The idea of having Comrade Cheng work at the Hongmeng Photo Studio had actually taken root in his heart long ago. However, after seeing the photos, most of his attention had been occupied by the desire to learn techniques from her, causing him to overlook this idea and almost miss the opportunity. But now, bringing it up shouldn’t be too late.
After all, finding a good job these days isn’t easy, especially for female comrades. Now that he was proactively offering this opportunity to Comrade Cheng, she shouldn’t have any reason to refuse.
But when he met her calm and unflinching gaze, Li Taoyuan’s heart couldn’t help but skip a beat. Was she not the least bit tempted? Could it be that she already had a decent job? Indeed, she and her husband seemed like respectable people—how could they not have jobs?
Yet, he really didn’t want to miss out on such a talented photographer, nor did he want to miss the chance to learn from her.
Moreover, more than half of the year had already passed, and the end of the year was approaching. In previous years, their Hongmeng Photo Studio had taken on all the major projects in Rongzhou, but this year…
Thinking of the hints his superior had recently dropped, Li Taoyuan clenched his palm.
If the Hongmeng Photo Studio remained at its current level by the end of the year, not only would they fail to secure all the major projects, but they might not even get a scrap of the pie. By then, they would truly lose face in front of all of Rongzhou and never be able to hold their heads high again.
Li Taoyuan’s lowered eyelashes suddenly lifted. Before Cheng Fangqiu could voice her refusal, he spoke up first: “Comrade Cheng, as long as you come to work at our Hongmeng Photo Studio, the position of studio director will be yours. I will also apply to the higher-ups to allocate housing for you. I guarantee that the benefits and treatment will be better than what you currently have.”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present turned their eyes to Li Taoyuan, their faces unable to conceal their astonishment.
His promise was undeniably significant and carried immense weight.
Not to mention the housing allocation, but even the position of studio director—he was willing to give it up…
After the initial shock, Cheng Fangqiu began to ponder how to reject this unexpected windfall without seeming ungrateful. After careful consideration, she decided to be honest: “Master Li, I don’t have a job, and I don’t want one. I don’t like doing repetitive tasks every day, following a rigid routine.”
Li Taoyuan had considered that Cheng Fangqiu might refuse and had imagined countless reasons for her refusal, but he never expected her reason to be so simple and so hard to refute.
He wanted to lecture her about not being complacent, about striving for progress, about how one should work hard to climb to the top and see the broader world. But looking into Cheng Fangqiu’s sincere eyes, he found himself unable to say those words.
Everyone has their own preferred way of living. He himself was a failure—what right did he have to dictate someone else’s choices?
But what he thought in his heart was one thing, and reality was another. He couldn’t just watch the opportunity for the Hongmeng Photo Studio to turn things around slip right through his fingers.
Li Taoyuan frantically searched his mind for conditions that might sway Cheng Fangqiu. Material benefits clearly weren’t working, so what about appealing to her intellectually…
Suddenly, he remembered the look of fascination on Cheng Fangqiu’s face as she stared at the camera that day. At the time, he had thought she was looking at him, leading to a huge misunderstanding.
In a flash of inspiration, Li Taoyuan spoke up again: “Although our photo studio has declined now, it was once the best in Rongzhou. Our storage room is filled with all kinds of cameras, film, lenses, equipment…”
Before he could finish, Li Taoyuan clearly saw a flicker in Cheng Fangqiu’s eyes—a look of desire and joy for something she loved. He hadn’t guessed wrong!
Li Taoyuan’s tense body suddenly relaxed, and even the corners of his lips curled into a slight smile. Softening his voice, he said, “If Comrade Cheng is interested, you can visit and use the storage room anytime.”
“Really?” Cheng Fangqiu blurted out instinctively, only to realize she might have fallen into this old fox’s trap. She frowned slightly, but couldn’t help feeling swayed.
In the storage room of a photo studio from this era, she could probably find many rare treasures, right? Even if she couldn’t take them home and keep them for herself, just being able to see them and tinker with them would be more than enough to satisfy her.
No one knew how much of an attraction this held for a photographer with a collector’s obsession!
