Chapter 550 : Surprised or Not
"Ugh, this is so annoying!"
Bai Yiyue tossed her phone aside and began rolling around on her bed. Why did her mom have to be Ling Ning’s homeroom teacher? How did things end up like this?
She wanted to see Ling Ning, now, because she couldn’t hold back any longer!
After a moment of hesitation, an idea struck her. Bai Yiyue jumped out of bed and rummaged through her closet. In no time, she was fully disguised, standing in the room.
Glasses on, a scarf covering half her face—Bai Yiyue felt confident that no one would recognize her even in the busiest parts of town. Besides, her manager, Wu Zi, wasn’t around tonight. If she didn’t sneak out now, when would she?
Of course, if Wu Zi found out that she’d gone out alone at night, she’d be lectured for hours. But going to Ling Ning’s house didn’t really count as sneaking out, right? It was just visiting a friend. Yes, that was it.
Carefully, she opened her bedroom door and tiptoed into the living room, where her mom was watching TV on the sofa. Bai Yiyue instinctively slowed her steps, hoping to slip out unnoticed.
But Bai Jie wasn’t someone to be fooled so easily. She turned around, her expression blank. "Yiyue, where do you think you’re going this late at night?"
"Uh... it’s not that late! And it’s still early, so I just thought I’d go for a walk. Don’t worry, no one will recognize me!" Bai Yiyue said, forcing a laugh.
Bai Jie stared at her daughter silently. She could always tell when Bai Yiyue was lying. Going out at this hour, the most likely destination had to be Ling Ning’s house.
Sighing softly, Bai Jie finally said, "Alright, but be careful. If anything happens, contact Wu Zi."
Stunned, Bai Yiyue blinked in disbelief. She couldn’t believe she’d been allowed to go. This was unexpected. Could it be because of the conversation Ling Ning had with her mom last time? Or was there some other reason?
Shaking her head, Bai Yiyue quickly said, "Then I’m heading out. If I don’t come back to sleep, I’ll text you!"
With that, she rushed out the door, as if afraid Bai Jie might change her mind.
Watching her daughter leave, Bai Jie sighed deeply. Was this really the right thing to do?
She didn’t know. But she did know that her daughter was happy, and maybe that was enough.
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Stepping outside, Bai Yiyue felt a newfound sense of freedom, like a fish returning to water. Even her smile grew brighter. One downside of being a celebrity was not being able to move freely, constantly worrying about being recognized, even during mundane activities like shopping.
Looking at the vibrant city lights around her, Bai Yiyue chuckled softly and began walking toward Ling Ning’s house. Despite the chilly night, she didn’t feel cold. After all, she was bundled up warmly—nothing could faze her!
To get to Ling Ning’s place, she had to pass through a busy commercial district. Though hesitant at first, Bai Yiyue decided to go through it. Her disguise seemed to work perfectly; no one paid her any attention, except for a few brief glances at her legs.
After the initial nervousness wore off, she began to relax. She was tempted by the street food stalls but restrained herself. Without makeup and relying solely on her scarf and glasses for disguise, she couldn’t risk lingering.
As she neared the end of the district, she spotted a familiar figure in a barbecue restaurant. It was her manager, Wu Zi. To her surprise, Wu Zi was having a meal with a girl Bai Yiyue also recognized.
It took her a moment, but she remembered—the girl was Xia Li, someone she’d met during her seaside vacation.
What were they doing together? Had they formed a deep friendship during that trip? Watching them chat and drink, Bai Yiyue couldn’t shake the feeling that their relationship might be more than friendship.
Shaking her head, Bai Yiyue decided to move on. Though she was tempted to join them and grab some barbecue, the atmosphere felt off. Besides, she was sneaking out. If Wu Zi spotted her, she’d be in serious trouble.
As Bai Yiyue walked away, Wu Zi seemed to sense something and glanced out the window.
"What’s wrong?"
Xia Li asked, her words slurred from the alcohol. Her gaze was unfocused, her tongue heavy.
"Xia Li, you've had too much to drink. Let's head back for the night~"
"I... I'm not drunk at all~"
Wu Zi let out a helpless laugh, called the server over to settle the bill, and then helped Xia Li up, guiding her out of the barbecue restaurant. As they walked, a flicker of hesitation appeared on Wu Zi's face. After a moment of thought, she seemed to come to a decision and said, "Tonight... how about staying at my place?"
"...Mm."
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"Finally here~"
Standing in front of the familiar apartment complex, Bai Yiyue couldn’t hide her excitement. What would Ling Ning’s reaction be to her unexpected visit? She was bound to be surprised!
With practiced ease, Bai Yiyue made her way to Ling Ning’s door and rang the bell. A moment later, the door opened, and Ling Ye appeared.
Upon seeing Bai Yiyue, Ling Ye’s expression immediately turned "fierce," as if silently questioning her presence.
"Ye Ye, who is it?"
Ling Ning called out from inside. She was busy typing, curious about who would visit so late. After all, Xia You was already curled up in the kotatsu. Who could it possibly be?
"It’s me, Ling Ning! Surprised? Didn’t expect me, did you?"
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Author’s Note:
Not surprised, not unexpected!