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

"boss."

"Ok?"

Is Grandma unhappy?

"A little."

Ding Heng took out a lighter from his pocket: "But it should be fine."

Lin Man didn't ask any more questions.

Firecrackers exploded in the open space, crackling and popping.

Once the dust had settled, Lin Man spoke again.

"boss."

"Ok?"

"Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for taking me home for the Chinese New Year."

Lin Man spoke with utmost seriousness.

Compared to last year when I was alone and huddled in a quiet apartment, this year's liveliness feels all the more precious.

Ding Heng turned around.

The streetlights came on just then, casting their light on Lin Man's face, her foxy eyes sparkling with a touch of warmth and tenderness.

"Don't talk nonsense. Let's go back and eat dumplings."

During the Lunar New Year, Ding Heng didn't want to be too sentimental.

The New Year's Eve dinner consisted of seven dishes and three soups, plus steaming dumplings, while the Spring Festival Gala was just starting on TV.

"Eat up, eat up, eat it while it's hot."

Grandma picked up her chopsticks to call everyone over, but she herself didn't eat much.

Grandpa would occasionally have a couple of drinks with Ding Heng and chat about everyday things.

Grandma spent most of her time urging everyone to eat, occasionally saying a few words to Wenjing, but rarely speaking to Huaqing and Linman.

It wasn't that I was deliberately ignoring you; I just didn't know what to say.

She had lived for over seventy years and seen many things, but this was the first time she had ever encountered something like this.

After dinner, Grandpa deliberately dragged Ding Heng to the backyard to check the inventory.

Wenjing took the initiative to clear the dishes, and Huaqing wanted to help, but was stopped by her grandmother.

"You sit down, Jingjing will come."

Hua Qing had no choice but to sit back down, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Lin Man immediately understood the situation and rolled up her sleeves: "Grandma, I'll help Wenjing tidy up."

Grandma glanced at her and nodded.

The two were busy in the kitchen, the water was running, and occasionally a few words of laughter could be heard.

Grandma sat down on the sofa, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and looked Hua Qing up and down.

"Xiao Qing".

"Ok?"

Hua Qing raised her head and met the old man's gaze.

"You study in the capital?"

"Yes, Beijing Dance Academy, graduate student."

"Dancing?"

"Correct."

"Beautiful...so beautiful...you dance so well, you dance so well...girls have such great poise when they dance."

Grandma let out an unconscious murmur of sighs, unable to think of any other words for the moment.

Wenjing was the perfect granddaughter-in-law she had always dreamed of—beautiful, gentle, and with a good figure for bearing children.

But Hua Qing's aloof and ethereal aura made her grandmother feel that she was unapproachable.

But now, this angelic girl is becoming a concubine for her grandson…

Hua Qing didn't know what to say, so she could only nod with an awkward smile.

Grandma seemed to have made up her mind.

"Xiao Qing, how long have you and Heng Yazi been together?"

"More than a year."

"More than a year..."

Grandma repeated herself and asked again, "So...you don't mind?"

Hua Qing lowered her head and gazed quietly at the tea leaves floating in the teacup.

"I did mind."

She said softly, "I stopped caring about it later."

"why?"

"I'm used to it, and besides... he's good to me."

Her answer was almost identical to Wenjing's.

The living room fell silent.

The Spring Festival Gala on TV was still going on, and a skit was reaching its climax, with the audience laughing in waves.

"Never mind, never mind..."

Grandma stood up and went into the inner room.

Half an hour later, she came out of the room with three red envelopes in her hand.

"Come on, it's Chinese New Year, Grandma will give you lucky money."

She walked up to Wenjing first and stuffed the red envelope into her hand.

Wenjing quickly declined, "Grandma, I don't need it..."

"Take it."

Grandma's tone left no room for negotiation: "If you come and spend the New Year with this old woman, she'll be happy."

Wenjing had no choice but to accept it, and whispered, "Thank you, Grandma."

Grandma walked up to Hua Qing and handed her the red envelope.

Hua Qing raised her head and met the old man's gaze.

"Take it."

Grandma's tone was softer than before: "Don't be so polite with Grandma."

After hesitating for a long time, Hua Qing accepted the red envelope with both hands and respectfully.

"Thank you, Grandma."

Grandma nodded and walked up to Lin Man.

Lin Man accepted it generously, smiling and saying, "Thank you, Grandma. I wish you a Happy New Year, good health, and all the best."

"Alright, alright, stop being so sweet."

Grandma finally smiled again. During the Lunar New Year, the elderly always want to hear a few auspicious words.

As the clock struck midnight, a cacophony of firecrackers erupted outside the window.

Ding Heng led several girls out the door to a vacant lot in the suburbs to set off fireworks.

Grandma stood at the door watching them leave, and sighed softly.

Her grandfather walked up behind her without her noticing and patted her on the shoulder.

"Old woman, children and grandchildren have their own blessings, don't think too much about it."

"I hope so..."

With most of her body buried, the old lady was overwhelmed by the unexpected surprise from her grandson.

"Old man, what if our girl were still alive and saw her son surrounded by a bunch of women..."

"They're probably overjoyed."

"It can't be that bad."

"You don't know how heartless your daughter is."

"Eh..."

The old lady sniffed, her eyes reddening.

Chapter 257: People Arriving to Pay New Year's Greetings

Fireworks exploded in the night sky, sending sparks flying everywhere.

The wind was stronger in the abandoned ruins of the suburbs than in the city, blowing the hair of several girls wildly.

Without Zhao Yanxi, there was no one rushing to the front, making a big fuss. The atmosphere of setting off fireworks felt less exciting, more like going through the motions.

After the last box of fireworks was set off, Ding Heng clapped his hands, stacked the empty boxes, and moved them aside.

"Let's go, go back."

The four of them got back into the car, said goodbye to their grandparents, and arrived home close to 2 a.m.