Apocalypse: Last Traveler-Chapter 376 - 355: Taking Photos

Lu Xi’an quickly set up the camera, confirmed that it had a timer function, then fetched a bucket and placed the rattan box on top, positioned the camera, adjusted the balance, angle, and location, and felt everything was ready.

"Okay, the camera is ready. Let’s stand here and take a group photo together."

Everyone stood at their places without instructions, naturally finding their spots.

Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei stood in the middle, Liu Hua and Tang Er on Lu Xi’an’s left, Chai Xin on Yao Wei’s right, next to Chai Xin was Luo Ping, who pulled Shu to his right.

Seven people weren’t too many; they could fit within the camera’s view. Once everyone was in place, Lu Xi’an checked the camera once more, confirmed everything was okay, set a 10-second timer, and pressed the shutter.

Those ten seconds felt quite long to him; he could return to the group in an instant.

To be cautious and avoid the lens missing his presence, he played it safe.

"Beep, beep, beep, beep..."

The camera beeped to signal the countdown, during which Shu quickly reminded everyone, "The flash will go off soon, don’t blink."

As soon as he finished speaking, a bright light flashed, and the camera clicked.

No one dared to move; they watched as Lu Xi’an emerged from the group and walked toward the camera, then responded, looking at each other unsurely.

"Is that all?"

Luo Ping wondered aloud.

Shu replied, "What else? Haven’t you watched TV?"

Liu Hua said, "I’ve watched it, but doing it ourselves feels a bit strange... We haven’t really done anything."

Seeing Yao Wei already head to the camera with Lu Xi’an, Shu followed, saying, "Brother Lu did everything needed. We just needed to stand for the photo.

"Or you could pose like they do on TV."

Liu Hua quickly responded, "Let’s not."

Luo Ping came over, grinning with his uneven teeth, and asked Lu Xi’an, "Hey, can you snap a few more of me? I want to strike some poses."

"Of course."

Lu Xi’an replied with a smile and said, "It turned out well, have a look."

He flipped the camera for everyone to see the screen.

On the screen was the group photo.

The screen wasn’t large, but everyone’s expressions were visible; except for Lu Xi’an and Shu, the rest looked somewhat tense.

Shu, having just spoken, hadn’t fully closed his mouth, and his eyes were slightly glancing aside, making him look distinctively different, quite comical.

Everyone found it amusing and rare to see themselves on screen; they passed the camera around for a closer look, even Yao Wei took several glances.

Lu Xi’an taught everyone how to use the camera buttons and operations, enlarging the photo and using the directional buttons to view facial details while passing it around.

Thus, Shu’s mildly amusing expression elicited laughter.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Shu suggested, "How about we take another one?"

Everyone readily agreed, seemingly dissatisfied not just with Shu’s expression but also their own stiffness.

Lu Xi’an said, "Let’s not shoot another group photo yet; let’s capture other moments first. Once everyone feels relaxed, we can take another group photo, how about that?"

Everyone happily agreed, "Sounds good, let’s do it."

So Lu Xi’an began snapping away, taking single, double, and trio shots, capturing all sorts of moments joyfully.

Single shots need no mention; in group shots, Liu Hua and Tang Er posed together, then pulled Luo Ping for another, and after a moment of hesitation, they approached Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei for a photo together.

Of course, Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei didn’t refuse, agreeing readily, handing the camera to Luo Ping and teaching him how to operate it to take the shot.

Luo Ping snapped one with Shu and Chai Xin individually, and then with Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei together.

Chai Xin posed with Shu and then with Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei, before seeking out Liu Hua and Tang Er.

Naturally, Shu wanted individual photos with everyone, and even taught them how to pose attractively.

However, his taste in poses was quite outdated, suggesting moves like legs crossed, embrace the sky, crouching near flowers, hand on hip by a tree, victory sign, and more...

Despite the old-fashioned poses, they were refreshing to Luo Ping and the others, and everyone relished snapping them joyfully. Lu Xi’an didn’t interfere with everyone’s enjoyment.

Yao Wei, naturally beautiful, didn’t appear cliché even when crouching with flowers in hand and smiling at the camera; she looked vibrant and lovely.

Whereas Luo Ping, no matter the pose, simply appeared quite saucy.

