48. Sending You Flowers

After the rain, the winter in Italy remained warm.

Yu Yue and Xu Yuanzhe went to Rome.

Xu Yuanzhe still had one last event to attend in Rome. After finishing it, his work in Italy would be considered completely finished.

Walking on the streets of Rome with Xu Yuanzhe, Yu Yue asked him, “Do you want me to take a few pictures for you? It seems like your studio hasn’t updated for a month.”

Xu Yuanzhe’s studio was usually managed by dedicated personnel who mainly posted pictures of events and activities. However, he had no control over it, as Zhou Ling was in charge.

Whether the studio posted on Weibo or not, Xu Yuanzhe was unaware. He rarely checked the Weibo account for his studio. On the contrary, Yu Yue, being part of the entertainment industry, had checked Xu Yuanzhe’s studio Weibo yesterday and discovered that there had been no new posts for a month.

Yu Yue, having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, had observed how various celebrities managed their studio accounts. He thought that since Xu Yuanzhe was taking pictures during this trip to Italy, he should update the studio’s Weibo.

When Yu Yue asked Xu Yuanzhe this question, Xu Yuanzhe was busy picking out the pistachios from the ice cream he had bought.

It was quite amusing. Yu Yue bought an ice cream cone in pistachio flavor but didn’t like the pistachio bits inside, finding them strange. So, Xu Yuanzhe picked them out for him.

Handing the ice cream back to Yu Yue, Xu Yuanzhe said, “I’m not wearing makeup today.”

Taking a step back, Yu Yue lifted the small camera he had with him and aimed it at Xu Yuanzhe. “You still look good without makeup. I’ve seen your previous photos, and you only put on some for important events or acting. Most of the time, you don’t wear any.”

For some reason, Xu Yuanzhe never felt as comfortable in front of Yu Yue’s camera as he did in any work-related setting.

The camera lens capturing lovers seemed to possess a soul of its own.

Feeling Xu Yuanzhe’s discomfort through the lens, Yu Yue put down the camera and approached him. He adjusted the collar of Xu Yuanzhe’s windbreaker. “If you feel uneasy taking photos like this, what will you do when you have to act in front of me in the future?”
Xu Yuanzhe remained silent.

He looked into Yu Yue’s eyes, and after a while, he said, “I’m nervous.”

Yu Yue asked, “Nervous about what?”

What was he nervous about? Xu Yuanzhe found it challenging to articulate. Despite experiencing numerous moments in front of cameras, whether formal or informal, even paparazzi shots, Xu Yuanzhe had never felt this way. He seldom revealed too many expressions in front of cameras and didn’t care much about how he looked at the moment or whether candid shots were flattering. However, in front of Yu Yue’s camera, Xu Yuanzhe would contemplate a lot.

He would think about whether he looked okay, if his hair was messy, if his clothes were tidy, and whether the captured moment was the most attractive. It was the same as many years ago, unchanged after all these years.

After a while, Xu Yuanzhe said to Yu Yue, “Try taking candid shots.”

Yu Yue thought it was a good idea.

If Xu Yuanzhe felt uncomfortable with a formal face-to-face photo shoot, candid shots were a great alternative. Throughout their journey, Yu Yue almost continuously took random candid shots while exploring the attractions in Rome with Xu Yuanzhe. He captured many photos that he deemed perfect.

Yu Yue knew that Xu Yuanzhe might use these photos to update his studio’s Weibo. Therefore, he intentionally tried to emulate the style of the studio’s photographer.

However, when Yu Yue sat on the steps by the Trevi Fountain, opened his phone’s Weibo app, and compared the photos he took with those previously posted by Xu Yuanzhe’s studio, he realized that duplicating the shooting style was entirely impossible.

It was the same shot of Xu Yuanzhe’s side profile.

The photos taken by the previous photographer had a black-and-white tone. In the black-and-white hues, Xu Yuanzhe slightly lowered his eyes, revealing his well-defined bone structure, and his expression appeared extremely indifferent.

However, in Yu Yue’s lens, Xu Yuanzhe also turned his profile to the side, gazing at the nearby scenery. Sunlight spilled onto his shoulders, giving off a warm glow. The contours of his profile were remarkably smooth, and there was a subtle soft curve at the corner of his lips.

Yu Yue compared the two styles of photos.

Shadows appeared before him, and even with his head lowered, Yu Yue knew it was Xu Yuanzhe.

Without lifting his head, Yu Yue said, “The difference in the two shooting styles seems too significant. Your fans should be able to notice, they are quite keen.”

After speaking, Yu Yue didn’t hear a response.

He subconsciously lifted his head.

Xu Yuanzhe stood in front of Yu Yue, looking down at him.

Yu Yue didn’t notice that Xu Yuanzhe had placed one hand behind his back. He was about to raise his phone to show Xu Yuanzhe the two styles of photos and let him decide whether to use the ones he took.

However, Yu Yue’s words remained unspoken.

Xu Yuanzhe had already revealed the hand that was behind his back.

What suddenly appeared before Yu Yue’s eyes was a beautiful, vibrant red rose.