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

Ding Heng's heart skipped a beat.

Based on his understanding of Hua Qing, he knew she would never send such a cryptic message unless there were special circumstances.

He immediately called back, but no one answered.

I dialed again, but still no one answered.

So he had no choice but to drive to the location where the variety show was being filmed.

I stepped on the gas, and the car roared through the yellow light, only to find another red light ahead.

Ding Heng glanced at the time, gritted his teeth, and sped up again, opening Long He's chat window and pressing the voice call button.

"Brother, could you do me a favor..."

A private dining room on the seventh floor of a high-end hotel.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the clamor of laughter, the atmosphere was lively and boisterous.

There were a dozen or so people sitting at the round table, most of them young faces, future contestants from dance variety shows, dressed in their best.

The remaining few are agents, program planners, and related staff.

Hua Qing sat in the innermost seat, her consciousness already fading.

She shouldn't have come today...

After recording the show in the afternoon, assistant director Zhou Meilan approached her and said there was a dinner party that evening. All the female contestants were there, so they could have a meal together and get to know each other.

Zhou Meilan is nearly fifty years old, speaks gently and kindly, and seems very reliable.

Trusting the "female director" and not wanting to miss the opportunity, Hua Qing agreed.

But after it was served, she began to realize that something was wrong.

Most of the people who came were contestants, but no one talked about the competition or the dance; they were all talking about random things.

Zhou Meilan kept urging her to drink.

"Let's do it together. We're rivals on the field, but sisters off the field."

"Hua Qing, have another drink. It's rare for everyone to be so happy."

Hua Qing couldn't hold her liquor, but she still forced herself to drink several glasses. After she became dizzy, the door to the private room was pushed open, and a man in his early fifties hurriedly entered.

He was dressed in a suit and tie, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, and looked very refined.

He went straight to the head seat and sat down, and the people at the table immediately became enthusiastic.

"General Manager Liu is here!"

"Hello, Mr. Liu!"

"Please have a seat, Mr. Liu. Let me pour you some wine."

Hua Qing listened in a daze and then realized that the man's surname was Liu, his name was Liu Jianming, and he was the biggest advertiser for the dance variety show next week.

After Liu Jianming sat down, his gaze swept across the table and finally settled on Hua Qing, scrutinizing her closely.

After that, the people at the table began to toast Liu Jianming one after another, flattering and fawning over him.

"Mr. Liu is truly vigorous despite his age."

"Mr. Liu has such a keen eye; every program he invests in becomes a hit."

"We all admire Mr. Liu's pursuit of art."

Hua Qing sat there, feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

She noticed that Liu Jianming's gaze would occasionally drift over her, as if he were appraising a piece of merchandise.

Zhou Meilan leaned over again: "Hua Qing, go toast President Liu. He saw your performance and specifically asked you to participate in the competition. You should thank him."

Hua Qing shook her head: "I'm sorry, Director Zhou, I can't drink anymore."

Zhou Meilan was about to persuade him again when Liu Jianming simply raised his hand.

"No forcing, no forcing."

He smiled politely and kindly: "Drinking is fine in moderation. If a young lady can't drink, she shouldn't drink."

The crowd showered him with flattery once more.

"Mr. Liu is so considerate."

"President Liu's vision is truly exceptional."

Before Hua Qing could even catch her breath, Zhou Meilan seized the opportunity to make a suggestion.

"Well then, Hua Qing has drunk a bit too much, I'll help her back to her room to rest first."

Hua Qing suddenly became more alert.

Go back to your room?

What room?

I never said I was going to stay overnight at the hotel!

She looked up at Zhou Meilan and finally realized what was happening.

This is a trap.

Liu Jianming had no intention of having dinner with this bunch of thugs; he only came in to check out the goods.

And she was the commodity that Zhou Meilan was preparing to sell to Liu Jianming.

No wonder the production team approached her so early on, being incredibly enthusiastic.

All those phrases like "I admire your dance," "It was tailor-made for you," and "You are the pride of Hunan Province"... it turns out it was all premeditated!

The Lotus Award, which they were so proud of, was utterly insignificant in the eyes of this group of people.

Hua Qing used the table to support herself as she stood up.

Her voice was shaky as she tried to stay awake: "No, I... I want to go back."

Zhou Meilan quickly helped her up, her tone concerned.

"Hua Qing, you're so drunk, how are you going to get home? What if something happens? Just rest at the hotel tonight, it's fine, I've already booked a room for you."

After saying that, Zhou Meilan turned her head and met Liu Jianming's gaze.

Liu Jianming smiled with satisfaction, picked up his wine glass, and took a small sip.

Zhou Meilan put her arm around Hua Qing and prepared to leave.

Hua Qing tried to struggle, but the alcohol had made her weak and powerless.

"open……"

Her voice was muffled and drowned out by the noise in the private room.

"boom!"

The private room was suddenly opened, or more accurately, kicked open.

The loud noise made everyone turn around, their expressions filled with astonishment.

Longhe!

She wore a simple black hoodie and casual pants, her hair was a little messy, her face was bare, and her eyes were as cold as ice.

Zhou Meilan asked in surprise, "Long He, what brings you here?"

Long He rushed over, grabbed Hua Qing's arm, and shielded her behind him.

Zhou Meilan was dumbfounded: "Long He, what are you doing...?"

"Snapped!"

Before he could finish speaking, Long He slapped Zhou Meilan across the face.

"Zhou Meilan, you old bitch."

She spoke in the Xingcheng dialect, each word like a knife chilled to the bone.

"I'm going to beat your ancestors to a pulp today! You piece of trash who sells slushies, you're filthy yourself, and you still want to harm others?!"

Zhou Meilan covered her face, both angry and anxious.

"Long He! How dare you speak like that! You...you're insane! Your mother and I have been colleagues for years..."

"You old bitch, don't try to claim kinship with me! How am I talking? This is how I talk, you old bitch, can't you understand Xingcheng dialect?"

She pointed at Zhou Meilan's nose, her voice rising higher and higher.

"During those years with my mother, you did a lot of stupid things like pimping! Sending female college students, minor celebrities, this one, that one. You think nobody knew?"

"you you……"

"WQNMD!"

Long He slapped him again.

"Snapped!"

With a crisp sound, another red mark appeared on Zhou Meilan's right cheek.

The audience was silent.

Long He withdrew his hand: "You old bitch, I'm telling you this now, I'm definitely going to have my mom get an explanation from the station director. You just wait!"

Zhou Meilan covered her face, her complexion alternating between pale and flushed, unable to speak.

Inside the private room, someone had already quietly raised their phone and started recording.

Hua Qing leaned on Long He's shoulder, her consciousness blurred, but her heart suddenly calmed down.

She wanted to say thank you, but the sound she made was muffled and she couldn't even understand it herself.

Seeing that things were not going well, Liu Jianming, taking advantage of everyone's attention being on Long He, quietly stood up and prepared to slip away.

But he had just reached the door—

"boom!"

A bottle of Moutai flew past him, grazed his scalp, and shattered on the door frame, scattering glass shards and spilling the liquor all over him.