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

Qianqian's mother stood in front of a black minivan, waving to the two of them. She looked even more energetic than last year.

Qianqian jogged up to greet her, saying affectionately, "Teacher Hua!"

Hua Qing patted the girl's head: "Have you been waiting long?"

"No, no, we just arrived too."

Qianqian's mother walked over quickly, her face beaming with smiles, her tone revealing undisguised eagerness.

"Teacher Hua, thank you for making this trip. This should have been a matter for us parents, but we've troubled you to take care of it..."

"Of course."

Hua Qing said calmly, "Qianqian and the others are taking an exam, which is a big deal. I feel more at ease having come along."

Qianqian's mother then turned her gaze to Ding Heng, her smile becoming even warmer: "Little Ding is here too? Teacher Hua, you are so lucky, your boyfriend is so busy but still took the time to come to the capital with you."

Ding Heng smiled calmly: "I just stopped by for a visit."

"What's so fun about the capital city?"

Qianqian's mother teased, but with just the right touch: "Clearly, they can't bear to leave Teacher Hua alone, young people like that..."

Hua Qing's ears turned slightly red, and she turned her face away, pretending not to hear.

Qianqian's mother opened the car door and warmly invited the two of them to get in: "Come on in, it's windy outside. I specially called a private car, it's more spacious and comfortable."

After getting in the car, Qianqian's mother sat in the passenger seat and occasionally turned around to chat with Hua Qing in the back seat.

She started by exclaiming dramatically, "Professor Hua, I heard about your acceptance into the Beijing Dance Academy for graduate studies. Congratulations! That's fantastic news!"

Hua Qing politely replied, "Thank you, but it hasn't been officially decided yet."

"It was bound to happen sooner or later!"

Qianqian's mother said confidently, "I was just thinking that if my Qianqian is lucky enough to get into the Beijing Dance Academy, we'll have to rely on you for help in the future."

Hua Qing glanced at Qianqian and said earnestly, "Qianqian's mom, don't worry. As long as Qianqian performs normally, she has a great chance."

"Thank you for your kind words! Thank you for your kind words!"

Qianqian's mother couldn't stop smiling. The conversation then went from the campus environment of the Beijing Dance Academy to the food in the capital, and then from the food to the climate. She chattered on and on, and every word she said was meant to please her.

Hua Qing was never good at small talk, and she struggled to keep up with responses like "um" and "ah".

Ding Heng interjected at the opportune moment: "Auntie, I heard that Qianqian passed the preliminary exam?"

Qianqian's mother said proudly, "Of course... she got into the second round of auditions for Beijing Dance Academy, Minzu University of China, and Central Academy of Drama. Teacher Hua was a huge help; if it weren't for her pushing Qianqian to practice, this girl wouldn't be where she is today..."

Seeing that Ding Heng had taken over the conversation, Hua Qing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, I had a man with me, otherwise dealing with Qianqian's mother these past few days would have drained her a lot of energy...

The car was stuck in traffic in the capital city for nearly an hour before finally stopping in front of a high-end hotel.

The four of them registered and returned to their rooms to rest.

After helping Hua Qing check her luggage, Ding Heng casually asked, "Senior, what time did you schedule with that Professor Qi?"

"Tomorrow afternoon."

Hua Qing took off her coat, revealing her slender figure wrapped in a fitted sweater.

"You seem a little nervous, senior?"

"well enough……"

"So many years have passed, what's there to be nervous about?"

Hua Qing pursed her lips and didn't reply.

"Besides, I'll be there to keep my senior company."

Ding Heng pushed his suitcase aside, stepped forward, and took Hua Qing's hand in his, gently stroking her smooth hand with his thumb.

"Um……"

Hua Qing responded softly, feeling the man's rough, large hands, which calmed her heart considerably.

The following morning, at the entrance of the Beijing Dance Academy.

Hua Qing wasn't wearing makeup or dressed up; she was simply dressed in a light blue trench coat, looking fresh and clean.

Ding Heng stood beside her, idly observing the students coming and going.

"Tsk tsk tsk, as expected, all the girls at Beijing Dance Academy are beautiful, those long legs..."

"Don't look around."

