Trip to Qinghai Lake

After graduating from university, they kept in touch and worked hard towards their dreams. Later, when they had the opportunity to travel to Qinghai Lake, they embarked on the journey without hesitation.

Throughout the journey, Ah Yu was as excited as a child, constantly looking out the car window at the ever-changing scenery, muttering about how many beautiful photos she would take at the lake. Zhong Hua sat beside her, watching Ah Yu's expectant expression, a smile unconsciously creeping onto his face. He felt that as long as Ah Yu was happy, the trip would be incredibly worthwhile.

They finally arrived at Qinghai Lake, and the scenery, even more magnificent and beautiful than they had imagined, captivated them all. Ah Yu couldn't wait to take out his camera and began snapping away frantically, capturing every detail from the prayer flags by the lake to the distant mountains, from the water birds on the lake to the water rippling in the breeze. He didn't want to miss a single frame.

Zhong Hua followed behind A Yu, carrying his spare lens, tripod, and other equipment. Occasionally, he would offer suggestions on shooting angles when A Yu needed them. That evening, as the sun set, the entire Qinghai Lake was dyed in a dazzling golden hue. A Yu excitedly ran to a perfect spot by the lake, wanting to capture this most beautiful moment forever.

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