Chapter 190 : Ye Ye Only Loves Mom
“Oh, by the way, Mom! You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, right? You must be starving! I’ll go make you some porridge.”
At her daughter’s words, Ling Ning realized she hadn’t eaten anything all morning. Even though she didn’t have much of an appetite, her stomach was starting to feel empty.
“Why don’t we just order some takeout?”
Ling Ning wasn’t entirely confident that her daughter, who’d never set foot in the kitchen, could actually make porridge.
Noticing the doubt in her mom’s gaze, Ling Ye puffed up her cheeks, pouting. “Don’t underestimate me! Just because I don’t usually cook doesn’t mean I don’t know how!”
Determined, Ling Ye turned and walked out of her mom’s room, heading to the kitchen to prove herself.
As Ling Ye’s determined figure disappeared down the hallway, Ling Ning couldn’t help but feel a sense of foreboding. After a moment’s hesitation, she forced herself out of bed and made her way to the bathroom to freshen up.
The warmth of the damp towel against her face was soothing, helping her feel a little more awake. Though her head was still foggy, she felt slightly better after washing up.
Slowly, she walked to the kitchen and found her daughter standing on a small stool, busily rinsing rice. Seeing Ling Ye so focused and competent in her task eased some of Ling Ning’s worries. Surely making porridge was simple enough… right?
“So, after rinsing the rice, you just put it in the pot and add water, right? How hard can it be?” Ling Ye muttered to herself, glancing occasionally at the instructions on her phone.
Looking at the plain, white grains in the pot, Ling Ye felt something was missing.
“Maybe I should add something else. It looks so plain and unappetizing like this…” she murmured, hopping off the stool to rummage through the fridge.
Meanwhile, Ling Ning, who had been dozing in the living room, suddenly dreamed of her girlfriend from her past life standing on the other side of a river, waving to her. Just as she was about to cross over, Ling Ye’s voice jolted her awake.
“Mom! The porridge is ready!”
Ling Ye cheerfully carried a bowl of unidentifiable blackish-gray porridge to her mother.
Ling Ning stared at the dish in dismay. Just a few minutes ago, it hadn’t looked like this at all! How did it turn out so… ominous?
“Um…” Ling Ning managed, her gaze shifting to Ling Ye’s eager expression. She couldn’t bring herself to refuse, so she hesitantly asked, “Ye Ye, can I ask what you put in this?”
Ling Ye tilted her head, then gave her mom a sheepish smile. “I… forgot!”
Ling Ning suppressed the urge to flip the table. Still, this was her daughter’s first attempt at cooking for her, so she had to try at least one bite.
Steeling herself, Ling Ning took a spoonful with the resolve of someone facing their last meal.
“Huh?!”
To her surprise, it didn’t taste nearly as bad as she’d expected. The flavors were odd but somehow intriguing.
“How is it? How is it?”
Ling Ye looked up at her mom, her face brimming with anticipation. She’d tasted it first to make sure it was edible before bringing it to her mom.
“Surprisingly good! You might have a knack for cooking, Ye Ye. Do you want to learn more recipes with me?”
“No way!” Ling Ye replied without hesitation.
Ling Ning raised an eyebrow. “Why not? Cooking is fun!”
“If I learned how to cook, you’d probably come up with all kinds of excuses to make me cook instead, and then I’d hardly ever get to eat your cooking again,” Ling Ye replied seriously.
Ling Ning laughed, ruffling her daughter’s hair. “Where do you come up with these ideas? You know, girls who can cook are usually well-liked!”
“Ye Ye doesn’t need anyone else to like her. I only need you, Mom!”
“Silly girl. You’ll understand when you find someone you like someday.”
“Ye Ye doesn’t want anyone else. Ye Ye only loves Mom.”
Ling Ning just smiled, dismissing it as a childish sentiment. She didn’t think much more of it.
After finishing her daughter’s special lunch, Ling Ning returned to bed to rest.
After cleaning up, Ling Ye crept into her mom’s room, quietly sitting by her bedside. She gently brushed aside a few stray strands of her mother’s hair, straightening them with a soft touch.
Ling Ye settled in to watch her mom sleep, feeling she could do this forever. To her, her mom’s sleeping face was something she could cherish for a hundred years without growing tired of it.
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“Ling Ning! Wake up~”
Ling Ning slowly opened her eyes, seeing Xia You standing in the doorway, wearing an apron.
“Xia You? What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at school?”
“School’s already over,” Xia You explained.
Turning to look outside, Ling Ning saw that the sky was indeed darkening. She hadn’t realized she’d slept the entire day.
“Feeling any better after a day of rest?”
Ling Ning shook her head. If anything, she still felt foggy and worse for wear. Tomorrow, she might have to see a doctor.
“Then let’s get you up for some dinner.”
Xia You walked over and helped Ling Ning out of bed. The cool air outside the blankets made her shiver, and her blocked nose and achy limbs made her feel even worse.
“Should I take the day off tomorrow and go with you to the hospital?” Xia You offered, clearly worried.
Ling Ning nodded. “If I’m still like this tomorrow, then yes.”
Truthfully, Ling Ning was dreading the idea of going to the hospital—not because of the smell, but because she was terrified of needles. The sight of syringes alone made her anxious, and the thought of one piercing her skin was unbearable. In her previous life, she only went to the hospital if there was absolutely no other choice.
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Author’s Note:
This is the seventh chapter of today’s update marathon.