Chapter 76: Different Love

After hearing Xu Nuo’s words, Jiang Ling’s expression froze momentarily, then suddenly flushed bright red, and she unconsciously took two steps back.

“You—what kind of things are going through your mind?!”

Her impression of Xu Nuo in her mind had plummeted to an utterly incomprehensible low!

How could such a pervert exist in this world?!

Faced with Jiang Ling’s embarrassed and annoyed questioning, Xu Nuo straightened up without changing her expression and answered seriously, “I want Lingling-chan to step on me and reward me harshly, to scold me with a contemptuous look, so that my life can be elevated!”

Jiang Ling was a bit at a loss in the face of this sudden declaration.

She shuffled in her slippers, turned around, and wanted to run away.

This person was a complete pervert!

No, she had known for a long time that Xu Nuo was a thorough pervert. How could she have so easily made a promise?!

Thinking this, Jiang Ling felt an overwhelming wave of regret. She averted Xu Nuo’s burning gaze and spoke weakly, “Can we, can we change it to something else…?”

“I want this!”

But Xu Nuo stubbornly shook her head, looking unwilling to compromise.

“Ah, really, what kind of ‘reward’ is this?”

Jiang Ling didn’t understand and showed no respect. She looked at Xu Nuo, who was still staring straight at her, and tried to negotiate: “Why don’t you think of something else? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, do you really want to waste it on such a boring thing?”

“It’s not boring at all!”

After a pause, Xu Nuo seemed to fall into deep thought: “But then again, it’s a rare opportunity…”

Seeing signs that she might be changing her mind, Jiang Ling immediately whispered in her ear, “Exactly, better change it quickly!”

“In that case—”

“Then please let Lingling-chan take a hundred different photos of me in various poses to keep! By the way, make sure they’re adult-themed.”

“Adult-themed? You big silly!”

Jiang Ling looked at Xu Nuo’s eyes that clearly weren’t joking, bit her lip, hesitated for a long time, and finally compromised, “Ha… fine, stepping on you will do?”

“No, stepping on me while scolding me!”

Xu Nuo added righteously.

“…Fine, I got it!”

People are like this—if you say you want to open a window in a room, you’ll be opposed; but if you say you want to rip open the ceiling, the previously opposed idea is quickly approved.

Although she agreed to Xu Nuo, Jiang Ling still didn’t know what to do and looked at Xu Nuo with pleading eyes.

Seeing this, Xu Nuo immediately sat on the edge of the bed, took off her thick glasses, and spread her arms wide, looking like she was ready to be trampled on.

Without her glasses, Xu Nuo looked refreshingly different—no, she was truly a genuine beauty!

Her eyes, always hidden behind glasses and a little vacant, were not only large but beautifully shaped; her pressed nose showed no sign of collapse, instead, it was beautifully raised; her perfectly combined features formed a youthful and radiant face.

Now, Xu Nuo was wearing this cute girl face, her eyes shining with excitement as she demanded her reward…

Jiang Ling suddenly wondered if this world had completely gone mad.

Though she grumbled in her heart, Jiang Ling recalled Xu Nuo staying up all night making NOVA merchandise and finally sighed faintly, climbed slowly onto the bed, and then stood in front of Xu Nuo, slowly extending her leg.

In Xu Nuo’s line of sight, Jiang Ling tightly gripped her skirt, her face burning red as she placed the tiny toes wrapped in white silk stockings against Xu Nuo’s chest.

Her touch was very light, like a kitten scratching an itch, pressing against Xu Nuo’s heart. Because of the height difference, her slightly upturned eyes were moist, and a faint voice slipped out from between her cherry-red lips.

“Perv… pervert…”

Xu Nuo immediately covered her nose.

Ah! Is this heaven?!

Seeing Xu Nuo’s satisfied expression, Jiang Ling felt like she was about to burst into flames and bit her lip, wanting to pull back her leg: “I said, enough already, hey!”

Just as Jiang Ling, blushing, prepared to lift her foot, Xu Nuo quickly raised her hand to stop it. A soft, springy sensation came from her chest, causing her to unconsciously tighten her grip on the silky smoothness.

“Hey, don’t grab randomly!”

