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

Chapter 17: My Best Friend Delivers Packages to My Door

Around 11 a.m. the following morning.

Zhao Yanxi woke up groggily with a severe headache.

She frowned, her eyelids were so heavy they were almost glued together, and her throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire.

I opened my eyes, and my vision was blurry for a few seconds before it focused on the familiar ceiling light.

It was definitely her own bedroom. Looking down, she saw that she was wearing familiar pajamas.

"Oh, you're at home..."

She instinctively felt safe, turned over, buried her face in the pillow, and prepared to stay in bed a little longer.

and many more!

A few seconds later, as if doused with cold water, Zhao Yanxi suddenly opened her eyes; the dull pain from the hangover could not stop her brain from becoming clear.

wrong!

Shouldn't I be waking up in a five-star hotel bed with a man?

How did you end up in your own home?

She threw back the covers and sat up, trying to recall what happened last night, but her memory was like a sponge soaked in alcohol, leaving only fragmented, shaky, and incoherent pieces.

The car lights were flashing, I seemed to be talking a lot of nonsense, I was being helped to walk, and it seemed that I even called someone "Dad"?

But I can't remember anything more specific, like how I got home or who changed my clothes.

She turned to look at the dressing mirror. The girl in the mirror was disheveled, pale, and her silver hair was particularly striking.

It’s over! It’s over! It’s over!

Zhao Yanxi sensed something was wrong.

Although her mother, Zhou Rongmei, verbally said she would no longer interfere with her "adult life," she stayed out all night, got drunk, and even dyed her hair...

All these factors combined will inevitably exceed the tolerance range of parents who "turn a blind eye".

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Zhao Yanxi quickly got out of bed, rushed to the schoolbag thrown on the chair, unzipped it, and groped inside with trembling fingers.

"fine……"

Zhao Yanxi breathed a long sigh of relief, her heart finally calming down.

The "cosplay outfit" and accessories she had specially prepared were all lying untouched in the interlayer, neatly folded, without any signs of being moved.

If parents see this, it will be a double death for them, both socially and familially!

The feeling of dry mouth and throat returned, and Zhao Yanxi quietly opened the bedroom door and peeked out.

The living room was quiet and empty.

It seems like my parents aren't home?

She relaxed a little, slipped into the bathroom to wash up quickly with cold water, then covered her throbbing forehead and headed to the kitchen to find some food in the refrigerator.

"If you're hungry, there's cake on the table."

A deep, steady male voice came from the direction of the living room behind him.

Zhao Yanxi trembled with fright and almost screamed.

She turned her head stiffly. Her father, Zhao Xingguo, was sitting on the sofa in the living room, his back straight, holding a newspaper in his hand, his expression unreadable.

It's bound to happen...

Zhao Yanxi groaned inwardly, but quickly forced a fawning and guilty smile, shrank her head, and shrank back to sit down, only daring to sit on one side of her bottom.

She tried to start in a relaxed tone: "Dad...you...you didn't go out today?"

Zhao Xingguo put down his newspaper and asked with concern, "Does your head hurt?"

"It's...it's alright..."

Zhao Yanxi was uneasy and tentatively asked, "Dad, um... last night..."

"A boy named Ding Heng brought you home last night."

Zhao Xingguo cut to the chase: "He's your boyfriend, right?"

Zhao Yanxi was speechless for a moment, stammering.

Zhao Xingguo didn't seem to need his daughter to give an immediate affirmative answer, and continued talking to himself.

"Your mother and I aren't old-fashioned. You're an adult now, and we don't object to you dating."

Zhao Yanxi was stunned and looked at her father in disbelief.

"Also, this Ding Heng..."

Zhao Xingguo paused, seemingly considering his words.

Zhao Yanxi thought her father was about to start criticizing Ding Heng, and subconsciously wanted to say something in her defense, but instead she heard Zhao Xingguo continue rambling.

"It looks pretty good."

"what?"

Zhao Yanxi was completely dumbfounded.

Zhao Xingguo picked up the thermos on the coffee table, took a sip of cold tea, and began to analyze the situation methodically.

He was dressed simply, with neat hair, no blemishes or tattoos, and no fancy accessories—a clean-cut young man. His car was worth just over 100,000 yuan; he looked like a respectable young man from an ordinary family.

Secondly, even though you were so drunk last night, he kept his hands in the right places the whole time, without making any inappropriate touching or taking advantage of you.

Furthermore, the fact that he drove for over an hour late at night to bring you home safely and hand you over to us shows that he has principles and his character is basically sound.

Zhao Xingguo finally put down his cup.

"Also, he should address people as 'uncle' when appropriate, get straight to the point, and not be timid or glib. He seems clear-headed, not a silent type, nor is he the kind who tries to be clever in a petty way."

After listening to her father's long analysis, Zhao Yanxi blinked in confusion: "So... Dad, you mean you're quite satisfied with him?"

Zhao Xingguo said seriously, "It's too early to say whether I'm satisfied or not, after all, we've only met once. But at least the first impression... wasn't bad!"

So if you two are really dating, I won't object. Young people have to go through what they need to go through.

"Then...where's my mom?"

"Your mom was a bit anxious and stressed last night."

Zhao Xingguo was both amused and exasperated: "I told her to go on a trip with some of her old colleagues to relax. She'll be back in a few days so she won't stay home arguing with you and make you feel bad."

