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

Chapter 247 A conflicted man, a considerate vixen.

When Ding Heng led Baima into the barbecue restaurant, the other girls had already started eating.

Zhao Yanxi hadn't even swallowed the lamb skewers in her mouth when she vaguely gestured for them to sit down.

Bai Ma sat down in the corner with her head down, took the chopsticks Wen Jing handed her, and began to eat and drink heartily.

The meat skewers on the plate disappeared one by one, as if Baima was trying to swallow all the grievances she had suffered that day.

Zhao Yanxi put down the bamboo skewer in her hand and asked jokingly, "Bai Ma, what's wrong?"

Baima didn't respond and continued stuffing meat into her mouth.

Wenjing thoughtfully poured her a glass of warm water and patted her back: "Eat slowly, don't choke."

Baima took the water glass, took a big gulp, burped, and continued to pick at the roasted eggplant on the plate.

Wenjing asked softly, "Why didn't you tell us you were coming? You could have sent a message so we could have picked you up."

Baima replied in a muffled voice, "My phone is dead."

The girls exchanged glances, knowingly refraining from exposing the truth.

Lin Man naturally changed the subject: "What are the plans for tomorrow?"

Zhao Yanxi suggested, "How about we go to the Summer Palace? The scenery there should be quite nice in autumn."

Lin Man nodded: "Okay, since Baima is here, let's go out for a stroll as usual."

Baima looked up at Lin Man, then at Zhao Yanxi.

What does that mean?

Just going out for a stroll?

If I don't come, are you planning to stay at home and do something abnormal?

"belch----!"

Finally, Baima put down her chopsticks and let out a satisfied burp: "I'm full!"

Zhao Yanxi stood up and said, "I'll pay the bill."

Ding Heng didn't move, but turned to Hua Qing: "Senior, give me the car keys, I'll take Bai Ma back to her place."

Hua Qing took out the keys from her bag and handed them over, her tone concerned: "Aren't you letting Baima stay at the hotel with us?"

"Need not."

Ding Heng took the keys and stood up: "Hei Dou still needs someone to feed her, so this is a good opportunity for her to go back and keep the cat company."

Bai Ma followed Ding Heng with her head down and listlessly got into the passenger seat.

Speechless all the way.

As soon as he went upstairs and opened the door, Black Bean was already waiting in the entryway. It raised its head and meowed, its round eyes fixed on Ding Heng as if asking a question.

"Why did it take you so long to get back?"

Then it turned to Baima and meowed again, as if asking another question.

"How could you bring another woman back behind my master's back?"

Baima bent down to touch it, but Heidou turned away and strolled off like a cat.

Ding Heng sat down on the sofa and patted the seat next to him.

Baima walked over and sat down with her two short legs together.

Ding Heng asked calmly, "Tell me, why did you come all this way?"

Baima turned her face away: "Who told you to abandon me?"

Ding Heng smiled wryly: "We're not staying in the capital for long this time; we have to go back tomorrow or the day after. What are you doing here?"

"I'm bored being alone in Changsha."

"Isn't Wen Shu with you?"

"Wen Shu is always engrossed in her studies and completely ignores me."

Where's your roommate?

Ding Heng then asked, "They ignore you too?"

Bai Ma pouted: "We wouldn't get along. They've probably just come out of the Jiefang West Bar right now—you wouldn't want your good sister going to a place like that, would you?"

Ding Heng's expression was serious: "Of course not."

Perhaps sensing the seriousness and concern in Ding Heng's tone, Bai Ma's attitude softened slightly, and she wanted to laugh but held it back.

"That settles it."

"Alright, go take a shower first, and go to bed early."

Ding Heng stood up and patted her head: "I'll come pick you up again tomorrow."

Baima responded and stood up to walk towards the bathroom.

He took two steps, then stopped.

"Brother."

"Um?"

"Could you—could you stay a little longer?"

"How late?"

"At least----"

Baima lowered her head: "Wait until I fall asleep."

After a few seconds of silence, Ding Heng nodded in agreement.

"OK!"

After receiving the promise, Baima quickly went into the bathroom and closed the door.

The sound of rushing water filled the air.

After taking a shower, Baima changed into Huaqing's cotton pajamas, went into the bedroom, and snuggled into the quilt, only revealing her delicate face.

Ding Heng sat down by the bed, picked up the remote control from the bedside table, and turned up the air conditioner temperature by two degrees.

Bai Ma turned over to face Ding Heng, pulling the blanket up to cover half of her face.

"Brother."

"Um.

"Next time you go out—could you take me with you?"

"There's no need to follow along every time."

"I really don't want to be alone—"

Baima was well aware that she was being completely unreasonable this time.

Ding Heng came to the capital mainly to accompany Hua Qing; the others were just there for the fun of it, and there probably won't be a next time.

But this inexplicably gave Baima a feeling of being abandoned.

Ding Heng remained silent.

Bai Ma's fingers peeked out from under the covers and gently tugged at Ding Heng's clothes.

Ding Heng sighed and reached out to pinch her cheek: "You—"

Baima mumbled something indistinctly, "What?" but didn't move away.

"Bai Ma, you are ultimately different from them."

"What's different?"

Baima blinked and softened her voice.

Ding Heng withdrew his hand: "Who told you to act like a child? You look alike, and you even have the same temper."

Baima, feeling hurt, suddenly poked her head out from under the covers and raised her voice.