Jiang Ling swayed because of her movement, forced to steady herself with effort, her face flushed.

“I can’t!”

Xu Nuo looked serious but was inwardly thrilled: “Also, you haven’t scolded me yet.”

“…I don’t know how to scold people.”

“Then just read what’s on this.”

Xu Nuo almost instantly offered a solution. After tapping a few times on her phone, she handed it to Jiang Ling, who looked like she wanted to escape.

Jiang Ling took the phone and saw the screen filled with embarrassing phrases, her lips tightly pressed together.

Her voice trembled as she read aloud in the room:

“Do you want… your master to step on you? Ha… if you want it, say it twice so I can hear…”

“Naughty little dogs have to be punished… come here and lick, lick me, mmm—”

Halfway through, Jiang Ling couldn’t take it anymore. She abruptly threw the phone onto the bed, then dove headfirst under the covers, covering her ears, unwilling to face reality.

Xu Nuo, on the other hand, was full of satisfaction, reliving everything that had just happened. She put her glasses back on and clenched her fists, brimming with fighting spirit. “I feel like I’ve gained endless inspiration!”

“Where on earth does your bizarre inspiration come from?!”

Jiang Ling looked up, clutching the blanket tightly as her body curled up, as if making up her mind: “I will never agree to any of your requests again!”

This time, she’d just consider it self-inflicted.

That night, Xu Nuo submitted many proposals for merchandise to Bai Xue. These included not only previously completed drafts but also a clearly newly drawn cotton doll… all in white silk sailor uniforms.

“This is your inspiration?!”

While everyone was seriously reviewing Xu Nuo’s designs, Jiang Ling suddenly glared at her, gritting her teeth.

“Yes. I think this will sell quite well!”

Xu Nuo showed no hint of remorse. Instead, she enthusiastically explained: “We can often use this chibi design in the future. This cotton doll is just a first attempt to test if people like it. If not, I can change it.”

Seeing everyone’s satisfaction, Xu Nuo whispered just loud enough for Jiang Ling to hear, “See? I told you, I got tons of inspiration.”

“…You definitely have some unspeakable ulterior motive.”

“Oh, isn’t that obvious? How can it not be unspeakable?”

Xu Nuo shyly covered her face and wiggled her body.

Watching her wriggle like a worm, Jiang Ling silently withdrew her gaze.

Heh. Indeed, shamelessness is invincible in this world.

After discussion, the approved items for release were: cotton dolls and pendants. Since this was their first attempt at selling this type of merchandise, Bai Xue decided to produce a small quantity initially to test the market. If the response was good, they would continue selling them.

Everyone had no objections. After the announcement of the upcoming merchandise release, the official NOVA account was flooded with excited comments.

【Merchandise? Their execution is so strong, I think they just debuted recently.】

【This preview looks really good, perfectly matching each member’s first impression and personality. Who’s the artist?】

【I! Want! To! Buy! All!】

After two or three days of warm-up, the merchandise officially launched, and a sales booth was set up at offline performances for fans’ convenience.

Because the factory they contracted with was one Bai Xue had known for a long time, the price was very reasonable, a true rarity in the industry, and many people rushed to buy.

Sales volume rose rapidly, and eventually every member’s doll sold out. Everyone praised the merchandise’s beauty on social media and began looking forward to the next batch. Overall, it was a huge success.

Jiang Ling, out of support for NOVA, bought a complete set, and Bai Xue even gave her a discount with a smile.

Looking at the big-headed cotton dolls neatly lined up in the box, Jiang Ling couldn’t help but place them on the desk. As she looked at each one, she felt an unusual sense of fulfillment.

Is this their merchandise?

She happily fiddled with the dolls’ tiny hands when her phone suddenly buzzed. Jiang Ling looked over and saw a message from Song Meng.

【Picture】

Jiang Ling opened it and found a photo of Song Meng lying on the bed, holding a little Zero and the cotton doll representing herself in her arms, showing a pitiful, exhausted expression to the camera.

【Mommy’s not here. Little Zero and I can only comfort ourselves with this, wuwu, how sad~】

Next, she sent a video showing Little Zero pawing at the cotton doll, rolling around mischievously, while Song Meng wiped the corner of her eye, pretending to cry.

