Chapter 236 : Happy Lantern Festival, Everyone!
“What’s wrong, Ling Ning?”
Bai Yiyue looked at Ling Ning with a puzzled expression. Ever since she’d introduced her mother as “Bai Jie,” Ling Ning had seemed distracted and out of it, though Yiyue couldn’t figure out why.
Ling Ning shook her head. “Oh, it’s nothing. I just got reminded of an old novel I read ages ago.”
When she heard Bai Yiyue’s mom’s name, Ling Ning couldn’t help but recall a certain “yellow novel” she’d come across in her previous life. In that story, the female protagonist’s name had been “Bai Jie” as well.
Ling Ning clearly remembered that it was back when she was in third grade. One of her best friends, with a mischievous grin, had sidled up to her one day and pulled a small book out of his pocket, handing it over with a secretive smile.
“Read it when there’s no one else around,” he’d whispered.
So, one quiet afternoon, Ling Ning had finally opened the book, and that day marked the beginning of her “new world.” After that, her friend even introduced her to another influential novel, The Crimson X Blood, which had completely shifted her worldview. Looking back now, she found it all embarrassingly amusing.
As for her friend, she’d mostly forgotten his face, as they’d lost contact after they went to different middle schools. But one thing she hadn’t forgotten was his name—Wei Suozhai. That was her childhood buddy’s name.
“Here, have some fruit~” Bai Jie said, emerging from the kitchen with a plate of cut fruit. She looked Ling Ning over curiously. Her daughter mentioned Ling Ning’s name so often that Bai Jie had been eager to meet her, and now that she had, Ling Ning’s natural charm didn’t disappoint.
“Th-thank you~”
As Bai Jie eyed her with a friendly smile, Ling Ning blushed, a bit flustered. She’d barely glanced at Bai Jie when she first entered because she’d been so startled by her name.
Now, as she took a closer look, she saw Bai Jie had flawless, fair skin with a healthy glow, almond-shaped eyes with a warm gaze, slender eyebrows, and naturally pink lips that curved into a gentle smile. She was petite, only slightly taller than Yiyue but shorter than Ling Ning herself.
And her figure? Even though Bai Jie wore a loose, casual outfit, her curves were unmistakable, and her every movement radiated a soft, comforting aura that had a “perfect wife” quality to it.
Ling Ning couldn’t help glancing down at Bai Jie’s chest, then at her own. A sense of inadequacy crept up—this was only the second time she’d felt so self-conscious. The first had been with Li Si, and now here she was, feeling the same around Bai Jie.
Out of curiosity, Ling Ning glanced at Bai Yiyue and shook her head. Bai Yiyue must have inherited her dad’s physique.
“Meow, meow, meow!?”
Bai Yiyue noticed Ling Ning’s glances and had an odd feeling that Ling Ning was thinking some less-than-flattering thoughts.
“Have you finished your exams yet, Ling Ning?” Bai Jie asked warmly. She liked Ling Ning immediately; something about her seemed familiar and kindred.
Ling Ning nodded. “Oh, I just finished recently. And… um, can I call you ‘sister’ instead of ‘auntie’? You look so young, calling you ‘auntie’ feels weird.”
“Oh, how sweet!” Bai Jie replied happily, clearly pleased by the compliment. After all, no woman disliked being told she looked young.
Sitting nearby, Bai Yiyue watched the two of them in disbelief. If Ling Ning called her mom “sister,” wouldn’t that make her a generation younger? But she couldn’t say anything against her mom, so she just quietly munched on the fruit.
The two continued chatting and, before long, grew quite close. Bai Jie even started calling Ling Ning “Little Sister Ling Ning,” leaving Bai Yiyue feeling even more out of place.
“So, Sister, what do you do for a living?” Ling Ning asked curiously.
“Oh, I’m a teacher,” Bai Jie replied proudly. Even though her financial situation meant she didn’t need to work, she couldn’t bear sitting idle at home, so she’d kept her teaching job.
“Wow~ Being a teacher is so admirable!”
Ling Ning suddenly thought of that old novel she’d read back in her previous life—the main character in that story had also been a teacher.
Watching her mom and Ling Ning hit it off, Bai Yiyue found herself growing increasingly frustrated. She couldn’t get a word in edgewise; anything domestic or practical went over her head.
Why did it turn out like this? I knew Ling Ning first, she thought, feeling a pang of frustration.
“Oh, look! It’s almost noon. Why don’t you stay for lunch, Xiao Ling Ning?” Bai Jie asked, smiling.
“If you insist, Sister…” Ling Ning agreed easily, inwardly delighted at the prospect of a free meal.
“Great! I’ll go buy the groceries now.”
“I’ll come with you!”
“Uh, I…”
Seeing them get ready to leave for the store, Bai Yiyue wanted to join, but neither Ling Ning nor her mother seemed to notice. Laughing and chatting, they left together, leaving Bai Yiyue alone, bewildered.
Why is it that whenever I ask Ling Ning to go somewhere with me, she hesitates, but with my mom, she’s out the door without a second thought? How did it end up like this? Bai Yiyue thought, lying dejectedly on the couch and turning on the TV in resignation.
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“Wow, it’s so hot today!” Ling Ning complained as they stepped outside, the intense heat hitting them immediately. Coming out from the air conditioning only made it worse.
“Oh? You didn’t bring an umbrella?” Bai Jie asked, noticing Ling Ning’s empty hands.
“Um… I’m just not used to carrying one,” Ling Ning admitted. She wasn’t a fan of umbrellas and didn’t really get tanned, so unless it rained, she rarely used one.
“Oh, you can’t do that! A girl needs to protect herself from the sun,” Bai Jie chided gently, moving closer to Ling Ning and linking arms with her under her small umbrella to share the shade.
Feeling the soft warmth and the faint scent of Bai Jie’s perfume, Ling Ning’s face flushed, but she didn’t resist. Having shade was definitely better than none.
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Author’s Note:
This salted fish is busy stockpiling chapters for a big update at the end of the month! Don’t expect a full 24 chapters, though—more like ten or so. Also, if you’re curious about X Mao, well, it’s complicated.