Chapter 234 : Taking a Bath with Ling Ning
“Mom, can I sleep with you tonight?”
Ling Ye’s tear-filled eyes gazed up at her mother, her tone carrying both a plea and the lingering remnants of her earlier distress.
After much effort, Ling Ning had finally managed to calm her daughter down, explaining and reassuring her about the day’s events. Seeing Ling Ye relax and stop crying, Ling Ning let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Of course, Ye Ye. You can sleep with Mom as long as you want,” Ling Ning replied warmly, stroking her daughter’s head.
“Then… can I join you two?” Bai Yiyue chimed in, her tone laced with mischief as she pointed at herself with a sly grin.
“No way!!!”
Before Ling Ning could respond, Ling Ye had already shouted her objection. Her glare toward Bai Yiyue was sharp enough to cut glass. After all, this was the woman who had kissed her mother earlier—completely unforgivable in Ling Ye’s eyes. Any admiration she’d previously held for Bai Yiyue as a singer had long vanished. She’d even resolved to delete most of her songs, except for a few absolute favorites she couldn’t bear to part with.
Faced with Ling Ye’s fierce hostility, Bai Yiyue could only sigh in defeat. Her hopes for an intimate late-night chat with Ling Ning were thoroughly dashed.
"It seems I’ve truly fallen out of favor with this little one," Bai Yiyue thought helplessly, glancing at Ling Ye, who was clinging possessively to her mother.
“It’s getting late. I’ll go prepare dinner,” Ling Ning said, retreating to the kitchen. With her departure, the tension in the living room grew palpable. Bai Yiyue and Ling Ye were left staring at each other in silence.
Bai Yiyue tried to break the ice, smiling and attempting to strike up a conversation. “Hey, Ye Ye, how about—”
But Ling Ye didn’t even give her a chance, fixing her with an icy glare that screamed, Don’t talk to me! No matter what Bai Yiyue said, Ling Ye’s responses were curt and uninterested, her demeanor that of a cat guarding its territory from a rival intruder.
Even when Bai Yiyue tried to win her over with offers of candy or small gifts, Ling Ye’s attitude remained unchanged. Bai Yiyue realized it was a losing battle. Not only was Ling Ye unwilling to engage, but her gaze carried the cold disdain of a queen staring down at a treacherous subject.
"Ugh, this isn’t going anywhere!" Bai Yiyue groaned inwardly, throwing herself back onto the couch in frustration.
Meanwhile, Ling Ye bolted into the kitchen, determined to stick by her mother’s side and ensure that Bai Yiyue didn’t get a single moment alone with her.
“Ye Ye, what’s wrong? Why did you run in here?” Ling Ning asked, glancing at her daughter with a puzzled smile.
Ling Ye didn’t answer, simply latching onto her mother’s arm. Ling Ning shook her head with an amused chuckle, throwing a knowing glance at Bai Yiyue, who had followed them to the kitchen doorway. Her look seemed to say, You brought this upon yourself.
Realizing she was outmatched, Bai Yiyue sighed and retreated back to the sofa, where she switched on the TV and slumped into the cushions, defeated.
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
Even after dinner, Ling Ye remained glued to her mother’s side. Bai Yiyue found herself completely sidelined, unable to engage with Ling Ning without feeling Ling Ye’s burning glare. No matter what topic she tried to bring up, Ling Ye would step in and steer the conversation away, leaving Bai Yiyue thoroughly frustrated.
When it came time for bathing, Ling Ye insisted on bathing with her mother. Though Bai Yiyue wanted to joke, Can I join too? she quickly dismissed the idea, knowing it would only worsen Ling Ye’s attitude toward her.
From the living room, Bai Yiyue could hear the sounds of water splashing and playful laughter echoing from the bathroom. She sighed again, envying Ling Ye’s position. “Bathing with Ling Ning… I’m so jealous!” she muttered, burying her face in a cushion.
By the time Bai Yiyue had her turn in the bathroom, Ling Ning had already finished washing the laundry and cleaning up. She didn’t leave a single task for Bai Yiyue to help with, making her feel even more left out.
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
"Alright, you’ll sleep in my room tonight," Ling Ning told Bai Yiyue after they’d wrapped up for the evening. “I’ll be staying in Ye Ye’s room.”
“Eh~? Can’t the three of us sleep together? I’m sure we can squeeze in!” Bai Yiyue suggested hopefully.
“No way!!!”
Ling Ye’s response was immediate and vehement. Her fiery gaze left no room for negotiation. To her, Bai Yiyue was an invader threatening her precious time with her mother.
“Well, that settles it,” Ling Ning said with a small smile. “Goodnight, Yiyue. If you can’t sleep, feel free to keep ‘Sprite’ company.”
As she left with Ling Ye, Bai Yiyue glanced at the mischievous cat lounging on the bed. Sprite blinked lazily at her, then pounced playfully toward her skirt.
“There’s no way I’m sleeping with this pervy little thing,” Bai Yiyue muttered, nudging Sprite away. Still, she found some solace in the fact that she was sleeping in Ling Ning’s room. She smiled to herself, savoring the thought. Even if I’m not with her, I’m surrounded by her scent. That’s not so bad, right?
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
In Ling Ye’s room, Ling Ning lay in bed with her daughter nestled beside her. She hummed a soft tune, holding Ling Ye close and stroking her hair. It had been a long time since they’d shared a bed, and Ling Ning found the moment surprisingly comforting.
“Mom,” Ling Ye murmured.
“What’s wrong, Ye Ye? Can’t sleep?”
Ling Ye shook her head, then suddenly leaned up and pressed a kiss to her mother’s lips. The unexpected act left Ling Ning momentarily frozen.
“Ye Ye! What are you doing?” she exclaimed after regaining her composure.
“That bad woman kissed you, so I had to kiss you back!” Ling Ye declared with a straight face, her voice full of conviction.
Ling Ning stared at her daughter in disbelief, unsure whether to laugh or cry. It seemed innocent enough, but something about it didn’t sit right.
“Alright, that’s enough mischief for tonight. Go to sleep—you have school tomorrow,” Ling Ning said firmly, pulling her daughter closer and closing her eyes.
Ling Ye snuggled into her mother’s embrace, a satisfied smile on her face. “Mom’s the best,” she whispered before drifting off.
⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱⊰⋆⋅⭑⋅⋆⊱
Author’s Note:
Happy Lantern Festival, everyone! This salted fish has managed three updates today. Stay tuned for more surprises later this month!