Wait, I Got in the Wrong Car (GL) - Chapter 46

The next day, Mo Ying’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the three of them. But when called over by Wanqi Tianxin and Wu Si, she suddenly chose an outer seat, settling beside Chen Ruiling. She then fumbled in her pocket and pulled out two spicy sticks and a box of luxurious chocolates. “Lingling, these are all for you. Eat.”

Chen Ruiling instinctively looked up at Mo Ying. Her glittering green eyes were full of anticipation, sweet enough to melt anyone on the spot. For a moment, Chen Ruiling could not refuse. “…Alright.”

Wanqi Tianxin and Wu Si stared in shock as Mo Ying eagerly unwrapped the snacks and fed Chen Ruiling one chocolate after another. The four-person group suddenly seemed to split into two pairs.

The other two quickly flanked them. “Hey, hey, you two are hogging all the snacks. You’re not going to share with us?”

Mo Ying and Chen Ruiling replied in perfect sync, “We’re not.”

Wanqi Tianxin and Wu Si snatched the snacks Mo Ying had prepared. “Don’t lie. Xiao Yu’er, you used to chant ‘Ah Rui, Ah Rui’ with us. Now, even the way you call her has changed?”

Wu Si added, “Exactly. Lingling, Lingling. That sounds so intimate. Xiao Yu’er, you’re clearly playing favorites.”

Mo Ying puffed out her cheeks. “Xinxin, Sisi.” As an elder sibling, she had to give her younger ones extra love. At home, she ranked fifth. Now that she finally found someone younger, Mo Ying felt determined to repay all the love Chen Ruiling had missed out on.

Chen Ruiling looked at the three of them with a headache. “It’s really not a big deal. Tianxin heard it too that day. Xiao Yu’er wasn’t feeling well, and I happened to have some medicine.”

Wanqi Tianxin remembered the knocking sounds, but she had been in deep sleep and thought it was a dream. She only realized it had really happened when Chen Ruiling helped Xiao Yu’er call in sick. “So this is a thank-you gift. Ah Rui, all yours.”

Wu Si handed back the half-eaten spicy stick. “Tianxin can be a little slow sometimes. Thankfully, Ah Rui lives next door. Otherwise, no one would have been there to help.”

Mo Ying and Chen Ruiling had already agreed on a story. When they saw how understanding the others were, they chose to stay quiet.

From that day forward, their seating arrangement subtly shifted. Mo Ying always sat beside Chen Ruiling. Wanqi Tianxin had to take the opposite side to remain close. Wu Si didn’t mind and sat wherever was convenient.

Mo Ying often looked at Chen Ruiling with a soft, affectionate gaze. If Chen Ruiling needed a tissue, Mo Ying somehow always had one ready. If she felt thirsty, Mo Ying would hand her a bottle of water without hesitation. Their closeness did not go unnoticed.

Wanqi Tianxin, feeling jealous, pulled Chen Ruiling into a playful headlock. “Are you two sneaking around behind our backs or something?”

Wu Si added, “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you two were a couple.”

Wanqi Tianxin gasped in horror. “You’re not really dating, are you? No way. That’s not allowed. If anyone’s getting a girlfriend first, it should be me.”

Even though it was clearly a joke, something about it reminded Chen Ruiling of that night. During a break, she invited Mo Ying out. “Xiao Yu’er, you don’t have to treat me so specially. If it had been anyone else that night, I would have helped them too.”

Mo Ying replied, “I know. Lingling has always been such a kind little girl.”

Chen Ruiling blinked. “???”

It was the first time someone her age had called her a little girl. It felt odd, slightly amusing, and a bit embarrassing.

She gave Mo Ying a once-over. Mo Ying looked especially young, almost like a high school student. “I’m older than you, Xiao Yu’er. By age, you should be calling me big sister.”

Mo Ying’s eyes widened. “That can’t be. Lingling, I’m way older than you. Much, much older. And—”

Before debuting, many people lied about their age, usually making themselves younger. But Chen Ruiling had never seen someone exaggerate to claim an older title. Mo Ying’s serious expression made her laugh. “And what?”

Mo Ying thought, According to human seniority, Lou Xiaohei’s little niece is also my little niece. That would make me practically their ancestor. “Anyway, I’m older.”

Chen Ruiling glanced around, then looked at the camera spinning above them. “I won’t tell anyone about it. You can relax, Xiao Yu’er.”

Mo Ying blinked. “???”

Tell what?

Chen Ruiling saw her confusion and added, “If this goes on, people will start noticing. Have you thought about what would happen if this got leaked?”

It took Mo Ying a moment to grasp the meaning. “Lou Xiaohei said she’ll handle it. I trust her.”

That sounded like classic love-struck thinking. Chen Ruiling warned, “Xiao Yu’er, you trust too easily. What if, like that day, she can’t deal with it right away because of something else? What will you do then?”

That question was too advanced.

Mo Ying’s little fish brain was muddled by Chen Ruiling’s heartfelt words. But it didn’t stop her from liking her more. “Lingling, you’re so nice.”

Chen Ruiling sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Let’s just take it one step at a time.”

…

In the blink of an eye, the preliminaries ended and the semifinals approached. The competition would continue in a team format. Before that, the first two episodes of “Sing for the Song 2” had already aired to the public.

The contestants were given two days off. After the break, they would receive mentorship and begin preparing for the semifinals.

Before everyone left, Mo Ying made a special effort to invite Chen Ruiling. “Lingling, do you want to come home with me for a couple of days?”

