How Could I Possibly Have a Daughter After Reincarnating?

“Thank you so much! If I hadn’t run into you, I don’t know how I would have managed to carry all of this,” Ling Ning said gratefully to Xu Qing, genuinely pleased at the unexpected encounter with a familiar face—it had to be fate.

“It’s nothing, really. But why did you buy so much stuff?” 

Xu Qing looked at the large bags she was carrying, a bit speechless. Ling Ning, even Ling Ye, was holding a pack of tissues—had they gone on a shopping spree or something?

Ling Ning laughed awkwardly and said, “Well, I just kind of lost control and ended up buying a bit too much. Anyway, let’s not talk about that—let me treat you to some ice cream! By the way, Xu Qing, what’s your favorite flavor?” Ling Ning hadn’t forgotten her promise to Ling Ye about the ice cream.

As soon as Ling Ye heard the word “ice cream,” her eyes lit up, sparkling with excitement. She had thought her mom might have forgotten about it.

“Chocolate,” Xu Qing answered without hesitation—it seemed she was quite fond of chocolate.

After setting down her bags, Ling Ning headed to a nearby convenience store. Faced with all the varieties of ice cream, her indecisiveness kicked in again. In the end, she picked a brand she hadn’t seen before called “Xiao Mei,” featuring an image of an elderly woman in a padded jacket. For some reason, Ling Ning felt a strange sense of familiarity with it.

“Hmm~”

Ling Ning took a bite, savoring her ice cream. Ice cream really was the best thing to have in summer.

“Mom… uh, I mean, Sister, can I have a bite of yours?” 

“Isn’t mine the same strawberry flavor as yours?” Ling Ning replied, looking down at her own strawberry ice cream.

“I don’t care. I still want it~”

“Fine, fine, can’t say no to you~” Ling Ning said indulgently, holding out her ice cream for Ling Ye to take a bite. Watching Ling Ye enjoy it, Ling Ning started to wonder if her own ice cream somehow tasted better—after all, they were supposed to be the same flavor.

Xu Qing observed the little exchanges between the two of them, noticing that their interactions didn’t quite resemble those of sisters. Instead, they had the feel of a mother-daughter relationship. Shaking her head, she dismissed the idea as irrational. Given how young Ling Ning looked, and considering Ling Ye’s age, it just wasn’t possible for them to be mother and daughter.

Luckily, Ling Ning’s house wasn’t too far from the supermarket, but she felt the full cruelty of the stairs once again—especially while lugging around bags upon bags of groceries. It was pure torture.

“Phew, so tired~”

As soon as they got home, Ling Ning dropped everything on the floor and plopped down, too tired to move. Ling Ye immediately threw herself onto the bed, while Xu Qing, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, leaned against the wall to keep herself from sliding down to the floor.

After resting for a while, Ling Ning rummaged through the bags and pulled out a pair of slippers for Xu Qing. She had actually bought these in advance because Ye Xuan visited often, and she didn’t want her walking around barefoot each time. Now they were finally being put to good use.

After putting on the slippers, Xu Qing began looking around the small room in curiosity. Though she and Ling Ning were friends, this was her first time visiting, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit curious.

Ling Ning poured a glass of water for Xu Qing and then asked, “How about staying for dinner tonight? Think of it as my way of thanking you for all your help.”

Xu Qing had intended to refuse, but then seemed to think better of it. Smiling, she said, “Well, if you insist, I guess I’ll stay~”

“Make yourself comfortable and watch some TV while I get started on dinner.” With that, Ling Ning turned and went into the kitchen, skillfully tying on an apron as she began to prepare the meal. She had bought plenty of ingredients, initially worrying that two people wouldn’t be able to finish it all, but now with an extra guest, there was nothing to worry about.

After a while of mindlessly watching TV, Xu Qing grew curious about how Ling Ning was managing in the kitchen. She walked to the kitchen door and saw Ling Ning humming a tune, her face calm and smiling gently as she cooked. She seemed so at peace—it was almost mesmerizing.

“A woman cooking in an apron really has that perfect ‘wife’ vibe,” Xu Qing thought to herself.

“Um… do you need any help?” Xu Qing asked, breaking her own daze.

Hearing Xu Qing’s voice, Ling Ning turned her head and smiled softly. “It’s fine, I can handle it by myself. Besides, the kitchen is pretty small—if you come in, there won’t be enough space to even turn around. Just sit back and relax while I finish up.”

“Oh…” Xu Qing felt as though she had been momentarily stunned by Ling Ning’s smile. She returned to the living room in a daze. She couldn’t believe she had never noticed how beautiful Ling Ning’s smile was before—so beautiful it nearly made her rethink everything, even as a fellow girl. Then again, Ling Ning hadn’t smiled much before, had she?

Soon, dish after dish was placed on the small dining table. Ling Ye immediately abandoned the TV, rushed off to wash her hands, and then took her seat, staring intently at the food. Her little nose twitched as she sniffed the aromas, looking utterly adorable.

Xu Qing looked at the dishes on the table, feeling as if they radiated light—without even tasting them, she could already tell how delicious they would be.

With Ling Ning placing the final dish on the table, the feast was complete. Ling Ye let out a cheer before digging in with great enthusiasm, and even Xu Qing set aside her usual composure and began to eat heartily.

Watching the two of them, Ling Ning smiled helplessly. She casually picked up a shrimp, peeled it, and placed it in Ling Ye’s bowl, then started peeling another for herself.

Ling Ye looked at the shrimp in her bowl, thought for a moment, then picked it up and held it to Ling Ning’s mouth.

“Ah~”

Ling Ning glanced at the shrimp, smiled, and opened her mouth to eat it.

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Before long, most of the dishes had been devoured, mostly by Ling Ye and Xu Qing. Ling Ning herself had only eaten a little. For some reason, ever since she had transmigrated, her appetite had diminished significantly—she just couldn’t eat as much as before.

After dinner, Xu Qing slumped in her chair, unwilling to move. She looked down at her slightly bulging belly, realizing all her recent workouts were probably in vain now.

“It’s already so late…”

Xu Qing checked her phone, surprised at how late it had gotten. She realized she would definitely get an earful from her mom when she got home. At that moment, Ling Ning came out of the kitchen, having finished washing the dishes.

“Um… it’s getting pretty late. I should head home. Thanks again for the wonderful dinner.”

“It’s the least I could do. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to carry all those groceries home,” Ling Ning replied.

“Well, I’ll head off then. And I’ll definitely be back to freeload another meal.” Xu Qing said with a bright smile.

“You’re always welcome—just bring some ingredients with you next time.” Ling Ning said, half-jokingly, half-seriously.

“I will~”

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Author’s Note:

See, I told you there’d be a second chapter~ So where are your clicks, favorites, recommendations, and tips~