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

The word “outsider” was pronounced with extra emphasis.

Lin Man stepped forward, her smile polite and her tone warm: "Yan hope, it's been a long time."

Zhao Yanxi forced a smile: "Long time no see."

Ding Heng interjected at the opportune moment: "Weren't you planning a birthday surprise for Sister Hua Qing? I specially invited her best friend to come and offer you some ideas."

"Best friend!?"

Zhao Yanxi looked suspicious.

She had known Hua Qing for so long, but Hua Qing had never mentioned Lin Man at all.

Lin Man remained calm and said generously, "I am the vice-captain of the dance team, and Hua Qing is the captain. We usually get along very well!"

Zhao Yanxi didn't reply, but turned to look at Hua Yue with a questioning look in her eyes—"Really?"

Hua Yue sat up from the sofa, shrugged, and looked innocent: "Don't look at me, I don't know anything about my sister's social circle. But the fact that she can make friends is a miracle in itself."

Zhao Yanxi's lips twitched slightly.

But then I thought about it again, and Hua Qing was indeed with Lin Man on the Lantern Festival, and the two of them were even able to take pictures happily.

Although I dislike the vixen, I have to consider the bigger picture.

She endures!

Zhao Yanxi looked away and grabbed Ding Heng's arm: "Let's go upstairs and discuss it further."

Five people sat in a circle in a private room at the hotel's tea restaurant.

Zhao Yanxi took out a palm-sized notebook from her bag and opened it. It was filled with all sorts of birthday surprise ideas she had collected over the past few days.

She cleared her throat, about to take charge, when Lin Man spoke first.

"The captain doesn't like overly flamboyant scenes."

"what?"

Zhao Yanxi blinked, only to see Lin Man looking completely professional.

“The captain looks cold, but she’s actually quite afraid of awkward situations. If you try to pull off the kind of 'a group of people suddenly jumping out and shouting 'Surprise,' her first reaction will definitely be to want to crawl into a hole and disappear… But it can’t be too quiet either; we have to find the right balance.”

Lin Man continued, "Also, use white and light green for the colors; those are the two colors most often in the captain's wardrobe. Use fewer balloons; she finds them too noisy. Prepare more flowers, especially white lisianthus; she always keeps those on her desk."

Zhao Yanxi glanced down at the "pink balloons + flower petals" design on her notebook and silently crossed it out in her mind.

"besides!"

Lin Man picked up her teacup and took a sip: "Don't make the cake too sweet, she doesn't eat anything too sweet."

Zhao Yanxi simply closed her notebook and waited for Lin Man to speak.

Hua Yue's eyes widened even more. As Hua Qing's cousin, she thought she knew her cousin well enough.

Compared to Lin Man, the "Master of Clear Skies" in front of him, he felt like an outsider!

"Don't use bright lights when decorating, just warm yellow ones, and use low wattage ones, because she doesn't like things that are too bright."

Lin Man continued talking: "Also, the gift should be as practical as possible, or something special. She doesn't like those fancy handicrafts..."

Hua Yue was completely convinced.

She leaned close to Zhao Yanxi's ear and whispered, "She knows my sister so well, she seems to really be my sister's best friend."

Zhao Yanxi glanced at her and lowered her voice as well: "What, she's your sister's friend, so you're going to side with her? What did you say last time?"

What did I say?

"You said you'd help me even if it were your own sister on the other end!"

Hua Yue chuckled awkwardly and guiltily looked away.

Your older sister can help you, but your cousin might not.

But then again, if Lin Man and her cousin are good friends, then what about her ambiguous relationship with Ding Heng?

Can you just casually stick to your friend's man?

Hua Yue glanced furtively at Zhao Yanxi, then at Wen Jing, and a bold idea suddenly popped into her head.

No way...

Is Lin Man's relationship with her cousin the same as Wen Jing's with Zhao Yanxi?

The more she thought about it, the more outrageous it seemed, yet the more possible it appeared.

My cousin, who is usually aloof and elegant, like a fairy descended from heaven, is actually with her best friend...

