Chapter 254: Still can’t do

By the time the shoot ended, it was already evening.

The horizon was dyed a deep orange-red by the setting sun. The slightly salty sea breeze drifted through the flower fields of the park, scattering the fragrance of violets and freesias into the air.

“Phew… that was a lot of work today.”

Luo Shaotian set down the camera and gently rubbed his neck, sore from being bent for so long.

“Not at all—Brother Luo, you worked the hardest today.”

Lin Xue folded up the sun umbrella and thanked him politely.

“Let me hold onto the camera for now. The file sizes are too large—you’ll have trouble exporting them.”

Luo Shaotian skillfully capped the lens.

“I’ll send you the photos later. You can pick the ones you like, and if you want any retouched, I can help with that.”

“Haha, that’s perfect—much appreciated!”

Lin Xue thanked him again, then rubbed her stomach.

“After running around all afternoon, are you guys hungry? How about we find a restaurant nearby? My treat—let’s eat before heading back?”

“No.”

Luo Shaotian glanced at the girl in the white dress beside him and declined calmly.

“A-Yu and I still have something to do. We need to stop by the company later to pick up some materials.”

“You still have things to do…”

Lin Xue paused, her gaze shifting between them.

For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the atmosphere between her brother and Luo Shaotian today was… subtly strange.

“Alright then.”

She didn’t press further and casually shook her car keys.

“I’ll head off first. You’ll take a cab back later, right? I won’t give you a ride.”

“Mm. Xiaoxue, drive safely.”

Lin Yu replied softly.

Her slender, fair fingers tightened slightly around the hem of her light dress.

“Nervous?”

“Not really. It’s not like we’re doing anything bad…”

“Just… taking a few nice photos.”

But then… why avoid her sister?

She’s your own sister—what is there to hide?

“…I don’t know.”

“It just feels like I’ll be more at ease this way.”

“Your sister’s gone,” Luo Shaotian said.

“Mm… I know.”

Lin Yu took a deep breath of the flower-scented air. She lifted her head slightly, facing the afterglow of the sunset, anticipation flickering in her violet eyes.

“Um… what kind of shots should we take next?”

She tilted her head slightly.

“I’m not very good at posing… could you… teach me?”

“Let’s start simple—get a feel for it.”

Luo Shaotian pointed toward a patch of violets nearby.

“Hmm… the lighting there is good. Sit on that bench first, then lean your head back… yeah.”

Lin Yu obediently lifted her skirt slightly and walked over to the bench, sitting down and following his instructions.

But since it was her first time actively being photographed as a “model,” her movements were inevitably stiff—her shoulders tense, her hands resting awkwardly on her knees.

Click.

The shutter sounded.

Luo Shaotian glanced at the screen.

The silver-haired girl was still beautiful—but the stiffness in her posture made the composition feel off.

“Did it fail?”

Seeing him frown, she lowered her eyes a little uneasily.

“It’s fine. I’ll adjust you a bit.”

He put down the camera and stepped forward, kneeling on one knee in front of her.

“Relax.”

He reached out and gently took her wrist, guiding her into a new pose.

So soft.

Light and delicate—her bones felt so fragile it seemed they might break with too much force. Her skin was cool, like touching a freshly sprouted plant.

“Like this… is it okay?”

Lin Yu followed his guidance, lifting her arm slightly, her voice soft.

“Still a bit more.”

His voice had somehow grown hoarse.

He didn’t let go, leaning in further. His other hand hovered near her shoulder, helping her gradually loosen that small, tense body.

“Straighten your back a bit… bring your hair forward…”

Her silver-gray hair brushed against the back of his hand in the breeze, sending a faint tingling sensation through him.

They were too close.

A faint, sweet fragrance lingered between them.

He could even vaguely see the pale rise and fall beneath the fabric with her breathing.

His breathing grew heavier.

Blood rushed faster through his veins.

“Is it done?”

She suddenly asked softly, her warm breath brushing against his cheek.

“…Done. Wait a moment.”

Luo Shaotian snapped back to himself, standing up and retreating slightly, a bit flustered.

He steadied himself and raised the camera again.

Backlit by the sunset, with her hair drifting in the wind and her expression completely unguarded—

Click.

A perfect shot.

The image appeared on the screen.

He handed her the camera.

Lin Yu’s mouth parted slightly in surprise, her small hands covering her lips.

“So pretty…”

“The basics of modeling—if the foundation is good, it’s hard to take a bad photo.”

Seeing her happiness, Luo Shaotian’s expression softened unconsciously.

“Mm.”

Lin Yu nodded lightly, her brows and eyes filled with a subtle, delighted charm.

Her shimmering gaze fixed on him.

“Shaotian… I want to take more photos.”

“Sure. Let me help you try another pose. How about we—”

“Why don’t we… change locations?”

“Huh?”

