Chapter 542 : A Daughter’s Issue
"Alright, I’ll be heading back now. Xiao Si Si, be careful on your way home too~"
With a cheerful smile, Ling Ning bid farewell to Li Si before turning and walking into her residential complex. Originally, the two of them could have parted ways at the street corner, but Li Si had insisted on escorting her all the way to the entrance of the complex. Ling Ning decided to let her have her way.
Their time together today had been enjoyable, and Ling Ning couldn't help but marvel at the power of love. In such a short amount of time, it had transformed Li Si so much. What a wonderful girl she was.
Watching Ling Ning’s figure gradually disappear into the night, Li Si let out a soft sigh of relief. She turned back to look at Chu Mengyao, who was not far away, and slowly walked toward her.
"Sister Mengyao, thank you for everything today~"
Hearing Li Si’s words, Chu Mengyao waved her hand weakly, speaking in a lifeless tone, "It’s nothing. It’s my duty. After all, I’m the one who taught you. Even if I have to kneel, I’ll see this mission through!"
Chu Mengyao sighed lightly. Today had been quite the ordeal, with unexpected twists and turns. If not for her quick thinking, this date wouldn’t have gotten this far.
Looking up at Li Si, Chu Mengyao’s expression suddenly turned serious. "Xiao Si, there’s something very important I need to tell you."
"Huh?"
"It’s that your Sister Mengyao is starving to death. You must treat me to a late-night snack tonight. Otherwise, I’ll go spill the beans!" Chu Mengyao clutched her stomach dramatically. Since noon, she’d only eaten a few fish balls. Watching Li Si and Ling Ning feast on barbecue had left her feeling completely miserable!
"Alright, no problem!"
Li Si chuckled. She had been worried that Chu Mengyao was about to say something serious, but it turned out to be nothing to fret over. Clearly, she had been overthinking.
Meanwhile, Ling Ning returned home in high spirits. Seeing the two people playing games, she called out with a cheerful voice, "I’m back~"
"Oh! Mom, where did you go today?"
"Nowhere special. Just wandered around with Li Si, ate some food, and chatted."
"Oh~" Ling Ye nodded lightly, signaling her understanding before continuing with her game.
At that moment, Xia You suddenly asked, "Ling Ning, did you have lunch at that restaurant on White Study Street today?"
Although she didn’t understand why Xia You was asking, Ling Ning still nodded. "Yes, we did. Is there something wrong?"
Hearing this, Xia You lowered her head, lost in thought for a moment, as if piecing something together. Then she gently shook her head. "Nothing. It’s just that I ran into Sister Mengyao near that restaurant today."
"Eh? Really?" Ling Ning blinked in surprise. She thought she might have caught a glimpse of Xia You and Ling Ye earlier, but Li Si had quickly pulled her away, so she hadn’t paid much attention.
It was probably just a coincidence, Ling Ning thought.
"I’m going to take a bath now~"
The moment Ling Ning announced her intention to bathe, Ling Ye immediately dropped her controller and rushed to her Mom’s side. Smiling sweetly, she said, "Ye Ye wants to bathe with you~"
"Alright, alright. You can join me, but don’t move around too much, okay? It’s cold now, and you might catch a cold."
"Okay." Ling Ye flashed a sweet smile. Although her Mom always said this, she knew a little mischief during bath time wouldn’t earn her a scolding.
Ling Ning glanced at Xia You apologetically before heading to the bathroom with Ling Ye.
Once Ling Ning and Ling Ye disappeared into the bathroom, the smile that had been on Xia You’s face vanished. Based on what Ling Ning had said earlier, Xia You finally figured out what had felt off all day.
She had underestimated Li Si. To think she’d even roped in Chu Mengyao as an advisor and accomplice. If her guess was correct, Li Si had been relying on Chu Mengyao’s guidance and support. It seemed she needed to have her own apprentice keep a closer watch on them.
With this thought, Xia You silently took out her phone.
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"A hot bath really is the best!"
After her bath, Ling Ning reappeared in the living room. By then, Xia You had stopped playing games and was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. Smiling, Ling Ning handed her a dry towel.
Xia You took the towel and walked to stand behind the sofa, while Ling Ning, holding her daughter, began to dry her own hair with a radiant smile.
Watching Xia You dry her Mom’s hair, Ling Ye couldn’t help but pout. It should have been her helping her Mom. She was the one who got there first!
At that moment, Ling Ning, enjoying Xia You’s care, didn’t notice the displeased look on her daughter’s face.
After drying her hair, Xia You excused herself, saying she had something to take care of, and left. Ling Ning, on the other hand, returned to her routine of writing.
However, after typing for a while, Ling Ning noticed something was off about her daughter. Ling Ye wasn’t playing games or doing anything else. She just sat on the sofa, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance.
Ling Ning blinked and crawled out of the kotatsu, sitting down beside her daughter. "What’s wrong, Ye Ye?"
"Nothing."
Though Ling Ye said otherwise, Ling Ning could tell her daughter was sulking. But she had no idea why. Just a little while ago, she had been so happy after their bath. What had happened?
Squinting her eyes in thought, Ling Ning pondered for a moment. Finally, a guess struck her. Although it seemed unlikely, she decided to ask anyway. "Ye Ye, are you upset because you didn’t get to dry Mom’s hair?"
Noticing the subtle change in her daughter’s expression, Ling Ning knew she had guessed correctly.
"Ah, it’s just drying hair. You can do it next time, alright~"
"No! Mom is mine! I was first!"
Gently pulling her daughter into a hug, Ling Ning comforted her in a soft voice. "Yes, yes. Mom will always be Ye Ye’s Mom~"
With Ling Ning’s reassurance, Ling Ye’s expression improved significantly, though she still seemed a little annoyed.
Looking at her daughter nestled in her arms, Ling Ning sighed silently. From tonight’s events, it was clear her daughter was overly attached to her—and possessive, too.
This couldn’t go on. But for now, Ling Ning didn’t have a solution. She could only take it one step at a time and consult someone about it later.
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Author’s Note:
No more words, I’m off to dive into the abyss~