Chapter 650 : Full of Flags
"Happy New Year~"
After dinner, Ling Ning took out the red envelopes she had prepared in advance and placed them in front of Xia You and Ling Ye. Only needing to prepare a few red envelopes each year felt wonderful.
Thinking back to her life before reincarnation, Lunar New Year meant dealing with relatives and their endless children clamoring for red envelopes. The sheer amount she had to give away made her heart ache.
When would she finally get to live a simpler life like this?
"Thank you, Mom~"
Ling Ye accepted the red envelope and immediately kissed her Mom’s cheek as a gesture of thanks. Xia You wanted to express her gratitude in the same way, but since Ling Ye was still present, she decided to wait until later for a more private moment to thank Ling Ning properly.
Perhaps even in a way that reminded Ling Ning of her presence in an unmistakable manner.
The TV was airing the usual New Year’s variety shows, but the trio’s attention was elsewhere. Each of them held a phone, busily sending messages or scrambling to grab red envelopes in group chats.
This was one of the rare times when the long-silent members of certain chat groups would briefly resurface.
When it came to grabbing red envelopes, Ling Ning always seemed to have incredible luck. Even if she didn’t actively wait for them to appear, she would somehow open her phone at the perfect moment to grab the largest share.
Can you imagine the despair of sending a 100-yuan red envelope, only to have Ling Ning snatch 99 yuan of it?
Even in her high school classmates’ group, Ye Xuan couldn’t help but grumble about it.
Seizing the opportunity, Ling Ning messaged Ye Xuan: “Are you in S City or back home? Don’t tell me you skipped going home for the New Year!?”
After a short while, Ye Xuan replied, “I’m back home. I’ll probably return in a few days.”
"I see~"
As Ling Ning chatted with Ye Xuan, Xia You suddenly remembered something and said, “Ling Ning, the Bilibili New Year’s Gala has started. Want to watch?”
“Huh? Oh, right, the gala!”
Remembering this, Ling Ning climbed out of the kotatsu and retrieved her laptop from her room. “Let’s watch both together, then.”
With the New Year’s Gala on the laptop and the Spring Festival show on TV, they could switch between whichever seemed more interesting. It was a surprisingly enjoyable setup.
Ling Ye glanced at her mom, engrossed in the shows, then returned her focus to her own laptop. Rather than the programs, she was more eager to finalize her plans. The sooner she detailed them, the better.
Suddenly, Ling Ye felt someone’s hand on her foot. Looking up, she saw her mom’s head peeking out from the kotatsu. Honestly, wasn’t that supposed to be her signature move?
“Ye Ye, still writing?”
“Mm, just a little more to finish.”
Ling Ye spoke as she discreetly minimized her current window.
“Hey, didn’t you already update today? It’s New Year’s—take a break!” Ling Ning wrapped her arms around her daughter’s slender waist, suddenly feeling like she could fall asleep just like that.
“Okay, I’ll finish tomorrow.”
Closing her laptop, Ling Ye noticed her mom’s expression shift slightly.
Before she could ask, Ling Ning quickly retreated into the kotatsu and returned to her seat. Xia You had just slipped her hand under her skirt, but Ling Ning had reacted in time.
Ling Ning shot Xia You a “super fierce” look, but it had zero impact on Xia You.
As the shows progressed, the hours slipped by. When the final countdown began, the New Year officially arrived.
Before Ling Ning could say anything, she felt something soft press against her cheek. There was no need to guess—it was her daughter’s kiss.
"Happy New Year, Mom~"
"Is that your New Year’s gift for Mom?" Ling Ning lightly touched her cheek and sighed.
“Hehe~”
Shaking her head, Ling Ning got out from under the kotatsu. “It’s getting late. Do you want a midnight snack or should we just call it a night?”
Hearing this, Ling Ye shook her head decisively. After stuffing herself during dinner, she had no appetite left. What she really wanted was to sleep—and preferably with her mom.
“Tonight, I want to sleep with Mom!”
“Eh!?”
Seeing her mom’s reaction, Ling Ye pouted, her eyes growing teary. “Does Mom not want to sleep with Ye Ye anymore? Am I no longer loved?”
“No... It’s not like that. Of course, we can sleep together tonight~”
Ling Ning spoke while throwing an apologetic glance in Xia You’s direction.
“Well, I’ll head back then. I might not wake up early tomorrow, so could you come and get me, Ling Ning?” Xia You asked calmly.
Though puzzled, Ling Ning nodded.
After Xia You left, Ling Ye immediately headed to her mom’s bedroom to begin her nightly warm-up routine for the bed.
Once Ling Ning finished tidying up the living room and entered the bedroom, she couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her daughter diligently warming her bed. Having a daughter who could do this was truly a blessing.
Sensing her mom getting into bed, Ling Ye wriggled slightly to make room.
Seeing her daughter on the verge of sleep, Ling Ning decided to postpone the conversation she had in mind. Another time, perhaps.
After some time passed, Ling Ye’s eyes fluttered open. Under the dim glow of the nightlight, it was clear she wasn’t the least bit drowsy—she had only been pretending to sleep.
Ling Ye turned to look at her mom, then leaned forward to press a kiss to her lips. The soft sensation made her want to lose herself completely.
After a long moment, their lips parted...
Ling Ye gazed at her mom’s sleeping face and sighed softly. She couldn’t be sure if her plan would work, but if she didn’t try, there was no way her mom would ever notice her feelings.
She would succeed. She had to.
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Author's Note:
I want to write, but these games won’t let me!