Chapter 95: Photography

Late spring, clear skies.

Sheng Shubai dragged Lu Jia out of the College Building and waved at Rong Yi. “I’ll take Little Jia with me now. You all carry on.”

She was in a good mood today and wouldn’t bicker with that woman.

She had originally planned to take Lu Jia out on a date, but Rong Yi had popped up midway, insisting on holding a group meeting in the afternoon.

How could a group meeting really be a meeting?

Sheng Shubai had been napping at noon, still holding her fiancée in her dreams, when the girl in her arms slipped away lightly and said softly that she had to go to school for a bit but would come back to accompany her as soon as possible.

No one scheduled group meetings on public holidays.

Sheng Shubai thought to herself that she would never do something so unethical.

She endured it patiently in the office until three o’clock, waiting until Rong Yi finally finished critiquing Lu Jia’s recent line draft and nodded in satisfaction.

Only after receiving the girl’s sneaky message did Sheng Shubai openly lead her away.

“Where are we going?”

Seeing that Sheng Shubai didn’t turn right at the intersection ahead to head home but drove straight through the traffic light, Lu Jia asked puzzledly.

Sheng Shubai curved her eyes. “To take photos.”

It wasn’t wedding photos today.

The wedding photos would wait until mid-June. Sheng Shubai had specially booked several photography teams in advance to follow and shoot; by then, they would fly together to a friend’s manor abroad.

Fields of blooming lavender stretched as far as the eye could see, a perfect match for her and Lu Jia’s wedding gowns.

Today, they were taking red-background couple ID photos.

This idea had come to Sheng Shubai just before bed last night when she saw a former classmate’s marriage certificate photo in her Moments feed, posted with their spouse.

The certificate featured red-background ID shots, festive and perfectly harmonious.

Sheng Shubai had commented “May you be happy for a hundred years,” and was about to scroll past when she paused: She and Lu Jia took plenty of photos usually, but they really lacked a set of couple ID shots like this.

Something like her friend’s red-background white-shirt photo that screamed “newlyweds”—they’d never taken one.

Even though they couldn’t get legally married domestically yet, how could she and Lu Jia miss out on photos with such special meaning?

Sheng Shubai always acted swiftly, especially on matters involving Lu Jia.

While the girl was in the bathroom, she had already contacted several friends who had taken such photos and selected a highly rated studio.

Lu Jia looked at Sheng Shubai. “ID photos?”

She recalled that on the day of their arranged meeting, Sheng Shubai had given her a personal resume with a blue-background white-shirt ID photo.

Perhaps due to the background and makeup, it made the woman look steady and gentle, her elegant aura radiating from her brows and eyes.

Lu Jia had stared at it several times, unable to look away. She had once wanted to set it as her wallpaper but worried she’d keep staring and delay her studies and plate-making.

In the end, she set it to a photo of them holding hands—intimate yet not so tempting to ogle constantly.

Though Sheng Shubai’s hand… she still couldn’t resist glancing at it more.

Before that, Lu Jia’s wallpaper had been the simplest white background with a black floral border for decoration.

Sheng Shubai nodded. “Yes, we’ll take several backgrounds this time, so you can look your fill.”

At the studio, several staff members gathered around.

It was a weekday, and this Miss Sheng had generously booked the entire place, even having shirts delivered in advance—smooth, soft fabric that clearly cost a fortune.

Both women had stunning features, and for ID photos, the makeup was simple: just a base and some refinement, with the easiest hairstyles.

The makeup artists were two young women, quick-handed and sweet-tongued, praising their looks and skin nonstop as they worked.

Lu Jia rarely encountered such enthusiasm, and with brushes poking at her face, she couldn’t dodge.

Pinned in place, she looked uncomfortably toward Sheng Shubai. Just as she opened her mouth, her gaze landed on the woman’s face, and she froze.

Her features hadn’t changed much individually, but overall, she looked even more stunningly beautiful.

Fine brows, delicate nose, lush features, soft lips pursed to just the right shade of red.

When Sheng Shubai noticed her stare and raised a brow, blinking, Lu Jia’s heart skipped a beat.

Her gaze stuck fast, unable to shift away.

Only when the makeup artist gently asked her to close her eyes did she reluctantly do so.

“You two are a couple, right?”

The store manager watched for a while, taking in their lingering glances, and asked with a beaming smile.

The studio had built a reputation, and after training several apprentices who had gone independent, the manager hadn’t shot photos herself in ages. But hearing about a full booking today and with time on her hands, she had dropped by.

She felt she had come at the right time—this was prime promotional material.

If the clients agreed.

Such lavish clients wouldn’t be swayed by cheap perks, but top-notch service and emotional appeal could make them grin and perhaps allow the finished photos on the shop’s social media.

Label them as “besties” or “sisters,” and those in the know would get it.

Sheng Shubai responded first, her tone casual and confident. “We’re getting engaged next month.”

