How Could I Possibly Have a Daughter After Reincarnating?

At this moment, Ling Ning was on her way to Xia You’s house. No matter what Ling Ning said today, Xia You insisted on going home, and Ling Ning, with no other choice, decided to accompany her all the way back.

To prepare for any unexpected situation, Ling Ning checked her bag for her pepper spray. Ever since she had encountered that creepy old man who looked like he came out of a nightmare, she’d kept it in her bag. After all, as a young woman now, she needed some means of self-defense, didn’t she?

Xia You’s home was quite far from the coffee shop, requiring several stops on the subway to reach it. During rush hour, the subway was packed, and beyond the crowds, there was the suffocating mix of sweat and perfume—an odor that was anything but pleasant.

Unfortunately for Ling Ning, the person next to her was a sweaty middle-aged man, his arm raised to grab a strap. The smell of body odor emanating from him was so overwhelming that she felt herself getting dizzy. Finally, she managed to pull Xia You to another spot. This time, they ended up next to a heavily made-up woman, whose cheap perfume mixed with sweat was marginally better than the body odor. Only marginally, though.

“Xia You, how many more stops?” Ling Ning asked with a look of utter despair.

Xia You raised her head at the sound, glanced around, and replied, “Almost there. Just two more stops.”

“Thank goodness!” Ling Ning sighed, already considering whether to splurge on a cab ride home later.

Finally, the subway slowly pulled into the station, and they had arrived. The moment she stepped off the subway, Ling Ning eagerly took a deep breath of fresh air. The air outside was undoubtedly more refreshing.

Xia You’s house wasn’t far from the subway station. Ling Ning followed her for a short while until they reached her building.

It was similar to Ling Ning’s own residential building, without an elevator. Fortunately, Xia You lived on the fifth floor—not like her own place, where she had to climb up to the fourteenth.

As soon as they entered, Ling Ning was hit by a strong smell of alcohol. A middle-aged man lay sprawled in the living room, snoring heavily. His weathered face bore a scruffy beard, and everything about him screamed of a defeated man.

Empty bottles and peanut shells were scattered around him, and an unknown movie was playing on the television. It seemed he had been drinking while watching TV and passed out, oblivious to their arrival.

The living room was small, yet it still felt empty, as if something crucial was missing.

“That’s my dad. Let’s keep our voices down.”

Ling Ning nodded and followed Xia You to her room—a room even more sparsely furnished than her own. Apart from a bed, a table, and a wardrobe, there was almost nothing else.

Xia You hesitated for a moment, then said apologetically, “Sorry, the chair got broken when my dad threw it last time. If you don’t mind, you can sit on my bed.”

Hearing this, Ling Ning raised an eyebrow. The chair was broken? Things seemed even worse than she’d thought, and now she was worried for Xia You’s safety.

“Here, have some water,” Xia You said, handing Ling Ning a cup of plain water. In her home, other than water, the only beverage available was alcohol.

“Thank you!”

Ling Ning noticed that the cup was made of stainless steel, covered in numerous dents and scratches. In some places, it was even bent inwards.

“My dad sometimes gets upset and feels like throwing things, so a lot of our stuff has been broken. What’s left is either essential or too heavy for him to throw. Glass cups shatter too easily, so these kinds are sturdier.”

Xia You spoke in a calm, matter-of-fact tone, as though she were describing something entirely ordinary. Hearing her, Ling Ning couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“I think you should come stay with me. My place might be small, but we could manage,” Ling Ning offered.

Xia You shook her head. “It’s fine. My dad’s passed out drunk today—he won’t wake up until tomorrow afternoon.”

“And what about tomorrow? Or the day after?” Ling Ning pressed.

“It’ll be fine,” Xia You said with determination.

Seeing the earnest look in Xia You’s eyes, Ling Ning knew she wouldn’t be able to persuade her today. Sighing helplessly, she said, “Alright. But promise me you’ll ask for help if you need anything. We’re friends, after all.”

“Mm, I will.”

Ling Ning pulled out her phone to check the time.

“Looks like it’s getting late. I’d better get going. Remember what I said, okay?” Ling Ning still wasn’t at ease and reminded her once again.

“Got it. Let me walk you out.”

“No need. You should rest. And try to keep those cuts dry. If you need to bathe, make sure you apply the medicine properly. Or, I could help you with it before I leave.”

“N-no… It’s okay. I can manage by myself. It’s late; you’d better get going,” Xia You stammered, her face flushing at the mention of applying medicine.

After Ling Ning left, Xia You seemed to lose all her strength. She slumped against the door, sliding down until she sat on the floor, her gaze empty as she stared ahead, lost in her thoughts.

After a while, Xia You stood up shakily and walked into the kitchen. She took out a kitchen knife and looked at her father, still snoring away on the sofa.

She raised the knife high, but in the end, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

“Do it, Xia You. You made up your mind to do this a month ago. You even planned out how to dispose of the evidence, how to cover your tracks. Why can’t you just do it?!” she muttered to herself.

She let the knife fall to the floor, covering her face as she broke down in tears.

“I’d already made up my mind, but why… Why did you have to come into my life at this time?!”

She didn’t know how long she stayed there, crying, but eventually, she stood up, picked up the knife, and put it back in the kitchen.

Back in her room, she looked at the cup on her table—the cup that Ling Ning had just used. Xia You picked it up carefully, as if it were a precious treasure, and slowly brought it to her lips, kissing it deeply.

“Ling Ning…”

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After leaving Xia You’s house, Ling Ning headed straight for the subway station. No matter what, taking a taxi was a bit too expensive, and the subway was much more economical. Besides, it was late enough that there was no way the subway could be as packed as it was during rush hour, right?

But Ling Ning had been too naïve. When she first got on the subway, it wasn’t too crowded, but after a couple of stops, it was even more packed than earlier. Feeling suffocated once more, Ling Ning sincerely regretted not taking a taxi.

But it was too late now. There was no way she was going to get off halfway through a subway ride just to take a taxi—she couldn’t bring herself to do something that extravagant.

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Author’s Note:

Blame it on the lazy fish~