Urban Most Awesome Dad

“Beauty, could you lean a bit closer to this handsome guy?” the photographer, fiddling with his camera for a while, felt that the frame still wasn’t perfect, so he called out to Xu Yixue.

“Mommy, let’s lean together,” Tongtong shook his head, tugging at Xu Yixue’s hand.

Xu Yixue bit her lip, reluctant to get too close to Xu Fan, but considering it was just a matter of taking a photo, only a second or two, she complied, letting her fragrant shoulder lean against Xu Fan’s.

Xu Fan caught a whiff of a faint fragrance as Xu Yixue’s hair strands, some even floating onto Xu Fan’s neck, tickled him.

Xu Fan couldn’t help but lean slightly closer to Xu Yixue’s body as well.

Xu Yixue then felt Xu Fan’s broad shoulders pressed tightly against her delicate ones, his strong male scent reaching her nose, giving her an urge to lay her head on Xu Fan’s shoulder and not leave. Even her fair face instantly blushed a shade of crimson.

She had waited five years for these broad shoulders. Who would want to bear immense pressures with the body of a weak woman, to be a strong, independent person? If only she had Xu Fan’s strong shoulders to lean on before, Xu Yixue truly didn’t want to be as exhausted as she was now.

Now, leaning on Xu Fan’s shoulder, Xu Yixue let go of all her bravado and pretense, like a little woman quietly relying on her lover, not minding convention, not minding the passage of time, just leaning together like this, until they both aged slowly, until their daughter grew up into an adult, with both shoulders still pressed tightly together, never parting again.

“Click!”

The photographer in the distance froze this moment with his shutter.

The affectionate look Xu Yixue had just shown towards her lover, the innocence Tongtong displayed, and the genuine smile that came from Xu Fan’s heart, all made the entire picture seem as if it were bathed in a layer of warm sunshine.

“Wow, that’s perfect, just perfect, this is simply the best portrait I’ve taken since I learned to use a camera. Excuse me, may I use this photo to enter this year’s Pulitzer International Photography Competition? I know this request is a bit presumptuous, but as a professional photographer, I feel I really can’t let such a work merely be buried in a digital storage card,” the photographer came over, speaking fervently and even devoutly to Xu Fan.

“I don’t mind, what about you?” Xu Fan turned his head to ask Xu Yixue.

“Fine, but the naming rights must go to Zhonghai City’s Xinghai Entertainment!” Xu Yixue, never forgetting her CEO identity, told the photographer.

“No problem, I’m confident that this work will definitely be the best of the year!” The photographer exchanged WeChat contacts with Xu Fan and then eagerly tried to invite Xu Fan’s family out for a meal to discuss the possibility of collaborating on a full set of photos.

But Xu Fan shook his head slowly, declining his offer; the photo just taken was because Xu Fan hadn’t taken a photo with Tongtong before, just for keepsake, and Xu Fan wasn’t short on money. Why would he commercialize his family’s image just for profit?

“Well, alright then, but should you ever be interested, please be sure to find me. To tell the truth, your family is naturally cut out for modeling. Whether adults or children, if you really want to develop in this line, you all could become the very top in the field,” the photographer seemed a little regretful, shaking his head as he spoke.

“Alright, if there’s nothing else, we’ll be going in now,” Xu Fan slowly said to the photographer.

“Alright, by the way, my name is Cheng Jiao, and in the circle, everyone calls me ‘Telephoto Lens’!” The photographer shook hands with Xu Fan and finally remembered to introduce himself.

“What? You’re the winner of the Best Photographer Award in all three realms, Cheng Jiao?” Xu Yixue let out a gasp of surprise at this moment.

The photographer in front of her was in his forties, with a wild and unruly appearance, scruffy beard, and wearing a set of rather untidy work clothes. She hadn’t expected such an unkempt person to be the famous ‘Telephoto Lens’—Cheng Jiao in the photography world.

Xu Yixue was in the media industry. Although she had never met Cheng Jiao, she had heard of his great reputation. Today, at such a fortuitous event, she couldn’t believe she had encountered Cheng Jiao and even had a photo taken by him.

Cheng Jiao had just said that this photo could compete for the Pulitzer Prize for Best Photography, and Xu Yixue had thought he was boasting. But now, looking again, he really was a photographer with the caliber to vie for the Pulitzer.

“Mr. Cheng, I’m the CEO of Zhonghai City’s Xinghai Media, Xu Yixue. I’m very pleased to meet you, and I hope we will have the opportunity to collaborate in the future. Your photography skills are indeed renowned in the industry,” Xu Yixue said to Cheng Jiao with a smile.

“Sure, but I’m used to roaming around and can’t stay in one place for long, often running around all over the world,” Cheng Jiao replied to Xu Yixue with a smile.

“No problem, we can arrange in advance and agree on a time for collaboration. With your skills, I believe our Xinghai Media will achieve even better results,” Xu Yixue said to Cheng Jiao, beaming with joy.

“Alright then,” Cheng Jiao nodded and said, “Your husband can just contact me. I’ve already left my WeChat info with him.”

“Uh,” Xu Yixue felt a bit embarrassed. Although Xu Fan was the father of her daughter, he was indeed not yet her husband. Being called out like this by Cheng Jiao made her somewhat shy.

Seeing Xu Yixue’s reaction, Cheng Jiao thought that she and Xu Fan were a newlywed couple who had just quarreled. As a middle-aged man in his forties, he understood these things, so he gave Xu Fan a friendly pat on the shoulder and said, “Brother, that’s settled then. If your wife needs anything, just contact me. I’m heading out.”

“Take care,” Xu Fan said, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face.

Xu Yixue being referred to as his lover, Xu Fan felt as if he had gotten the better end of the bargain. He turned his head to glance at Xu Yixue, who at the moment had her face blushing, eyes cast down shyly, bearing none of her usual domineering CEO demeanor.

“Yixue, I got the tickets. Let’s go in,” Ye Xiaoning’s voice came from beside Xu Yixue.

Ye Xiaoning, holding four zoo tickets, was waving them at Xu Yixue. Mid-wave, Ye Xiaoning also seemed to notice something amiss.

Hadn’t Yixue always disliked Xu Fan? Why was she standing so close to him now, almost leaning on him? And why did the usually bold Yixue look so demure and shy, with a blush of embarrassment on her face?

“There’s an affair!” Three big characters suddenly appeared in Ye Xiaoning’s mind.