The simple statement drew soft “oohs” from the staff, pure envy and well-wishes without a hint of shock at their relationship.

Lu Jia opened her eyes and smiled at the makeup artist in front of her.

She didn’t mind sharing with strangers; at most, she felt a slight bashfulness from their eager, gossip-hungry expressions.

The manager nodded knowingly. “No wonder—you two have such a wifely vibe.”

Everyone knew it was flattery, but it still lifted their moods effortlessly.

Sheng Shubai was in high spirits and chatted back and forth with the manager, avoiding details on jobs or schools, just saying they’d met last year and met each other’s parents early this year.

Among the very supportive audience, Lu Jia knew the full story best yet listened most intently.

Hearing their love story from Sheng Shubai’s perspective… it was refreshingly novel, and she loved it just as much.

Lu Jia resolved to ask Sheng Shubai for the full play-by-play from her view once they got home.

The manager was the chattiest, responding perfectly without overstepping. Sheng Shubai clicked with her, especially when she brought over a special brochure—not the main one on display.

This one featured several female-female couples.

Wedding shots, youthful campus themes, nature travel vibes with mountains and rivers. Every photo’s lighting, composition, and chemistry was spot-on; the photographers were pros.

It matched her taste perfectly—and Lu Jia’s too.

Sheng Shubai flipped halfway through and saw Lu Jia’s hair nearly done. She closed the brochure. “Do you have slots in June? Abroad, all flights, hotels, and travel covered, plus triple pay.”

She had enlisted four photographers for the confession; multiples for wedding photos was only natural.

The manager smiled brightly. “Absolutely, we’ll discuss details after today.”

The shirts hung ready in the changing room; Sheng Shubai and Lu Jia changed together.

Though identical shirts, on Sheng Shubai they exuded mature poise, while on Lu Jia, they enhanced her makeup’s soft, student-like innocence.

“I kind of want to kiss you, Miss Fiancée.”

Sheng Shubai stared at Lu Jia for seconds, her tone blunt and matter-of-fact.

When they emerged, their lipsticks were smudged. The makeup artists pretended not to notice, suppressing smiles as they reapplied.

Lu Jia’s ears heated slightly, but everyone knew and said nothing.

Good thing she hadn’t grabbed Sheng Shubai’s shirt earlier.

Otherwise, it’d wrinkle, needing ironing and re-changing—and she might not resist… kissing or being kissed.

A massive red backdrop hung behind them, lights shining from all angles.

Lu Jia sat in the chair, shoulders brushing Sheng Shubai’s.

Their heights matched closely, shoulders level when seated.

“Have the sister on the right scoot a bit left, closer. Perfect, look at the lens—”

Three proper ID shots in a row, then background swaps so Lu Jia got her fill—three colors, three pics, perfect for a vertical wallpaper collage.

Seeing livelier couple poses on the wall—gazing at each other, lip-smiling—they tried those too, flashes popping nonstop.

A video camera recorded the whole process nearby: Sheng Shubai sneaking glances at Lu Jia while adjusting poses, lips curving happily; or smoothing the girl’s collar, both pausing in that shared look.

The photographers caught such details.

Before sending to clients, they’d provide the raw video plus a slowed-down version with sweet BGM.

ID photos finished fast, barely needing edits.

Changing back to their long skirts, Sheng Shubai saw Lu Jia’s reluctance to part with the shirt and pinched her cheek lightly, whispering, “Wear it for you again tonight.”

With the place booked all afternoon, the manager invited them to linger.

The three-story studio had sets and loaned small cameras.

After snapping a few with Lu Jia, Sheng Shubai picked a Polaroid. She’d seen one at a student dinner for group shots but never used it herself.

This model had selfies, pretty colors.

She quickly learned from a staffer—it was for young clients’ use.

Sheng Shubai held the camera right-handed, left arm around her fiancée.

Her right shoulder nestled against Sheng Shubai’s chest placket, brushing softness through her own top. Lu Jia tried distracting herself, but her peripheral caught the necklace dangling at the woman’s collarbone, dazzling.

“Look at the lens, Little Jia.”

Sheng Shubai’s voice was soft and coaxing.

The hand around Lu Jia’s waist briefly lifted to ruffle her hair.

Shutter clicked.

The photo ejected quickly, developing to capture Lu Jia blinking, the girl in her arms adorably soft. Sheng Shubai loved it.

But Lu Jia claimed it, refusing to let go.

“I won’t not give it back.”

Sheng Shubai chuckled. “At least let me snap it with my phone for a memory, okay?”

Lu Jia handed it over. “Can I post it on Moments? With the ID photos.”

She rarely posted, maybe once a year before.

With Sheng Shubai, more often, but still once every couple months.

Fresh off vacation, now ID photos. Wedding and engagement shots? Lu Jia planned separate posts too.

With a fiancée like this, who could resist sharing?

She figured it was only human.