“Yes, this is something I can definitely deliver on,” Li Taoyuan said, noticing the shift in Cheng Fangqiu’s attitude. With a smile, he dropped another bombshell: “If Comrade Cheng doesn’t like coming to work every day, you can come just four days a week—no, three?”
Cheng Fangqiu did not immediately agree. Instead, she pretended to ponder deeply, stroking her chin. “What time do you start work every day?”
“8:30,” Li Zhiliang blurted out, his voice rising slightly in excitement, a hint of joy appearing on his face. When Cheng Fangqiu asked about the working hours, he knew the deal was 80% done.
As a long-time employee of Hongmeng Photo Studio, he only wanted the studio to improve and restore its former glory, even making that glory shine brighter. Therefore, he felt no jealousy about Cheng Fangqiu joining, only endless anticipation and joy.
Li Taoyuan shot Li Zhiliang a displeased look. What was this kid doing, showing off like that? Speaking so loudly—what if he scared Comrade Cheng away? Couldn’t he be gentler?
Fortunately, Cheng Fangqiu simply nodded and then said, “I can’t get up that early.”
Hearing this, Li Taoyuan and Li Zhiliang panicked. Did “can’t get up” mean she was politely refusing?
But before they could say anything, Cheng Fangqiu continued, “How about I come in at 10:30 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays?”
“Deal,” Li Taoyuan immediately responded, as if afraid she might change her mind. He quickly added, “Take this week off. I’ll handle the paperwork for you. You can start next Monday.”
“Alright,” Cheng Fangqiu said, knowing when to stop pushing her luck since the other side had already made so many concessions. But then, as if remembering something, she raised an eyebrow and said, “Oh, by the way, I don’t want to be the studio director. Too much hassle. Just convert that into salary for me.”
Her tone was full of disdain, but who in this world would dislike a higher position?
Li Taoyuan’s eyes suddenly moistened, and he murmured, “Okay.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll head out now,” Cheng Fangqiu said, seeing that the matter was settled. She quickly pulled Xu Qiqi along to leave.
It was getting late, and she had to hurry back. She hadn’t forgotten that Zhou Yinghuai had said he would come back to have lunch with her.
“Take care on your way back,” Li Taoyuan called out to their retreating figures. Seeing them wave in acknowledgment, he finally felt at ease. He watched them disappear around the corner of the street, not turning back until they were completely out of sight. Then, he looked up at the sign hanging above the door and softly read the words aloud.
“Hongmeng Photo Studio.”
It was saved.
—
“Qiuqiu, from now on, you’re my role model. I want to be just like you.”
“How are you so good at everything?”
“Qiuqiu, if you were a man, I’d definitely dump Chang Yan’an and be with you. Wuwu, it’s not too late now, right?”
Seeing Xu Qiqi’s words getting more and more outrageous, Cheng Fangqiu quickly stopped her. “Your thoughts are too dangerous. I don’t have that kind of interest.”
“Oh, I was just joking. It’s not like I’m serious. With your husband being such a gem, how could you ever fancy a lazy bum like me?” Xu Qiqi pouted, her lips curving upward so much they could almost hang a bottle of soy sauce.
Cheng Fangqiu found it amusing and pointed at her nose from a distance. “Qiqi, don’t sell yourself short. You and Zhou Yinghuai each have your own strengths. I like you both.”
“Hehe, really?” Xu Qiqi was instantly cheered up, her face lighting up with a smile as she hugged Cheng Fangqiu’s arm and swayed back and forth.
“Mhm.”
Although they were about the same age, Cheng Fangqiu saw Xu Qiqi as a younger sister, so her tone unconsciously carried a hint of fondness. “We need to be morally upright citizens, so cheating is absolutely out of the question, whether it’s with a man or a woman.”
Before Xu Qiqi could respond, a bicycle suddenly pulled up beside them, and a deep male voice interjected.
“What cheating?”
Both women were startled, instinctively covering their chests and taking a step back in unison. Only after recognizing the newcomer did they lower their hands and let out a long sigh of relief, though their tension quickly returned.
“How long have you been following us? Why didn’t we hear anything?”
And how much of their nonsense had he overheard?