Chen Ruiling looked a bit flattered but quickly shook her head. “I need to visit my dad at home. I probably won’t have time.”

Mo Ying’s face fell. She had pictured everyone relaxing together at her place. “You’re really not coming? My house is huge and so much fun.”

Wanqi Tianxin scowled in mock offense. “Xiao Yu’er, that’s so cold of you. Are Wu Si and I invisible? You only invited Ah Rui!”

Mo Ying blinked, still confused. “Inviting Lingling is just like inviting all of you.”

Wanqi Tianxin clutched her chest in mock disbelief. “Since when did Ah Rui become our group representative?”

Chen Ruiling gave her a light elbow. “We’re a four-person team. We haven’t even made it to the semifinals, and you’re already stirring up drama. Is that really necessary?”

Wu Si gave a casual wave. “I’m heading out. You all go ahead without me. I have things to take care of over the next couple of days.”

Mo Ying hurried after her. “Sisi, if something’s wrong and you need help, just let me know.”

Wu Si looked a bit surprised, then smiled with slightly red eyes. “Thanks, Xiao Yu’er. I will.”

Wanqi Tianxin and Chen Ruiling exchanged suspicious glances. “Something’s definitely off. Xiao Yu’er and Wu Si have been acting strange. Especially Wu Si. She’s been moody ever since the prelims. What’s going on?”

Chen Ruiling observed them for a moment, then gently shook off Wanqi Tianxin’s hand. “I’m leaving too.”

With that, everyone went their separate ways.

As soon as Mo Ying picked up her phone, she sent a friend request to Lou Anran along with a message that read, “I am your darling girlfriend. Marry me already.”

When Lou Anran opened her phone, she saw dozens of typo-filled messages from her baby girl. She took a screenshot, then set the phone aside. After a brief pause, she accepted the request.

Mo Ying waited eagerly, her eyes fixed on the screen. “Lou Xiaohei, are you coming home tonight to watch the show with me?”

Lou Anran responded by sending a large red envelope. “Wishing my baby a year filled with fiery success, known throughout the country.”

Mo Ying cheerfully agreed. “Then I’ll wait for you.”

However, Lou Anran did not return home. Instead, Ni Xinyu showed up, dusty from travel. She went straight to the fridge for food, then glanced at the time. “Sing for the Song is about to start. Feeling nervous, sweetheart?”

Mo Ying blinked in surprise, confused by her solo arrival. “Why would I be nervous?”

Ni Xinyu finished her meal quickly. “These two episodes will shape your initial fanbase. If you lose momentum now, you could fall behind in the audience voting during the semifinals. That might affect whether you debut. In the end, the mentors’ evaluations and fan votes determine it.”

Mo Ying began to feel a little nervous. “Will they like me?”

Ni Xinyu wiped her mouth with a tissue, satisfied with the reaction. “You’ll find out soon.”

Just then, Lou Anran came down from upstairs. When she saw Ni Xinyu, the two exchanged glares.

“You look like you just crawled out of a pool. Did you finally decide to face your fear of water?”

Ni Xinyu scoffed. “That’s better than someone who keeps making excuses to stay dry. Water isn’t that scary. It’s not like there’s a sea monster waiting for you.”

Mo Ying’s sparkling eyes shifted between them. At last, she managed to speak. “I think playing in the water is really fun too.”

Ni Xinyu grinned like a mischievous aunt. “Sweetheart, next time we’ll go together.”

Mo Ying nodded eagerly. “Okay, okay.”

Lou Anran sat beside her and gently slipped a cushion behind her back. Then she casually patted Mo Ying’s flat belly. “My baby is pregnant. No outings allowed.”

At the mention of the baby, Ni Xinyu turned serious. “Sweetheart, is the baby okay? Don’t overdo it when singing and dancing. If you can avoid jumping, do it. Safety comes first.”

Lou Anran shook her head helplessly. The little one had danced so hard during the show that she was airborne at one point. She had watched the entire episode many times. Her heart nearly stopped.

If she didn’t know Mo Ying was a mermaid with a different physique from humans, she never would have agreed to let her debut like this.

To prove she was fine, Mo Ying slapped her belly like a watermelon. “I’m fine. Baby fish is behaving too.”

Ni Xinyu had never been a mother, but she had seen her fair share of fragile pregnancies. Twisted ankles, sudden bleeding, and all kinds of unexpected mishaps. She wanted to treat this sweetheart like a national treasure. So when she saw her slap her belly like that, she immediately warned, “Be gentle. It’s not a watermelon.”

Mo Ying understood her baby’s condition well. As long as she had food, everything was fine. In short, as long as Mama Lou stayed by her side, baby fish would behave. “Don’t worry. I’ve been taking good care of her.”

Lou Anran gently patted her. “Lately, baby fish has been very obedient.”

Mo Ying responded proudly, “Probably because she knows Fourth Sister won’t scold us. That makes her feel safe.”

Seeing them act like a loving couple, Ni Xinyu could not help but tease. “You’re acting like the baby is yours, Lou Anran.”

You really embraced this role far too naturally.

She had warned them repeatedly. Yet she still could not understand how the two had managed to overcome such a major obstacle and now acted as if nothing had ever happened.

Lou Anran beamed. “Who says baby fish isn’t mine? She is the product of our love.”

At first, she had doubted it. But the bond was undeniable. Every reaction from the baby only confirmed it further. This little one truly felt like hers.

Mo Ying nodded. “Yeah. Lou Xiaohei is baby fish’s mom.”