Easy Yet Challenging, the Two Treasures of the Lao Chi Family

"Little Chi, should we take the first set of photos with your sister?"

"A side profile by the pond—you should practice mimicking her pose."

"Later, try to replicate it as closely as possible, just act naturally like you usually do."

As he spoke,

Lin Yu walked over to Little Chi and slung the tripod bag, reflector bag, camera bag…

all around her neck!

While loading her up, he endured her endless complaints:

"Do I have to carry everything? Can’t we just put them on the ground?"

"Are you sure there’s a dry spot? They won’t get dirty, right?"

"My neck… my neck’s about to break…"

Little Chi whined relentlessly,

hoping to tug at Lin Yu’s sympathy just a little.

However,

it had absolutely no effect.

All she got was Lin Yu sneaking a sharp pinch on her nose when Elder Chi wasn’t looking.

"Show some team spirit, you little glutton!"

"You think this is all?"

"We’re a ‘stand-in duo’—you’ll also handle the reflector, okay?"

"After the shoot, I’ll give you two packs of millet crisps from my room."

[Ding!]

[A masterstroke! The perfect reward leaves the Joyous Sect Bell Envoy utterly enchanted!]

[Reward: 50 spirit stones.]

Chi Qingchi: "!!!"

At the mention of millet crisps, Little Chi’s eyes lit up.

Lin Yu was truly the best in the world.

How did he always guess exactly what snack she was craving?

They hadn’t even talked about it!

Instantly straightening her back, she declared with righteous fervor:

"Millet crisps? Pfft!"

"I just want to contribute to the team!"

"Handling a reflector? Easy, super easy—leave it to me!"

"Got more bags? Give ’em here, I’ll carry everything!"

Lin Yu chuckled helplessly.

Sigh.

This Little Chi… always gave off vibes of being both easy and impossible to handle!

Their exchange didn’t draw much attention from Elder Chi.

Silently, Elder Chi walked to the banyan tree by the pond, listening to cicadas heralding summer.

Her mind was entirely preoccupied with one thought…

Had Lin Yu’s decision to photograph her first raised Little Chi’s suspicions?

If not…

then she’d be the first girl in Lin Yu’s camera, wouldn’t she?

The more she dwelled on it,

the more Chi Qingshui avoided glancing back at Little Chi,

afraid her expression might betray her.

Little did she know,

her boyfriend was quietly working his charms—

just not on her, but on her younger sister!

Meanwhile, Elder Chi smugly reveled in being "the first girl in his photos,"

unaware that even passersby found it hard to ignore the absurdity!

[Ding!]

[Unstoppable charisma! The Saint’s effortless charm devastates the entire Blazing Sea Demon Squad, leaving them utterly demoralized!]

[Reward: 100 + 50 + 50 + 50 spirit stones.]

Lin Yu suppressed a grin at the flood of notifications.

Oh?

Someone’s secretly crumbling already?

And we haven’t even started shooting!

Like hiding in the bushes, huh?

Better keep watching closely then…

In the thicket,

a few figures were already scratching their arms and legs restlessly.

After the heavy rain, the rising heat made the air stifling and damp—

a downright unbearable environment.

Still, they could tough it out… for now.

The only thing I can't stand is... the damn mosquitoes!

There are way too many of them!

Even the least bitten among the four of us has been bitten at least three or four times.

Sitting here motionless, feeding these bloodsuckers, might as well go donate blood for free—at least you'd get a certificate.

"Damn it, Hai-ge, should we move to another spot?"

"Lin Yu was just flirting with the younger sister behind the older sister's back, and now he's flirting with the older sister behind the younger sister's back!"

"Staying here like this isn't gonna solve anything..."

Gou Feng, who had just been loudly supporting Shi Yanhai, couldn't take it anymore and finally spoke up.

If he didn't say something soon, he felt like the mosquitoes would drain two pounds of blood from him!

Out of the four, he was the chubbiest.

And mosquitoes love chubby guys more!

After saying his piece, Gou Feng nudged Gao Yumin beside him.

Gao Yumin had been itching to leave from the start.

If he added a few more words now, maybe they could speed things up.

But Gao Yumin was no fool.

Oh?

When he suggested leaving earlier, didn’t they look down on him and tell him to shut up?

Now they’re waiting for him to speak?

Not a chance!

Gao Yumin was also among the least bitten.

"Dog Bro, are you even our brother? Leaving now?"

"Then all this waiting would’ve been for nothing!"

Gao Yumin suddenly switched his tone and started criticizing Gou Feng.

Gou Feng gave him a confused look: "???"

This bastard!

Was he setting him up?

Originally, this had nothing to do with Gao Yumin.

But after witnessing Lin Yu playing both sides—flirting with the younger sister behind the older sister's back, and vice versa—the situation changed entirely!

This was the life he wanted for himself!

What the hell made Lin Yu so special?

Looks-wise, he wasn’t bad either.

Shi Yanhai would rather be bitten to death by mosquitoes than leave.

Stomping his feet in anger, he growled:

"Lin Yu is such a scumbag, playing two girls at once!"

Gao Yumin, seething with resentment, sneered:

"Two? Captain, who are you underestimating here?"

"Did you all forget..."

"That shy girl Lin Yu was holding hands with at the food street the other day?"

"By my count, he’s probably juggling at least three!"

Zhao Bin, scratching the mosquito bites on his face as he recalled the scene at the food street, gasped:

"Those pretty girls at the table that day..."

"Don’t tell me they were all his?"

Gou Feng chimed in:

"Don’t exaggerate. You think Lin Yu’s some kind of god, handling that many?"

"Even if he were a time-management master... his body wouldn’t freaking allow it!"

"All I’m saying is, this bastard’s got some nerve, going after twin sisters at the same time!"

"Hey, wait..."

"Hai-ge! Hai-ge! I’ve got an idea!"

"Use your DSLR to snap evidence of Lin Yu’s scumbag behavior!"

"Aren’t we reviewing photography work in class tomorrow?"

"Let’s expose this bastard in front of everyone—show the whole class what kind of guy he really is!"

Shi Yanhai grabbed Gou Feng’s shoulder, his expression anything but pleased.

"Absolutely not!!"

"If we do that... Qingshui’s reputation will be ruined too!"

"She’s just confused, not a bad person!"

Gou Feng: "..."

Zhao Bin: "..."

Gao Yumin: "..."

...

(Second update for today. More coming soon! The live-action audiobook is out—check it out if you're interested!)