Hua Yue's gaze finally settled on Ding Heng.

The man was leaning back in his chair, scrolling through his phone, completely oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around the table, appearing utterly carefree and unconcerned.

Hua Yue's anger surged.

What right does that scoundrel have?

He's enjoyed all the blessings of having multiple wives!

"Hua Yue?"

Lin Man's voice pulled her back to reality.

"what?"

Hua Yue snapped out of her daze and met Lin Man's gaze.

Lin Man handed over her phone; the screen displayed an outrageously detailed plan.

From venue setup and scheduling to gift list and staff assignments, even Hua Qing's possible reactions were anticipated.

Lin Man said politely, "You're her cousin, so see if there's anything that needs to be changed?"

Hua Yue took the phone, scrolled through it from beginning to end, and finally silently handed it back: "You know my sister better than I do. If you think she likes it, then go with your plan."

Lin Man put her phone away: "Okay, let's create a group chat first for easier communication. Does anyone have all of our WeChat accounts?"

There was a moment of silence on the table.

The group looked at each other, their gazes sweeping over each other before finally settling in the same direction.

Ding Heng's coffee cup stopped in mid-air, looking up to meet four pairs of eyes.

"I...I'll do it!"

He put down his cup, took out his phone, and added the five people present to a group chat.

Group name: 【Hua Qing's Surprise】

Hua Yue glanced at the group name and suddenly asked a question.

"Given my sister's aloof personality, do you think this is a pleasant surprise?"

Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing exchanged a glance, neither of them feeling confident.

With Hua Qing's personality, her first reaction to receiving a surprise is likely not to be moved, but rather to ask expressionlessly, "What are you doing?"

"rest assured!"

Lin Man slammed her hand on the table, her smile forced and insincere.

"I promise to give her a huge surprise she'll never forget!"

Chapter 169: The Wicked Fox Outwits the Kitten

27th floor of Chujiang Hotel

Zhao Yanxi walked out of the bedroom in a daze and slumped onto the soft sofa in the living room, her two bare legs crossed and draped over the edge of the sofa, like a lazy kitten that had just woken up.

She wriggled over and hugged Wenjing, burying her head in the two soft, round mounds of the little white rabbit, and murmured, "Where is the man..."

"I'm off to class."

"Aren't you going?"

"We still have to wait for you to get up so I can take you back to school."

Since Ding Heng provided Wenjing with a car, the three of them have been traveling between the hotel and school more frequently.

Firstly, starting from the second semester of freshman year, the school no longer strictly investigates freshman accommodation issues.

Secondly, since Wenjing has a car, Ding Heng doesn't have to wait around to take them back all the time, so he naturally has more free time.

Seeing that Zhao Yanxi looked like she was about to fall asleep on her chest again, Wenjing quickly pushed her away, saying, "Hurry up and go wash up, I have class later!"

"Oh……"

Zhao Yanxi got up and yawned, when suddenly she heard a "ding-dong" sound and her phone screen lit up.

When I turned on the screen, I saw a group chat message from "Hua Qing's Surprise".

Zhao Yanxi scrolled up...

While she was still in bed, Wenjing Huayue was already chatting away with Lin Man in the group chat, with over 999 messages!

Why don't they usually chat like this? They can't even utter a single word in the group chat!

Zhao Yanxi pouted and went back to the bottom of the message.

[Lin Hu Leads the Way]: @Good Luck Xiao Jing @Lucky Xiao Zhao @Lucky Xiao Yue

[Linhu Leads the Way]: [Document] "Hua Qing's Birthday Surprise Implementation Plan V1.0"

[Lin Hu Leads the Way]: Everyone, please take a look first, and feel free to raise any opinions you may have.

Zhao Yanxi opened the file and was startled.

Good guy.

Seven whole pages!

From venue setup and timelines to personnel assignments and alternative plans, even every word Hua Qing might say was anticipated and countermeasures were prepared in advance.

Is it really necessary?

Zhao Yanxi muttered something and exited the file.