“We’ve already taken a lot around here with Xiaoxue. And there are always people walking by… I feel a bit… nervous.”

“Then…”

Luo Shaotian glanced at the increasing number of evening strollers.

“Let’s find somewhere else.”

“Mm. Somewhere… with fewer people. Just the two of us.”

The sun dipped lower, the sky split into deep purple and dark gold.

They walked along the edge of the park, weaving through the crowds, until they finally found a secluded area in an open field of pale blossoms.

Near the seaside, they discovered a half-abandoned hill.

At the top stood a massive floral maze.

It hadn’t been maintained for a long time—vines grew wildly, weeds pushing through cracks in the stone.

Yet the slightly ruined setting, combined with the lush, wildly blooming violets, created a strangely decadent, hidden beauty.

Most importantly, there were no voices—only the rustling of wind through the flowers.

With the right framing and lighting, it could produce images as clean and textured as oil paintings.

“Phew… this place is actually great.”

Luo Shaotian looked around, though his brows knit slightly.

“But in a place like this, there are probably a lot of bugs. Should I go buy some insect repellent first? If you get bitten, with your delicate skin…”

“It’s fine.”

Before he could finish, a soft hand suddenly grabbed his arm.

Light. Soft. Cool to the touch.

“This body… isn’t afraid of things like that. Don’t worry about bugs. Just… take photos for me first.”

For some reason, Luo Shaotian’s heart began pounding wildly, a thin layer of sweat forming on his palms. Still, he forced himself to stay calm.

“Yeah… the light won’t last long. Let’s hurry.”

He took a deep breath and raised the camera again.

“Let me think… the background here is a bit messy. What pose would work? Maybe lean against that flower wall, sideways—”

“It’s fine. Try this first.”

Lin Yu released his arm, lifted her white dress, and walked lightly into the densest patch of violets, like a fluttering white moth.

With her back to the blooming flowers, she placed her hands behind her, leaning back slightly.

Her silver hair spilled down among the leaves.

“Face me. Come a bit closer.”

She gently closed her eyes, her long lashes casting soft shadows.

“Pretend… I’m about to fall deep into this sea of flowers. Try it.”

“Huh?”

Luo Shaotian paused, then adjusted the focus and crouched slightly.

Click.

The frame froze.

A stunning, story-filled portrait.

Huh… she picked it up fast.

Just earlier she didn’t even know where to put her hands.

After a few more shots, Lin Yu suddenly suggested:

“Can you come closer? Maybe… try a close-up?”

“That won’t work. The lens focal length isn’t enough—if I get too close, the distortion will be severe…”

“It’s fine.”

That delicate face suddenly leaned closer.

Ignoring the technical explanation, her pale hands grasped the camera lens and gently pulled it closer.

“What’s the point of only taking ‘normal’ photos?”

She smiled, her warm breath almost brushing against him.

…Alright.

Click.

Unexpectedly, even this almost out-of-control close-up worked.

Though the edges were distorted from the proximity, it actually emphasized her slightly dazed eyes.

But…

From this angle…

It almost felt like they were about to touch.

“Shaotian?”

Her soft call was right next to him.

“Mm?”

“Does it look good? The shot…”

“It does.”

“But… I feel like it’s still too far.”

Her lips parted slightly, her tongue briefly brushing the corner.

“Come a bit closer… try again, okay?”

“If I get any closer, the lens won’t focus…”

“It’s fine.”

Her hands released the camera.

Like two soft serpents, they slipped around and gently cupped his face.

“There’s no one else here anyway… right?”

…

Something suddenly felt wrong.

She was definitely different today.

He had already sensed the change since leaving the church.

Before, he thought it was just his imagination.

But now—it was obvious.

She had changed. Become more—

“At this distance, we can’t take photos anymore.”

No. I need to remind her. I have to tell her—

“Hey… looks like the sun has set.”

Her soft, moist lips parted slightly as she murmured.

The last traces of sunset vanished. Night fell like black velvet.

“In this lighting… we can’t take photos anymore, right?”

…

No way?

Ah…

Yeah. No way.

The camera screen dimmed.

The lingering warmth of sunset, the scent of violets, the faint fragrance of the girl in the sea breeze…

And those lips, so close—

Everything swirled together like a dazzling, chaotic storm.

Everything felt wrong.

But…

Maybe it was okay to let it stay wrong.

Sorry, A-Yu.

After all… faced with you like this—

I still can’t hold back.

“Mm—”

At her faint gasp, he lowered his head, his kiss falling like a violent rainstorm.

Seizing that sweetness without restraint.

The sea wind roared. The flower field swayed.

Deep within the abandoned maze, reason and restraint were torn apart.

And yet—

Amid that suffocating descent into indulgence, neither of them noticed…

Not far behind them—

A pair of eyes watched through the dense foliage.