Stardew Valley’s Farming Master

Chapter 297 Rome Stories February 20 New Share

Leon had originally planned to wait in the living room. After all, barging into a girl’s room uninvited was rather impolite. Last time, he’d almost been clobbered by Haley just for spotting something “sensitive” while using her bathroom. If he went straight into her bedroom, who knew what might happen?

But Haley clearly didn’t see it that way. She threw her bedroom door wide open, glanced at him in puzzlement, and said, “You don’t have to change your shoes to come in my room, so why are you still standing out there?”

“I’m waiting for you to bring the photos out,” Leon replied.

“Why not come in and pick for yourself? There are quite a lot, you know,” Haley pressed.

Leon waved her off. “No thanks. I’d rather not risk seeing something I shouldn’t and having you call the police on me.”

“...”

Haley rolled her eyes, stepped around behind him, and gave him a strong shove toward the room.

Unfortunately for her, Leon’s current build made him about as easy to move as a boulder. Even if a huge truck hit him—well, that might trigger Nature’s Shelter—but Haley certainly couldn’t budge him.

Feeling the uselessness of brute force, she gave his back a pat and remarked, “Didn’t expect you to be this sturdy.”

“Quit fooling around. Just grab the photos and I’ll be on my way. I still have work to do,” Leon said helplessly.“Alright.” Haley didn’t push the matter further. She went inside, rummaged through a drawer, and came back with a stack of photos and a brand-new album, handing them over.

“These are all related to you. Do you want them all, or just a few?”

“I’ll take a look first.” Leon took the bundle and sat down on the sofa in the living room, spreading the photos out.

The first was a shot of him with Gus. Leon had one hand on Gus’s shoulder, his right hand raised in a silly peace sign. Gus was smiling for the camera—though the smile was a bit stiff.

The second was him with Willy. Willy was far more relaxed than Gus, with an arm slung over Leon’s shoulder and a deliberately “cool” pose.

The third had all three—Willy, Gus, and Leon. Gus looked more natural in that one.

The rest were mostly candid shots of Leon alone, none facing directly at the camera. Judging from the angles, Haley must have taken them secretly.

“No wonder there are so many. You were sneaking all these shots,” Leon said wryly as he looked at the photos from the Egg Festival.

“Because when I take them on purpose, you’re too stiff. No camera charm at all,” Haley shot back without mercy. “Those kinds of photos have zero artistic value. But these later ones, you look much more natural. Don’t you think so?”

“You’re the professional, so I’ll take your word for it.” Leon wasn’t much of a photo critic and knew better than to argue.

Truthfully, the candids were pretty good. Even without showing his full face, the side angles worked well with the festival scenes. He had to admit, the photos made him look rather handsome. Maybe it was the jawline. Or maybe Haley’s photography skills. Either way, the side profiles were far more flattering than the full-face shots.

Am I one of those guys who looks great from the side but awful straight-on? he wondered as he compared the photos.

“Are you done picking?” Haley finally prompted. “Didn’t you say you had work to do?”

“Yeah.” Leon came back to his senses, picked all three group photos, and grabbed a few random candids. That was it.

He didn’t care much about the content. The photos were just a way to remember his first festival in Stardew Valley. Haley’s composition was good—the backgrounds all carried Easter elements—so he didn’t need to hunt for the right ones.

“That’s it?” Haley looked disappointed. “You’re not taking more? I spent half the day on these, used up two rolls of film.”

“This is plenty. There will be other festivals. If I fill the whole album with just Easter photos, what happens later?” Leon replied.

“You could just get more albums… never mind. You wouldn’t listen anyway. So what are you doing with the rest?”

Haley started to argue, then thought better of it. Leon’s mind was set; persuading him was a waste of breath.

“You decide. If it were me, I’d probably just burn them, but that doesn’t feel quite right,” Leon said without hesitation.

Haley gave him another eye roll, but didn’t refuse. She gathered the remaining photos off the coffee table and said impatiently, “Alright, go on then. Get back to your farm work.”

“Thanks, Haley. These came out really well.” Leon smiled, tucking the chosen photos and the album into his System Backpack.

Then his eyes fell on a box in the backpack—the one with the sunflower. Without hesitation, he pulled it out and handed it to her.

“Here, consider this a thank-you for the photos. It’s no use to me, but I think you’ll appreciate it.”

“This isn’t something expensive, is it?” Haley asked warily, not taking it yet.

After all, the pearl in a much smaller box had already startled her. If this larger one held something pricey, she’d feel guilty accepting it.

“Nothing special. Just an ordinary item,” Leon reassured her.

“Alright then. I’ve been curious about what’s in it.”

Hearing that, Haley took the box without hesitation and saw Leon to the door.

Only after he’d gone did she carry the box back to her room, carefully unwrap it, and find a large, fresh sunflower inside.

“A sunflower? Huh. Didn’t expect him to know my tastes so well. Both gifts were spot on.”

She placed the sunflower in a vase, then picked up the photos Leon had left behind. After a moment’s thought, she fetched a new album and stored them inside, returning it neatly to the cabinet. With a faint smile, she left her room to help Emily and Jodi clean up.

“You’re actually helping today?” Emily said in surprise when she saw her. “I thought you’d be napping after unwrapping your gifts.”

“It’s my birthday party. Of course I should help clean up,” Haley replied.

“But you didn’t help after your last parties,” Emily teased.

“Mind your own business. I’m doing it because I want to.” Haley turned her head away, as if to hide the smile on her face.

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