Chapter 161: The Fairy Accepts Her Fate

At eight o'clock in the morning, the sky in the capital was already bright.

Ding Heng was buttoning his shirt in front of the full-length mirror when his phone screen suddenly lit up; it was a video call request from Zhao Yanxi.

He pressed the answer button, but before he could even speak, the girl's voice burst out from the receiver.

"Brother Ding Heng!"

Zhao Yanxi's pretty face was close to the camera, her long pink and blue hair was messy, she probably had just woken up, but she was full of energy.

"When did you go to the capital?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

Ding Heng leaned his phone against the counter and continued buttoning his shirt.

"I'm only here for a few days. I'll go back after I've finished my business."

"A few days is a few days?"

"It might take two or three days, or it might take about a week..."

"One week!"

Zhao Yanxi's voice rose another notch: "You didn't spend much time with me last week! And you went out for another week this week! It's been more than half a month!"

Ding Heng chuckled and made a reassuring gesture towards the camera: "How about I come back and spend some quality time with you?"

Zhao Yanxi pouted, clearly not satisfied with Ding Heng's reply.

Her gaze swept across the screen, and suddenly she leaned forward as if trying to crawl into it.

"Brother Ding Heng, that thing on your bedside table..."

Ding Heng turned his head subconsciously.

On the bedside table, Hua Qingbai's pink and white antique-style handbag lay quietly next to the lamp.

Ding Heng turned around without changing his expression: "What, do you want the gift I bought for Wenjing at the Forbidden City yesterday?"

"real?"

"Otherwise, would there be anyone else in my room?"

"Alright..."

Zhao Yanxi forced a smile, a smile that was somewhat strained, but also tinged with resignation: "Then you have to spend the Qingming Festival holiday with me, right? It's a promise, okay? Don't stand me up again!"

"it is good."

Ding Heng agreed: "I'll definitely spend the Qingming Festival holiday with you."

"That's more like it."

Zhao Yanxi gave a soft hum, then turned to the camera and said in a coquettish tone, "Just come back soon, I really miss you~!"

"Okay, okay..."

The video call ended, and the screen went dark.

Ding Heng picked up his phone again, and the bathroom door behind him was pushed open a crack.

Hua Qing poked her head out halfway, looking guilty: "She hung up?"

"Um."

"Yan hope didn't notice anything, did she?"

"you guess."

"Hmph, what a scumbag!"

Hua Qing returned to the bedroom, took off her bathrobe and draped it over the back of a chair, then rummaged through her suitcase and pulled out a light gray pair of underwear.

Ding Heng stood behind her and naturally took the buckle from her hand.

"Senior."

"Um?"

When do you plan to tell them the truth?

Hua Qing remained silent, her body slightly stiffening.

Ding Heng's hands didn't stop moving: "Keeping it a secret forever isn't a good idea."

Hua Qing's voice was muffled: "Let me think about it some more."

Ding Heng didn't ask any more questions. He fastened his bra clasp and gently patted Hua Qing's shoulder.

"Okay, I won't pressure you."

………………

The appointment with the real estate agent was at 9:30.

The car that picked up Ding Heng and Hua Qing was a black minivan. The driver was a woman in her late twenties named Zhou Li. She was dressed smartly and efficiently, and spoke with a witty and humorous manner. She had probably been working as a real estate agent for quite some time.

"Mr. Ding, Ms. Hua, we'll be watching three shows today, all near the Beijing Dance Academy, no more than a fifteen-minute walk away."

As Zhou Li drove, she introduced the apartments: "The first one is in Wanliu, a new development that was just handed over last year. The second one is in Suzhouqiao, an older community but fully furnished and larger. The third one is in Weigongcun, closest to the school, and also the most expensive of the three."

Hua Qing sat in the back seat, listening quietly to Zhou Li's narration, her heart filled with unease.

Although she had anticipated the housing prices in the capital, she still couldn't help feeling nervous when it came to this.

The car stopped in a high-end residential area.

The residential complex is new, with strict access control, exquisite landscaping, and security guards standing ramrod straight.

Zhou Li swiped her access card and led the two inside.

"This apartment is 120 square meters, with two bedrooms and one living room, and it's well-ventilated from north to south. The landlord is a university professor who just finished renovating it last year. He hadn't even lived there for a few days before the university sent him abroad for a research visit. All the furniture and appliances are brand new; you can move in immediately."

