“Huh? Not taking wedding photos? I thought you two were getting married, you look just like an old married couple. There are plenty of couples who come here before getting married, just to try on wedding dresses and take photos. Do you want to try it?”
“No, no, it’s just a group photo. Wedding dresses and all that… that’s still far off.”
Honestly, I wanted to go along with Auntie’s suggestion, but seeing Gu Fan staying silent and not saying anything, I could only emphasize again that we were just here for a photo together, not for wedding pictures. That made Auntie’s expression turn a bit disappointed.
“What a pity. Our shop has never shot a catgirl’s wedding photo before. I thought today would be a first.”
After grumbling for a moment, Auntie quickly collected herself and led us up to the second floor of the photo studio, handing me a sheet that looked just like a menu.
“Do you want a photo in one of the themed settings, or just in a partitioned booth? The booth is cheaper, but the effect is a bit bland, maybe a bit monotonous. For themed settings, we have a forest, grassland, and a vintage wooden cabin. Excluding those used specially for wedding photos, that’s all we have—not too many choices.”
“Uhh, Gu Fan… you choose.”
The descriptions on the menu made my head spin. The prices were actually okay, well within what I could afford. Maybe Auntie thought I was the one in charge here in the studio, so she handed the menu straight to me, ignoring Gu Fan.
It’s a pity I wasn’t raised as a proper woman. Not to mention all the basic life knowledge I lack, but in situations like this—where the girl is supposed to decide how to take the photos or choose the props—I just become tongue-tied, unable to say anything useful.
After handing the menu over to Gu Fan, he studied it carefully with his head down, then asked, “Is the cabin the kind with a fireplace? Could we have a look?”
Auntie nodded repeatedly, “Of course. That wooden cabin is the one we put the most effort into among all our sets, but customers rarely pick it. They prefer open settings like the grassland, and admittedly, those do photograph better in terms of lighting.”
We walked down the narrow wooden corridor on the second floor for quite a while, nearly reaching the end before Auntie stopped and opened a wooden door on the left.
What appeared before us was a rustic brown cabin. Fake posters of a starry night sky were pasted outside the crisscross bamboo windows. There was a battered wooden table, chairs, and a real leather sofa. Deer antlers and a hunting rifle hung on the walls—probably all fake, with that distinct plastic texture.
The bookshelf by the sofa was filled with all sorts of foreign-language books. I pulled one out to take a look, only to find there was nothing inside, just a few yellowed, torn pages wrapped in a hard cover.
Among the props piled in the corner was even a huge cauldron, probably used for scenes involving witches or priestesses.
After wandering around the vintage cabin with Gu Fan for a while, Auntie stood at the door watching us with a mysterious look, while the orange Garfield cat, Xiao Huang, followed us, sitting there and swaying its tail in a similar pose.
“It’s nice here, but for the fireplace—do you actually light a real fire? Isn’t that dangerous?”
After Gu Fan inspected the set, he walked over to the stone fireplace opposite the sofa, where there was a pile of used charcoal and firewood.
Auntie shook her head. “We used to do that when things weren’t so strict, but nowadays with all this technology, we have much safer ways.”
As she spoke, she dug a remote control out of the props in the corner and pressed a button. Instantly, the fireplace glowed with simulated flames. If you looked closely from another angle, you’d see it was just a projection.
“Decided? This setting, then? If you want to look around more, say so now—after you pay, you can’t change.”
“Zhi Nian, what do you think?”
Gu Fan didn’t rush to decide but asked for my opinion first.
“Gu Fan, whatever you decide is fine with me.”
I really have no sense of aesthetics, so what opinion could I have? Naturally, I’d take Gu Fan’s standards as my own—if he thinks it’s good, that’s good enough. I can never tell what’s good or bad anyway. Sometimes when I pick out my own outfits, I’ll regret it later, thinking I looked absolutely awful.
After Gu Fan agreed on the price and the number of photos with Auntie, she pulled out a QR code for payment. I quickly snatched it before he could.
“I’ll pay. Gu Fan, just focus on picking the best setting.”
Auntie grinned. “Didn’t expect your girlfriend to be so thoughtful! Out of the dozens of couples I’ve photographed lately, you’re the only catgirl girlfriend who offered to pay. The others just stand silently with their arms folded, waiting for the boyfriend to pay. Cherish her—there aren’t many girls like this left.”
I pretended to look down at my phone while sneakily glancing up at Gu Fan’s face.
He smiled faintly and gave a soft “mm” from his nose, then wandered around the cabin and finally sat down on the sofa.
He didn’t say anything like, “That’s my sensible girlfriend!” as I’d imagined, but I wasn’t too upset. Once I confess successfully, I want Gu Fan to say those sweet nothings to me every day. Hmph.
After I finished paying, Auntie called over a young guy who had been lazing around in the shop, and together they quickly set up the blackout drapes and other photo props. Then Auntie lifted her head slightly and gestured to me.
“Hey, little catgirl, go sit next to your boyfriend! How can you take a couple photo sitting so far apart? Or are you doing a catgirl maid and rich young master cosplay? You young people call it cosplay, right? I don’t really get it, but if you want to do that, we do have costumes here.”
Afraid Auntie would pitch me more baffling services, I hurried over to sit beside Gu Fan, but with two strangers in the room, I didn’t dare get too close.
