Oh no! I've only been a freshman and I've already been targeted by a mean upperclassman.

Shen Ruolan came out of the bedroom.

Her hair was combed, but she was still wearing her pajamas.

"Oh, fried rice with egg?"

"Auntie, please sit down." Yan Xi stood up to get another serving.

"No need, no need, I'll go out to buy groceries later and eat out." Shen Ruolan sat down at the table, looked at the fried rice on the plate, and said, "It's well-cooked. The eggs are evenly broken up."

"Almost there. A few grains of rice weren't coated with egg."

"You noticed?"

"You can tell the difference when you eat it. Rice grains coated with egg have a smoother texture, while those that aren't coated are drier."

Shen Ruolan slammed her hand on the table. "I've been telling Li Mohan this for twenty years and he still can't tell the difference."

Li Chen lowered his head and ate his rice.

Yan Xi took three bites. Suddenly, she put down her chopsticks.

What are you wearing today?

"Um?"

"Last day. Let's take a photo this afternoon."

Li Chen thought for a moment. "What kind of film do you want to shoot?"

"At your doorstep."

Shen Ruolan listened from the side, her eyes lighting up, but she remained silent.

Yan Xi picked up a mouthful of rice. "Let's take a picture together, all four of us."

Shen Ruolan tapped the rim of her bowl with her chopsticks. She stood up.

"I'll go wake your dad up."

"Auntie, don't rush—"

Shen Ruolan has already left.

They walked very fast.

Li Chen watched as his mother practically ran into the bedroom. Three seconds after the door closed, he heard Li Mohan's gruff voice: "What time is it for taking pictures—"

Shen Ruolan's voice was overpowered.

I couldn't hear what was said.

But Li Mohan's voice suddenly stopped.

Two seconds later, the sound of a wardrobe door opening came from the bedroom.

Yan Xi continued eating. Her expression remained unchanged.

Li Chen looked down at the bowl.

The bottom of the bowl was completely clean. Not a single grain of rice was left.

"Are you still hungry?" Yan Xi asked.

I'm not hungry anymore.

Yan Xi glanced at the bottom of his bowl. She didn't say anything.

But Li Chen felt her touch his foot under the table.

Gently, his big toe brushed against the back of his foot.

Then it was taken back.

My phone vibrated. It was from group 302.

[Wang Qiang: When is Brother Chen returning to Linjiang today? We're organizing a pick-up at the airport!!]

[Chen Mo: He drove there, so there was no airport to pick him up. But I agree with lining up to welcome him at the dormitory building.]

[Zhao Zixuan: I suggest the banner read "Welcome Sister-in-law to inspect 302".]

[Wang Qiang: Yes! Should we buy some flowers?]

Li Chen typed a line of text.

[Li Chen: I'll be back the day after tomorrow. Today is the last day.]

[Wang Qiang: What did you do at home on your last day?]

[Li Chen: Take a picture.]

The group was silent for four seconds.

[Chen Mo: Family photo. A landmark moment. Meaning: Yan Xi has gained visual recognition from all members of the Li family, upgrading from a "guest" to a "default member of the picture." The act of taking the photo itself isn't important; what matters is—she suggested it.]

[Wang Qiang: Was it your sister-in-law who suggested it?]

[Li Chen: Mm.]

[Wang Qiang: ...Brother Chen, do you know why she suggested filming on the last day instead of the first?]

Li Chen's finger stopped on the screen.

He didn't reply to this message.

Because he knows the answer.

The first day was for guests. The last day was for family.

What she wanted to leave behind was not evidence of "having been here," but rather the coordinates of "belonging to this place."

Li Mohan came out of the bedroom. He had changed into a dark blue shirt, with the top button fastened.

Shen Ruolan followed behind. She had changed into a dark red knitted sweater.

Both of them changed their clothes. It took less than five minutes.

Yan Xi finished clearing the dishes and came out of the kitchen. She glanced at them.

"Auntie, this dress looks good on you."

Shen Ruolan smiled. "What about your dad's?"

Yan Xi looked at Li Mohan.

"Uncle's first button was half a millimeter loose."

