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

Chapter 264 Recognizing One's Own Identity

The next day, Baima said she had something to do, so Ding Heng had to come and pick up the computer alone.

The repair shop owner was squatting at the door smoking. When he saw Ding Heng approach, he quickly put out his cigarette, stood up, and patted his pants.

"alright?"

"Alright, alright."

The boss turned and walked inside, picked up the computer from the workbench, and plugged in the power supply and monitor.

"Give it a try."

The screen lights up, the familiar Windows logo appears, and then you enter the desktop. The wallpaper is still a photo of Bai Ma and Ding Heng in the arcade, the two of them in an intimate pose.

Ding Heng opened a few software programs and tested them; they ran smoothly without any lag.

The boss suddenly asked curiously, "Brother, was that really your sister yesterday?"

"What, it doesn't look like it?"

"No, judging from this computer wallpaper, you two siblings have a really good relationship—"

"It's alright."

Ding Heng gave a perfunctory reply, unplugged the power cord, picked up the box, and asked, "How much?"

The boss called out a number, Ding Heng scanned the code to pay, and turned to leave.

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

Sister Jiang was busy in the kitchen when she poked her head out and greeted us with a smile.

"Xiao Ding is back?"

"Um.

""

Ding Heng changed his shoes: "Where's Baima?"

"They're playing games upstairs and haven't come down all morning."

"That lazy girl, she even lied to me about something—"

Ding Heng muttered a complaint, picked up the computer and went upstairs. Without knocking, he simply pushed the door open with his elbow and went inside.

Wearing headphones, Baima squatted on the gaming chair, staring intently at the screen, her fingers clattering on the keyboard.

She was probably too engrossed in her work and didn't notice anyone behind her.

Ding Heng placed the computer on the table and bent down to plug in the power cord.

Baima was startled and jumped up from her chair.

"Brother?!"

Her eyes widened, and she hurriedly took off her headphones.

"Why didn't you knock?"

"Do I need to knock before entering your room?"

Ding Heng spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, leaving Baima speechless for a moment.

It seems that it's not necessary.

Ding Heng plugged in the power cord, straightened up, and scanned the room before finally looking at Bai Ma's bed. Suddenly, he noticed a small doll's head peeking out from under the blanket.

The chibi-style figurines are not very well made; in fact, they are a bit rough.

The doll's face was pasted onto the photo, cropped into an oval shape, barely fitting the doll's face.

The person in the photo —

The color drained from Baima's face instantly. Almost instinctively, she rushed over, pulled the blanket up, and covered the doll completely.

She turned to face Ding Heng, her face flushed red.

Ding Heng didn't speak, but just looked at her quietly, a slight smile playing on his lips.

That smile was very faint and barely even a smile, but in Baima's eyes, it seemed extremely hateful!

She rushed forward and punched Ding Heng in the chest with her small fist: "What are you laughing at, you stinky prince? Who told you to break your promise?"

Ding Heng looked down at her, his tone helpless: "How could I go back on my word?"

"Of course!"

Pema mustered her courage and retorted, "Back in Tibet, you said you could hold me while I slept—"

"and then?"

"And then you didn't come for two months!"

"Weren't you avoiding me?"

Ding Heng asked a question in return, and Bai Ma choked.

It seems—it really is she who has been avoiding him.

"Then...then why don't you come on your own?"

Seeing her embarrassed and annoyed expression, Ding Heng couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Alright."

He patted Baima's head: "Your sister-in-law Yanxi has something to discuss with me this afternoon, so she doesn't have time to chat with you."

After saying that, Ding Heng turned and walked out.

Pema watched his figure disappear through the doorway, then slumped back in despair and fell onto the bed.

There was still that ugly doll hidden under the blanket, digging into her cheek and making it hurt.

She reached out and pulled the doll out from under the covers, held it up to her eyes, and stared at the crookedly cropped ID photo.

"What are you really thinking?!"

Baima muttered softly, it was unclear whether she was asking the doll or herself.

What exactly does Ding Heng mean to her?

It's not that it was meaningless, but it was so outrageous that day.

It's interesting that it only went that far, and then nothing more.

Baima rolled over and lifted the doll high in the air.

Ding Heng's expression was blank in the ID photo, his eyes serious and earnest, as if warning her not to overthink things.

