"Welcome! Handsome guys, want to take an art photo?"
As Chen Mo, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Man stepped into the photography booth, a pretty young woman looked up and smiled warmly at them.
Chen Mo, wearing glasses, thought the girl looked somewhat familiar but didn't dare to stare—it would be rude.
"We're just browsing," Chen Mo replied politely.
"Sure, take your time," the girl said with a slight smile, not pressing further.
There weren't many customers inside—just two other young women—whose attention was focused on the photo wall.
"Brother, look at this!" Xiao Man called out, holding up a couple of framed photos. "These are so cool. Every photo has a little poem on the back!"
The small poems were handwritten in an elegant, artistic font. While none of them were famous verses, they paired perfectly with the images—subtle, poetic, and filled with feeling.
There were hundreds of street photography shots displayed—candid and unposed, each one carrying a quiet emotional depth.
An old man laughing, a child crying, a couple shopping together, a bird under the rain, a patch of grass in a sunbeam—each image had its own story, and a small poem written behind it.
"Our boss is a photography and poetry enthusiast," the young woman explained as she noticed Chen Mo's interest. "He likes to go out and capture whatever inspires him, then pairs the photo with a short poem and displays it here for guests to enjoy.
If you like a photo, you can drop a donation in the box and take it with you. After deducting printing costs, the rest of the money goes to charity. But each person can only take one."
"That's pretty creative," Chen Mo said, examining one of the prints. Sure enough, a small poem was written on the back.
"Brother, look at that photo!" Xiao Man pointed to the most eye-catching spot on the wall. A large, framed photo was hanging in a prominent position.
It showed a couple kissing under the streetlights at night. Their faces were obscured by shadows, but the intimacy and sweetness in their posture was unmistakable.
Chen Mo and Xiao Yu immediately recognized the image.
This was the photo a street photographer had taken when Chen Mo kissed Xiao Yu for the first time. He'd asked their permission afterward to submit it to a photo contest, and since their faces weren't visible, they didn't mind.
"This photo is your boss's work too?" Chen Mo asked.
"Yes, it's his proudest piece. It's titled Luminous. He took it during a late-night walk while looking for inspiration. That photo won the Gold Award in the National Photography Contest."
The girl's tone turned reverent. "The contest was themed around 'Love'—with categories for family, friendship, and romance. This one won gold in the romance category. It's very artistic."
Chen Mo and Xiao Yu were surprised. They remembered the photographer telling them he'd enter it in a competition, but they hadn't expected it to win the top prize.
"Has the copyright been sold? I'd like to buy it," Chen Mo said.
"Lots of people have asked to use it for promotional material, but the boss refused to sell. He's very attached to this photo." The girl hesitated for a moment. "But I can give him a call. He's probably out shooting on the street right now."
She dialed a number. After a few rings, it was declined. Still, she seemed confident that the call had gone through, and they waited patiently.
"Sis, I know you and Brother really like that photo," Xiao Man said, curious. "But why do you want to buy the copyright?"
She'd seen the picture on both Chen Mo and Xiao Yu's phone and computer wallpapers. That was how she recognized it.
"I'll tell you later," Xiao Yu replied softly.
It was a memory she treasured. That photo captured her first kiss with Chen Mo. Thinking back to that moment still made her feel a little shy—and sweet.
"There's a story here, huh?" Xiao Man said, grinning as she looked at Xiao Yu's expression.
Two minutes later, a young man walked into the shop. He wore a plaid shirt, a small backpack slung over one shoulder, had a bit of a beard, black-rimmed glasses, and a camera around his neck—very much the artistic type.
"Qiao Qi, are these the guests who want a photo?"
The man glanced at the trio, pausing when his gaze landed on Chen Mo and Xiao Yu. They looked vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place them.
"Boss, this gentleman wants to buy the copyright to Luminous, so I called you," the girl explained.
"Luminous?" The man—Liang Zhihang—shook his head. "Sorry, that one's not for sale."
"Oh? Why not?"
