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

After Tang Hainuo's farce, life returned to normal.

As usual, Ding Heng came to pick up Wenjing and Zhao Yanxi from get off work that day, but only Wenjing walked out of the store.

She was in a bad mood, and sullenly opened the back door, got in, and sat down.

Ding Heng turned around and asked, "Where's Yan hope?"

Wenjing sighed softly, "Her friend came to visit her, so she left work early to hang out with her friend."

Why didn't you come along?

"I'm not going..."

Wenjing muttered softly, "That's her friend, not mine."

Ding Heng sensed the disappointment and grievance in the girl's tone. Looking at her listless little round face in the rearview mirror, he found her inexplicably cute.

"What's wrong? Are you jealous? Did someone 'steal' your best friend?"

Wenjing pouted and didn't answer.

Zhao Yanxi has many friends, but Wenjing only has Zhao Yanxi as a friend.

Being abandoned by your only friend can be heartbreaking.

Seeing the girl's pitiful and embarrassed expression, Ding Heng stopped teasing her.

"It's okay, I'll take you to find her! Do you know where she's hanging out?"

Wenjing shook her head.

Ding Heng took out his phone and scrolled to Zhao Yanxi's WeChat account.

[Ding Heng]: Where are you having fun?

A short while later, Zhao Yanxi sent her location.

Ding Heng opened the location and set the navigation, but did not start the car immediately. Instead, he turned around and looked at Wen Jing, who was still nestled in the back seat.

Wenjing asked in confusion, "What, aren't we leaving?"

"You're all alone today!"

"so what?"

"Come sit in the front!"

Wenjing paused for a moment, her cheeks flushed slightly, and slowly moved to the passenger seat.

She cautiously pulled on the seatbelt, fastened it with a "click," and placed her hands neatly on her knees, looking obedient.

Ding Heng was satisfied and started driving, following the navigation.

The car arrived in front of a trendy mystery-solving club, where Zhao Yanxi was already waiting.

She wore a classic white dress inspired by Sakura Matou from Fate, the simple design highlighting her tall and slender figure.

Because her hair was recently dyed purple, she even avoided the hassle of wearing a wig.

Upon seeing Ding Heng's car, she immediately waved excitedly, "Brother Ding Heng, here it is!"

Ding Heng got out of the car and joked, "Why are you dressed in cosplay?"

Zhao Yanxi twirled around with a grin, her skirt fluttering, "It's my friend's new store opening today, I came to support them! It's more lively with so many people! Hey! Xiaojing, you're here too!"

Ding Heng chimed in, "You left someone alone in the shop, and you still have the nerve to say that?"

"Oh dear, I just felt that Xiaojing might not be comfortable in this kind of situation... and I asked her, and she said she didn't want to come."

Zhao Yanxi playfully stuck out her tongue, then deliberately tickled Wenjing's skin: "What's wrong? You didn't come when I called you, but you came running as soon as Brother Ding Heng called you? And you secretly told on me, didn't you? Hmm?"

Wenjing couldn't help but giggle as she was tickled, dodging and begging for mercy at the same time.

"No, Yan hope... stop fooling around..."

Ding Heng watched the two girls laughing and joking, shook his head, and followed them into the shop.

The store has an anime theme, with various anime posters on the walls and the lighting and atmosphere are also very well arranged.

On the first day of opening, a lot of people came to support the business, and many of them were wearing cosplay costumes.

However, to be fair, most cosplayers have limited accuracy in their portrayal of characters, relying more on heavy makeup and costumes. Zhao Yanxi, with her excellent looks and figure, is truly one of a kind.

A stylish and capable woman in her mid-twenties stepped forward: "Yan hope! Werewolf is one short of a player for twelve. Are you really not playing?"

Zhao Yanxi turned around, smiling and waving her hand, "Sister Yun, you guys have fun, I'll just look around with my friend!"

"Really not coming? The person with the highest score today will get a reward!"

The woman, referred to as Sister Yun, pointed to a display shelf in the corner of the hall, on which stood a half-person-tall plush toy, a chibi version of Judy Hopps, the rabbit police officer from Zootopia.

Ding Heng wasn't particularly interested in plush toys, but he noticed Wen Jing's eyes light up instantly, and she even unconsciously opened her mouth slightly, giving off an adorable "I really want it" expression.

Sister Yun continued to persuade, "Yan hope, didn't you just say you really liked it?"

"Um……"

Zhao Yanxi was hesitating when Ding Heng spoke first.

"How about I try it for her?"

"you……"

Sister Yun looked Ding Heng up and down, then suddenly realized, "Oh—you're the one from Yan Xi's WeChat Moments..."

Zhao Yanxi blushed and quickly interrupted, "Yes, yes, yes! Sister Yun, let him take my place! He's smart!"

"Okay, let's go!"

Sister Yun waved cheerfully.

Ding Heng followed Sister Yun into the room, which was decorated like a small bar booth. There was a long table in the middle, where eleven people were already seated. Including Ding Heng, there were exactly six men and six women.

