The Botanical Garden where they planned their date was the largest natural park in S City. With an area covering hundreds of thousands of square meters, it housed over 3,000 types of plants and flowers. It offered a wide range of activities yet had a surprisingly cheap entrance fee. Students from F University could even get a half-price discount with their student ID. With its high cost-effectiveness, the Botanical Garden had become the top destination for budget-friendly student outings, especially popular among young couples every weekend. The Campus Forum was filled with countless beautiful pictures taken there.

Fang Jingcheng was used to spending money to save time and gain a higher level of entertainment, so places with such a popular appeal usually didn’t make it onto his radar. But this time, it happened to suit Xia Fu’s taste perfectly.

Since she was the one who had invited Fang Jingcheng to take photos, there was no reason to leave all the planning to him. The moment she got back to the dorm, Xia Fu began searching diligently for a detailed guide on the Botanical Garden.

Since they’d be walking a lot in the park, a lightweight cotton dress would definitely be more comfortable than a thin, airy one.

The food prices in scenic spots were generally double. Fortunately, S City had done a good job with the layout, and the park even had direct drinking water stations. She could bring a sports bottle and, thinking that guys tend to get hungry, she stuffed some chocolate and beef jerky into her bag, too.

Since there would be plenty of plants, there would likely be lots of bugs as well, so she packed a small, portable bottle of mosquito repellent.

…

Following the online travel guide, Xia Fu busied herself with packing, touching this and that in excitement, feeling like a little schoolgirl preparing for a spring outing. Coming from a small town without many attractions, and with parents who hadn’t been willing to buy her snacks, little Xia Fu’s tiny bag had only ever contained filling foods like buns, eggs, and cucumbers. This was her first time going out so freely with a boyfriend, and all the things inside her bag had been bought with her own hard-earned money.

After she finished packing, Xia Fu even took a “family photo” of her “supplies” and sent it to Fang Jingcheng, asking if there was anything she had missed. Fang Jingcheng was still awake, and as he looked at her packed bag, overflowing with everything she might need, he couldn’t help but catch her contagious joy through the screen. He smiled as he put down his camera and complimented her:

“Wow, you prepared so thoroughly! You really looked at a lot of guides. I’ll just follow you on the day then and let the ‘leader’ take charge.”

He sent a few salute emojis of a cat afterward.

To avoid the peak crowds and secure good photo spots for Xia Fu, Fang Jingcheng got up especially early. By the time they drove to the Botanical Garden, dew was still clinging to the dark green leaves of the hedges around the entrance.

Fang Jingcheng unfolded the map that came with the ticket and handed it to his girlfriend as he turned sideways.

“There aren’t many people here yet. Do you have any place you’re interested in? We can go there first, take some photos, and then enjoy ourselves afterward.”

If Xia Fu didn’t have a specific spot in mind, he planned to tell her about the hidden gems he had discovered on the photography forum last night, suggesting a few scenic spots with great photo potential. He was eager to show off a little of his expertise, but her answer made him raise an eyebrow.

Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his and pointed behind them.

“Yes, I want a photo at the entrance!”

Out here in the outskirts, far from the upper-class atmosphere of S City’s Commercial District, there were no strict dress codes, no waitstaff with judgmental glances, no elaborate chandeliers or crystal glasses sparkling with every angle. Far from all that opulence, Xia Fu actually felt a renewed sense of youthful vitality.

She slowly made her way to a tall hedge, carefully smoothing out the wrinkles in her dress and adjusting the hair clip by her bangs. Her smile was shy, and her pose for the photo was the classic peace sign.

“Does this work? Could you get this word and this bear in the shot too?”

Why start off with a request like that?

This didn’t leave the photographer with much room for creativity!

Fang Jingcheng raised his camera in silence. He was helpless but couldn’t resist her hopeful expression, finding her childishness endearing. She stood out more than the hedge trimmed to look like a bear holding a bouquet.

It was understandable—Xia Fu was still just a girl barely two years out of high school. Not accustomed to being in front of the camera, she would occasionally kick her toes against the ground if she had to wait too long.

Gazing at her flushed cheeks through the camera lens, he eventually gave in to her wishes, dutifully adjusting the angle to capture her.

“It’s perfect. You look great.”

“How about for the next one, you reach toward the bear, like you’re trying to take its bouquet?”

After finishing the first shot, he brought the camera closer, trying to capture the image of her interacting with the “little animal.”

But Xia Fu only smiled at him, enthusiastically calling his name, “Fang Jingcheng, Fang Jingcheng,” and waving her hand back and forth like she was calling over a puppy.

“No more bear.”

“Come on, let’s take one together.”

Fang Jingcheng couldn’t hold back a grin.

After the lesson from last time’s modeling competition, he no longer trusted handing over the camera for a selfie. Today, he had come fully prepared with all the equipment he needed for an outdoor shoot, including a tripod. “Coming, coming!” Fang Jingcheng responded, quickly walking over to Xia Fu. He looked down at her profile and smiled as he spoke.

“How do you want to pose?”

She met his gentle gaze and raised her hand again in that big V-sign.

Alright, alright.

In his heart, Fang Jingcheng sighed deeply. He stood close to Xia Fu, held her hand with one hand, and at the last second before the timer went off, he abandoned his usual cool photographer demeanor, making a goofy V-sign with his other hand as well.