The elevator stopped on the fifteenth floor, the entrance door opened, and Hua Qing paused slightly.

The living room is large, with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the community garden, allowing sunlight to flood the entire space.

The sofa is a light gray fabric style, there is a ceramic tea set on the coffee table, and there is an upright piano in the corner.

The open kitchen is fully equipped with an oven, dishwasher, and double-door refrigerator.

The master bedroom features a solid wood bed with a latex mattress. Although the walk-in closet is not large, it is very well designed.

Hua Qing stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the scenery outside, her expression dazed.

The house was much better than she had imagined, and also much more expensive.

Zhou Li spoke up at the opportune moment: "The monthly rent for this apartment is 28,000 yuan, including property management fees and heating. If you want to rent for more than a year, you can talk to the landlord and get it for around 25,000 yuan."

Hua Qing's eyelashes trembled.

Twenty-eight thousand.

Her mortgage on her small two-bedroom apartment in Xingcheng is only a little over six thousand.

Zhou Li added, "Similar properties in this area are all around this price. Beijing Dance Academy, Renmin University, and Peking University are all located in this area, so the school district is good, and the surrounding shopping areas, hospitals, and subway stations are very convenient."

Hua Qing didn't reply, but turned to look at Ding Heng.

Ding Heng was standing in front of the bookshelf, casually flipping through a financial magazine.

Feeling Hua Qing's gaze, he happily raised his head.

Do you like it?

"Let's take another look."

Hua Qing withdrew her gaze, trying to keep her tone calm.

The second apartment is in an older neighborhood; the exterior walls have been repainted, so it looks relatively new.

The house is bigger than the first one, 150 square meters, with three bedrooms and one living room, but the decoration looks old, there are some defects in the flooring, and the water heater in the bathroom is also an old model.

"This apartment costs 21,000 yuan a month, which is very cost-effective."

Zhou Li explained, "Although the decor is a bit old, it's spacious and comfortable to live in."

Hua Qing walked around the house and sighed, "I can't live in a house this big by myself."

Ding Heng sighed and chuckled, "I'll come back to stay here again."

"Two people can't live in a place this big."

"What if Yan hope or Wen Jing comes to the capital for a visit? That day will come eventually."

Ding Heng gently stroked Hua Qing's face: "Senior, you can't just think about yourself."

Hua Qing was speechless.

Zhou Li was even more enthusiastic: "Mr. Ding Heng is right. This size is just right for two people... You can stay in the master bedroom, and the second bedroom can be used as a study or guest room, which is also convenient for friends to come over."

Hua Qing remained silent, so Ding Heng made the decision for her.

"My girlfriend doesn't seem to like it much, let's go check out another one."

The three of them went downstairs, got into the car, and continued driving to the next location.

While turning the steering wheel, Zhou Li introduced the surrounding facilities.

Hua Qing sat in the back seat, staring blankly at the street scene rushing past the window, her mind still preoccupied with the price.

Ding Heng suddenly spoke up: "Senior."

Hua Qing turned to look at him.

"Teacher Qi, when does the theater troupe's rehearsals begin?"

Early April.

"We need to finalize the purchase of that house as soon as possible."

Ding Heng said calmly, "You'll be busy later and won't have time to deal with these things."

Hua Qing whispered, "The first set was actually alright, it's just..."

"What is it?"

Hua Qing opened her mouth, but hesitated to speak.

Ding Heng asked, "You think it's too expensive?"

Hua Qing didn't answer, but her expression already confirmed it.

If I had studied in the capital for the past four years, how much would my expenses have increased...?

Her family is considered moderately well-off, but in reality, it's still a considerable burden.

Zhou Li glanced in the rearview mirror and wisely refrained from interrupting.

Ding Heng reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair that was falling beside Hua Qing's face behind her ear, a natural and intimate gesture.

"Senior, when you come to the capital, I'll increase your allowance to 60,000."

Hua Qing was stunned.

Sixty thousand.

Including rent, Ding Heng spends nearly 100,000 yuan on her every month!

"Ding Heng".

Hua Qing sat up straight and said seriously, "Don't do this."

"What?"

