Chapter 25

"Alright." The boss adjusted the camera, pointed to the high stool in front of the backdrop, turned his head slightly, and with sharp and cold eyes, looked at Xu Xingguang, saying to her, "Sit over there."

The phrase "sit over there" sounded more like "lie down" coming out of his mouth.

Xu Xingguang had a knack for being photogenic and didn’t need the photographer to coach her deliberately. She could accurately find the angle and expression that suited her best. Her starry eyes were fixed on the camera, and her bright and spirited eyes met the gaze of Boss Huo behind the camera, causing Boss Huo to momentarily lose his train of thought.

Boss Huo pressed the shutter and checked the portrait on the screen. He suddenly said, "Your funeral portrait, it’s beautiful." The content sounded bizarre, but to Xu Xingguang, it carried a bit of allure.

"My bone structure is not bad, maybe that’s why I’m more photogenic." Years ago, agents had contacted Xu Xingguang, wanting to train her for the entertainment industry, but Xu Xingguang was not interested. What’s the point of being a star? Her dream was to be the director of an orphanage and be a mother to the children.

The boss didn’t acknowledge Xu Xingguang’s self-praise.

Noticing the clean walls without a single display of work, Xu Xingguang asked the boss, "Boss Huo, why don’t you have any of your work on display here?"

Boss Huo surprisingly said, "You are the first client I’ve had since opening."

"How long have you been open?" Xu Xingguang was somewhat curious.

"Half a month."

Not having had a single business in half a month, Xu Xingguang suddenly began to doubt Boss Huo’s photography skills.

But with a face like hers, it wouldn’t be easy to take a bad photo.

Just as Boss Huo was about to transfer the photos into the camera, he heard Xu Xingguang say, "Take a passport photo for me too, I need it for school."

Learning that Xu Xingguang said she was still in school, Boss Huo was a bit surprised. "Graduate student?"

Xu Xingguang suspiciously fell silent for a while before replying, "Freshman."

Four years of college can transform someone greatly. There is a significant difference between a freshman just entering college and a senior about to graduate, whether in attire, speech, or social skills.

And the social skills Xu Xingguang displayed were impressive. She didn’t exhibit any of the qualities typical of a college student, instead, she was shrouded in a layer of mystery that made it hard for people to see through her.

Even he couldn’t see through her.

"Couldn’t tell." He thought Xu Xingguang seemed like a seasoned person, well-versed in the ways of the world.

Xu Xingguang explained, "I took a three-year break from school due to an injury."

Boss Huo made a sound of acknowledgment but didn’t ask why she had to take a break from school.

After taking a passport photo of Xu Xingguang, Boss Huo said, "Add me on WeChat. I’ll notify you when the funeral portrait is ready."

"Sure." Xu Xingguang scanned Boss Huo’s WeChat QR code, clicked to request adding him as a friend, and told Boss Huo, "My name is Xu Xingguang. I live next door to you. You can notify me anytime to pick up the photos when they are ready."

Hearing this, Boss Huo’s finger paused at the add-friend confirmation. He looked up, stared at the wall in front of him, and casually asked, "Did you buy the house next door?"

Xu Xingguang shook her head and explained, "That house was bought by my mom years ago. It hasn’t been lived in for several years and is somewhat neglected. I plan to renovate it."

After hearing the explanation, Huo Wen’an’s gaze at Xu Xingguang seemed to deepen.

Thinking that the other party might need tranquility due to physical discomfort and that renovation would inevitably create noise, Xu Xingguang felt a bit apologetic. "It may get a bit noisy. Sorry for the disturbance, please bear with me."

Just a verbal apology wasn’t enough to put Xu Xingguang at ease.

She suddenly turned around, walked towards her canvas bag, and dug around inside, pulling out a wooden bracelet. "This bracelet is made from the heartwood of An Shen Wood and is supposed to help soothe the mind and aid sleep. I hope it helps you sleep well."

Boss Huo didn’t believe the bracelet could really help him sleep, but he still accepted the bracelet from Xu Xingguang, following social etiquette, and said, "I’ll waive the fee for today’s passport photo as a reciprocal gesture."

"Alright."

Boss Huo was sensible, and Xu Xingguang decided to look after him more in the future.

The smell of herbal medicine grew stronger, spreading throughout the room.

As the scent reached her nostrils, Xu Xingguang could identify the types of herbs contained within. Patients who required such herbs were usually not long for this world and were pitiful souls constantly enduring pain.

Boss Huo, holding a cutting knife, was trimming the passport photo, revealing a segment of a cold, white, slender nape as he bent over.

Staring at Boss Huo’s attractive profile and the neck that fueled imagination, a sense of pity suddenly welled up in Xu Xingguang’s heart.

Such a good-looking person should certainly live for a few more years to make it worthwhile.

"Is Boss Huo ill?"

Without lifting his head, Boss Huo responded with a sound of affirmation, then added, "An old ailment."

With a heavy heart, Xu Xingguang advised him, "Medicine is three parts poison. Overusing them severely damages the nerves."

He didn’t pay attention to what she said.

Noticing the dark circles forming under his eyes, she guessed that his recent sleep quality must be very poor, and she knew he was already showing signs of nervous exhaustion.

"This prescription can only alleviate pain, but it won’t calm the disturbances in your circulation. You just need to add two petals of Ice Crystal Grass to help relieve it."

At the mention of ’Ice Crystal Grass,’ Boss Huo finally reacted. He had heard about this herb from Ye Mingluo, who said it was a critically endangered and rare herb, possessed by only a few.

Ye Mingluo had been searching for this particular herb for years, but there had been no news.

Xu Xingguang actually knew about Ice Crystal Grass!