Why is the system taking my request to photograph a cosplayer seriously?

Chapter 241 Sister Cares About Brother?

After seeing Wen Shu off, Ding Heng stood alone by the window at the end of the corridor and lit a cigarette.

The smoke billowed across the glass, creating a small gray-white patch that blurred the street view outside the window.

He rarely smokes; if he does have one, it's usually because he has something on his mind.

Today, Wen Shu made him realize a problem—he had previously thought everything was too simple.

Wenshu is Wenjing's younger sister, and they are close relatives who have shared a room since childhood.

Her choice to "turn a blind eye" was a reluctant compromise; she didn't want to hurt her sister, nor did she want to lose her current life.

If this is all she can do, what about Zhao Yanxi's parents?

Zhao Xingguo, who has spent most of his life working in criminal investigation, cannot tolerate any wrongdoing.

Zhou Rongmei, a top-level teacher at a key high school, has mentored countless students who have been admitted to Tsinghua and Peking Universities. She takes such good care of her students, so how could she possibly be indifferent to her own daughter?

They are being polite to him now because they consider themselves just Zhao Yanxi's ordinary boyfriend, a sophomore from an ordinary family, a little clever, and lucky.

If one day they find out the truth—

Ding Heng took a deep drag of his cigarette and slowly exhaled.

Then look back at the women around him.

Wenjing lacks love; she would give her whole self if given even a little warmth.

Hua Qing is aloof and sharp-tongued, but soft-hearted. Once her defenses are breached, she has no way out.

Lin Man's obsession bordered on the pathological; she was willing to humble herself to the dust in order to seek revenge.

Zhao Yanxi appears cheerful on the surface, but deep down she is the one who lacks the most sense of security. That's why she clings to him so tightly and has made him the only anchor in her life.

Even Longhe is not without its problems.

She was too tired and too lonely, with no one around to tell her the truth, so she clung to the word "brother" as a lifeline.

As for Baima—

Ding Heng gave a wry smile and stubbed out his cigarette on the windowsill.

All the women around me have some kind of personality flaws.

It is precisely because of these gaps that they are able to accept a relationship that is "absurd" in the eyes of normal people.

Ding Heng threw the cigarette butt into the trash can, then picked up his phone to notify Zhao Yanxi to return.

Back in their room, neither of them had any romantic intentions left.

Zhao Yanxi quickly changed back into her original clothes and tied her hair back into a high ponytail.

"Who was that just now?"

She clasped her hands together in front of her, looking somewhat awkward.

Ding Heng frankly admitted: "Wen Shu."

"Xiao Shu—did she see it?"

"Um.

""

"Then she—"

Don't worry.

Ding Heng reassured her, "She has already promised me that she will turn a blind eye."

Zhao Yanxi leaned softly into Ding Heng's arms, feeling a sense of exhaustion as if she had survived a disaster.

"I was so scared! I was really scared! Thank goodness it was Wen Shu! Thank goodness!"

Ding Heng didn't speak, but tightened his grip.

"Brother Ding Heng."

"Um?

"How long do you think we can keep this a secret?"

"How long do you intend to keep this a secret?"

"My words—"

Zhao Yanxi hesitated for a long time, but ultimately didn't have the courage: "Let's wait a bit longer, at least until graduation."

"OK.

Ding Heng didn't give her any false promises; instead, he lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead.

"Let's go to your house for dinner."

Zhao Yanxi said "Oh," stepped out of Ding Heng's arms, and followed him downstairs to the car.

Wenjing and Baima waited together at the hotel entrance.

Bai Ma opened the back door and got in, and Wen Jing followed behind her, bending down to sit on the other side of the back seat.

"Where is Wen Shu?"

Ding Heng started the car and glanced at Wen Jing in the rearview mirror.

"She said she still had some things to pick up and would come back to Xingcheng with us later."

Wenjing fastened her seatbelt, her tone normal, completely unaware of what had just happened.

Ding Heng didn't ask any more questions and stepped on the gas.

