Couple of Mirrors - Chapter 2: The Mysterious Studio

 

Having just read the devastating letter, Xu Youyi turns to Zhang Wan and asks her who she thinks the other woman might be. Zhang Wan considers for a moment, and suggests that it might be Chu Huizi, another authoress, who was reported having a rendezvous with a mystery man a few days ago.

'All I know is that she and Zhou Heng were university classmates,' Xu Youyi tells her. Zhang Wan promises Xu Youyi that, as her close friend, she'll help her get to the bottom of the matter. In the meantime, she reminds Xu Youyi that she has a photography session for Shanghai Beauty later that afternoon.

On the way to the photography session, Zhou Heng witters on about how he has booked the best studio in all of Shanghai for Xu Youyi. Xu Youyi just looks listless, until a cat leaps into the path of their car. 'Careful!' she shouts at Zhang Wan, who's driving.

Zhang Wan slams the brakes, and Xu Youyi gets out of the car to gather the cat into her lap. 'That was close,' she tells the cat.

And then she looks up to see that they're right in front of a photography studio called Baihua Studio. The cat marches decisively inside.

Xu Youyi declares that she'll have her photograph taken here. Zhou Heng protests, complaining about the shabbiness and smallness of the studio. Xu Youyi only gives him a Look.

'Then I'll go in by myself,' she says, and does exactly that. Zhou Heng wonders what's gotten into Xu Youyi, since she seemed perfectly fine earlier. Zhang Wan reassures him that this is just what women are like, and the two of them follow her into the studio.

Inside the studio, Xu Youyi is struck by an unusual photograph. 'It looks as if a battlefield veteran has just rescued a kitten from the top of a mountain of corpses...'

'Wait!' she exclaims. 'This woman's face ... haven't I seen it somewhere before?'

Zhou Heng and Zhang Wan have come into the studio by this point. The cat's hackles rise at the sight of Zhou Heng, and she pounces.

Zhou Heng, backing away, knocks over a tripod-mounted light, straight into Xu Youyi's path...

...fortunately, at this critical juncture, Yan Wei emerges from behind a curtain, steadies the tripod with her foot and grabs hold of Xu Youyi around the waist.

'It's you?!' they both exclaim.

Zhou Heng comes over and asks Xu Youyi is all right, but she gives him the cold shoulder, turning away from his outstretched hand. Instead, she thanks Yan Wei for appearing in the nick of time.

Zhang Wan recognises Yan Wei and is incensed. 'This is the troublemaker I told you about on our way here,' she hisses to Zhou Heng. 'The one who insisted on exchanging a bottle of milk for a book.'

'If you want your photograph taken, please take your places,' says Yan Wei. 'If not, please leave.' Xu Youyi wonders why someone with Yan Wei's resources would try to barter a bottle of milk for a copy of her book. When Zhou Heng tries to get her to leave, she refuses. 'I think her photographs are very good,' she tells him. 'There's a unique quality to them.' And then, turning to Yan Wei, she adds, 'I'm sure she'll be able to capture my personality well.'

Yan Wei is touched. 'Not only does she not doubt me, but she trusts me,' she thinks to herself.

Xu Youyi strikes a pose, and Yan Wei takes her place behind the camera, musing: 'Her smile is so beautiful...'

Zhang Wan suggests that the three of them take a group photograph. Yan Wei starts snapping randomly, drawing shouts from Zhang Wan: 'We're not ready!' 'What are you even photographing?' 'Take that again!' Finally, though, a satisfactory group photograph seems to be achieved. Zhang Wan asks if Yan Wei delivers. Yan Wei says yes, and takes the address from Zhang Wan. 

As Xu Youyi, Zhou Heng and Zhang Wan leave the studio, Yan Wei calls after them: 'Wait!' Xu Youyi turns. 'What is it?' she asks. 

'You should be on your guard against people,' Yan Wei tells her solemnly. 'Especially those around you.'

And on that ominous note, the chapter ends.

Please view the original manhua here.