Chapter 455 : Ling Ning Overload
“Just sit here and rest. I’ll go make lunch.”
“Mm.”
Watching Bai Jie’s retreating figure, Ling Ning felt a mix of emotions. Just yesterday, she had been the one taking care of Bai Jie, and now the roles were reversed.
To say today had been unlucky would be an understatement. Getting caught in the rain was bad enough, but twisting her ankle while taking a bath? Ling Ning started to wonder if she should visit a shrine to pray for better fortune—yes, to the goddess of good fortune.
Turning her head, she glanced at the pouring rain outside. If it didn’t stop by the afternoon, there was no way she’d be able to make it home in her current condition. The thought of being alone with Bai Jie for an entire day left Ling Ning feeling both mentally and emotionally drained.
She sighed, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV. However, her empty gaze made it obvious that she wasn’t paying attention to what was on.
She didn’t even realize how much time had passed until Bai Jie gave her a gentle nudge, snapping her out of her daze.
“Ling Ning, what’s wrong? I called your name so many times, but you didn’t respond.”
“It’s... it’s nothing. I was just thinking about some things.”
“Really? You seem a little off. Do you have a fever?”
Before Ling Ning could reply, Bai Jie leaned in, pressing her forehead gently against Ling Ning’s.
Feeling the closeness, Ling Ning could clearly sense Bai Jie’s breath and see her alluring lips. Just a tiny move forward, and she could...
“Strange, you don’t have a fever.”
“I’m really fine, so you don’t need to worry.”
“Alright then. Let me help you to the dining table.”
“No... no need. I can manage on my own.”
Ling Ning tried to stand up, but she had underestimated her injury. As soon as she put weight on her foot, she fell back onto the sofa with a thud.
Bai Jie chuckled softly and helped her up. “There, stop being so stubborn.”
Lunch was lavish, and Bai Jie’s cooking was excellent. Even though Ling Ning hadn’t had much of an appetite, she couldn’t help but eat more than usual after tasting the food.
“By the way, Ling Ning, do you remember the question I asked you a while ago?”
Ling Ning froze. Hearing Bai Jie’s words made her heart tighten. She glanced at Bai Jie, her voice cautious as she replied, “Are you talking about the question about same-sex relationships?”
“You remember! Yes, that’s the one.”
“Why... why are you bringing it up again?”
“Let’s just say it’s a random curiosity of mine. I’d like to hear your thoughts.”
“I see...” Ling Ning thought for a moment before answering. “I don’t think there’s much to say about it. In my eyes, they’re no different from couples you’d see on the street—just ordinary couples. Liking someone of the same gender is just how things are for some people. And besides, same-sex marriage is legal now, isn’t it?”
Hearing Ling Ning’s answer, Bai Jie nodded thoughtfully. Then, after a pause, she asked, “What if it happened to you? For example, if you and... I were in love?”
Bai Jie had originally intended to say “Bai Yiyue,” but that felt far too direct. So she changed it to herself at the last moment. Strangely, she felt a flicker of anticipation as she waited for Ling Ning’s answer.
“Wha—!?”
Ling Ning blinked in shock. Why were Bai Jie’s questions getting more and more personal? Any hope she had that Bai Jie was just idly curious vanished. Bai Jie had definitely noticed something about her and Bai Yiyue.
Sighing softly, Ling Ning’s casual demeanor shifted into something more serious. “If I were in love with you, I wouldn’t make grand promises about never letting go or anything like that. The only thing I could promise is that I wouldn’t give up before you did.”
“You wouldn’t give up before I did?”
Bai Jie stared at Ling Ning, her response catching her completely off guard. Even she couldn’t help but feel a flutter in her chest at Ling Ning’s words.
If Ling Ning weren’t the person her daughter had feelings for, Bai Jie might have seriously considered falling for her.
“Alright, let’s finish our meal before the food gets cold.”
“Mm.”
Ling Ning outwardly remained composed, but inwardly she let out a long sigh of relief. Hopefully, that was the end of it. If this matter could just fade away, that would be ideal.
After lunch, Ling Ning returned to the sofa, texting Bai Yiyue about the conversation that had just taken place.
On the other end of the chat, Bai Yiyue almost jumped out of her seat when she read Ling Ning’s message. If this was true, didn’t it mean her mother had tacitly approved of her relationship with Ling Ning?
No, she couldn’t just sit around. She had to find a way to return home soon. It had been far too long since she last saw Ling Ning—her “Ling Ning energy” was completely depleted.
“Sister Zi, can you check my schedule for any free days? I only need one or two.”
Although she didn’t know what her young lady was planning, Wu Zi, her manager, quickly pulled out her notebook. “The day after tomorrow, you have one free day. If you finish filming this MV today, you could free up an additional day.”
“Eh!? Then what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!”
Seeing her young lady’s excited expression, Wu Zi didn’t need to guess to know it had something to do with Ling Ning. It was always like this—Ling Ning was the only one who could make her light up like this.
In every sense of the word, she had been utterly defeated.
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“The rain doesn’t seem like it’ll stop anytime soon. Ling Ning, why don’t you stay over tonight? I’ll take you home tomorrow.”
Glancing at the relentless rain outside and then down at her swollen ankle, Ling Ning sighed and nodded. There wasn’t much else she could do.