Li Mohan looked down. It was impossible to see with the naked eye.

But he still fastened it again.

Yan Xi turned to look at Li Chen.

"And you?"

What should I wear?

"Navy blue".

Same as yesterday. This isn't a suggestion; it's an instruction.

Li Chen went back to his bedroom to change his clothes.

Yan Xi's phone lit up. It was a WeChat message.

Lonely Song.

She didn't let Li Chen see it. But as he passed by, he caught a glimpse of the first few words on the screen out of the corner of his eye.

[Leng Qingge: You took a family photo at his house???]

Yan Xi locked the screen.

Li Chen didn't ask.

He returned to his bedroom, opened the wardrobe, and took out the navy blue overcoat.

There was a small note stuck on the clothes hanger.

Yan Xi's calligraphy.

"There's a throat lozenge in the left pocket of your coat. You coughed twice last night."

He rummaged through his left pocket.

really have.

It's mint flavored. She knows he doesn't like things too sweet.

Li Chen put the throat lozenge in his mouth.

My phone vibrated.

It's not group 302.

Yan Xi.

[Yan Xi: Are you done changing?]

[Li Chen: Changing it.]

[Yan Xi: Use the scarf your mom tied for you yesterday. Don't use mine.]

[Li Chen: Why?]

[Yan Xi: When taking photos, the colors should coordinate with your dad's shirt. Your mom's dark gray one would be the most suitable.]

She even planned out the color scheme for the four people when taking the photo.

Li Chen took out the dark gray scarf from the second shelf of the cabinet.

When tying the knot, he used Yan Xi's method.

Wrap it around twice, then tuck the end inside the collar of the coat.

She pressed her fingertips below her Adam's apple—the spot she had pressed yesterday.

He walked out of the bedroom.

Yan Xi stood in the middle of the living room. She had changed. A camel coat. A phoenix hairpin. A bracelet. The same outfit as yesterday.

But she wore one more thing.

Next to the silver bracelet on her left wrist, there was a very thin red string.

That was included in Shen Ruolan's red envelope.

Li Chen saw last night that Yan Xi didn't put it on immediately when she received the red envelope.

But she wore it today.

The day of the photoshoot. The last day.

When Shen Ruolan saw the red rope, her lips trembled slightly.

She quickly turned her head away.

Li Mohan stood in the entryway, his hands in his pockets. He glanced at his wife's expression, then at the red string on Yan Xi's wrist.

He took his hand out of his pocket.

I rubbed my nose.

"Where should I shoot?" His voice was deeper than usual.

Yan Xi walked to the door and opened it.

"here."

Right in the center of the door frame. Light streamed in from the corridor window.

She handed the phone to Li Chen.

"You set up the camera and set the timer for ten seconds."

Li Chen took the phone.

Yan Xi walked over to Shen Ruolan and stood to her left.

Li Mohan stood to Shen Ruolan's right.

The three people stood in place.

Waiting for Li Chen.

Li Chen leaned his phone against the shoe cabinet. He adjusted the angle and pressed the shutter.

ten seconds.

He ran over and stood next to Yan Xi.

The shutter clicked.

Yan Xi picked up the phone and glanced at it.

"You closed your eyes."

"I didn't—"

"Retake."

The second one. Li Mohan's face is crooked.

The third picture. Shen Ruolan is smiling, but her hand is covering half of Li Mohan's shoulder.

The fourth one.

All four people were looking at the camera. No one closed their eyes. No one tilted their head.

Yan Xi zoomed in on the fourth image. She looked at it for five seconds.

Then she locked her phone.

I didn't post it on WeChat Moments.

Li Chen knew she wouldn't send it.

This photo is not meant to be shown to anyone else.

Yan Xi put her phone in her pocket. As she walked past Li Chen, she pressed a button on the outside of his coat pocket.

Location of the throat lozenge.

"have eaten?"

"have eaten."

The corners of her mouth curved slightly.

The phone vibrated again in Li Chen's pocket.

[Yan Xi: I saved two copies of the photos. One is on my phone. I'll print the other one when I get back.]

[Yan Xi: I'll choose the picture frame.]