"that is……"

Hua Qing carefully chose her words: "I'm already doing very well as I am now. The great master Gobi Desert Demon has joined with his new work, 'A Cosplay Photo Opportunity: Why Did the System Take It Seriously?' You don't need to..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Zhou Li gripped the steering wheel, but her ears were perked up.

Ding Heng pressed on, "What do you mean, 'no need'?"

Hua Qing bit her lower lip: "There's no need to spend so much money on me."

Ding Heng sighed and chuckled, "Why is Senior Sister being naughty again?"

"I……"

The excessive amount of money exceeded Hua Qing's psychological limits; after all, not everyone has Zhao Yanxi's open-minded attitude.

"What's the difference between 20,000 and 60,000? For you? For me? Or are you saying you'd be more at ease taking only 20,000, senior?"

Ding Heng cut to the chase, giving Hua Qing no room to evade the question.

Hua Qing was stunned.

Is there a difference between 20,000 and 60,000?

No.

From the day she agreed to be Ding Heng's "girlfriend," she was no longer the "pure and innocent" Hua Qing.

Taking 20,000 is taking it, taking 60,000 is also taking it.

Zhou Li glanced furtively in the rearview mirror, then quickly looked away.

Being pretty has its advantages; making money there is so much easier than doing it yourself...

Hua Qing took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

"good."

Ding Heng reached out and gently rubbed Hua Qing's head.

One or two intimate gestures were fine, but after a while, Hua Qing felt uncomfortable and couldn't help but mutter under her breath.

"Can you please stop doing this all the time..."

"What?"

"You keep patting my head and stuff, making me feel like your pet."

Ding Heng continued to gently rub Hua Qing's skin, his tone ambiguous, as if he were smiling but not actually laughing.

"Isn't that right, senior?"

Hua Qing choked again, finally managing to utter only two words.

"Scumbag."

It seemed like he was gritting his teeth, but more than that, it was a sense of helplessness.

A system notification quietly appeared in Ding Heng's mind.

[Progress of romantic entanglement: 88%]

Hua Qing and Wen Jing are different.

Wenjing was shy, but she knew what was going on from beginning to end.

She knew her place in Ding Heng's life, and she knew she couldn't live without him.

So she doesn't compete or fight, isn't pretentious or affected, and is content to be her "little pet" and "little nanny".

Hua Qing is different.

This aloof "fairy" always tries to maintain the last layer of secrecy.

So she needed to constantly reassure herself—I am Ding Heng's girlfriend, and nothing else.

Ding Heng doesn't need to break through this barrier.

But when necessary, we must give them a good talking-to.

Of course, it must be done step by step.

He wouldn't have dared to say such a thing if the emotional connection hadn't already reached over 80%.

Hua Qing is proud at heart, and if she gets stressed, all the hard work she has put in could be wasted.

The three arrived at the third house, which was only seven or eight minutes away from the Beijing Dance Academy.

The residential area is small, with only four buildings, but it is very strictly managed.

You need to swipe your card to enter the main gate, the unit door, and the elevator.

"This apartment is 110 square meters, with two bedrooms and one living room. It was just renovated last year. The landlord is an investor and is not in the capital most of the time, so he has entrusted our company to manage the property."

The living room's floor-to-ceiling windows face the central garden of the community, where you can see several magnolia trees with white buds already sprouting on their branches.

The master bedroom is very large, with a separate walk-in closet and bathroom.

The second bedroom was converted into a study, with a row of bookshelves against the wall and a retro desk lamp on the desk.

The kitchen is open-plan, and all the appliances are imported brands.

What pleased Hua Qing the most was that there was a full-length mirror in the storage room, which could be used as a simple dance studio.

"The monthly rent for this apartment is 32,000."

Zhou Li quoted the price and added, "The property is top-notch. For an extra fee, the service is comparable to that of a high-end hotel... In addition, it's the closest to the Beijing Dance Academy, only a seven or eight-minute walk away."

Hua Qing stood in front of the French windows, gazing at the magnolias in the garden that were about to bloom, clearly having made a decision.

Ding Heng asked softly, "Do you like it?"

Hua Qing nodded.

"This set will do."

Ding Heng turned to Zhou Li: "Can we sign the contract now?"

Zhou Li was surprised by the speed and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, I'll have the company send the contract over right away."

