Chapter 327 : A Creep Following Someone
“Ye Ye, why does it feel like you’ve been getting invited out more than usual lately?”
Ling Ning asked, gently holding her daughter close, enjoying the soft, warm feel of her little girl in her arms. The scent of shampoo in her daughter’s hair was delightful—nothing beat having her own daughter as a personal pillow.
“Am I?” Ling Ye glanced up at her mom, looking a bit flustered. Her reply came out hesitant.
“Hmm?”
Ling Ning suddenly felt that something was off. Ling Ye’s reaction was oddly similar to that of a teenager hiding a secret romance from their parents. Could it be…?
“Ye Ye, you know you can talk to me about anything, right? Even if you’ve started dating someone, I won’t say anything… well, not too much, anyway…”
Ling Ning said, though she felt a twinge of jealousy. Why did saying this make her feel so sour inside?
“It’s not like that at all! You’ll find out soon enough, Mom!”
Ling Ye blurted out, jumping out of her mother’s embrace and running straight to her room. She clearly wasn’t ready to reveal whatever was going on just yet.
Ling Ning watched her daughter’s flushed face and evasive answer, and it all but confirmed her suspicions. Ling Ye had always been straightforward with her, so her reluctance to talk only made Ling Ning more curious. She couldn’t help but feel it was time to take some action—to at least figure out where her daughter had been going every day.
Sigh~
Ling Ning let out a long sigh, glancing at her computer. She had planned to write tonight, but the thought of her daughter possibly having a boyfriend made it hard to focus. After barely managing to finish a chapter she couldn’t even bear to read over, she shut down her computer. Writing wasn’t bringing her any joy right now, so she decided to sleep early and strategize for her “Follow Ye Ye Mission.”
Every night before bed, Ling Ning would check on her daughter’s room.
Tonight, as she approached, she overheard Ling Ye’s voice on the phone through the door. She paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob.
“No way~”
“Got it, I’ll be there on time tomorrow.”
“Mhm, bye-bye~”
So, Ye Ye has plans tomorrow, Ling Ning thought, holding back a smile. She had worried she’d have to wait a few days, but it looked like her mission could commence tomorrow.
Ling Ning had planned on getting a good night’s sleep, but her mind wouldn’t stop spinning as she meticulously thought out her plans. She stayed up far later than intended, her excitement only growing.
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The next morning, as soon as her alarm went off, Ling Ning dragged herself out of bed. She knew her daughter usually left around nine, but she’d set her alarm for six just to be safe. She nearly gave in to the temptation to snooze, but the mission kept her focused.
After a quick wash, she returned to her room to dress and apply makeup.
To avoid drawing attention, she picked a simple white T-shirt and jeans that she hadn’t worn in ages. She didn’t put much effort into her makeup since she planned to wear a mask.
Checking herself in the mirror, she was satisfied with her “undercover” look. Though someone paying close attention might recognize her, who would scrutinize a random passerby?
Fully prepared, Ling Ning cracked open her daughter’s bedroom door to make sure she was still asleep. She left a note on the table—“Mom is off to work.” Then, heading out, she realized she was missing one key item: a baseball cap. She’d searched her room high and low but couldn’t find one. How did I end up with so many hats but no caps?
After buying a cap nearby and grabbing breakfast, she returned to her neighborhood to wait for her daughter to leave.
This wasn’t her first time following Ling Ye. Back when she’d first reincarnated, she’d tried to follow her daughter once, but Ye Ye had spotted her almost immediately. This time, however, things would be different.
I’ve awakened!
She waited for what felt like forever, nearly convinced her daughter wasn’t going out today, when Ling Ye finally appeared at the entrance of their building.
To test her disguise, Ling Ning deliberately walked right past her daughter. Seeing that Ling Ye showed no reaction, she mentally celebrated her success.
Ling Ning followed her at a careful distance. At one point, Ling Ye turned around several times, but each time, Ling Ning managed to stay out of sight.
However, she had no idea that, to the random people on the street, she looked like a suspicious creep following someone.
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“This place…”
Ling Ning stopped, looking at the building her daughter had approached. It felt oddly familiar. After a moment’s thought, she realized it was Xu Qing’s apartment building. Xu Qing’s younger sister was a classmate of her daughter’s, so perhaps Ling Ye was here to visit her friend.
The thought that her daughter wasn’t meeting a boyfriend after all filled Ling Ning with relief.
Seeing her daughter disappear into the stairwell, Ling Ning followed, trying not to lose sight of her. They entered the elevator together, and Ling Ye looked curiously at the mysterious “girl” beside her.
Why does she seem so familiar? Ling Ye thought. And the fragrance the woman wore… it was unmistakably her mother’s scent. She knew it well; after all, she smelled it every day.
“Mom?”
“Eh!?”
Pretending to study the elevator ad, Ling Ning froze at the sound of her daughter’s voice. She recovered quickly, but her momentary reaction gave her away.
“Mom, why are you following me?” Ling Ye asked, puffing her cheeks in a pout.
Realizing her cover was blown, Ling Ning took off her mask and lowered her head sheepishly. “It’s just… you’ve been acting a bit secretive lately, Ye Ye. I was curious, and since you wouldn’t tell me, I thought I’d follow you to see for myself…”
Ling Ye sighed, exasperated but not really mad. She’d planned to tell her mom eventually—just not yet. Since her mom had followed her, it looked like she’d have to explain things earlier than planned.
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Author’s Note:
I’d like to recommend a friend’s book to you all: Starting Today, I’m the King of Knights/从今天开始当亚瑟王.