The Scumbag’s Redemption: Kept by Her (GL) - Chapter 17

“No, I am not!”

It must be the way I was eating my late-night snack that brought this disaster, Ling Jiao thought grimly.

Just moments ago she had been praising Shen Yuwei for holding her liquor well, and now this earth-shattering surprise completely rattled her, leaving her dazed and confused.

Onlookers watched the drama unfold like they were enjoying a live soap opera.

A random woman had just appeared out of nowhere, declaring a shocking claim. And the girl who spoke up was now sobbing silently, tears falling like a string of pearls, as if she had finally reunited with her long-lost mother.

Only Ling Jiao, caught in the middle, wished she could find a hole in the ground and hide in it.

At this point, there seemed to be nothing left in the world worth clinging to.

If fate had a problem with her, why not just send a lightning bolt to strike her down, instead of throwing a full-grown daughter and a random scandal from a stranger into her lap?

It was just too much.

Shen Yuwei’s tears continued to fall uncontrollably. Ling Jiao snapped at her.

“Stop crying. If you cry one more time, I’ll leave you here and walk away.”

That threat finally worked. Shen Yuwei barely managed to stop crying. She wiped her red, puffy eyes with the back of her hand, looking like a little rabbit that had been abandoned.

Yuan Huai was furious.

“Ling Jiao, are you even human?”

So young and already dragging someone into this kind of twisted roleplay. Look at this poor little omega, so pitiful and fragile. Anyone who saw her would want to wrap her in their arms and never let go.

And yet this heartless woman dared to treat her like that.

How awful. Still, she had to keep smiling.

Ling Jiao clenched her teeth and accepted the full blame. Her priority now was to get rid of this woman. Everything else could wait. She would deal with Shen Yuwei later.

She cast a glance at Shen Yuwei, who had stopped crying.

Ignoring the lingering, emotional look in her eyes, Ling Jiao turned to Yuan Huai and smiled lightly.

“So what if it’s true?”

“What does it have to do with you?”

Yuan Huai was speechless. In truth, it had nothing to do with her anymore.

Ling Jiao clearly had someone new now. If she kept clinging on, she would only look desperate and shameless. With one last, regretful glance at the tearful beauty, she waved her hand.

“Fine. But if you ever dare to hurt her, I won’t be able to hold back.”

Ling Jiao gave her a smile.

“Same-s3x love leads nowhere. You should give up that idea.”

Yuan Huai was furious again and stormed off. As she left, she threw out one last warning.

“Watch yourself. Don’t let me catch you slipping up.”

Ling Jiao kept smiling.

Once the woman was gone and the curious onlookers had lost interest, she finally let out a deep sigh, then walked over to the counter to pay the bill.

When she came back, she grabbed Shen Yuwei by the hand and led her outside.

Shen Yuwei followed obediently, without resistance.

Even though Ling Jiao showed her nothing but the back of her head, Shen Yuwei could not take her eyes off her.

She had not seen her mother in so many years.

She missed her terribly.

She missed her warm embrace, her gentle voice, and even her not-so-strong back.

Now, drunk and emotionally fragile, she had forgotten everything that had happened recently. She forgot that she was no longer the real daughter of the Shen family. She forgot that the love she once believed belonged to her had actually never been hers.

She gazed at Ling Jiao’s back with deep longing, silently hoping her mother would turn around and look at her.

Her mother, who used to be too weak to even stand, was now walking strongly, holding her hand, just like in the past. She led her through the crowded and noisy street, just like the mother she remembered.

They walked to a quiet, empty corner.

Ling Jiao suddenly let go of her hand and snapped.

“Wake up!”

“I am not your mother. I never had a daughter like you.”

Shen Yuwei was too drunk to hear clearly. She tried hard to read Ling Jiao’s lips, but she failed.

Her wrist, which had just been pulled hard, was beginning to ache.

She lowered her trembling lashes like a child who had done something wrong and whispered in a small, hurt voice.

“It hurts… my hand hurts.”

Ling Jiao winced. She must have pulled too hard while dragging her out just now.

She quickly reached for Shen Yuwei’s wrist. Sure enough, she saw a red mark around the joint, as if it had been gripped too tightly.

Ling Jiao’s expression darkened.

“Serves you right for making me publicly humiliated like that.”

“You deserve it.”

Shen Yuwei lowered her eyes, and more tears fell to the ground. They evaporated quickly, leaving only faint traces behind.

“It hurts… Yaoyao’s hand hurts.”

Ling Jiao froze.

Yaoyao?

Was that her childhood nickname?

The name she had refused to reveal before was now quietly spoken into her ear. Ling Jiao pressed her lips together.

“It doesn’t hurt.”

“It does. Yaoyao wants it kissed better.”

Shen Yuwei looked up, her eyes glistening with tears.

She held up her hand and brought it close to Ling Jiao’s lips.

“Kiss it better.”

Was it possible that getting drunk lowered her IQ too? Ling Jiao could not understand how she had become this childish. But since she was already crying, she reluctantly gave in.

Ling Jiao blew softly on her wrist and said coldly.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

But Shen Yuwei refused to move.

“Mom,” she called softly.

“Don’t call me that!” Ling Jiao was furious. “If you say it again, I’ll leave you here.”

Shen Yuwei looked crushed by her scolding.

