Chapter 33

The group gathered outside for a photo session, starting with a group photo.

There were eight classes in the third grade, each with a different photographer, but since the teachers needed to be in the group photo, they took turns according to class order. Lin Nanzhi’s class was first.

The principal, vice principal, and other teachers sat in the front, while the students stood behind them, arranged from shortest to tallest. Lin Nanzhi stood in the second-to-last row, positioned on a step, with a row of classmates behind her and the national flag in the background.

The photographer counted down, “Three, two, one,” and clicked the shutter, taking three shots. Later, they would choose the best one. Afterward, it was the next class’s turn, and Lin Nanzhi’s class was free to take their own photos.

They took pictures with teachers and friends, choosing locations freely. The group photo was free, but other photos cost three yuan per print. If anyone wanted extra copies, they had to pay an additional three yuan per print.

Lin Nanzhi was quite popular—she appeared in almost every photo, and she wanted all of them.

After the photo session, everyone returned to their classrooms for lunch. Today’s lunch was specially prepared by the school, so they didn’t have to go to the cafeteria; instead, they ate in their classrooms.

After lunch, the homeroom teacher organized games for the students while they enjoyed snacks and fruit. By four in the afternoon, it was time to head to the restaurant for dinner.

There were too many people to fit at one table, so the homeroom teacher booked the second floor of a banquet-style restaurant with no private rooms. Before going, the teacher had already counted the number of photos needed and collected the money. In a few days, the photos would be available for pick-up at school.

Apart from the homeroom teacher, subject teachers, the principal, vice principal, and department heads also attended the dinner.

The meal was lavish, but Lin Nanzhi thought 2,000 yuan wouldn’t be enough. There were six or seven tables, each with thirteen dishes, along with various drinks and alcohol. The homeroom teacher even bought gifts for everyone, so they must have covered part of the cost themselves.

Since the principal and teachers were present, the students ate quietly, listening to speeches one after another, secretly complaining in their minds. However, when it was the homeroom teacher’s turn to speak, everyone cheered and applauded enthusiastically. The class representative even presented a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Because it wasn’t safe to go home late, dinner ended at 5:30 PM.

Lin Nanzhi hadn’t prepared gifts for the principal and other administrators since she didn’t expect them to attend. So, before leaving, she handed her gifts to the homeroom teacher, asking them to pass them on to the subject teachers.

She rode home in her father’s car, completely exhausted. After taking a shower, she immediately went to sleep. Early the next morning, she packed her things and set off on her trip.

Wumeng City was relatively underdeveloped. To leave, one could take a train, a bus, or a flight, but only flights and trains required transfers. Since she disliked bus rides, she chose to fly.

She flew directly from Wumeng to Spring City, then from Spring City to the Imperial Capital, spending several hours in transit. As soon as she landed and turned on her phone, she saw multiple missed calls and quickly returned them.

Unsurprisingly, she was scolded over the phone. She was prepared for it, so she held the phone away from her ear until the scolding subsided. Then she said, “Mom, don’t worry. I won’t get lost—your daughter is smart, isn’t she?”

Lin Nanzhi had only sent a single message saying she was going on a trip, then ignored all calls and texts. If Lin Nanxuan hadn’t guessed she was on a flight, their mother might have reported her missing.

Hearing her daughter’s voice, Lin Nanzhi’s mother felt relieved. The scolding had vented her frustration, and now, hearing her daughter’s shameless tone, she couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“Fine, fine. Just take care of yourself. Be careful—there are lots of scammers out there. Call home every day.”

“Don’t worry! I have friends with me. I’ll send photos and call you every day.”

Lin Nanzhi’s mother was still worried, but since her daughter had already arrived and spent the money, there was no point in stopping her.

“Alright. Just take care of yourself and don’t forget your registration deadlines.”

“I know. Leave everything at home to you guys. Oh, and tell my uncle that I’ve already covered the renovation costs, so he doesn’t have to worry about it. He doesn’t need to pay me back either. They’ve helped us a lot, so if he feels bad, he can help pick fruit at home since they’re ripe now.”

“Hah! You’re quite the hands-off manager. You knew the fruit was ready but still ran off? Sneaky little thing. Don’t worry, your dad already knows.

Now that you’ve landed, go find a place to stay. If you have money, book a nice hotel. Don’t stay in small inns—it’s not safe for a young girl like you.”

“I got it, I got it.”

Lin Nanzhi was about to hang up but suddenly remembered her graduation photos. She quickly mentioned it to her father, but her mother impatiently cut in, “Yeah, yeah, got it. You act like we owe you.”

After ending the call, Lin Nanzhi smiled.

Despite her mother’s words, she knew she would help collect the photos, so she could enjoy her trip without worries.

Dragging her suitcase out of the airport, she hailed a taxi and loaded her luggage inside.

“Uncle, I’m from South Province, here for a trip. You’re local—can you recommend a reliable place to stay?”

Hearing that she was a tourist from a neighboring province, speaking in a regional dialect, the driver became enthusiastic and recommended several hotels.

“These hotels are all great—clean, hygienic, and safe.”

“Let’s go to the one closest to the scenic spots, preferably with a lake view.”

“Alright!”

The Imperial Capital, also known as the Mountain City, was built along the hills. You never really knew which floor you were on.

The driver took a shortcut, and within 40 minutes, they arrived at the destination. After paying, Lin Nanzhi carried her belongings into the hotel.

It was a three-star hotel. As soon as she entered, the receptionist greeted her with a smile.

“Welcome!”

“Hi, I’d like to book a room.”

“Of course! We have standard rooms for 198 yuan and deluxe single rooms for 598 yuan. The deluxe rooms offer a night view of the sea.”

“I’ll take the 598-yuan room,” Lin Nanzhi said, handing over her ID card.

The receptionist glanced at her birthdate and hesitated. “Are you staying alone?”

Lin Nanzhi understood the concern—she was being asked if she had an accompanying adult.

“Nope, I’m alone, just here for a summer trip.”

The receptionist said nothing more and processed her check-in.

Hotel policy allowed minors to stay as long as they had an ID, but this guest looked quite young, so the staff planned to keep an eye on her to ensure nothing happened.

Soon, Lin Nanzhi received her room key, and a staff member helped carry her suitcase to her room.

The deluxe single room was indeed luxurious, featuring a king-sized bed, a bathtub in the bathroom, and a large window offering a perfect view of the waterfront.

However, it was only early afternoon, so the night view would have to wait.

Having only eaten some bread since morning, Lin Nanzhi felt hungry. She searched for nearby food spots on her phone and found a street full of snack stalls. Grabbing her backpack, phone, and newly bought camera, she left the hotel to explore.