Seeing everyone having fun, Lu Xi’an joined the fun too, trying out poses like the one-handed victory sign or hand on hip by a tree. He even fetched a pillowcase from the car to mimic a scarf, raising it above his head in a "scarf lift" style, prompting others to imitate, even transforming Chai Xin into an unlikely character.

Amid laughter and commotion, they snapped countless photos; Lu Xi’an finished photographing everyone, then waved at Yao Wei, saying, "Come, let’s take a close-up together."

Yao Wei didn’t quite understand what Lu Xi’an meant by a close-up photo, but she still walked over to his side.

Then Lu Xi’an gently wrapped his arm around Yao Wei’s waist, raised the camera up at an angle, turned towards the lens, and said to Yao Wei, "Come on, look at the camera."

Yao Wei also turned to gaze at the camera.

Then at the moment the "click" sounded, Lu Xi’an suddenly turned his head to kiss Yao Wei’s cheek.

Yao Wei reacted quickly, immediately realizing what was happening, and turned her head as well.

So instead of kissing her cheek, Lu Xi’an touched Yao Wei’s lips.

Both of their eyes were still glancing towards the camera, captured in a photo where their pose was just a trendy hairstyle short of being a complete aesthetic.

"Pretty nice."

Lu Xi’an smiled at Yao Wei, saying. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Yao Wei seemed a bit shy, only responding with "Mm," then saying no more.

However, when Chai Xin came over energetically, yelling "Let me see, let me see," Yao Wei didn’t stop him from looking.

When Chai Xin saw it, he couldn’t help but exclaim "Wow," and said it looked really good.

Tang Er suddenly looked over at Liu Hua and asked, "Shall we take one too?"

Liu Hua hesitated, a bit embarrassed, but after Lu Xi’an offered to help take the photo, she nodded and said, "Mm."

So the two of them also left behind a photo of Liu Hua and Tang Er gazing at the camera while kissing, making Luo Ping and Shu envy them.

"Sigh, looking at you guys, makes me want to find a partner too."

Luo Ping couldn’t help but express.

Shu also nodded, saying, "Yeah, when I came to your place in the beginning, it was actually to look for a partner, but I haven’t found one till now. Sigh... What am I busy all day long for?!"

Chai Xin looked at Luo Ping, then at Shu, and suggested, "How about you two take one together?"

Luo Ping: "..."

Shu: "..."

"Pfft..."

Seeing one person’s mouth twitch and another’s eye twitch, Lu Xi’an couldn’t help but laugh.

Liu Hua and Tang Er tried hard to hold back their laughter, feeling embarrassed.

The scene was quite awkward for a while.

"Alright, alright, let’s take a big group photo."

Lu Xi’an changed the subject, dissipating the awkward atmosphere. Everyone cheerfully gathered together, in the same arrangement as before, as Lu Xi’an set up the camera, adjusted the timer photography, pressed the shutter, and returned to the group.

"Click—"

At the moment of the flash and sound, everyone simultaneously raised their arms, extending two fingers to make a peace sign.

——Lu Xi’an and Yao Wei hadn’t planned to raise their hands initially, but seeing everyone else do it, they followed suit.

After all, if everyone does it, it’s hard not to join in, right?

After finishing the photo, the group gathered to take a look. But since checking on the camera was tiring, Lu Xi’an imported all the camera photos to the laptop to view them.

While transferring, Lu Xi’an opened the storage folder after connecting the data and saw that it was almost full, with a photo count far exceeding the number they took today.

Lu Xi’an clicked to glance at them, discovering they were mostly underwater shots, with a backdrop of deep blue hues, creating a whole different vibe.

"These must have been taken by people on the boat previously."

Lu Xi’an guessed and said, "Later, let’s look at the ones we took first, then check out the ones originally stored in the camera."

When they found this camera on the East Island boat, they wanted to see if there were any photos inside, but the camera was out of battery at the time. After returning, they forgot about it, dragging the matter till now.

But it turned out well now; watching together with Luo Ping and the others, letting them have a look too.

Once everyone agreed, Lu Xi’an opened the photos to view them one by one.

They looked at theirs first, and besides Lu Xi’an and Shu, everyone else found it novel and interesting, watching attentively and seriously, joking while viewing, adding a touch of amusement.

As for Lu Xi’an and Shu, what they saw wasn’t novel anymore. From these photos, they saw nostalgia.

Missing the past days, when resources were abundant, yet taken for granted, unnoticed treasures.

And now, looking at this camera, all that’s left is this inexplicable sentiment...