Can following the rules be called rebirth?

Chapter 225, Section 223: Her Comfort Zone
Arcades are a great place to kill time.

Here, couples don't even need to worry about changing locations on their dates; they can choose from a wide variety of games and activities.

"Yay! I caught it again!"

Gu Caiwei clenched her left hand, bent down to the exit below the claw machine to retrieve her prize, and bounced around showing it off to Zhou Mingyuan, a lingering smile on her lips.

Just like her self-assessment just now.

A dance machine pro, and an expert at claw machines.

Gu Caiwei is really good at playing claw machines.

After using more than twenty coins, her snow-white wrist was already covered with three dolls.

"Admit it! Aren't I better than you?"

Gu Caiwei swayed her hair, her eyes crinkling with happiness, and her voice was incredibly pleasant.

"Amazing! Truly a master among masters!"

Zhou Mingyuan also laughed and started to cheer.

Interaction, interaction is always the core of a date.

Having just won a small victory on the basketball shooting machine, he immediately pulled Gu Caiwei to a row of claw machines, letting her show off her skills and luck.

Sure enough, Gu Caiwei had a great time.

This is not just because catching a plush toy brings surprise and a sense of accomplishment.

At the same time, there was another detail that made her feel satisfied.

It turns out that Zhou Mingyuan also has things he's not good at!
Every moment spent alone together felt like we understood each other a little better.

"It's alright, I've only mastered a few tricks, I'm just so-so~"

Gu Caiwei giggled, her bright, almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly.

"Can you teach me some techniques?"

Although Zhou Mingyuan didn't understand the techniques of claw machines, he understood emotions.

Seeing Gu Caiwei's reaction, he immediately went along with it.

"Call me 'good sister' and I'll teach you."

"Good sister~"

The man drawled out his words.

"Wow"

Gu Caiwei was surprised that he had no shame at all. She blinked subconsciously, put the doll in her hand aside, and cleared her throat.

"Okay, okay, let me think about how to say it."

"There are skills and details involved in playing claw machines."

"For example, with a common claw machine, I would first shake it to check the tightness of the claw. Some stores' little secret is to loosen the claw and then tighten it again after 30-50 tries."

"So how exactly do we determine this?"

Zhou Mingyuan looked like a little brother eager for knowledge, asking with a serious expression.

"Um"

Gu Caiwei thought for a moment, then looked up at his face, which was so close to hers: "How about this, you come and stand in front."

"Let me show you how it feels."

The two stood in front of the claw machine again.

Zhou Mingyuan rolled up his sleeves, revealing the smooth and powerful lines of his forearms, and was guided by Gu Caiwei to grip the control lever tightly.

"After inserting the coin, don't rush to align it. Shake it left and right, understand?"

Gu Caiwei's voice was a little ethereal, with a softness she herself didn't even realize.

"How should I shake it? I can't control the force."

"Are you stupid or what?"

She pouted, stuffed the game coin in her hand into the coin slot, stood behind Zhou Mingyuan, and simply covered it with her left hand.

"Watch my strength, understand?"

"Uh-huh."

Zhou Mingyuan's lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly, and he nodded.

The space instantly became cramped, and her scent and body temperature enveloped the two of them like an invisible dome.

Gu Caiwei seemed unaware of the distance, her wrist swaying back and forth.

"Try it a few times like this, and you'd better have a general idea in mind before you make a move to test whether the claws are loose or tight."

The girl's soft, sweet voice came from behind him, and her warm breath brushed against Zhou Mingyuan's neck.

"and then?"

"Then."

Gu Caiwei continued to instruct, leaning slightly closer, her arms almost parallel to the outside of the man's arms, like a protective circle that could close at any moment.

"Aim at a certain point on the doll and gently push the clamp forward."

The instructor's explanations were clear and professional.

But Zhou Mingyuan's mind was elsewhere.

She was too close.

She was so close that if she moved forward just a little more, their chests would be touching.

"That's settled then."

Gu Caiwei then guided Zhou Mingyuan step by step through the tutorial on how to play the claw machine.

The man could clearly feel the warmth of her palm, the softness of her fingertips, and the slight tingling sensation in his heart.

"Look at the amplitude of this claw's movement; it's fairly standard."

"Here are a few more tips. For example, hooking a rope and turning at an angle; I'll demonstrate them for you~"

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched at this moment.

"Wow, that's amazing! You even figured this out, you're so smart!"

"You'll know once you play more!"

The noisy background sounds of the arcade gradually faded away, leaving only the small space where the two of them were close together.

