Chapter 649 : I Want to Be with Ling Ning
“Ye Ye, what are you doing? Are you writing?”
When Ling Ning returned home from Xia You’s place, the first thing she saw was her daughter seated by the kotatsu, intently typing on her keyboard, so focused that she didn’t even notice her Mom’s return. It was rare to see her daughter this serious, so Ling Ning curiously asked.
Hearing her Mom’s voice, Ling Ye instinctively switched her current window to her writing software before turning around and replying, “Mm, Ye Ye suddenly thought of some good ideas and wanted to write them down.”
Ling Ning looked surprised. It was quite unusual for her daughter to be writing in the morning. Usually, Ye Ye spent her mornings either lazing in bed or gaming. Writing? That usually didn’t happen until after her bath at night.
Whatever her daughter had thought of must be something extraordinary. Intrigued, Ling Ning leaned in to peek at her daughter’s screen, only for Ye Ye to minimize the window the moment she got close.
“Hey! Just a quick look wouldn’t hurt, right?”
“No way!” Ling Ye immediately closed her laptop and turned to her Mom with a grin. “Mom reads my novels daily, right? You’ll find out when the time comes~”
“Well, you’re not wrong, but now you’ve made me really curious. Why don’t you just tell me? You know you’re the best, Ye Ye!” Ling Ning shamelessly pouted and acted cute.
Her Mom’s antics left Ling Ye speechless. How could a grown woman act so childishly? Then again, she probably learned it from her. Even so, as adorable as her Mom was, this time was different. The contents of her writing absolutely couldn’t be shared—not yet.
Seeing her daughter avoid eye contact, Ling Ning realized she wouldn’t get her way this time. Why was it like this? Normally, acting cute was enough for her daughter to spoil the story for her, but this time, it didn’t work.
“Well, you’ll find out soon enough anyway. By the way, is Sister Xia You feeling better?”
Ling Ning could tell her daughter was trying to change the subject, but she still answered, “Mm, she’s feeling much better. She might even drop by later~”
“You and Sister Xia You really have such a great relationship, like a couple~”
Ling Ning froze for a moment before awkwardly laughing. “Haha, well, we’ve known each other for so long. It’s only natural for us to be close, right?”
“Is that so?”
“Of course~”
Seeing her daughter’s unchanged expression, Ling Ning quietly exhaled in relief. For some reason, talking to Ye Ye today felt unusually stressful. Was it just her imagination?
At that moment, the sound of the door opening interrupted them, and Xia You entered, bundled up in heavy layers of clothing. Her complexion looked much better than it had in the past few days, and her outfit—carefully chosen by Ling Ning—added a clumsy yet endearing charm to her appearance.
Ling Ning’s care for her was something Xia You gladly accepted.
Even Ling Ye smiled faintly at Xia You’s current look.
Sighing softly, Xia You walked over to the kotatsu and slid under it. Though her clothes were bulky, they were surprisingly comfortable.
“I wonder if there’s anything good on TV today~”
Picking up the remote, Ling Ning turned on the television. As expected, every channel was filled with repetitive New Year’s variety shows, their formulaic content failing to spark interest.
Still, among the monotony, there were always a few watchable options.
Glancing at her Mom and Sister Xia You, Ling Ye reopened her laptop and resumed her unfinished work. While she could wait until no one was around to write, her thoughts wouldn’t let her rest. Every free moment brought her back to her project.
The sound of an external keyboard clacking drew Ling Ning’s attention, and she glanced at her daughter. Was Ye Ye evolving? Her writing speed had always been abysmally slow, but now the rhythmic tapping of the keys sounded surprisingly efficient. Was she really writing?
Now, Ling Ning was even more curious about the contents of her daughter’s story. It had to be something fascinating.
Time passed unnoticed until the sound of a phone ringing on the table brought Ling Ning back to reality. It was nearly noon already. Time flew by when you had nothing to do—though her late start to the day didn’t help.
“I’ll make lunch. You two can keep doing what you’re doing~”
Ling Ning got up and headed to the kitchen. Xia You, intending to follow, was stopped by Ling Ning. She had dressed Xia You in so many layers precisely to keep her from helping. Having just recovered from a fever, it was better for her to rest.
Compared to the elaborate traditions of her past life’s Lunar New Year, Ling Ning preferred the simplicity of this world’s celebrations—just spending time with her daughter and a few close friends. There were no complex rituals or prayers to deities, just a quiet, cozy passage of time.
This warmth and simplicity suited her perfectly.
Suddenly, Ling Ning felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist. Without even turning, she knew it was Xia You. Smiling wryly, she said, “Didn’t I tell you to just rest there?”
“But… I want to be with Ling Ning.”
Xia You’s words left Ling Ning momentarily speechless. With a helpless smile, she said, “Alright, then let’s switch. I’ll handle the prep work, and you can cook. I’ve always wanted to try your cooking, Xia You~”
“Mm.”