Chapter 456 : Someone Everywhere
“Mm, got it.”
Ling Ye said casually as she ended the call, then flopped onto her Mom’s bed. The moment she saw the rain pouring down outside, she had a feeling her Mom wouldn’t be coming home tonight.
Sure enough, not only was her Mom staying out, but she had also injured her leg. What a careless Mom! Ling Ye sighed, wondering how serious the injury was. Was her Mom exaggerating, or was she really having trouble walking?
She sighed again, resting her face on her Mom’s pillow and breathing in its familiar scent. “I’ll just sleep here tonight,” she decided. Her Mom wasn’t home, so why not? But why did her Mom never forget to do the laundry? Ling Ye pouted. She missed having her Mom’s “original scent” panties in her collection.
It had been almost a month since she added anything new. Her Mom’s memory seemed oddly sharp when it came to laundry, at least.
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“Were you just talking to your sister?”
“Mm. I told her I wouldn’t be coming home tonight.”
The thought of her daughter brought a gentle smile to Ling Ning’s lips. Having such a capable and considerate daughter was a blessing. Not to mention, her daughter occasionally doubled as a wonderful hugging pillow—it was perfect.
Seeing Ling Ning’s smile, Bai Jie couldn’t help but feel it looked a lot like her own whenever she thought about her daughter. Her intuition was surprisingly accurate.
“Oh, right!” Bai Jie suddenly leaned in close to Ling Ning’s ear and whispered, “Ling Ning, do you get scared watching horror movies?”
Feeling the unexpected proximity and the sensation on her ear, Ling Ning’s face turned red. “Horror movies? There’s nothing to be afraid of. They’re all fake, with special effects and stuff. Totally harmless.”
“Then would you watch one with me?”
Bai Jie’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. She had been wanting to watch a particular horror film for a while but hadn’t dared to watch it alone. Her daughter had been too busy with work recently and hadn’t been home, so Ling Ning’s visit was the perfect opportunity.
“Sure.”
Seeing Ling Ning agree, Bai Jie beamed and retrieved a USB drive from her room. After a bit of setup, the movie started.
Ling Ning recognized the opening immediately—she had watched this film before while marathoning horror movies with her daughter. The first time had been terrifying, but this time she felt nothing. Still, it was a well-made film, with impeccable atmosphere and outstanding performances.
For Bai Jie, who was watching it for the first time, it was an entirely different experience. Initially, she tried to maintain her composure, but once the real scares began, she couldn’t keep it together.
Her dignity was thrown out the window as she practically clung to Ling Ning, occasionally letting out screams.
“C-careful! My leg!”
Ling Ning protested, wincing as Bai Jie’s panicked movements jolted her injured leg.
“S-sorry, I got too excited.”
Bai Jie stammered, realizing how embarrassing her behavior was.
As she spoke, a jump scare flashed on the screen, and Bai Jie dove into Ling Ning’s arms, burying her face in her chest. It took a while before she dared to peek again, and only when the eerie music had subsided.
“If you’re this scared, maybe we should watch something else. How about a nature documentary?”
“No!” Bai Jie shook her head firmly. “We’re already halfway through. I’m seeing it through to the end!”
“Whatever makes you happy.”
Ling Ning shrugged. She knew the latter half of the movie was far more intense, but if Bai Jie was determined, who was she to argue?
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“Are you okay?”
Ling Ning asked, glancing at Bai Jie, who was holding onto her tightly.
“I-I’m fine. I was just startled.”
Bai Jie replied, slowly releasing her grip on Ling Ning.
The movie had already ended, but the last scene had scared Bai Jie so badly that she nearly fell apart. Just when she thought it was over and had stood up to turn on the lights, the final scare had come out of nowhere—a psychological sucker punch.
After turning on the lights in the living room, Bai Jie finally felt a bit more at ease. But she couldn’t shake the irrational fear that someone might be hiding in the cabinets, behind the doors, under the table, or even outside the windows.
Seeing Bai Jie’s pale face, Ling Ning sighed and said, “Why don’t we call it a night? It’s getting late.”
“Mm. Let’s go to sleep... Wait!” Bai Jie suddenly grabbed Ling Ning, who was about to head to the guest room. “Um... Ling Ning, could you sleep with me tonight?”
“Eh!?”
Ling Ning blinked, then quickly realized why Bai Jie was asking. After watching a horror movie, Bai Jie was clearly in the “someone is lurking everywhere” mindset. It made sense, though Ling Ning hadn’t expected Bai Jie to be this frightened.
“Sure.”
Ling Ning didn’t mind where she slept, as long as she had a place to rest.
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Under the blankets, with Ling Ning’s warmth beside her, Bai Jie finally felt a sense of security. That movie had really shaken her.
“Ling Ning, aren’t you scared?”
“I’ve already seen that movie once, and I don’t scare easily to begin with.”
“I see.”
The two chatted casually for a bit until Ling Ning, unable to stay awake, fell asleep first. Bai Jie, however, lay awake, the darkness of the room and the sound of rain outside bringing back scenes from the movie.
Unable to endure it any longer, she instinctively turned over and wrapped her arms around Ling Ning. The soft warmth of her body and the faint fragrance of her hair calmed Bai Jie considerably.
Before she realized it, Bai Jie fell asleep, still holding Ling Ning.
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Author’s Note:
Why doesn’t watching horror movies make me feel this way?