Chapter 296 : Midnight Chest Bell
“Mom… so this is the kind of girl you like?”
Ling Ye sat on the living room sofa, her eyes glued to the computer screen, staring at certain indescribable images. She muttered to herself in disbelief.
Clearly, Ling Ning had slipped up. She had forgotten to delete her browsing history. Normally, after visiting such... unspeakable websites, Ling Ning would either delete her browsing records immediately or use incognito mode.
However, Ling Ning’s mind had been in disarray earlier, and her daughter had appeared suddenly, startling her. In her distracted state, she had neglected to clean up. Subconsciously, she had assumed that Ling Ye, who already had her own computer, wouldn’t touch hers—let alone check her browsing history.
Ling Ye stared at the images, confused. What’s so appealing about these large-bust, wide-hipped girls?
She looked down at her own flat figure. For some reason, she felt a twinge of frustration. However, she remained confident that once she hit puberty, she’d transform into one of those big-busted, wide-hipped beauties who could capture her mother’s attention.
After skimming through the content, Ling Ye swiftly deleted the browsing history and returned the computer to its original state. She knew her mother showered quickly, and if Ling Ning found her on the computer looking at such... questionable content, explaining it would be impossible.
Ling Ye sat on the sofa, watching TV, but as time dragged on, she noticed something odd. The bathroom door hadn’t opened. Normally, her mother’s showers didn’t last this long. Could something have happened inside?
Worried, Ling Ye walked to the bathroom door. Just as she was about to call out, the door suddenly opened. Ling Ning emerged wearing a nightgown, her damp hair cascading down her shoulders.
Seeing Ling Ye standing outside, Ling Ning asked, confused, “Ye Ye, why are you standing here?”
“N-Nothing. You’ve been in there for so long that I thought something might’ve happened,” Ling Ye replied.
Ling Ye studied her mother, noticing something unusual about her demeanor. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was a distinct aura, as if her mother had undergone some sort of awakening.
Hearing her daughter’s concern, Ling Ning hesitated for a moment before stammering, “It’s... it’s nothing. The hot water just felt especially comfortable today.”
“Meow meow meow?”
Ling Ye tilted her head, puzzled. Hot water? It didn’t feel any different to me earlier. Was I bathing in fake hot water? And today’s weather is so warm—why would she say it’s comfortable?
Ling Ning quickly changed the subject. “Ah, Mom doesn’t feel like sleeping yet. Didn’t you say you wanted to finish watching Midnight Chest Bell? Let’s watch it together!”
At the mention of Midnight Chest Bell, Ling Ye’s eyes sparkled. She had wanted to watch this horror series for a long time, but it was too terrifying to watch alone.
Seeing her daughter’s excitement, Ling Ning internally breathed a sigh of relief.
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“Ye Ye, do you have time tomorrow? Mom wants to take you shopping. You’ve grown taller lately, so let’s get you some new clothes,” Ling Ning said as they cuddled on the sofa, her eyes still glued to the TV screen.
Ling Ye’s eyes lit up at the mention of new clothes. Forgetting the horror scenes on the screen, she wriggled excitedly and said, “Yes, yes! I’m totally free tomorrow!”
“Hmm? Weren’t you planning to write some stories to earn pocket money?”
“Eh, it doesn’t matter. What’s more important than shopping with Mom? Besides, I’ve got drafts saved up. I’ll just use those,” Ling Ye said nonchalantly. She had been writing diligently recently, preparing to enjoy her break with her mother.
“I see~” Ling Ning chuckled, stroking her daughter’s head. “Oh, Ye Ye graduated from elementary school, didn’t you? And with top marks in the whole school!”
Ling Ning wasn’t surprised by her daughter’s outstanding grades. Just recently, Ling Ye had come to her for help with problems in a high school math textbook.
At first, Ling Ning thought her daughter was joking. But after offering a few casual tips, Ling Ye solved the problems effortlessly, her methods and answers both precise. It was then that Ling Ning fully realized—her daughter was a bona fide genius.
Playfully mimicking a reporter with a microphone, Ling Ning asked, “Miss Ling Ye, the world’s cutest elementary school graduate, how do you feel about graduating?”
“Nothing much, really. But Mom, why isn’t there a skipping system? If there were, I could be at your university next year, studying alongside you!”
Hearing her daughter’s bold declaration, Ling Ning chuckled awkwardly. With her daughter’s capabilities, it wasn’t entirely impossible...
“So, Ye Ye, do you want to go anywhere special this summer? Like traveling?”
Ling Ning considered the idea seriously. She had only taken her daughter on one trip before, during the Lunar New Year. Now that her finances were more stable, she was willing to fulfill any wish her daughter had.
“Summer vacation? Wherever Mom is, that’s where I want to be!”
Ling Ye didn’t hesitate. No matter how beautiful a place was, it couldn’t compare to the joy of being with her mother.
Ling Ning shook her head with a helpless smile. She had expected this answer but couldn’t help worrying about her daughter’s attachment. With middle school approaching, wasn’t it time to teach her to be a bit more independent?
On second thought, Ling Ning realized her daughter already knew how to handle most things—she simply chose not to.
“Mom, I want to sleep with you tonight!”
“Alright~”
“Mom’s the best! Ye Ye loves Mom the most!”
“Mom loves Ye Ye the most too~”
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Author’s Note:
Writing, going out, grinding events... This salted fish is doomed!