Chapter 679 : Just Once, Just Once!
"Xiao Bai, have you noticed that your mom has been acting a bit strange lately?"
While Bai Jie was in the bathroom, Ling Ning curiously asked Bai Yiyue.
Bai Yiyue paused for a moment before narrowing her eyes in thought. "Now that you mention it, she does seem a bit off. She's been zoning out while watching TV, and I even caught her almost burning the food once while cooking."
"She hasn’t told you anything?"
"I asked, but she always says it’s nothing. That’s about it," Bai Yiyue replied, sounding exasperated.
Before Ling Ning could ask further, Bai Jie returned to the living room. This time, however, she didn’t sit in her usual spot but quietly chose a sofa off to the side.
The TV was currently airing a drama about conflicts between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, but as Ling Ning watched, something seemed... off. Why did it feel like the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were having a yuri romance?
Ling Ning's expression turned complicated. Modern dramas really had all kinds of wild plot twists.
Even though the storyline felt strange to her, Bai Jie appeared deeply engrossed, her eyes fixed on the screen. Ling Ning couldn’t understand what was so captivating about it.
As an idea struck her, Ling Ning turned to Bai Yiyue and asked, "Xiao Bai, what do you usually do at home?"
"I read your magazines, sleep, binge-watch shows, movies, or anime—that’s pretty much it. It's so boring! If you hadn’t come over today, I think I might have died of boredom," Bai Yiyue complained with a pitiful expression.
"I get it, I get it. But could you please move your hand off my butt?" Ling Ning said with a sweet smile.
"Hehe~"
Though Bai Yiyue knew she’d get caught, she had stopped caring about it. If she played her cards right, Ling Ning would eventually see this as normal behavior!
Bai Yiyue firmly believed she’d reach that day.
Time passed. When the TV drama ended, Bai Jie suddenly stood up and said, "It’s getting late. I’m going to buy some groceries. I’ll be back soon."
"I’ll help," Ling Ning offered, also standing up and preparing to put on her jacket.
But Bai Jie quickly interjected, "N-no need. It’s just the three of us. I can handle it alone. You stay here and keep Xiao Bai company."
"Huh?!"
Without waiting for Ling Ning's response, Bai Jie put on her coat and left the house.
As she stepped out, Bai Jie exhaled softly. For now, it was best if she kept some distance from Ling Ning. Ever since the last incident, she’d felt increasingly strange around her.
Initially, she thought everything would fade with time after clarifying things. Yet, for some reason, she couldn’t stop thinking about Ling Ning—about wanting to do certain unspeakable things with her.
Even knowing that Ling Ning was her daughter’s love interest, these inappropriate thoughts clung to her like an unshakable curse.
Sighing deeply, Bai Jie rationalized, perhaps she was simply long overdue for some... release.
Meanwhile, with Bai Jie gone, Bai Yiyue grew bolder, clinging even more closely to Ling Ning. Her behavior seemed to escalate, prompting Ling Ning to say helplessly, "Could you not get so close?"
"It’s fine! No one’s here to see anyway. Besides, don’t you think it’s been a while since we..."
"No. Out!"
"Aw, come on! Just once, okay? Mom won’t be back that soon!"
Bai Yiyue pleaded. Ling Ning sighed, exasperated. "Why are you so fixated on this, anyway?"
"Because you won’t let me take things further. This is all I have to look forward to~"
With another sigh, Ling Ning relented. "Fine. Just once—only once. Anything more, and that’s it forever!"
Bai Yiyue cheered and eagerly threw her arms around Ling Ning. Caught off guard, Ling Ning was tackled onto the sofa. Feeling the softness of Bai Yiyue’s lips against hers gave Ling Ning an odd sensation she couldn’t quite describe.
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"I’m back."
Bai Jie entered the house, calling out casually.
"Welcome back, Sister."
Hearing Ling Ning’s voice, Bai Jie glanced at her. Something about her seemed off—her fair face bore an unmistakable blush, her enticing lips glistened faintly, and her once-neat clothes were now slightly disheveled, revealing the strap of her bra.
Then there was her daughter, seated nearby with her back turned, her ears red as cherries.
Bai Jie could easily deduce that something had definitely happened in her absence.
Pressing her lips together, she quietly headed to the kitchen.
Only after Bai Jie left did Ling Ning finally breathe a sigh of relief. Turning to Bai Yiyue with a kind yet stern expression, she said, "Didn’t we agree on just once? And you even took things further! What if your mom figured it out?"
Though Bai Yiyue wanted to point out that Ling Ning’s current appearance made it impossible not to notice, she instead reassured her. "It’s fine. Even if she did notice, she wouldn’t say anything. And as for why I took things further... well, you never explicitly forbade it~"
Ling Ning rolled her eyes. "You always find loopholes."
"Hehe~"
While Bai Yiyue smiled outwardly, she couldn’t help feeling a tinge of regret. She’d been so close to fully succeeding, only for her mom to return at the worst possible moment. Why did things have to turn out this way?
In hindsight, she should have invited Ling Ning to her room to play games. That way, her chances of success might have been much higher.
As the thought crossed her mind, a mischievous grin spread across Bai Yiyue’s face, reminiscent of a scheming uncle.
The moment Ling Ning saw her expression, she immediately knew her shameless childhood friend was thinking something indecent again. Unable to hold back her annoyance, she flicked Bai Yiyue’s forehead—not gently, either.
"Oww! Why’d you do that?!"
"Because I felt like it. Got a problem with that?"
"N-nope."