black skirt and stockings

To be more precise, it was a familiar back view, because Lu Lingyue recognized the woman. She had a black ponytail, wore a professional skirt suit, paired with black stockings, and stepped in a pair of black high heels.

With all these details combined, Lu Lingyue immediately recognized who this woman was!

She was Xie Shuangning, the one who was supposed to visit the house today!

But why was she here now?

Curious, Lu Lingyue glanced toward Xie Shuangning, feeling an urge to secretly follow her.

However, before Lu Lingyue could make a move, Xie Shuangning, in her black high heels, started walking directly toward her with a series of "click-clack" sounds.

Lu Lingyue: ???

She really wanted to escape, but she couldn't.

Because Xie Shuangning called out to her from behind.

"Excuse me, little one, do you know what celery looks like?"

Realizing there was no way out, Lu Lingyue forced a smile and turned around to face Xie Shuangning.

"Uh… what did you just say?"

As soon as Lu Lingyue turned around, she saw Xie Shuangning's face flash with a look of surprise, and then, her previously puzzled expression was instantly replaced by sparkling eyes.

"Wow, little one, you're so cute!"

Xie Shuangning cupped her face with both hands, bent down to look at Lu Lingyue, her expression so delighted it seemed like she wanted to devour her whole!

Lu Lingyue was a little startled by Xie Shuangning's overwhelming enthusiasm. She never expected such a drastic shift in her behavior!

When Lu Lingyue was still a socially anxious male college student, Xie Shuangning would always look at him with a disdainful expression, like she had seen the most repulsive thing in the world!

But now, Xie Shuangning suddenly had sparkling purple eyes, bending over and complimenting her cuteness!

The contrast was truly startling!

As Lu Lingyue looked at Xie Shuangning, she once again couldn't help but notice some peculiar details.

She thought the staff member she met earlier had already reached her limit, but little did she know, Xie Shuangning was even more extraordinary.

Lu Lingyue felt dizzy, almost on the verge of fainting!

"Ah, what did you just ask me?"

She quickly shifted her focus and asked Xie Shuangning.

"Oh, I was asking, what does celery look like?"

Although Xie Shuangning had somewhat calmed down, her purple eyes still sparkled with excitement.

"Ah…"

This grown woman, doesn't even know what celery looks like?!

Lu Lingyue's pupils almost trembled in shock.

At first, she thought Xie Shuangning simply didn't know how to cook, but now, it seemed she had never stepped foot in a kitchen in her life!

"Uh, it's hard to describe, I'll just take you to find it."

Lu Lingyue could only say.

To her surprise, as soon as she finished speaking, Xie Shuangning eagerly nodded, "Alright! Thank you, little one!"

Lu Lingyue shook her head, her two silver-white pigtails swaying.

"No worries, just follow me."

Just as Lu Lingyue was about to walk ahead, she noticed that Xie Shuangning seemed to want to say something.

So, she turned around to look at her again.

Sure enough, Xie Shuangning's cheeks were now tinged with a blush. She pushed up her frameless glasses and shyly spoke in a small voice, "Could you hold my hand while we go? I'm afraid I might get lost…"

Without saying a word, Lu Lingyue immediately grabbed Xie Shuangning's hand.

Although Xie Shuangning was over twenty, her hand was still as soft as a young girl's, smooth to the touch.

The moment Xie Shuangning finally touched Lu Lingyue's small hand, her face lit up with joy, and her usually cold demeanor turned a deep shade of red.

Lu Lingyue didn't think much of it and led Xie Shuangning to the celery section, pointing to the nearby sign, "Look, it says 'celery' here."

After that, Lu Lingyue released Xie Shuangning's hand.

Xie Shuangning instinctively reached out, but she was afraid of scaring the little girl, so she could only savor the soft touch she had just felt in her heart.

"So, it's here. I rarely come to the vegetable section, so I didn't know. Thank you, little one!"

Xie Shuangning crouched down and looked at Lu Lingyue, smiling gently.

In Lu Lingyue's memory, Xie Shuangning had always had a stern face, never smiling at anyone!

But now, she was actively showing such a gentle smile to her?

This was like the sun rising in the west!

Xie Shuangning wanted to continue talking to Lu Lingyue, but Lu Lingyue realized she still needed to buy ingredients for today's meal, so she took the initiative to say goodbye.

"I have something to do, so I'll go first. You can manage on your own, big sister."

With that, Lu Lingyue waved and left.

Xie Shuangning stood there stunned, looking at Lu Lingyue's small, adorable figure as she muttered to herself, "I haven't even asked your name yet…"

Lu Lingyue didn't pay any more attention. She bought the ingredients she needed based on her planned dishes and headed to the checkout.

At the checkout, Lu Lingyue encountered the staff member again.

This time, the staff member smiled and gently ruffled her hair.

"Come back to play with me next time!"

As Lu Lingyue muttered "Amitabha" under her breath, her eyes unconsciously wandered to places they shouldn't have.

After purchasing her groceries, Lu Lingyue prepared to head home.

She still had to cook, and cooking was an art; she needed to prepare herself.

Just as she stepped out of the supermarket, a gust of wind blew straight into her face, causing her to shiver.

Suddenly, Lu Lingyue realized that something unusual seemed to be happening around her!

She looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary in the sunny world—no strange mutant monsters, no ghostly women in white!

Yet, something just didn't feel right…

As Lu Lingyue rubbed the goosebumps on her arms, she thought seriously.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking…"

Just as she was about to walk away, a familiar voice suddenly echoed from a nearby alley.

"I've already told you, I'm not interested! Please stop bothering me!"

Reaching the entrance of the alley, Lu Lingyue peered inside and, to her surprise, saw the familiar figure in the black skirt and stockings again!