Chapter 338 - 15: Nan Xiuxiu’s Abnormality

That confidence was unquestionable, as if on the 16th of every month, even the most impossible things could be accomplished.

On the other hand...

’Doesn’t that mean that on any day but the 16th of the month, there’s no guarantee things will go as planned?’

The thought suddenly occurred to Jiang Ran.

Coincidentally, the day Tian Xiaoli opened her eyes was also September 16th.

What was so special about the 16th?

GULP!

Chi Xiaoguo finished the last bite of her bun, pulled out a tissue to wipe her hands, and giggled.

"Senior! The sunset is so beautiful today, let’s go take some pictures!"

"After I bought the buns, I rushed right back to the Film Club. I wanted to get my camera quickly to take pictures of the sunset... Look! We haven’t seen a sky this beautiful in ages!"

Jiang Ran nodded.

"Sure."

He remembered that his bulky camera still had two shots left on the roll. If he just took two more pictures to finish the film, he could have Chi Xiaoguo develop the photos.

The medium format film inside could only take eight pictures in total, so he had always been extremely careful, not wanting to waste a single shot.

But today’s sunset was certainly worthy of being captured.

"Let’s go, then."

He stood up.

"My Fuji camera is just two shots away from a full roll. I’ll take two pictures of the sunset today, and then you can help me develop them... I’m getting a little impatient to see how they turned out."

"No problem! Then I’ll... use this Nikon!"

Chi Xiaoguo quickly chose an old camera, then tore open a new box of film and skillfully loaded it in.

"If we’re shooting the sunset, the higher up, the better. That way, our view won’t be blocked by buildings and trees. So, Senior, let’s go to the rooftop!"

RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE—

The evening wind knocked over an aluminum can, sending it rolling across the rooftop.

Jiang Ran stuck out his foot to stop it, then picked it up and took it to the stairwell.

Seriously.

’Who could be so inconsiderate, drinking on the rooftop and not even taking their can with them? If the wind blew this off and hit someone, it wouldn’t be a small matter.’

Afterward, one after the other, they walked out onto the rooftop, which was stained blood-red by the setting sun, and gazed into the distance.

"Wow..." "So beautiful..."

From this high vantage point, they could take in the entire sky and feel the magnificence of the blazing, fiery clouds.

Instinctively, Jiang Ran raised the heavy camera, aimed at the distant skyline, and framed the sky and the setting sun in his viewfinder...

"Oh, right. I almost forgot."

Having learned his lesson, he quickly removed the lens cap and framed the shot again—

CLICK.

With a flick of the shutter.

Another unique pattern of light was imprinted onto the film, completing seven-eighths of his KPI.

Jiang Ran looked down at the camera, a gift for his 19th birthday.

"And with that, there’s only one shot left."

Over on her side of the roof, Chi Xiaoguo squinted and took a picture as well.

You could tell the little club president genuinely loved film photography; every press of the shutter brought her joy.

Her petite figure, with two cute buns bobbing in her hair, was silhouetted against the slowly setting red sun, like a final scene from a movie.

The wind lifted the loose strands of hair she couldn’t tie back, letting them dance randomly in the sunset’s glow, creating a sense of a moment frozen in time.

Unconsciously, Jiang Ran raised his camera and framed the scene in his viewfinder. It was truly picturesque.

"Hey," Jiang Ran called out.

"Huh?" Chi Xiaoguo turned around in the wind.

Jiang Ran smiled.

"Let me take a picture of you."

"Hee hee, really?"

Chi Xiaoguo lowered her camera, looking very happy.

"Okay, okay!"

"Speaking of which..."

Jiang Ran also lowered his camera and straightened up.

"Speaking of which, that picture I took of you at the Film Club... you must have developed it last time, right? How come you never showed it to me?"

"Oh, oh! That one... haha..."

A faint blush appeared on Chi Xiaoguo’s cheeks, blending in with the sunset.

"That picture... Oh, my expression was a little dazed and silly in that one. I was too embarrassed to show you."

"Oh, okay."

Jiang Ran didn’t think much of it.

He was just curious whether the first picture he’d ever taken with a film camera had turned out successfully.

Since it was a success, he was relieved that at least it wasn’t a failed exposure like that old photo of Teacher Zhang Yang’s.

"Alright, just stand there. I’ll take your picture. This is the last shot."

As he spoke, he worked the film advance lever, preparing to wind to the last blank frame.

But...

CLICK.

CLICK.

CLICK.

But no matter how he worked the lever, it was stuck. It wouldn’t advance.

"Huh?"

’That’s strange.’

’What’s going on?’

’This camera has always worked perfectly, without any issues. Why is the film getting stuck right at the last shot?’

’Don’t tell me this camera has a blood-pact with its owner, right? It can only take pictures of Nan Xiuxiu and no other girls?’

Chi Xiaoguo tilted her head.

"Senior? What’s wrong?"

"It seems to be broken."

Jiang Ran pointed to the camera.

"The film won’t advance."

"Oh, let me see."

With her Nezha-style hair buns bobbing, Chi Xiaoguo hopped over.

She took the camera hanging from Jiang Ran’s chest and fiddled with it for a moment.

"Senior, you’ve already taken all eight pictures! There’s no film left, so of course it won’t advance."

Huh?

Jiang Ran froze.

"That’s not right. There’s definitely one shot left. This film is so precious, I’m always reluctant to shoot, and I count every single frame."

He started to recall.

This roll of film could take eight pictures in total.

The first was of Nan Xiuxiu, taken at his birthday party.

The second was taken with the lens cap on.

The third through the sixth were landscape shots taken at Dazhi River Park.

The seventh was the one he just took of the sunset.

"There’s definitely supposed to be one more."