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

"No way!"

Xiao He smiled sheepishly: "I'm a typical academic failure. I work hard every day, but my grades aren't high, and my eyesight has deteriorated to the point of becoming 'four-eyed'."

Ding Heng praised earnestly, "It's alright. I think you look quite artistic with glasses on."

"Is there?"

Xiao He looked a little embarrassed.

Hu Baoying quickly chimed in: "Xiao Ding, you have such a sweet tongue. You must have ruined quite a few girls in college, right?"

Ding Heng immediately protested, "No way! I've never even had a proper relationship before!"

"The devil believes you."

Hu Baoying naturally didn't believe it. With Ding Heng's looks, it was practically impossible for him not to have girls pursuing him in college.

Ding Heng brought up the topic, and the atmosphere at the table finally became lively again. Everyone started talking about their dating experiences during their university years.

Longhe was the only one who couldn't get a word in edgewise.

Firstly, she never went to university!

Secondly, she has never been in a relationship!

Looking at Ding Heng and Xiao He, the two of them, who are the same age, easily found common ground when talking about college life. Ding Heng, in particular, handled the situation very well, making Xiao He very happy!

Long He felt a pang of sadness.

Logically speaking, given Xiao He's appearance, the possibility of her having any interaction with Ding Heng should be zero, but Long He still felt uneasy.

I recruited Ding Heng into the team, not so he could flirt with other girls!

She was hesitating whether to find an excuse to send Xiao He away when Sister Zeng suddenly appeared.

"Longhe, go back to your room and get ready after you finish eating. We're leaving for the TV station soon."

"coming!"

Staying any longer would only make him feel uncomfortable, so Longhe simply put down his chopsticks and left.

Xiao He immediately put down the half-eaten bun and quickly followed.

Everyone finished breakfast and began preparing for their work.

Ding Heng went back to his room to check the equipment, then took the elevator upstairs and knocked on Long He's door.

"Come in, Longhe is getting her makeup done."

Xiao He opened the door and stepped aside to let him in.

Long He was sitting in front of the dressing table, while Hu Baoying was busy behind her.

Ding Heng didn't waste any time. He set up the gimbal, mounted his phone, and went around to the side to start shooting footage for the day.

Logically speaking, Longhe should have long been accustomed to facing the camera at all times.

But the thought that her good friend was holding the camera made her inexplicably nervous; her shoulders tensed involuntarily, and her chin tucked in slightly.

Hu Baoying keenly noticed Long He's state and assumed she was nervous about today's rehearsal.

So he reassured her, "Relax, relax. The competition isn't until tomorrow night. Today is just a walk-through at the TV station, a sound check. There's nothing to be nervous about. You're practically a veteran; what big scenes haven't you seen?"

Long He was amused: "Sister Hu, you're teasing me again. What kind of senior am I?"

"You've only been in the industry for two years and you dare to be a mentor? Why can't you be considered one?"

Hu Baoying finished wrapping the last strand of Long He's hair, took a half step back, and looked at her work with satisfaction.

"Tsk tsk tsk, perfect!"

Long He didn't care about his reflection in the mirror; his gaze shifted to Ding Heng beside him.

Ding Heng was still engrossed in his work, appearing very focused.

Long He cleared his throat and said in a pretentious manner, "During the rehearsal later, let Xiao Ding go over and take a few pictures too."

Xiao He immediately expressed his difficulty: "Didn't the TV station say that we can't leak rehearsal footage before the official broadcast? There seems to be a confidentiality clause in the contract."

"Let's go there first and talk about it later."

Long He's tone remained unchanged: "We'll just release what we can and not release what we can't. Consider it pre-release material; the fans will love it anyway."

"Ok."

Xiao He nodded obediently, but he was curious.

When did Longhe become so doting on her fans? She usually makes excuses when asked to post a selfie.

But only Long He herself knew that she just wanted to find an opportunity to talk to Ding Heng alone.

Otherwise, with your brothers right in front of you every day, it's hard to even have a proper conversation, and you feel suffocated.

However, reality did not turn out as she had hoped.

From the hotel to the TV station building, and then to coordinating with the production team, doing stage rehearsals, sound checks, and band practice, Long He was always surrounded by three to four people.

Ding Heng stood on the periphery with his camera in hand, occasionally taking a few pictures, but most of the time he didn't even have a chance to get close.

Longhe felt increasingly stifled!

After the rehearsal, the team returned to the hotel by car. Longhe entered the room, changed into slippers, and collapsed onto the bed.

She didn't rest for long; after catching her breath, she immediately sat up and changed into some simple clothes.

Xiao He immediately became alert: "Where are you going?"

"Let's go for a walk."

Long He said with a smile, "I'll just wander around the neighborhood and be back in a bit."

"no!"

Xiao He was unusually firm for once, saying, "Both Sister Zeng and General Manager Yang have instructed me to keep an eye on you during tomorrow's competition and not let you run around."

"I'll just go out for a little while to get some fresh air, I won't go far."

"That won't do either. If you really want to go out, you must take me with you."

Just as Long He was at his wit's end, a knock came at the door.

"Sister He? Are you there?"

Ding Heng called out from outside the door, "I've picked out a few photos from today, take a look and see if you can post them?"

Without thinking much, Xiao He went over, opened the door, and started talking to Ding Heng.

"This one won't do, this one needs major repairs, are there any others?"

"I still have it on my phone."

"What! You took work photos with your phone? Give it to me right now and delete them!"

"Oh……"

Taking advantage of the moment when Xiao He was distracted, Ding Heng and Long He exchanged glances and blinked gently.

That's the tacit understanding they've had since childhood: one of them will cover for the other while the other makes a runaway!

Without hesitation, Long He seized the fleeting opportunity and swiftly slipped out the door.

"Longhe?!"

Xiao He exclaimed in surprise and looked up to see that Long He had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Ding Heng promptly put away the camera, his expression unchanged: "Then I'll take these photos to get them retouched first, and send them to you later."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left, walking at a moderate pace, like an innocent passerby who had not participated in any conspiracy.

Xiao He had no time to worry about anything else, so he quickly sent Ding Heng away and took out his phone to call Sister Zeng.

Ding Heng walked out of the hotel; the sun was already setting.

He got into the Mercedes and started the engine. Less than three minutes later, Long He walked quickly across the parking lot, opened the passenger door, and got in.

Ding Heng gripped the steering wheel: "Where do you want to go?"

Long He let out a breath: "I don't know."

"Then why did you go through all that trouble to sneak out?"

"I just want to talk to you."

"say what?"

"do not know either."

"..."

Ding Heng sighed helplessly and then expressed his feelings.

"I've spent the whole day with you and I've discovered something."

"what's up?"

"You're too tense, making the people around you feel embarrassed to talk to you."

"What do you mean? I never act like a diva!"

Longhe cried out that he was wronged.

Ding Heng continued, "Since you don't act like a big shot, have you ever thought about why everyone feels uncomfortable around you?"

Long He answered uncertainly, "Because I... am not very good at getting along with people?"

"more or less."

Ding Heng teased, "If you knew how to get along with people, you wouldn't be in your mid-twenties and still only have me as your friend, while your three former teammates have all fallen out with you."

"you……!"

Long He was furious, but he couldn't refute her.

Of all the people I've lived to this day, Ding Heng is truly the only one I can call a "friend."

"Then what should I do?"

"I can't teach you this either,"