About ten minutes later, the car stopped at the entrance of Zhao Yanxi's residential compound.

Ding Heng turned off the engine and turned to look at the back seat.

"Bai Ma, you and Wen Jing find a place to eat. Yan hope and I will come down around eight o'clock."

"it is good."

Wenjing nodded, and Baima hummed in agreement, both behaving obediently.

Ding Heng opened the car door, and Zhao Yanxi followed behind him. The two walked into the building entrance one after the other.

As the elevator ascended, Zhao Yanxi leaned against the elevator wall, still lost in thought.

"Brother Ding Heng."

"Um?"

"If my mom asks you anything later, you—"

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

The elevator doors opened, and the two stepped out and rang the doorbell.

Zhou Rongmei opened the door.

"You're here? Come in quickly, the food is just ready."

She stepped aside to let the two of them in, muttering to herself as she walked toward the kitchen.

"Old Zhao, Little Ding is here, come out for dinner."

Zhao Xingguo came out of the study.

"Is Xiao Ding here?"

Hello, Uncle.

Ding Heng walked over, and Zhao Xingguo patted him on the shoulder with a light touch.

"You're here, why bother buying anything?"

"Of course."

Ding Heng placed the fruit he was carrying on the coffee table and followed Zhao Xingguo to the dining room.

The four people sat down around the table. Zhao Xingguo took out a bottle of baijiu from the cabinet, unscrewed the cap, and poured a small glass for Ding Heng.

"Would you like some? I'm busy with work, so I can only keep you company with tea—"

"Uncle, please feel free to do as you please."

Ding Heng picked up his wine glass and lightly touched the glass that Zhao Xingguo handed him.

Zhou Rongmei was serving food to her daughter, muttering, "Eat more, look how thin you are."

"Mom, where have I lost weight? I just weighed myself last week, I weighed 108 pounds, I've gained two pounds."

"Being a little chubby is good; it brings good fortune, and you won't suffer as much when giving birth later."

"Mom, what kind of old-fashioned thinking is that—"

The mother and daughter bickered, while Zhao Xingguo and Ding Heng drank and chatted about random things.

The meal was neither particularly good nor bad, and proceeded without much fanfare.

After the meal, Ding Heng played two more games of chess with Zhao Xingguo, losing one and winning the other.

Zhao Xingguo put down the chess piece and rubbed his temples.

"Xiao Ding, you play chess quite interestingly."

"My uncle is being lenient with me."

"I didn't give it up."

Zhao Xingguo picked up his teacup: "You deliberately lost the first game. Don't think I didn't see through it."

Ding Heng smiled and offered no explanation.

Zhao Xingguo then asked, "You've always been quite accommodating to Yan hope, haven't you?"

"No, it's just that Yan Xi goes along with me more."

"No matter what, you have to be careful and not let her have her way in everything."

"Hey—Uncle, I understand."

Ding Heng continued to play the role of a good future son-in-law, but suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness.

Zhao Xingguo didn't say anything more, put down his teacup and stood up.

"It's getting late, you and Yan hope should go home early. You've been drinking, so tell her to drive carefully."

"Okay, goodbye Uncle and Auntie."

Ding Heng got up to say goodbye, and Zhou Rongmei saw them to the door.

"Drive carefully."

"Um."

Ding Heng stepped out of the building, and the night wind rushed towards him.

Baima in the back seat was already asleep, breathing evenly, with a trace of drool at the corner of her mouth.

Wenjing sat in the driver's seat, started the car, and drove out of the residential area.

The car turned a corner and arrived at Wenjing's house. Wenshu was already waiting by the roadside.

Wenjing got out of the car and took Wenshu's schoolbag.

"How long have you been waiting?"

"Not long after."

Wen Shu bent down and crawled into the back seat, gently shoving Bai Ma.

Bai Ma opened her eyes groggily, mumbled "Xiao Shu, you're here," then closed her eyes again and tilted her head to the other side.

The car entered the highway, and the cabin was very quiet.

Zhao Yanxi was playing on her phone, Baima continued sleeping, Wenjing focused on driving, and Ding Heng leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed to rest.

