The old craftsman buried his head back in the black cloth, and his voice came out again.
"Alright! Look at me! Look at the camera! Ready—"
"Smile! Cheer up! Be natural! Hey, you soldier, husband! I'm talking to you! Don't be so serious! Like you're going to war! Think about something happy!"
"Your wife and baby are both so beautiful, why don't you ever smile?!"
Shen Huaichuan tried hard to force a smile, but in the old master's eyes, the smile was uglier than a cry, leaving the old master helpless.
Zhou Qiqi's eyes darted around, and she gestured to the old master to get ready.
Then, with her right hand at her side, she quietly reached behind Shen Huaichuan and precisely and quickly poked the small, ticklish spot on his waist with her fingertip!
"Pfft—!"
Caught off guard, the intense itching in his lower back instantly broke through his stiff expression.
He couldn't hold it in any longer, and a short, real, soft sound escaped his lips.
At the same time, his tense body seemed to be electrocuted, and he involuntarily trembled slightly. The blank look on his face was instantly replaced by an unexpected smile, and his eyes even curved.
Click—!
In that instant, the experienced photographer reacted swiftly and pressed the shutter button precisely, the camera covered by a black cloth emitting a crisp sound.
The image frozen in front of the curtain shows Shen Huaichuan's rare, hearty smile, while Zhou Qiqi's eyes crinkle with laughter, like a triumphant little fox. Zhou Zhou, standing between the two, is infected by this sudden joy and also reveals a big, unreserved, innocent smile.
The three off-white scarves looked especially warm and harmonious under the light.
The experienced photographer emerged from behind the camera and smacked his lips in satisfaction.
"Hey! This photo is great! It'll definitely look good when it's printed!"
With the family photo from that "sneak attack" set as a foundation, Shen Huaichuan seemed to have his meridians opened up, and the lines on his face finally relaxed a bit.
Although his smile still carries a military-like rigidity and isn't quite as natural and casual, at least it's no longer the "ready to die" expression he once had.
The subsequent solo and couple photos went much more smoothly.
Amidst the clicking of camera shutters, Zhou Qiqi's cheongsam exudes elegance, Shen Huaichuan's Zhongshan suit stands tall and imposing, and Zhouzhou's pinafore dress is lively. The family of three leaves behind images of different combinations in front of the screen.
After Zhou Qiqi finished taking her solo photos, she
He walked over to Qin Lei, who had been helping him by handing over props and moving stools.
As if by magic, she pulled a brand-new, modified youth outfit from the large snakeskin bag she had brought and stuffed it into his hands.
"Here you go, Xiao Qin. Hurry up and change into it. We'll take some pictures with you later, and then we'll take a few more just for you." Zhou Qiqi's tone left no room for negotiation.
Qin Lei could tell from the material and workmanship that it wasn't cheap, and his face flushed red. He waved his hands repeatedly.
"Sister-in-law! This...this won't do! It's too much of a waste! I won't take a picture!"
"This young man hasn't been home for over two years, he can't possibly not send any photos back, can he? Take lots of pictures, both black and white and color, to show his spirit!"
Zhou Qiqi pushed the clothes closer to him.
“Listen to your sister-in-law, you should find someone in a couple of years. While you’re still full of energy, take some good photos so that girls can have a chance to meet you later.”
The mention of "finding a partner" made Qin Lei blush to the roots of his neck. He stammered and couldn't speak, so he could only hug his clothes, nod gratefully and embarrassedly, and run to the changing room.
After Shen Huaichuan and Zhouzhou finished taking their individual photos, Qin Lei came out wearing a well-fitting modern outfit, looking much more energetic.
The four of them gathered together and took a heartwarming "family photo plus" against the backdrop of Tiananmen Square.
After this photo was taken, it was Qin Lei's turn for a solo shot.
Shen Huaichuan breathed a sigh of relief and was about to lead Zhouzhou to a nearby chair to rest when Zhou Qiqi grabbed his arm, her eyes sparkling:
"Don't rush, it's not over yet!"
"Huh?" Shen Huaichuan was taken aback. "We need to take more pictures? Weren't the clothes already photographed?"
"The clothes have already been photographed,"
Zhou Qiqi smiled mysteriously and patted the bulging snakeskin bag at her feet.
"But we have other 'outfits'! Come on, to the changing room!"
Zhou Qiqi pulled the whole family into the small changing room.
As soon as the door closed, Zhou Qiqi opened the snakeskin bag, and what she took out made Shen Huaichuan's pupils dilate instantly—
Three fluffy, round mascot costumes!
One set features an adorable big yellow dog with a three-dimensional dog head hat, two large drooping ears, and a fluffy tail trailing behind it.
One set features a playful and adorable cat with pointed ears and a long cat tail;
The smallest set is a small red and white mushroom with white spots on its round cap.
Zhouzhou fell in love with her little mushroom hat at first sight, holding it in her arms and looking at Shen Huaichuan and Zhou Qiqi with her big eyes expectantly.
Shen Huaichuan's face turned green in an instant, his finger trembling as he pointed at the dog costume, his voice distorted:
"Qiqi! You want me to wear...wear this?! This...this is outrageous!"
He's a regimental commander, dressed up like a big dog for a photo?
If word gets out, where will his authority be!
Zhou Qiqi was prepared and immediately used her trump card, squatting down to hug Zhouzhou, pointing to the little mushroom hat in her arms, her voice so soft it could melt water:
"Look how cute Zhouzhou is! She's so looking forward to wearing it with you! It's more fun when the whole family is dressed up!"
As she spoke, she picked up her cat costume and deliberately wiggled her soft cat tail.
Zhouzhou hugged her little mushroom hat, tilted her head back, her big eyes filled with stars, and gazed longingly at Chen Huaichuan, silently conveying her yearning.
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