The grand plan for making money was set, but Su Zelin did not immediately head to Shenghai, because two days later, he had to take his graduation photo and attend the farewell banquet.

In this era, high school proms weren't a thing, so the farewell banquet was the most important ceremony. The graduation photo is also one of the most cherished pictures in a person's life, full of commemorative value, and Su Zelin certainly couldn't miss it.

There was still more than a week before the Mei Lin of Shenghai started to rise, so there was no rush. He planned to take his graduation photo and attend the farewell banquet first.

Two days later, at eight in the morning.

After breakfast, Su Zelin went back to his room to put on his "quiet handsome guy" outfit in the Japanese-inspired academy style.

He was about to take his graduation photo, and he hoped the person in the picture would look more like a high school student rather than a member of society, so this outfit was more suitable.

The graduation photo shoot and farewell banquet were scheduled for the same day, with the photo shoot in the morning and the meal at noon.

Before heading out, Su Zelin also brought along the Casio digital camera from home.

After taking the graduation photo, there was plenty of time before the farewell banquet, allowing them to roam freely on campus. Su Zelin planned to take more photos as keepsakes.

If the 80s were the era of point-and-shoot cameras, then the 90s were dominated by digital cameras. By the year 2000, digital cameras had gradually become popular, and many newly launched digital cameras in the late 90s had resolutions exceeding one million pixels.

The Casio QV-10 in Su Zelin's home was an early product from when digital cameras started gaining traction. It was manufactured by Casio in 1995 and launched in Japan. It had only 250,000 pixels and a resolution of just 320X240, with a launch price of 65,000 yen. However, at the time, it was a highly cost-effective product, making people realize that digital cameras could be so accessible.

In fact, Su Jianjun was quite the forward-thinking person. In the 1980s, he quit his "iron rice bowl" job to venture into business, which was seen as incredible by other colleagues. Once he had money, he bought all sorts of things: point-and-shoot cameras, VCDs, pagers, early mobile phones, digital cameras, motorcycles...

Practically all the technological products that once led the times were tried out by Su's dad soon after their release, which even prompted Zhao Lixia to tease him about wasting money.

Su Zelin's personality can largely be attributed to both the innate influence of his father and later upbringing. If anything, he surpassed old habits, showing an intense enthusiasm for all things new—computers, the internet, mp3s, breakdancing, guitars...

In short, both father and son could be considered front-runners of their era.

Though raised in a privileged family with parents busy running their business, Su Zelin and Huang Panpan differed in that his parents had a harmonious relationship.

Whenever they returned home, they always tried to spend as much time as possible with their son. So although Su Zelin experienced a bit of teenage rebellion, he was naturally cheerful and optimistic, filled with passion and longing for life. Having Qing Mei also meant he never felt lonely, unlike Huang Panpan.

Descending the stairs with the Casio QV-10 in hand, he arrived at the Qin family's small courtyard, where Qin Shiqing was waiting.

Upon seeing her, Su Zelin couldn't help but pause.

Today, his childhood friend wore a JK uniform, with a fitted short-sleeve sailor top lightly wrapping her slim, delicate frame. A vivid red bow adorned her chest, while the waist-banded pleated short skirt inadvertently highlighted her slender waist, paired with knee-high white socks and black loafers, strongly bringing to mind the heroine of a youthful Japanese campus comic.

She stood playfully beside the fence, with blooming roses swaying in the wind behind her. It was hard to tell whether it was the person accentuating the flowers or the flowers accentuating the person.

The JK style that surged later was already present in the 90s due to the influence of Japanese drama and manga.

But Su Zelin hadn't expected the always traditional and reserved Qin Shiqing to be wearing such a uniform.

He remembered that in his past life, Qin Shiqing wore the most common jeans and T-shirt for their graduation photo day.

Could this be the "butterfly effect" I've caused, affecting not just Huang Panpan's aesthetic, but even influencing Qin Shiqing?

"Click!"

Su Zelin raised the Casio QV-10 in his hand for a candid shot.

Qin Shiqing furrowed her delicate brows: "What are you doing? I wasn't prepared at all!"

"Don't worry, it's just a simple test shot."

Su Zelin cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Let me see!"

Qin Shiqing snatched the Casio from his hand.

The photo turned out quite well.

Su Zelin's photography skills couldn't compare to Teacher Chen's of the future, but after playing with digital cameras for a few years, he had picked up some insights.

Of course, the more crucial point was that his childhood friend was the type of girl who was photogenic from every angle.

"Not bad, I'll take it!"

Qin Shiqing handed the Casio back to him.

Suddenly noticing something, she reached out to adjust Su Zelin's collar, chiding, "Your collar's tucked in. Aren't you old enough to look in a mirror before heading out?"

Looking at her face, so close and delicate like a painting, stirred emotions within Su Zelin.

This scene was not unfamiliar to him; before his rebirth, when he and Qin Shiqing were still lovers, she often tidied his attire for him before they left the house in the morning.

A surge of impulse rose in his heart, almost making him want to embrace his childhood friend, but he ultimately restrained himself, clearing his throat he said, "Time's running out; let's go!"

They got on the bicycle and set out.

With the warm morning sun and his childhood friend beside him, this moment was perfect.

However, there weren't many moments like this left.

Suddenly, Su Zelin recalled a saying.

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