Hua Qing, embarrassed and annoyed, lightly punched Ding Heng, who then pulled her into his arms.

"It seems I'll have to visit my senior at Beijing Dance Academy more often, especially in the summer."

"you……!"

"Don't you want me to spend more time with you, senior?"

"Scumbag..."

Hua Qing nestled in Ding Heng's arms, her gaze turning towards the gate of the Beijing Dance Academy.

She knew Ding Heng was deliberately trying to make her happy and ease her mind, but her fingers still clenched unconsciously.

Beijing Dance Academy was the place she should have come to when she was eighteen.

Unfortunately, I was young and impetuous...

A white electric sedan slowly pulled up in front of the two of them. The window rolled down, revealing a gentle face.

The woman was in her early forties, with neat short hair and thin-rimmed glasses. When she smiled, there were a few faint lines at the corners of her eyes, which added to her gentle and graceful demeanor.

It is well-maintained overall and does not show many signs of age.

"Huaqing."

Qi Yanran's voice was as gentle as she was, neither hurried nor slow.

"Teacher Qi."

Hua Qing responded with a smile, but her voice was strained.

"Get in the car, it's windy outside."

"Ah."

Hua Qing nodded and pulled open the back seat.

The car started and slowly merged into the traffic.

Qi Yanran glanced at Hua Qing in the rearview mirror and said with a sigh, "I went to Shanghai to see Lingling last month, and she said you're getting more and more beautiful. Seeing you today... it's true!"

Hua Qing was a little embarrassed: "Sister Lingling was just talking nonsense..."

Qi Yanran chuckled softly: "She talked to me about it for ages, saying that you look so different, is it because you're in love?"

Hua Qing blushed slightly and didn't reply.

Qi Yanran's gaze shifted to Ding Heng, her smile deepening: "And this is him?"

Ding Heng took the initiative to speak: "Hello, Teacher Qi, my name is Ding Heng, and I am Hua Qing's boyfriend."

"Hello."

Qi Yanran jokingly asked, "I heard from Lingling that you won over Hua Qing in just three months?"

"Why does Sister Lingling tell everyone everything!"

Hua Qing glared at Ding Heng resentfully, while Ding Heng looked innocent and shrugged.

Qi Yanran quietly observed the interaction between the two and recalled with emotion, "Hua Qing, you weren't like this before. Back then, if a boy wanted to talk to you, he would just be asking for trouble."

"Teacher Qi..."

"It seems that being in a relationship does have its advantages; at least it makes things less cold and distant."

Hua Qing was so ashamed that she couldn't lift her head.

"Teacher Qi, please stop making fun of me..."

Qi Yanran smiled and didn't continue the topic.

"By the way, how is your mother's health?"

"It's great, I was thinking of you before the New Year."

"When you have time, invite your mother to visit the capital. If she hadn't been injured back then, she probably could have come to the Beijing Dance Academy too..."

Hua Qing lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously twisting together.

Four years ago, she ran away back to Xingcheng in a fit of pique, not only wasting her own life but also abandoning the expectations her mother had placed on her.

"It's all in the past, don't think about it too much."

Qi Yanran softened her tone and turned into a side street, stopping in front of a courtyard-style private restaurant.

The storefront is small, with blue bricks and gray tiles, and looks unassuming, but it exudes a sense of not being cheap.

Qi Yanran turned off the engine, opened the door, and got out of the car.

Hua Qing followed behind, glancing up at the wooden plaque above the entrance: "Teacher Qi, this way..."

Qi Yanran turned around: "What's wrong?"

"It must be quite expensive."

"It's alright, the teacher is treating us today."

Qi Yanran glanced at Ding Heng and joked again, "If you're really embarrassed, you can have your boyfriend pay the bill."

Hua Qing smiled awkwardly and didn't say anything more.

Passing through a moon gate, you enter a small courtyard.

The ground is paved with blue bricks, a clump of green bamboo grows in the corner, and a few koi fish swim leisurely in a stone vat.

The waiter led the three into an elegant private room with wooden window frames, Xuan paper lamps, and a traditional Chinese ink painting of landscapes hanging on the wall.

Qi Yanran handed the menu to Hua Qing: "Take a look and see what you'd like to eat."