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

Baima followed behind him: "Brother, I'll go with you."

What are you going to do?

"Let's go see Uncle Ding."

Baima said matter-of-factly, "She's an elder, after all. Shouldn't I go and visit her when she's in the hospital?"

Ding Heng glanced at her and didn't refuse again.

The two went out again, got into the car, and drove towards the hospital, eventually arriving at a high-end private hospital.

The hospital is located at the foot of Yuelu Mountain, in a quiet and beautiful environment with excellent landscaping. It looks more like a resort than a hospital.

Ding Heng parked the car, picked up the thermos, and walked into the inpatient building with Bai Ma.

The elevator reached the sixth floor, and Ding Heng quickly went to the ward and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Ding Wenjie's voice was strong and resonant.

Ding Heng pushed open the door and went in.

The ward is a suite, with a living room outside and a bedroom inside.

Ding Wenjie lay half-reclined on the bed, his right leg dangling in mid-air, his right hand wrapped in bandages.

Qu Zhen was sitting on the side of the bed peeling an apple, but her knife skills weren't very good, and the apple peel was broken in pieces.

Hearing the door open, the two turned around at the same time.

"Oh, you've arrived?"

Ding Wenjie raised an eyebrow: "Do you still remember your biological father?"

"Hey... how dare you say that?"

Ding Heng placed the thermos on the bedside table: "He's almost dead, and he won't even make a phone call to his own son to make his final arrangements?"

Why would I call you? You're not a doctor.

Ding Wenjie said nonchalantly, "Besides, you're having a great time in Europe, and I don't want to bother you."

Ding Heng pulled up a chair and sat down, looking his father up and down.

"Being chased by a lion?"

"I was too close when I took the picture and didn't notice."

Ding Wenjie said casually, "That lion looked lazy, but who knew it would suddenly pounce and charge at us."

"and then?"

"Then I ran, and while I was running, I stepped into a hole."

Ding Wenjie said with lingering fear, "I was terrified at the time. It wasn't until the lion darted past me that I realized it was going after the zebra behind me. It scared me to death."

Ding Heng was silent for two seconds, then burst out laughing.

"Are you still laughing?"

"No, Dad, I just wanted to ask..."

Ding Heng suppressed a laugh and said, enunciating each word clearly, "You're almost fifty. If a lion really wanted to chase you, could you escape?"

"Your old man is still as nimble as a mule!"

"No protective measures were taken? Where is the local guide?"

"Hmm...it's a long story."

Ding Wenjie scratched his head, his face showing embarrassment.

Qu Zhen laughed out loud, cut the peeled apple into small pieces, put them in a plate, stuck a toothpick in it, and handed it to Ding Wenjie.

Ding Wenjie took the plate with his left hand and began chewing on the apple in silence.

"You really are my father..."

Ding Heng could guess that his own father had gotten off the bus to get closer to the viewpoint despite the tour guide's warnings, in order to get a better angle or visual effect, which led to the series of events that followed.

How are you feeling now?

"It's alright, the bone has been set, and the doctor said the cast can be removed after two months of rest."

Ding Wenjie mumbled, "Your Aunt Qu Zhen hired two caregivers for me, working in shifts 24 hours a day. The treatment is better than a five-star hotel."

Ding Heng turned to Qu Zhen and said, "Auntie, thank you for your trouble."

"Small things."

Qu Zhen shook her head, her tone gentle.

Bai Ma peeked out from behind Ding Heng and waved to Ding Wenjie: "Hello, Uncle Ding."

"Pema is here too?"

Ding Wenjie smiled broadly: "Come, sit down, don't stand."

Bai Ma obediently sat down on the edge of the bed: "Uncle Ding, does it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Uncle, what do African lions look like up close? How are they different from those in zoos?"

"Hmm... I can't quite put my finger on it, maybe a bit wilder?"

The two chatted back and forth, with Baima showing far more interest in the lion than in Ding Wenjie's injuries.

Qu Zhen suddenly stood up and winked at Ding Heng.

Ding Heng understood and pulled Bai Ma out of the ward.

The three of them walked to the end of the corridor, entered a small meeting room, and sat down.

"Xiao Ding, there's something I need to tell you and Baima."

"Auntie, please tell me."

"Your father and I have already discussed it and are preparing to break up."

As soon as the words were spoken, Ding Heng didn't react much, but Bai Ma was instantly stunned.

Qu Zhen continued, "It will probably be in one or two months, after his leg injury heals."

Baima stammered, "Mom...you and Uncle Ding..."

Qu Zhen sighed and softened her voice.

"Your Uncle Ding and I didn't have a fight, and it's not like either of us wronged the other. It's just... after spending more than a year together, I feel like we're still not quite right for each other."

"But you..."

"We actually get along well in terms of personality."

Qu Zhen interrupted her daughter, speaking calmly: "Your Uncle Ding is an honest, kind, and talented man, and he's good to me too. I'm very happy when I'm with him."

Bai Ma then turned her gaze to Ding Heng, hoping that Ding Heng could say a few words of advice to her mother.

Ding Heng remained silent.

He had long anticipated this day.

The "love" between the father and Quzhen was destined to be short-lived from the very beginning.

Having come this far, Qu Zhen would never simply abandon her responsibilities as a manager.

More than 90% of her achievements and recognition in life come from her career, and her relationship with Ding Wenjie is just to make up for some regret.

In a sense, Ding Wenjie was even her first love in the true sense, and first loves are often imperfect.

In addition, Ding Wenjie is used to being a wild person and needs to travel all over the world, so he can't always be by Qu Zhen's side to provide emotional support.

Two adults in their forties may pursue romance for a while, but ultimately they must return to reality.

Being together for over a year has exceeded Ding Heng's expectations.

Qu Zhen spoke again: "Xiao Ding, I'm telling you this so you can be mentally prepared. You should also try to persuade your father not to go to any dangerous places again."

"I couldn't persuade him."

Ding Heng shrugged: "Auntie, you've been with him for over a year, don't you know what kind of person he is?"

Qu Zhen shook her head helplessly.

As Baima listened to the two talking back and forth, her mind was in a jumble.

"Mother..."

She was actually the most sentimental one.

Qu Zhen softened her tone: "Don't worry, Mom and your Uncle Ding have discussed it and decided that our two families will still be friends. When I have some free time, and your Uncle Ding doesn't want to travel anymore, maybe we can make do and spend our old age together."

Ding Heng said politely, "Auntie, you will always be my respected elder."

Qu Zhen smiled and said, "You're a good boy, Xiao Ding. You'll have to take good care of Bai Ma in Xingcheng from now on."

"Of course! I'll go check on my dad again..."

Ding Heng got up and left. Bai Ma subconsciously wanted to follow, but Qu Zhen pressed her shoulder down.

"Don't rush, Mom has something else to tell you."

Bai Ma obediently sat back down and watched Ding Heng walk away into the distance.

Back in the ward, Ding Wenjie was leaning against the pillows, lost in thought.

The caregiver ladled out the soup, and seeing Ding Heng enter, she tactfully withdrew.

Ding Heng sat down by the bedside, picked up the soup bowl, and fed the child spoonful by spoonful.

Ding Wenjie took a few sips and suddenly spoke.

"Did your Aunt Quzhen tell you all that?"

"Ah."

What do you think?