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

Hua Yue lay leisurely in the back seat, holding a bag of potato chips in her hand, crunching away.

She gestured with her chin towards Zhao Yanxi and said, "Hi."

Zhao Yanxi bent down and squeezed in, her tone resentful: "So I was the last one to get on the bus."

Wenjing explained, "Since your school is the farthest away, I went to pick up Sister Man and Huayue first."

Zhao Yanxi suddenly remembered something: "Um... Lin Man, don't you have your own car?"

Before Lin Man could speak, Hua Yue interjected, "We're going shopping. It's so inconvenient to drive two cars. What are you thinking?"

Zhao Yanxi's eyes deepened with resentment...

Goodness, these two chatted with Lin Man in the group chat until they got 999+ messages during the day, and then they even spoke up for the vixen offline.

What happened to our sisterhood?!

"Too."

Zhao Yanxi responded awkwardly, her gaze shifting to the window.

The four arrived at a large wholesale market in the south of the city.

According to Lin Man, the decoration materials here have the most complete range and are cheaper than those in shopping malls, making it convenient to buy everything at once.

The group got off the bus, with Lin Man walking in front, holding a densely packed shopping list in her hand.

Wenjing followed beside her, asking questions every now and then, and Lin Man would patiently explain.

"You should buy extra-thick balloons so they won't break easily. The ribbons should be matte; they look better in photos."

"Oh, Sister Man, you know so much..."

Wenjing nodded, took the style Lin Man had specified from the shelf, and put it into the shopping cart.

Hua Yue walked behind, continuing to munch on her potato chips.

Zhao Yanxi followed beside Hua Yue, her gaze fixed on Lin Man and Wen Jing's backs, her expression subtle.

Hua Yue nudged her with her elbow: "What are you looking at?"

"nothing."

Zhao Yanxi withdrew her gaze and quickened her pace to catch up.

The group spent nearly an hour browsing in the market, their shopping carts overflowing.

Every time Lin Man took something, she would explain its purpose and precautions to Wen Jing. Wen Jing listened attentively and would occasionally ask a few more questions.

The two worked together seamlessly and naturally, more like longtime friends.

Zhao Yanxi saw this and her unease grew stronger.

She leaned close to Hua Yue's ear and asked, "Hua Yue, how come she gets along so well with Xiao Jingjing?"

Hua Yue glanced at her: "He took the initiative to make a move, and you know Wenjing's personality, how could she refuse?"

"But……"

"But what 'but'? She didn't offend you, so why are you always targeting her? If you think she stole your man, why don't you go and take it out on Ding Heng..."

Zhao Yanxi was speechless and walked forward sullenly.

After purchasing the items on the shopping list, Lin Man suggested going to the nearby shopping mall: "Since we're out and about, let's buy some spring clothes while we're at it."

Wenjing was the first to nod: "Okay, I was just thinking of buying a light jacket."

Hua Yue chimed in, "Let's go, let's go, I need some clothes too."

Zhao Yanxi wanted to refuse, but with the votes going in three to one, she had no choice but to go with the flow...

There weren't many people in the mall, and the girls seemed quite comfortable shopping there.

Lin Man walked to the entrance of a women's clothing store, suddenly stopped, and looked at a light blue dress in the window.

"This one looks good."

She turned her head, glanced at Zhao Yanxi, then at the dress: "Yanxi, we're about the same size, why don't we try it on together?"

"I……"

Zhao Yanxi instinctively wanted to refuse.

"Let's go, let's try it on first, and then we'll wear it together for Ding Heng to see next time."

"Huh?"

What do you mean?

I don't want to wear the same clothes as you when meeting other men!

Lin Man took Zhao Yanxi's arm and half-pulled, half-dragged her into the fitting room.

Zhao Yanxi was a little stunned by Lin Man's enthusiasm. By the time she came to her senses, she was already standing in the fitting room.

Lin Man handed over two dresses of the same style but different colors, one light blue and one moon white, and gave the moon white one to Zhao Yanxi.

