Chapter 169: Preparing a Big Surprise for Hua Qing!

After getting her hair done, Ding Heng and Lin Man accompanied Bai Ma on a journey of eating, drinking, and having fun.

At 9:40 p.m., the dilapidated Chang'an stopped at the entrance of the villa area.

Baima unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned back in the seat in front of her: "Brother, are you coming again tomorrow?"

"It depends."

"What do you mean by 'depending on the situation'..."

Bai Ma pouted in dissatisfaction and turned to Lin Man: "Sister Man, can you talk to him for me?"

Lin Man shrugged, indicating that she was powerless to help...

Seeing that neither of them responded, Baima sighed resignedly and got out of the car.

Watching Baima walk into the villa, Ding Heng took one hand off the steering wheel and covered Lin Man's black-stockinged thigh.

Lin Man's black stockings today were extremely thin 5D stockings, almost imperceptible in thickness. Ding Heng could clearly feel the temperature of her skin when he placed his fingertip on them.

Lin Man didn't dodge; instead, she sensibly leaned her leg over to her.

Ding Heng's fingers stopped at the mid-thigh of her thigh, pressing lightly. "Your place or a hotel?"

Lin Man obediently replied, "I'll do whatever the boss says."

"I haven't been to your house yet."

"The boss is always welcome to visit."

"Give directions."

Ding Heng withdrew his hand and gripped the steering wheel again.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the apartment where Lin Man usually lived.

Lin Man opened the door with her fingerprint and stepped aside to let Ding Heng go in first.

The motion-sensor light in the entryway turned on, casting a warm yellow glow across the floor.

Lin Man knelt down naturally, took out a pair of brand-new men's slippers from the shoe cabinet, unpacked them, and placed them neatly at Ding Heng's feet.

Then he raised his head and tilted his head back, placing his hands folded on his knees in a respectful posture.

Ding Heng looked down and asked, "Why do you have men's slippers at home?"

"I specially prepared this for the boss a few days ago..."

Lin Man remained kneeling and took half a step back to make way for Ding Heng.

"Boss, please come in."

Ding Heng walked past her and strode into the living room.

The house was bigger than I had imagined, and the decor was a simple modern style, with gray and white tones and no unnecessary decorations.

Lin Man followed in and knelt down again at Ding Heng's feet, knees together and back straight.

"What would you like to drink, boss? Tea, coffee, or alcohol?"

"At the bar, I feel like you can relax a bit after you've had a drink."

"OK……"

Lin Man got up, went to her small wine cabinet, took out a bottle, then went to the kitchen to start cooking, and finally brought out a few dishes of side dishes.

A few slices of ham, a small bowl of dried apricots and nuts, a few pieces of chopped cheese, and a plate of sliced ​​braised beef.

"I need to sober up first."

She placed each item on the coffee table one by one, her movements quick and practiced: "Boss, please wait a moment while I go change my clothes."

Lin Man put down the decanter and turned to walk into the bedroom.

The door was ajar, and the soft clatter of clothes hangers coming from inside, followed by the sound of fabric being rustled.

Ding Heng withdrew his gaze, picked up the remote control from the coffee table, turned on the TV, and aimlessly changed channels.

A few minutes later, the bedroom door opened.

A moonlight white satin V-neck shirt with a crossover neckline that creates a perfectly relaxed and effortless look, and loose lantern sleeves that drape gently down the arms.

A black satin ribbon is tied into a fluffy bow at the waist, highlighting a slender waistline that complements the high-waisted shorts in the same color scheme, creating a look that is both neat and sweet.

She stepped barefoot onto the floor, returned to the coffee table, knelt down again, picked up the decanter, and poured a third of the wine into the glass in front of Ding Heng.

Ding Heng picked up his wine glass and suddenly looked at the photo frame on the coffee table.

The frame contains a family photo, with a backdrop of a tacky photo studio setup featuring artificial mountains and water.

