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

"Ok?"

"Next weekend...it's the National Day holiday, are you free?"

Ding Heng thought for a moment: "There should be, why?"

Baima gripped the canvas bag tightly, her tone tense.

"I... I'd like to treat you to a meal in the cafeteria to thank you for your help last time, and also this time... for walking me back. If it's convenient, before you leave school..."

"Row."

Ding Heng readily agreed.

Bai Ma paused for a second, then a smile bloomed on her face.

"It's a deal! I'll message you when it's time!"

"Bye-Bye!"

"Okay, get some rest."

Baima turned and walked into the school gate, her steps light and quick, her braids swaying behind her.

Of the girls, Baima's personality is the most different from her dream.

The only similarity is that lingering sense of loneliness.

……

Back in the dormitory,

Ding Heng quickly washed up, climbed into bed in the dark, lay down, stared at the ceiling, and went over the events of the night in his mind.

Hua Qing and Lin Man's Hanfu shop, Bai Ma's part-time job, and that dream that kept swirling in his mind.

He turned over, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day at noon, Ding Heng was awakened by his phone vibrating.

He squinted and reached for his phone; the screen displayed a message from Longhe.

[Sister Long is a dragon, not a milk dragon]: What are your plans for National Day?

Ding Heng rubbed his eyes and typed a reply.

[Ding Heng]: It's not decided yet, what's wrong?

【Sister Long is a dragon, not a milk dragon】: There's an event on Bilibili where you can bring an assistant. I'd like you to come with me.

[Ding Heng]: Okay, how long?

[Sister Long is a dragon, not a milk dragon]: Three to five days, the exact time is not yet determined.

[Ding Heng]: Okay, make sure to tell me.

Suddenly, another message popped up.

[Linhu Leads the Way]: Little brother, are you free during the National Day holiday?

[Ding Heng]: What's wrong, Sister Lin?

[Linhu Leads the Way]: I'd like to book a photoshoot with you. I saw some great photos you took last time. Our store is launching new products for National Day, and we'd like to hire a photographer to take some promotional photos.

[Linhu Leads the Way]: It's paid!

Ding Heng began to plan, his schedule for the National Day holiday becoming increasingly packed.

Three to five days with Longhe, another day of filming with Linman, and then we'll have a meal with Baima...

He rubbed his temples and typed a reply.

Ding Heng: Not necessarily, I'll try to make time.

[Lin Hu Leads the Way]: Little brother, are you so busy?

[Linhu Leads the Way]: Are you accompanying your girlfriend?

Ding Heng: I'm single, sister!

[Lin Hu Leads the Way]: Is that so?

Lin Man: [Winking]

The news has temporarily come to an end.

Ding Heng tossed his phone aside, got out of bed, quickly washed up, changed his clothes, and went out.

Today is Saturday, and he plans to get a haircut after lunch.

Since it wasn't too far, Ding Heng simply rode a shared bicycle and slowly made his way along the main road of the school.

As I turned a corner and was nearing the barbershop, a sudden commotion arose ahead.

"Get out of the way! Everyone get out of the way!"

Someone shouted, their voice sharp and urgent.

Then came the commotion in the crowd; some people screamed, and others ran to either side.

Ding Heng slowed down the car and looked ahead.

A boy with a buzz cut stood by the roadside, holding a fruit knife in his hand, pointing the tip at the girl in front of him, cursing and swearing, clearly agitated.

"Why do you have the right to reject me? What do I do that makes me unworthy of you? Do you even know what I've done for you..."

The girl took a step back, her face pale and her lips trembling.

People watched from a distance, some even took out their phones to call the police, but no one dared to approach.

Ding Heng tossed the car aside and strode over.

He quietly approached the short-haired boy from the side, and while the boy's attention was still on the girl, he grabbed his wrist and twisted it sharply.

"what……!"

The boy with the buzz cut screamed in pain, and the knife in his hand flew out of his hand and fell to the ground with a clatter.

Ding Heng took the opportunity to twist his arm behind his back, pressed his knee against his waist, and pinned him to the ground.

The movements were completed in one smooth motion.

The boy with the buzz cut was still struggling, cursing under his breath.

Ding Heng ignored him and was about to turn around for help when a sharp pain suddenly shot through his arm.

Looking down, I saw a gash on my right forearm, and blood was gushing out.

The short-haired guy pulled out a utility knife from somewhere and gave Ding Heng a good whack.

Ding Heng gasped in pain but didn't let go.

With someone taking the lead, the crowd immediately followed suit and stepped forward to help restrain the man.

School security guards rushed over and finally arrived, subdued the man, and handcuffed him with plastic cable ties.

"hiss……"

Ding Heng slumped to the side of the road in pain, glancing down at his arm, where blood was gushing down the back of his hand.

Just as he was about to go find some tissues, a figure suddenly rushed up to him and squatted down.

"Are you...are you alright?!"

Her familiar fair and round face, her eyes red-rimmed, and her lips trembling slightly.

Quiet.

The little rabbit was at a loss: "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...It's all because of me..."

Her voice trembled with tears as she frantically rummaged through her bag for tissues.

Ding Heng remained silent, observing quietly.

Wenjing searched for a long time but couldn't find any tissues, and she was so anxious that tears were about to fall.

Finally, he simply took off his thin coat and pressed it against Ding Heng's wound, where it was immediately soaked with blood.

The early autumn weather wasn't too cool yet, and Wenjing was only wearing a thin white T-shirt, the fabric clinging to her body and outlining her amazing curves.

Ding Heng's gaze lingered on it for a moment without him noticing.

Just like in my dream... no, it seems even more exaggerated than in my dream!

Ding Heng quickly looked away, took off his coat, and draped it over Wen Jing's shoulders.

"Put it on."

He unconsciously adopted the tone he used when speaking to Wenjing in his dream, his command brooking no argument.

Wenjing was taken aback.

"Don't catch a cold."

Ding Heng tried to salvage the situation by making some adjustments.

This wasn't a dream, and he and Wenjing weren't that close.

Wenjing then realized that she was only wearing a T-shirt. Given her figure, she would inevitably feel awkward when she got up, so she quickly wrapped her coat tighter around herself.

"I'm...I'm sorry...I..."

"okay."

Ding Heng interrupted, "It's not your fault, stop apologizing."

Wenjing lowered her head, her fingers clenching the hem of her coat.

The police arrived quickly.

Wenjing was called aside by a young policewoman to give a statement. Her voice was soft and gentle. Occasionally, she would raise her finger in the direction of Ding Heng, and then quickly pull it back.

Ding Heng remained seated on the roadside steps. The wound on his arm had been treated briefly by medical staff who had arrived from the school, and the bleeding had stopped.

Luckily, the cut wasn't deep, so I didn't need stitches.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in a police uniform walked over and squatted down.

"Young man, you're badly injured."