Chapter 303 : Amusement
"Ye Ye, Mom has something going on tonight, so I might not make it back. I’m really sorry! When I get back, I promise I’ll make it up to you! Alright then, remember not to open the door for strangers while you're alone, and don’t forget to turn off the living room light when you go to bed. Cover yourself with a blanket when you sleep, and don’t forget to add detergent when you wash your clothes, and also…"
The busy tone interrupted Ling Ning, and she paused, a little confused as to why her daughter had suddenly hung up. She still had a long list of instructions left to go through. Had she been too nagging?
Ling Ning fell into contemplation.
Sitting nearby, Lin Xi chuckled mischievously, “Your daughter probably thought you were too naggy and hung up on you!”
Ling Ning opened her mouth to reply but found herself speechless. Was she really that overbearing?
"So, Ling Ning, what are we having for dinner?"
Ling Ning looked at her, shocked. How could she be hungry already? Where had all the food from lunch gone—the half chocolate cake and that large bowl of noodles?
Shaking her head in exasperation, Ling Ning said, "I already prepped your dinner when I made the noodles earlier. It’s all in the fridge. But now that I’m staying too, I’ll go grab a few more ingredients."
Blushing slightly, Lin Xi replied, a bit embarrassed, “I don’t know why, but whenever I feel down, I just want to eat. Could you maybe buy extra, if it’s not too much trouble? I’ll cover the cost, of course.”
"No need to reimburse me; I’ve got enough for groceries."
Ling Ning sighed. If Lin Xi hadn’t just gone through a breakup and wasn’t injured, she’d definitely ask her to pay her share.
Just as she slipped on her shoes to head out, Lin Xi called her back.
"Hey, uh… could you pick up some beer, too?"
"Huh?"
"I just suddenly felt like drinking. Would that be okay?"
Lin Xi looked at her with hopeful eyes. She had rarely ever had alcohol. As a model child and top student, she’d only tasted beer once at a school reunion—and it was so bitter that she’d sworn off it. But right now, her mood was so low that drinking seemed like it might help her forget.
"Well, beer’s kinda heavy, you know. My back’s sore, I’m exhausted…"
"Oh, don’t worry! If you get it, I’ll give you a massage. I’m really good at it, you know!"
"Well… if that’s the deal, I guess I can manage to pick some up."
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It was a while before Ling Ning returned, arms full of bags. She hadn’t bought too much beer, just half a six-pack. She estimated that one bottle would be fine for her, and Lin Xi would probably have enough to drown her sorrows with five bottles.
And if they needed more, the convenience store was right downstairs.
For dinner, she added two more meat dishes to the ones she’d already made earlier. And she’d bought two more slices of chocolate cake for dessert—hopefully enough to satisfy Lin Xi’s appetite.
Halfway through dinner, Ling Ning got a sense of just how down Lin Xi’s spirits were; she actually had to put her own chopsticks down, head back to the kitchen, and start cooking again because Lin Xi had cleaned off all the dishes on the table. It left her at a loss.
Luckily, she’d bought plenty of ingredients, so there was no need to run back out.
"Seriously, though—are you sure it’s okay to eat this much? Your figure won’t be affected, right?" Ling Ning asked, laughing awkwardly as she watched Lin Xi devour the food.
"It’s fine! I never put on weight!" Lin Xi replied confidently. Her figure was the very thing that let her eat and drink without worry. Besides, Ling Ning’s cooking was delicious. That alone justified her appetite. And really, it was just a little more than she usually ate.
Watching her eat, Ling Ning was reminded of a famous online foodie girl from her past life. She wondered who would win in an eating contest.
At last, after polishing off the rice cooker’s contents, Lin Xi finally paused… or maybe not. She reached for the dessert—both slices of chocolate cake.
She finished her own slice in no time, then turned her gaze on Ling Ning’s.
Seeing her wolf-like eyes, Ling Ning glanced at her barely-touched cake slice, sighed, and pushed it over to her.
"I’m full. Go ahead."
"Thanks, I won’t hold back then! Can’t waste food, right?"
Ling Ning couldn’t shake the feeling she’d heard that phrase somewhere before. Oh, right—that’s what she’d told Lin Xi this afternoon. She was using her own words against her!
When Ling Ning finished the dishes and tidied up, Lin Xi was already out of the shower, sitting on the couch in a light nightgown, watching TV.
"Hey there, per—I mean, Ling Ning! Hurry up and shower. I already got clothes ready for you! Then I can give you that massage, and we can start drinking!" Lin Xi grinned.
"Yeah, yeah, I got it."
Ling Ning stretched luxuriously. She’d wanted to shower all day; running around and carrying Lin Xi on her back had left her drenched in sweat. Even though she’d since dried off, she still felt uncomfortable.
"Ahh~"
Ling Ning let out a sigh of relief as the warm water flowed over her. Thinking about the day’s events, she felt Lin Xi’s ex-boyfriend must have some kind of issue. Why else would he bring another girl to meet so close to his current girlfriend’s home?
If Lin Xi had a darker streak, that guy, Ito Makoto, would probably be in pieces by now.
What really puzzled her, though, was that heavily made-up girl who’d been with him. She hadn’t shown much reaction when they got caught. No, wait—she did have an expression, just barely noticeable, but Ling Ning had caught it.
It was…
Amusement.
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Author's Note:
Time to be a lazy fish!