Chapter 28: United Photograph

  Lin Xiaoyu sat under the green shade of a small willow tree by the Yu Dai River, with a fishing rod placed in front of her. This fishing rod was borrowed from Lin's father, whose greatest hobby was fishing. Lin Xiaoyu and Li Jingru often accompanied their father to the riverbank to fish. Lin Xiaoyu had learned a lot about fishing from his father. This time, when they came to Yu Dai River for a barbecue, Lin Xiaoyu brought a retractable rod in her backpack.

  Lin Xiaoyu stretched her waist, and the slightly dazzling sunlight passed through the not-too-dense willow catkins and shone on Lin Xiaoyu's slightly upturned face. The bright sunlight made it a bit hard for Lin Xiaoyu to open her eyes, but she still liked this kind of autumn sunshine. There was something in the autumn sunshine that made Lin Xiaoyu feel carefree and joyful.

  Now by the river, only Lin Xiaoyu was fishing alone, while his classmates were still enjoying the pleasure of barbecue and picnic. Lin Xiaoyu let out a soft burp, and Mu Rong Hui Min's roasted food made Lin Xiaoyu extremely satisfied. He ate three golden-brown chicken wings in one breath. Although he didn't forget to run to Li Jingru's group to taste her cooking skills, his stomach was already full, and all Lin Xiaoyu could do was take a roasted corn on the cob with a very fragrant flavor, but he couldn't eat anymore.

  Looking at so many delicious foods that made her drool, but having no stomach to fill herself up, Lin Xiaoyu felt a bit unhappy. So she took the fishing rod she brought and went to the riverbank to fish.

  Fishing is a very patient thing, especially in the Yu Dai River where the fish are scattered and not easy to hook. But Lin Xiaoyu has already gained some fishing experience, so she is not anxious and waits slowly for the float to sink.

  Waiting can be a moment of anxiety and discomfort, but it can also be a process that fills people with beautiful expectations. The subtle feeling in between comes from the subtle changes in people's mentality. And waiting for the fish to take the bait is often a pleasant time, in this leisurely and relaxed composition, waiting for the harvest, such a mood also makes Lin Xiaoyu very fond of it.

  The sound of a camera shutter suddenly rang out on this quiet riverbank.

  Lin Xiaoyu looked in the direction of the sound and saw Murong Hui Min holding a camera. Wearing a white sun hat, she looked very cute in the autumn sunlight.

  "Are you fishing?" Murong Hui Min came over to the riverbank after seeing Lin Xiao Yu walk away, and saw Lin Xiao Yu quietly fishing by the river. She couldn't help but take a photo with her camera.

  "Ah, the thing you cooked for me earlier tasted really good, unfortunately my stomach is already full and I couldn't eat anymore." Lin Xiaoyu sat down on the grass beside Murong Hui Min and smelled the familiar fragrance on her.

  "I've eaten quite a lot too, this barbecue is pretty interesting." Murong Hui Min smiled at Lin Xiao Yu, making Lin Xiao Yu feel a spring-like flavor in this autumn season.

  "Yeah, it's pretty interesting, a million times better than being stuck in the classroom." For some reason, as Lin Xiaoyu grew older, she increasingly disliked the feeling of being confined to the classroom for lessons. Fortunately, there was Mu Rong Hui Min sitting in front of her desk, a classmate with whom she could have a happy conversation, otherwise Lin Xiaoyu's school life would be even more dull and uninteresting.

  "Has anyone caught any fish?" Murong Hui Min glanced at the float drifting on the surface of the Yu Dai River.

  "Not yet." Lin Xiaoyu lay down on the grass behind her, handing over the task of watching the fish eat to Mu Rong Hui Min beside her. "You help me take a look at that buoy, I want to lie down on the grass for a while."

  "En." Mu Rong Hui Min had never refused Lin Xiao Yu's requests. She stole a glance at Lin Xiao Yu, who was lying on the grass with his hands under his head and his eyes closed, and it seemed like she wanted to say something to him, but didn't have the courage to speak up.

  Looking at the willow shadows that were blown by the autumn wind, Lin Xiaoyu's face was jumping. After hesitating for a long time, Murong Huimin decided to express the love hidden in her heart for a long time at this moment when she was alone with Lin Xiaoyu.

