Chapter 640 : Cruel Fireworks
“Huh? He left so quickly~”
Ling Ning watched Xie Zeyu’s retreating figure with a delighted expression. She hadn’t expected him to cave after just a few subtle displays of affection. How fragile.
Hearing this, Su Ya shot a glare at Ling Ning. Of course, she could see through Ling Ning’s little schemes. Still, she didn’t entirely dislike the outcome.
After a moment of thought, Su Ya asked, “When are you going back?”
“When? Probably in a few days. But if Xiao Ya asks me to stay, I might stick around a bit longer~” Ling Ning replied with a playful smile.
Not having any relatives to visit had its perks. Even during the New Year, Ling Ning could spend it wherever she pleased, as long as her daughter was with her. There was no need for family visits or preparing endless red envelopes.
“As if! The sooner you leave, the happier I’ll be.”
“Really? If Xiao Ya dislikes me so much, maybe I’ll fly back tonight~” Ling Ning’s face shifted into an exaggeratedly sorrowful expression.
But Su Ya wasn’t buying it. She had fallen for this act too many times before. With a faint snort, she ignored Ling Ning’s mock disappointment.
Clicking her tongue, Ling Ning downed the rest of her milk tea. With a grin, she said, “Milk tea’s finished. Let’s go.”
“Alright.”
The two returned to the snowy streets. At some point, it had started snowing again, and the air felt noticeably colder.
Ling Ning suddenly asked, “Xiao Ya, do people set off fireworks here for the New Year?”
“Yes, why?”
“I just felt like watching some fireworks.”
There was a rare melancholy in Ling Ning’s expression, as if she were lost in some distant memory. Su Ya rarely saw this side of her and couldn’t help but wonder what brought it on.
“Let’s buy some fireworks then!”
Ling Ning blinked in surprise. “Right now? You can’t see much during the day.”
“Who said anything about setting them off now? We’ll save them for tonight. And just small ones—there’ll be plenty of big ones to watch from others around here.”
“Is that so?”
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“I feel bad making you go to all this trouble, even for dinner.”
Ling Ning smiled apologetically at Su Ya’s mother. After all, she and Su Ya were technically just friends. Staying for two meals in a single day felt a little too presumptuous.
Originally, Ling Ning had planned to take Ling Ye out to eat. But Su Ya’s mother had insisted, and Ling Ning had no choice but to accept.
“No trouble at all! In fact, I’m delighted you stayed for dinner.”
Su Ya’s mother glanced at her daughter. Compared to when she first returned home, Su Ya seemed like a different person—happier, somehow. Though she wondered if it was just her imagination, she didn’t mind. As long as her daughter was content, that was all that mattered.
After dinner, Ling Ning took Ling Ye to the rooftop terrace of Su Ya’s house. Su Ya was already there, holding some small fireworks and seemingly deep in thought.
Hearing footsteps, Su Ya glanced at Ling Ning and said, “You’re so slow~”
“People who don’t wash dishes shouldn’t talk so confidently,” Ling Ning retorted, rolling her eyes before joining Su Ya.
At that moment, a bright firework lit up the sky, drawing all three pairs of eyes upward.
“The person setting those off is a nouveau riche who made it big a few years ago. Every year, they go all out with fireworks to show off. We just need to enjoy the show.”
“I see.”
Watching the dazzling display, Ling Ning’s thoughts drifted to her past life. She remembered the scene vividly—when Su Ya had broken up with her, so decisively and without leaving room for reconciliation.
Suddenly, she felt something in her hand. Looking down, she saw a sparkler Su Ya had handed her.
“Let’s play.”
“Alright~”
Compared to the grand fireworks in the distance, the little sparkler in her hand seemed insignificant. Yet Ling Ning found it far more real, more tangible.
Gripping Ling Ye’s hand, she asked, “Ye Ye, don’t you like fireworks?”
“It’s not that. I just think last year’s were better.”
“Well, we can watch those again next year.”
“Okay.”
As Ling Ning enjoyed the sparklers, Ling Ye tugged at her skirt and said, “Mom, I need to go to the bathroom.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“No need! I’m not a kid anymore!”
With that, Ling Ye skipped off, leaving only Ling Ning and Su Ya on the terrace.
Noticing Ling Ning’s gaze, Su Ya instinctively took two steps back, her expression wary as if she expected Ling Ning to pounce on her.
“Huh?!”
Ling Ning looked at Su Ya innocently, feigning ignorance.
Just as Su Ya began to wonder if she was overthinking things, Ling Ning pointed behind her and exclaimed, “Wow, look at that firework!”
“Huh?”
Su Ya turned reflexively, only to see darkness. Realizing she’d been tricked, she tried to flee, but it was too late.
She froze as Ling Ning kissed her. Feeling the soft warmth on her lips, Su Ya couldn’t understand why Ling Ning always used this tactic—and why she always fell for it. Where had Ling Ning even learned this? How many girls had she kissed to become this skilled?!
Taking advantage of Su Ya’s dazed state, Ling Ning deepened the kiss, turning it into a passionate one.
Unbeknownst to them, Ling Ye stood quietly behind the terrace door, watching the scene unfold.
Fireworks burst in the night sky, illuminating the ground—and the two figures locked in a kiss.
Such beautiful fireworks. Such a cruel truth.
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Author’s Note:
Salted fish here, feeling the pain of running out of backup chapters…