The couple in the photo are both in their early thirties, a perfect match in terms of looks, and their features clearly resemble Lin Man's.

Ding Heng picked up the photo frame, his gaze falling on the little girl between the two.

Around ten years old, she wore two pigtails and a pink princess dress; a pure beauty in the making.

Ding Heng praised, "You were so cute when you were little."

Lin Man raised her hand, subconsciously trying to take the photo frame back from Ding Heng's hand, but then stopped in mid-air, her fingers curling slightly.

She leaned her head against Ding Heng's thigh, her long, silver-gray hair cascading down her chest, and said in a coquettish tone, "Am I not cute right now?"

Ding Heng put the photo frame back and picked up his wine glass again.

"Aren't you going to pay respects to your father these two days for Qingming Festival?"

"Didn't the boss say you had arrangements and needed to be available at any time? How could anyone dare to act on their own?"

"What are you saying?"

Ding Heng was originally going to accompany Zhao Yanxi, but Zhao Yanxi was forced by her mother to go back to pay respects to her ancestors. Wen Jing also had Wen Shu, who was on vacation, by her side, so it was inconvenient.

That's why Lin Man was kept on standby at all times...

"How about I give you half a day off tomorrow? Or maybe I can just go with you?"

Lin Man was stunned.

Politeness? A test? Or genuine sincerity?

Lin Man couldn't figure it out for a moment, and subconsciously thanked him, "Thank you, boss."

The system interface quietly appeared in Ding Heng's mind.

[Refuge Value: 1%]

Ding Heng glanced at the numbers, his expression remaining unchanged: "Pour another cup."

Lin Man snapped out of her daze, picked up the decanter again, and poured the wine into the glass.

Ding Heng picked up his wine cup, about to bring it to his lips, but suddenly stopped.

"Is that outfit you're wearing expensive?"

Lin Man was about to quote a price in the five figures, but she swallowed her words back.

"Is it expensive...?"

She raised her head, her smile alluring: "It all depends on whether the boss likes it or not."

Ding Heng smiled with satisfaction and raised his wine glass above Lin Man's head.

The next second, the wine poured over the rim of the glass.

The next second, the wine poured over the rim of the glass.

Dark red liquid fell onto her head, flowing down her silver-gray hair, soaking her forehead, branching out along the sides of her nose, sliding down her cheeks, gathering at the tip of her chin, and dripping down one drop at a time.

Lin Man subconsciously closed her eyes, her breathing becoming rapid.

But she dared not move, not even breathe too heavily, letting the wine pour down evenly, wetting her little by little...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The third day of Qingming Festival was a sunny day.

The car drove out of the cemetery and slowly drove down the mountain road.

Lin Man was driving, dressed simply and cleanly, with a bare face and slightly red eyes.

Ding Heng sat in the passenger seat, quietly staring at the system interface in his mind.

Crown of Thorns: Lin Man

[Penalty Value: 21%]

Atonement Value: 0%

[Refuge Value: 1%]

"Lin Man".

"Um?"

She responded with a sound, without turning her head.

Do you think I went too far last night?

"Is that the truth?"

"Um."

"A little."

"Then aren't you angry?"

"Well……"

Lin Man thought for a moment and said seriously, "As long as the boss likes it, that's fine."

They really know how to endure.

Ding Heng thought to himself, not entirely surprised.

Lin Man was already obsessed with Hua Qing, let alone the blood feud involving her parents...

Just now, at her father's grave, Ding Heng saw Lin Man cry for the first time. She looked pitiful, which made him feel sorry for her.

But isn't this foolish fox at all worried that he won't be able to avenge her?

The car drove out of the mountain pass and merged into the main road.

"There's something else I need to ask you to do."

"What?"

"The 10th is Hua Qing's birthday, and she'll be coming back from the capital. I'd like to decorate her house and prepare a surprise, so I might have to trouble you."

"I don't know what she likes."

Lin Man rarely talked back. Although she still had a docile expression on her face, the corners of her mouth had unconsciously turned down.

