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

Chapter 20: A Direct Attack on the Little Rabbit

Finally, under Zhao Yanxi's strong insistence, Ding Heng reluctantly ordered a strawberry sundae, but when it came time to pay, he was asked to pay for three sundaes.

At six o'clock sharp, the two girls changed back into casual clothes and left work on time.

Ding Heng scooped a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth and asked, "How was your first day at work?"

"It's quite fun, but my legs get a little sore after standing for a long time."

Zhao Yanxi licked her spoon, her tone relaxed, clearly not taking this part-time job very seriously.

Wenjing was filled with regret and self-blame: "I'm so clumsy, I sometimes press the wrong buttons on the cash register, and I'm slow at preparing food... I even gave an aunt the wrong sweet chili sauce, which made her child cry from the spiciness..."

"It's like this at first, you'll get used to it in a couple of days."

"I hope so."

……

The three of them walked to the car chatting and laughing. Almost at the same time, Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing subconsciously reached out and grasped the door handle of the passenger seat.

The air seemed to freeze for a second.

The two girls' hands froze in mid-air, and they looked at each other.

Wenjing quickly withdrew her hand as if she had been burned, lowered her head, and spoke in a soft, barely audible voice.

"I...I'll sit in the back."

After saying that, he opened the back door and hurriedly climbed inside.

Zhao Yanxi glanced at the empty passenger seat, then at Wen Jing who was pretending to fix her hair in the back seat, before sitting down next to her and calmly smiling.

"There's plenty of room in the back, let's sit together."

Ding Heng glanced at the two of them in the rearview mirror, silently started the car, and casually asked, "What would you like for dinner?"

"Shall we eat back at the hotel?"

Wenjing suggested quietly, her idea simple—to save money and prevent Ding Heng from spending any more.

"I want to eat crayfish!"

Zhao Yanxi raised her hand, her voice excited: "Spicy! Garlic! I want both!"

Ding Heng thought for a moment and suggested, "How about we compromise and go back to the hotel for crayfish?"

"OK!"

Zhao Yanxi readily agreed and took out her phone to place an order for delivery.

Wenjing looked at her enthusiastic best friend, then secretly glanced at Ding Heng in the driver's seat who didn't seem to care, and finally chose to remain silent as always.

The three returned to the executive suite of the Chujiang Hotel. Ding Heng took the opportunity to contact the Chinese restaurant using the room phone, asking them to send up two dishes, a soup, and some rice.

The takeout and Chinese restaurant dishes arrived almost simultaneously, and the large coffee table was temporarily requisitioned as a dining table, filled to the brim.

The three of them sat cross-legged around the coffee table, eating and chatting.

Wen Jingzhi seemed absent-minded, shoveling rice into her bowl with small bites, not even touching the shrimp that Zhao Yanxi had peeled herself.

Ding Heng noticed her awkwardness and was about to say something when Zhao Yanxi's phone suddenly popped up a video call invitation. It was from her mother, Zhou Rongmei.

"Ah! My mom!"

Zhao Yanxi quickly took off her gloves, grabbed a tissue to wipe her hands haphazardly, and picked up her phone: "I'll go out and answer that, you guys eat first!"

With that, he got up and quickly walked to the small living room outside the suite, then closed the door.

In an instant, only Ding Heng and Wen Jing remained in the room.

Wenjing became even more uncomfortable, almost burying her face in the bowl.

Ding Heng put down his chopsticks, leaned back on the sofa, looked at the girl in front of him who was practically curled up in a ball, and asked directly, "Do you feel bad about eating and drinking for free?"

Wenjing bit her lower lip, remained silent for a few seconds, and finally nodded gently, not daring to look at Ding Heng.

The girl's obedient yet aggrieved appearance rekindled Ding Heng's mischievous side.

He sighed deliberately, his tone exaggerated: "Sigh, so in your mind, Yan hope and I are both petty and calculating people?"

"No, no!"

Wenjing hurriedly explained, "I didn't think that! I just... I just felt..."

"You feel indebted to me, unable to repay the favor, and it weighs on your mind?"

Wenjing blushed at Ding Heng's words and remained silent.

"Quiet!"

Ding Heng suddenly called out softly, "Do you know what you look like right now?"

Wenjing raised her watery eyes and looked at Ding Heng blankly.

"Like that..."

Ding Heng tapped the table lightly with his chopsticks: "A stray puppy that was fed sausages by a kind passerby, but dared not eat them, only circled around people with its tail held straight, its eyes both wary and longing..."

Wenjing puffed out her cheeks and retorted softly, "I...I'm not a puppy!"

"Yes, yes, you're not a puppy, you're a cute, timid, pink little bunny!"

Ding Heng leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against Wen Jing's face.

"It looks so cute that I want to pet it a couple of times."

"I……"

Wenjing blushed as Ding Heng teased her, and her fingers unconsciously twisted together.

"I'll help you and let you stay here. It's not as complicated as you think."

Firstly, I swear, your hotel stay won't cost me much money, and you'll keep me company so I won't be all alone for the whole summer.

Secondly...

Ding Heng leaned back on the sofa, speaking frankly and casually, which made Wen Jing even more unable to handle him.

"Staying in a clean hotel is much better than squeezing into a messy shared apartment and not being able to eat or sleep well, right? I have a little problem; I can't stand seeing beautiful things being ruined."

His words sounded both like a joke and carried a hint of serious ambiguity.

He simply took a different approach, attributing his "kindness to you" to his own "aesthetic needs" and "pleasing appearance," which somewhat relieved Wenjing of some of her psychological burden.

After all, making up all sorts of clumsy yet high-sounding excuses for this kind of thing just seems too pretentious...

It's better to tell the other person clearly – I'm willing to do these things for you because I think you're beautiful!

Wenjing was confused by his twisted logic; her cheeks burned and her heart pounded erratically.

I want to refute it, but I don't know where to begin.

Finally, as if possessed, she asked, "Then... do you feel the same way about Yan hope? She's very pretty too."

"It's different, completely different!"

Ding Heng looked directly into Wen Jing's eyes and answered without the slightest hesitation.

This time, Wenjing did not avoid Ding Heng's gaze.

There was no condescending pity in his gaze, nor any unsettling heat; it was straightforward and frank, making her heart race.

She suddenly felt that perhaps... accepting this kindness for the time being, so as not to appear so awkward and disappointing, would be a better choice?

She took a deep breath, her small earlobes turning a translucent red, but finally picked up her chopsticks and obediently uttered an "Mmm".

Ding Heng withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.

Sometimes, when dealing with this sensitive and stubborn little rabbit, a direct approach is more effective than going in circles.

At the same time, the system interface popped up in my mind again.

[The Record of Redemption: Wenjing]

[Current Status: The Corrupted Nun]

Purification level: 26%