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

……

Just after 2 o'clock, Baima called right on time, and Wenshu tricked her into coming as requested.

Bai Ma didn't think much of it. Upon arriving at the hotel, she was overwhelmed with surprise and emotion, and finally hugged Ding Heng, crying her eyes out.

Wenshu was genuinely happy for Baima.

And then she realized something counterintuitive... Baima was actually twenty years old!

That eternally youthful face, that small stature, that gentle temperament.

She doesn't look like a twenty-year-old at all.

Will I be able to receive such treatment when I turn twenty?

I took a big gulp of the hot tea, and it burned my throat.

The next few days.

Everyone stayed in the capital until the end of the New Year, while Ding Heng and Lin Man prepared to head to Hong Kong to attend the annual meeting.

This time, Zhao Yanxi and the others did not go and cause trouble.

As for Ding Heng's upcoming birthday, he told the girls not to worry about it.

He hasn't really enjoyed celebrating his birthday since his mother passed away.

It was fine that the girls went to great lengths for him in the first two years, but it's really unnecessary for him to come every year.

It was already afternoon when we arrived in Hong Kong.

After leaving the airport, Ding Heng and Lin Man's van did not head towards the city center business district, but instead drove up the winding mountain road, passing through layers of trees, and into a highly private mansion on Victoria Peak.

The iron gate slid open silently, and the car drove into the underground garage and came to a stop.

Lin Man stepped forward, opened the door, and led Ding Heng into the living room.

The space features high ceilings and a simple, restrained overall design.

Ding Heng walked onto the balcony, leaned on the pole with both hands, and looked out at the dense concrete jungle at the foot of the mountain.

"How much money did you waste on buying it?"

Ding Heng had heard about the housing prices in Tai Ping Shan, but in the end, the living environment was just so-so. After all, there's only so much land in Hong Kong, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was a waste of money.

Moreover, the fact that he was completely unaware of it from beginning to end indicates that Lin Man used his own money.

Lin Man smiled lightly: "Boss, you know how expensive housing is in Hong Kong... This location, this size, how much is my annual salary?"

"Rented?"

Ding Heng returned to the sofa and sank into the soft leather backrest.

"It was temporarily rented from a certain customer."

Lin Man knelt down in front of the man, took out the whiskey and two glasses that she had prepared in advance, and explained while pouring the whiskey.

“He had some cash flow problems last year, and he was renting out several properties. I negotiated a good price with him, which helped him recover some of his losses.”

She handed the poured whiskey to Ding Heng, picked up another glass for herself, slightly brought her thighs, encased in black stockings, together to one side, and unbuttoned one of her shirt buttons.

While maintaining an elegant posture, it also made it easier for Ding Heng to admire the view from above.

"Boss, you'll be coming to Hong Kong more and more often in the future, and you can't stay in a hotel every time. Hotels are public spaces after all, with lots of people coming and going in the lobby, elevators, and corridors. Privacy may sound nice, but it's really not that great."

The entertainment reporters here are even less disciplined than paparazzi in mainland China. If they ever photograph you, boss, entering or leaving a hotel with some woman, you'll be in big trouble.

Ding Heng took a sip of whiskey, remaining noncommittal.

"Choosing Victoria Peak was also a consideration. The residents here are all wealthy and influential, the security level is high, and paparazzi simply can't get in. It's not far from the company either, only a twenty-minute walk down the mountain. And..."

Lin Man said sincerely, "I always feel that the boss should have a decent place to stay in various places in the future, not just Hong Kong."

Ding Heng exclaimed, "You didn't tell me beforehand, were you planning to surprise me as a birthday present?"

Lin Man said self-deprecatingly, "Looks like I'll have to be more careful next time."

Ding Heng placed the wine glass back on the coffee table, reached out and pinched Lin Man's nose, gently shaking it, showing a hint of helpless indulgence.

"You don't need to put in this kind of effort in the future. My dad doesn't care about my birthday at all. It's over and done with."

Whether the boss likes it or not is the boss's business.

Lin Man moved forward, resting her chin on the man's thigh, and gently swirled the wine in her glass, her posture both alluring and submissive.

"I'll just prepare what I need to prepare."

Sometimes, you're too hard on yourself.

Ding Heng said it casually, and Lin Man felt a lump in her throat after hearing it.

Her body softened further, and Ding Heng sensed her emotions once again.

"Is something on your mind again?"

"You've seen right through me again, boss..."

Lin Man laughed self-deprecatingly, while Ding Heng smiled calmly.

"Go ahead."

"My mom might be released before the Lunar New Year."

The night wind blows through.

"boss."

Lin Man raised her head, her delicate, foxy eyes looking pitiful.

"I want to spend the New Year with her..."

Ding Heng reached out and tucked Lin Man's long hair behind her ear, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe as he gently soothed his little pet.

"Of course!"

Chapter 298: Lin Man's Mother

Hengbai Capital's annual meeting this year was much more lively than last year's.

The banquet hall has doubled in size, and the number of employees has more than doubled compared to last year.

Ding Heng, dressed in a suit and tie, stepped onto the stage, his gaze sweeping over the dark mass of people below.

I don't know if Manager Huang gave me a heads-up beforehand, or if money can make the devil work, or perhaps both.

In short, everyone looked at him with great respect.

The process of reading the script, presenting awards, drawing prizes... was similar to last year, but the prize money had increased several times over, and the audience erupted in applause.

Ding Heng smiled and nodded, finally saying, "Keep up the good work, everyone, and let's reach new heights!"

After the annual meeting ended, Manager Huang introduced several people to Ding Heng.

Director, Partner, CFO...

In short, they are all prominent figures in Hong Kong's financial circles.

His words were full of polite formalities, which Ding Heng responded to with neither servility nor arrogance.

When you achieve worldly success, everything becomes respectable.

Back in Xingcheng, Ding Heng resumed his student life and prepared for his final exams.

On the last day of exam week, a cold rain fell in Changsha.

Lin Man's car was parked at the corner of the teaching building, with its hazard lights flashing on and off.

Ding Heng walked out of the examination room and got into the passenger seat.

"Let's go."

Lin Man started the car and drove out of the school gate.

She was dressed very simply today, and her face was almost entirely covered in makeup.

Black sweater, dark gray casual pants, and long hair deliberately washed back to a proper black.

Even though her temperament is still alluring, at least at first glance she looks like a good daughter, a good girl, and even has a bit of the gentleness that only a quiet person has.

Ding Heng asked, "Are you nervous?"

Lin Man smiled wryly: "A little."

Have you thought about what to do with your mother after she gets out of prison?

"Let's celebrate the New Year first."

"What do you plan to do if your mother wants to go back and confront your grandfather?"

"Hmm... Boss, you'll help me, right?"

"What do you say?"

Ding Heng initially intended to kill the Lin family, but was persuaded to stop by Lin Man's mother, Lin Zemei.

She told Duan Biao to inform his daughter... to discuss everything after she was released from prison, and not to act rashly.

Lin Man listened to her mother, and Ding Heng couldn't force her to listen.

As the car drove onto the highway, the rain intensified.

Two hours later, the car exited the toll station and turned onto a narrow cement road with high walls on both sides.

Lin Man parked the car, turned off the engine, and began to take deep breaths to calm herself down.

Ding Heng did not urge him, and sat quietly.

A few minutes later, Lin Man took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and got out of the car.

Ding Heng followed behind her, and the two entered the building one after the other.

The lobby was quiet. Female staff in uniform sat behind the counter, looking down at the documents.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

"Are you here to pick someone up?"