My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 178

Chapter 178: The Past Has Become a Story

Cang Ling’s words silenced both Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan.

A hundred years later… even for cultivators like Grandma Xie, living to a hundred was rare. They understood what Cang Ling meant without further explanation.

“Let’s go to the photo studio first. We shouldn’t be late for our appointment,” the mechanical fox finally reminded them.

The photo studio wasn’t far from Teacher Sui’s hair salon. Xiao Luohan drove Teacher Sui’s car there slowly.

On the way, Jiang Xue received a reply from Dr. Qi, who said she was on her way and told them to continue with their plans. She and Teacher Sui could handle Huang Qi.

Jiang Xue also knew that she wasn’t qualified to interfere in “adult matters” yet, not to mention that Teacher Huang had been one of her mentors, and was still her teacher—although she wouldn’t be seeing her this semester, and judging by Teacher Huang’s current state, the teacher for that required course would probably be changed as well.

So she put the matter aside and focused on choosing outfits and scenes with Xiao Luohan at the photo studio.

The mechanical fox, lying beside Cang Ling, kept pawing at her clothes and sleeves, clearly displeased.

Cang Ling blinked, treating it as a sign of affection, picked up the fox, and ruffled its tail, and then the mechanical fox stopped pawing.

“Although you chose the ‘couple’s package’ in your reservation, if you’re planning to get married, you can also try our ‘pre-wedding’ package,” the owner of the photo studio suggested with a smile.

This simple sentence made both girls blush.

“Th-Then I’ll add some money,” Jiang Xue said, recovering first and looking at Xiao Luohan tentatively.

“I’ll pay,” Xiao Luohan replied without hesitation.

Jiang Xue didn’t want her girlfriend to pay for everything and immediately said, “Since it’s an extra item added to the original plan, and we both want it, why don’t we split the cost?”

Xiao Luohan hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

The two chose the scenes they wanted from the catalog the owner brought.

Their first encounter in the snow in the ancient world, their escape from the fire in the Eastern Palace, their crossing over under the night sky and stars, and their daily life in the modern school.

These were all scenes they considered important and memorable, with both of them present.

Then came the “emperor and subject” roleplay and the “pre-wedding” photos, like DLC after the main game.

“As expected of art students, your chosen scenes are so story-driven!” the owner couldn’t help but praise after hearing their detailed requests, then took them to choose their outfits.

According to Jiang Xue’s idea, she only needed one school uniform for the first four scenes, but Xiao Luo’s outfits had to change.

So she had brought her Si Ling summer uniform, the most aesthetically pleasing of the three sets.

And the outfits Xiao Luohan chose for herself were a gray and white fur-trimmed cloak with a bright red ribbon for the first scene, a bright red traditional wedding dress for the second, a modern hanfu-inspired dress for the time-traveling scene, and finally, her own Si Ling winter uniform, symbolizing her arrival in this world during winter.

After choosing the outfits, it was time for the set design.

The photo studio’s set design technology was very advanced. Even outdoor scenes could be simulated with backdrops, lighting, and props.

“Can I ask what kind of story this is?” the owner asked casually while working. “It’s okay if it’s inconvenient to tell, but I feel that if I know your ideas, I might have more inspiration during the shoot.”

Jiang Xue paused, about to answer, when Xiao Luohan said, “It’s a story about transtemporal redemption.”

“In ancient times, there was a princess sent for a marriage alliance, leaving her home and traveling alone to a foreign country, about to be married off to the Crown Prince as a concubine.”

“Fortunately, Heaven took pity on her. One day, when she was punished by the cruel Crown Prince and made to kneel in the snow, a female student with a whimsical imagination traveled through time and space to her side, carried her back inside, and saved her life.”

“Later, as time passed, they became close friends and even developed feelings for each other.”

“But the wedding day still arrived, and the ruthless Crown Prince chose the bridal chamber as the execution ground for the princess. At the critical moment, the female student appeared like a deity, helping the princess kill the Crown Prince, then taking her across time and space, to her own peaceful and modern world, a world kind to women.”

“After safely arriving, they lived together, as classmates, family, friends, and lovers, destined to spend their lives together.”

Xiao Luohan, who had almost died during this tumultuous period of her life, could now calmly recount it as a story.

“So that’s the story,” the owner said thoughtfully, resting her chin on her hand. “I understand… I have a general idea of the desired effect now!”

Cang Ling, holding the camera with the settings adjusted, peeked in from the doorway of the studio, the mechanical fox also following, ready to observe.

But as soon as Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan saw them, they both had a new idea.

“By the way! Let’s add a ‘guide’ to the time-traveling scene!” Jiang Xue said. “Please dress our friend as… uh, like an astronomer from ancient times, the kind who observes the stars and divines fortunes, and also include this mechanical fox in the picture.”