Cheng Fangqiu unconsciously swallowed, feeling inexplicably guilty as she exchanged a glance with Xu Qiqi, who tightened her grip on Cheng Fangqiu’s arm, looking equally nervous.
Seeing this, Zhou Yinghuai’s dark, jade-like eyes narrowed slightly. He glanced discreetly at their linked arms and was about to say something when a memory flashed through his mind—Cheng Fangqiu’s earlier scolding about his tendency to get jealous over trivial matters. He pressed his lips together and simply said, “I just got here. Where are you two coming from?”
Relieved that Zhou Yinghuai had changed the subject, Cheng Fangqiu exhaled slowly and then smiled brightly. “We went to pick up some photos. It’s a long story—I’ll tell you the details when we get home.”
“Alright,” Zhou Yinghuai replied without pressing further, nodding in agreement.
“What about you? Is it lunch break already?” Cheng Fangqiu didn’t have a watch, and Xu Qiqi had been in such a hurry when they left that she forgot hers too. As a result, the two of them had no sense of time and could only guess roughly.
It seemed she’d have to make time to visit the department store again. She wondered if the watch counter had gotten any new stock. Last time she looked, nothing had caught her eye, so she hadn’t bought anything. But this time, whether she found something she liked or not, she had to buy a watch. Going out without one was just too inconvenient.
“Yes, I went to the state-run restaurant we visited last time to buy lunch.” He couldn’t get used to the cafeteria food, and he didn’t have time to go home and cook, so he remembered the state-run restaurant they’d gone to after getting their marriage certificate. She had said the food was pretty good, so he made a special trip there to buy some dishes.
Unexpectedly, on his way back, he ran into her and Xu Qiqi…
And even more unexpectedly, he overheard them discussing such a topic. Although he knew it was just a joke, a shadow flickered in Zhou Yinghuai’s eyes. He glanced at Xu Qiqi out of the corner of his eye. This brat, still wet behind the ears, actually had the audacity to try to steal his wife?
Xu Qiqi had been standing quietly beside Cheng Fangqiu, listening to the couple’s conversation, when suddenly she felt as if she were being watched by a cold, venomous snake. She shivered all over.
Suspicious, she looked toward Zhou Yinghuai, but he wasn’t even looking at her—his gaze was fixed on Cheng Fangqiu.
Was it just her imagination? Xu Qiqi shuddered and said, “Qiuqiu, you and Comrade Zhou should go home and eat. Otherwise, the food will get cold. I’ll head to Chang Yan’an’s office—it’s close by.”
“Is Deputy Factory Director Chang still in his office at this hour?” Cheng Fangqiu was genuinely surprised. It seemed every era had its workaholics.
“All he cares about is work. He hardly ever comes home during the day. I’ll go make sure he eats.” Xu Qiqi shrugged, clearly sharing Cheng Fangqiu’s bewilderment.
“Alright then, bye-bye.” Cheng Fangqiu waved at Xu Qiqi and then climbed onto the back of Zhou Yinghuai’s bicycle.
“Bye-bye,” Xu Qiqi waved back.
Once Cheng Fangqiu was settled, Zhou Yinghuai started pedaling. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist, her palms resting against his firm muscles. She couldn’t resist giving them a little squeeze.
Tsk, the feel of those abs was just too good.
“Qiuqiu, there are people around,” Zhou Yinghuai called out her name helplessly. Only then did Cheng Fangqiu realize that it was lunchtime, and the streets were filled with workers heading home to eat. Her actions were practically public indecency.
Thankfully, Zhou Yinghuai had reminded her in time, so no one had likely seen. Otherwise, she’d be too embarrassed to show her face.
A blush crept up to the tips of Cheng Fangqiu’s ears. She quickly withdrew her hands and grabbed the hem of his shirt instead, whispering, “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
Zhou Yinghuai glanced back at her, his long lashes fluttering as they concealed the depth in his eyes. A faint smile played on his lips, and his tone was ambiguous. “We should still be mindful of our behavior in public.”
Hearing this, Cheng Fangqiu felt both embarrassed and annoyed, rolling her eyes inwardly. How could he lecture her so seriously? Just as she finished this thought, Zhou Yinghuai added, “But at home, my wife can do whatever she wants, as much as she can’t help herself.”
