Chapter 78

Lu Yuezhi handed the camera to her and gently lifted it. “I’ll teach you how to shoot.”

Her face was full of anticipation, but her tone held no coercion, making it hard to refuse outright.

Xiao Luyan’s heart stirred slightly. Watching Lu Yuezhi capture so many stunning moments, she would be lying if she claimed not to feel tempted. But she had a clear understanding of her own photography skills and did not want to show off in front of an expert on a whim.

Though Lu Yuezhi would not mock her, Xiao Luyan was reluctant to “show her shortcomings” in front of her. She did not want her flaws magnified before Lu Yuezhi, especially when the contrast was so stark.

She still shook her head. “I’ll just watch you shoot.”

Lu Yuezhi lowered the hand holding the camera, looking as if she had given up persuading her. Xiao Luyan’s heart sank slowly, feeling a bit empty. She could not tell if it was relief or disappointment.

Before she could collect herself, Lu Yuezhi circled behind her.

The two were separated by the tiniest distance; even without touching, she could feel the other’s body heat.

“I’ll guide you to take a few shots. If you still don’t like it, then we won’t shoot anymore.”

Her words were so gentle, full of room for discussion, as if as long as Xiao Luyan said no, Lu Yuezhi would immediately step back.

But this time, Xiao Luyan was somewhat swayed. She pursed her lips, and the refusal did not come out.

Lu Yuezhi understood and lightly laughed as she used her free hand to grasp Xiao Luyan’s, then gripped the camera together with her.

Xiao Luyan was almost enveloped, a source of warmth suddenly appearing against her back. But what flushed first were her ears.

Lu Yuezhi’s voice echoed in her ear. “Frame the shot first.”

Xiao Luyan woodenly followed the instructions, her hand covered by Lu Yuezhi’s, their fingertips almost overlapping.

Now, she could even more clearly compare the strength in Lu Yuezhi’s fingers. Though their hands were similar in length and thickness, Lu Yuezhi’s just felt more powerful.

The camera was gently pushed in front of her eyes, and Xiao Luyan saw the familiar viewfinder image she had seen many times before. She thought that even with Lu Yuezhi behind her, the photos she took would not differ much from the past.

If it were that easy to improve one’s skill, then simply hiring a renowned photographer to stand behind would suffice.

But she only thought that and did not use it to convince herself to forgo the experience.

“Focus.” Xiao Luyan looked at the artwork, while she looked at Xiao Luyan.

Feeling the soft gaze lingering on her cheek, Xiao Luyan felt an itch.

“It’s good.” She steadied her voice, wanting to remind Lu Yuezhi not to look.

The framing was complete, the focus achieved; according to the process, it was time to press the shutter. Xiao Luyan waited for Lu Yuezhi to give the word, though she knew the final decision rested on her own operation.

“Not yet.”

Xiao Luyan paused, hesitantly shifting her gaze, wanting to see what she had to say.

But before she could turn, her cheek was nudged back. That hot breath nearly enveloped all her breathing, causing her to lose focus in an instant.

If not for the other hand supporting the camera, Xiao Luyan was certain it would have smashed today.

Lu Yuezhi shared the viewfinder with her. “Only the moments felt with the heart are the ones you truly need to capture.”

“With the heart?”

Lu Yuezhi yielded the viewfinder. “Try not observing with your eyes—experience it with your heart, and press the shutter at the moment your feelings are most intense.”

Xiao Luyan had never tried this before. In the past, she always pressed the shutter when she thought everything was at its most perfect. But the results often came out stiff, seemingly complete yet missing the voice of the heart.

She did not know what she could feel, but that scorching breath lingered nearby, heating not just her ears but her heart as well.

Focusing on the viewfinder again, this time what she saw through the lens seemed far richer than before.

Those previously unnoticed emotions floating in the air appeared one after another in the lens.

Xiao Luyan curved her lips, like a child entering an amusement park.

Novelty, excitement, and a trace of unfamiliar tension.

But with someone behind her, when she felt cramped, the real body heat and the pressure on the back of her hand gave Xiao Luyan the most solid support.

She closed her eyes briefly and felt the moment that most touched her heart.

Opening them again, she pressed the shutter without hesitation. This time, she knew exactly what she wanted to record, so the lens obediently captured it.

So that was it…

Xiao Luyan realized that in the past, it was not that she could not shoot well, but that she did not know what she truly wanted to preserve.

Seeing her as if she had completed a major exam, Lu Yuezhi smiled and said, “Not that hard, right?”

Xiao Luyan was also surprised by the effect of that shot; she had not expected it to be truly not so difficult.

But facing Lu Yuezhi’s question, she did not want to answer.

So she remained focused on the camera, repeatedly viewing the photo from earlier.

Seeing her ears red enough to drip blood, Lu Yuezhi felt a fire burning in her heart. She wanted to kiss them, even lick them.

That night’s memory struck her heart again, crashing with a swollen, numb ache.

But she could not do that here and now. Lu Yuezhi swallowed hard, forcing herself to look away and stop letting her mind wander.

The swallowing sound so close by, along with that scorching gaze—even without looking, Xiao Luyan could guess what Lu Yuezhi had been thinking.

Her ears were already so hot they had lost sensation; further rising heat seemed not to affect Xiao Luyan. But that tingling current-like thrill poured from behind her ear into her heart, making it impossible to stay calm.

Ji Yunzhuo had tactfully left when the two merged for the shoot and sat back in her original spot sipping tea. Looking down from above at the little pair studying photography techniques was quite novel.

