2nd chances 4: Making People Happy 2

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Chapter 4: Making People Happy 2

Without any greetings or formalities, the rushed and frantic photographer threw himself into the work, taking over the scene.

Of course, Chen Yijun didn’t hesitate to step aside and let him.

Get in the way of the professional? Then HE would be the one to ruin the happy couple’s day!

Letting out a sigh of relief, Chen Yijun squatted down and hugged Lanlan from behind as they watched a professional work.

Lighting… those lightbots with their reflectors unfurled made Chen Yijun realize he had completely neglected that side of photography.

As expected, his understanding of photography was completely too shallow.

When he thought about it, even some amateur photographers would have their friends running around with reflector boards back in his former world, so it’s obvious that ‘natural lighting’ wouldn’t be enough all the time.

Chen Yijun sighed with relief as he recalled his camera and Lanlan ran to his side to keep out of the way.

As the wedding planner and another man, probably the photographer’s assistant, ran up, Le Zihuan, the brother of the groom ran over in between shots.

“Hey, wait, don’t leave yet. I gotta thank you for what you did. You really kept everyone’s mind off of the situation,” Le Zihuan said with a lot more enthusiasm than before.

“No, I didn’t do much, and the photos I took are definitely going to be … um… excuse me, can I transfer the photos I took to you?” Chen Yijun asked the photographer’s assistant, “I’m not that great so they’re definitely going to need editing, but I’m not very good with the software.”

The assistant was startled, but quickly replied, “Sure, sure. Please do! We’ll edit them, no problem!” He had just been trying to figure out how to ask for the photos without insulting the young photographer, so he was excited when Chen Yijun offered.

It wasn’t a big deal if they had to pay for the photos, but it would leave a sour taste in their mouth if they just took someone else’s photos and bundled it together with theirs. Since the young man asked them to edit the photos for him, it made their studio feel better about it.

Of course they weren’t going to just take the young man’s photos for their own, but they’d like to include some in the album they’ll be putting together for the happy couple, if they were acceptable.

As much as Blue Bird Studio would like to pretend this fiasco didn’t happen, they weren’t shameless enough to actually ignore it.

It was sheer luck that things turned out the way they did, with this amateur photographer showing up and stepping in-!

“I hope I took something worthwhile at some point,” Chen Yijun said.

He thought a few of the shots turned out well, but without the experience of a professional photographer they just weren’t quite good enough, in his opinion.

The neglect of reflector boards, er bots, made the lighting less effective than it could have been in many of the pictures, Chen Yijun was beginning to understand.

“Haha, you really had guts to suggest taking photos if you’re this unsure of yourself,” Le Zihuan said.

“Actually, I wouldn’t have even minded if you didn’t let me take pictures,” Chen Yijun admitted, “I just didn’t think it was a good idea to leave you guys alone, right?”

“En.” Lanlan gave a large nod as she agreed.

Le Zihuan laughed.

“Such kind people with no ulterior motives are rare these days. But hey, I already asked the folks, and you guys are invited to the reception right after this!”

“Nono, there’s no need for that!”

Chen Yijun was shocked. Hey, he wasn’t trying to be a wedding crasher or anything!

But Le Zihuan shook his head.

“There were some idiots who canceled anyway, so we might as well give those spots to people who are actually here! The portions are already ordered, so if there’s no one to eat them it will just go to waste!”

He smacked Chen Yijun heartily on the back, causing Chen Yijun to stumble a bit.

“A…hahaha…” Even as he laughed half-heartedly, Chen Yijun didn’t fail to notice Lanlan’s look of faint yearning, although she tried to hide it.

This girl could do with being a little more spoiled.

With a great sigh, Chen Yijun could only shrug helplessly as he patted Lanlan on the head.

“We’d be honored to,” he finally said, a wry smile on his lips.

He and Lanlan ended up waiting nearby the wedding party, chatting with whoever wasn’t needed for the photos.

Lanlan had never had so many people doting on her before, but in Chen Yijun’s opinion, this was an obvious result.

