Chapter 518 : Come On, Let's Have Fun~
“Ah~ So good, so great. I finally memorized all the key points~”
Zhou Xiaoxiao sat on the sofa, giggling as she watched Kiss x Sis on TV. Thinking back to what had transpired earlier, she couldn’t help but wish she could rewind time and relive it all.
She hadn’t expected Ling Ning to actually go along with that method. While it hadn’t involved anything too risqué, it had been enough. The thought of Ling Ning’s long legs made mathematical formulas spring to her mind, and recalling Ling Ning’s slim waist somehow brought English vocabulary to the surface.
If Ling Ning were willing to tutor her like this all the time, Zhou Xiaoxiao was convinced she could ace the entrance exams for a top university. No! She had to stop herself—thinking about it any further would make her start drooling!
As Zhou Xiaoxiao sat daydreaming, Ling Ning’s deadpan voice broke through her reverie. “What are you grinning about over there...?”
Snapping back to reality, Zhou Xiaoxiao turned to see Ling Ning, fresh out of the shower. Smiling brightly, she asked, “Ling Ning, you’re done bathing! Did the markings wash off?”
“What do you think?”
Zhou Xiaoxiao squinted at Ling Ning’s legs, which looked as pristine as ever—smooth and pale, with no trace of the words written earlier.
“Hm? Have you seen my stockings anywhere?”
Ling Ning glanced around but couldn’t find the stockings she’d tossed aside earlier. Had they fallen to the floor? Where could they have gone?
Confused, Ling Ning knelt to search, prompting Zhou Xiaoxiao’s eyes to light up as she sidled closer. “Oh, come on, let me help you look~”
Even with Zhou Xiaoxiao’s assistance, the stockings remained elusive.
“Xiaoxiao, you didn’t take them, did you?”
“How could I? I’m not interested in that kind of thing. If you can’t find them, just borrow one of mine!” Zhou Xiaoxiao chirped before running upstairs to grab a brand-new pair, which she handed to Ling Ning. “These are high-quality, never worn before~”
Sighing, Ling Ning accepted them. “Fine. Thanks. Honestly, I should’ve just worn pants today. This is such a hassle.”
After donning the new stockings and drying her hair, Ling Ning checked the time. “Well, I’m heading home now. Good luck with next week’s exam. If you don’t do well, don’t bother showing your face to me.”
“Huh? You’re not staying the night? There’s a subway station nearby, so going to school tomorrow wouldn’t be too hard.”
“Nope. Someone at home is waiting for me to cook dinner. Bye!”
Opening the door, Ling Ning shivered as the cold wind hit her. This weather was ridiculous—yesterday had been mild, but now it was freezing. The forecast said temperatures would rise again in a few days, but for now, all Ling Ning could do was tighten her coat and step out into the cold.
After watching Ling Ning leave, Zhou Xiaoxiao returned to the living room. Living alone in such a big house was... lonely.
As she glanced around, her eyes fell on a black object in a corner. Curious, she walked over and picked it up. It was Ling Ning’s missing stockings! How had they ended up there?
Shrugging, Zhou Xiaoxiao decided to hold onto them and return them next time—if she remembered.
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“This is exactly why a kotatsu is perfect for weather like this~”
Ling Ning lay sprawled inside her kotatsu, utterly relaxed. After dinner, her daughter had suggested setting up the heated table. While the weather would warm up soon, it would get cold again eventually, so they might as well bring it out now.
The kotatsu was practically addictive. Once inside, Ling Ning had no desire to leave—except for bathroom breaks, she intended to stay put.
“Mom, get me a glass of water.”
“Ye Ye, you’re old enough to get it yourself~” Ling Ning replied lazily. Then, as an afterthought, she added, “Oh, and if you do, bring me one too. Thanks~”
Silence fell over the living room. After a while, Ling Ye muttered, “Never mind. I’m not that thirsty.”
“True.”
The two resumed enjoying the kotatsu’s warmth until the doorbell suddenly rang. Aside from Xia You, no one else was likely to visit.
“Ye Ye, get the door~” Ling Ning said shamelessly.
“Mom, you do it!”
“You’re the kid; you should move around more. Go on~”
Another silence ensued before Ling Ning sighed in resignation and crawled out of the kotatsu to open the door.
Xia You blinked in confusion when the door swung open but found no one there. “Hello? Ling Ning?”
From inside the house, Ling Ning’s voice called, “Xia You, come on in and have fun~”
“...Have fun?”
Stepping inside, she found the source of Ling Ning’s invitation: the kotatsu. Understanding dawned, and she immediately declared,
“Don’t shut the door yet—I’ll go get my computer!”
Xia You dashed home and returned moments later, laptop in hand. Crawling under the kotatsu, she let out a contented sigh at the warmth.
Meanwhile, Ling Ning was working on her manuscript, but she paused when she felt something brushing against her legs. Looking up, she saw Xia You smiling innocently. “Ling Ning, want to play some games?”
“Sure, just let me finish these last 200 words.”
Xia You nodded obediently, but her legs weren’t as well-behaved, teasingly nudging Ling Ning’s. Smirking, Ling Ning retaliated.
Before long, Ling Ye couldn’t take it anymore. “Ugh! Will you two knock it off? Some of us are trying to work here!”
“Sorry!” the two chorused, giggling.
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Author’s Note:
I’m turning into such a lazy fish.