SWG Chapter 12
by VolareThis scene was etched in Luo Yiyi’s memory for a long time. Even long after she picked up a more professional camera, she still couldn’t capture a photo that could surpass this image in her heart.
Even though this photo was taken with a phone of unknown vintage with terrible resolution, and the light, shadow, composition were almost nonexistent, the two people in it were enough to hold up the entire frame.
The person sitting there had a faint smile in her eyes, leaning back with a hint of languor, the unbuttoned black vest draped casually over her arm, the white t-shirt underneath pulled into a beautiful curve, her legs casually resting on the ground, one hand resting casually on her thigh.
This aunt, who seemed a bit cold in Luo Yiyi’s memory, was surprisingly gentle at this moment, letting the other person hold a handful of her hair, standing in front of her.
A few strands of hair from the casually styled bun fell down, just touching her shoulder, accentuating how straight and slender her fair neck was. The loose white t-shirt on her upper body was casually tucked in at the waist, outlining her once slender waist, and the straight, long casual pants accentuated her long legs.
Almost half of her shadow covered the other person.
Their faces were even a little blurry, but at that time, she didn’t quite understand what an atmosphere was, but she could read what an atmospheric feel was.
Unfortunately, everything ended with the exposing click of a camera.
The still picture came to life, and the two of them turned their heads almost in unison to look at the person taking the picture.
This scene was also extremely beautiful, so beautiful that Luo Yiyi wished she could take a picture immediately.
But the aunt with the exceptionally clear voice was the first to speak, breaking the atmosphere.
Ruan Shengyi: “I’m sorry, Luo Yiyi, could you not take pictures, okay?”
“Could you give the previous photos to Auntie, okay?”
She didn’t even realize that her voice seemed to be trembling.
Xiao Wenyu looked at her in surprise, only then realizing that Ruan Shengyi’s face seemed to have paled slightly.
She didn’t know what had happened, but she also spoke up, saying, “Yiyi, this auntie is not blaming you, she just doesn’t like taking pictures, can you give them to her?”
Ruan Shengyi gradually calmed down, her breathing became a little smoother, and her eyes were filled with gratitude and tenderness.
The change happened too quickly, and the fear and shrinking on the face of the person standing at the door was visible to the naked eye. Xiao Wenyu sighed softly, quickly walked to Luo Yiyi, gently pressed her head, “Don’t be afraid, Aunties didn’t mean to be fierce, don’t be afraid.”
“…S-sorry.”
“Yiyi, shall we go take pictures, okay? You’re already a Little Flower Fairy, shall we go take pictures, okay?”
Xiao Wenyu rubbed her tenderly, holding her shoulders and walking into the room.
After the two of them entered the photo-taking room, the large room became empty, and Ruan Shengyi regained some strength, supporting herself to slowly stand up.
She casually grabbed her palm, only then realizing that it was filled with cold sweat, raised her hand to wipe it, and her forehead was also covered in cold sweat.
She knew that the photos taken with the dilapidated phone in Luo Yiyi’s hand might not even show their faces clearly. She knew that Luo Yiyi had just taken a picture and wouldn’t post it randomly. She knew that in all likelihood, nothing would happen.
But at that moment, the fear deep in her heart overcame all indifference and tenderness, she was still afraid.
What was even more frightening was that in the short span of half a day, she had remembered this terror three times.
It wasn’t the first time she had seen the neighbor’s boss cutting green beans, nor was it the first time she had heard about the internet. In addition to the subconscious reaction that came with being photographed, more subconscious reactions were emerging layer upon layer.
Why.
Was this her subconscious warning her that danger was approaching?
Ruan Shengyi didn’t dare to think about it, nor did she want to think about it.
Because the answer was actually very obvious.
She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and walked to the door of the photo-taking room, her heart sinking a little, and becoming a little calmer.
Xiao Wenyu was holding the camera with both hands, directing the little girl to make the movements she needed. The soft lights not only made the little girl look like she was born from a flower, but also made the person holding the camera seem to be integrated into spring.
Floating gently, as if independent from the world.
Ruan Shengyi leaned against the door, feeling a little relieved, and dared to think about the answer to the question just now.
Because she seemed to truly, and completely, care about the person in front of her.
It didn’t matter if the past would engulf her, she had already sunk into a muddy, dead end. But if those past events chased after her and entangled with this warm person who walked out of spring…
She dared not imagine it, and she didn’t want to imagine it.
Xiao Wenyu, you must be happy.
*
After sending Luo Yiyi away, the two of them simply cleaned up the empty store. The borrowed clothes were packed up again, and the takeout ordered by Xiao Wenyu had arrived.
She simply set up a table in the hall and made a gesture of invitation.
“Boss Ruan can just give me the money later, let’s sit down and eat together first.” She smiled gently.
Ruan Shengyi followed her wishes and sat down, opening the two lunch boxes, and was speechless for a moment.
Her own was fine, it was a spicy hot pot floating with red oil, fragrant and delicious, and as soon as she opened the lid, it could attract the gurgling in her stomach.
But what Xiao Wenyu bought for herself was a bowl of plain white porridge, paired with a plate of steamed dumplings and a few side dishes, which didn’t look like lunch, but like breakfast.
Ruan Shengyi pinched her brow, “Boss Xiao, you can’t save money like this! You…”
Xiao Wenyu said softly, “My stomach isn’t very good, I always have acid reflux and feel like vomiting, so it’s just right to eat something light.”
“…Hey, I really lost to you.” Ruan Shengyi used the lid of the box to pick out the quail eggs and a few sprigs of lettuce from her bowl – there weren’t many to begin with, these few sprigs were the limit, and pushed them to Xiao Wenyu, “Eat a little spicy food, otherwise you will lose your sense of taste.”