Zhao Yanxi felt a weight lift from her heart.

Compared to Zhao Xingguo, Zhou Rongmei put more pressure on her!

Looking at the changing expressions on his daughter's face, Zhao Xingguo suddenly became a little more serious.

"Yan Xi, over the years, your mother and I may have had some problems with how we raised you. I'd like to offer my apologies and reflect on that."

Zhao Yanxi subconsciously sat up straight, feeling a little uncomfortable with her father's "official" tone of voice.

Zhao Xingguo was always busy with work, and his wife took on almost all of the responsibility for their daughter's education and life.

Although he occasionally felt that his wife was too controlling and strict.

But my daughter has always been cheerful, sensible, and well-behaved, and her academic performance is also good.

Over time, he came to believe that "professionals should do professional things," and Zhou Rongmei was, after all, a senior teacher, and her methods always made sense.

It wasn't until last night, with Ding Heng's subtle reminder, that Zhao Xingguo realized he really needed to have a heart-to-heart talk with his daughter.

However, having grown accustomed to the work unit's meetings and ideological work style, Zhao Xingguo was at a loss for words and subconsciously adopted his usual bureaucratic tone.

"It's mainly my responsibility. I've been busy with work and haven't paid enough attention to you or communicated with you enough. As for your mother, she might have been a bit too eager to achieve results and was too controlling. Her intentions were certainly good, but she may not have considered the psychological feelings and need for independence of a child your age..."

As Zhao Yanxi listened to her father's "summary report," it went in one ear and out the other, her mind already wandering far away.

Ding Heng actually brought her back last night?

Did I even run into my dad?

What exactly did they talk about?

……

Zhao Xingguo concluded, "So, from now on, your mother and I will be more mindful of our approach. We won't interfere with your dating life, but we hope you can be careful, protect yourself, and communicate with your family more often when problems arise... Is that alright?"

Zhao Yanxi then came to her senses and, disregarding what her father had said before, quickly nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at rice.

"Yes, yes! Don't worry, Dad, I'll definitely be careful!"

Seeing his daughter's obedient agreement, Zhao Xingguo felt a little relieved.

"I still have some things to take care of at work, you should get some rest."

"Okay! Goodbye, Dad! Be careful on your way!"

Zhao Yanxi immediately flashed a bright smile and waved goodbye sweetly.

I watched my father leave, and the security door clicked shut.

Zhao Yanxi's perfect smile vanished instantly, and she slumped back into the soft sofa as if her bones had been removed.

She stared blankly for a while, then instinctively picked up her phone, unlocked it, and habitually swiped her finger to the chat window with Ding Heng.

Just as Ding Heng had predicted, Zhao Yanxi's excitement vanished almost instantly the moment she opened the chat box.

Not interesting.

This is so boring!

The other person was not the "bad" man she had imagined at all.

They can return the "prey" that is delivered right to their mouths intact, and even politely hand it back to the "parents"?

In Zhao Yanxi's current state of mind, these so-called "gentlemen" and "warm men" seemed particularly... boring.

Or should we just leave it at that?

Zhao Yanxi pouted and was about to exit the chat interface when a phone call came in.

Caller ID: Wenjing.

She lazily swiped to answer the call, holding the phone to her ear: "Hey, what's up, Jingjing? Missing me?"

A soft, gentle voice came from the other end of the phone: "Yan hope, about that summer job."

"Oh, that one!"

Zhao Yanxi shifted into a more comfortable reclining position: "I haven't asked for you yet. Don't worry, I'll pester my mom when she gets back from her trip. She knows a lot of people..."

"No, no!"

Wenjing quickly interrupted, "It's Ding Heng. He told me last night... no, this morning that he found me a summer job."

"Ding Heng?"

Zhao Yanxi raised an eyebrow, then perked up again: "What kind of job?"

"Also McDonald's."

Wenjing honestly replied, "He said it's in Changsha, with room and board included, and if I work until the start of the semester, I can earn about four to five thousand yuan... I'm hesitating about whether to go or not, and I wanted to ask for your opinion."

As each other's most trusted best friends, Wenjing still wanted Zhao Yanxi to help her make a decision.

Zhao Yanxi scoffed: "McDonald's? Includes room and board?"

Who works at McDonald's that provides room and board? Do you think Uncle Clown is doing charity work?!

Just as she was about to speak, a brilliant idea struck her!

and many more!

Ding Heng is clearly trying to lure Wen Jing to Xingcheng so he can make his move!

Once she settled in Xingcheng, Wenjing, timid and obedient, was completely at Ding Heng's mercy, being manipulated and exploited to his advantage.

So...it seems my dad really misjudged me?

This Ding Heng is not a decent person with good character at all, but a thoroughly cunning and wicked person.

But why did he not do anything to me last night and even return the item?

Are you planning to play the long game?

Is it that this one isn't to his liking?

Or was he just more ambitious and wanted something more exciting, like taking both her and Wenjing at the same time?

Or perhaps you simply find her troublesome and think that Wenjing is easier to control?

Either possibility excited Zhao Yanxi again, and added a touch of competitiveness!

interesting.

So much fun!

Her expression was enthusiastic, and her speaking speed suddenly increased.

"Go! Why not go? Let's go together!"