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

Hou Wangyan picked up her soup bowl, took a sip, and suddenly asked, "Qingqing, do you have a photo of your boyfriend?"

Hua Qing silently picked up some food and said, "He doesn't like taking pictures."

"Are there still young people who don't like taking photos these days? Even if they're not good-looking?"

Hua Qing didn't reply, focusing on eating the rice in her bowl.

Hou Wangyan put down her chopsticks and her tone suddenly became serious: "Hua Qing, are you hiding something from me?"

Hua Qing looked up and met her mother's gaze, then quickly looked away.

"No."

"You've always been like this since you were little; you can't look people in the eye when you lie."

Hua Qing placed her chopsticks on the rim of the bowl and didn't move them.

Hou Wangyan stopped beating around the bush: "Hua Qing, are you... being kept by someone?"

Hua Qing replied hesitantly, "No, it doesn't count."

What do you mean by "doesn't count"?

He said I was his girlfriend, and I was willing to be his girlfriend.

"you……"

Hou Wangyan was speechless for a moment, so she simply asked directly.

Did he give you money?

"Yes, it was given."

"How many?"

"I currently have a fixed allowance of 60,000 yuan per month... plus some other expenses."

Hou Wangyan gasped.

Sixty thousand!?

"And then he even rented an apartment and bought a car for you in the capital?"

"Ah."

"No wonder you had the money to travel all over Europe during the summer vacation..."

Hou Wangyan gave a bitter smile.

She wasn't angry, nor did she object; she simply asked softly, "When will you bring it back for me and your dad to see?"

Hua Qing lowered her head, her voice muffled: "Can we wait a little longer?"

Hou Wangyan picked up her chopsticks again, took a piece of lettuce and put it into Hua Qing's bowl, her tone softening.

"Don't worry, learning to dance isn't a major life decision. It's your choice, Mom won't force you!"

Hua Qing didn't say anything, lowered her head, and ate the rice in her bowl one bite at a time.

……

Meanwhile, at a riverside hotel restaurant.

Ding Heng's chopsticks froze in mid-air, his eyes suddenly glazing over.

Lin Man had just peeled a shrimp and was about to put it into Ding Heng's bowl.

"Boss? What's wrong?"

"nothing."

Ding Heng snapped out of his daze and shook his head.

He picked up the water glass on the table, took a sip, and then looked back out the window.

In my mind, the system interface slowly faded away.

[Progress of severing emotional ties: 2%]

The numbers, which hadn't moved for a long time, suddenly started jumping again.

(Don't worry, it won't be any melodramatic or sentimental stuff!)

Chapter 213: Everyone's New Home

Afterwards, the three of them spent two days in Fenghuang Ancient Town, wandering around at their own pace without any formal itinerary.

Midway through, Lin Man really enjoyed pulling Hua Qing to change into ethnic costumes and then taking photos together.

Hua Qing complained that Lin Man "only knows how to make things difficult," but in the end, she would always change her clothes and stand in front of the camera, posing cooperatively.

Ding Heng was happy to have some free time. He followed behind with his camera, occasionally snapping a couple of photos, but mostly just watching them fool around.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of her return journey, Hua Qing said goodbye to her family and, under the pretext of "hiking back to Xingcheng," picked up a small suitcase and sat in the back seat of the Mercedes.

The car drove out of Fenghuang Ancient Town and headed towards Xingcheng along the highway.

Hua Qing and Lin Man sat side by side in the back seat, while Ding Heng drove, glancing at them through the rearview mirror.

Lin Man leaned towards Hua Qing: "Sister Qing, did you have fun these past few days?"

"good."

Hua Qing looked straight ahead, her tone calm.

"Shall we find another place to go in a few days?"

"Need not."

"Don't be a spoilsport... Anyway, there are still about ten days left in summer vacation, and since you didn't get the role, there's no rush to go back to the capital."

Hua Qing didn't reply, her eyes filled with resentment...

That wicked fox was definitely doing it on purpose, deliberately bringing up the very thing he didn't want to talk about!

Lin Man continued, "If you really don't want to go out, then for the next few days, Sister Qing, you can stay at a hotel with the boss."

"why?"

"Eat your fill!"

Lin Man said matter-of-factly, "After the summer vacation, Sister Qing, aren't you going to the capital to study for your master's degree? You won't be able to eat it even if you want to then."

Hua Qing was stunned for a second, then her face was full of embarrassment and annoyance after she realized what was happening

"Lin Man!"

"I was talking about food... I don't like the food in the capital, Sister Qing, where are you thinking of going?"

Lin Man looked completely innocent.

Hua Qing raised her hand to punch her, but Lin Man dodged with a smile. Hua Qing persisted and pounced on her, and the two of them started making a ruckus in the back seat.

"Sister Qing, what are you doing!"

"you shut up!"

"I didn't say anything, it's your own heart!"

"Still talking!"

……

Looking in the rearview mirror, Ding Heng saw two long legs crossed in the back seat, one resting on the edge of the seat and the other half hanging in the air.

Lin Man wore 5D gradient gray stockings, while Hua Qing had bare, white legs.

One above the other, one white and one gray, they dazzled the eyes in the afternoon light.

Ding Heng withdrew his gaze and let out a long breath.

When the "severance of emotional ties" value suddenly jumped the day before yesterday, his heart skipped a beat.

Hua Qing has a rather introverted personality. She never speaks her mind directly, keeping things bottled up inside until they ferment to a certain point before suddenly exploding.

He had worried and considered asking.

But from yesterday to today, Hua Qing's behavior showed no abnormality.

She's actually a bit more lively than before.

Although she still had that aloof demeanor, she would talk back when Lin Man teased her, and occasionally even take the initiative to say a few words, unlike before when she would only say "um," "oh," or "I know."

The way Hua Qing was playfully fighting with Lin Man in the back seat just now was something she would never have done in the past.

Ding Heng glanced at the rearview mirror again.

Lin Man was helping Hua Qing straighten her collar, which had been pulled askew; the two moved naturally together.

He figured that the one percent fluctuation in the emotional ties severance value wasn't a bad thing.

Perhaps Hua Qing's nerves had loosened a little.

As for the reason—

It was probably Lin Man who, intentionally or unintentionally, guided him during those two days in Fenghuang.

Hua Qing didn't say it, but she knew it in her heart.

Lin Man's visit to Fenghuang was ostensibly a "stopover," but in reality, it was paving the way for her and preparing her family for potential problems.

Hua Qing is stubborn and never says "thank you".

But I was still somewhat touched...

Ding Heng snapped out of his thoughts. The car drove through a tunnel, where the light dimmed and then brightened again.

The noise from the back seat gradually subsided. Hua Qing leaned back in her chair, her hair a little messy, and a blush still lingering on her face.

Lin Man leaned over and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Sister Qing, you've torn your stockings..."

"You provoked me first."