Why is the system taking my request to photograph a cosplayer seriously?

Chapter 214 Everyone's New Home

Afterwards, the three spent two days in Fenghuang Ancient Town, wandering around at a leisurely pace without any formal itinerary.

Midway through, Lin Man really enjoyed pulling Hua Qing to change into ethnic costumes and then taking photos together.

Hua Qing complained that Lin Man "just makes things difficult for people," but in the end, she would always change her clothes and stand in front of the camera, posing cooperatively.

Ding Heng was happy to have some free time. He followed behind with his camera, occasionally snapping a couple of photos, but mostly just watching them fool around.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the morning of her return trip, Hua Qing said goodbye to her family and, under the pretext of "hiking back to Xingcheng," picked up a small suitcase and sat in the back seat of the Mercedes.

The car drove out of Fenghuang Ancient Town and headed towards Xingcheng along the highway.

Hua Qing and Lin Man sat side by side in the back seat, while Ding Heng drove, glancing at them through the rearview mirror.

Lin Man leaned towards Hua Qing: "Sister Qing, did you have fun these past few days?"

"good."

Hua Qing looked straight ahead, her tone calm.

"Shall we find somewhere else to go in a few days?"

"Need not."

"Don't be a spoilsport—there are still about ten days left in summer vacation, and you didn't get the role, so there's no rush to go back to the capital."

Hua Qing didn't reply, her eyes filled with resentment.

That wicked fox was definitely doing it on purpose, deliberately bringing up the very thing he didn't want to talk about!

Lin Man continued, "If you really don't want to go out, then for the next few days, Sister Qing, you can stay at a hotel with the boss."

Why?

Eat your fill!

Lin Man said matter-of-factly, "After summer vacation, Sister Qing, aren't you going to the capital to study for your master's degree? You won't be able to eat it even if you want to then."

Hua Qing was stunned for a second, then her face was full of embarrassment and annoyance after she realized what was happening

"Lin Man!"

"I was talking about food—the food in the capital doesn't suit my taste, Sister Qing, where are you thinking?"

Lin Man looked completely innocent.

Hua Qing raised her hand to punch her, but Lin Man dodged with a smile. Hua Qing persisted and pounced on her, and the two of them started making a ruckus in the back seat.

"Sister Qing, what are you doing!"

"Shut up!"

"I didn't say anything, it's your own heart!"

"Still talking!"

Looking in the rearview mirror, Ding Heng saw two long legs crossed in the back seat, one resting on the edge of the seat and the other half hanging in the air.

Lin Man wore 5D gradient gray stockings, while Hua Qing had bare, white legs.

One above the other, one white and one gray, they dazzled the eyes in the afternoon light.

Ding Heng withdrew his gaze and let out a long breath.

When the "severance of emotional ties" value suddenly jumped the day before yesterday, his heart skipped a beat.

Hua Qing has a rather reserved personality. She never speaks her mind directly, keeping things bottled up inside until they ferment to a certain point before suddenly exploding.

He had worried and considered asking.

But from yesterday to today, Hua Qing's behavior showed no abnormality.

She's actually a bit more lively than before.

Although she still had that aloof demeanor, she would talk back when Lin Man teased her, and occasionally even take the initiative to say a few words, unlike before when she would only say "um," "oh," or "I know."

The way Hua Qing was playfully fighting with Lin Man in the back seat just now was something she would never have done in the past.

Ding Heng glanced at the rearview mirror again.

Lin Man was helping Hua Qing straighten her collar, which had been pulled askew; the two moved naturally together.

He figured that the one percent fluctuation in the emotional ties severance value wasn't a bad thing.

Perhaps Hua Qing had relaxed a little.

As for the reason—

It was probably Lin Man who, intentionally or unintentionally, guided him during those two days in Fenghuang.

Hua Qing didn't say it, but she knew it in her heart.

Lin Man's visit to Fenghuang was ostensibly a "stopover," but in reality, it was paving the way for her and preparing her family for potential problems.

