172 Fa?ade of Innocence (2/2)

”That's good, that's good. Keep going, Yeo Ri-ah. Do other poses too,” Park Soo Yeon cheered.

”Don't be too mindful of the camera, Yeo Ri. Just treat me as if I'm invisible,” Jang Choon Jae said. ”But don't forget to look at the camera.”

Yeo Ri's brows knotted for a brief moment. 'Easier said than done,' she thought. This was her first time modelling in front of a camera so she was still unused to it. It was hard for her to ignore the camera since she was still very conscious of it.

”Do you need a minute to relax yourself?” The photographer kindly asked. Yeo Ri was being too stiff and it showed in her pictures. He had always been a patient person so he did not scold her for her awkwardness on the set.

”...Yes,” Yeo Ri assented. Everything was moving too fast and she could barely keep up. She loosened her hold on the teddybear and rested her head on it. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath, trying to control her nerves.

Several breaths later, she visibly calmed. It was easy for her to calm herself down; she was trained in various techniques since she had gone through psychotherapy with Dr. Hong, who was her therapist back when she was still in the hospital.

Yeo Ri looked very peaceful as she leaned against the teddybear, her eyes closed. The teddybear was about her size so it easily supported her weight.

If one were to look at her without context, they might have thought that she was asleep.

Enraptured by the sudden picturesque scene, the photographer quietly raised his camera and took a picture.

The sound of the snapping shutters jolted her up. Yeo Ri finally remembered that her reality was currently in a white-themed studio.

”Keep that position, Yeo Ri, but look at the camera with your eyes open this time—yes, like that!”

Click! Click! Click! Click!

Jang Choon Jae took four photos in succession, easily capturing Yeo Ri's lackadaisical manner. Her eyes were brimming with an almost child-like curiosity, highlighted by a slight tilt of her head. Her lips were slightly ajar, making her look like a cute little rabbit.

”Yeo Ri, can you do another pose? Should we make it rain feathers again?”

Hearing the words 'feathers' and 'rain', Yeo Ri's eyes brightened and she forgot her earlier agitation. Her eyes curved happily and her mouth formed a small but excited smile. ”Yes, please!” The feathers were small and light, and very, very soft. She liked the feeling of them brushing against her skin.

She scooted to the middle of the rug and looked up excitedly at the assistant.

The assistant chuckled at her excitement, then grabbed another handful of feathers and made it rain.

Yeo Ri inclined her head backwards, feeling the soft feathers tickle her face.

”Hehe,” she giggled quietly, liking the sensation. It was both fun and amusing at the same time.

Gun watched the scene with a hooded gaze and a gentle smile. He reminisced about the time when Yeo Ri had been hospitalised due to hypothermia after playing around in the snow.

He wondered, did Yeo Ri also make the same expression while she played with snow back then?