Leisurely Traveler with Check-in System

Chapter 59: Chapter 58: Photography Competition

Even someone like Li Younan, who particularly enjoys rainy days, couldn’t help but complain a little; it seems this rain just won’t stop.

It has been raining non-stop since the second day he arrived in Xiamen.

This is the last bit of moisture from the plum rain season.

Most attractions are more fun to visit on sunny days, and now they’re trapped in the rented apartment by the rain. Thankfully, he’s not alone; there’s a clever junior student accompanying him, which makes it more bearable.

At the moment, Li Younan is washing and hanging his slightly damp T-shirt, while Jing Chaoyi watches TV and says, ”Trapped in the rented house by this rain, luckily, I’ve got you, the handsome senior, with me, so it’s not that bad.”

Li Younan blinked, not saying anything.

In his free time, Li Younan started learning post-processing for photos. Although he had acquired photography skills, these didn’t include editing skills. Jing Chaoyi is a photo editing expert, so he could ask her for guidance.

Jing Chaoyi naturally was more than willing to teach him. However, when she saw the number of high-quality photos Li Younan had taken, she was stunned. Especially those taken of group performers in Hengdian, despite not undergoing any post-processing color adjustments, just the light captured by the lens already showed a high level of completion.

It could even be said that these portraits have transcended the realm of photographs and are stepping towards art.

Li Younan said, ”After taking these photos, I also asked for their consent. Although they might not look that good, you don’t have to deliberately edit them to look better.”

Jing Chaoyi frowned and said unhappily, ”Senior, do you think I’m that superficial? If these portraits in your photos got beautified, it would be desecrating the art.”

Li Younan was taken aback, ”Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?”

Jing Chaoyi laughed, ”As a photo editing expert, I’ve done post-processing for many people. Honestly, in terms of photography works I’ve seen, yours are definitely among the best.”

While teaching Li Younan some basic techniques, she turned and asked, ”Senior, would you like to enter a photography contest? These photos are more than eligible.”

Li Younan was a bit surprised, ”Can I?”

Jing Chaoyi nodded earnestly, ”Absolutely. If you find it troublesome, I can help you sign up.”

Li Younan hadn’t been paying attention to such things, which Jing Chaoyi found incredible. She said with a slightly quirky expression, ”For a photographer as skilled as you, not knowing about these photography contests is like someone who loves boxing never following the UFC, or a basketball fan never watching the NBA—it’s baffling.”

Li Younan replied indifferently, ”I didn’t think you’d know about UFC and the NBA.”

Jing Chaoyi punched Li Younan.

After processing the photos, Jing Chaoyi submitted the best five photos Li Younan had taken to five contests that hadn’t closed their submissions yet. Seeing Li Younan’s puzzled expression, Jing Chaoyi said, ”Usually, contests don’t allow double submissions. I submitted based on the quality and focus of your photos. Rest assured, I won’t mislead you, senior.”

Li Younan wasn’t worried about being misled by Jing Chaoyi and said, ”Thanks for your hard work.”

During the afternoon break, Li Younan lay on the bed and added digital watermarks to the video footage he had recorded in the first two days in Xiamen, then sent them to jk Long.

The most eye-catching material was naturally the cooking video. After receiving the video, jk Long messaged, ”I didn’t expect you had a beauty filming for you.”

Of course, the video didn’t show Jing Chaoyi’s face or body, but all of her spoken words were recorded in the raw material.

Li Younan replied sharply, ”You’re really something, recognizing a beauty just by her voice.”

jk Long didn’t dwell on the topic further and said, ”The footage you sent over this time is really good; wait till tomorrow morning at the latest for your finished work.”

Li Younan thought for a moment and sent another message, ”Why don’t we work together long-term? We can discuss the commission. I feel bad always taking up your free time.”

Although Li Younan had good intentions, the other party replied coldly, ”Talk about money? I’m not interested. If you’re looking for a commercial collaboration, find someone else.”

Li Younan felt a little awkward, as if he had annoyed the other party—he really was an irritable guy. But the key issue is, what exactly made this guy angry? He said helplessly, ”It’s not like that, big brother, what are you after?”