Hua Qing is stubborn and never says "thank you".

But I was still somewhat moved.

Ding Heng snapped out of his thoughts. The car drove through a tunnel, where the light dimmed and then brightened again.

The noise from the back seat gradually subsided. Hua Qing leaned back in her chair, her hair a little messy, and a blush still lingering on her face.

Lin Man leaned over and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Sister Qing, you've torn your stockings—"

"You provoked me first."

"Blame me, blame me."

Lin Man smiled and admitted her mistake, then took out a small mirror from her bag and handed it to her.

Hua Qing took the photo, checked herself, touched up her makeup, and styled her hair again.

The car continued driving forward and entered the urban area of ​​Xingcheng two hours later.

At the entrance of Chujiang Hotel, a doorman greeted us and opened the car door.

The three got out of the car. Ding Heng took the luggage out of the trunk, while Lin Man took Hua Qing's arm and walked into the lobby.

Take the elevator to the 27th floor, swipe your card and push the door open.

"Six hours of driving, I'm exhausted!"

Lin Man pushed her suitcase towards the entryway and slumped onto the sofa: "Sister Qing, do you always suffer like this every time you come home?"

"I'm not stupid, I'll take the high-speed rail!"

Hua Qing made a comment and sat down next to Lin Man.

Despite the long journey, she maintained an upright posture, much more dignified than Lin Man.

Ding Heng had just finished tidying up his luggage and was about to go between the two of them to embrace them when his phone suddenly vibrated. It was a video call from Zhao Yanxi.

He pressed the answer button, and the screen lit up.

Zhao Yanxi's pretty face was close to the camera, with a lush green field in the background.

"Brother Ding Heng!"

"Um."

"Did you miss me?"

"good."

"Another perfunctory response—"

Zhao Yanxi pouted, then waved to the camera, calling out, "Sister Man! Sister Hua Qing!"

Lin Man leaned closer: "Yan hope, are you playing in the countryside?"

"yes!"

Zhao Yanxi turned the camera to show fields, distant mountains, and a few water buffaloes walking slowly along the ridges of the fields. In the distance, there were rolling hills, and the sky was a clear, bright blue.

"Isn't my dad's hometown beautiful? It took Xiaojing and me half an hour to ride our electric bikes to get here!"

Lin Man cooperated by exclaiming "Wow!"

The camera then pans back to Wenjing, who is standing next to Zhao Yanxi and waving politely at the camera.

"Sister Man, Sister Hua Qing."

"Wenjing, when are you going back to Xingcheng?"

"It should be tomorrow or the day after."

Wenjing answered softly, then looked at Ding Heng but said nothing.

Zhao Yanxi snapped the camera back at her: "Ding Heng, do you guys want to come visit for a couple of days? The air is so fresh back in my dad's hometown!"

Ding Heng gave a wry smile: "You think I don't have enough trouble already, don't you?"

He could imagine the awkward scene of being surrounded and questioned by a bunch of relatives if he went to Zhao Yanxi's father's hometown.

"All right----"

Zhao Yanxi pouted and asked again, "Do you need me to bring any local specialties? My grandma's family has cured meat..."

Fermented tofu, chopped chili peppers, and things like that.

Lin Man said without any hesitation, "Bring them all back. Also, do you have any duck feet?"

"Duck feet? What's that?"

"It's a type of wild vegetable that's delicious whether you make a cold salad or stir-fry it. There should be a lot of it where you live. Wenjing, you should know it, right?"

Zhao Yanxi turned to look at Wenjing, who nodded in response that she had seen a few plants earlier.

"Okay! I'll have Wenjing help me identify it, and I'll bring it back tomorrow!"

Zhao Yanxi readily agreed, her gaze finally settling on Ding Heng.

"Brother Ding Heng, it's getting late, let's head back now!"

"Okay, ride your bike slowly on the road."

"Okay!"

Zhao Yanxi leaned closer to the camera and lightly touched her lips to the screen.