She’s very cute and almost abnormally obedient, so people who liked children would naturally coo over her – it’s not the opinion of a biased uncle, honest!

Snake spirit beasts give off a natural sense of attraction, that’s all!

When the photo session was over, everyone, the wedding party, the photographer and his assistant, and Chen Yijun and Lanlan called a small fleet of suspension cars and were soon whisked away to the reception hall.

When Chen Yijun and Lanlan got out of the suspension car, supporting the bride’s grandfather as he also got out slowly, they saw exactly which reception hall had been booked.

Chen Yijun: (￣□￣;)

This … is a very high-class place…

No, he knew that these people were probably very rich, given the elaborateness of the bridesmaid dresses and the bride’s own luxuriously beaded dress, but … the Rose Phoenix Hall wasn’t something that ordinary people could book a room in, you know?

Chen Yijun suddenly felt reeaaally under-dressed and reeaaally embarrassed that he didn’t bring a red envelope for the happy couple.
^{<red envelope – money gift>}

Of course, no one in the wedding party was expecting this uncle-niece pair to prepare a red envelope, but there’s still the principle of the matter.

Even if Le Zihuan said it was a small wedding and reception, it was Chen Yijun’s own fault for assuming it wouldn’t be too classy-!

Whatever they were going to eat for dinner, he had no doubt the price would have been enough to feed him and Lanlan for a full month at least.

Chen Yijun was paralyzed at the scent of money wafting around.

As for Lanlan?

She was just staring with wide, glittery eyes at the gourgeous room, decked out in a rose and butterfly fairy motif – the bride’s tastes, no doubt.

Chen Yijun was envious of the innocence of childhood as she didn’t feel any hesitation about entering the room.

When the two of them were escorted to their seats, Chen Yijun was relieved that they were seated with the photographer and videographer. In the back and to the side!

“Are you alright?” the photographer’s assistant asked, watching as a pale-faced Chen Yijun helped Lanlan into her chair.

“Ah… haha, well, I wasn’t expecting it to be so high-class…” Chen Yijun managed to stammer.

“Well, it’s Le Zhiji’s wedding with his beloved little heiress fiance, so they had to make it elaborate since they were keeping it small, else the in-laws will complain.”

Is that how it works?

Chen Yijun tilted his head to the side for a moment.

“Le Zhiji?” The name sounded familiar.

“Hm? The internet star. Well, I guess if you don’t use Video Smiley, then you probably haven’t heard much about … did you not realize?” the assistant said, noticing Chen Yijun’s sudden look of recognition and shock.

“N-no-! Who would have expected to run into a network celebrity like that – If I realized it, would I have had the guts to run up and asked to take photos!?”

Even though Le Zhiji wasn’t an A-list celebrity, mostly famous on the Video Smiley platform, his name was still somewhat recognizable since he’d been on some talkshows and even helped host some events on television. Chen Yijun didn’t have to search the former’s memories too hard to find out who Le Zhiji was.

It wasn’t his fault that the memories didn’t meld perfectly into his head, or maybe he would have recognized Le Zhiji quicker.

Aaargh! No wonder they treated him with so much suspicion before, they must have thought he was paparazzi or something!

The photographer’s assistant laughed as he helped put an hors d’eourve on Lanlan’s plate.

The videographer, who wasn’t present for the photo session at all and had no idea what had happened, was watching curiously and wondering who the hell was invited to a wedding without knowing who the people getting married were.

As everyone was waiting for the wedding party to make their entrances, the photographer finally rushed over, still slightly red-faced and panicked.

He sighed in relief as he sank down into his seat next to his assistant, finally able to stop running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

He had just managed to wrangle the unlock code that allowed his camera and to roam freely within the reception room from those unhelpful s.o.b.s among the hall staff, so he could now sit down while the camera does all the leg work.

Of course, he still had to remain aware of his surroundings and take pictures, but the photographer was used to this and could multi-task well with the camera lens linked to one eye, and with the other he could pay attention to other things. Like eating. And complaining!

