They came to a small downward slope, holding onto the handrail and slowly making their way down.
Xu Lin initially wanted to support them, but by now, they had all learned to help each other like sisters.
Even Su Qingwan and Ji Yun, who had a bit of a disagreement, were linking arms, which made Xu Lin feel quite happy.
Upon reaching the bottom, the ground changed from the soft soil above to a granular texture, like rock fragments.
Walking on it gave a sense of unevenness.
Looking around the lake, the rock walls appeared smooth as if they were cut. It really felt as though a mountain had been sliced open and disappeared.
"It feels like my slightly blocked nose is completely clear now," Liu Qinnuan remarked. Ji Yun, beside her, nodded and said, "I've had a bit of a cold recently, but now I feel completely fine."
"Yeah, I feel like the pain from the pulled muscle during exercise is gone too."
"Me too, the leg pain from standing in class is relieved."
"You guys are exaggerating," Xu Lin said, looking at Su Qingwan and Qin Yunhe who claimed their back pain and pulled muscles were healed.
"Really, what about you, Sister Bai Xiaoxiao?"
"I... just feel a lot happier. Does that count?"
Xu Lin wasn't sure if it was psychological or something else, but he did feel different. As he got closer to the lake, his breathing became more comfortable and relaxed.
"By the way, we should take some photos. You brought the camera, so you should take a few pictures for us, right?" Qin Yunhe nudged him.
"If you want photos, sure. I'll find a good background. Let's get a bit closer." Xu Lin picked up the camera and led the girls forward until they reached a fence preventing further access.
"Let's do it here. Do you want group photos or individual ones?"
"Brother Xu, can't we have both?" Liu Qinnuan raised her arm, and Xu Lin nodded.
"Alright, you can have both. I'm just the photographer."
"You're the professional, so you need to arrange everything," Liu Qinnuan insisted.
"Okay, I'll take individual photos first, then you can decide on group shots. How about that?"
"Sounds good."
"Sister Ji Yun, why don't you go first?"
"Me first?" Ji Yun was pulled to the center by everyone.
"Class monitor Ji, since everyone wants you to go first, go ahead. Just follow my directions," Xu Lin said as he got into professional mode, adjusting the light and camera angle.
"Ji Yun, move a bit closer."
"Okay."
"Strike a pose."
"What kind of pose?"
To be honest, she had never had her photo taken by someone else except for the school ID photos.
"Turn to the side."
"Alright."
"Then lean your upper body slightly forward and hold it."
Xu Lin saw her nose touching the rainbow in the distance and quickly pressed the shutter! "Done!"
"Let us see."
"No, you can see them all together after everyone's done."
"Aww~"
"Don't 'aww', next is you, Xiao Liu."
Because there were people around, although not too many, Xu Lin didn't dare call her by name directly to avoid being recognized. But in the next moment, Liu Qinnuan took off her mask, startling Xu Lin, though luckily, everyone else was admiring the scenery.
"Let's be quick, same pose as Ji Yun."
"Okay, head slightly down, perfect."
"So fast?"
"When you take group photos, feel free to pose as you like."
Then it was Su Qingwan and Qin Yunhe's turn, followed by Senior Sister Bai Xiaoxiao, all with the same pose but with slight adjustments to their heads and bodies' angles.
"All done, take a look."
The five girls immediately gathered around, and Xu Lin showed them the screen, from Ji Yun's first photo to Bai Xiaoxiao's last one. In the pictures, their feet seemed to be standing on a mirror-like lake, with their noses just touching the rainbow, as if they were between heaven and earth.
"So beautiful."
"Next one."
Xu Lin flipped to the second photo, which was of Liu Qinnuan, similar to the first, then continued with the others.
"Although they're pretty, why didn't you change the pose a bit?"
"Look closely."
As Xu Lin quickly swiped through the photos, they suddenly seemed to see an animation. Starting from Ji Yun kissing the red part of the rainbow to Bai Xiaoxiao kissing the violet part.
"This is a nice idea!"
"Hey... in the corner of the picture..."
While everyone was praising the photos, Bai Xiaoxiao pointed to the upper right corner of the screen.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing..." Bai Xiaoxiao forced a smile, and the others didn't pay much attention.
She had seen what looked like a white dragon flying above the cliff in the last two photos. But such a fantastical thing... and it wasn't very clear. It was better not to mention it, especially since she hadn't seen it with her own eyes.
"Alright, now you can take group photos as you like. I won't dictate the poses or aesthetics."
"Okay, I'll take one with Sister Ji Yun," Liu Qinnuan said as she linked arms with Ji Yun.
She wasn't sure why, but even though they had only met twice, she really liked this older sister.
Maybe it was her gentleness or her sincerity.
This pure beauty was completely different from the others. She could tell that everyone liked her, and she did a great job of keeping the girls around Xu Lin calm and harmonious.
It was wonderful for Xu Lin to have such a girl around, and she wished she had a friend like that too.
"Alright," Ji Yun said as she and Liu Qinnuan stood by the lake. Xu Lin took over a dozen photos of them.
Then Ji Yun pulled Bai Xiaoxiao over, and Xu Lin snapped several candid shots of the shy Bai Xiaoxiao.
After taking some photos of Ji Yun and Bai Xiaoxiao together, he took pictures of the close friends Su Qingwan and Qin Yunhe.
"Finally, let's take a group photo of everyone."
"Sure, Xu Lin, you join us too."
"Alright, let me find a spot to place the camera."
After finding a suitable spot, Xu Lin adjusted the settings, quickly ran to join the girls, and with a click, the photo was taken.
Looking at the photo of everyone smiling with the rainbow and lake in the background, they all felt that it was truly great to have these moments captured.
"Next time, let's bring Sister Chu and the others too," Ji Yun suggested as she looked at the photo, feeling it was a pity that Sister Chu and the others were not there.
"Yes, next time we'll bring them along."
"Now, how about we walk around the lake?"
"Yeah, let's take a walk around, then find a place for lunch. It's already past noon. Aren't you hungry?" Xu Lin asked, and the girls realized they were indeed feeling a bit hungry.
"I saw a sign over there. If we go up and follow the main road, there's a restaurant. It's also next to a hot spring. We can have lunch and then soak in the hot spring."
"A hot spring!" Liu Qinnuan's eyes lit up, and even Bai Xiaoxiao and Ji Yun showed rare expressions of excitement.
"Seeing you all so excited, should we head straight there?"
"No, no, let's take a walk first. It'll help with digestion before lunch."
Even though they were a bit hungry, they still wanted to enjoy the comfort of the surrounding air a little longer.