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

"I was thinking of giving you a surprise after you get off the high-speed train."

Long He spoke confidently, but Ding Heng sighed and didn't respond.

The car merged into the main road.

"How many days will you stay after coming back?"

"Three or four days, I guess."

"So long?"

Long He squinted, raising his eyebrows high.

"What do you mean? You can't wait for your brother to leave tomorrow?"

"How can it be!"

Ding Heng laughed out loud: "I think about you every day, brother. I even dream about you."

"cut……"

Longhe turned his face away to look out the window, where his joy was reflected in the glass.

The car stopped at the entrance of an alley in an old suburban street.

Ding Heng turned off the engine, opened the door, and got out of the car, but Long He was even faster.

"grandmother!"

She rushed into the store and shouted, as if she had returned to her childhood.

Grandma came out of the inner room with a big smile on her face.

"Little Dragon Girl is here! Come, come, sit down!"

The dining table in the inner room was laden with a meal prepared in advance—six dishes and a soup, a truly sumptuous feast.

"Grandma, how did you know I was coming back today?"

"Ding Heng called in advance this morning."

"is it?"

Morning?

They knew where I was before I even left the house?

Longhe was completely baffled.

She reached for the rib, but her grandmother slapped her hand.

Go wash your hands!

"Oh……"

Longhe stuck out his tongue and obediently went into the bathroom.

Ding Heng approached his grandmother, but hesitated to speak.

"rest assured!"

Before Ding Heng could speak, his grandmother immediately reassured him.

She roughly knew about Ding Heng's current situation, but she wouldn't mention a word about it in front of Long He.

After all, he's my own grandson; how could I really side with outsiders...

After the meal, Longhe took the initiative to help his grandmother clear the dishes and then sat with the two elders behind the counter for a while, chatting about this and that.

Grandma kept asking me if I was eating well and if I was tired from work.

Longhe answered patiently, only reporting good news and not bad.

As night fell, the streetlights in the old street came on.

Longhe came out of the shop with local specialties that her grandmother had insisted on giving her.

Ding Heng gestured for her to put her things in the trunk, and then asked, "Have you booked a hotel?"

"No."

Long He got into the passenger seat: "Do you have any good recommendations?"

"Chu Jiang?"

"Row."

Although it's unclear why Ding Heng always likes to go to Chujiang, it is a high-end hotel after all, and his privacy can be guaranteed.

The car drove out of the old street and headed towards the city center.

Twenty minutes later, the Mercedes came to a stop in front of the Chujiang Hotel.

The doorman came forward, but Ding Heng waved his hand to indicate that it wasn't necessary and took the Longhe luggage out of the trunk.

He intended to use his access privileges to book a room directly, but Long He stepped forward and went to the front desk, taking out his ID card from his bag.

"A double suite."

The receptionist took the ID card, her gaze lingered on Long He's face for a moment, then quickly looked away; her professionalism prevented her from asking any further questions.

"Okay, here's your room key."

"Thank you."

Long He took the room key and turned to look at Ding Heng.

"Why don't you stay tonight...?"

Ding Heng glanced at her but didn't say anything.

Feeling inexplicably guilty, Long He added, "I booked a deluxe double room with two beds; it would be a waste not to use it..."

"Row."

Ding Heng readily agreed.

The two took the elevator to the administration floor and swiped their cards to enter.

Longhe pushed his suitcase to the corner and slumped onto the sofa.

"worn out……"

Ding Heng went to the window and pushed it open a crack, letting in a gust of cold wind.

"You've been traveling all day, go wash up and go to bed early."

"Ah."

Long He responded, but did not move.

He stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Ding Heng didn't urge him. He took a bottle of whiskey from the minibar, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

Because of his physical enhancements, he is now becoming increasingly dependent on alcohol, which he combines with high-intensity exercise, simply to seek a little sensory stimulation.

After a moment of silence, Long He suddenly spoke.

"Ding Heng".

"Ah."

"I'm quite comfortable at my new company."

"How to say?"

"Well..."

Long He pondered for a long time before starting to mutter, "No one forced me to take on gigs I didn't want to take, no one urged me to work, no one forced me to create on-screen couples, and no one made me go to those messy dinner parties. I can sing whatever songs I want, and release an album whenever I want... I even chose my own assistant."

Ding Heng did not respond.

But do you know what?

Long He sat up straight: "The more this happens, the more panicked I feel."

"What's the panic?"

"What do you say?"

Long He said seriously, "Ding Heng, you haven't entered society yet, there are some things you don't understand. There's no such thing as a free lunch, and capitalists don't do charity. My boss gave me such good conditions, without asking for anything in return. What do you think he'd be after?"

Ding Heng wanted to laugh, but he couldn't show it.

So, in his brother's eyes, he was still a naive and foolish college student who hadn't yet entered society?

"Don't worry unnecessarily, go wash up and go to bed early."

Ding Heng gave a perfunctory reply and went into the bathroom first.

After washing up, the two lay back in bed. Long He felt tired, but he couldn't fall asleep.

She called out again.

"Ding Heng".

"Ah."

"Do you think... I can be quite willful sometimes after becoming a celebrity?"

In which aspect?

"that is……"

Longhe began a deep self-analysis: "I act on impulse! For example, when I came back this time, I turned down a job offer, which was actually quite important for our team."

Ding Heng turned his head and saw his brother sprawled on the bed in a "spread-eagle" shape, wearing only a loose T-shirt, completely unconcerned about his exposed skin.

"What announcement?"

“I had already arranged the schedule for a variety show recording, but I told Sister Zeng at the last minute that I had to go back to Changsha. Sister Zeng’s face turned green.”

She said with self-reproach, "But thinking about it now, I realize I shouldn't have done that."

What will happen if I don't go?

"I'll get blacklisted by the production team, and I won't get such good resources next time."