Chapter 573 : Chen Ruo, I
“Alright then, let’s raise a toast to Xiaoxue for winning second place in the Water Dragon Awards~” Ling Ning said with a cheerful smile.
They were seated in a cozy restaurant, having dinner together. Ling Ning had initially considered inviting her daughter to join them, but it seemed she was already dining at a friend’s house. So, it was just the four of them.
As for their drinks, alcohol was out of the question. While Ling Ning enjoyed drinking, she refrained from doing so when eating out. Besides, Chen Ruo didn’t drink, and with Lin Yue being underage, alcohol was entirely off the table. They simply used soft drinks as a substitute.
“Thank you.”
Jiang Xue said softly. Without her Master’s guidance and her Teacher’s dedicated mentorship, she wouldn’t have even dared to dream of winning the Water Dragon Award. Honestly, it still felt surreal, as if she were caught in a dream.
“So, disciple, when will your comic serialization start? I’d love to show my support~” Ling Ning leaned closer to Jiang Xue, her face full of curiosity.
“Um, probably soon? According to the editor, it should start this month,” Jiang Xue replied uncertainly. This was her first time dealing with serialization, and she was entirely inexperienced.
“Alright then, be sure to let me know when it starts!”
Smiling at her Master’s encouragement, Jiang Xue nodded lightly. “Once it starts, I’ll notify you immediately, Master—and, of course, my Teacher as well.”
Seated nearby, Lin Yue shot a glance at Ling Ning. She had assumed that Ling Ning inviting her mother out for dinner was some kind of ploy, a pretext to try something inappropriate. Yet, all they were doing was eating like normal people. It seemed she had no opportunity to expose Ling Ning as the perverted degenerate she was.
Sensing Lin Yue’s gaze, Ling Ning turned and smiled at her. “Xiao Yue, if you don’t start eating, all the food will be gone~”
“Got it.” Lin Yue replied begrudgingly, then reluctantly began eating.
After some time, Chen Ruo, who had been quietly eating, suddenly stood up and announced, “I need to use the restroom.”
“Do you need me to go with you, Chen Ruo?” Ling Ning asked instinctively.
At this, Chen Ruo’s face turned crimson. Puffing her cheeks, she exclaimed, “H-how rude! I’m just going to the bathroom—why would I get lost?”
“Sure, sure, Chen Ruo never gets lost. Just to remind you: turn right after you leave the room and head straight to the end of the hallway. That’s where the restroom is. And if you really can’t find it, you can always ask a staff member for directions,” Ling Ning advised with a smile.
“I know, I know! I’m not a child!”
Chen Ruo waved dismissively, stepped out of the private room, and paused to think. She could have sworn Ling Ning said to turn left and walk straight.
After hesitating for a moment, Chen Ruo decided to go left, just to be safe.
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“Chen Ruo has been gone for quite a while. Why isn’t she back yet?” Ling Ning remarked, her tone curious.
“Do you think she might’ve gotten lost?” Jiang Xue wondered aloud, a hint of concern in her voice.
“I’ll go look for her.”
Lin Yue said as she set down her chopsticks and started to rise.
However, Ling Ning pressed her back into her seat.
“Xiao Yue, stay here. I’ll go find her. I’ve been here a few times and know the layout well. It won’t take long.”
Lin Yue hesitated, then reluctantly nodded. Although it irked her, she had to admit that Ling Ning always managed to find her mother faster than she could.
It was as if Ling Ning had a built-in radar for Chen Ruo’s whereabouts.
Once outside the room, Ling Ning instinctively headed left. Despite having told Chen Ruo to go right, her gut told her this was the correct direction.
Sure enough, after walking for a bit, Ling Ning spotted Chen Ruo standing at the end of the hallway, looking lost.
“Dear Chen Ruo, what are you doing over here? Didn’t I say to turn right when you left the room?” Ling Ning asked, exasperation creeping into her voice.
Startled by Ling Ning’s voice, Chen Ruo’s anxious expression softened with relief. She quickly walked over to Ling Ning and said, “Oh, Ling Ning, what brings you here?”
“Well, you were gone for ages, so I came to check. Did you get lost again, Chen Ruo?”
“N-not at all! I just wanted to explore a bit, that’s all! Yep, that’s it!” Chen Ruo replied, her voice unconvincing.
Ling Ning’s lips curled into an amused smile. “Really? In that case, I’ll head back. I’m sure you remember our room number, right?”
“W-wait, Ling Ning! Wait for me!”
Chen Ruo hurried after Ling Ning, though her face quickly froze with dread. She realized that any sudden movements would make her… situation worse.
Noticing her rigid expression, Ling Ning asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Ling Ning, I… I really need to use the restroom!”
“I told you earlier to let me accompany you, but you refused. Can you still hold it?”
“I-I can manage.”
“In that case, follow me.”
Walking at Chen Ruo’s side, Ling Ning couldn’t help but chuckle internally at her predicament. The sight reminded her of a similar situation she had once experienced, though she quickly dismissed the thought.