The girl's warm palm covered Zhou Mingyuan's hand, her fragrant breath spraying onto his ear and neck, and her hair occasionally brushing against his face.

One learns, the other teaches, and the two gradually grow closer amidst laughter.

An ambiguity that makes you forget time, and an expiration date that fascinates you.

"Racing is really expensive, it's not worth it at all."

"It's alright, only four coins."

"A game only lasts three to five minutes!"

"It's because you're bad at it~"

You're the one who's bad!

Zhou Mingyuan and Gu Caiwei walked out of the arcade while bickering, both of them looking somewhat reluctant to leave.

"Four coins are not many. The arcade's revenue mainly comes from gambling machines."

Zhou Mingyuan smiled and spread his hands.

"Other games, whether they are rhythm games, racing games, basketball games, singing games, etc., are just for publicity. The coin-collecting efficiency of these entertainment machines is not on the same level as that of gambling machines."

"The same goes for the coin pusher machines. Every day during operation, someone will clean up the table. A lot of the items near the pusher plate will be removed and then a new layer will be manually placed."

"Even though it still looks like it's about to overflow, the buffer layer that was rearranged earlier will consume a lot of coins out of thin air."

"Wow, you know so much about arcades?"

Gu Caiwei pursed her lips, her eyes brimming with tears.

"It's hard to imagine that you know nothing about claw machines."

"Everyone has their own expertise; I'm just interested in how others make money."

Zhou Mingyuan grinned.

"No wonder you, Mr. Zhou, are so good at making money."

"Thank you for your humility. I'm just trying to make a living by following Mr. Gu."

"Cut~"

The two walked towards the elevator.

After turning a corner, Gu Caiwei's gaze was quickly drawn to the cute little house in the corner.

The small house was filled with high school students in school uniforms, and pink heart-shaped lights were flashing inside. There were also people queuing up behind it.

"Eh?"

Her eyes lit up, and she tugged at Zhou Mingyuan's sleeve.

"Would you like to take a photo booth picture with me?"

".OK."

Zhou Mingyuan listened to the words that sounded very old-fashioned, and hesitated to speak.

These days, although smartphone photography has become widespread, these photo booths with backdrops and instant printing functions are still very popular in Optics Valley, where young people gather.

Looking into Gu Caiwei's expectant eyes, Zhou Mingyuan swallowed back the words of refusal that were on the tip of his tongue. After queuing up, Zhou Mingyuan only felt a sense of novelty.

Having lived two lives, this was the first time he had ever stepped into such a place.

This is something only real teenagers can experience.

Let alone in your thirties or forties, even right after graduating from university, you may never have that youthful spirit again.

The cabin was indeed extremely cramped, barely allowing two people to turn around.

The walls were covered with various cartoon patterns and sparkly decorations, and a camera with a screen and a control panel full of buttons occupied most of the space.

A pinkish-purple curtain hangs down, creating a small, enclosed space.

"Quick, quick, choose a background!"

Gu Caiwei excitedly approached the control panel, where various flashy background patterns scrolled across the screen, including romantic starry skies, cute animals, and even non-mainstream "emo" styles.

"I choose?"

Zhou Mingyuan stood there, stunned.

"Aren't you going to take a picture with me? Hurry up!"

"I"

"Since we're already here, hurry up!"

No one can resist the little princess's big, watery eyes as she acts cute.

Moreover, Gu Caiwei had a thousand reasons and trump cards to persuade Zhou Mingyuan.

Last time I celebrated my birthday, the instant camera I used for group photos only took a picture of the three of us.

They haven't had their individual photos taken yet!
"Okay, these two will do."

Gu Caiwei tapped her fingers rapidly, selecting a beautiful cherry blossom background and then a funny little devil sticking out its tongue border.

Zhou Mingyuan stood behind her, lost in thought.

The space was cramped, so he had to bend over slightly to avoid hitting the decorative lights overhead.

He stared blankly at Gu Caiwei's childish behavior, lost in thought.

This kind of place and this kind of activity were completely out of place in his usual world.

But looking at her smiling profile, I thought it wasn't so bad after all.

Scan the code to pay, and the machine will start a countdown.

Gu Caiwei quickly pulled Zhou Mingyuan to stand in the designated spot in front of the curtain.

In the cramped space, the two stood shoulder to shoulder, already desensitized to such close proximity.

The curtain shut out the outside world, and the pink and purple lights created a dreamy and private atmosphere.

"Why are you dazed?"

Gu Caiwei began to give instructions.

"Strike a pose with me!"