“You… you haven’t visited Yaoyao in her dreams for such a long time.”

“Did you… did you remember that today is Yaoyao’s birthday?”

Her tear-stained face lit up with a faint smile.

“Yaoyao has been really good. She listened to Daddy, just like you always asked. Can you stay with me a little longer tonight? You used to take me to ride the Ferris wheel on my birthday.”

“Today is your birthday?” Ling Jiao was stunned.

Shen Yuwei nodded obediently, her smile innocent and sweet.

“Yes, it’s my birthday.”

No wonder she had been so sad.

Today, the Shen family was supposed to be throwing a grand celebration for her eighteenth birthday. Instead, they held a party to celebrate the return of their real daughter.

No wonder she had agreed so easily to not go home tonight.

No wonder she had mistaken her for someone else after drinking. She had probably been holding back tears for so long that now, with her defenses lowered, they finally flowed freely.

Thinking of this, Ling Jiao found it a little easier to forgive her earlier outburst.

“Fine, I will reluctantly accept that explanation.”

Ling Jiao spoke softly, “Since it is your birthday today, I will be generous and let it slide.”

“Come on.”

She took Shen Yuwei by the hand and followed the navigation to a nearby park with a Ferris wheel. The park was even livelier at night than during the day. There were couples whispering as they held hands, families out with their children, and quiet loners scattered in the corners.

Ling Jiao guided Shen Yuwei through the crowd. About ten minutes before they reached the Ferris wheel, Shen Yuwei suddenly tugged on her hand and refused to move.

She pointed to a nearby street vendor selling glowing, sparkling headbands.

“I want that one.”

She looked up at Ling Jiao with wide, expectant eyes.

Ling Jiao felt a pang of guilt under that gaze. Giving in, she bought one and placed it gently on Shen Yuwei’s head. Just as she was about to pull her along again, Shen Yuwei quickly grabbed another headband and placed it on Ling Jiao’s head.

The shopkeeper called out immediately.

“Hey, hey, that one hasn’t been paid for!”

Ling Jiao kept her smile as she paid for the second headband.

“Now can we go ride the Ferris wheel?”

Shen Yuwei nodded eagerly, gazing up at the slowly spinning wheel. When they reached the base, she suddenly stopped and would not move forward.

The line was long.

Ling Jiao paid someone at the front to let them cut in. Just as she tried to lead Shen Yuwei forward, Shen Yuwei shook her head.

“I don’t want to ride it anymore.”

Ling Jiao stared at her.

“What did you just say?”

Shen Yuwei looked at the Ferris wheel with a blank expression.

“Once we ride the Ferris wheel, you’ll fly away like a bird.”

Ling Jiao took a deep breath.

“I promise I won’t.”

“Swear it.”

“Alright, I swear.”

That finally persuaded Shen Yuwei to get on.

As the Ferris wheel began to rise, the view outside the glass window changed dramatically. The whole city seemed to shrink beneath their feet as they slowly ascended. When they reached the top, fireworks suddenly burst into the sky like showers of stars and silver trees.

Colors filled the sky, lighting up half the horizon.

And also lit up Shen Yuwei’s delicate, fragile face.

Just moments ago, Ling Jiao had been brimming with frustration. But seeing her like this, all that anger faded away.

She remembered the novel had mentioned that Shen Yuwei’s adoptive mother had passed away early. For reasons unknown, while she was still alive, she had treated the adopted daughter with extraordinary kindness.

As if trying to make up for some unspoken guilt.

That was why Shen Yuwei missed her so deeply. After everything that had happened, she missed her even more. After all, when someone dies, the love they leave behind does not fade or sour with time. It only becomes more sacred.

They stayed at the top of the Ferris wheel for ten minutes.

When it descended, Ling Jiao took Shen Yuwei to a nearby hotel, one she had booked on her phone while they were up in the air.

With Shen Yuwei in her current emotional state, it would not be right to take her home.

At the front desk, when Ling Jiao gave her name, the receptionist looked from her to Shen Yuwei, who appeared quite sober, before handing them the room key.

“Room 302.”

Ling Jiao took the key and brought Shen Yuwei into the elevator, then into the room.

Shen Yuwei followed her and murmured softly.

“I’m so happy.”

Ling Jiao gave a quiet hum in response.

“I know.”

She also knew that Shen Yuwei would not be able to bathe in this state.

After such a long day, Ling Jiao was mentally exhausted. The earlier accusations about her supposed kinks had only added to her weariness.

She gently pushed Shen Yuwei onto the bed, tucked her in, and said,

“Sleep. Everything will be better when you wake up.”

Shen Yuwei looked up at her.

“Aren’t you going to sleep with me?”

She looked like a child about to cry.

Ling Jiao replied calmly.

“I don’t sleep with people who haven’t bathed.”

Shen Yuwei looked down, disappointed.

“Alright.”

“Then… can you kiss me?”

Ling Jiao fell silent.

“You always kissed my eyes before I went to sleep.”

Shen Yuwei closed her eyes, her expression filled with hope.

Ling Jiao sighed and leaned down. She gently placed a warm kiss on Shen Yuwei’s eyelid, as if kissing her very soul through the thin skin.

Slow and tender.

She coaxed softly.

“Be good, Yaoyao. Sleep now. Everything will be alright.”