This was far more entertaining than attending some wedding. Xiao Luyan’s performance today was eye-opening; this favor was well worth it.

Though Xiao Luyan had shot an unprecedented “masterpiece,” continuing this teaching method was not feasible. She felt there would inevitably be a moment of carelessness where she smashed Lu Yuezhi’s camera, so she promptly called it quits.

Lu Yuezhi did not push, looking at the camera shoved back to her and chuckling lowly.

She often smiled usually, but Xiao Luyan found it particularly annoying now. She wanted to glare at her, but suddenly recalled Xie Ruyuan saying she used to be very quiet, uninterested in everything, and her heart jolted.

Lu Yuezhi was puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

She had been fine just moments ago—why was something off again? Lu Yuezhi did not know what she was pondering, but her sudden seriousness was quite strange.

Xiao Luyan hesitated to speak, gave her a deep look, and ultimately shook her head.

Afraid Lu Yuezhi would press, Xiao Luyan urged her. “Hurry and shoot some more.”

Though it was a private exhibition hall with easy access, it was still an imposition. Lu Yuezhi knew the opportunity today was rare and did not want to waste time.

Xiao Luyan quietly accompanied her, offering soft pointers when she encountered difficulties.

It continued until near evening before the shooting truly ended. The harvest today was plentiful; Lu Yuezhi’s smile had barely faded.

Politely declining Ji Yunzhuo’s invitation to stay for dinner, the two prepared to head home early.

On the way home, Xiao Luyan grew silent, spending most of the time looking out the window.

Thinking she felt bored, Lu Yuezhi took the initiative to start a topic. “I didn’t expect you to have such a good relationship with the Ji Family. I’d heard Ji Yunzhuo has quite a fiery temper and is hard to deal with.”

Xiao Luyan turned her head. “She really is quite fiery—you can tell from her name.”

“Hm?”

This was something Ji Yunzhuo had told Xiao Luyan herself; it was no secret, and many friends close to her knew.

“Her grandmother chose it, meaning ‘permitted to burn fiercely.'” Xiao Luyan’s tone was flat.

Lu Yuezhi sighed. “So indulgent? She’s too spoiled.”

A wave of envy suddenly hit her; with parents like that, it was normal to live freely and boldly.

Xiao Luyan had not expected Lu Yuezhi to feel even more emotional than her. Thinking of the Lu Family situation, which seemed even worse than the last time she heard about it, she felt sadder.

Back then, she thought they shared similar plights, mostly understanding. But now, hearing this deeply hidden envy in Lu Yuezhi’s tone, she felt a bit heartbroken—for how poorly Lu Yuezhi had once lived.

Xiao Luyan sighed silently, only to realize she should not feel this way.

From the moment Lu Yuezhi had held her for the photos, her heartbeat had been in disarray. Even after they pulled apart later, the imprint of the heartbeat against her back lingered unforgettable.

She felt that the distance between them was a bit too close. Closer than she had anticipated, beyond what she could bear.

Lu Yuezhi also reminisced over the day’s shooting moments, sweetness surging in her heart bit by bit. Whether their professional rapport or the sparks in their interactions, all signified their distances drawing nearer.

This time, it was not her chasing unilaterally; they were moving toward each other. She felt Xiao Luyan was no longer as resistant and guarded as before—at least, her safe radius was shrinking, and the areas she could approach were expanding.

Recalling the hundreds of shots, her satisfaction doubled.

“Tired from today, right?” Lu Yuezhi noticed Xiao Luyan had gone quiet again.

“Mm.” Xiao Luyan kept looking out the window, trying to use this to distance herself from Lu Yuezhi’s care.

Lately, she had unknowingly indulged too much, to the point where she barely recognized herself. This startled Xiao Luyan and made her uneasy. But mustering the strength to draw a clear line like before was impossible.

A bit of reluctance and greed floated in her heart, tugging at her with irritation and powerlessness.

Xiao Luyan felt that continuing to let it go would likely lead to losing control, so she wanted to forcibly cool things down. At least, she could not indulge right now—it was too fast.

Before getting off work that day, she turned her already-shut computer back on and messaged Lu Yuezhi.

【Got a sudden overtime tonight; won’t be back for dinner.】

Lu Yuezhi: 【So sudden? You still need to eat dinner first—can’t work on an empty stomach; it’ll hurt your stomach.】

Xiao Luyan pursed her lips: 【Got it. You too.】

After replying, Xiao Luyan casually put her phone back in the drawer.

The takeout from Cheng Yanran sat untouched on the desk; the computer was on but she could not focus; several approved files lay scattered on the table.

Xiao Luyan felt a long time had passed, so she took out her phone from the drawer to check. Lu Yuezhi had not sent any new messages since that one.

Normally, she did not send too many, especially after Xiao Luyan said she was starting to get busy; she rarely disturbed her.

But today, Xiao Luyan found the phone too quiet, annoyingly so. She opened the chat interface but did not know what to say.

She tossed the phone back in the drawer and forced down a few bites of takeout, frowning in distaste.

Probably because the recent experience of hot home-cooked meals had been too wonderful, the gap now felt huge.

Whatever—not that hungry. She focused on the files, planning to get more work done quickly. But the ticking time on the screen made her suspect the clock was broken.

Otherwise, why was it moving so slowly?

She took out the phone again, switching it from silent to ring mode. It was after hours now; even if it rang, it would not bother anyone.