013 When Was Your First Kiss?
"Who is it?"
They turned around and looked at Zeng Keqin.
"I need to make a phone call to confirm."
Zeng Keqin pulled out her phone and dialed the familiar number.
It rang for a long time before someone picked up.
"Xiaoqin? What's up?"
Her cousin Zeng Rou's voice came through.
"Sis, do you remember the set of JK and hanfu photos I took for you last year?"
"Of course, why?"
"Do you still have the original files?"
"Sure."
"Could you send me the photos and the photographer's contact info?"
Though puzzled, Zeng Rou agreed. "Okay, I'll look for them and send them to you later."
Less than three minutes after hanging up, seven or eight photos popped up on WeChat, followed by a message: [Wang Xiaotong, phone number: 188xxxxxxxx.]
Zeng Keqin enlarged the photos and compared them frame by frame. The makeup was indeed identical, except the JK had been replaced with everyday clothes.
She remembered a year ago, when she was invited to her cousin's studio. The makeup artist had just finished her makeup, and before she had changed clothes, a girl with a camera around her neck walked in. Seeing how nervous she was, the girl smiled reassuringly.
"How about I take a few photos with my phone to help you get used to it?"
Faced with the girl's kindness, Zeng Keqin didn't refuse.
Little did she know those photos would become the tools for her crime.
Zeng Keqin told her roommates about it.
Liu Ying suddenly patted her chest. "Since she knows you, I'll contact her. I'll say a friend recommended her and I want to book a shoot."
Zeng Keqin immediately shook her head. "No, that's too dangerous."
Liu Ying rolled up her sleeve to reveal some barely visible muscle on her forearm. "I took taekwondo for two years as a kid. I can at least defend myself!"
Wang Chunyue suggested, "How about we observe from a distance? If anything seems off, we'll rush in."
Fang Yu nodded in agreement.
Zeng Keqin relented slightly. "Be careful, then."
Liu Ying flashed an OK sign.
*
Saturday's weather was gloomy, with clouds hanging low, threatening rain.
Zeng Keqin arrived at the agreed-upon bubble tea shop half an hour early. For safety, she wore a hat and mask.
Jiang Shiyu came along with Ke Rui.
Ke Rui looked much better than before, his face rounder. In fact, he had a fairly delicate appearance.
Sensing Zeng Keqin's scrutiny, Ke Rui explained, "I came because I wanted to see what the person who fooled me looks like."
They chose a seat in the corner.
At exactly ten o'clock, a slender, pretty girl pushed open the door. She had delicate makeup on and a DSLR camera hanging around her neck.
She glanced around, then walked over to Liu Ying's seat.
"Excuse me, are you Liu Ying?"
"Yes, I am."
Following the plan, Liu Ying set her phone to recording mode and slipped it into her pocket.
Wang Chunyue lowered her voice. "Is that her?"
Zeng Keqin frowned, studying the girl carefully.
High nose bridge, pointed chin, double eyelids—her features were so delicate they looked unnatural.
"She looks like her, but not quite. I remember she was chubbier, had single eyelids, and a round face," she whispered, feeling a vague unease.
Wang Chunyue stared at the girl for a while, then frowned. "She looks kind of familiar."
Fang Yu said, "Now that you mention it, I think I've seen her somewhere before."
Zeng Keqin wasn't sure either. She couldn't confirm whether this person was actually Wang Xiaotong. If she was wrong and alerted the target, things would get even harder.
Fang Yu suddenly spoke up. "I know who she looks like."
She and Wang Chunyue exchanged glances, their eyes widening. In unison, they said, "She looks like you."
Time seemed to freeze.