"Not a family with you!" Xu Xingguang was too lazy to play along with You Mingyue. She leaned back against the sofa, arrogantly squinting at You Mingyue’s face, adept at disguise, and sneered, "When you fly up and become the great young lady of the Chu Family, the first thing you’ll do is kick me, this ’family member,’ to the curb. Who are you pretending for?"

Hearing this, You Mingyue couldn’t be bothered to act anymore.

You Mingyue looked out into the courtyard, staring at Xu Zeqing’s profile, somewhat admiring Xu Xingguang’s ruthlessness. "You truly have a heart of stone, can’t bear to see me rise, you want to drag the entire Xu Family into the mud with you? Xu Xingguang, can you bear to see your father hit walls everywhere and live a life of groveling?"

Hearing this, Xu Xingguang’s eyes turned playful.

It seemed You Mingyue didn’t know that Xu Zeqing, that shameless old man, had already struck a deal with Jiang Heng and would soon be back as President Xu.

If the marriage alliance was successful, Xu Zeqing would be delighted.

If it fell through, Xu Zeqing had a way out.

"Dad..." Xu Xingguang looked at the middle-aged man chatting and laughing with Chu Zimu in the courtyard. She said in a deep voice, "My dad, of course, I will love him well. I will ensure he lives a life of luxury and carefree. I swear."

Watching Xu Xingguang’s upturned smile, You Mingyue felt a chill for no reason.

Could it be that something happened between Xu Xingguang and Uncle Xu that she didn’t know?

.

This meal was made by You Jingqiu, who exerted all her culinary skills to create a Manchu-Han banquet. The taste was not exceptionally delicious but not bad.

Chu Zimu, out of affection for the house, added half a bowl of rice and appropriately praised You Jingqiu’s excellent cooking.

You Jingqiu listened with a beaming smile.

Chu Zimu was very friendly towards You Jiaoyang, switching drinks at the table, as if they had already developed into good brothers. You Jiaoyang, someone who knows how to seize opportunities, befriending Chu Zimu would only benefit his career, so he also picked up his wine glass to drink with Chu Zimu.

Xu Zeqing, seeing how enthusiastic Chu Zimu was and how loving he was to You Mingyue, was very optimistic about this marriage. He wished he could immediately pull Chu Zimu into the study to chat about his plans to start over and make a comeback. But he also understood that haste makes waste and did not want to cause Chu Zimu’s aversion, so he had to endure.

Throughout the meal, only Xu Xingguang was like a food machine, expressionless as she ate.

After the meal, she went to the old man’s room to help Xu Qingnian turn over, then took the documents to University City to handle her re-enrollment procedures.

Once she left, the atmosphere in the house became completely lively.

*

Upon arriving at the gate of Yujiang Normal College, Xu Xingguang realized she forgot to prepare the one-inch photo.

There was a photography studio right next to the school gate, but these days were school opening days, and the line outside the studio was long.

Thinking Cangshan Town was just behind the University City, crossing a road, she didn’t want to waste time waiting here, so she decided to take a look at the old house left by her mother in Cangshan Town first.

At noon, in the small town clamped between Cangshan and University City, there was a rare sunny day. On the school opening day, the business of restaurants on the old street in town was thriving. As Xu Xingguang walked on the crowded and noisy old street, she couldn’t find her childhood memories.

It had been too long since she left, and her memories were fading.

She followed the numbers until she found building number 219 at the end of the street. The small building was covered in ivy, and the iron gate had rusted a bit. Through the gaps in the gate, she saw an overgrown garden.

Staring at this building, Xu Xingguang finally recalled some blurry memories.

She vaguely remembered a piece from her childhood holding lotus pods picked from the farm, standing outside the iron gate, calling for her mom to come downstairs and taste them.

Other than that, Xu Xingguang couldn’t recall anything else.

She opened a shopping website, ordered a lawn mower, hoe, and sickle online, planning to transform this small building into her desired look herself.