The countdown for the first photo begins; she smiles at the camera and makes an adorable peace sign.

Zhou Mingyuan appeared somewhat stiff, his posture upright, and his face expressionless, as if he were having an ID photo taken.

In fact, the relationship between a seasoned lover and a young, beautiful woman is not always a perfect match.

This kind of place is completely outside his comfort zone.

"Crack!"

The first frame.

On the screen, Gu Caiwei smiled brightly, while Zhou Mingyuan looked silly next to her, like a serious bodyguard who had accidentally wandered into the frame. The cherry blossom rain in the background seemed particularly out of place.

"Pfft hahaha~"

Gu Caiwei looked at the screen and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Zhou Mingyuan! Who owes you money? Smile!"

"what?"

"You're not happy taking pictures with me?"

"No no."

However, even the best have self-discipline.

Zhou Mingyuan rubbed his face, cleared his throat, and immediately began to adjust his expression.

The second countdown begins.

Gu Caiwei's eyes darted around as she placed the doll she had caught between the two of them. Suddenly, she tiptoed closer and made a pouty face.

"Crack!"

The second image freezes in time.

In the scene, Gu Caiwei pouts playfully and leans closer, while Zhou Mingyuan looks bewildered. The little devil border in the background, combined with his rare loss of control, creates a hilarious effect.

"Hahaha! This one's great! It's so funny!"

Gu Caiwei laughed so hard she almost fell over, laughing without any restraint as she looked at the photo.

The pink light shone on her vivid eyebrows and eyes, making her look lively and real, as if all living things around her would be infected by her joy.

"You scared me!"

Zhou Mingyuan also laughed.

The third countdown has begun.

Gu Caiwei was still smiling when she happened to meet his smiling gaze.

Their eyes met, and in the private space where the lights were flashing, the air seemed to thicken again.

"Crack!"

The third image is frozen in time.

The camera captured this subtle moment.

A man and a woman turned their heads to look at each other, their eyes sparkling, and lingering smiles on their faces.

The beautiful cherry blossom background no longer feels out of place; instead, it becomes an excellent backdrop.

Gu Caiwei stared at the photo, feeling extremely satisfied.

In the photo, Zhou Mingyuan is incredibly gentle, and his gaze is unsettling.

"This one is alright."

She muttered under her breath.

"It's alright."

Zhou Mingyuan responded softly, his gaze shifting from the screen to her slightly flushed profile.

In the cramped space, the two people's breathing could be clearly heard.

The machine is entering the countdown for the last photo.

"Okay, okay, look at the camera this time, no more silliness."

"Look at the camera!"

Gu Caiwei took a deep breath, decided to be natural, and smiled at the camera.

Zhou Mingyuan was the same.

The two sat side by side, facing the camera for the first time, their eyes sparkling as if they had melted into the shattered North Star, and their lips were filled with joyful smiles.

At that moment, Zhou Mingyuan realized that she truly possessed a kind of magic.

Whenever he was with Gu Caiwei and saw her with that charming and bright expression, even his heart, which had seen so much, couldn't help but flutter.

"Crack!"

The fourth photo is a rare front-facing group photo, with everyone gradually freezing in their smiles.

The curtain slowly rose, and outside light and sound flooded in again.

Gu Caiwei moved swiftly, hurriedly taking a step back to create some distance, and rushed to the control panel to print photos, her eyes full of anticipation.

The four sets of photos were printed out quickly.

Gu Caiwei snatched the photo and quickly glanced at it.

The first two groups were so-so. At first glance, either the person making exaggerated expressions looked silly or Zhou Mingyuan looked dumb and dull. It was clearly just friends joking around.

But the last two groups.
Even she couldn't help but secretly watch it several times.

The last set of photos, in particular, has such an ambiguous atmosphere.

Strictly speaking, it can't be called ambiguous.
Looking at the photo in my hand, the man and woman in the picture are of different heights, standing shoulder to shoulder, with the same bright smile.

Words raced through her mind, and Gu Caiwei was momentarily stunned. A perfectly precise word came to mind.

—A perfect match.

They really are a perfect match!
As if burned, Gu Caiwei quickly hid the last two sets of photos, stuffing them into the deepest part of her bag, and only handed the first few funny ones to Zhou Mingyuan to look at.

"Hey, why didn't I see the last few pictures I just took?"

It was Zhou Mingyuan's first time taking a photo booth picture, and he was still feeling the novelty.

"Let's go, let's go eat!"

Gu Caiwei slung her bag over her shoulder and quickly changed the subject.

(End of this chapter)