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

"I'll be quite busy after the New Year, so I might not have time. What about you, senior? Will you be going?"

"Me? I'm not going either."

"Why? Don't you have time either?"

"No."

Lin Man's lips curved into a smile.

"Because I made that up."

Bai Zhiya was stunned into silence.

one second.

two seconds.

The expression on his face went from bewilderment to shock, then from shock to shame and anger, and finally settled on embarrassment.

Bai Ma chewed on some sand turtle meat, looked at Lin Man and then at Bai Zhiya, and almost couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Ding Heng remained expressionless, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents on the table, focusing solely on serving food to Bai Ma.

"Eat yours."

He tapped the rim of Baima's bowl with his chopsticks.

Baima quickly lowered her head, suppressing her laughter, but her shoulders were still shaking.

Bai Zhiya gripped the chopsticks tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white.

She took a deep breath and tried her best to maintain her composure.

"I suddenly remembered I have something to do, so I'll have to go now."

She stood up, dragging her chair back with a screeching sound.

"Wu Lan, let's go."

Bai Zhiya didn't look at Ding Heng or Lin Man again, picked up her bag and walked out.

Wu Lan followed behind, her steps hurried.

The door closed.

The private room was silent for a few seconds.

Baima finally couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing, laughing so hard she almost fell over.

"Sister Man, you're so mean!"

She laughed until tears almost streamed down her face: "Look at her, hahahaha..."

Lin Man ignored her and turned to observe Ding Heng, who remained expressionless.

"What's wrong? Are you angry?"

She tilted her head slightly, her tone coquettish and ingratiating, as if she were genuinely afraid that Ding Heng would be angry about it.

Ding Heng poured water for Baima, and without even looking up, asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'll make your classmate leave."

Lin Man continued to probe, "You won't blame me, will you?"

Ding Heng spoke frankly: "It's alright, but I just feel it's quite unnecessary..."

There was no romantic relationship between him and Bai Zhiya, and his help was only out of consideration for their friendship. Lin Man was such a shrewd person that she couldn't possibly not see through it.

If she wants to show off, let her. Why make her feel embarrassed?

Now it was Lin Man's turn to be dumbfounded, and she couldn't say a word for a moment.

Ding Heng continued to serve food to Bai Ma: "Don't eat too much, or you won't be able to sleep tonight."

"Sister Man, try this pig's trotter, it's incredibly delicious!"

"Oh……"

Lin Man came to her senses and tried to cover up her emotions by eating.

She didn't know what was wrong with her.

Whether Bai Zhiya is showing off or trying to curry favor with Ding Heng, what does it have to do with her?

She also disliked Ding Heng.

She just... just couldn't stand those pretentious women.

Yes, that's it.

Lin Man tried to find a reason for herself, but she couldn't even convince herself.

After all, when it comes to putting on an act, who can outdo her?

When she entered the room, she saw Bai Zhiya sitting opposite Ding Heng, smiling sweetly and speaking intimately, as if she were very familiar with Ding Heng.

She felt uncomfortable at the time.

It's not because I'm jealous.

It's because I feel... it's beneath me.

Among the women around Ding Heng, both Hua Qing and Zhao Yanxi are ten times better looking than Bai Zhiya.

How dare someone like this get close to Ding Heng?

Lin Man took another sip of tea to suppress the jumbled thoughts in her mind.

Baima's tongue lolled out from the spiciness. She picked up her cup and took a big gulp of water, then changed the subject, asking, "Sister Man, aren't you going home for the New Year?"

Lin Man put down her teacup: "I won't go back."

Ding Heng then asked, "Lin Man, are you spending the New Year alone in Xingcheng?"

Lin Man turned her head to look at him, her tone becoming charming and languid again: "What, want to keep me company?"

Ding Heng didn't respond and continued to serve food to Bai Ma.

Seeing that Ding Heng didn't react, Lin Man added, "I'm fine on my own, it's peaceful."

She regretted it as soon as she said it.

That's being said, as if you're burying your head in the sand, implying something...

Feeling embarrassed, she quickly changed the subject.

"Pema, when are you going to Tibet?"

"It's the second day of the Lunar New Year. My mother said I should go back home and stay for a few days."

Is there a difference between Tibetan New Year and Lunar New Year?

"It's all pretty much the same, just pointless noise! ​​Staying on the plateau is uncomfortable, and you have to eat a bunch of random stuff..."

Pema frowned, clearly not thinking that returning to Tibet was a good thing.

The two started chatting, and the topic quickly turned to games.

Baima enthusiastically told Lin Man what she had been playing lately, and Lin Man responded with a few words from time to time.

Ding Heng didn't say much throughout the meal, only occasionally putting food on Bai Ma's plate or reminding her to eat slowly.

After finishing their meal, the group went downstairs.

The wind was cold at the door, and Bai Ma hunched her neck and hid behind Ding Heng.

Lin Man stood at the bottom of the steps and looked back at him.

"Then I'll go first."

"Ah."

Ding Heng nodded, his tone indifferent.

Lin Man waited a second, and seeing that Ding Heng had no intention of saying anything more, she turned around and walked towards her car.

She took two steps, then turned back.

Ding Heng was tying a scarf around Baima's neck and didn't even look at her.

Lin Man looked away, opened the car door, and got in.

The car started, and she took one last look through the window.

Ding Heng led Baima by the hand, his tall figure moving at a steady pace.

Lin Man looked away and stepped on the gas.

The car drove out of the alley and merged into the traffic.

She gripped the steering wheel, her thoughts a jumbled mess.

What am I even doing?!

Her reason told her to stay away from Ding Heng.

This man is too dangerous. If you get involved, you'll definitely come to a bad end.

But she just couldn't help it.

Seeing Bai Zhiya sitting opposite Ding Heng and fawning over him, she wanted to embarrass her.

Seeing that Ding Heng was ignoring her, she wanted to tease him and get him to look at her more.

Seeing him tie the scarf around Baima's neck and walk away without looking back, she felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.

It felt like something was blocking my way, I couldn't go up or down.

Lin Man gripped the steering wheel tightly, took a deep breath, and tried to regain her composure.

Back to the upscale apartment where I lived.

As the elevator ascends, the numbers on it jump one by one.

Lin Man leaned against the elevator wall, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

She was wearing no makeup, a black sweater, wide-leg pants, and canvas shoes.