Chapter 390 : Is This My Home or Yours!
"That’s all for today, everyone. Great work!"
Chu Mengyao wasted no time announcing the café’s early closure as the last few customers left. Even though it wasn’t yet the usual closing time, she prioritized spending some quality one-on-one time with Luo Xiaoning. It had been a while since they’d been alone, and she had plenty of "fresh poses… I mean, knowledge" to experiment with.
"Closing this early?" Ling Ning checked the time—it was only a little past six. "Is this just an excuse to spend alone time with Luo Xiaoning?"
Chu Mengyao grinned sheepishly. "Well… I may have something planned. Besides, you get to leave early with full pay, so why complain?"
"You’ve got a point." Ling Ning shrugged, then leaned in close and whispered, "Just don’t overdo it. If Luo Xiaoning can’t get out of bed tomorrow, you’re the one who’ll suffer."
With that parting remark, she headed to the changing room, leaving Chu Mengyao glaring at her back, visibly fuming.
Ling Ning had just started changing out of her maid outfit when Luo Xiaoyu entered, her expression curious. "What did you say to Chu Mengyao just now? She looked ready to explode."
"Nothing important. Don’t worry about her." Ling Ning waved it off. "Speaking of which, isn’t it late for you to be heading home? Doesn’t your family have a curfew?"
Luo Xiaoyu froze for a moment as realization dawned. She had been so absorbed in her tasks that she hadn’t noticed the time. Panic set in as she rushed to her locker to grab her phone, which was vibrating non-stop with missed calls from her mother.
Hesitantly, she answered. Her mother’s icy voice came through: "Where are you? Why aren’t you home yet? And why didn’t you answer your phone?"
Before Luo Xiaoyu could stammer out a reply, Ling Ning plucked the phone from her hand, smiling brightly. "Hello, Auntie. I’m Luo Xiaoyu’s friend. I’m so sorry! We were watching a movie and lost track of time. The phone was on silent, so we didn’t hear your calls. Please forgive us!"
"A friend of Luo Xiaoyu’s?"
"Yes, Auntie. My name’s Ling Ning, and I’m a junior at her university."
Luo Xiaoyu stared in shock as Ling Ning chatted with her mother effortlessly, even managing to secure an invitation to visit their house.
Handing the phone back, Ling Ning cheerfully said, "Your mom wants to talk to you."
Luo Xiaoyu reluctantly took the phone and resumed the conversation, her expression clearly showing her fear of her mother. When the call finally ended, she sighed in relief.
"What did you say to her?" Luo Xiaoyu asked suspiciously.
"Nothing much—just some casual chit-chat," Ling Ning replied with a mischievous smile.
Luo Xiaoyu huffed in disbelief. "Casual chit-chat doesn’t usually end with my mom inviting someone to our house."
"And I did all that without even fully dressed. Aren’t you going to thank me?" Ling Ning teased, motioning to her current state of undress.
It was then that Luo Xiaoyu noticed Ling Ning standing in her underwear, her flawless skin glowing under the light. Embarrassed, Luo Xiaoyu quickly turned away and began changing.
After getting dressed, Luo Xiaoyu found Ling Ning waiting at the café entrance.
"You’re slow," Ling Ning said, sounding exasperated.
"Are you… waiting for me?" Luo Xiaoyu asked hesitantly.
"Who else would I wait for? Your sister? I promised your mom I’d take you home, so here I am," Ling Ning replied, rolling her eyes.
"That’s… unnecessary. I can go home by myself."
"Relax, it’s on the way," Ling Ning said nonchalantly, brushing off her protests.
As they walked together, Luo Xiaoyu broke the silence. "How did you know I go to S University?"
"Simple. When you asked me earlier if I was a freshman there, I guessed you were too. I asked your sister, and she told me all about you."
"I didn’t expect you to be my senior. You don’t look the part—more like a middle schooler."
"You…!" Ling Ning puffed her cheeks indignantly.
Luo Xiaoyu glanced at Ling Ning’s figure, then at her own, feeling an inexplicable sense of defeat. How could such an "oppressive presence" exist?
Ling Ning, noticing her silence, moved closer. "Are you mad?"
"No!"
"Your lips say no, but your pout says otherwise."
"That’s your imagination!"
"Come on, it’s obvious."
"Just shut up!"
Ling Ning chuckled and flagged down a taxi. It was getting late, and walking would take too long.
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"Why are you still here? You can leave now!" Luo Xiaoyu said, exasperated, as they reached her building.
"Nope. I promised to see you to your door," Ling Ning replied firmly.
Watching Ling Ning press the elevator button and select the correct floor with practiced ease, Luo Xiaoyu couldn’t hold back anymore. "How do you know where I live so well? Is this your home or mine?!"
"Your sister told me." Ling Ning betrayed Luo Xiaoning without hesitation.
"I knew it…" Luo Xiaoyu muttered under her breath.
At the door to her apartment, Luo Xiaoyu rang the bell. A well-maintained, elegant woman answered. Her expression softened when she saw Luo Xiaoyu and Ling Ning. "You must be Ling Ning."
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Author’s Note:
This lazy fish is too engrossed in globetrotting to escape!