Chapter 196 : How Could I Have a Son After Reincarnating
"Whew… that was close! Just in the nick of time, or I would’ve embarrassed myself!"
Chen Ruo emerged from the restroom with a relieved smile, feeling much lighter after finally relieving herself—a feat she owed entirely to Ling Ning, who had kindly carried her to the bathroom. Without her, she would have been completely lost on what to do.
“All done?” Ling Ning tilted her head, watching Chen Ruo emerge.
Chen Ruo nodded with a smile. “Yes, thank you so much. If you hadn’t been there, I don’t know what I would’ve done. You must be exhausted after carrying me all that way.”
Ling Ning shook her head. Honestly, Chen Ruo was light—only slightly heavier than her own daughter—so carrying her had been no trouble. However, the experience had reminded Ling Ning that, unlike the anime characters she admired, Chen Ruo was utterly flat-chested, and there had been no “soft” sensation to speak of.
“I checked with the management office and found your husband’s grave. By the way, his name sounds rather… feminine.”
“Oh, that’s because my late husband was actually a woman,” Chen Ruo replied as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“What?”
“Yes, my ‘husband’ was a girl,” Chen Ruo repeated, her tone nonchalant, but this time emphasizing the word “girl.”
Ling Ning stared blankly at her, trying to process this revelation. All she could do was mentally bless this world for its abundance of unconventional relationships.
“So, Chen Ruo, what do you do for a living?” Ling Ning asked as they walked. “You always seem so carefree whenever I run into you.”
“Oh, me? I just do a bit of illustration work at home,” Chen Ruo replied, looking slightly embarrassed.
“Wait, you’re a manga artist?” Ling Ning asked in surprise, eyeing Chen Ruo with newfound respect. She had assumed Chen Ruo might be involved in some traditional craft handed down through generations. Well, perhaps that thought didn’t make much sense in hindsight.
Blushing, Chen Ruo chuckled, “It’s nothing impressive, really. Just a hobby I turned into a job.”
“What kinds of manga do you draw? I like to read them sometimes when I have free time,” Ling Ning said, curious.
Chen Ruo’s face froze. She was torn between telling the truth and sparing herself potential embarrassment. Most of her work consisted of explicit content, and the rest leaned towards BL (boys’ love). Revealing her genre choices could risk her coming off as a bit of a pervert.
After a mental debate, she decided to admit she drew BL manga, leaving out the details about her explicit work. Fortunately, she used two separate pen names, so as long as she chose her words carefully, it shouldn’t be an issue.
“My work is… let’s say it’s somewhat niche,” she said carefully.
“No worries! I have a wide-ranging taste,” Ling Ning replied confidently, giving her chest a reassuring pat—causing it to jiggle slightly. Chen Ruo, standing nearby, couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy at the sight.
Gathering her courage, Chen Ruo began, “I’ve published works like The Story of Him and Him and Him, How Could I Have a Son After Reincarnating, and The Magic Boy’s Chastity Defense Plan…”
As Chen Ruo rattled off titles, Ling Ning felt a wave of “yaoi” energy emanate from each one, sparking a sense of impending doom.
At that moment, Ling Ye, who had been listening, gasped and pointed at Chen Ruo with wide eyes. “Wait… Are you the artist known as ‘Sensei’ who created The Story of Him and Him and Him?”
“Ye Ye, you know this manga?” Ling Ning asked, surprised.
Ling Ye nodded excitedly. “Yes, Mom! It’s an amazing story about a love triangle among three guys. The protagonist, A, has a crush on B, but B likes C, who, in turn, is after A’s ‘first time.’ The drama between them is so interesting! Although it’s a bit short, the ending is really heartwarming because all three characters find happiness in their own ways.”
Listening to her daughter’s enthusiastic description, Ling Ning felt something was off. Three guys in a love triangle? And all of them ending happily? The implications were a bit overwhelming.
And… was it really appropriate for her daughter to be reading such material?
Chen Ruo, meanwhile, looked at Ling Ye in surprise. She hadn’t expected Ling Ning’s daughter to be one of her fans!
“Oh, by the way, Ling Ning, what do you do for a living?” Chen Ruo asked, curious. “Most of the time, you seem to be in quite a rush.”
“Oh, nothing special. Just a struggling novelist and part-time model… and sometimes a part-time maid. I’ve only written one novel so far, Put On Your Daughter’s Panties and Become a Magical Girl, but you probably haven’t heard of it,” Ling Ning replied, not expecting much recognition.
Chen Ruo’s eyes widened. She had read that novel from the very beginning and even donated thousands to support it, although she hadn’t quite reached the top of the fan rankings. The story’s unique plot twists had sparked so many ideas for her own work. It was her all-time favorite.
“Ling Ning, I’m a huge fan of yours! Your novel is absolutely incredible! I follow it on Wuke under the name ‘Lost Little Navigator.’ Maybe you’ve seen me on the leaderboard?” Chen Ruo said, excitement written all over her face.
Ling Ning nodded. “Yes, I remember you! ‘Lost Little Navigator’ is definitely in my top five supporters. I’m grateful for fans like you.”
“Ling Ning, could I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“When’s the next chapter coming out?”
Ling Ning nearly choked, taken aback by the sudden demand for an update. She hadn’t expected to be pushed for a new chapter here of all places.
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Author’s Note:
Happy New Year, everyone! This is the thirteenth chapter, halfway through the update marathon. Red envelopes, anyone?