Shen Shuang beamed at the words and immediately scooped up Jiang Churan's phone.
"Come, come, let me snap one of you two," she chirped.
Seeing this, both of them put on cooperative smiles.
After several clicks and a burst of shots, Shen Shuang proudly presented the photos to Jiang Churan and Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Churan gave a casual nod of thanks after glancing at them.
She even reached for her phone, ready to forward the pictures to Xu Zhi.
Jiang Cheng had just picked up "professional photography skills" during a trip with Huang a few days earlier.
Now, eyeing the murky images, his occupational instincts kicked in and he couldn't help complaining.
"Seriously, this is a horror movie—no special effects needed. Can you even tell it's us?"
"It's not that bad, right? The lighting here is just awful; bar lights are always like this."
Jiang Churan nodded. "It's dark, but if you look closely you can still recognize us."
"Oh, bro, stop being so picky," Shen Shuang pouted. "The lighting sets the mood—it gives you two an air of mystery."
Seeing Shen Shuang refuse to admit defeat, Jiang Cheng fired another shot: "I'm done. I can't even tell it's me—talk about mysterious."
From this tiny detail Jiang Cheng instantly tagged the pair as textbook steel-straight Girls.
Most pretty Girls pour serious effort into taking photos.
Their phones are stuffed with camera apps, and they'll even pay for premium retouching software.
When they shoot, it's always with beauty filters on.
These two acted as if the thought had never crossed their minds.
Worse, when faced with horror-movie snapshots, a normal Girl's first reaction would be to roast her best friend for making her look hideous—yet Jiang Churan didn't even blink.
Jiang Cheng was speechless.
He shook his head helplessly and took her phone to check.
Sure enough, the Girl only had the stock camera app.
She hadn't even downloaded the most basic beauty editor.
Jiang Cheng flicked open the camera, flipped the lens, and switched to selfie mode.
Tapping the settings icon, he tweaked brightness, contrast, and every slider to optimal levels.
The image on the screen turned crisp and bright in an instant.
Jiang Churan's eyes widened in surprise and curiosity.
"Wow, you can do that? I never knew!"
Ignoring her exclamation, Jiang Cheng smiled, slipped his right arm around her shoulder, and framed the shot.
The sudden move caught Jiang Churan off guard; her smile froze for several seconds.
Two shy blushes quickly blossomed on her cheeks like spring flowers.
Jiang Cheng pressed the shutter, capturing the moment.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he let go and handed the phone back.
"There, now you can send it."
The unexpected closeness set Jiang Churan's heart fluttering.
She accepted the phone with downcast eyes and murmured, "Thanks."
Jiang Churan: favorability value +5!
Shen Shuang leaned over to peek at the screen.
One look and she gasped.
"You can shoot like this? You're amazing—how?"
Jiang Cheng couldn't be bothered to explain. "Basic moves—don't get excited."
Soon Jiang Churan sent the photo.
Too shy to ask Jiang Cheng what to write, she turned to Shen Shuang for help.
"Sister Shuang, what should I say?"
Shen Shuang snatched the phone and typed rapidly.
"Sorry, I have a boyfriend—he won't let me go."
Reading the message, Jiang Churan flushed scarlet.
On the other end, Xu Zhi curled his lip in disdain.
Experience told him that once bar Girls learned who he was, most would show up eventually.
A few, like Jiang Churan, might play hard-to-get or posture for better terms.
Wasn't she just waiting to hear what perks he'd offer?
He'd seen the routine countless times.
With a smirk he tapped the photo to size up her so-called boyfriend.
The moment the picture loaded, his grin froze.
Seconds later he hurled his phone to the floor in a rage.
The screen shattered with a sharp crack.
His heaving chest betrayed his fury.
Jiang Cheng again!
Humiliated repeatedly, now even the Girl was snatched away.
Xu Zhi was convinced Jiang Cheng was deliberately provoking him; flames of anger surged.
He couldn't swallow it any longer.
He would teach Jiang Cheng a vicious lesson and make him pay for the humiliation.
Otherwise Jiang Cheng would only grow bolder.
Xu Zhi glared at the cracked screen, eyes glinting with malice.
The dark idea in his mind hardened.
In cringeworthy tones he snarled, "You show no mercy, don't blame me for hitting back. You like stealing my spotlight? Fine—I'll show you what I'm made of!"
His heart brimmed with spite and hatred.
He forgot Xu Jiayin's warnings, obsessed only with revenge.
Meanwhile Jiang Churan and Shen Shuang stared unblinking at the chat screen.
The "typing" indicator vanished.
Their hearts leapt into their throats.
But a message soon popped up.
"Sorry, wrong person."
Both exhaled in relief.
Jiang Churan replied, "Okay."
Yet when she hit send, a red exclamation mark appeared.
"Message sent but rejected by recipient."
She realized Xu Zhi had blocked her.
Seeing the Girls dumbfounded, Jiang Cheng leaned over.
He took one look and blurted, "Damn, genius move!"