"Can you send us the original electronic version?" he fang asked the young man again.
The guy, holding a plastic sheet as the photo started printing, replied without much thought, "The park doesn't have network cables, so we can't send it to you."
"I have a USB flash drive." She pulled a panda-shaped USB drive from the small bag slung across her shoulder. With a press, a connector popped out, ready for use.
The young man blinked, momentarily stunned. Clearly, he hadn't expected her to come prepared. Embarrassed, he scratched his head. "Uh, saying there's no internet is just an excuse. Actually, company policy forbids us from giving out the electronic versions."
If customers got the digital files, they wouldn't bother printing photos. In today's digital age, people prefer to store images on their phones to view anytime rather than pay for physical prints.
"I already printed it," he said, pointing at the half-printed photo emerging from the machine.
"If the company finds out—"
"I'll add ten yuan," she interrupted, cutting off his protests. She placed the Panda USB drive firmly on the table.
The young man hesitated but eventually sighed. Ten extra yuan wasn't a bad deal. "Alright," he said, plugging in the USB drive. A few clicks later, he transferred the original photo file while the printed copy finished processing. Taking the newly printed photo, he began laminating it. "The photo is thirty yuan. Altogether, that's forty."
He might have already prepared the money? Without hesitation, she placed forty yuan on the table and patiently waited as he finished.
After a moment, the young man handed over the photo and USB drive. Qin Guanglin, noticing the Panda Drive still on the table, tucked it into He Fang's bag for her.
Once outside the cabin, he fang held up the photo, her face lighting up with joy as she admired it.
Qin Guanglin took her hand, glanced around, and asked, "Where to next?"
"Here you go." She handed him the photo before pointing to an area nearby. "Let's stroll around there."
"Why only one photo?" he asked, inspecting the image closely. He had to admit—it looked great. He liked it a lot.
"Why do we need two?" he fang shoots back. "Do you plan on keeping it separate from me?"
"Of course not!" Qin Guanglin quickly clarified. He couldn't think of a reason to separate the photo between them.
"Then one is enough." She gave their clasped hands a little shake before pointing at the next ride. "Over there—the free-fall tower."
They spent the next couple of hours tackling all the major attractions in the park, just as planned. Despite the fatigue starting to weigh on him, Qin Guanglin followed her energetic lead.
As they walked through a greener section of the park, lined with colorful plants and flowers, Fang's eyes sparkled with excitement. She suddenly tugged at his hand. "Let's take a selfie!"
Pulling him to a flower bush, she wrapped her arm around his shoulders and said, "Look at the camera."
Qin Guanglin obliged, raising a peace sign with his fingers.
He fang wrinkled her nose in mock disapproval. "From now on, I'm throwing out all your plain shirts. They're awful."
"What's wrong with plain shirts?" Qin Guanglin protested, his tone indignant. He had spent a long time picking this one out.
"The pattern is old-fashioned, and the color doesn't suit you. Look at this," she said, showing him the photo on her phone. "And drop the peace sign. No one does that anymore."
He studied the picture and thought it looked fine. "I think it's great. Shows energy!"
"Nope. Retake." She waved her phone. "Lean closer. Drop the peace sign. Put your arms behind your back—or better, wrap one around me."
They tried again, but he still wasn't satisfied. "You're too stiff. Relax! Smile like you're actually happy."
"I *am* happy," he mumbled, exasperated.
"Not enough. Come on, loosen up!"
After a few more tries, she finally nodded, satisfied.
"Done now?" Qin Guanglin asked, relieved.
"Not quite." She pulled him toward another angle. "Let's take one here—it'll look better."
"No more photos! Enough!" he protested. "We still haven't explored some areas."
"Just one last one," she coaxed, tugging him along.
When he hesitated, she turned to him with a sly grin. "If you don't behave, I'll kiss you."
"...!"
Qin Guanglin froze, conflicted. If he resisted, would it seem like he *wanted* her to kiss him? That didn't feel right either. After a brief internal struggle, he sighed and cooperated.
The "last one" turned into three more.
Once she was satisfied, she glanced at her phone screen, swiping through the photos. "I'm setting this one as my wallpaper. And you're using it too!"
Before he could argue, her phone chimed. Moments later, his phone did too.
"Go on. Change it now," she demanded.
"Alright, alright," Qin Guanglin muttered, pulling out his phone. As they walked toward the rest area, he replaced his serene landscape wallpaper with the picture of them leaning against each other.
"Happy?" he asked, shaking the phone at her.
She nodded, beaming.
They reached the mushroom-shaped rest area, and Qin Guanglin scanned the price list. A bottle of Coke for six yuan? Mineral water for five? The prices here were highway robbery.
"What do you want?" he asked.
"This," he fang said, pulling a box of apple-flavored yogurt from the fridge. She grabbed a bottle of Haizhiyan for him too. "Here, you'll drink this, right?"
"Yeah." Qin Guanglin didn't have much choice. He wasn't fond of carbonated drinks, so this would do.
After paying, they sat at a small table. He fang sipped her yogurt until the box made a sizzly, empty sound. Setting it down, she let out a small sigh, clearly content.
Qin Guanglin couldn't help noticing a small drop of yogurt clinging to her lip. Before he could look away, her tongue darted out, scooping it up in one swift motion.
He quickly turned his gaze elsewhere, silently chastising himself for staring.