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

"You'll definitely take me with you."

Baima shrugged: "Uncle isn't going to be with her this year either. I can't just leave her all alone."

Do you want to go back?

"Whether you want to or not, you have to go back."

Baima's two short legs swung even faster: "My mom is all alone. Although she doesn't say it, she's actually quite tired. She has to worry about all those herders, those officials, and all those messy things. I can't help much when I go back, but at least I can keep her company and talk to her."

Ding Heng didn't speak, but also reached out and gently rubbed Bai Ma's head.

Bai Ma didn't dodge, letting Ding Heng rub her hair until it was all messed up.

Ding Heng withdrew his hand: "Do you want me to go back with you?"

"No need. I can manage on my own."

Baima chuckled and added, "Besides, you have so many sisters-in-law to keep you company, you can't spare the time."

"You're quite considerate of me."

"Of course, she's your most caring little sister."

Bai Ma tilted her head and smiled at him, looking so cute.

Back in the villa's garage, Ding Heng turned off the engine and looked at Bai Ma.

Baima was unbuckling his seatbelt, fiddling with the buckle a couple of times, but couldn't get it off.

Ding Heng leaned over to help, and with a "click," the seatbelt snapped open.

The two suddenly closed the distance, so close that Ding Heng could see the curve of the little girl's eyelashes.

Baima's breath hitched, then she quickly turned her face away, pushed open the car door, and jumped out.

"Brother, I'm going upstairs to pack my luggage!"

Ding Heng followed her upstairs.

The door to Baima's room on the second floor was half open, her suitcase was spread out on the floor, and her clothes hadn't been folded yet.

She squatted in front of the box and stuffed the clothes in one by one, much faster than usual.

Ding Heng leaned against the door frame, watching her busy herself.

"Pema".

"What?"

"If you have nightmares again tonight, call me."

"Ah."

Baima lowered her head, feeling a warm glow in her heart.

……

Winters in the capital are drier and colder than in Changsha; the wind feels like knives on your face.

When Ding Heng walked out of the airport, it was already completely dark.

Hua Qing's car was parked in its usual spot in the parking lot, and she leaned against the car door.

Ding Heng walked over and opened his arms. Hua Qing didn't flinch, letting the man wrap her in his embrace.

"Senior, did you miss me?"

Hua Qing didn't say anything, but simply raised her hand and gently patted his back, as if complaining.

"Let's go."

Ding Heng released her and opened the driver's side door: "Are you driving or am I driving?"

"Let me do it. You must be tired coming all this way so late at night."

"My senior is so thoughtful."

"Humph!"

The car drove out of the airport and merged into the traffic.

What time is your senior's performance?

"Tomorrow night at 7:30."

"Did you reserve the ticket for me?"

"Yes. Front row."

Ding Heng leaned back in his chair, quietly observing Hua Qing.

He wondered if it was just his imagination, but Hua Qing's profile seemed to be softening. The coolness in her eyes was still there, but she no longer seemed as unapproachable as before.

"What are you looking at?"

Hua Qing noticed Ding Heng's gaze but didn't turn her head.

"Look at my girlfriend."

"Scumbag..."

Hua Qing muttered and grumbled.

The following day's performance was held at the Experimental Theatre of a theater in the capital.

All three hundred seats were fully occupied.

Hua Qing was the grand finale, performing a newly choreographed solo dance that lasted about twenty minutes, which was met with thunderous applause at the end.

The fairy stood in the center of the stage, slightly out of breath, with a thin layer of sweat on her forehead. Her eyes searched the audience and quickly locked onto Ding Heng's position.

Ding Heng got up, went around to the backstage area via the side passage, and presented flowers as usual.

Hua Qing took the flower, lowered her head to smell it, and smiled slightly.

It was almost 11 o'clock when I got back to the apartment.

Hua Qing went to take a shower, while Ding Heng helped her pack her luggage in the living room.

After Hua Qing finished showering, she squatted down next to Ding Heng.

"Ding Heng".

"Ok?"

“I’ve already talked to my family, and I’ll stay in Changsha to spend the New Year with you this year.”

Ding Heng's hands didn't stop: "Did Auntie agree?"

"Yes. She said I'm already twenty-three... and that I should decide my own life's major events."

Ding Heng turned his head and met Hua Qing's gaze.

The fairy lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Ding Heng reached out and, repeating the action he did for each girl, gently rubbed Hua Qing's head.

"Senior is so good."

Hua Qing blushed and slapped his hand away.

"Hate."

Ding Heng laughed out loud, stuffed the last item into the suitcase, zipped it up, and stood up.

Hua Qing stood up as well, and the two stood facing each other, very close to each other.

Ding Heng extended his hand: "Let's go home."

Hua Qing hesitated for a second, then raised her hand and placed it on top, their fingers intertwined.

Chapter 255: Absolute Success in the Secular World

After Baima left, the festive atmosphere in Changsha grew stronger day by day.

Red lanterns are hung in the streets and alleys, and the song "Gong Xi Fa Cai" (Wishing you prosperity) plays on a loop in supermarkets.

Wenjing is busy every day buying New Year's goods and studying the menu for the New Year's Eve dinner. She takes care of everything inside and out like a dutiful wife.

Zhao Yanxi stayed at home and made a video call every day without fail.

One minute he's complaining about having too many relatives, the next he's showing off how he helped his mom cook, and he always ends with, "Brother Ding Heng, you absolutely have to come pick me up on the second day of the Lunar New Year."

With nothing to do during her free time, Hua Qing took the initiative to go into the kitchen with Wen Jing a few times. Although her knife skills were terrible, her attitude was so good that no one could bear to laugh at her.

Lin Man was the only one who was busier than usual.

In the last few days before the Lunar New Year, she spent almost all her time in her study, constantly receiving phone calls and switching back and forth between reports and emails on her computer screen.

As Ding Heng's "chief steward," she had to sort out the year's accounts and then smooth out the plans for the coming year.

Ding Heng was the only one who was truly at ease.

Final exams were no pressure for him; Lin Man and Manager Huang kept an eye on things at the company; and Wen Jing took care of the household chores.

He sleeps until he naturally wakes up every day, occasionally goes shopping with the girls, or brews a pot of tea on the balcony and watches the cargo ships slowly sail by on the Xiangjiang River.

That afternoon, Ding Heng was leaning back on the sofa, rubbing black beans, when Lin Man came out of the study with a stack of documents in her hand.

"boss."

"Ok?"

"The annual meeting in Hong Kong is scheduled for the 28th. Manager Huang asked me, 'Are you going?'"

Ding Heng took the document and looked it over; it contained the annual meeting's agenda and a list of attendees.

What do you think?

Lin Man sat down next to Ding Heng and said thoughtfully, "Since the company was founded, you haven't officially appeared in front of the employees. Although Manager Huang is in charge of the daily operations, the boss should at least say a few words at the end of the year."

Actually, she couldn't quite understand Ding Heng. After all, the company belonged to him. Was it appropriate for him to be a hands-off manager like this?

Ding Heng placed the document on the coffee table and pondered for a moment.

"Okay, let's go. Wenjing and Huaqing have never been to Hong Kong before, so I'll show them around."