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

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"Inspect the goods?"

"Isn't it just about inspecting the goods?"

Baima got more and more excited as she spoke: "First, she looked me up and down, then praised my mom, 'Baima is getting more and more beautiful,' 'This child has such a good temperament,' 'President Qu is so lucky'... Next, she would introduce her own son."

"It's possible that my mother will be persuaded by them and arrange for me to marry their son."

Ding Heng picked up Bai Ma with both hands and made her sit upright on his lap.

"You're overthinking it. Your mother wouldn't go that far."

"How could it not be that bad!"

Baima slapped her thigh in desperation: "Brother, think about it! I'm a complete good-for-nothing. I can't do anything except spend money. My mother has worked hard all her life. We can't let the family business be ruined in my hands, can we?"

Ding Heng wanted to laugh but held it back.

"so what?"

"so……"

Baima's expression was tragic: "Since I can't inherit the family business, I can only be used for an arranged marriage. Besides, I'm about to graduate from university, so I'll be able to get married soon."

Ding Heng's joking expression vanished: "Why would you think that?"

"Because my mom called me yesterday and we talked about a bunch of random things."

Baima's eyes were filled with unease: "In the end, she told me to go back for the New Year so we could have a proper talk about important life matters. Important life matters! Isn't that just about those things..."

Ding Heng found it funny, but was too embarrassed to actually laugh out loud.

In his view, the "major life event" that Quzhen mentioned was probably not what Baima thought.

Even if it were true, Qu Zhen wouldn't force her own daughter.

But Baima was clearly stuck in a rut, and she wouldn't listen to reason with her at that point.

"Row."

Ding Hengshun said, "I'll call and try to persuade your aunt."

Baima couldn't wait: "Can we fight now?!"

"What's the rush?"

"Urgent! Very urgent! Extremely urgent!"

Baima clung to Ding Heng's arm with both hands, her eyes pleading, "Brother, you don't want your dear sister to get married, do you? You haven't had enough fun yourself..."

Ding Heng was speechless for a moment, so he opened his contacts, found Qu Zhen's number, and pressed the call button.

"Beep...beep...beep..."

After a few rings, the phone was answered.

"Xiao Ding?"

"Auntie, are you busy?"

"I'm not busy right now, why did you suddenly think of calling your aunt?"

"It's nothing serious."

Ding Heng glanced at Baima, who was holding her breath beside him: "I just wanted to ask Baima about the New Year."

"Pema?"

Qu Zhen chuckled, "Is that girl throwing a tantrum again?"

Baima shook her head frantically beside her, mouthing "No, no."

Ding Heng suppressed a laugh: "She told me, 'Auntie, you want her to go back to Chengdu for the New Year. I have no objection; I think it would be good for her to go back and keep you company.' But she herself doesn't seem too willing?"

"This girl."

Qu Zhen sighed, "I didn't say she absolutely had to come back, I was just asking. If she's not happy, she can stay in Xingcheng."

Just as Baima was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Quzhen added another sentence.

"But Xiao Ding, it's not really appropriate to keep bothering you. Bai Ma has been staying with you for so long, eating and living at your place. As her mother, I feel a little guilty about it."

Bai Ma's expression instantly fell, and she desperately tried to wink at Ding Heng.

Ding Heng remained calm: "Auntie, please don't say that. I treat Baima like my own sister. She feels right at home with me. There's nothing to trouble her about."

"is it?"

Qu Zhen's laughter was ambiguous.

Baima urged with mouth movements... "Ask the important question! Ask the important question!"

Ding Heng received the signal and cleared his throat.

"Auntie, there's something else I'd like to ask you."

"You said."

"Well... Baima told me that you should let her go back and talk about important life matters! She's worried that you want her to... have an arranged marriage or something."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Qu Zhen let out a sneer.

"This girl is never serious; she can think of anything in that direction."

Baima leaned closer to the phone, straining to hear.

"Xiao Ding, tell her not to worry."

Qu Zhen softened her tone: "I only guarantee her wealth for the rest of her life, and I will not interfere with her life choices."

Baima let out a long breath and slumped completely against Ding Heng, as if she had finally unloaded a heavy burden.

Ding Heng reached out and put his hand on Bai Ma's shoulder, and then heard Qu Zhen speak.

"It's just Xiao Ding."

"Ok?"

"You've probably realized that by now, haven't you?"

Qu Zhen made no attempt to hide anything, stating bluntly, "Bai Ma is probably thinking about you right now..."

"Mom!!!"

Bai Ma's sudden voice startled Ding Heng.

Her face flushed bright red: "That...that...I..."

Qu Zhen chuckled softly on the other end of the phone.

"Bai Ma, are you there?"

“Mother…I…I…you…”

Baima instinctively tried to explain, but he stammered and spoke incoherently.

"okay."

Qu Zhen interrupted her, her tone indulgent: "Behave yourself and don't make things difficult for your brother."

Bai Ma breathed a sigh of relief, slumped onto Ding Heng's shoulder, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat.

"Oh... then, Mother."

Baima tried to confirm, "Can I not come back for Chinese New Year this year...?"

"You mean you're letting your mother spend the New Year alone?"

Qu Zhen's tone was slightly raised, making it impossible to tell whether she was genuinely angry or just pretending.

Baima was morally blackmailed by her mother and was speechless for a moment.

Ding Heng suddenly spoke.

"Auntie."

"Ok?"

“My dad called me the day before yesterday and said he would be somewhere at the foot of Changbai Mountain on New Year’s Eve, and that he was going to film some snow scene.”

He almost implied, "He figured it must be pretty boring being alone..."

"alright."

Quzhen chuckled and then added, "Then I'll leave Baima to you."

"Okay, don't worry, I promise I'll treat her even better than my own sister."

"Ah."

The phone hangs up.

Ding Heng picked Bai Ma up again and held her in his arms, stroking her gently: "Are you relieved now?"

Baima didn't answer, only feeling embarrassed.

I feel relieved, but a lingering unease still lingers in my heart.

How did Mom know?

I didn't say anything...

"Pema".