“…”
As expected, this was the real Zhou Yinghuai.
The ultimate secretly flirty man.
On the way, Cheng Fangqiu briefly explained the events of the morning to Zhou Yinghuai. Just as she finished, they arrived at the foot of the apartment building. Zhou Yinghuai parked the bike, took the bag from her hand, and the two of them walked upstairs together.
“So, you really like photography that much?”
As expected of him, he immediately guessed the real reason she wanted to stay at Hongmeng Photo Studio.
Cheng Fangqiu hadn’t even had two seconds to feel proud before she noticed something was off.
Although Zhou Yinghuai’s tone was calm, it was too calm, which made Cheng Fangqiu feel uneasy. She tilted her head to look at him and saw that his eyelashes were lowered, his expression dejected.
Cheng Fangqiu’s heart skipped a beat, and a memory suddenly flashed through her mind—the explanation she had given him earlier about why she knew so much about photography.
“It’s a long story. When I was in high school in the county, there was a boy who liked me.”
“His dad was a veteran photographer at a photo studio, so he knew a lot about it. Back then, I thought people who understood cameras were really impressive, so he kept pestering me, telling me all about it. He even took me to the photo studio to play around. Over time, I picked up some knowledge.”
Could it be that Zhou Yinghuai had always thought her love for photography stemmed from that made-up boy? Given Zhou Yinghuai’s tendency to overthink, in his mind, it probably equated to her liking that boy—so much so that she was willing to compromise and agree to work at the photo studio.
Under these circumstances, even if she had told him she only loved him, he might still suspect that all those sweet words were just fabrications to placate him.
The more Cheng Fangqiu thought about it, the more alarmed she became. She realized she couldn’t let this misunderstanding continue. But men in such situations were probably not in the mood for rational conversation.
So, when would he be in the mood for rational conversation?
A lightbulb went off in Cheng Fangqiu’s head. She took a deep breath, quickly glanced around to make sure no one was in the stairwell, and then hooked her pinky finger around his. With a coquettish laugh, she teased, “Honey, do you smell that? It smells like a whole barrel of aged vinegar.”
Her finger hooked around his wasn’t enough—she also began to playfully scratch his palm with her fingertip. The pressure was just right, not too light, not too heavy, but enough to make its presence known, impossible to ignore.
Zhou Yinghuai’s breathing hitched almost imperceptibly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. Yet, he still pretended nothing was wrong. “I don’t smell anything.”
“Take a closer sniff?” The more he pretended to be serious, the more Cheng Fangqiu clung to him, her voice dripping with sweetness.
“My nose must be broken,” Zhou Yinghuai replied, refusing to play along as he fished the keys out of his pocket, making up excuses on the spot.
Cheng Fangqiu laughed even harder, but in the next second, her peach-blossom eyes, filled with amusement, turned watery with concern. “Baby, baby, what’s wrong with your nose? Do you have a cold?”
Just then, the door opened, and Zhou Yinghuai quickly pushed the little temptress inside. But the quiet hallway seemed to echo with the lingering, seductive tone of her voice.
“Why are you pushing me, baby?” Cheng Fangqiu leaned against the cabinet in the entryway, playing the part of a delicate, helpless damsel in distress. “Baby, do you not love me anymore? Sniff sniff, my heart hurts. Quick, listen—is something wrong?”
Her pose against the cabinet accentuated her curvaceous figure, the soft fullness of her chest pressed against the edge, creating a deep, enticing line that was impossible to ignore.
Below that was her slender, willow-like waist, so tiny it seemed he could wrap his hand around it.
As if the scene wasn’t provocative enough, she then lifted one long leg, pressing the tip of her shoe against his knee, leaving a faint smudge of dust.
Zhou Yinghuai had had enough. With one hand, he set down the things he’d been carrying on the cabinet, while the other grabbed her ankle and pulled her toward him with force. Before Cheng Fangqiu could escape, he leaned in, pressing her against the cabinet.
One of her legs was forced to wrap around his lean waist, throwing her off balance. She had no choice but to cling to him for support.
