How Could I Possibly Have a Daughter After Reincarnating?

By the time Ling Ning got home, Ling Ye still hadn’t returned. She looked at the clock on the wall—already past seven. It was getting late, and she hadn’t come back yet. Could something have happened? Today, she had seen online that the city seemed to be getting a bit unsafe lately.

She wanted to contact Ling Ye, but then realized neither of them had a phone. There was no way to reach her. This morning, she’d been so preoccupied with thinking about how to make money that she’d forgotten to even ask where Ling Ye was going.

The more she thought about it, the more anxious she became. Just as she was about to rush out to look for her, she heard the door open. Ling Ye walked in, and before she could react, Ling Ning pulled her into a hug.

“Stupid Mommy, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

Ling Ning’s voice was choked. She didn’t know why, but she felt like crying. This was the first time she had felt something like this—such an intense worry for someone, the kind that made her feel like she was dying inside.

After a while, Ling Ye, looking a bit annoyed, said, “Stupid Mommy, how long are you gonna hug me for? I’m hungry.”

Ling Ning affectionately patted Ling Ye’s head and said, “I’ll go make dinner right now. You go watch some TV.” She hurried into the kitchen, tied her apron expertly, and began preparing dinner.

Before long, a delicious meal was ready on the table. Ling Ye looked at the spread and couldn’t help swallowing hard, her right hand reaching toward the food on instinct. But before she could grab anything, Ling Ning caught her hand.

“Go wash your hands before eating.”

“Ugh, fine~” Ling Ye grumbled reluctantly.

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Watching Ling Ye eat with a face full of happiness, Ling Ning suddenly felt grateful that she knew how to cook. Ever since she broke up with her girlfriend, she rarely cooked for herself—mostly subsisting on instant noodles or takeout.

“So, where did you go today?” she asked.

“Mfufth bluf bribbleth…” Ling Ye mumbled through a full mouth.

“Swallow before you speak!” Ling Ning frowned.

Ling Ye worked hard to swallow her food, then said, “I already told you, didn’t I? I went to play at my friend’s house—Qin Sirou’s. You met her last time, remember? You even said she was cute.”

“Oh~” Ling Ning nodded thoughtfully. “Are you going over there again tomorrow?”

“Mm-hmm.”

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“Why do I feel like such a creepy stalker?” Ling Ning muttered.

She was currently following Ling Ye from a distance. She wanted to know where her daughter went to play. Originally, she had planned to just ask last night, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it, so this was the only option left.

“Honestly, she’s my daughter. Why do I feel so awkward about asking her anything? I’m such a failure of a mom,” Ling Ning thought to herself. While her mind wandered, Ling Ye got onto a bus.

“Oh no! I’m gonna lose her!”

Ling Ning quickly boarded the bus too, only to find Ling Ye staring at her with a knowing smile.

“Um… well, you see…” Ling Ning struggled to explain but couldn’t think of a suitable reason, and ended up standing there awkwardly.

“Hey, you two, stop chatting at the door! There are people trying to get on!” the driver grumbled impatiently.

“S-sorry.” Ling Ning quickly paid the fare and led Ling Ye to a seat.

“Stupid Mommy, you didn’t even change your clothes or disguise yourself while tailing me? I saw your dumb-looking self from a mile away.” Ling Ye stared at her mom with an expression that screamed “you idiot.”

Ling Ning had just been disdained by her own daughter. She had only done this because she was worried for her safety.

“I was just… I was just on my way somewhere… Yes, that’s right, just passing by. It wasn’t because I was worried about you or anything,” Ling Ning said, her eyes darting about.

“Yeah, sure.”

Their destination wasn’t far, only three stops away. Following Ling Ye to the entrance of a neighborhood, Ling Ning could immediately tell it was a wealthy area from the beautiful surroundings and luxurious houses.

“Your friend lives here?”

“Yeah, didn’t I tell you? Go in, turn right, first building, 23rd floor, unit 3.”

“Alright, have fun then. I’ll come pick you up tonight.” 233 was easy enough to remember.

Ling Ye nodded, then hopped away, entering the neighborhood. The security guard at the gate seemed to know her, greeting her warmly.

Once Ling Ye disappeared from view, Ling Ning turned to leave. Though she received money every month, it wasn’t much. Right now, her only priority was to find a job and improve their quality of life. Her only thought at that moment was to learn—no, to earn. She set a small goal for herself—to make enough money for… Alright, maybe she was getting ahead of herself.

So where should she go to find work? There were no books to plagiarize, and although she could write her own, there was no guarantee anyone would read them. She couldn’t pin her hopes on that, and would only write if she had free time. For now, she would just look around and see if anyone was hiring.

“Excuse me, are you hiring?”

“Sorry, we’re fully staffed.”

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“Hello, are you looking for anyone to hire?”

“Hey, beautiful, interested in, you know, something… a bit more, eh heh?”

“Nope, get lost!”

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“Hi, are you looking for, uh, some… assistance…?”

“Nope, get lost!”

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This was torture—she couldn’t find a job anywhere! She’d asked at every business in the area that had a “hiring” sign, but they all had enough employees already. And then there were those who had asked if she wanted to do “compensated dating.” Did she really look that much like a down-and-out high school girl selling herself?

Ling Ning looked at her reflection in a shop window. To be fair, she kind of did look the part.