Anyway, he was only taking candid shots of the guests right now, so it didn’t require his complete attention.

“Aiyaa… I feel like I lost twenty years off my life today,” he grumbled, all the while maneuvering the camera skillfully to take a few shots here and there.

He took a long drink of water before realizing that Chen Yijun and Lanlan were seated at the same table.

“Ahhh, it’s you. Kid, we got a lot to thank you for. My name’s Wei Mingxin, and this is He Jiujiu. He usually works in image editing, but we were short-staffed today,” the photographer said, reaching out to shake hands with Chen Yijun.

“I’m Chen Yijun, and this is Lanlan.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Although her voice was shy, Lanlan obediently said her greetings.

Wei Mingxin nodded, grinning roguishly at Lanlan with a quirk of his moustache before turning back to Chen Yijun.

“As for compensation for your work, we’ll contact the Le family and decide that along with your compensation, okay?” Wei Mingxin asked.

“-! What, no, that’s… I selfishly barged in, and my photography skills are pretty…”

Chen Yijun’s grimace told Wei Mingxin exactly what he thought of his own abilities.

What an interesting kid.

Wei Mingxin laughed.

“No, kid. Trust me, what you did deserves to be paid for. Your photos are … well, I haven’t seen them so I can’t say anything, but just based on the fact that you kept them company, kept them entertained…” Wei Mingxin sighed and shook his head, saying, “Aiya, if you hadn’t done that, the pictures I’d be taking would be full of zombie faces and negative energy.”

Chen Yijun laughed. “You’re exaggerating.”

“No, I’m really not. Even if they’re smiling, their anger and frustration can still bleed through. And even if I could coax them into a better mood, we would have run out of time before I could take anything really good.”

Wei Mingxin wasn’t budging. He’d seen so many wedding photos ruined because of disputes among the wedding party, or among the in-laws, or between the venue and the wedding party – even between the bride and groom.

Sure they’d fake their smiles and happiness in front of the camera, but those pictures NEVER turned out better than those where everyone got along harmoniously despite any hiccups or bumps that occurred.

After Wei Mingxin had said that much, Chen Yijun decided not to say anything else.

After all, that reason was actually why he done something as reckless as barge his way into the wedding party’s circle and suggest to take photos.

His entire goal was to distract the bride and groom and put them in a better mood as he chattered at them and asked them to pose in interesting and funny ways.

In Chen Yijun’s opinion, it didn’t matter if the photos he took were bad or not.

Chen Yijun had good feelings towards this photographer who understood that a true smile was the most important thing in wedding photos.

Very soon, the lights in the hall dimmed, and the wedding party was announced, kicking off the festivities with a dazzling display of lights to catch each couple walking in as if they were fairies themselves.

That evening, Chen Yijun had a really good time as he and Lanlan ate high-class food for the first time in this world, marveled over the fantastic decorations and dresses, and Chen Yijun even got a chance to talk a little about art and photography with Wei Mingxing and the videographer.

Chen Yijun offered to take Lanlan out onto the dance floor, but the little girl was too shy and embarrassed, perfectly content to just watch and eat.

When they finally left and called for a suspension car to go home, Lanlan was very sleepy, but also very, very happy.

Today was like a fairy tale; she and Little Uncle got to help a handsome prince and beautiful princess, and even got to go to what felt like a fairy banquet.

As the suspension car took them home, Lanlan held the box of fancy chocolates that was the wedding favour, leaning on her Little Uncle as she tried not to fall asleep.

“Little Uncle…”

“Hm?”

Chen Yijun’s voice was soft and gentle as he softly rubbed Lanlan’s back.

“… When I grow up, I think I want to make people happy…”

Lanlan’s voice drifted off and she quickly fell asleep, her Little Uncle smiling down at her dotingly.

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<a/n: Yijun’s job: no comment yet

I like to think that this night is what triggers Lanlan to become a wedding/event planner, but since I haven’t, and won’t, work out Lanlan’s future through her formative years, it’s just a little speculation that makes me happy. It’s possible that she gains interest in a completely different field as she grows up, though. >