“That’s possible, but then this scene won’t just be a portrait of you two,” the owner reminded them. “Mixing too many ancient and modern elements, I’ll have to charge extra. Of course, you’ll still get the discount Sui Sui mentioned.”

Jiang Xue readily agreed and was about to pay when Xiao Luohan stopped her. “We’ll split the cost, I also want to see it.”

“…Okay.”

Cang Ling hadn’t expected to be included in their photoshoot and was stunned.

“It was your words that inspired me,” Jiang Xue whispered to Cang Ling while the owner was fetching the costumes. “When my sister was explaining the principle, she said that ‘participants’ have to ‘exit’ the game first, and both of you ‘exited’ through death. So… I want to commemorate your sacrifices for us in this way.”

Cang Ling, however, shook her head. “But I was willing, and Your Highness died in battle, not intentionally…”

If she could have lived, her Highness would have fought to survive, returning to her country and rebuilding her army—just like she had done after death.

However, that battle had been a lost cause. Her Highness had been surrounded by the enemy and fought to her last breath.

“We understand,” Xiao Luohan said. “Precisely because we know the truth, we want to remember.”

Cang Ling looked at the mechanical fox, a little at a loss.

“Just do as they say,” the mechanical fox said.

So Cang Ling changed into the astronomer’s robe and borrowed a long wig from the owner—she had already cut her own long hair and styled it to how it had been when she was alive.

The owner, knowing that she wanted to be in the picture, waited until she was ready before having Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan take their positions in the snowy set.

Considering the makeup and the desired effect, she decided to shoot out of order, leaving the “escape from the fire in the Eastern Palace” scene for last.

“Since it’s a fire scene, I’ll add some smoky makeup for you,” the owner said. “It’s best if the clothes are also slightly dirty, and… perhaps Xiao Luo’s hands should have some bloodstains?”

Xiao Luohan was startled by the question, then, after a few seconds of silence, nodded firmly. “Okay, let’s do that.”

In her opinion, killing the Crown Prince wasn’t something to be glorified, but rather a bloody past that served as a reminder—even though only a few people knew about it, she couldn’t easily forget it.

The “desperate measures” of the ancient world shouldn’t be brought to this peaceful and law-abiding society.

So the scene with the most people was filmed first.

Cang Ling stood on a green cube, similar to a green screen, holding the mechanical red fox, which was peeking out from her arms, leading the way.

Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan’s interaction was also adjusted to holding hands and running, for aesthetic purposes and to avoid repetition, a bit like when they went to the amusement park in the dream.

And for the Eastern Palace fire scene, they added special makeup as the owner suggested. Jiang Xue wasn’t sure about the final effect, but looking at Xiao Luo in the prepared set, she felt like they were back on that day, escaping from danger.

After filming the “main scenes,” the two girls were a little tired, so the owner let them rest and even offered them milk tea, asking Cang Ling if she wanted any.

“No, I’m on a diet, I don’t drink these,” Cang Ling said, using her usual excuse.

While the two were resting, she took off the wig and robe and placed them in the designated area.

“Why don’t you two choose the pictures first?” the owner asked, peeking in after half an hour. “I’ve added some filters in bulk. You can preview the effects and choose which ones to include in the album. The retouching will take another two or three days, and then I’ll send you the digital copies.”

Jiang Xue and Xiao Luohan went to choose the pictures, holding their milk tea.

Cang Ling was also selecting photos from her camera, deleting the unsatisfactory ones and sending the “acceptable” ones to Xiao Linghan’s WeChat.

“After Your Highness’s soul is fully integrated with the grown plum tree, I also want to take some portraits with Your Highness,” she suddenly said.

“Also about our past?” the mechanical fox asked, her tone surprised.

“No, I want to capture the present and the future,” Cang Ling shook her head. “To be honest, Your Highness, it wasn’t until I came here and met everyone that I truly felt ‘alive.'”

“This place is very good, so I want to record it. Photos are truly wonderful things. Whether printed or digital, as long as they’re properly stored, the images can last for a long time.”

“As long as you’re happy,” the mechanical fox gently rubbed her hand.

Cang Ling paused, looking down at her.

“Actually, besides ‘feeling alive,’ I’ve also experienced many new feelings,” she continued after a while. “It’s just that some things… I don’t know if I can still do them as a soul.”

“Are there even things that you are unsure about?” the mechanical fox asked, half-joking, half-serious.

Cang Ling didn’t answer, only nodding slightly, ruffling the fox’s fluffy tail.

If she had the chance, she would have to discuss a question with Grandma Xie and Taoist Master Xuan Nuo—could two souls kiss?