Chapter 597 : The Consequences of Falling for the Same Trick
“Finally, you’re back! You were just grocery shopping—why did it take so long?”
Hearing the door open, Bai Yiyue jumped up from the couch and exclaimed as the door swung open. But she quickly noticed that both her mom and Ling Ning were carrying quite a lot of stuff.
“Instead of complaining, why don’t you come and help carry some of this?” Ling Ning said with a blank expression.
Her arms trembled from the strain. She had overestimated her strength; even though the distance wasn’t far, the effort had been grueling.
“Oh, sure!”
With Bai Yiyue’s help, both Bai Jie and Ling Ning finally managed to relax. Bai Jie glanced at the pile of items stacked in the corner and sighed. She hadn’t realized how much she’d bought until now. Thankfully, Ling Ning had been there to help—there was no way she could have managed it all alone.
Ling Ning, initially intending to rest, noticed Bai Jie starting to unpack the groceries. Without hesitation, she joined in to help. Bai Yiyue tried to pitch in as well but was immediately rebuffed by her mother.
“You don’t even know where to put things. Just go watch TV and stop getting in the way,” Bai Jie chided.
Bai Yiyue felt speechless. While she wanted to retort, she couldn’t deny the truth—she was hopeless at housework. Defeated, she retreated to the couch, waiting for Ling Ning to finish so she could strike up a conversation.
Unfortunately for her, as soon as the groceries were put away, Bai Jie and Ling Ning moved seamlessly into preparing dinner. Watching them work in harmony in the kitchen, Bai Yiyue felt a pang of frustration.
“I could have done this myself,” Bai Jie said, a hint of exasperation in her tone.
“But with two people, it’s faster, isn’t it?” Ling Ning replied matter-of-factly.
“Well… I suppose so.”
With Ling Ning’s help, dinner preparation went much quicker. After all, Ling Ning was skilled in cooking, unlike Bai Yiyue, whose involvement would likely have doubled the cooking time.
Sitting in the living room, Bai Yiyue sneezed. She glanced around, puzzled. The room was warm, so why had she sneezed? Was someone talking about her behind her back?
She casually grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. Light on her feet, she made her way to the kitchen door and called out cheerfully, “Do you need any help?”
“Yes!”
“What?”
“You can help by staying quiet while we cook. Please return to the living room. Thanks.”
Bai Yiyue’s face froze. Feeling indignant, she muttered, “Hey, I can cook too, you know. For example… I’m great at boiling water. And I make top-notch instant noodles!”
Ling Ning rolled her eyes. “Are you trying to be funny? Fine, just set the table.”
“Leave it to me!”
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“Are you heading back tonight, Ling Ning?”
After dinner, Bai Yiyue looked at Ling Ning with sparkling eyes.
“Of course. I stayed over here last night, so I need to head home to keep Ye Ye company.”
If she didn’t go home, her daughter would undoubtedly grumble at her. Besides, she missed her little “daughter-shaped” pillow.
“I see. How about I give you a ride?”
“No need. You should stay home. Besides, starting tomorrow, you’ll be busy, right? Make sure to go to bed early tonight. Even with the heater on, use a blanket—I don’t want to hear about you delaying your concert because you caught a cold,” Ling Ning said with a light laugh.
“I-I don’t kick my blankets off!” Bai Yiyue mumbled.
“Really? I wonder who kicked their blanket onto the floor last night, forcing me to get up and pick it up?”
“…”
Pouting at Ling Ning’s teasing expression, Bai Yiyue suddenly grinned mischievously. A sly smile spread across her face as she asked, “Mom, are you done showering already?”
Ling Ning instinctively glanced toward Bai Jie’s room. Realizing too late that she’d been tricked, she turned back just as Bai Yiyue closed the distance.
Soft lips pressed against hers, and Bai Yiyue’s face was so close that Ling Ning could see every detail. How did she always fall for the same trick? Was it because Bai Yiyue’s acting was too convincing?
After a long moment, their lips parted. Bai Yiyue, clearly satisfied, licked her lips as if savoring the moment.
“Can’t you consider the situation? What if your mom saw us?” Ling Ning whispered breathlessly.
“It’s fine. Mom never finishes showering this quickly. So… let’s go again!”
“Wait—mmph!”
Meanwhile, Bai Jie had quickened her usual shower routine, anticipating she might need to give Ling Ning a ride home. Though she hadn’t rushed, she finished much earlier than usual.
As she stepped out of her room, she heard faint noises coming from the living room. Pausing, she tiptoed to the corner and peeked.
Her eyes widened slightly as she saw her daughter kissing Ling Ning. Blinking in disbelief, Bai Jie hesitated, unsure whether to intervene. Before she could decide, the kiss ended. Opting to delay her entrance, Bai Jie waited a moment before deliberately making noise as she walked toward the living room.
When she finally entered, both girls were sitting upright on the couch, trying too hard to look innocent. While Bai Yiyue’s expression gave nothing away, the blush on Ling Ning’s face was suspiciously telling.
“Ling Ning, let me give you a ride home~”
“There’s no need—I can manage on my own.”
“It’s no trouble. It’s late, and I’d feel better if I took you.”
“Well… okay. Sorry to trouble you, Sister.”