Cheng Fangqiu blinked her innocent peach-blossom eyes, her delicate features lively and mischievous, making it impossible for anyone to stay mad at her. Of course, Zhou Yinghuai wasn’t angry—instead, his chest felt warm, and his breathing grew ragged.
“You’re teasing me even outside?” Zhou Yinghuai’s voice had grown hoarse, and he deliberately leaned in to speak close to her ear. His warm breath, accompanied by his magnetic voice, sent shivers down her spine, making her instinctively shrink back.
“Who’s teasing you? Shameless.”
Zhou Yinghuai chuckled softly, his lips curving into a smirk. “Just now you were calling me ‘baby’ over and over, and now you’re calling me shameless?”
Despite his usually refined and noble appearance, his smile at this moment was devilishly charming. This contrast made Cheng Fangqiu utterly captivated. She let out a delicate hum, her fingertips teasingly tracing the back of his neck, but she remained silent.
“Be good, call me that again.”
It seemed this was the first time she had called him that. At first, he found it a bit strange—after all, it sounded like something you’d call a child. But the more he heard it, the more he liked it.
Because the word “baby,” coming from her lips, carried an inexplicably sweet and intimate tone.
Zhou Yinghuai gently bit her earlobe, his teeth grazing it lightly, instantly making her body go soft. Cheng Fangqiu’s beautiful eyes were filled with a mix of shyness and mischief as she shook her head repeatedly.
Then, Zhou Yinghuai pressed her against the cabinet, his lips moving downward.
She was wearing a small cardigan today, and the buttons were a bit tricky to undo. But under his skilled hands—and mouth—they seemed to surrender effortlessly. In just a few moments, most of the buttons were undone, the fabric slightly damp, brushing against her skin and sending tingles through her.
Cheng Fangqiu couldn’t help but laugh from the ticklish sensation, dodging his advances while scolding him, “Shameless! Who said you could undo my buttons?”
Her words were full of reproach, but her free hands clung tightly to his neck, not pushing him away in the slightest.
“Didn’t you say your chest hurt and asked me to listen?” Zhou Yinghuai’s large, warm hand had already found its way to her back, effortlessly undoing the thin tie.
Cheng Fangqiu felt a sudden coolness on her chest, followed by a flush of pink spreading across her cheeks.
His hair was too short, prickling the skin of her neck and chin, making it both itchy and slightly painful. She could only tilt her head back pitifully to escape him, but this motion only pushed her softness further into his mouth.
Almost simultaneously, she heard a low, muffled laugh escape his throat.
Annoyed, she pinched his ear hard, but he was too engrossed in his feast to pay her any mind.
Cheng Fangqiu’s gaze gradually grew hazy, but she hadn’t forgotten why she had started teasing him in the first place. Her lips quivered slightly as she whispered, “Baby.”
He released her lips, murmuring, “Hmm?”
His tone was light and playful, clearly in a good mood.
“I like photography because of me, not because of anyone else. Don’t you dare misunderstand,” she said, pinching his earlobe and then cupping his face, tracing the contours of his jaw. “Do you understand?”
Their eyes met in the air, his deep and misty, impossible to read.
The atmosphere was silent for a couple of seconds before Zhou Yinghuai suddenly lifted his chin and kissed her lips, gentle and lingering. Then, in a low voice, he said, “I know. I didn’t misunderstand.”
“Then why were you so full of jealousy earlier?”
She had thought he misunderstood the reason she loved photography and was heartbroken over it. But now he was saying he hadn’t misunderstood? Was he telling the truth or lying? Cheng Fangqiu was confused.
Zhou Yinghuai, however, seemed to have figured something out. He bit her red lip in frustration, leaving a faint mark, his calloused thumb pressing against the veins on her neck, sending shivers through her. Cheng Fangqiu’s breathing grew heavier, and she tried to grab his hand, but he pinned both of her wrists above her head with his other hand.
“Cheng Fangqiu, what on earth goes through your mind all day?”
“…” Cheng Fangqiu herself didn’t know. She closed her eyes in frustration and embarrassment, but with her eyes shut, her other senses became even more heightened. She was forced to open them again.
In the end, she settled for glaring at Zhou Yinghuai fiercely.