"Who's acting like a child! I'm an adult, okay?!"

Ding Heng chuckled lightly and didn't respond.

Baima shrank back again: "Brother—do you really consider me your sister?"

The room fell silent. Baima could hear her own heartbeat, faster and faster.

Ding Heng retorted, "Do you want me to treat you like a younger sister?"

"I----"

Baima was speechless.

Finally, she simply closed her eyes, her breathing gradually became even, and she began to snore softly.

Ding Heng didn't care whether Bai Ma was really asleep or pretending to be asleep. He reached out and turned off the bedside lamp, then got up and left the room.

Black Bean squatted at the bedroom door and looked up at him again, meowing twice.

To prevent the black bean from disturbing the white cat, Ding Heng bent down, scooped it up, put it in the cage, and poured cat food on it.

"Just make do for one night."

Ding Heng closed the cage door and turned to leave the apartment.

When they returned to the hotel, Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing were already asleep.

Lin Man, dressed in a light gray spaghetti strap nightgown, sat cross-legged on the sofa, sipping red wine.

Hua Qing sat next to her, wearing the same nightgown and holding a cup of hot tea.

Hearing footsteps, the two turned around at the same time.

"You're back?"

Lin Man put down her wine glass and moved to the side.

Ding Heng walked over, sat down between the two, and pulled them into his arms on either side.

"What are you talking about?"

Ding Heng gently stroked their fair and rounded shoulders with his palms.

Lin Man said softly, "We're talking about Sister Qing's account."

"Haven't they already surpassed one million followers?"

"yes."

Lin Man looked up: "I'm thinking, let's just hand it all over to the operations team from now on. Sister Qing can just occasionally help out with some videos, no need to worry about it herself. She can take the lion's share of the profits, and the rest can be split among the operations team. We can also give her Hanfu a shout-out or something."

Ding Heng turned to look at Hua Qing: "What do you mean, senior?"

Hua Qing replied indifferently, "Whatever."

The account was originally Ding Heng's "mission". Although she now understands that Ding Heng intends to help her expand her popularity, she really finds it hard to take it seriously.

Handing it over to Lin Man and the operations team might be the best option.

Taking the opportunity, Lin Man teased, "Sister Qing, are you still angry that we followed us here and disturbed your time with the boss?"

"No way—"

Hua Qing immediately retorted, "It's too lonely in the capital. It's nice for you to come and keep me company once in a while."

"Oh—occasionally."

Lin Man deliberately dragged out her words: "It means that we can't come every time."

"Lin Man!"

Hua Qing was ashamed and indignant, and reached out to pinch her.

Lin Man snuggled into Ding Heng's arms, but Hua Qing pressed her body against her relentlessly.

Ding Heng was sandwiched between them, quietly enjoying the warmth and softness of the two bodies.

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around."

Finally, Ding Heng used his arm to separate the two.

Hua Qing sat back down angrily, her ears turning red.

Lin Man snuggled back into Ding Heng's arms, her voice sweet and coquettish: "Boss, Sister Qing is bullying me~"

"You asked for it."

Ding Heng then tried to comfort Hua Qing: "Are you angry? Do you want me to teach her a lesson?"

Lin Man immediately began to squirm restlessly in Ding Heng's arms: "The boss is biased!"

"Never serious—"

Hua Qing blushed and muttered something before getting up and quickly running back to her bedroom.

After watching Hua Qing leave, Lin Man picked up the red wine again and poured half a glass for herself and Ding Heng.

"Boss, are you going to teach them a lesson again?"

Ding Heng took the wine glass, sighed and smiled, and said nothing.

Upon seeing this, Lin Man immediately dropped her ambiguous attitude and became serious.

She asked, "Boss, Baima—what are you planning to do?"

Ding Heng took a sip of his wine: "What suggestions do you have?"

Lin Man looked slightly surprised upon hearing this.

In the past, Ding Heng never allowed her to say anything about his relationships with other women. Every time she accidentally said something wrong, she would be severely punished.

"People wouldn't dare give their boss advice on something like this. What if they say the wrong thing and get punished later?"

Ding Heng raised his hand and slapped Lin Man's thigh hard.

"Smack."

A crisp sound.

"Getting more and more cunning."

Lin Man cried out "Ouch!" and rubbed the reddened area.

"However—there is one thing that people can confirm."

"What?"

"When the boss first started the investment company, it was called Hengbai Capital!"

Lin Man met Ding Heng's gaze: "This shows that the boss was already prepared back then to take care of Bai Ma for the rest of his life."

Ding Heng picked up his wine glass and took a sip, but didn't reply.

Lin Man continued, "So, since the boss is determined, don't get too hung up on certain things and relationships. Let things take their natural course."

"Smack."

Another slap landed on the same spot, but with more force than before.

Lin Man winced in pain, letting out a short whimper, but then leaned forward again, pressing her whole body into Ding Heng's arms.

"Boss, did I say something wrong?"

"No wonder people in ancient times liked fox spirits."

Ding Heng gently rubbed her thigh with his palm as a way of comforting her: "That's really thoughtful."

Lin Man tilted her head back, a smug look spreading across her face.

"Boss—shouldn't we give them a reward?"

"What reward do you want?"

"Um--

Lin Man pretended to be deep in thought.

She shifted half an inch, straddling Ding Heng's lap face to face, wrapping her arms around his neck, and pressing her forehead against his.