Why did the system take my request to take photos with a cosplayer seriously?

Qianqian shrank her neck and muttered softly, "I...I ate just a little bit more..."

"A little bit?" Hua Qing pointed at the scale: "This is what you call a little bit?"

Qianqian quickly clasped her hands together and begged for forgiveness: "Teacher Hua, I was wrong. I'll lose the weight as soon as I get back, and I promise I'll lose it all next week! Please forgive me this time..."

"No."

Hua Qing said firmly, "Do you know how badly my mom would beat me up if I dared to gain six pounds in a month back then? Let's start training! I'll give you a discount; you can have fifty more reps after you finish training!"

Qianqian's face turned green: "Fifty...fifty strokes?! Teacher Hua!"

"How about I talk to your mom and have her give you all your allowance? You choose."

Qianqian remained silent for two seconds, her face filled with sorrow.

"Then let's just take the beating..."

"Alright, everyone come over here and warm up your legs."

Several girls obediently walked to the barre and began stretching their legs.

Hua Qing temporarily put down her teaching pointer, picked up her water glass, and took a sip.

It's not that she's really that cruel.

For dance students, managing their image is inherently a rather "anti-human" matter.

The parents of these girls have already invested a lot of money. For example, Qianqian's mother spends several thousand yuan every month on training fees alone.

Hua Qing takes the money to do things, so she has to do them well.

Back then, the beatings she endured were definitely more than twenty times greater than these few combined.

Warm-up complete, formal training begins.

"Xiao Zhu, that big jump of yours, your knees are completely straight! How many times have I told you?"

"Qianqian, tighten your core when you spin. Why are you swaying like that with such a flexible waist?"

"You two, pay attention to the rhythm when you're working together. Who told you to each jump your own way?"

In the dance studio, Hua Qing's voice could be heard from time to time, accompanied by the crisp sound of the pointer striking the ground.

The girls were so intimidated by her that they dared not utter a sound, repeating the actions over and over until she was satisfied.

As get out of class was about to end, Hua Qing put down her water cup.

"Qianqian, come here."

Qianqian's face was deathly pale as she slowly moved over.

"Lie down properly."

Qianqian looked at her pitifully: "Teacher Hua..."

Hua Qing shook her head: "Fifty strokes, no less!"

Qianqian desperately grabbed the barre and bent over.

Hua Qing picked up the pointer, ready to strike, when her phone lit up with a message from a contact at the top of her chat list.

[Ding Heng]: Senior, could you be a little gentler? It breaks my heart to hear that.

Hua Qing's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously looked up at the door.

The dance studio door was closed, and there was no one outside the glass window.

My phone vibrated again.

[Ding Heng]: Don't worry, I won't peek at your training, but senior, you're not allowed to leave later.

Hua Qing gripped the pointer, her heart pounding.

He's here?

How did he know she was here?

Finally, Hua Qing looked at Qianqian without changing her expression.

"Snapped."

The pointer fell.

"one."

"Snapped."

"two."

……

After fifty strokes, Qianqian covered her bottom and ran to change her clothes with tears in her eyes.

Hua Qing took a deep breath and looked at the other girls.

"That's all for today. When you get back, send me your weight every day. If anyone slacks off and doesn't exercise, they'll have to double the amount next time."

The girls nodded repeatedly, quickly changed back into their own clothes, picked up their backpacks, and fled the dance studio.

The door closed, and the room became quiet.

Hua Qing stood still, motionless.

A few seconds later, the door was pushed open.

Ding Heng walked in and closed the door behind him.

He looked Hua Qing up and down—tight black training clothes, white leggings, slender waist, long legs, and cheeks slightly flushed from the exercise.

Hua Qing felt uncomfortable and lowered her eyes.

"Didn't you say you were going to participate in a dance competition?"

Ding Heng's voice was unhurried, with a hint of teasing.

Hua Qing pursed her lips, speechless.

Ding Heng walked up to her, looking down at her: "Senior, you're such a strict teacher. Why can't you be a little gentler?"

Hua Qing lowered her head and remained silent.

Ding Heng's voice turned cold: "Senior, are you planning to never answer my questions again?"

Hua Qing bit her lower lip and forced herself to speak.

"They have to be punished when they do something wrong so they'll learn their lesson. That's how I grew up..."

"Oh."

Ding Heng nodded, then changed the subject: "So, should the senior be punished for making a mistake?"

Hua Qing was startled and looked up. Ding Heng's smile seemed harmless, but it made her heart pound.

"Today, we'll teach our senior a lesson too!"

Hua Qing stammered, unable to speak.

The next second, Ding Heng bent down and picked up the pointer from the ground, which landed on Hua Qing's thigh with a crisp sound.

Hua Qing winced in pain, her whole body trembling.

Ding Heng pointed to the barre to the side.

"Go over there and lie down properly."

Hua Qing stood stubbornly in place, without moving.

"Snapped."

Another lash landed on the same spot on the thigh.

Hua Qing groaned in pain and cursed through gritted teeth.

"Scumbag..."

But she finally moved and walked to the barre.

Ding Heng leaned closer and gently placed one hand on her waist.

Hua Qing stiffened, then slowly bent down and held onto the barre with both hands.

Just like that day in Chengdu, her body was bent into an arc, her waist slumped down, and her buttocks slightly raised, like Saber bound by Caster.

The mirror was right in front of her; she could see herself and Ding Heng behind her.

She's been beaten since she was a child, so she should be used to it by now.

But no matter which time she was beaten, none of them had ever made her feel so terrified and humiliated...

"Do you know how many mistakes you've made lately, senior?"

Hua Qing bit her lower lip and muttered softly, "I lied to you about going to the dance competition..."

"And there's more!"

She groaned, "I'm deliberately avoiding you..."

"besides!"

Her voice lowered even further: "She deliberately played Long He's songs in front of you..."

"besides!"

Hua Qing was silent for two seconds, then said in a muffled voice, "I can't think of anything..."

"Then let me help you remember."

Ding Heng asked slowly, "Did you enjoy watching that night, senior?"

Hua Qing suddenly raised her head and looked at him through the mirror.

Did he find out?

Did he know she was at the door that night?

She wanted to open her mouth to explain, but before she could speak, Ding Heng lashed her with his whip, the pain causing her to swallow her words.

"Senior, you've made so many mistakes. Tell me, what should we do?"