Like a child whose toy has been taken away, but too embarrassed to say it outright, he exudes a pitiful and aggrieved air.

Ding Heng said calmly, "You've been watching her for so long, how could you not know?"

Lin Man pursed her lips and simply pretended not to hear.

She could tolerate being Ding Heng's secretary, but she couldn't possibly have to be Hua Qing's maid as well, could she?

Ding Heng's voice turned cold: "What did I say that day?"

Lin Man answered softly, "Let me reconcile with Hua Qing. We'll see each other all the time in the future..."

"This is our chance."

Ding Heng softened his tone and gently advised, "It's just a trivial matter, don't throw a tantrum."

The car stopped at a red light, and Lin Man seemed to be caught in some kind of dilemma.

"I'll send her address and door code to your phone. I'll also find you a few helpers."

Ding Heng took out his phone and gave a final instruction: "Get it done before the 8th, then I'll come and inspect it!"

The light turned green, and Lin Man slammed on the gas pedal, squeezing out four words through gritted teeth.

"Yes, boss!"

…………

Lobby of Chujiang Hotel.

Zhao Yanxi leaned back on the sofa armrest in the rest area, scrolling through her phone listlessly.

Wenjing sat quietly beside her, gazing at the gate, waiting for the man to appear.

Hua Yue slumped in the single sofa, lazily yawning.

Finally, the revolving door turned, and Ding Heng strode into the hotel.

Zhao Yanxi immediately jumped up from the sofa, threw her phone into Wen Jing's arms, and pounced on her.

"Brother Ding Heng!"

The girl buried her face in Ding Heng's arms.

After not seeing each other for several days, she had a lot to say, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she caught a glimpse of someone else behind Ding Heng.

That damned vixen—Lin Man!

Zhao Yanxi stepped out of Ding Heng's arms, her enthusiasm instantly cooling down.

"Brother Ding Heng, didn't you agree to spend time with me alone? Why did you bring someone else along?!"

The word "outsider" was pronounced with extra emphasis.

Lin Man stepped forward, her smile polite and her tone warm: "Yan hope, it's been a long time."

Zhao Yanxi forced a smile: "Long time no see."

Ding Heng interjected at the opportune moment: "Weren't you planning a birthday surprise for Sister Hua Qing? I specially invited her best friend to come and offer you some ideas."

"Best friend!?"

Zhao Yanxi looked suspicious.

She had known Hua Qing for so long, but she had never heard Hua Qing mention Lin Man even once.

Lin Man remained unfazed and said confidently, "I'm the vice-captain of the dance team, and Hua Qing is the captain. We're quite close!"

Zhao Yanxi didn't reply, but turned to look at Hua Yue with a questioning look in her eyes—"Really?"

Hua Yue sat up from the sofa, shrugged, and looked innocent: "Don't look at me, I don't know anything about my sister's social connections. But the fact that she can make friends is a miracle in itself."

Zhao Yanxi's lips twitched slightly.

But then I thought about it again, and Hua Qing was indeed with Lin Man on the Lantern Festival, and the two of them were even able to take pictures happily.

Although I dislike the vixen, I have to consider the bigger picture.

She endures!

Zhao Yanxi looked away and grabbed Ding Heng's arm: "Let's go upstairs and discuss it further."

Five people sat in a circle in a private room at the hotel's tea restaurant.

Zhao Yanxi took out a palm-sized notebook from her bag and opened it. It was filled with all sorts of birthday surprise ideas she had collected over the past few days.

She cleared her throat, about to take charge, when Lin Man spoke first.

"The captain doesn't like overly flamboyant scenes."

"what?"

Zhao Yanxi blinked, only to see Lin Man looking completely professional.

"Our captain looks cold, but she's actually quite afraid of awkward situations. If you try to pull off that kind of 'a group of people suddenly jump out and shout 'Surprise!' her first reaction will definitely be to want to crawl into a hole... But it can't be too quiet either; we have to find the right balance."