Only Wen Shu's gaze remained fixed on the window, her mind still preoccupied with those chaotic thoughts.

"Xiao Shu".

Wen Shu was taken aback and turned to look at Bai Ma beside her.

Bai Ma woke up at some point and was looking at her with her head turned to the side.

"Um?"

Why haven't you said a word all night?

"It's nothing, my sister's engagement has really worn me out."

Wen Shu forced a smile.

"Yeah?"

Baima was skeptical.

It was almost ten o'clock when we got back to the villa.

Wenjing went upstairs to whisper with Wenshu, while Ding Heng stayed in the living room to drink the soup that Sister Jiang had left for him.

After Zhao Yanxi finished showering, she walked over to Ding Heng and sat down next to him, leaning against him.

"worn out----"

Go to sleep.

"Um.

""

Zhao Yanxi responded, but did not move.

A few minutes later, she straightened up and rubbed her eyes.

"Then I'll go to sleep first."

"Um."

"You're not sleeping with us tonight?"

"You guys go to sleep first, I'll wait a bit."

"oh----"

Zhao Yanxi didn't ask any more questions and turned to go upstairs.

Ding Heng finished the soup in his bowl, replied to Hua Qing and Lin Man's messages one after another, and then went upstairs to the master bedroom.

The bedside lamp was still on, casting a dim, yellowish light.

Wenjing and Zhao Yanxi had already lain down, the blankets pulled up to their chins, revealing their two delicate and fair faces.

Ding Heng turned off the light, lifted the covers, and lay down.

In the darkness, Zhao Yanxi turned over and put her arm around his waist.

Wenjing leaned against him, her forehead resting on his shoulder.

late at night.

Ding Heng was just drifting off to sleep when his phone under his pillow suddenly vibrated.

He opened his eyes, reached for his phone, and glanced at the screen.

【白马非马】：Bro, are you asleep?

Ding Heng: No.

[White Horse is Not a Horse]: Then come to my room. [Little Horse looking forward to it.jpg]

Ding Heng: What?

[White Horse is Not a Horse]: I had another nightmare~ [Poor little horse.jpg]

Ding Heng glanced at the two girls beside him.

Wenjing was sleeping soundly, her breathing even.

Zhao Yanxi somehow ended up on the other side of the bed, curled up in a ball.

Ding Heng gently lifted the quilt, tiptoed out of bed, and left the bedroom, walking down the corridor to Bai Ma's room.

The door was ajar, leaving a crack for him.

Ding Heng raised his hand and gently pushed the door open silently.

Bai Ma sat cross-legged on the bed, still wearing her cartoon pajamas. Her small face was clean and her big eyes were bright and piercing.

Ding Heng glanced at her and said, "You don't look like you're having a nightmare at all."

Bai Ma pouted and patted the spot next to her.

"Please sit down."

Ding Heng walked over and sat down, staring at Bai Ma.

Bai Ma immediately came over, wrapped her arms around Ding Heng's arm, and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Brother."

"Um.

"Are you in a bad mood today?"

"Which eye of yours saw that I was in a bad mood?"

"I saw both of them."

Baima confidently analyzed, "I felt something was off as soon as Xiaoshu got on the bus; she didn't dare look at you the whole way. Sister-in-law Yanxi was the same—she was much quieter than usual—did something happen to you this afternoon?"

Ding Heng remained silent for two seconds.

"It's nothing serious."

"Then why do you look so troubled?"

"Is there?"

"have."

Pema asked confidently, "Are you worried about how to explain this to your sisters-in-law's parents?"

Ding Heng's thoughts stirred slightly, but he remained silent.

Is the little girl concerned about him?

Bai Ma released his arm and crossed her legs again: "Brother, are you starting to feel guilty because you're juggling multiple relationships?"

""

Ding Heng scoffed, "Do you think that's possible?"

"Then why are you being so dramatic? You still smell of smoke—were you secretly smoking?"

Ding Heng reached out and rubbed his temples.

