Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Want to Hide You Away and Keep You All to Myself (New) The inn had a dedicated photographer for tourists, charging one hundred yuan per photo. Chu Tang found the photographer to take their pictures. "Master, let's use our camera." The man took the camera Chu Tang handed over and looked at it, surprise showing in his eyes. "Oh, you two are professionals! This camera isn't cheap. I wanted to buy one before, but it was too expensive so I couldn't bring myself to." Chu Tang smiled politely. "Just an amateur hobby." The man chuckled. "This is my dream camera! I'll make sure to take plenty of good shots for you." Chu Tang smiled courteously. "Thank you for your trouble." "Come, stand right here. This angle is the best—you can get the snowy mountains in the background." The man directed their positions and enthusiastically taught them poses. "Handsome guy, move a little to the left—yeah, right there. Beautiful lady, lift your chin a bit higher. Yes, just like that." The photographer exclaimed as he shot. "No wonder it's such a good piece of equipment—the resolution is incredible! I guess expensive things really are worth it. I'm definitely going to save up and buy one!" "Alright, handsome and beautiful, let's switch poses and take a few more." The photographer looked up from behind the camera and smiled at Jiang Shixu, speaking with easy familiarity. "Young man, you and your girlfriend are so good-looking, just like big celebrities. I feel like even my casual shots could make a magazine cover." Jiang Shixu was in a great mood today, so for once he actually responded to a stranger. "Thank you." His gaze swept over to Gu Zechuan, who was standing behind the photographer with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot. Jiang Shixu shot him a victorious smile, tightened his arm around Chu Tang, and felt even more pleased. Gu Zechuan watched the affectionate, clingy couple before him with a dark expression, his heart aching dully. He didn't want to keep torturing himself, so he turned and went downstairs. Jiang Shixu curled his lips. The photographer, having touched his dream camera for the first time, was utterly enchanted and eagerly took dozens of photos of them. Half an hour later, the photographer reluctantly returned the camera to Jiang Shixu. "Handsome guy, I'll only charge you for two photos today. The rest are on me—consider it payment for letting me experience this camera." Jiang Shixu opened the camera and flipped through the photos. "You took this many?" "Let me see, let me see." Chu Tang leaned in to look with him. "Master's photography skills are really good. Look how beautiful these photos turned out." Chu Tang looked up at the photographer. "Master, just charge us the proper rate. You run a small business and it's not easy—this is how you make your living. We shouldn't take advantage of you." Hearing this, the photographer felt a bit ashamed. A hundred yuan per photo at a tourist spot was hardly cheap, and rarely did anyone actually fall for it. Not only had they not used his equipment, they'd provided an even better one. The young couple had originally agreed to ten photos, but he'd been so enamored with the camera that he'd snapped forty or fifty. If he charged a hundred per photo, wouldn't that be four or five thousand yuan? That wouldn't do—it would be taking advantage of them. He couldn't just fleece people just because they had money. The photographer's conscience got the better of him, and he quickly waved his hands. "No, no need. I just took forty or fifty shots of you. If I charged a hundred each, that would be way too much. How about this—just pay the original agreed price for ten photos. One thousand yuan." The man pulled out his payment QR code. Jiang Shixu scanned it. The next second, the man saw five thousand yuan arrive on his phone and widened his eyes. "Handsome guy, did you enter the wrong amount? Let me refund the extra." "No mistake." Jiang Shixu calmly put away his phone. "I never take advantage of others." The man was both shocked and delighted. This gentleman was truly loaded. What kind of lucky day was this, running into a money god? Chu Tang smiled brightly. "Thank you, Master. You worked hard—save up and buy that camera." "It's me who should be thanking you. You're living bodhisattvas, truly. Thank you, thank you." The man bowed repeatedly. "Wishing you two a love that lasts forever!" "Thank you." Leaving the inn, they wandered through the nearby market. Chu Tang bought many local handmade trinkets to bring back as gifts for Chen Yuanyuan, Zhou Xueluo, and Yu Jiaojiao. ... Late at night, heavy snow fell in silence. By the window. Jiang Shixu's scorching kisses fell like fine, dense raindrops. Chu Tang was kissed dizzy and disoriented. The warmth inside fogged up the floor-to-ceiling glass window with a layer of mist. Chu Tang braced her hands against the glass, leaving two handprints behind. ... Afterward. Chu Tang's whole body was limp and sore, too exhausted to move. "Thank you, Shixu-gege." Jiang Shixu scooped Chu Tang up in his arms and carried her toward the bathroom. "For what?" Chu Tang gently bit her lip. "Thank you for always being by my side, for giving me your one-of-a-kind favoritism, for letting me have such beautiful love." Every time, when faced with Xu Jingxuan and Elder Mrs. Jiang, he chose her without hesitation, always standing on her side. Chu Tang spoke from the heart, a little emotionally. "Shixu-gege, do you know? You're very different from Gu Zechuan." Jiang Shixu didn't seem upset that she mentioned "Gu Zechuan." He only asked calmly, "What's different?" As he spoke, Jiang Shixu had already carried Chu Tang into the bathroom. The bathroom was also heated, so the ceramic bathtub wasn't cold even in winter. Jiang Shixu gently lowered her into the tub and ran the hot water for her. Chu Tang leaned back lazily against the edge of the tub. "To be precise, in my heart, you and Gu Zechuan are very different. Although I dated Gu Zechuan before, I never felt possessive of him, and I didn't like being intimate with him either. But you're different, Brother Shixu. I have a very strong possessiveness toward you. I want to hide you away and keep you all to myself." Jiang Shixu finished running the hot water and stepped into the tub as well. He picked up a towel, wet it, and gently wiped Chu Tang's smooth, soft skin. Hearing her say this, Jiang Shixu was quite pleased. He curved his lips slightly, a glimmer of light surfacing in his long eyes. "How strong is this 'very strong possessiveness'?" Chu Tang mumbled softly, "Didn't I already say... I want to hide you away and keep you all to myself." "Mm." The man lowered his eyes, his emotions unreadable, but the slight upward tilt of his lips betrayed him. "Tangtang." Jiang Shixu called her name gently. "Hm? What is it?" "Do you like me?" Chu Tang answered without a moment's hesitation: "I do. I like you very much." Jiang Shixu asked again, "How much is 'very much'?" Chu Tang tilted her head and thought for a moment. After a while, she raised her eyes to meet Jiang Shixu's gaze and said with a serious expression, "Very much. Most of all. Only you. No one can ever take your place in my heart." Ripples spread through Jiang Shixu's deep, dark eyes. Moved by emotion, the man lowered his head and kissed Chu Tang's lips. It was impossible to stop. Chu Tang bit her lip, closed her eyes, and savored the moment. The water rippled in layer after layer, refusing to settle for a long time. ... The two of them didn't emerge from the bathroom until quite some time later. Chu Tang's body was marked with a few dark red traces, some of which were still visible even beneath her bathrobe. She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance and protested coquettishly, "Why did you leave hickeys everywhere? How am I supposed to face anyone tomorrow like this?" Jiang Shixu smiled. "In winter, you can wear a turtleneck sweater and a scarf. No need to worry." "Hmph." Jiang Shixu carried Chu Tang out of the bathroom. Just as they stepped out, the doorbell rang. It rang again and again, showing just how urgent the person outside was. "Who could it be at this hour?" Chu Tang asked, puzzled.