"mua!"

'

The sound was crisp and clear.

Then she hung up quickly, and the screen went dark.

Lin Man burst out laughing.

Hua Qing asked with concern, "Did you have Yan hope and Xiao Jingjing bring so many local specialties because you plan to cook at the hotel?"

Although the suites at Chujiang Hotel have kitchens, it's still inconvenient to cook every day.

Moreover, firing a gun would mean permanent residence, but the hotel is a ten-minute drive from the school.

Lin Man raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't worry, I've already found a place."

"What kind of house?"

"We'll move into a house near the school together. Didn't the landlord say that we wouldn't be living in the dorms in our second year and would be living with us?"

Lin Man took her phone out of her bag, swiped it a few times, and handed it to Hua Qing.

"Here, this is the set."

Lin Man explained, "It's a high-rise duplex with six bedrooms and two living rooms, and each room has a separate walk-in closet and bathroom."

In addition, there are office areas, a home theater, and a gym, plus a small rooftop garden. The property is hotel-style, with 24-hour butler service—how about that? Not bad, right?

Hua Qing handed the phone back to her: "Where is it?"

"It's located by the Xiangjiang River, a ten-minute walk from Hunan University, neither too far nor too close."

Lin Man put away her phone: "Then I can enjoy Xiao Jingjing's cooking every day!"

Hua Qing didn't respond.

Lin Man then deliberately teased, "It's just a pity that someone is going to the capital and can't stay with us—"

Hua Qing scoffed, "Did I ever say I wanted to live with you guys?"

The fairy was as stubborn as ever, claiming that she had been in Europe for a month and that she was the one who had the most "charm".

"You really don't want to?"

"In no mood."

Hua Qing turned her face away, her tone stiff: "I have my own house in Xingcheng."

Lin Man laughed out loud: "Sister Qing, you're so cute when you're being stubborn, and even cuter when you're being punished by the boss and your eyes are red from crying."

Hua Qing blushed with embarrassment and ignored her.

Lin Man leaned over and nudged her with her elbow.

"Really not staying?"

"Don't stay—"

"That's perfect, I'll just turn the extra room into a communal dressing room."

Lin Man deliberately said, "We women have so many clothes, one dressing room per person is simply not enough. Let's make a shared one to hang our frequently worn clothes, it will be more convenient."

Hua Qing glared at her: "You—!"

"Hahaha—I'm done fooling around."

Lin Man laughed heartily, then suggested, "Since we have nothing else to do, let's go take a look first. We'll pick out the good rooms and let Yan hope and the others choose the rest."

Hua Qing didn't refuse verbally anymore, but secretly glanced at Ding Heng.

Ding Heng understood and offered a way out.

"Let's go pick out a room for ourselves. It'll be too lonely for you to live alone in Xingcheng, and I'll miss you."

"oh----"

Hua Qing then obediently replied, "You're the one who asked me to stay here."

"Yes, yes, I beg you!"

Ding Heng and Lin Man were both amused and exasperated.

After a short rest at the hotel, the three drove to the Xiangjiang River.

The car drove into a newly built upscale residential area. The security guard at the gate checked the reservation information before raising the barrier to let the car through.

Lin Man's reserved apartment is on the 10th floor, a two-story duplex with an area of ​​nearly 600 square meters.

The elevator leads directly to the apartment, where you enter a huge, open-plan living room with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the Xiangjiang River, offering a wide and unobstructed view.

Sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the entire space with a bright and clear glow.

Ding Heng went to the window and quietly gazed at the river.

Hua Qing and Lin Man walked in side by side, looking at each room one by one.

There are two rooms on the first floor and four rooms on the second floor, plus a separate office area and a home theater.

The gym is located at the end of the corridor on the first floor. It is fully equipped and faces the river view.

There is a small garden on the side, which is not yet decorated; it only has anti-corrosion wood flooring and a row of empty flower pots.

