Chapter 354 : A Capable Lady
"By the way, Chen Ruo, what are you doing here?"
Ling Ning asked, looking at Chen Ruo with some confusion. Honestly, this bookstore was quite far from Chen Ruo’s home—at least by her standards. Ling Ning was curious about what had brought her all the way here.
"Today is the release of your new book, Ling Ning. Of course, I came to support you!"
Chen Ruo replied, holding up the bag in her hand. She had queued for ages to get this collector’s edition. According to the store clerk, it was the last one left. She considered herself incredibly lucky.
"But I thought, as an illustrator, the headquarters would have sent you a deluxe collector’s edition anyway?"
"They did, but if it’s for my collection, it’s more meaningful to buy it myself," Chen Ruo said matter-of-factly.
"I see~ By the way, where’s Xiao Yue? I don’t see her anywhere."
Ling Ning asked, glancing around. Normally, if Chen Ruo had managed to come this far, someone must have accompanied her. If no one had, she’d probably have gotten lost right outside her door.
"Oh, Xiao Yue has plans with her classmates today. She left early this morning, so I came here on my own," Chen Ruo said proudly, hands on her hips.
"…What?"
Hearing this, Ling Ning stared at Chen Ruo in disbelief. That Chen Ruo could find her way to the bookstore alone seemed utterly unscientific. Ling Ning even began to suspect that the person before her might be an imposter.
Noticing Ling Ning’s doubtful gaze, Chen Ruo put on a “fierce” expression and said, "How rude! When I put my mind to it, I can find my way just fine!"
In truth, Chen Ruo wasn’t entirely confident in her statement. She had, after all, gotten lost almost immediately after leaving her house. Thankfully, she had flagged down a taxi.
Ah~ praise the cab drivers of the world.
"That’s impressive, Chen Ruo. You’ve really grown up," Ling Ning said with mock sincerity as she gently patted Chen Ruo’s head, her expression that of a parent pacifying a child.
Feeling the warmth from Ling Ning’s hand, Chen Ruo initially showed a contented smile. Then, realizing something was off, she firmly swatted Ling Ning’s hand away. With her “fierce” expression back on, she declared, "I’m not a child anymore!"
Ling Ning, unbothered by the gesture, simply smiled knowingly. "Of course, Chen Ruo is no longer a child. You’re a very capable lady now."
However, Chen Ruo wasn’t entirely satisfied with Ling Ning’s tone. It sounded far too much like she was comforting a kid—just like her late husband used to do. He always treated her like a child, and she hated it when people saw her that way!
"By the way, where’s your daughter, Ling Ning? Didn’t she come with you?" Chen Ruo asked curiously, noticing that Ling Ning was also alone.
"Oh, you mean Ye Ye? She was with me earlier, but then we ran into one of her friends on the way, and she left me to go hang out with them. She abandoned her poor mother," Ling Ning said with a dramatic expression of sorrow.
Chen Ruo sympathetically patted Ling Ning on the shoulder. "Kids just want to play. It’s normal," she said. Then, as if remembering something important, her expression turned serious. "Ling Ning, do you remember what you promised me that day?"
"Uh… what?"
"You know, the day you brought Jiang Xue over. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten!"
Hearing Chen Ruo’s reminder, Ling Ning finally remembered. She had indeed promised Chen Ruo something that day, even saying, "Anything you need."
"Does Chen Ruo need help with something? Or perhaps…" Ling Ning gave her a mischievous smile, even sticking out her tongue to lick her lips.
The aura of a teasing predator seemed to awaken in her at that moment.
Given the location—on the side of the road—the sight of two elegant ladies interacting so boldly naturally drew the attention of nearby men. A collective sigh rippled through the crowd, and one uncle even walked straight into a lamppost.
Chen Ruo froze at Ling Ning’s expression, her face turning beet red. Stammering, she said, "N-No, it’s not what you’re thinking! Or maybe… kind of? Ugh, let me calm down!"
"Eh!?" Now it was Ling Ning’s turn to panic. Was Chen Ruo really going to ask her to do that? If so, what should she do!?
After a moment, Chen Ruo managed to regain her composure, though her cheeks still held a rosy tint. "It’s… it’s just that I’ve hit a wall with my art lately. I have all the ideas planned out, but I just can’t seem to put them onto the canvas."
"But Chen Ruo, don’t you have plenty of reference materials and props at home? If worst comes to worst, you could always draw yourself while looking in the mirror," Ling Ning suggested, her expression turning slightly strange as she recalled Chen Ruo’s well-stocked arsenal of “tools.”
"I’ve already tried all of that, and it’s useless! The deadline is looming, and I’ve already delayed twice. If I miss it again, my editor is definitely going to have a serious talk with me. Please, Ling Ning, you have to help me!"
With a pitiful look, Chen Ruo practically begged. The mere thought of her editor’s furious expression made her feel like crying.
"So… where are we doing this? At your place again?" Ling Ning asked.
"Yes."
Looking at Chen Ruo’s pleading face, Ling Ning couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. Still, Chen Ruo was such an innocent person; surely she wouldn’t pull anything strange… right?
"Wait, where are you going, Chen Ruo?"
Hearing Ling Ning’s question, Chen Ruo turned back and said matter-of-factly, "I’m going home to get ready, of course. Time is money, my friend."
"I get that, but… you’re walking in the wrong direction."
"Eh!?"
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Author’s Note:
For some reason, I’ve been feeling unusually irritable today. It’s like this entire lazy fish just isn’t in a good mood.