Chapter 77: The Grand Family Portrait of 901

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The splendor of the city is felt even more keenly at night.

As the evening lights flickered on, both banks of the West River were already ablaze with dazzling illumination.

The river breeze, carrying the lingering warmth of the day and the gentle coolness of moisture, softly brushed past the hair of passersby.

Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin, with a cat not too far nor too close behind them, were strolling amidst such a cityscape at night.

“It’s so much cooler by the riverside!”

Li Wanyin couldn’t help but take a deep breath, stopping in her tracks and leaning over the stone balustrade at the river’s edge. The breeze tossed her hair around her cheeks as she gazed across at the brilliant lights on the opposite bank, lost in thought and longing.

Chen Shi'an stopped beside her.

Looking out, the skyscrapers on the far shore rose like slumbering giants, their silhouettes outlined in countless points of light. Glass facades reflected neon streams, merging with the last indigo streaks in the sky. Colorful advertisements scrolled across LED screens atop the high-rises, their shifting hues projected onto the river, casting a dreamy tint over the rippling water.

A bridge spanned the river like a luminous dragon lying across the water, its lights glowing one after another. The procession of cars became a golden river, slowly winding through the night, every headlight like a moving star in the dark sky.

“The nighttime scenery by the West River is beautiful,” Chen Shi'an remarked, nodding in appreciation.

The same city lights glimmered in both their eyes, but their feelings were not the same.

Li Wanyin, who had also come from the countryside, was clearly thinking more—there was longing, amazement, perhaps a touch of subtle self-consciousness, and at times a surge of determination and effort.

In contrast, Chen Shi'an’s gaze held a more measured, peaceful curiosity, almost as if he were appraising and experiencing the scene.

“Meow.”

The black cat leapt lightly onto the narrow stone railing, joining the two in watching the night unfold.

Startled, Li Wanyin dared not grab it, afraid Shimo would be startled and fall into the river. She could only coax it gently, as if soothing a child: “Shimo, careful now… You’re scaring your sister! Please don’t fall! Come down, will you? Good kitty, come on down…”

The cat shot her a disdainful look, and not only refused to come down, but started to prance along the railing, performing a little acrobatic show.

“Fat Mo, down.”

…

Fortunately, Chen Shi'an, ever unbothered, called out, and the mischievous cat finally hopped down, sparing its sister a heart attack.

Though the riverside nightscape had long become mundane to the locals, both Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin, as outsiders, instinctively took out their phones to capture the view across the river.

Chen Shi'an had never learned to fiddle with camera settings, but his foundation in art gave him a keen sense for composition. Relying on the phone’s automatic adjustments, he only needed to frame his shot.

Yet his old phone’s camera left much to be desired—the nightscape it captured was a little blurry. Looking at the photo, Chen Shi'an sighed, “The sky is still too gray. If only I could capture the stars, like back in the mountains.”

“You took such a good photo!”

Li Wanyin glanced at his picture, then at hers. Though her phone was better and produced sharper images, her compositions and the mood of her shots paled beside his.

“Shi'an, can you take a photo for me?”

“Of course.”

Li Wanyin handed him her phone.

Chen Shi'an aimed it at the riverbank opposite.

A line of black appeared on Li Wanyin’s forehead.

“I meant a photo of me!”

“Oh,” Chen Shi'an said, finally turning the camera toward her.

“It’s too dark…”

He checked the screen, and then motioned for Li Wanyin to move half a step to the right, positioning her under the vintage streetlamp so its halo cast a soft golden edge over her shoulder.

“The light’s just right here. The streetlamp will brighten your face a little.”

“Is this okay?”

“Yes.”

“How should I stand?”

“Maybe just lean gently against the railing? Relax, that’s all.”

“Haha, I don’t really know how to pose…”

“That’s fine. I don’t really know how to take photos, either.”

From in front of her, Chen Shi'an bent, crouched, or stepped back, adjusting to what he felt was the perfect composition.

Seeing the two at their game, the black cat had to join the fun, leaping back onto the railing to sit beside Li Wanyin.

Just then, a river breeze swept from behind, scattering Li Wanyin’s hair. She instinctively lifted her hand to tuck a stray strand behind her ear.

That fleeting, natural gesture was captured precisely by Chen Shi'an’s lens.

His gaze sharpened, and as his finger hovered over the shutter, the scene on the screen suddenly came alive—the lights across the river, the warm glow on her shoulder, the black cat on the railing, the wind-lifted hair, and her unguarded gentle expression. In that instant, every element blended perfectly.