The property is managed in a hotel-style manner, with 24-hour concierge service, dedicated staff on duty in the lobby on the first floor, and elevator access to each unit via card.

The house has passed inspection; only some furniture and belongings have not yet been moved in.

Lin Man stood at the door of the room at the end of the second-floor corridor and glanced inside.

The room faces south, directly overlooking the river, and is closest to the master bedroom!

"I'll take this one."

She made the decision with a firm tone.

Hua Qing didn't argue with her, but wandered around the first floor again and chose the largest room.

The room faces east, and there is a small terrace outside the floor-to-ceiling window.

She stood in front of the window and gestured, then walked to the door to check the width of the corridor.

"A small section of this room can be partitioned off to create a dance practice space."

She was talking to herself, her voice not loud.

Lin Man leaned closer: "Sister Qing, didn't you say you didn't want to live here? Are you already making plans?"

Hua Qing ignored her and continued to survey the layout of the room.

The three of them finally arrived at the master bedroom terrace.

As the sun began to set, the river surface was dyed orange-red.

In the distance, the skyline of Changsha stretches out, the outlines of its high-rise buildings gradually blurring in the twilight.

Lin Man sat down in the rattan chair and crossed her legs.

Hua Qing stood beside her, her back still straight.

Ding Heng came to the middle and reached out to pull both of them into his arms.

Lin Man leaned against the man's shoulder obediently.

Hua Qing's body stiffened for a moment, but she didn't dodge.

The three people sat quietly, and no one spoke.

As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, the clouds on the horizon were tinged with orange-red.

Finally, Hua Qing spoke.

"Will we consider this our home from now on?"

Ding Heng was stunned.

Family.

He was a little surprised to hear the word come out of Hua Qing's mouth.

In Hua Qing's dictionary, "home" must be a very important word.

She never speaks lightly, nor does she define things easily.

Lin Man paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"I wouldn't say that."

She said casually, "The boss is going to university, so the area near the school is where he stays. It's not really home."

After the boss graduates, he might go somewhere else. Shenzhen, Shanghai, the capital—he'll go wherever there's an opportunity.

Lin Man's perspective is completely different from Hua Qing's.

In her view, Ding Heng's wealth will only increase in the future, and he will most likely not have the concept of a "home" with a fixed residence.

Moreover, even if one were to choose a place to live long-term, Shenzhen would most likely be the first choice in China, after all, it is a first-tier city and close to the company in Hong Kong.

Hua Qing didn't say anything.

Lin Man continued, "So this is just a transitional point. We'll stay here for a few years, and then maybe move to another place."

The terrace fell silent.

Ding Heng tightened his arms around Hua Qing, pulling her closer to him.

He knew what Hua Qing was thinking.

She is traditional, nostalgic, and has a strong attachment to "home".

A place where you can stay peacefully without having to run around or worry about where to go tomorrow.

But faced with such a luxurious mansion, he couldn't bring himself to say, "This is home."

Lin Man is right.

This is just a transition.

As for the future—who can say for sure?

As the last rays of the setting sun sank into the river, the city lights lit up one by one, casting long shadows on the water.

Ding Heng patted Lin Man, and the clever and sensible secretary immediately made an excuse to go to the restroom, leaving the two of them some space.

"Huaqing."

It was rare for Ding Heng to call Hua Qing by her full name.

"Um----"

Hua Qing looked up at the man and asked in a questioning tone.

Ding Heng said solemnly, "If you don't like it here, I can come home with you when you occasionally return to Xingcheng."

"Go home and live there————"

Hua Qing realized that the "home" Ding Heng mentioned referred to the small house she had bought.

Her initial intention in buying the house was to make up her mind to stay in Xingcheng and stay by Ding Heng's side.

Although it ended in a big misunderstanding and she eventually went to the capital, in a sense, it was the "home" she had prepared for herself and Ding Heng.

"No need, this is fine, and besides—"

The lovely fairy spoke in a soft tone.

"It's lively and bustling with people, not lonely at all!"

>