When Xiao Feng emerged from the hot spring, Tang Tang was already sitting in the lobby, watching television.
The boring variety shows on the television were enough to pass the time. Xiao Feng noticed that Tang Tang had changed into a beautiful dress, which suited her perfectly.
Tang Tang looked at Xiao Feng. “I just looked up this place online. They say there’s a very beautiful maple forest about a hundred meters away. If you come in autumn, the maple leaves will be everywhere, fiery red and incredibly beautiful. Shall we go take a look?”
Xiao Feng nodded. How could he possibly refuse Tang Tang’s suggestion?
“Alright, let me take a shower and change before I accompany you.”
Tang Tang patiently sat in the lobby, continuing to kill time with the boring television programs. Xiao Feng was very quick and soon finished and came out.
“Let’s go.”
Tang Tang turned off the television and happily walked out of the inn with Xiao Feng. They asked a hotel attendant, and indeed, such a place existed. The attendant pointed them in the direction, and Xiao Feng and Tang Tang left the hotel.
“It’s just evening now. I wonder if the maple forest will be as beautiful as it looks in the photos.”
Xiao Feng looked down at Tang Tang beside him. She was holding a photo she’d found online, looking at it with envy.
“You know, wouldn’t it be wonderful if someone could live in a place like this forever?” Tang Tang’s words were nothing like her usual sharp and shrewd demeanor.
Xiao Feng smiled gently. It was true that bringing her out to play allowed him to see a different side of her. “Perhaps there is. At least the people at this hotel are living here, aren’t they?”
Tang Tang nodded. “Yes, I’m a little envious. But I checked online, and apparently, although this inn looks ordinary, the cost is not low. Everything is very exquisite, and the owner of this inn built it nearby because his beloved liked the maple forest. It’s a very romantic love story.”
Xiao Feng looked at Tang Tang’s enraptured expression and was completely captivated. “If you’re willing to accept me, perhaps our story could be just as romantic.”
This sentence was entirely born out of the current situation, and Xiao Feng blurted it out. After all, such an atmosphere could easily blur one’s reason, especially with the woman he liked by his side.
Tang Tang had actually heard Xiao Feng’s words, but she showed no reaction. Instead, she pretended not to have heard anything and continued to walk forward with a smile.
How could Tang Tang not know? She even felt something similar, but she was still a little hesitant.
Xiao Feng was not discouraged by Tang Tang’s lack of response. After all, he had decided that the main move was yet to come, and these small advances were just minor probes.
As the two walked side by side, Tang Tang suddenly exclaimed.
“It’s so beautiful.”
It was precisely the beautiful scenery Tang Tang had hoped to see.
At this moment, the afterglow of the setting sun cast upon the maple forest before them. The already fiery red maple leaves became even more intensely crimson, as if the entire world was ablaze. The beautiful scenery was like a master artist’s photographic work.
But no matter how alluring the scenery was, Xiao Feng’s gaze remained fixed on the woman beside him.
Tang Tang had no thoughts of that now; she was deeply captivated by the view. “I didn’t bring my camera. If I had known, I would have brought it. It’s so beautiful, it would be a pity not to take a few photos.”
“It’s no pity. If you want photos, I can help you.” As he spoke, Xiao Feng raised his phone.
Tang Tang looked at the phone and finally nodded. “Since I forgot to bring my camera, I can only use my phone.”
Xiao Feng transformed into an enthusiastic photographer, directing Tang Tang and taking many beautiful pictures of her.
Tang Tang was also very happy and had forgotten the awkward atmosphere between them in the hot spring earlier.
“That’s enough, that’s enough. You’ve taken so many. Be careful your phone’s memory doesn’t run out,” Tang Tang excitedly stopped Xiao Feng, who was still eager to take more pictures.
Xiao Feng looked at Tang Tang with doting affection. “It doesn’t matter. I enjoy taking photos for you.”
Tang Tang was truly finding this ambiguous atmosphere unbearable. She said directly, “Xiao Feng, don’t say things like that anymore. I prefer to interact with you as we always have, freely and easily. You’ve been saying things like this intermittently today, and it makes me uncomfortable. I thought you were acting strange, as if you’d taken the wrong medicine.”
Xiao Feng had never seriously pursued a girl before. Based on his past experiences, didn’t women all like to hear such things?
Indeed, women were sometimes different. With this thought, Xiao Feng immediately adjusted his pursuit strategy in his mind.
Tang Tang said while looking at Xiao Feng’s phone, “When we get back to the inn later, you can send the photos to me. And remember to delete them.”
“Okay.” Xiao Feng nodded. The two chatted idly along the way and soon returned to the hotel.
Perhaps it was because they had so much fun and were too wild in the maple forest, or perhaps it was because they had used up all their energy taking photos, but Tang Tang seemed a little tired upon their return.
Seeing Tang Tang like this, Xiao Feng quickly offered her water. “Rest for a bit. We’ll have dinner later.”
Taking the cup from Xiao Feng, Tang Tang didn’t forget about the photos. “Right, hurry up and send me the photos.”
Xiao Feng nodded, picked up his phone, and the two quietly transferred photos, one sending and one receiving. They were quite absorbed in it.
However, during this process, Tang Tang commented on the photos Xiao Feng had taken of her and her expressions while posing for pictures.
And Xiao Feng? Even though Tang Tang had told him in the maple forest not to always have that cheerful and ambiguous demeanor towards her, perhaps because his beloved was by his side, Xiao Feng couldn’t stop smiling. He accepted all of Tang Tang’s comments and kept saying, “Good, good, good…”
Tang Tang kept talking, and Xiao Feng listened attentively, a stark contrast to his usual arrogant and overbearing personality.
At this moment, Tang Tang, who usually appeared dignified, seemed more lively.
However, it wasn't that Xiao Feng wasn't speaking; rather, he was enjoying this feeling. Tang Tang was very natural now, without many defenses towards him, so Xiao Feng accepted her in this state wholeheartedly.
Only when Tang Tang became a little tired from talking did Xiao Feng ask, “Where shall we have dinner? Shall we have room service, or eat in the restaurant?”