After a long silence, the other party finally replied, ”How about this, let’s work together to grow your account to 5 million followers. Once you reach 5 million, I’ll tell you what I’m after.”

This guy indeed is quite unusual. After thinking about it, Li Younan sent him a 200 RMB red envelope, saying, ”Can I at least send you a red envelope to buy some cigarettes?”

For this red envelope, the irritable guy didn’t refuse and accepted it directly like last time.

After two consecutive rainy days, on the third day, which was the first day of the festival’s official opening, it finally cleared up.

Stepping out of the house, Li Younan felt a sense of freedom akin to a bird being released into the sky after being trapped.

For this outing, aside from his phone and camera, he didn’t bring anything else because his cool short sleeves and shorts didn’t have pockets; he hung both his phone and camera on himself.

In contrast, Jing Chaoyi not only carried a bag filled with her roller skates but also brought a full set of protective gear.

Jing Chaoyi complained, ”Senior, you’re so ungentlemanly, not even helping me carry this.”

Just as she turned her head, she saw Li Younan snap a picture of her with his camera.

Jing Chaoyi’s eyes lit up; she quickly leaned forward to look at it. Li Younan opened the preview function, and the girl’s poor, helpless expression filled with resentment matched well with her gear, making it a very emotional and unique candy shot.

Jing Chaoyi loved the photo; she held the camera and stayed rooted on the spot for quite a while. By the time she came to her senses, Li Younan had already carried her gear and bag a bit further. He turned back, smiled, and said, ”If you don’t go, I will.”

Jing Chaoyi laughed and quickly followed him, ”Senior, you have to send me that photo.”

”Sure, 200 per photo.”

”That’s so expensive!”

”Hahahaha.”

...

By around nine in the morning, Xiamen’s sun had already warmed up the sand on Guanyin Mountain beach. Zhou Xiaotiao, carrying a bag, stepped into the fine sand. The real youth festival was exploding in front of him.

This isn’t just a place to mess around.

To the left, a huge graffiti wall is enclosed by barriers, with the smell of paint and tension in the air. To the right, the skateboard area is even livelier; the U-pool, rail, steps are all there, and the crisp sound of boards hitting the cement, the screeching of wheels, and the crowd’s ”Whoa—” hasn’t stopped.

The street dance circle is surrounded by layers, with the DJ scratching discs mixed with thunderous beats, and the floor moves dazzling everyone.

Over by the stage, the rap preliminaries have probably started as well, with the mic testing ”Hey hey” and scattered rhymes floating over intermittently.

This place, even the air is electrified.

The energy of youth, excitement, and defiance crackles in the sunlight and sea breeze.

Zhou Xiaotiao placed his bag in a less obstructive corner and changed into more agile training shoes. His movements are slow, yet steady.

Next to the skateboard competition’s preparation area, several youths are checking their boards, one of them even has a bandage on his knee, his gaze intensely bright.

Zhou Xiaotiao stood up after tying his laces, casually twisting his ankles, lightly jumping twice on the sand, and then attempted a backflip, landing almost silently. The kid with the bandaged knee glanced over twice, exchanged a look with a companion, and ”tsk” softly.

Zhou Xiaotiao ignored them, continuing to stretch his shoulders and wrists, his gaze sweeping over the concrete platforms, low walls, and the specially constructed obstacles for the parkour competition, mentally calculating his route for later.

The sea breeze, carrying the salty tang and the hubbub of the crowd, hits his face.

A louder cheer erupted from the stage, probably some rap newcomer igniting the audience. The countdown alarm from the graffiti area sounded sharply, and contestants immediately engrossed themselves in intense spraying. Another figure flew up from the skateboard U-pool, its hang time making everyone hold their breath.

Zhou Xiaotiao took a deep breath, the smell of the festival is a potent mix of sweat, paint, sunshine, and hormones.

He smiled faintly, warming up in the morning, understanding the venue to ensure his body remembers the sand’s texture and obstacles’ angles.

When the parkour contest starts in the afternoon, who the most captivating focus on this beach will be, they’ll quickly know, and even the judges’ pens will need to reconsider.

The only regret is... a lack of an awesome photographer to document his awesomeness.