The Camping Trip Ends with a Beautiful Group Photo

In ancient times, people strolled down streets; today, they stroll down gravel paths.

Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu walked side by side, hand in hand, along the lakeside trail.

The scenery here was picturesque, the air pristine—perfect for a leisurely stroll like this.

Of course, it would be even better if Gu Yan weren’t so unrestrained.

"Hah~ hah~ Qingqiu, my Qingqiu~~ I missed you so much!! This...! This is the power of your charm, isn’t it?!"

"Even someone as strong as me can’t resist it! Hiss!!"

Gu Yan’s theatrics were practically a daily occurrence.

Leng Qingqiu was almost used to it, though her heart still fluttered uncontrollably. She loved it when Gu Yan clung to her like this—it made her feel incredibly secure.

But there was one thing that bothered her.

"Hmph. Can’t resist, huh..."

Leng Qingqiu let out a cold snort and pressed a hand against Gu Yan’s forehead, stopping his overenthusiastic antics.

Her voice took on a faintly resentful tone. "We agreed... this was supposed to be a date for just the two of us."

"!!"

Gu Yan panicked instantly, activating his passive skill: "Qingqiu, I’m sorry! I messed up!"

"This was sudden, and I could’ve refused, but I ended up letting them come along."

"I’m sorry, Qingqiu! Next time, I swear this won’t happen again!"

"If it does, you can step on me, trample me, even curse me out—I won’t complain at all!!"

Leng Qingqiu was taken aback by how extreme his words were. "There’s no need for that... I wouldn’t do something so harsh."

Stepping on him, trampling him, cursing him out? She would never be that cruel.

"It’s fine, Qingqiu. It’s your right! In fact, if you’re up for it, we can rehearse tonight!"

Gu Yan said this with complete seriousness.

"...?"

Leng Qingqiu paused, sensing something off.

Her mind flashed back to a long time ago when Gu Yan had confessed all sorts of... unconventional desires to her.

So...

Was this another one of those?

But... surely not.

No one would actually want to be stepped on and berated—even Gu Yan wouldn’t.

After all, she had done it to him before, and he’d always screamed in agony.

So, Leng Qingqiu shook her head and threatened, "I’ll let it slide today. But if you disobey me again, I might just have to consider this punishment~"

"!!!"

"Uh, I was just joking, Qingqiu! Please don’t actually do that..."

Gu Yan spoke cautiously. As everyone knew, he hated being stepped on by Leng Qingqiu.

After all, he was a born powerhouse.

"Hmph. Then behave."

Leng Qingqiu smirked, convinced she’d found his weakness. "Let’s head back."

"Right, right."

By the time they returned to the campsite, Old Gao had already finished grilling the items that required longer cooking times.

"Young Master, the rest is up to you."

Old Gao smiled, looking forward to Gu Yan’s culinary skills.

"Fine, I’ll show off a little today."

"You’re all in for a treat."

Gu Yan rolled up his sleeves and grabbed the prepared skewers of meat and vegetables, about to place them on the grill—

"Wait."

Leng Qingqiu walked over and tied an apron around him from behind. "There. Now you’re ready. I’m looking forward to your cooking."

Gu Yan’s lips curled into a grin. "Then prepare to be amazed, Qingqiu."

"Alright. I’ll make a salad."

"A salad? Qingqiu, you’re not fat."

"... I never said I was."

Leng Qingqiu gave him a very friendly pinch on the waist. "Are you saying I’ve gotten fat?"

"Ack! No, no, no...!"

Gu Yan insisted she wasn’t—Leng Qingqiu’s Night King physique made it impossible for her to gain weight.

But if she was feeling self-conscious, it was probably because...

Little Cold had been sneaking sweets at midnight again.

Gu Yunrou and Gu Yingying watched the scene unfold, nodding in satisfaction.

Mhm, mhm. So sweet...

"Hehe, Brother-in-law and Big Sis..."

Leng Ling'er giggled nearby, her earlier frustration over failing to catch any fish completely forgotten.

Soon, the tantalizing aroma of grilled food filled the air.

"Done! Let’s eat!"

Leng Qingqiu’s salad was also ready—vibrant, fragrant, and beautifully presented.

The group sat on the picnic blanket, the serene surroundings making the meal even more enjoyable.

Gu Yingying and Gu Yunrou finally got to taste Gu Yan’s cooking.

They were stunned.

"Wait, where did you learn to cook like this?!"

"Self-taught."

"No way! You’re this good? That can’t be real."

"I’ve always been this good."

"Huh! So you’re not completely useless."

"Hey, hey..."

The lake shimmered emerald green under the hazy mountain backdrop—a rare, perfect day.

After eating their fill, Gu Yan strung up a suspended swing between two large trees.

Leng Qingqiu sat on it, fingers tracing the pages of a braille book.

She still loved reading so much.

Gu Yan sighed fondly—then suddenly had an idea.

He quickly exchanged for a camera in the system shop, pretending to retrieve it from the car.

He positioned himself at Leng Qingqiu’s side, wanting to capture her serene, focused expression. Her profile was breathtakingly soft and beautiful in the frame.

But before he could press the shutter—

A pair of slender legs clad in white thigh-high socks stepped into view.

"Aha! Brother-in-law, you’re sneaking photos of Big Sis!"

Leng Ling'er’s voice rang in his ears.

Gu Yan looked up, exasperated, at the smug little gremlin grinning down at him.

"Could you move? You’re ruining the moment."

"Hehe, no way! I want in too—with Big Sis!"

Leng Ling'er giggled and skipped over to Leng Qingqiu.

"Sis, Brother-in-law says you look so pretty reading that he wants to take a picture."

Leng Qingqiu froze, then hurriedly closed her book—because it was a romance novel.

Gu Yan’s eye twitched.

This damn brat...

Then—

"Hm? Photos? Sounds fun!"

Gu Yunrou noticed and immediately scurried over to her idol’s side, waving at Gu Yan.

"Little Brother, make sure you get our good sides!"

"Yingying, you too."

"Ugh. Fine."

Gu Yingying ["reluctantly"] shuffled next to Leng Ling'er.

Gu Yan: "???"

With a sigh, he retrieved a tripod from the car and set it up in front of the group.

Then, to Old Gao: "Old Gao, join in."

"Of course, Young Master."

Old Gao straightened his posture and stepped into frame.

Gu Yan adjusted the settings, gesturing to everyone.

"Alright, everyone, get ready..."

He set the timer and immediately dashed to Leng Qingqiu’s side, crouching slightly as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Countdown together—5...!"

"4...!"

"3!"

Each voice joined in, faces alight with joy.

Leng Qingqiu felt a tremor in her heart as the voice beside her reached her ears. This sensation...

It was so warm...

"Two!"

Lovers, friends—such carefree and leisurely moments were rare and deeply comforting.

"One!"

In the past, she had been trapped in endless darkness, never daring to hope for or indulge in a life like this.

Revenge had once been her entire existence.

But now...

The person who had made it possible for her to enjoy all of this... was right by her side.

Leng Qingqiu pursed her lips lightly, then slowly turned her head, gazing intently at the radiant life force beside her.

Gu Yan...

She made a bold decision.

Then, just as the shutter was about to click with the countdown—

Everyone shouted in unison, "Cheese!"

Click! The shutter fell.

Unlike the others,

Leng Qingqiu pressed a fleeting, butterfly-like kiss onto Gu Yan's cheek.

And so, a breathtaking photograph... was born.