"I just didn't want to embarrass your sisters-in-law too much."

"so what?"

Baima leaned closer. "What are you planning to do? Confess to your uncles and aunts?"

Not for now.

"What if they find out themselves one day?"

Ding Heng remained silent.

Baima waited for several seconds, and seeing that Ding Heng did not answer, she spoke up herself.

"Brother, do you have any way to prevent them from finding out?"

Ding Heng glanced at her.

This girl is sometimes unbelievably perceptive.

"What can we do?"

He replied dismissively, "Let's take it one step at a time."

"cut."

Bai Ma pouted and leaned against his shoulder again.

"Brother."

"Um?"

"You're a real scumbag."

Before Ding Heng could react, Bai Ma added another sentence.

"But she's still quite gentle."

Ding Heng raised his hand and vigorously kneaded Bai Ma's face.

"You called me here so late just to talk about this?"

"Ouch."

Bai Ma looked aggrieved.

"I was just worried you wouldn't be able to sleep."

Why are you worrying so much?

"Because you're my brother."

Baima said matter-of-factly, "It's only natural for a younger sister to care for her older brother."

Ding Heng was both amused and exasperated, and most of his annoyance dissipated.

He reached out and ruffled Baima's hair one last time before standing up.

"Alright, I'm leaving now."

"etc!"

Baima grabbed his sleeve.

Ding Heng turned around.

Baima tilted her head back and blinked her big eyes.

"Brother, I really had a nightmare."

Ding Heng raised an eyebrow.

"real?"

Bai Ma nodded like a chick pecking at rice.

"You haven't held me while we slept since we came back from Tibet, and I can't sleep at night."

Her voice grew softer and softer as she gently fiddled with Ding Heng's cuffs.

"Would you like to spend some time with me tonight?"

"well----"

Ding Heng sighed, lifted the covers, and lay down.

Baima immediately moved closer, snuggled into his arms, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"Brother, you're so kind."

"Go to sleep."

Ding Heng reached out and turned off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, Baima rubbed against Ding Heng's chest until she finally found a comfortable position.

Goodnight, brother.

"Good night."

Silent all night.

The next morning.

Pema was awakened by the sunlight.

She groggily turned over and reached to the side; the sheets were already cold.

How long after the brother left?

She picked up her phone from the bedside table, and the screen lit up with a message from Ding Heng.

[Ding Heng]: We're leaving now. You get some more sleep. When you wake up, ask Sister Jiang to get you something to eat.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"You stinking brother, you didn't even tell me you were leaving—"

Baima tossed her phone aside and buried her face in the pillow, where Ding Heng's faint scent still lingered.

She sniffed hard, then suddenly rolled over and sat up.

What am I doing?!

Baima patted her face, threw off the covers, got out of bed, and walked barefoot into the bathroom.

After washing up and going downstairs, I found Sister Jiang already busy in the kitchen.

"Bai Ma is awake? The porridge is still warm, let me serve you some."

"Thank you, Sister Jiang."

Baima sat down at the dining table and slowly drank the porridge.

Footsteps echoed down the stairs. Wen Shu, dressed in a skirt, looked even more delicate than usual.

"morning."

Wen Shu sat down in front of Bai Ma, and Sister Jiang served her a bowl of porridge as well.

"morning.

""

Baima responded and continued to drink her porridge.

Neither of them spoke.

Sister Jiang was tidying up in the kitchen, and the soft clatter of pots and pans could be faintly heard.

Wen Shu took two sips of porridge and put down the spoon.

"Pema".

"Um?

'

"My sister, brother-in-law, and Sister Yanxi, did they all leave so early today?"

"Um."

Baima didn't even look up: "She said she had something to take care of at school."

"oh----"

Wen Shu picked up the spoon again and stirred the porridge in the bowl.

Baima raised her head and glanced at her.

"Xiaoshu, did you not sleep well last night?"

"good."

Wen Shu gave a perfunctory reply, still stirring the food in the bowl with her spoon.

Bai Ma looked at her with her chin in her hand.

