Chapter 201 : True “Meow-Meow-Meow”
"So, how was your first time on the runway?" Yang Bing asked Ling Ning with a smile.
By now, the show had ended successfully. Ling Ning had changed out of her outfit but hadn’t removed her makeup, giving her a glamorous look that drew attention. Every time a male staff member passed by, their eyes would be drawn to her.
"I was so nervous when I first stepped on stage, but thankfully, I remembered everything you taught me and completed my performance without a hitch," Ling Ning replied, subtly flattering Yang Bing.
"Not bad at all~" Yang Bing’s eyes narrowed with satisfaction, clearly pleased by the compliment.
"Here, this is for you~" Qin Qing appeared beside Ling Ning, handing her a bag.
“Huh?”
Ling Ning glanced inside, surprised to see it contained the dress she had just worn. She looked at Qin Qing in confusion.
"This dress is a gift for you—as a make-up for forgetting to bring you something from my last trip. Don’t refuse; this dress was custom-made for you, so I have no use for it,” Qin Qing said with a warm smile.
“This…”
“Oh, come on. The ‘Great Designer Qin’ never takes back her gifts. I tried asking her to make me a custom dress, but she kept stalling. Don’t take this for granted, alright?” Yang Bing teased.
"…Thank you, Sister Qin Qing."
At that moment, Ling Ning felt a gentle tug on her skirt and looked down to see little Dong Xue gazing up at her with those big, innocent eyes.
Ling Ning knew what Dong Xue wanted this time. She reached out to pat her head, and the little girl’s face lit up with a contented smile, like a kitten being petted. Ling Ning couldn’t help but marvel at Qin Qing’s incredible quality of work; this dress had truly been made for her.
From a distance, Wang Yan watched with jealousy. Not only had Ling Ning performed flawlessly on her first runway show, but she had also shone exceptionally, which made Wang Yan suspect she had been hiding her true abilities all along.
Sensing someone’s gaze, Ling Ning turned and spotted Wang Yan, flashing a serene “white lotus” smile that nearly made Wang Yan lose her composure.
“Hello, ladies! Would you honor me with your company for lunch?” Gao Ji appeared with a cheerful grin. If Ling Ning didn’t know he was gay, she might have mistaken his intentions.
Seeing Gao Ji approach, little Dong Xue quickly hid behind Ling Ning, peeking out cautiously at him.
But the mention of a free lunch made Ling Ning’s eyes light up, and she looked at Gao Ji in a more favorable light. She generally avoided eating with men, but since he was gay—and a friend of her mentor—this was different.
“Alright, treat us to ‘Little Chef,’ then,” Yang Bing said with a grin.
“Li…Little Chef? Fine, Little Chef it is!” Gao Ji’s heart clenched a bit, but he gritted his teeth and agreed.
The “Little Chef” chain Yang Bing mentioned was a high-end restaurant famous for its gourmet dishes. Ling Ning had learned about it from watching Taste of the Heavenly Empire and had always wanted to go, but the prices were outrageous. She had never worked up the courage to indulge there.
She couldn’t believe she’d finally have the chance today! If she’d known, she would’ve fasted from yesterday morning to save room.
Remembering the three large buns she’d eaten for breakfast, she felt like she’d missed out on a million-dollar opportunity and nearly shed tears of regret.
Qin Qing, noticing Ling Ning’s shifting expressions, asked, "Ling Ning, is something wrong?"
“Oh, no, nothing! I was just thinking,” she replied with a forced smile.
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“Ahh, it feels good to walk around after a meal~”
Now, Ling Ning was taking a stroll with Dong Xue along the bustling street. Qin Qing and Yang Bing had left with Gao Ji after lunch due to other commitments, leaving Dong Xue in Ling Ning’s care.
Ling Ning didn’t mind her little companion; Dong Xue wasn’t like other children who threw tantrums—she simply held onto Ling Ning’s skirt and followed quietly.
As they walked, Ling Ning felt a gentle pull on her skirt. She turned around and asked, “Xiao Xue, what’s wrong? Are you tired?”
Dong Xue shook her head. “Ling Ning, I heard something.”
Ling Ning narrowed her eyes and listened closely. There was indeed a faint sound. She looked around and locked her gaze on a nearby alley.
Walking into the alley, she found a small box, and the noise was coming from inside. Ling Ning couldn’t help but recall the day she’d found her daughter.
But instead of a baby’s cry, there was a soft meowing.
She gently opened the box to find a small, colorful kitten. As Ling Ning opened the lid, it looked up at her and meowed again.
Ling Ning reached out to stroke the kitten’s head, and it closed its eyes in contentment, much like her daughter or Dong Xue when she petted them.
Curious, Dong Xue released her grip on Ling Ning’s skirt and carefully reached out to touch the kitten’s head. Feeling the soft fur, she displayed a smile as serene as the kitten’s.
Ling Ning then noticed a note inside the box. Picking it up, she read that the former owner couldn’t keep the kitten due to a move, and hoped a kind person would take it in. No wonder the kitten looked so clean—it had been cared for.
Looking at Dong Xue’s enchanted expression, Ling Ning asked, “Xiao Xue, would you like to keep the kitten? I remember your house allows pets, right?”
Dong Xue nodded, then shook her head sadly. “Mom…allergic to cats.”
Ling Ning suddenly remembered that her mentor, Yang Bing, was indeed allergic to cats. If she let Dong Xue take the kitten home, Yang Bing would be furious.
Ling Ning felt torn, but seeing the hopeful sparkle in Dong Xue’s eyes, she gritted her teeth and said:
“Then leave it to your Sister to figure something out!”
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Author’s Note:
The eighteenth update!