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[You follow the sound and look over, only to see a lavishly dressed actress standing on the stairs.]
[She's decked out in high fashion, her chin lifted arrogantly, staring at you with open disdain.]
[You immediately get what's going on.]
[It must be because you often come looking for Sparkle. Your camera—very eye-catching—clearly drew her attention.]
Sparkle isn't some obedient good girl. Hearing the actress's words, she fires back without hesitation.
The actress, clearly riled, raises her voice, spewing out venom like "stowaway," "outsider," and "messing around instead of acting properly."
Su Qing says nothing. He merely watches. Then suddenly, he crouches slightly—*click*—and takes a photo.
Su Qing: "Forgive my rudeness—I took a photo of you."
The actress obviously came looking for trouble, but there's jealousy behind it too.
After all, Su Qing is a photographer, yet he's always tailing around a mere apprentice like Sparkle. That burns her.
When she hears Su Qing's words, her eyes light up and she walks over quickly.
Her tone is smug, even pleased: "Hmph, at least you know what's good. Got some taste after all."
"Hmph…"
Sparkle swallows the comeback that was about to leap out of her mouth.
She knows Su Qing is a professional. But in *this* situation… and he still takes the time to photograph *her*!?
[March 7th: Ugh! Is Sparkle mad!?]
[Sparkle: It's not that dramatic… I just… I really like the photos Su Qing takes.]
[Sparkle: And now he's shooting *that kind* of person. How do I put it...]
[Black Swan: Feels like your treasured photo collection just got tainted, doesn't it?]
[Sparkle: Yes! That's *exactly* what it feels like!]
Sparkle puffs up her cheeks, shuts her mouth tight, and says nothing.
Su Qing hands over the photo: "I'm thinking of calling this one *Sharp Tongue*. But since I'm giving it to you, I'd like your opinion too."
Exactly the same words he said that day.
Sparkle's thoughts drift: *Does he say that to every girl?*
But... *Sharp Tongue*...
She couldn't help but sneak a peek.
!!
The moment her eyes land on the photo, Sparkle snaps her mouth shut even tighter, barely holding in her expression.
[Sparkle: ? (laughing on the spot)]
[Stream-watching Sparkle didn't have to hold back—she burst out laughing immediately.]
In the photo:
The actress is waving her hands, fingers curled upward, mouth wide open. From the upward angle, her teeth look sharp and pointy, her mouth exaggerated and angry, like she's mid-rant with no end in sight.
[March 7th: Hahaha, what a hilarious photo.]
[March 7th: As a… half-colleague? I think it's brilliantly shot—it's like a satirical comic strip!]
[Bronya: Indeed. One glance and you instantly understand her personality.]
The actress was initially delighted. But once she took the photo—
Her face turned red, then pale: "You! You bastard!!!"
[stelle: Not much of an attack stat on her.]
Su Qing began enthusiastically introducing the piece: "Look at this shot—a woman dressed in glamor, but aggressive and ill-mannered. No doubt, she's a crucial element in any big city!"
"Classic. Absolutely classic," Su Qing said with admiration. "I guarantee you—when I publish my photo book, I'll save a page just for you!"
[stelle: That's pure real damage right there.]
"Pfft—hahahahaha…" Even Sparkle on-site couldn't hold back anymore.
Only now did she realize—Su Qing didn't need knives. His lens was sharper than words.
"Shut up, shut up, SHUT UP!!!"
The actress was completely losing it.
And Su Qing clearly wasn't done yet.
Sparkle quickly jumped in: "We better go! We're gonna miss the sightseeing shuttle!"
Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Su Qing's wrist and ran.
The wind brushed past them as they picked up speed.
Thinking back on what just happened, Sparkle couldn't stop herself—she kept running, but she also kept laughing.
Her silvery laughter carried with the breeze.
In the girl's eyes, the entire world around her felt vivid and alive.
Running like this… felt amazing. It was joy.
Not even in reality—
Not even in Penacony's dreams—
Had she ever run so freely.
···
···
"Huff… huff…"
Su Qing bent over with hands on his knees, panting. Then he raised a thumb: "Sparkle, you're a rocket, huh?"
"Pfft, I might even be older than you, you know."
Their relationship now closer, Sparkle's words had relaxed.
She was catching her breath too—her soft chest rising and falling showed she was just as exhausted.
But the first thing out of her mouth was: "That photo earlier. You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Su Qing: "Which one?"
Sparkle narrowed her eyes: "*That* one!"
Su Qing paused, then said, "Purely for the sake of art."
"Really?" Sparkle stared hard at his expression.
Su Qing raised his hands in surrender: "Alright, alright. To be honest, maybe I wanted to vent a little. That woman's always been annoying, right?"
"Mmhmm!"
Sparkle's eyes curved like crescent moons: "Her expressions in real life look *exactly* like your photo! That's amazing!"
"Thanks. Sounds like I'm improving."
As he said that, Su Qing stood back up.
He had a feeling he'd been hearing Sparkle laugh… a lot more lately.
[Sparkle: Hehe… hehehehe…]
[Stelle: (points a finger) Sparkle, you're watching the stream right now with a big dumb grin on your face, aren't you!]
[Sparkle: Huh!? What!? (frantically looks around) Did—did you plant a hidden camera in my room!?]
[Stelle: Hmph~ (waggles finger) Don't underestimate my intel network.]
As usual, Su Qing bought Sparkle two oak roll cakes. This time, he also grabbed two bottles of Suleda.
Then he asked: "We still have time for the sightseeing shuttle?"
Sparkle: "We've got time. That was just an excuse. Let me check—today's destination is…"
She pulled out her phone and opened her notes.
As a photographer, Su Qing liked to run all over the place.
Maybe today's inspiration came from this place, tomorrow's from somewhere else.
Recording the places they'd visited helped keep things from getting chaotic.
Sparkle scanned through the entries:
"May 6, Golden Hour, visited luxury boutique."
"May 8, Sunlight Hour, visited Penacony Grand Museum."
"May 9, Scorching Hour, visited the bar and Suleda Contest qualifiers."
"May 11, Oasis Hour, visited Daylight Park."
All of them were written in the same format—short little travel notes. Some places they'd even visited more than once.
"Today, technically, we're supposed to go to Twilight Hour."
She closed the notebook.
Su Qing: "Technically?"
Sparkle: "Yeah, that was the plan. But thinking about it, that place is mostly for shopping—not great for photos."
She trailed off, clearly hesitating about something.
Su Qing didn't press her. He just waited patiently.
The two of them fell silent.
But there was no true silence in the joyful chaos of Penacony.
Even without words, sounds filled the air.
Commercial jingles, car horns, the buzz of tourists, and the endless swirl of neon lights—it was noisy, but alive.
Within all that noise, Sparkle's thoughts were laser-focused.
She lowered her head slightly and looked at the two little cakes in her hands.
She thought back to that first photo in the plaza…
To everything that happened this past month…
And to the feeling of dragging Su Qing by the hand and running away, heart light and free.
Sparkle took a deep breath and made up her mind.
"I want to take you to a place—perfect for taking photos."
"And… there's something I need to tell you. I just hope…"
"…you won't hate me after you hear it."
[Stelle: Oho~]
[Stelle: Are we entering… critical plot arc territory!?]
For more chapters subscribe on my YouTube channel here is the link
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