A soft click.

Chen Shi'an pressed the shutter without hesitation.

“Done.”

“Hey! I wasn’t ready!”

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Li Wanyin, half-complaining, trotted over and leaned against his shoulder, her eyes eagerly seeking the photo on the screen. As she bent forward, her hair brushed lightly across Chen Shi'an’s arm, leaving a faint scent of shampoo.

The image on the screen was especially clear against the night: the girl in the photo half-leaned on the railing, her profile outlined in warm, golden light, a finger tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze following the wind, lips curved in a gentle smile. Beside her, the black cat turned its head to look at her, its amber eyes shining bright beneath its inky silhouette. In the background, the bridge’s lights stretched like golden ribbons across the night, while wavelets stirred by the wind turned the riverside lights into shimmering spots, perfectly reflecting the sparkle in her eyes.

Li Wanyin stared, entranced.

She couldn’t help but take the phone from Chen Shi'an’s hand and gaze at it for a long while.

At last, she looked up, the corners of her eyes glinting with a satisfied smile. “Shi'an! You took such a good photo!”

“It was just a lucky shot.”

“Your reflexes are amazing! I never imagined you’d catch that moment! Really, it’s wonderful!”

“It’s not my doing—the person and the scenery were beautiful. I just tried to capture that instant as it was.”

Li Wanyin’s heart swelled with sweetness. She’d always thought she was unphotogenic, never able to relax before a camera, and her photos always turned out mediocre.

Only now did she realize she just needed a photographer like Chen Shi'an.

That moment he caught, so full of spirit, was the most natural, relaxed, beautiful, and favorite photo she’d ever had.

She looked at the photo again and again, reluctant to look away, before finally lifting her head, still smiling. “Can you send me this photo?”

“Huh? Isn’t this your phone?”

“…Oh, right!” Li Wanyin laughed, embarrassed—she’d been so happy she’d forgotten.

On a whim, she switched places with Chen Shi'an. “Shi'an, let me take one of you.”

“Okay.”

Chen Shi'an was easygoing, neither timid nor shy, and naturally stood by the railing.

As the perfect accessory for any photo, the black cat leapt from the railing onto his shoulder, draping itself over him like a furry stole, facing the camera with the young Taoist.

“So handsome!” his sister exclaimed. The more she looked at Chen Shi'an, the better she thought he looked, but the more frustrated she became with her own photography, unable to transfer the image in her mind straight onto the screen.

Li Wanyin spent ages searching for the right angle—stepping far, then close, crouching, standing—but nothing satisfied her.

“Are you ready, Wanyin?”

“Meow.”

“…Just a minute!”

“…”

“Ready now?”

“Meow…”

Both boy and cat were on the verge of yawning.

At last, Wanyin said, “All right.”

Chen Shi'an and the cat came over to see.

Awkwardly, Li Wanyin handed over the phone.

Well…

Chen Shi'an couldn’t help laughing, but still complimented her. “Not bad, you got me in the shot.”

What do you mean, got you in the shot?!

“Meow?”

Shimo was not pleased! With its pitch-black fur and the darkness of night, plus Wanyin’s lack of skill with lighting and composition, the photo barely showed the cat on Chen Shi'an’s shoulder—just two bright, shining eyes.

What kind of picture is this?! I’m nothing but a pair of eyes!

Still, though the photo couldn’t compare with Chen Shi'an’s, it was at least at the level of an ordinary person.

“Let’s take a group photo of the three of us,” Li Wanyin laughed. “A family portrait for 901!”

“Sure. But who’ll take it?”

“A selfie will do. Shi'an, you do it…”

She flipped the camera, handed Chen Shi'an the phone, and the three—two humans and a cat—leaned together by the railing. Chen Shi'an, tall and long-armed, stood on the left, Li Wanyin beside him on the right, Fat Mo once again sprawled on his shoulder. Three pairs of eyes gazed at the screen, the glowing riverbank behind them.

[Click]

…

Even at ten o’clock at night, the riverside path was bustling.

Families and friends strolled in twos and threes, young couples huddled together laughing, children ran with glowing balloons, their silver-bell laughter startling the night birds from the water, the beat of wings blending with the evening breeze.

On an open patch nearby, stalls had sprung up like mushrooms after rain, their little strings of lights merging into a warm sea of glow. There were stalls selling handmade jewelry, ring-toss games, iced desserts, grilled sausages, barbecue, fried noodles, milk tea, phone screen protectors—anything you could imagine.