About an hour later, Zhou Li placed the printed lease agreement on the coffee table: "Ms. Hua, please take a look at the terms first. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me."

Hua Qing sat down and turned the pages one by one.

Although the densely packed clauses are difficult to read, their general meaning is still understandable.

Three months' deposit and one month's rent in advance, minimum one-year lease, utilities and property management fees are the responsibility of the tenant, and furniture damage will be compensated at cost.

Suddenly Ding Heng's phone rang, and Zhao Yanxi's video call popped up again.

Ding Heng glanced at the screen, then at Hua Qing.

"I'll go out and get it."

After the man left, Zhou Li took the opportunity to chat with Hua Qing.

"Ms. Hua is from the Beijing Dance Academy, right?"

How did you know?

"Your demeanor and figure clearly indicate that you are a dancer."

Zhou Li said sincerely, "Besides, didn't your boyfriend say he wanted to find an apartment close to the Beijing Dance Academy? So I guessed you're a student at the Beijing Dance Academy."

Hua Qing said "Oh" and continued looking down at the contract.

Zhou Li seemed to have started talking: "With your looks, you must be outstanding even at the Beijing Dance Academy."

Hua Qing then asked, "Do many students from the Beijing Dance Academy ask you to rent apartments?"

"No, not at all. Our agency deals with high-end rentals. Those who rent from us during their student days either come from wealthy families or..."

Zhou Li paused, carefully considering her words: "Either I can find a rich and considerate boyfriend like you."

Hua Qing's pen, which she had just picked up, stopped in mid-air.

Sister Zhou immediately realized that she had been too offensive and quickly tried to make amends.

"That's not what I meant, Ms. Hua. I meant your boyfriend is really good to you. He's handsome, generous, and patiently helps you choose a house. Men like that are hard to find these days. I've seen so many clients where the woman comes to look at houses alone, and the man doesn't even show his face..."

Hua Qing put down her pen, raised her head, and looked solemnly at Zhou Li.

He is my boyfriend.

"Ah, I know."

"It's not any other relationship."

Hua Qing continued, her words clear and distinct: "He's my boyfriend!"

Fearing that Hua Qing might suddenly change her mind and refuse to sign the contract, Sister Zhou quickly smiled apologetically and said, "I understand, I understand. You two look very much in love."

But while saying that, he was secretly thinking to himself.

I heard what they said in the car just now...

However, Zhou Li didn't understand the world of the rich, nor did she want to.

As long as the commission is received, nothing else matters to her.

"Ms. Hua, you can just sign here."

Sister Zhou pointed to the last page of the contract, her smile professional and appropriate.

Hua Qing hesitated to put pen to paper. She knew what Sister Zhou thought of her, after all, similar relationships were not uncommon among dance students.

She wanted to continue explaining, but when the words reached her lips, she felt that nothing she said would make a difference.

Although her name was written in black and white on the contract, it was Ding Heng who ultimately paid the real money.

Suddenly, Hua Qing thought of Wen Jing.

That quiet, well-behaved girl, like a little white rabbit.

Hua Qing used to think that Wen Jing was too weak and lacked her own opinions, and that Ding Heng had her completely under his control.

But now I feel inexplicably envious...

"Miss Hua..."

Sister Zhou called out softly, wishing she could slap herself twice for her foul mouth.

The duck was finally cooked, what are you yelling about!

Finally, Hua Qing finished writing, pushed the contract to Zhou Li, and remained silent.

Zhou Li took the contract, wisely refrained from saying anything more, packed her things, and took her leave.

In the corridor, Ding Heng hung up the phone and pushed open the door to come in.

Hua Qing was still sitting on the sofa, staring blankly at the contract on the coffee table.

Ding Heng walked over and sat down next to Hua Qing.

"What's wrong?"

Hua Qing shook her head and didn't say anything.

Ding Heng didn't ask any further questions, but simply reached out and pulled the girl into his arms.

A system notification quietly appeared in my mind.

[Progress of romantic entanglement: 90%]

[Ding! The progress of the romantic connection has exceeded 90%, and the stage goal has been achieved!]

[Rewards: 1000 Divine Merit Points, +6 to Constitution, and an upgrade to the skill "Sword Heart Clarity"!]

The latest chapter is packed with exciting plot twists! Come check it out!