CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: ONLY FOOLS DON’T MAKE MONEY

"This photo looks like it’s moving, comrade, that pose you’ve struck is truly beautiful."

The store owner stared at the image in the camera, looking again and again with increasing satisfaction.

He didn’t expect that his own hands could take such aesthetically pleasing photos.

Could it be that not touching the camera for a while actually improved his skills?

Thinking of this, he peeked out to glance at the girl who had once again settled gracefully on the stool.

When she smiled at him, a thought surged intensely in his mind, and his hand, as if disobedient, directly pressed the shutter.

"Click," the image froze.

In the camera, the girl had a radiant, sweet smile on her face, her slightly curled red lips appeared tender even through the lens, and those smiling eyes seemed capable of capturing one’s soul, exuding a deadly allure.

The store owner, having lived more than half his life and seen much of the world, had never before met a young girl as exquisite and charming as Ye Manman, who also possessed an indescribable aristocratic quality.

There are plenty of good-looking people in this world, but most have been through hardships, leaving even the most beautiful faces weathered.

Those girls usually felt awkward in front of the camera, fearing the lens, with stiff expressions, unable to showcase even one-tenth of their looks.

But Ye Manman’s beauty and composed demeanor seemed innate, and even within the lens held a startling beauty.

"Boss, why did you take the picture before I was ready?"

Ye Manman tilted her head slightly, somewhat puzzled.

She had just smiled at the lens because He Chen had walked behind the store owner, bending over awkwardly to look at the picture in the camera, which amused her greatly.

She wasn’t ready yet.

This shot shouldn’t be chargeable.

The store owner waved his hand dismissively.

"It’s fine, this one is on the house. I just thought the scene was so beautiful, it would be a pity not to capture it. No worries, I’ll take another one for you."

Hearing that he wouldn’t charge for it, Ye Manman was overjoyed and proudly tilted her chin up at He Chen, her smile bright and triumphant.

It was a silent display of achievement.

See, the boss said I look so good that he won’t even charge me, how about that, am I awesome or what?

Her expression was charming and cute. The store owner couldn’t help but tremble with his hand and press the shutter again, "click."

The air suddenly fell silent for a few seconds.

He Chen, not very pleased, stood behind the store owner, and with a firm hand on the owner’s shoulder, asked in a low voice.

"What’s going on? She wasn’t ready yet, what do you plan to do with these random photos you’ve taken?"

Though his voice wasn’t loud, the aura was strong, and the tone was obviously suspicious of something.

The poor store owner felt the sudden layer of cold sweat on his forehead and carefully turned his head to explain.

"No, it’s not like that, it’s just that I find this young lady so beautiful, it’s rare to see a girl as graceful and confident as her, she’s simply perfect for photos, even a casual shot feels extremely beautiful, I could use it for an advertisement."

"... If you don’t mind, could I keep a negative of this young lady? I’d like to print a large photo to display at the entrance, rest assured, I won’t charge a penny for today’s photos!"

The store owner had figured it out, it wasn’t his photography skills that had improved, it was entirely because this young lady was perfect for the camera. If he displayed her photo for advertisement, he couldn’t believe business wouldn’t improve!

That first photo alone, a casual glance from passersby could captivate them.

The store owner was calculating shrewdly, and He Chen naturally noticed the issue.

"You want to exchange a few photos so you can display my wife’s picture outside? Visible to everyone passing by?"

Photos he himself wanted to hide and admire privately, this old man wanted to enlarge and display at his entrance?

He Chen’s hand reflexively applied pressure, his face turning extremely dark.

The store owner felt immense pressure, even a little scared, cold sweat breaking out on his back as he repeatedly apologized.

"I’m sorry, comrade, that’s not what I meant. Nowadays, many stars take ads, I was just asking, if you’re not willing, I won’t insist."

"So what do we do with these photos?"

He Chen coldly stared at the old man, showing no consideration for the elderly, his tone full of threat.

The store owner’s heart ached, feeling sorrowful, even tearful, he truly didn’t intend to harm them!

Deleting such beautiful photos felt like erasing his life’s proudest work.

His heart was practically bleeding.

His hand rested on the camera, hesitating to press delete.

Ye Manman wasn’t far away, clearly hearing the store owner’s words, and she somewhat understood his dilemma.

She had a female friend who was into photography, and after capturing a satisfying shot, she would print it to hang at home, turning her girl’s room into something resembling an exhibition hall.

This store owner likely felt it would be a pity to delete them too.

So she walked over and removed He Chen’s large hand from the store owner’s shoulder, holding it instead.

"He Chen, let’s allow the store owner to keep one, let him display it. This shop looks quite old, it might close down any day, and after all, you’re in town every day, you can see my large photo when passing by."

After soothing He Chen, she turned to the store owner and seriously said.

"You can have the photo, print two copies, but you must delete the negatives, and my photo can’t be used for other purposes, only for advertisement display at the entrance, and at most for six months, after which you must destroy the photo."

"Additionally, during these six months, your store’s revenue must give me five percent as advertising fees, what do you think?"

In six months, I should have graduated, He Chen’s business should have grown, and it would be time to leave this small town, making it unnecessary to keep the photos.

It’s essentially like doing a modern flat advertisement, being a flat model once, Ye Manman was quite open-minded about it.

It’s senseless not to make money.

The store owner readily agreed repeatedly.

But He Chen was still a bit unhappy.

"But, passersby will see your photo..."

He felt upset, even wronged, and worried about the hidden dangers if Ye Manman’s photo was seen by someone.

Yet Ye Manman put her hands on her hips, proudly saying.

"So what, I’m so good-looking, am I supposed to fear being looked at?"

"Relax, after all, don’t you accompany me every time? Nothing’s going to happen~"

Whenever she came around, He Chen was there, serving as a dutiful bodyguard, leaving Ye Manman without a worry.

After all, it was just a photo, what could possibly happen?

He Chen, although still not entirely convinced by Ye Manman, felt considerably relieved by her words.

He insisted on having the store owner print the photos smaller, and finally took a proper picture of Ye Manman before leaving.

With no other business in store, the owner hurried to develop the photos, as He Chen would come back to pick them up later, he too wanted to quickly see the final prints.

Outside, He Chen still felt uneasy.

Ye Manman briefly explained.

"He Chen, let me tell you, our town indeed doesn’t have many celebrities, but like the store owner said, many big stars in the city take photos to earn money, and only people who look good can earn such money, don’t overthink it, in the future this will become more common."

She attempted to get He Chen to accept this.

But how could He Chen not understand?

He intended to brand Sweet and Spicy Duck, and naturally had researched the market, considering hiring a beautiful star for endorsements in the future, aligning exactly with the store owner’s thinking.

He knew these things were normal.

But just the thought of so many people, so many like that "young man" they met at the restaurant, seeing Ye Manman’s picture, made him uncomfortable.

Sour, even bubbling.