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

Hua Qing picked up her Americano and took a sip: "The air conditioning is too strong, it's so hot."

"Oh."

Zhao Yanxi didn't think much of it and went back to discuss it with Wenjing.

"Xiao Jingjing, what do you think about giving him shoes? Ding Heng's been playing a lot of basketball lately, hasn't he?"

"He doesn't lack shoes."

"Then send clothes?"

"Yan hope, he will buy these things himself."

"What should I give as a gift...?"

The two started chattering away, with Hua Yue occasionally chiming in with her useless, bad ideas.

Hua Qing's gaze fell out the window, her mind a jumbled mess.

A thin layer of condensation covered the glass, blurring the street view outside.

What gift should I give?

She doesn't know either.

They didn't even know if they were qualified to give it away.

Am I really his girlfriend?

Hua Qing lowered her eyes, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the rim of the cup.

Forget it, why think about these things?

At worst, I'll just send a message and say happy birthday.

Anyway, he doesn't need my share...

Half an hour later, the four of them walked out of the coffee shop.

The sun has set, and the streetlights have come on, casting circles of dim yellow light in the cold air.

Wenjing and Zhao Yanxi walked hand in hand ahead, heading towards the subway station.

Hua Yue lagged a few steps behind, standing shoulder to shoulder with Hua Qing.

"sister."

As she watched her two best friends walk into the subway entrance, Hua Yue suddenly called out to them.

"Ok?"

"Do you want to come home with me for New Year's Day? My mom says she misses you."

"I... I'll take another look."

Hua Qing looked away, her expression guilty: "Something might be wrong."

Hua Yue didn't say anything.

Under the streetlights, the soft light outlined Hua Qing's delicate features. Her posture remained as aloof as ever, revealing no emotion.

But Hua Yue knew perfectly well what was going on.

What "something came up"?

She simply wanted to prepare a gift for Ding Heng and celebrate his birthday.

Hua Yue sighed inwardly.

My foolish Onēsan (older sister), why can't you understand?

On his birthday, Ding Heng had to deal with Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing, which was already troublesome enough.

Where is there a place for you?

Hua Yue ultimately swallowed her true feelings and silently sighed for her cousin.

……

Huda, dormitory 412.

The game on Ding Heng's computer screen ended. He casually clicked "exit" and picked up his water glass to take a sip.

Qian Pu poked half his head out from under the bed: "Old Ding, any plans for the New Year?"

Ding Heng was stunned.

New Year's Eve?

Take another look at the date in the bottom right corner of the computer screen—December 23rd.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, the day after tomorrow is Christmas Day, then it's New Year's Eve, and then it's Longhe's and my own birthday.

"I don't have any plans."

Ding Heng casually replied, "And you?"

"I?"

Qian Pu chuckled: "I made plans with Xinran to go to the square to celebrate the New Year together. I heard there's a countdown event there."

Liu Chiwang interjected, "Come on, the square is packed with people for New Year's Eve celebrations. Last year, the news reported that tens of thousands of people were crammed together, and you had to queue for half an hour to use the toilet."

"That's still better than you playing games in your dorm room."

"Who said I play video games? I have a date, okay!"

The two started bickering, while Chen Mo quietly flipped through his book, occasionally glancing up at them.

Ding Heng didn't participate; his gaze was fixed on the view outside the window.

He wasn't particularly attached to his birthday, but he still remembered the date clearly—January 3rd.

The reason he remembered it so well was because Longhe was two days older than him, and they were born on January 1st, which was New Year's Day.

When they were children, the two families were close, so they compromised and celebrated together on January 2nd.

When cutting the cake, there are always two candles, one for him to blow out and one for Longhe to blow out.

This continued until Longhe went to Shanghai.

"Old Ding."

Chen Mo's voice pulled Ding Heng back to reality.

"Is something wrong?"

Ding Heng turned around and looked at Chen Mo, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Ding Heng glanced at Liu Chiwang and Qian Pu, who were still arguing, patted Chen Mo on the shoulder, got up and left the dormitory.

The two of them walked one after the other to the window at the end of the corridor, where the night breeze was chilly.

Ding Heng asked, "What is it?"

Chen Mo rubbed his hands together, embarrassed: "Um, I wanted to borrow some money from you."

Ding Heng raised an eyebrow: "What do you need the money for?"

"I want to go to Shanghai to spend New Year's Eve with my girlfriend and catch a concert while I'm there."

"Concert?"

"Yes, Aurora Eos, January 2nd."

"That must have cost a lot of money, right?"

"Correct!"

Chen Mo scratched his head and gave a shy smile.

"I'd been saving up for almost half a year, planning to surprise her. But I didn't expect concert tickets to be so expensive, and my budget wasn't enough..."

Aurora Eos's Shanghai concert on January 2nd coincides with Longhe's birthday, so it's no surprise that scalpers will drive up the prices to exorbitant levels.

"I won't lend you the money."

Chen Mo's expression stiffened, and Ding Heng then changed the subject.

"I'll take care of the tickets for you."

Chen Mo was stunned: "Huh?"

"What do you mean 'huh'? I said I'll get you the tickets."

"How much...how much? I'll transfer it to you now."

"Let's talk about it when you get back from Shanghai, or you might run out of money."

Ding Heng smiled and waved his hand: "You go back first, I'm going to get some fresh air."

"Thanks, Lao Ding."

Chen Mo managed to utter a few words, turned around and walked back, then turned back again after a few steps: "Thank you so much."

Ding Heng waved his hand and did not reply.

After Chen Mo disappeared at the end of the corridor, Ding Heng took out his phone and opened the Long He chat window.

[Ding Heng]: Do you still have tickets for your concert on January 2nd?

The reply popped up in less than ten seconds.

[Sister Long is a dragon, not a milk dragon]: You have to come to my concert on January 2nd!?

Even through the screen, Ding Heng could feel the excitement in Long He's words.

[Sister Long is a dragon, not a milk dragon]: Are you planning to celebrate my birthday with Sister Long this year?

Ding Heng's finger hovered above the screen.

It's almost been three years...

Longhe and I haven't celebrated our birthdays together for three years.

[Sister Long is a dragon, not a milk dragon]: [Milk dragon laughing.jpg]

[Sister Long is a dragon, not a milk dragon]: Sister Long has prepared a birthday gift for you.