“They’re encouraging street vendors now. I remember two years ago, when my roommates and I came here, you weren’t allowed to set up a stall.”

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Li Wanyin brought over two bowls of tofu pudding, and she and Chen Shi'an sat together on low stools beside the stall.

The tofu pudding was spicy, fragrant, and delicious.

Since they were out for a walk tonight, she hadn’t made any sweet soup, but bought two bowls of tofu pudding instead, inviting Chen Shi'an to eat at the roadside stall, savoring the river breeze—a pleasant, carefree evening.

“Did you also go to school around here, Wanyin?”

“No, my college was over in the High-Tech District. I spent three years in Yunqi, so I’ve wandered around plenty. Back then, my roommates and I would take the bus or ride shared bikes all over the place on weekends.”

“Is college life much more relaxed than high school?”

“It is. I can’t speak for other schools, but ours was pretty laid-back—studying was all up to you.”

“How were your grades?”

“Not bad, I was first in my class, but it didn’t mean much.”

“That’s not true. To stay motivated in such a relaxed environment is impressive, Wanyin.”

“What about you—are you keeping up in class?”

“It’s okay. I’m still catching up on middle school basics—it’s not too hard.”

Li Wanyin asked the vendor for an extra disposable bowl. As Chen Shi'an ate his tofu pudding, she didn’t forget Fat Mo, who could eat anything, and scooped out half a bowl for the cat.

“Meow.”

“Fat Mo really does eat anything.”

“He’s a pig, after all.”

“Haha.”

Shimo: “…”

Looking at the lively street market, Chen Shi'an laughed, “After you settle into work, why not set up a stall here too? Your sweet soup is so good—it’d sell really well.”

As if her secret plan had been discovered, Li Wanyin paused, then smiled, “It’s not that easy… Though I could sell sweet soup, I’ve even thought about learning how to make milk tea or some pastries to go with it, but I’ve never run a stall before—I wouldn’t know what to do…”

“Just ask someone.”

With that, Chen Shi'an naturally struck up a conversation with the vendor. “Boss, how do I set up a stall here?”

“Ha! What’s there to it? No stall fees here, just show up and set up wherever you like! If you want a good spot, come early—see those people over there? Just park their cars, open the trunk, and they’re in business!”

“How do you set prices?”

“Depends what you’re selling. Just follow what others charge.”

“How much can you make in a night?”

“Two or three hundred, enough to get by. Why, kid, are you planning to sell tofu pudding too? If you do, set up far away from me…”

“Don’t worry, boss, I won’t sell tofu pudding. I read fortunes!”

“Huh?”

“…”

Listening to their exchange, Li Wanyin was exasperated. She’d imagined scoping out business secrets would require subtlety and stealth, but Chen Shi'an just asked straight out!

Wait a minute!

“Shi'an, you want to set up a stall reading fortunes? Or sell trinkets?” Li Wanyin came to her senses.

“Yeah, I’d like to try it.”

Unlike most stallholders here, Chen Shi'an didn’t care much about making money. Coming down the mountain, most things he did were for the experience.

“But you still have classes, and your evening lessons end so late.”

“True. I’ll wait until my studies are more stable, then see.” Chen Shi'an smiled. “But I really think you should give it a shot, Wanyin.”

Li Wanyin didn’t think there was any shame in setting up a stall; in fact, she’d been secretly considering it—if she couldn’t find a job, she’d just sell things on the street.

With Chen Shi'an’s encouragement, her resolve grew stronger. She smiled, no longer hiding her thoughts. “I’ll do some research first, and once my job is settled, maybe I’ll try it. I’ve got no experience, so I’ll need a steady job as backup to feel secure.”

“Yes, you’re right to think it through.”

“Then, Shi'an, what do you think I should sell?”

“Just what you said—sweet soup, desserts, milk tea… What’s milk tea like? I’ve never had it.”

“I’ll treat you next time.”

“Great. Will I have to pay for sweet soup at your stall?”

“It’ll be free! Drink as much as you want!”

…

As the night deepened, cruise boats on the river switched on their colored lights, gliding over the water like floating palaces, leaving trails of broken light behind them.

The riverside remained lively, the glow of the stalls mingling with the neon across the river in the water’s reflection.

It was hard to tell which were stars in the sky, and which were lights of the mortal world.