The city streets were bustling with people.
Several people pushed their bicycles and blended into the noisy crowd.
The photo studio was just across from the police station, a short walk from the city center.
With the compensation money, Xie Yan's mood had already improved, and when he saw the photo studio, he couldn't wait to rush over.
As they stood at the entrance of the photo studio, Xie Yan's eyes darted around, as if he had suddenly thought of something interesting, and a sly look flashed across his face.
He turned his head, his face full of what seemed like a warm smile, and said to Gu Che, "Gu Che, do you want to go in and take pictures?" That smile was practically telling everyone his ulterior motives.
Gu Che remained calm, his deep eyes undisturbed. He simply shook his head, offering a straightforward refusal.
Xie Yan drew out his words and gave a meaningful "Oh," then his lips curled up slightly, revealing a carefree smile. "Since you're not going, you can stay here and watch the car for us!" As he spoke, he patted Gu Che's shoulder, his eyes filled with a smug look of having pulled off a prank.
Gu Che glanced at Xie Yan, his gaze calm and unwavering, and silently nodded in agreement.
The group parked their bicycles and filed in.
The winter wind was kept out by the heavy curtains, and the photo studio was filled with a faint smell of ink mixed with the aroma of old wood.
The walls are covered with all kinds of photos. The black and white images record the joys and sorrows of different people, as if telling a series of silent stories.
Upon entering the photo studio, Gu Bin, Zhang Linghui, and Yu Yuehui went straight to the master photographer to discuss matters related to taking photos.
The old master craftsman was a kind middle-aged man with a bright smile on his face, warmly greeting them.
He rarely gets any customers at this photo studio, but he's always happy to see people come in to have their pictures taken.
Xie Yan entered the room like a nimble little monkey, rushing to the mirror immediately.
First, I took off my scarf.
The large, thick scarf had completely covered Xie Yan from head to toe, and taking it off now made her feel much more relaxed.
After putting away the scarf, he looked in the mirror and began to carefully rearrange his clothes, gently smoothing out the wrinkles at the hem and gently combing his hair, which had been messed up by the cold wind. His focused expression was as if he were sculpting a masterpiece.
Yu Yuehui stood quietly to the side, watching Xie Yan's serious expression with a hint of doting in her eyes.
After tidying up his appearance, Xie Yan inadvertently glanced at Yu Yuehui, whose hair was a bit frizzy. He couldn't help but smile, reached out and pulled her in front of the mirror, saying, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and fix your hair and clothes!"
Yu Yuehui helplessly reached out and pressed down hard on her stubbornly sticking-up hair, but her hair was like a naughty child, refusing to obey.
She turned her head, looked at Xie Yan with a helpless expression, and said with a bitter smile, "I can't get down!"
Xie Yan glanced at the stubborn tuft of hair and said, "Then just comb it up!" With that, he ran to the photographer and borrowed a hair clip.
Then, she carefully clipped up Yu Yuehui's sticking-up hair with a hairpin, revealing her smooth and full forehead.
Yu Yuehui's features were already quite good, but it wasn't noticeable before because she was overweight. Now that she's lost weight, her features appear even more refined, and with Xie Yan's styling and hairstyle, she looks even more radiant and beautiful.
Xie Yan took two steps back, looked her up and down, nodded in satisfaction, and praised, "This is also very good! It looks nice."
He placed his hands on Yu Yuehui's shoulders, turned her towards the mirror, and said to the person in the mirror, "Look, isn't it beautiful?"
Looking at her refreshed self in the mirror, Yu Yuehui's lips unconsciously curled up, and a hint of joy appeared in her eyes. Her smile was like a flower blooming in winter, understated yet incredibly moving.
After Gu Bin finished discussing the details of the photoshoot with the master photographer, he turned around and noticed Xie Yan still fiddling with things in front of the mirror.
He immediately got angry, strode over, and pulled Xie Yan aside like a chick, saying irritably, "Get out of my way, I'm a grown man, how can you be so vain!"
Xie Yan was pulled and stumbled, but was supported by Yu Yuehui standing behind him. After regaining his balance, he tilted his head, smiled disdainfully, and asked, "Excuse me, what are you doing, man?"
Gu Bin replied matter-of-factly, "Let me look in the mirror!"
Xie Yan glanced at Gu Bin's hand on his hair and said sarcastically, "Then what are you doing with that hand?"
"Is he picking lice from his hair?"
Gu Bin, thick-skinned and completely unfazed by Xie Yan's sarcastic remarks, said quite naturally, "Can't you see for yourself?"
Xie Yan rolled her eyes helplessly, too lazy to pay any more attention to this "shameless" man, and turned to run to the photographer, where she began to enthusiastically choose poses for the photos.
Pointing to the photos displayed in front of him, he said to Yuehui, "Later, we'll each take one solo photo, and then two couple photos, one standing and one sitting, with different backgrounds—one in a wicker chair and the other with a telephone."
Yu Yuehui actually felt that she didn't need to take solo photos, since the main purpose of this trip was to leave some memories for the Xie Yan event.
But Xie Yan was injured today, so she didn't dare to object and could only obediently agree.
Once everyone was ready, the experienced photographer skillfully took photos of the group. After taking individual and double photos, Gu Bin enthusiastically suggested that everyone take a group photo.
Xie Yan thought about it and thought it was a good suggestion, so he nodded in agreement.
Yu Yue looked at Xie Yan, hesitated for a moment, and then suggested in a low voice, "How about we include my master in the group photo too!"
Seeing Yu Yuehui's cautious look, Xie Yan chuckled and said, "What are you looking at? Are you afraid I won't agree?"
Yu Yue nodded, then shook her head, and finally added directly, "Let him pay for it."
Xie Yan hadn't been unwilling in the first place, and now that he could pay for it, he had a sudden thought and thought it was a good idea, so he said directly, "Okay, but the premise is that you can bring the people in."
As far as Xie Yan knew, Gu Che was the kind of rigid and stubborn old man who, once he made a decision, would almost never change it.
Unexpectedly, a short while later, Yu Yuehui brought Gu Che in and said to Xie Yan with a smile, "I've already brought the car over."
Xie Yan glanced at Gu Che but said nothing.
The group quickly took their positions and, under the photographer's guidance, posed for a precious group photo.
The photographer looked at the handsome men and beautiful women in the lens with admiration in his eyes, nodding repeatedly and muttering, "They're so good-looking! It's so good to be young!"
After they came out of the photo studio, they were still a little unaccustomed to the stares from the outside world. The winter sun shone on them, giving their figures a golden glow.
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