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

Hua Qing closed her eyes and softly murmured "Mmm".

"What did I tell you?"

"Nothing much, just some grumbling."

Lin Man didn't press further, she just smiled.

She could roughly guess the content; it was nothing more than saying one thing to one person and another to another.

It's not hypocrisy, just a social instinct driven by self-interest.

Besides, there's an information gap between them and Zhou Jiawei, so it's really not her fault.

Lin Man joked, "What do you think the dance team's reaction would be if they knew what we're like now?"

Hua Qing opened her eyes and glared at him: "What do you want to do? Can't you just give me a break?"

Lin Man retorted, "Sister Qing, what are you saying? Who's more of a worry for the boss, you or me?"

Hua Qing was speechless.

Indeed... between the two, Lin Man is more worry-free for the man and can share his burdens.

The air was thick with steam, and neither of them spoke again.

Lin Man got up and stepped out of the bathtub, pulled a towel to wrap her body, and stepped barefoot onto the non-slip mat.

Hua Qing then got up, her movements noticeably slower than expected.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder; after a month apart, the man was clearly putting even more effort into her! Even more intensely!

The two walked out of the bathroom one after the other. Ding Heng took out two pills from his pocket and handed them over.

"Eat it, so your legs won't go weak later."

Lin Man and Hua Qing were already used to Ding Heng feeding them medicine afterward, and they would swallow it in one go, their movements swift and decisive.

Ding Heng continued, "I'll go with Lin Man first, senior, you can come out later. Be careful when you go out, don't let anyone see the three of us together."

"Know it."

Hua Qing's tone was clearly sour and sarcastic.

"Let's go."

Lin Man linked arms with Ding Heng, and before leaving, she turned back and winked at Hua Qing, looking just like a wicked fox who had stolen a bite of meat.

The door closed.

Hua Qing stood there, the bitterness of the medicine still lingering on her tongue, and the soreness in her legs had mostly subsided, but she still felt empty inside.

It's not about being melancholy or sad, but rather... not enough?

The dance team's dinner was booked in a private room at the hotel's Chinese restaurant, and Zhou Jiawei and her husband personally greeted the guests at the door.

"Xiaoman! Come here!"

There were two round tables in the private room, and about ten people were already seated. Most of them were from the Hunan Normal University dance team, and there were also a few friends of Zhou Jiawei's husband. They probably thought it was a rare opportunity for them to socialize.

The atmosphere was slowly heating up, and as soon as Lin Man entered, it immediately reached its climax.

"Hey, Lin Man's here!"

"You look beautiful again!"

"Looks like she's been pampered by a man!"

……

Lin Man responded with a smile, praising when appropriate and responding appropriately, striking a perfect balance.

She was well-liked when she was in the dance team. Although they didn't keep in touch much after graduation, there was never an awkward silence when they met.

Just as the two were seated, the door to the private room opened again.

As Hua Qing walked in, the scene reached its second climax.

Compared to the lukewarm attitude everyone had towards Hua Qing at school, now they all come over to greet her and take photos with her.

That's the future principal of the National Theatre; a photo with him is perfect for pinning to the top of your WeChat Moments!

"Hua Qing! Come, come, I thought you'd be late."

Zhou Jiawei planned to lead Hua Qing to an empty spot on the other side, away from Lin Man and Ding Heng.

Hua Qing didn't stop walking. She went around half of the table and sat down in the empty seat on the other side of Ding Heng.

The private room fell silent instantly, and more than a dozen pairs of eyes turned to look at it.

Surrounded by ex-girlfriend and current girlfriend?

In an instant, everyone's desire to gossip reached its peak, except for Zhou Jiawei, whose heart was in her throat.

The day after tomorrow is her wedding day, so don't cause any hair-pulling drama!

"Come on, everyone's here! Let me toast you all first. Thank you all for coming all this way!"

Zhou Jiawei quickly raised her glass to shift the focus, and everyone laughed and responded, warming up the atmosphere again.

The dinner continued, but what happened next was very disappointing for everyone.

All talk and no action; by the end of the meal, the two school beauties hadn't even had a proper hair-pulling scene.

It was already 10 o'clock when the show ended.

Back in her hotel room, Lin Man kicked off her high heels and collapsed onto the bed.

"boss."

"Ah."

"You're going next door later, right?"

"Are you really a mind reader?"

"Well."

Lin Man picked up a pillow and covered her face: "Go ahead, go ahead, I'll pretend I didn't see anything!"

Ding Heng chuckled and glanced at his phone screen.

Just three minutes ago, Hua Qing sent me a message.

【Flower Sea Sunny Day】: Come here for a moment.

Ding Heng went out to the next room, and before he could knock, Hua Qing had already opened the door a crack.

He slipped inside and closed the door behind him.

At the other end of the corridor, the elevator doors opened.

As Zhou Jiawei stepped out of the elevator, she looked up and saw the last moment Hua Qing's room door closing, and her heart skipped a beat!

That's... Ding Heng!

in the room.

Ding Heng turned on the light and called out, "Why did you call me over?"

Hua Qing slowly walked out of the bedroom.

She changed her clothes again, or rather, she put on a thin gauze again, which was just a thin gauze.

Ding Heng immediately understood and jokingly asked, "Did you call me here just for this? Didn't you have enough this afternoon?"

Hua Qing pouted, her voice aggrieved: "You've been so busy for the past month, you haven't come to the capital to see me even once."

The implication was that she had been starving for a month, and that she hadn't eaten enough because the two of them were sharing the meal that afternoon!

……

Next door, Lin Man was about to go to the bathroom to soak her feet when the doorbell suddenly rang.

Lin Man walked over and looked out through the peephole.

Zhou Jiawei outside the door had a subtle expression on her face, as if she was hesitating whether to knock a second time.

Lin Man opened the door, her usual smile on her face: "Senior? What brings you here?"

Zhou Jiawei hesitated, then asked knowingly, "Xiaoman...why are you alone? Where's your boyfriend?"

Lin Man invited her inside: "He went out to meet a friend, what's wrong?"

"friend?"

"Yes, he said an old friend invited him for tea."

"What kind of friend? So late at night..."

"Senior, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much, I just came to say hello. There's rehearsal tomorrow, do you want to come and join the fun?"

Zhou Jiawei recalled what had happened in the corridor, but ultimately chose to pretend she hadn't seen it.

My own wedding is the most important thing, and I can't afford any mishaps!

"dress rehearsal?"

Lin Man deliberately said, "I don't have anything planned for tomorrow, so going is fine. Um... is Hua Qing going too?"

Zhou Jiawei said awkwardly, "I haven't asked her yet."

"Then let's go ask now."

Lin Man pointed to the next room: "She shouldn't be asleep yet."

Zhou Jiawei chuckled dryly, "Never mind, let's talk about it tomorrow. Maybe she's busy."

"See you tomorrow, senior?"

"See you tomorrow."

After seeing Zhou Jiawei off, Lin Man sighed helplessly and sent a message to Hua Qing on her phone.

[Lin Hu Leads the Way]: [Fox smirking.jpg]