"Xiao Shu".

"Um?

'

"Is there something you want to ask me?"

Wen Shu paused, then looked up and met Bai Ma's gaze.

"no."

"It's written all over your face."

Baima feigned maturity and experience: "Go ahead and speak. After all, I'm a year older than you, so I can give you some life advice."

"----puff----"

Looking at Baima's youthful face, Wenshu finally couldn't hold back and laughed for a while before she could catch her breath.

"Bai Ma, tell me the truth."

"Um."

"How many girlfriends does my brother-in-law actually have?"

Baima blinked.

Why are you asking this?

"I just want to know."

Wen Shu lowered her head and stared at the red dates floating in the bowl.

"My sister, Yan Xi, Hua Qing, and that Lin Man—are all four of them with my brother-in-law—?"

The words were not finished, but the meaning was already very clear.

Baima picked up the bowl of porridge again and took a sip.

Didn't your sister tell you?

"no."

Wen Shu shook her head: "She's shy, she would never tell me something like this, even if you beat her to death."

"So what do you think?"

"I----"

Wen Shu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

What were you thinking?

She felt it was inappropriate.

This is highly inappropriate.

It's unacceptable for a man to be with several women at the same time, no matter where you look at it.

But her sister did so willingly, and she was indeed living a better life than before, so Wen Shu didn't know what stance she should take to oppose it, or rather, she had no right to do so at all.

Seeing the conflicted look on her face, Baima sighed softly.

"Xiao Shu".

"Um?"

Do you think your sister is happy now?

Wen Shu was stunned.

Pema continued, "Or do you think she was forced by the prince? Forced into it?"

Wen Shu remained silent.

Are you happy?

When Wenjing is with Ding Heng, the corners of her mouth are always slightly upturned, and that smile comes from the bottom of her heart.

She had never seen her sister laugh like that in the past decade or so.

Baima continued, "Well, tilapia—have you heard of them?"

Wen Shu looked up, her face blank.

"What kind of fish?"

"That one—that one—"

Baima scratched his head, trying hard to remember.

"That's it—you're not a fish, how would you know—"

"You are not a fish, how can you know the joy of fish?"

Wen Shu blurted it out.

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Baima slapped her thigh: "That's it! You're not your sister, don't get too involved."

Wen Shu was speechless once again.

Baima put down the bowl of porridge and leaned forward slightly.

"Think about it, Sister-in-law Hua Qing, a graduate student at the Beijing Dance Academy, a winner of the Lotus Award, has suitors who could line up from Yuelu Mountain to the Xiangjiang River. What does she want? Money? Her family isn't short of money. Her father is an inheritor of Hunan embroidery, an intangible cultural heritage, and her mother has run a travel agency in Fenghuang for over ten years. Although her family isn't extremely wealthy, they wouldn't sell themselves for money."

Wen Shu pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

Baima continued, "Lin Man, her maternal grandfather has businesses in Hunan and Guangdong provinces. She's lived a life of luxury since childhood, and there's never a shortage of men fawning over her. Why would she willingly become the prince's secretary? Do you really think she's just short of that little bit of salary?"

Wen Shu gripped the bowl of porridge tightly.

"Neither Sister-in-law Hua Qing nor Sister-in-law Lin Man are fools. The reason they can follow the prince so devotedly is definitely because the prince has the ability."

Baima concluded, "So stop worrying. Your sister is an adult. If she doesn't want to, who can force her?"

Wen Shu lowered her head, staring at the porridge in the bowl that had gone cold.

She knew that Baima was being sophistical, but she couldn't find a reason to refute her.

"Pema".

"Um?

'

"Why are you always speaking up for your brother-in-law?"

Baima paused for a second, then answered matter-of-factly, "He's my brother. If I don't speak up for him, who will?"

"elder brother?"

Wen Shu looked up at her, her tone subtle: "You really treat him like a brother?"

"Uh—what else?"

Bai Ma's smile appeared slightly awkward, and her voice grew softer and softer.

He seemed incredibly guilty.