  "Xiao Yu." But then, a female voice shouting Xiao Yu's name came from not far away.

  Murong Huimin saw Li Jingru walking towards her, with a small dog jumping and running behind her. The words Murong Huimin had just wanted to confess flowed back into her heart like a bowl of bitter tea, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

  Hearing someone calling her name, Lin Xiaoyu sat up from the lawn and saw Li Jingru bringing over a little guy called "Bei Bei".

  Li Jingru walked up to Lin Xiaoyu and Murong Huimin, nodded and greeted Murong Huimin, then asked Lin Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, have you caught any fish?"

  Lin Xiaoyu shook her head and joked: "Originally, I just had a fish on the hook, but when you came, the fish ran away. You have to accompany my fish."

  "You think you can deceive me with your poor fishing skills? I don't believe you can even catch a fish!" Li Jingru sat down on the grass beside Lin Xiaoyu.

  "Just you wait and see me catch a big fish for you." Lin Xiaoyu said, staring at the still motionless float.

  Li Jingru pulled out a small handkerchief from her own pocket and gently wiped the sweat on Lin Xiaoyu's forehead: "Look at you, all sweaty, I really don't know if you're fishing or catching fish."

  Li Jingru rarely wiped sweat for Lin Xiaoyu, usually giving her own small handkerchief to Lin Xiaoyu. However, seeing Murong Huimin, this pretty little girl sitting next to Lin Xiaoyu, Li Jingru thought about being more intimate with Lin Xiaoyu, so she took the handkerchief and wiped Lin Xiaoyu's sweat.

  Seeing Li Jingru use her own handkerchief to wipe Lin Xiaoyu's sweat, Mu Rong Hui Min felt a sour taste in her heart, and her eyes were filled with envy.

  Two pretty little girls sat on either side of Lin Xiaoyu, and at this time they had a bit of a jealous taste between them, but Lin Xiaoyu still didn't notice.

  Those slightly bleak autumn winds blew from the river surface, and the willow catkins on the willow tree beside Lin Xiaoyu gently swayed in the wind, entwining each other like the tender hearts of spring girls, always making it impossible to distinguish those entwined branches.

  After a long wait, the float that Lin Xiaoyu threw into the Jade Belt River finally sank down. Lin Xiaoyu quickly picked up the fishing rod and carefully shook the reel. Li Jingru and Murong Huimin held their breath, looking at the river surface with a mix of tension and anticipation.

  Lin Xiaoyu learned a lot while fishing with her dad. Lin Xiaoyu slowly shook the reel, slowly reeling in the line. As Lin Xiaoyu's hand continued to tighten the line, the end of the hook could be seen struggling with fish.

  After the fishing line was received to a certain extent, Lin Xiaoyu grabbed the fishing rod and lifted it up. A fish slightly larger than the palm of her hand was pulled out from the surface of the river and fell onto the grass.

  Li Jingru and Murong Huimin cheered excitedly on the side.

  Murong Hui Min picked up the camera and let Lin Xiao Yu hold his spoils of war for a keepsake.

  A "click" sound, a boy with a bright smile and holding a fishing rod was frozen in Murong Hui's camera.

  "Xiao Yu, why don't you and Li Jing take a photo together?" Although she wasn't very willing in her heart, Mu Rong Hui Min, who was good at understanding people's intentions, still let Li Jing, who was standing next to Lin Xiao Yu, go and take a photo with Lin Xiao Yu.

  Li Jingru was a little surprised that Murong Huimin would call herself and Lin Xiaoyu to take a photo together, but still stood with Lin Xiaoyu in front of Murong Huimin's camera and left a photo. Taking photos with Lin Xiaoyu is a very familiar thing for Li Jingru. Since getting to know Lin Xiaoyu, every birthday, Li Jingru's father and mother would help Li Jingru and Lin Xiaoyu take a photo together.

  Li Jingru also kindly picked up the camera for Murong Hui Min and took a photo of Murong Hui Min and Lin Xiaoyu.

  At this time, Yang Tianxiao happened to come over, so Li Jingru let him take a photo with Lin Xiaoyu and the three of them together. Many years later, when Lin Xiaoyu saw their first photo together, they couldn't help but feel nostalgic for their forever blue sky and white cloud childhood.

  In this autumn that ripens all things, the rustling autumn wind is also opening the hearts of these young people...