After placing the order, Xu Xingguang smelled a trace of Chinese medicine.

Xu Xingguang arrived at the neighbor’s door next door, looked up at the open iron gate, where a sign hung —

Drunken Beauty Photography Studio.

It was truly a simple and unadorned name.

Gazing through the stone-covered courtyard, Xu Xingguang saw a photography studio.

The equipment inside was simple, with just a computer, a printer, and a canvas backdrop. In front of the backdrop, there was a stool.

Though small, it was well-equipped in every aspect.

Just when she needed to take a photo, she entered.

Xu Xingguang stood in the courtyard and called inside, "Boss, are you there?"

After a moment of silence, a lazy voice replied, "Yes, passport photo starting at 15, personal portrait at 20. No charge for memorial photos."

The last five words piqued Xu Xingguang’s interest.

She walked into the studio, staring at the frosted glass door to the resting room behind which the Chinese medicine smell emanated. A shadow through the frosted glass showed a reclining chair with someone sitting, motionless.

Xu Xingguang asked the person inside, "Why are memorial photos not charged?" For such a small photo studio, memorial photos and passport photos are their main income sources.

No charge for memorial photos—what business are they doing?

"Memorial photos are..." the person said gently, "a person’s last trace on earth. After death, one can only see the world through their memorial photo. Priceless and not for sale." His slow speech was like a pot of Chinese medicine, slowly simmering to bring out the essence.

Recalling the absurd things in these past three years, Xu Xingguang felt she, too, had died a few times, and said, "Then take a memorial photo for me."

After another silence, the person said, "Young girl like you, what’s a memorial photo for?"

"Young or old, there will be a time of need." Xu Xingguang asked, "Will you take it?"

"Sure." Xu Xingguang watched the person get up from the recliner and walk over.

With a clatter, the frosted door opened, revealing a man standing between the partition—his shoulders broad and waist narrow, tall but slightly thin.

He wore a loose black sweater and long pants, with flip-flops on his feet. His slender limbs swayed under the thin fabric, as if unaware of the cold.

But he held a hot water bottle in his hands, fingers hidden inside, not showing even his wrists.

Seeing this man, it was like seeing a blossoming plum tree in a snowy night.

The man had snow-white skin, and the scarlet thin lips adorned his cold white face, bringing him to life. Disheveled long hair casually fell on his forehead, revealing facial features that spoke of apathy and a warning to keep strangers away.

Due to Xu Zeqing’s influence, Xu Xingguang no longer believed in judging person by appearance.

Some were born with a Buddha-like face yet walked the Demon path.

This man might have a handsome face showing apathy, but it didn’t mean he had an apathetic heart.

The boss walked past Xu Xingguang towards the camera, followed by Xu Xingguang, staring at the cold, clean neck shown from his hair, asked, "Is it appropriate for me to dress like this for the photo?" Thinking a more formal attire was needed for a memorial photo.

The boss said, "King Yama doesn’t care about beauty or figure; anything works."

"Your words are quite interesting."

The boss had no intention to keep talking, placing the hot water bottle by the computer and reaching for the camera.

Xu Xingguang quickly glanced at the boss’s right hand, with wide palm bones and long knuckles, even the nail beds were perfectly shaped.

Damn, every part of him fits my aesthetic taste.

Xu Xingguang suddenly felt the urge to tease the boss, "First time getting a memorial photo, I’m a bit nervous. Can we chat a bit?"

Lowering her canvas bag, leaning against the computer desk, she inquired about the boss, "What do I call you?"

The boss was sparing with words, "Huo."

"Boss Huo?" Thinking of the studio’s unique name, Xu Xingguang joked, "Is it Huo Zui? Like drunk in heart?"

The boss adjusted the camera lens, lips moving to correct, "Sin, as in guilty."

Xu Xingguang paused.

Huo Zui.

Convicted.

What parents would name their child like that? 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Smartly, Xu Xingguang didn’t ask further.