"Try this color, it suits your skin tone."

Zhao Yanxi took it and looked at it, then did not refuse again.

The curtain was drawn, and the two of them changed their clothes.

Just as Zhao Yanxi had taken off all her clothes, she heard Lin Man exclaim in surprise.

"Yan hope, you have abs!"

Zhao Yanxi glanced down at her waist and abdomen, then looked at Lin Man again, showing a hint of embarrassment.

Compared to herself, Lin Man's abs were much smoother, clearly the result of years of consistent fitness training.

Lin Man asked sincerely, "Yan hope, do you work out regularly?"

Zhao Yanxi answered honestly, "I practice yoga occasionally, and I also go for a run on the playground when I'm at school."

"No wonder she has such a great figure."

Lin Man's tone was natural, not like flattery.

"You have a great figure too."

Zhao Yanxi responded politely, but then realized that she had actually praised Lin Man, and felt a little awkward.

Lin Man immediately followed up, "Then we can work out together from now on. I've been looking for a workout buddy lately! It's too boring to work out alone, and I can never stick to it."

Is this appropriate?

"What's inappropriate about it? It's just working out. Maybe we'll do more things together in the future."

Lin Man's smile was alluring, and her words were almost a direct hint.

Zhao Yanxi responded with an "oh," neither agreeing nor refusing.

The two women changed into their dresses and stood in front of the mirror.

Lin Man is indeed very nice; the dress perfectly suits their styles.

Lin Man turned her head to look at Zhao Yanxi, and suddenly spoke up: "Yanxi, can I tell you a few things from the heart?"

Zhao Yanxi was taken aback and subconsciously looked up at the mirror.

Lin Man's gaze met Zhao Yanxi's in the mirror, and her face became more serious.

"Don't tell Ding Heng."

"What?"

Zhao Yanxi blinked, her heartstrings tightening.

Lin Man lowered her eyes, her fingers gently stroking the hem of her skirt, and said in a softer tone, "Actually... I'm quite envious of you and Wenjing."

Zhao Yanxi asked in bewilderment, "What do you envy about us?"

"Being pampered."

Lin Man's smile was bitter: "Ding Heng really cares about you, unlike me..."

What's wrong with you?

“I always felt that Ding Heng was just playing around with me. I’m really afraid that one day he’ll get tired of me and leave me.”

"Isn't it?"

Zhao Yan wanted to look at Lin Man's alluring yet forlorn face in the mirror, and almost subconsciously spoke up.

"Impossible! Ding Heng isn't that kind of person!"

After saying that, Zhao Yanxi froze completely... Was she trying to comfort Lin Man?

Lin Man sighed and laughed: "Look, you have the confidence to say such things, while I wouldn't dare to at all..."

Zhao Yanxi was speechless for a moment. After thinking for a few seconds, she finally couldn't help but ask, "How did you manage to stay by Ding Heng's side?"

"Well..."

Lin Man slowly recounted, "I didn't think too much about it at first. I just thought he was a really interesting person, different from other guys. He wouldn't fawn over me right away, nor would he put on airs or act aloof. Being with him was quite comfortable."

Later, I gradually found myself caring more and more about him. If he was slow to reply to my messages, I would overthink things. If he didn't contact me, I would feel empty... Before I knew it, I couldn't live without him.

I know he has other women around him, and I feel ridiculous, even pathetic, for throwing myself at him, but thinking about it... that's all I can do. I can't live without him.

The fitting room fell completely silent.

Zhao Yanxi's heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

The process Lin Man described was all too familiar to her; it could even be said that she had personally experienced it.

Zhao Yanxi softened her tone and asked again, "How has Ding Heng usually treated you?"

"It's alright..."

Lin Man looked away and gave a vague response, as if she was deliberately avoiding the topic.

Zhao Yanxi wanted to ask more, but Hua Yue's shout came from outside the curtain.

"Have you two changed yet? What are you dawdling about!"

"I'm coming!"