Baima pouted, tossed the doll aside, got out of bed, changed her clothes, picked up her schoolbag, and went downstairs.

Sister Jiang was still busy in the kitchen when she heard the noise and poked her head out: "Bai Ma, aren't you going to eat before you leave?"

"No, I have things to do back at school."

Baima changed her shoes, opened the door, and almost bumped into someone who was about to enter.

"Why----"

Wen Shu took half a step back to steady herself.

"Bai Ma? Where are you going?"

"Go back to school."

Baima stepped aside to let her in, her voice listless.

Wen Shu changed her shoes, walked into the living room, and sat down cross-legged.

"It's still early, why not have lunch?"

"Don't even mention it."

Baima tossed her schoolbag onto the sofa, returned to the living room, and sat down, intending to finish her meal before leaving.

Wen Shu teased, "What's wrong? Who upset you?"

"Nobody messed with me."

"I bet it's my brother-in-law again?"

"Ugh————"

Bai Ma, having been hit where it hurt by Wen Shu's words, simply pretended not to understand and didn't answer.

Wen Shu continued, "What happened? Did you get into trouble again and get punished?"

"I wouldn't say that—"

Was Ding Heng's punishment that day even a punishment? Baima still felt a strange itch in her heart when she thought about it.

Wen Shu bluntly asked, "Bai Ma, what's really going on between you and your brother-in-law?"

"What do you mean?"

Stop pretending.

Wen Shu picked up a piece of fruit and put it in her mouth, chewing as she said, "I'm home every day, I'm not blind about your little affair."

Baima smiled awkwardly and did not respond.

Wen Shu continued, "Actually, I think you're going in the wrong direction."

"direction?"

"Hmm—let me give you an example."

Wen Shu began to analyze: "You know my sister, she's honest and simple-minded, single-minded, once she sets her mind on someone, she's completely devoted. Anyone else would have been completely under her thumb by now. But my brother-in-law is different."

"What's different?"

"My brother-in-law never intended to force my sister to do anything."

Wen Shu's tone became serious: "His kindness to my sister isn't about expecting repayment for what I do for you today; it's about letting things happen naturally."

Baima did not speak.

"So think about it, isn't your brother-in-law the same way he treats you?"

Wen Shu continued, "He just genuinely wants to be good to you; he didn't think about anything else. If you insist on interpreting it that way and adding unnecessary drama to your story, then you're just making things complicated, aren't you?"

Bai Ma was stunned by what Wen Shu said.

"But----"

"But what 'but'?"

Wen Shu interrupted her, "Just calm down. Don't keep thinking about why he hasn't done that yet, or if he's not interested in me. Just be his little sister, be cute and playful when you want to be, and he'll find you more interesting."

Baima frowned, as if digesting Wen Shu's words.

"Think about me."

Wen Shu pointed to herself: "I understand perfectly now. My sister wants me to study hard, so I study hard. She wants me to get into a good university, so I work hard to get into a good university. If she's happy, she'll naturally be good to me. If I'm always going against her, she'll be unhappy, and I'll be unhappy too, so why bother?"

Baima nodded thoughtfully.

"So you mean—"

"What I mean is, you need to figure out your place first."

Wen Shu concluded, "You're his sister, so just be a good sister first. Don't keep thinking about overstepping boundaries; doing so will only make things awkward."

What's meant to be yours will come to you, and what's not meant to be yours can't be forced.

It was as if Baima had received a sudden enlightenment.

"Xiao Shu".

"Um?

'

"When did you become so knowledgeable?"

"It's alright————"

Baima suddenly lunged forward and grabbed Wenshu's neck.

"mua!"

She gave Wenshu a loud, crisp kiss on the cheek.

"Wen Shu, you are truly a master of humanity!"

Wen Shu was almost out of breath from being choked by Bai Ma, and frantically tried to pry Bai Ma's arm off.

"What are you doing? Let go! Let go!"

Pema grinned as she let go of his hand, jumped off the sofa, grabbed her bag, and ran toward the door.

"I'm leaving!"

"————"

""

Wen Shu rubbed her neck, and before she could say anything more, Bai Ma had already changed her shoes.

"Bye-Bye!"

The door slammed shut, and the sound of short, shuffling footsteps faded into the distance.