Xiao Wenyu smiled helplessly, “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
Red oil hung on the outside of the quail eggs. After Xiao Wenyu picked them up, she rubbed them in the side dishes before swallowing them whole.
After eating a few mouthfuls, she suddenly said, “I thought you would refuse me. Photography is indeed quite unconventional.”
“The house was bought for you by your family, the equipment can’t be too, right? Those photo albums, picture books, aren’t they all your own? How is it unconventional?” Ruan Shengyi said, blowing on the rising steam, “Besides, what you’re doing is very meaningful, call me for this kind of thing in the future.”
Xiao Wenyu tilted her head and supported herself, and smiled: “Does Boss Ruan want to be my semi-fixed makeup artist in the future?”
“…I mean, I’ll sponsor you.”
Xiao Wenyu looked at her in surprise, and saw a pair of clear eyes slightly curved, revealing a little natural and gentle smile.
Ruan Shengyi: “I remember that your basic makeup package here is 288, in the future, for these kids, count 300 yuan per person, I’ll pay.”
“No.” Xiao Wenyu refused decisively.
This kind of thing was her own responsibility, how could she drag others into it, and waste so much money.
Ruan Shengyi: “It has to be done.”
She raised her eyes to look at Xiao Wenyu, and said, “This kind of thing is the most able to accumulate luck. I’m going to go to heaven when I die, don’t think about stopping me.”
“Besides, Boss Xiao.” She paused, tapping the table lightly with two fingers, “The most fearful thing in doing business is having a good heart. There will always be competitors who will use your kindness to directly destroy you.”
“…Isn’t she just a businessman, how can she know…”
Ruan Shengyi looked at her speechlessly.
What a strange question.
Xiao Wenyu had to smile helplessly, “Okay, then I’ll listen to you.”
“Now, Boss Ruan is really kind to these children and me, and I can’t repay her kindness.”
Why not give myself to her?
The moment this thought popped up, Ruan Shengyi suppressed it.
That’s too greasy, yuck!!!
Xiao Wenyu leaned closer to look at her, “I suspect you just performed a big show in your heart, this expression is too rich, what are you thinking?”
“…”
Ruan Shengyi changed the subject and said, “Then, can you tell me about Luo Yiyi’s specific situation?”
“Oh, her. Speaking of…”
The door was gently knocked, interrupting the two people’s chat.
Ruan Shengyi raised her eyes to look over, and it was a woman who was also a little timid, wearing a set of somewhat dirty and messy clothes that hinted at her identity, holding a handful of change in her rough hands.
Xiao Wenyu had already gotten up to greet her.
Woman: “Hello, I’m Luo Yiyi’s mother.”
Ruan Shengyi came over and happened to hear this sentence.
She didn’t speak, and she didn’t move, only protecting the person who had half a foot on the threshold from behind.
Next, there will definitely be a back-and-forth refusal. Standing like this is too dangerous. They are not young. Wouldn’t it be a disaster if they fell?
As she expected, after a brief greeting, Luo’s mother began to thank her repeatedly, handing the money forward.
Luo’s mother: “Yiyi showed me those photos, they were really well taken. You want to do good deeds, but we can’t let you suffer too much. I saw the link you posted on Douyin, and we secretly gave you a 50% discount. Here is one hundred and fifty yuan, please accept it!”
Her voice was full of gratitude, and her hand was almost handed into Xiao Wenyu’s arms. But she seemed to be a little afraid, fearing that her hand would stain the spotless white clothes on Xiao Wenyu, so she shrank back a little.
Ruan Shengyi couldn’t help but soften a little, her heart secretly sour.
Xiao Wenyu gently pushed the money back, and in the woman’s surprised gaze, she did not shy away from holding Luo’s mother’s hand, and said: “My body is not suitable for rejecting you back and forth, so I tell you clearly that I can’t accept this money.”
“Yiyi told me about your family’s situation, but I took these photos for her not to pity her, but to thank her.”
“At that time, I could only take pictures with my mobile phone, but Yiyi still contacted me. Her enthusiasm and sunshine also encouraged me and became one of the motivations for me to keep going, so this set of photos is both fulfilling the agreement and answering myself.”
“Besides,” she suddenly smiled, changing the topic, “This is the boss of Tonight Intoxicated across the street, her surname is Ruan, and she is the sponsor of these activities. If you want to give money, you don’t have to give it to me.”
She stepped aside half a step, and the Ruan Shengyi, who was still in shock, was pushed to the front, meeting the enthusiastic and grateful woman.
Xiao Wenyu could almost feel her increasingly stiff body, and chuckled softly behind her.
Ruan Shengyi:…
She looked at the woman who was about to open her mouth again and hurriedly said, “I don’t want it.”
There was no emotional fluctuation, she was as indifferent as possible.
So Xiao Wenyu’s action of turning her head to block her smile was even more obvious, only revealing a few breaths of air while restraining herself.
Ruan Shengyi:…
She tried to explain, but to no avail.
The woman’s exceptionally enthusiastic attitude made her vaguely see the familiar neighbors when she was still at home. At that time, that aunt was also very familiar with her, and would even call her, who had nowhere to go, to eat, regardless of everyone’s eyes, and gave her an old cotton-padded jacket, which became her means of surviving the winter.
People who are genuinely enthusiastic are not too bad, so this money cannot be accepted.
But the tug-of-war over this money in the North is not only reflected in the scramble to pay, but also here.
After Ruan Shengyi, who was used to being reticent and indifferent in front of outsiders, finally sent away that great Buddha, she returned to the table quite exhausted. The other person had already laughed so hard that she had to support herself with her hands to avoid falling down.
She looks so beautiful when she smiles.
Ruan Shengyi pulled out this sentence from her noisy and tired brain.
So she said——
“Xiao Wenyu, you should smile more.”
…