Apart from Sister Yun, who was not participating as the judge, most of the other players were cosplaying various characters, creating a lively atmosphere.

Seeing Ding Heng come in and sit down, a boy asked curiously, "Hey? Yan hope, aren't you going to play?"

As Sister Yun handed out the ID cards, she explained, "Her boyfriend is playing for her."

The moment the word "boyfriend" was uttered, a soft murmur and teasing erupted in the room.

Zhao Yanxi scratched her head sheepishly and glanced guiltily at Wen Jing.

Sure enough, her best friend's expression started to look strange...

Zhao Yanxi couldn't explain on the spot, so she simply brought over two small stools, pulled Wen Jing to sit on either side of Ding Heng, and obediently acted as a family member.

Games start.

In the first game, Ding Heng played as the wolf and, with the guards around, managed to eliminate four gods in a row.

In the second game, Ding Heng defended, ending the game on five consecutive Christmas Eves.

In the third game, Ding Heng, a civilian, led his team by eliminating four wolves in a row.

Fourth game...

"Wait! Wait a minute!"

Finally, a girl cosplaying as Shinobu Kocho couldn't hold back any longer, put down her ID card, frowned, and said, "Dude, are you cheating?"

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, the implication was that Ding Heng cheated or had some kind of "off-site information."

Sister Yun immediately stated, "I watched the whole thing; there was absolutely no possibility of cheating."

Zhao Yanxi, always eager for drama, retorted, "What's wrong? Can't you handle losing?"

Tanjiro, standing next to Shinobu Kocho, also raised an objection: "He's playing well, but isn't this a bit too much? Activating his third eye every time..."

Zhao Yanxi muttered under her breath, but loud enough for those around her to hear: "If you're bad at it, just practice more..."

Who are you calling bad?

Shinobu Kocho was a little annoyed: "We've participated in the City Werewolf Masters Tournament, you..."

Seeing that the atmosphere was about to become tense, Sister Yun quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, let's all keep quiet. As the shop owner and judge, I guarantee that this friend has absolutely no suspicion of cheating."

Even so, Sister Yun's gaze toward Ding Heng held a hint of scrutiny.

She had seen many werewolf game masters, but she had never seen anyone like Ding Heng before.

The game continues.

In the fifth round, Ding Heng once again got the werewolf card and accurately eliminated a villager with a single strike.

"I'm not playing anymore! I'm not playing anymore!"

Shinobu Kocho threw down her identity card, her face grim: "This is unplayable! There's absolutely no gaming experience!"

With her taking the lead, the other players who had lost and had no other choice also expressed their agreement.

One of the joys of the Werewolf game lies in the uncertainty of the reasoning and deduction process and the exhilarating feeling of "thinking you're on point."

Ding Heng's near-bug-level dominance brought the gaming experience of all other players to rock bottom, as if they were just tools to go through the motions with him.

Ding Heng calmly closed his True Sight Eye.

"Can I take the reward?"

"bring it on……"

Sister Yun smiled helplessly, then teased Zhao Yanxi: "Yanxi, if you see anything you like in the store in the future, just say so. Don't bring your boyfriend to cause trouble."

Her words immediately eased the awkward atmosphere considerably, and the others echoed her sentiments, making light and light teasing remarks about Zhao Yanxi.

After all, in everyone's eyes, Ding Heng was only being so ruthless in order to get a reward for his "girlfriend".

Ding Heng left with Sister Yun, while Zhao Yanxi scratched her head sheepishly and got up to go to the restroom.

In front of the sink, Zhao Yanxi was fixing her hair and dress in front of the mirror.

A girl nearby leaned forward, saying enviously, "Yan hope, is your handsome boyfriend a pro gamer? He's practically mind-reading; he's making us all suffer!"

Another girl chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, and he was so calm, like a pro."

Hearing the compliments, Zhao Yanxi felt a sweet warmth in her heart, and a little smug.

She mumbled "It's alright" and "He's not usually like this," but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up high, as if she were proud of him.

After washing her hands, she hummed a little tune and walked happily to the store entrance.

The next second, Zhao Yanxi's smile suddenly froze and then slowly disappeared.

Under the streetlights, Ding Heng stood quietly beside the car.

The Judy doll, which was half the height of a person, was being held tightly in Wenjing's arms.

Wenjing looked up at Ding Heng, and suddenly laughed after hearing what Ding Heng said.

Pure and radiant, with undisguised joy and satisfaction, her eyes sparkled, dazzlingly bright.

Zhao Yanxi stood in the shadows at the shop entrance, her feet rooted to the spot.

The hem of her skirt swayed gently in the night breeze, and the secret joy and vanity of a young girl in her heart vanished quickly like the receding tide.

Something in my chest felt like it had been gently twisted, leaving a sour, empty, and wistful feeling.

Ultimately, wasn't it all for her...?