Lin Man continued, "Also, use white and light green for the colors; those are the two colors most often in the captain's wardrobe. Use fewer balloons; she finds them too noisy. Prepare more flowers, especially white lisianthus; she always keeps those on her desk."

Zhao Yanxi glanced down at the "pink balloons + flower petals" design on her notebook and silently crossed it out in her mind.

"besides!"

Lin Man picked up her teacup and took a sip: "Don't make the cake too sweet, she doesn't eat anything too sweet."

Zhao Yanxi simply closed her notebook and waited for Lin Man to speak.

Hua Yue's eyes widened even more. As Hua Qing's cousin, she thought she knew her cousin well enough.

Compared to Lin Man, the "Master of Clear Skies," he felt like an outsider!

"Don't use bright lights when decorating, just warm yellow ones, and use low wattage ones, because she doesn't like things that are too bright."

Lin Man continued talking: "Also, the gift should be as practical as possible, or something special. She doesn't like those fancy handicrafts..."

Hua Yue was completely convinced.

She leaned close to Zhao Yanxi's ear and whispered, "She knows my sister so well, she seems to really be my sister's best friend."

Zhao Yanxi glanced at her, then lowered her voice as well: "What, she's your sister's friend, so you're taking her side? What did you say last time?"

"What did I say?"

"You said you'd help me even if it were your own sister on the other end!"

Hua Yue chuckled twice, then guiltily looked away.

Your older sister can help you, but your cousin might not.

But then again, if Lin Man and her cousin are good friends, then what about her ambiguous relationship with Ding Heng?

Can you just casually stick to your friend's man?

Hua Yue glanced furtively at Zhao Yanxi, then at Wen Jing, and a bold idea suddenly popped into her head.

No way...

Is Lin Man's relationship with her cousin the same as Wen Jing's with Zhao Yanxi?

The more she thought about it, the more outrageous it seemed, yet the more possible it appeared.

My cousin, who is usually aloof and elegant, like a fairy descended from heaven, is actually with her best friend...

Hua Yue's gaze finally settled on Ding Heng.

The man was leaning back in his chair, scrolling through his phone, completely oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around the table, appearing utterly carefree and unconcerned.

Hua Yue's anger surged.

What right does that scoundrel have?

He's enjoyed all the blessings of having multiple wives!

"Hua Yue?"

Lin Man's voice pulled her back to reality.

"what?"

Hua Yue snapped out of her daze and met Lin Man's gaze.

Lin Man handed over her phone; the screen displayed an incredibly detailed plan.

From venue setup and scheduling to gift list and staff assignments, even Hua Qing's possible reactions were anticipated.

Lin Man said politely, "You're her cousin, so see if there's anything that needs to be changed?"

Hua Yue took the phone, scrolled through it from beginning to end, and finally silently handed it back: "You know my sister better than I do. If you think she likes it, then go with your plan."

Lin Man put her phone away: "Okay, let's create a group chat first for easier communication. Does anyone have all of our WeChat accounts?"

There was a moment of silence on the table.

The group looked at each other, their gazes sweeping over each other before finally settling in the same direction.

Ding Heng's coffee cup stopped in mid-air, looking up to meet four pairs of eyes.

"I...I'll do it, I'll do it!"

He put down his cup, took out his phone, and added the five people present to a group chat.

Group name: 【Hua Qing's Surprise】

Hua Yue glanced at the group name and suddenly asked a question.

"Given my sister's aloof personality, do you think she'd find this a pleasant surprise?"

Zhao Yanxi and Wen Jing exchanged a glance, neither of them feeling confident.

With Hua Qing's personality, her first reaction to receiving a surprise would likely not be gratitude, but rather a blank expression as she asks, "What are you doing?"

"rest assured!"

Lin Man slammed her hand on the table, her smile forced and insincere.

"I promise to give her a surprise she'll never forget!"