"That moment was special. I didn't get the couple's consent at the time, though they agreed afterward to let me enter it in a contest. But I wouldn't feel right profiting from it. It wouldn't be respectful. Plus… it's my favorite piece. It's not for sale."
"One hundred thousand," Chen Mo offered without hesitation.
The girl gasped. A hundred thousand yuan—for one photo? She could hardly believe her ears.
Liang Zhihang was stunned too. But after a moment, he still shook his head. "It's not about money. It's about principle."
Chen Mo was surprised but respected the man's stance. It was rare to meet someone so principled, especially when charity was involved.
"What if… the subject in the photo wanted to buy the rights?" Chen Mo asked.
"Huh?" Liang Zhihang looked at him, puzzled.
"You heard me." Chen Mo took Xiao Yu's hand, removed his glasses, and smiled.
Recognition dawned in Liang Zhihang's eyes. "Chen Mo?"
He blinked in disbelief. This face—frequently seen on the news—was far more famous than the mayor of Binhai.
He had only felt a vague familiarity earlier. Who would've thought Chen Mo would be wandering down an ordinary pedestrian street?
"You're here for real?"
"Just out for a walk. Saw the photo and remembered that night. Don't you remember how you took it?"
Liang Zhihang looked again at the framed picture, then back at Chen Mo and Xiao Yu. The memory clicked. That moment under the streetlight… it all came flooding back.
Wait… was I the one who captured Chen Mo's first kiss?
His mind reeled. He had no idea how to process it.
"Would you sell the copyright now?" Chen Mo asked.
"Of course! Free of charge!" Liang Zhihang laughed. "I had no idea the couple in that photo would become national icons!"
"This shop is yours?" Chen Mo asked as Liang Zhihang went to prepare the copyright paperwork.
"Yeah. Photography and poetry are my two hobbies. I'm not good at anything else, so I opened this shop. It lets me do what I love," Liang Zhihang said.
"Honey, how about we ask him to take our wedding photos too?" Xiao Yu whispered to Chen Mo. "It feels like fate."
Chen Mo had been thinking the same thing.
After a short while, Liang Zhihang handed over the copyright contract and the original file. Chen Mo was now the sole owner of Luminous.
"From now on, this photo will be called The Silent Fish," Chen Mo said, handing the license agreement to Xiao Yu. "What's your bank account number? I'll send over a royalty fee."
"No need. I said it's free, and I meant it," Liang Zhihang smiled. "It still blows my mind that my best photo features someone who became a legend. It's like something out of a story."
Chen Mo didn't push it. He could see that Liang Zhihang was someone with strong convictions.
"Xiao Yu and I are planning our wedding, and we'd like you to take our photos. Are you free?"
"Me? You could invite any famous photographer!" Liang Zhihang said, surprised.
"Those celebrity wedding shoots all look the same. Besides, they probably wouldn't come even if I asked." Chen Mo smiled.
"In that case, I accept!" Liang Zhihang said, delighted.
"When are you free? I'll send a car."
"Tomorrow works. I'll get my gear ready today."
"Perfect. I'll arrange everything," Chen Mo nodded. "I'll take the framed photo too."
"Of course," Liang Zhihang said without hesitation.
After Chen Mo left, Liang Zhihang still felt like he was dreaming. What were the chances that the photo he had randomly taken would turn out to be this significant?
"Boss… you know Chen Mo?" the girl asked in awe.
"That photo—the couple kissing under the streetlight—that was them. I took it years ago and forgot. Only remembered just now."
Liang Zhihang returned to the shop, leaving the girl stunned in place.
"Brother, why were you so determined to buy that photo?" Xiao Man asked, holding the frame. She couldn't see anything unusual about it.
"Ask your sister," Chen Mo said with a smile.
"Sis, come on, spill!" Xiao Man leaned in eagerly. She'd missed the whole conversation with Liang Zhihang and was dying of curiosity.
"The couple in the photo… that's us," Xiao Yu admitted, cheeks flushing. "It was my first kiss. He captured it."
"0o0?! You kissed on the seawall? In public? What was it like?!"
"..."