Let's take a photo together

The air on the mountaintop was crisp and cold. The sky was a deep, inky blue, not yet stained by the sunlight.

"The weather is great today, not too many clouds."

"No smog, either."

Looking far into the distance, the silhouettes of the dark green mountains to the east were sharply defined. Behind the ridges, a smear of orange was quietly spreading, as if someone had accidentally knocked over a palette of paint.

Even the students from Class 15 had secured a good viewing spot, leaning quietly against the railing and gazing eastward.

"The sun rises in the east! I alone am invincible!" An Yuexin's full-throated shout shattered the tranquility of the mountaintop.

Lin Mo shot him a glance and said leisurely, "Understood, Eunuch An."

Fang Jun burst out laughing and mercilessly added insult to injury, "Mai Chuwen, your husband is a eunuch!"

"Screw you! I'm paying tribute to a classic!" An Yuexin's face heated up as he stiffened his neck and retorted.

Fang Jun ignored him and continued to fan the flames. "Mai Chuwen, look at him, he's getting worked up."

An Yuexin looked helplessly at Mai Chuwen, hoping she would say a word in his defense.

Just as he opened his mouth, Mai Chuwen turned her face away, pulled at her scarf, and left him with nothing but the back of her head.

"Don't look at me, I don't know anything."

Fine, fine, ganging up to bully the honest guy, right?

An Yuexin felt incredibly stifled; even his own wife wasn't taking his side.

The crowd ignored his little fit of pique, their eyes drawn back to the horizon.

That touch of orange grew more intense, its edges radiating a piercing golden light, as if something was about to tear open the canopy of the sky.

Finally, a red sun struggled out from between the mountains. Its rays instantly blanketed the entire sky, gilding the faces of everyone on the summit with a layer of warm light.

Looking at this magnificent scene, Fang Jun's long-brewing emotions suddenly surged. He cleared his throat, his face adopting a sacred expression as if he were about to compose a poem.

The moment Lin Mo saw his expression, his heart skipped a beat, thinking to himself that this was bad.

This guy was about to start acting up again.

Sure enough, Fang Jun began speaking in an aria-like tone:

"Piercing through the mountains and clouds, the sun at this moment is like a sleepy eye. It seems to need a yawn before it can slowly open."

"Shut up, that was awful!" Lin Mo reached out to cover his mouth. Those words made him cringe so hard his toes could have dug out a three-bedroom apartment.

Fang Jun dodged nimbly. Not only did he not stop, but he raised his voice to ensure everyone present could hear.

"The first ray of morning sunlight illuminates us, and it illuminates Yangcheng! Everyone! Good morning!"

This shout seemed to carry a strange, infectious power.

After a brief silence, someone took the lead, and soon after, everyone on the mountaintop followed suit, shouting in response.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning—!"

For a moment, youthful and burning voices echoed around the mountaintop, driving away the last trace of the morning chill.

The entire summit was filled with a lively atmosphere.

Fang Jun lowered his arms and looked at Cai Junhuang with a smug face, his eyebrows raised high. "How was that? Did I set the mood perfectly or what?"

Cai Junhuang gave him a thumbs-up. "Shameless! Truly shameless!"

Then came the photo-taking session.

In this era, smartphone camera pixels were generally low, and their photography features left much to be desired. Only Apple phones stood out from the crowd.

"Let's use Yunlu's! Her phone takes the best pictures!"

"Yeah, yeah, send them to the group chat after!"

Someone made the suggestion, and it immediately won the approval of all the girls.

Just like that, Jiang Yunlu's Apple phone naturally became the public camera, and she herself became everyone's exclusive photographer.

"How is this angle? Does it make me look fat?"

"Yunlu, step back a bit. Yes, yes, get me and Yangcheng in the background!"

The girls chattered away, constantly changing groups—first a trio, then five of them in one frame. It was incredibly lively.

Jiang Yunlu held up her phone, patiently following various instructions with a polite smile on her face, but she felt a bit sour inside.

The boys, on the other hand, lacked interest, casually snapping a few shots of the scenery and calling it a day.

"Yunlu, have you studied photography? These look so good."

"Remember to send the pictures when we get back, and send the original files."

Just then, a figure bypassed the girls who were posing and walked straight up to Lin Mo.

It was Xie Yuling.

"Let's take a picture together."

Xie Yuling's voice wasn't loud, but amidst the noise, it reached Jiang Yunlu's ears clearly.

She didn't want to take a picture with anyone else; only Lin Mo.

She raised her own phone, skillfully switching to selfie mode. The faint light from the screen reflected the silhouettes of her and Lin Mo standing shoulder to shoulder.

Jiang Yunlu's hand paused.

She saw Xie Yuling tilt her head slightly, leaning toward Lin Mo with a radiant smile.

Click.

A photo was born.

Jiang Yunlu's gaze swept over them, and she started chanting a calming mantra in her head.

It's her birthday, it's her birthday, it's her birthday.

The birthday girl is the most important, don't mind it!

Forget it, forget it, forget it!

Xie Yuling seemed very satisfied. She took just one picture before putting her phone away and stepping aside to continue taking pictures of the scenery.

Just as Jiang Yunlu breathed a sigh of relief, another figure filled the void.

At this moment, Chu Miaomiao also went over. She was also holding the latest Apple phone.

"I want a picture too!"

Her voice was much softer and sweeter than Xie Yuling's, carrying a hint of undeniable charm.

As she spoke, she raised her phone, leaning even closer than Xie Yuling had.

The shutter sound clicked again.

Jiang Yunlu's fingertips gripped her phone a bit tighter, feeling as if the cold metal casing was getting hot.

She took a deep breath, and just as she was about to step over there, her arm was grabbed by another girl.

"Yunlu, Yunlu, quick! I didn't pose well for that last one, help me take another!"

She was dragged back to her post as the photographer.

Soon after, Fang Jun and the other boys threw their arms over each other's shoulders and surrounded Lin Mo to take some group photos.

Round after round, it seemed endless.

When everyone finally scattered in satisfaction and started taking selfies with their own phones, Jiang Yunlu was finally liberated.

She felt like a soldier who had just fought an entire battle, and her phone was almost out of battery.

Unable to hold back any longer, she practically dashed over to Lin Mo. Because she ran so quickly, her breathing was a bit unsteady.

"I... I want to take a picture too!"

Lin Mo looked at her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes. In truth, he had long noticed the little photographer who had been bustling about, unable to find a chance to speak up.

Her voice carried a grievance she hadn't even noticed herself.

He let out a low chuckle. Without saying a word, he simply reached out his hand.

Before Jiang Yunlu could react, the phone she had been tightly clutching was effortlessly taken by a well-defined hand.

Lin Mo held up the phone with one hand, adjusting the angle to frame both of them.

He was a head taller than her, so he performed this action effortlessly.

"Come on, look at the camera."

His voice came from above her head, deep and gentle.

Jiang Yunlu's mind went completely blank, yet her body reacted faster than her conscious thoughts. Instinctively, she raised her head and looked right into that small black lens.

Lin Mo leaned in slightly, his shoulder naturally resting against hers.

Through the thin fabric of their clothes, the warmth of his body could be clearly felt.

Click!

The crisp sound of the camera shutter rang out.

The moment was forever frozen in time.