Chapter 164 : Xia You is the Best~
“Ling Ning, let me scrub your back~”
Xia You asked Ling Ning with a face full of anticipation as they soaked in the hot spring.
“Scrub my back? Sure! After you're done, I’ll scrub yours.”
Ling Ning thought for a moment and then agreed with a cheerful smile. After all, one couldn't soak in the hot spring for too long at a stretch. It would be nice to take a break to scrub and then soak again later. Just a moment ago, Zhou Xiaoxiao had felt dizzy from staying in too long and had left early, but Ling Ning still wanted to enjoy herself a little longer.
“Ye Ye, come over here, Mom will wash your hair~”
“Okay~”
Hearing her mom call her, Ling Ye, who was busy splashing around, found a chair and ran over, sitting down right in front of her mother. She often asked her mom to wash her hair at home since washing it herself was such a hassle. Plus, when her mom did it, it gave her the chance to soak her mom’s clothes and eventually take a bath together—it was the best!
Ling Ning skillfully rubbed some shampoo into her hands. She had brought this shampoo from home, the one her daughter liked best, and began to lather it evenly through Ling Ye's hair.
Xia You watched Ling Ning’s smooth, pale back and couldn't help swallowing nervously. She reached out with her finger and gently traced a line along Ling Ning’s back.
“Ah~”
Ling Ning let out a small yelp, turning her head to give Xia You a wide-eyed look. Why was it that every time she bathed with girls, someone just had to run a finger down her back? It tickled her terribly.
It should be known—Ling Ning was very ticklish.
“S-sorry,” Xia You stuttered, looking flustered.
Xia You was surprisingly good at scrubbing. Every movement she made seemed just right—whether it was the angle or the pressure, it was all so perfect. It made Ling Ning wonder if she was self-taught or had somehow practiced beforehand.
“Xia You, you must have practiced this, right?” Ling Ning said lazily while scrubbing her daughter’s hair.
“N-no, I haven’t! This is my first time scrubbing someone else’s back!”
“Is that so? Well, you’re doing great~ Looks like I’ll have to ask you to scrub my back more often from now on.”
Upon hearing Ling Ning’s praise, Xia You scrubbed even more diligently.
“Ye Ye, how many times do I have to tell you, stop moving around when I wash your hair!” Ling Ning sighed helplessly at her squirming daughter. She had told her countless times, but this bad habit just wouldn’t go away. Every time she washed Ling Ye’s hair, she ended up soaked herself.
“There’s water in my eyes!” Ling Ye whined, disregarding her mom’s reprimand. She was doing it on purpose—how else would she get to cuddle up against her mom?
After finally finishing her daughter’s hair, Xia You’s back-scrubbing session had also come to an end. Ling Ning couldn't help but sigh in regret—she hadn’t even gotten a chance to enjoy a turn.
“Alright, it’s my turn now. Hurry up and take off that towel.”
“N-no, that’s alright.” Xia You held onto her towel tightly. She didn’t want Ling Ning to see the scars on her body.
“Hey, Xia You, look over there!”
While Xia You was distracted, Ling Ning quickly reached out and tugged the towel away.
“D-don’t look…” Xia You instinctively crouched down, wrapping her arms around herself.
Ling Ning looked at Xia You with a pained expression. Her body was covered in scars, big and small, and Ling Ning couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of hardships Xia You must have gone through over the years.
“They're ugly, right? Someone like me…” Xia You's voice trembled, her tone filled with sorrow.
“No way. I think you’re the most beautiful, Xia You—the most beautiful in the whole world. Xia You is the best~” Ling Ning said softly, hugging Xia You gently and whispering in her ear.
Ling Ning meant it. Although Xia You's scars were shocking at first, the more she looked at them, the more she felt there was something strangely beautiful about them.
“Ling Ning…”
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“Phew~ I almost got lightheaded.”
Ling Ning lay sprawled out on the bed, realizing she had almost overdone it in the hot spring. It was so comfortable that it was easy to lose track of time.
“Ye Ye, come here. Let me dry your hair.”
“Okay~”
Ling Ye responded cheerfully, hopping over and snuggling into her mom’s lap. Ling Ning already had the hairdryer ready. It wasn’t something she used often, though—Qin Qing had once told her that using it too much could damage her hair.
Ling Ning cherished her long, silky black hair. Though it was a hassle to manage, especially in the summer heat, she wouldn’t cut it. A lover of long hair wouldn’t give up that easily.
Since there was only one bed in the room, the three of them had to share it. It reminded Ling Ning of the time they’d all squeezed into a tiny, broken-down bed in their old house—barely able to turn over without falling off. But now, with this large bed, they could sleep comfortably together.
Xia You lay quietly, watching Ling Ning’s back. She didn’t feel sleepy at all. Ling Ning's words from the hot spring still echoed in her mind.
Xia You shifted slightly, moving closer until her body was pressed against Ling Ning's back. She buried her head against Ling Ning's neck, inhaling the pleasant scent of her hair. Xia You felt herself becoming intoxicated by it.
Wrapped in the warmth of Ling Ning's presence, Xia You didn’t know when she eventually drifted off to sleep.
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“Mm…”
Ling Ning slowly opened her eyes, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling. Then she looked to her side, seeing her daughter and Xia You sleeping beside her, and remembered that they were at the resort.
Gently freeing her arm from her daughter's tight grasp, Ling Ning pulled out her phone to check the time—it was just past six in the morning. She sighed and closed her eyes again. She’d had that same dream again.
It had been happening more and more frequently—she had just dreamt it two days ago, and now here it was again. But this time, at least, she hadn’t woken up in tears.
Ling Ning closed her eyes, hoping to get a bit more sleep, but it seemed impossible now. After some consideration, she decided to get up and head for the hot spring. At this hour, it was likely empty.
However, when she arrived, she found someone already there. Upon getting closer, she realized it was the same blonde girl who had welcomed them when they had arrived at the resort.
The girl soaking in the hot spring looked equally surprised to see Ling Ning. Not many guests came to soak at this early hour.
"Good morning, Guest. Up so early, huh?"
"Yeah, I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d come for a soak."
After a bit of conversation, Ling Ning learned that the blonde girl's name was Ohana. Through their conversation, Ling Ning also learned a lot about the fireworks festival and some of the interesting places in the village.
Ohana was an energetic girl, full of life, and most of the time, Ling Ning found herself just listening as Ohana spoke with boundless enthusiasm.
“Oh no, I’m going to be late!” Suddenly, Ohana stood up, realizing she was running late for work. If she didn’t leave soon, her grandmother was definitely going to chew her out.
“I’ll take you around next time, if we have the chance!” Ohana called back as she hurried off.
Ling Ning smiled. She didn't mind that kind of lively energy at all.
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Author's Note:
I wrote this over a month ago. Lately, I feel like I can't keep up with Xia You’s popularity—what should I do?