Unexpectedly, Auntie watched us for a long while, then poked her head out from behind the tripod-mounted camera and called out shrilly.
“Why are you sitting so far apart? You need to look like a couple! Closer, closer—right, catgirl, rest your head over, look soft and cuddly, you know?”
Under Auntie’s direction, Gu Fan and I tried to adjust our pose. I guess it was his first time taking photos in a place like this too, because when I leaned over, his body went stiff, clearly not very used to it.
I didn’t mind sticking close to Gu Fan, and after making sure he wasn’t uncomfortable, I relaxed my neck and nestled right up against him.
“Your hands! Don’t just leave them there, catgirl, put your arms around your boyfriend’s! That’s right, a little higher up, like you can’t bear to let go.”
“Uh, like this?”
Nervously, I fumbled along Gu Fan’s right arm, watching Auntie gesturing impatiently for me to be even bolder. I swallowed, not sure what to do.
Just then, a broad hand took my wrist, guiding it over his elbow and up to his upper arm. Auntie immediately nodded in excitement.
“That’s perfect. Your boyfriend gets it! Now it looks ambiguous and sweet.”
I looked up at Gu Fan’s face from the side. He was calmly staring at the camera, not sparing a glance at me.
“Geez, I just praised you for being sharp and attentive, and now you’re afraid to look at your little catgirl? Turn your head, come on, give her that loving gaze you just had.”
Huh, loving gaze? Does Gu Fan really look at me like that?
Surprised and curious, I stared at Gu Fan. His neck turned stiffly toward me, and in those amber eyes, there didn’t seem to be any visible emotion. Was there really such a thing as a loving gaze? Maybe Auntie just said it to tease me.
After Auntie’s fussing, it took us nearly seven or eight minutes to finish the group photo.
Auntie wiped the sweat from her brow wearily.
“Oh dear, never seen such awkward lovebirds. Even hugging takes forever to decide. What’s there to be afraid of? You’re already this close, just be bold.”
We sat quietly on the set’s sofa as the studio’s young guy edited the photos on his laptop.
Gu Fan stared up at the deer antlers above the fireplace without moving, but he was still holding my hand as Auntie had instructed during the shoot.
Even though the photo session was over, he didn’t let go. Instead, he gently stroked the back of my hand, as if he’d found a soft little toy he didn’t want to let go.
The young guy edited quickly, and soon we got the two large printed group photos.
In the photo, I’m clinging to Gu Fan’s arm, my head resting on his shoulder, smiling sweetly. Gu Fan looks a bit absent-minded, turning his head slightly to look at me, one arm around my waist, the other lightly pressing my hands on his upper arm.
Auntie looked regretful as she stared at the digital photo on her laptop, shaking her head and sighing, “Such a shame your boyfriend didn’t cooperate. How about we take another one, on the house? I really feel like we could get a better shot, something’s missing in this one.”
I was tempted, but seeing Gu Fan’s unchanging expression, I let it go.
“No need, thank you for your kindness, Auntie. Just these two photos, right? We’ll be going, then.”
I tugged on the daydreaming Gu Fan, smiled lightly at Auntie, and we took the photos and left the studio quickly.
Back on the way home, Gu Fan rubbed his eyes, put our photos in his pocket, and apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t rest well today. I was a little sleepy in the studio, maybe I didn’t do as well in the photos.”
“It’s fine, I don’t mind. What matters most is that you rest, Gu Fan. We can always do this another time.”
I could tell Gu Fan was worried about something, but I couldn’t guess what exactly. Was he trying to avoid my overflowing affection? Then why keep holding onto me? Maybe he just likes being loved?
Most importantly, I’ve really become the kind of useless catgirl who can’t live without a certain man. If Gu Fan really doesn’t like me and starts to distance himself, that would be the most painful outcome. I’d rather he got a new cat than abandon me and turn me into a stray.
After wandering the shopping street and getting our photos, it was almost dinner time. After taking me home, Gu Fan agreed to stay for dinner at my insistence.
There were still some noodles and ingredients at home, and Gu Fan’s cooking was as good as ever. Even with just a few dishes, he could make a delicious noodle soup.
We agreed to meet again at school tomorrow. I watched him ride off on his motorcycle from the living room window, feeling a hollow emptiness inside.
It feels like I’ve grown used to being cared for by Gu Fan, to the point where I want him to sleep with me and take care of my daily needs. I really am hopelessly useless… Can I even take care of a baby in the future? Will I just give birth and leave all the raising to Super Dad Gu Fan?
Staring at the orange streetlights twinkling outside, my mind drifted to all sorts of distant futures that hadn’t happened yet.
*****
Walking up alongside a sprawling lake.
The lake looks like it hasn’t been cleaned in ages, covered with a layer of greenish plankton. The deeper water is an inky green too. I wonder if some sewage pipe is draining into it, making it look so dirty.
Still, at least there’s no stench. That’s something to be thankful for.
I vaguely remember, as a child, bathing and swimming in this lake. The water was green even then, but nothing like this.
Now, a circle of white stone railings surrounds the lake. Every few meters, a red warning sign reads, “Deep water danger, no swimming,” the bloody red text like a reminder that this ordinary-looking lake might be hiding a man-eating monster beneath.
Listening to my parents talk, I learned that not long ago, a child drowned here while swimming, and that’s why they put up these railings to keep people away.
Now, only the staff maintaining the railings are allowed into the lake.