Jiang Ling was speechless at Song Meng’s dramatic act but couldn’t help smiling.

…

【We’ll meet in a couple of days, thank you for buying my merch, ovo.】

After some casual chatting, Jiang Ling put down her phone. Seeing Lin Xiaoyu bring a small box back, she couldn’t help asking, “What’s that?”

“Your cotton doll.”

Lin Xiaoyu opened the box and held the doll up for Jiang Ling to see.

“Ah?”

Jiang Ling was even more confused. “Why did you buy mine?”

Lin Xiaoyu didn’t answer but quietly leaned against the bed holding the doll, starting to look at her phone.

“This way, someone’s here to watch comics with me.”

“…Can you not make me ‘watch those messed-up things’?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiaoyu suddenly seemed to remember something and looked up at Jiang Ling.

“By the way, how’s your studying going?”

Jiang Ling immediately recalled having asked her to recommend S&M comics. Her mind flashing images of Bai Xue in various scenes, she blushed deeply, stood up, and dashed for the door.

“I, I’ve got something to do, I’m leaving first!”

Lin Xiaoyu watched her hurried escape with a tilted head, then returned her gaze to the doll’s face toward her phone screen, speaking softly.

“Look, today we’re going to read this one…”

After escaping the room, Jiang Ling saw Mo Ran humming in the kitchen while busy with something and leaned over to take a look.

“Little Bell? Look, I put the cotton dolls here. Cute, right?”

Mo Ran pointed to the neatly arranged dolls on the dining table. She even made a partition to avoid dirtying them during meals.

“Cute! This is how cotton dolls should be used.”

Jiang Ling praised sincerely, then muttered with a teasing tone and happily stepped out of the kitchen, just in time to bump into Bai Xue heading to her room.

She held a strange package in her left hand, and in her right hand… herself?

“What are you looking at?” Bai Xue noticed Jiang Ling’s gaze lingering on her and raised her eyebrows with interest, licking her lips, “Feeling… tempted?”

“Not at all!”

Jiang Ling immediately waved her hand to say no and pointed at what Bai Xue was holding. “What are you doing with my doll?”

“Hm, why don’t you come see for yourself?”

Bai Xue didn’t answer but beckoned her inside.

Jiang Ling stepped into Bai Xue’s room half-suspecting, then… ran out at top speed and dashed straight for the dance studio.

What on earth did she just see?!

Bai Xue had tied up the cotton doll representing herself with pink and white bondage ropes, blindfolded it with cloth, and even cuffed its half-sized hands with custom-made shackles.

“Let it go, it’s just a child!”

Seeing this, Jiang Ling immediately let out a sharp shriek.

“If you want to let it go, then you come take its place?”

Bai Xue smiled teasingly, her tone sultry.

Then Jiang Ling decisively ran away.

The last time still haunted her—she would never be caught by Bai Xue for that kind of stuff!

With that thought, Jiang Ling resolutely entered the dance room, determined to sweat it out and forget the abstract scene she had just witnessed.

Upon entering, she saw Fang Wannian dancing, seemingly to a new song by a recent Korean girl group.

She was really putting in the effort.

Jiang Ling quietly watched her movements until the song ended.

“You’re here to practice?”

Fang Wannian was slightly sweaty, clearly having danced for a while.

Jiang Ling nodded. “Yeah, I thought I’d practice a little.”

“Then I’ll leave first, you take your time.”

As Fang Wannian picked up her bag, Jiang Ling almost instantly saw the expensive, finely crafted custom chain bag hanging with a pendant of her own chibi image.

Seeing Jiang Ling go silent, Fang Wannian followed her gaze and trembled slightly, hurriedly covering the pendant. “Ha… cough cough!”

“If I’m not mistaken, that should be mine?”

“I bought the whole set, planning to switch one every day. It’s just that today just happens to be yours!”

Her mind raced quickly, soon concocting a perfect excuse, then she coquettishly hummed, “It’s a coincidence, just a coincidence, got it?”

Hearing this, Jiang Ling held back a smile and asked, “Really?”

“Really.” Fang Wannian arrogantly turned her head and strode out. “Why would I carry your merch with me?”

But she had only taken a few steps when she stopped, looked back with a hesitant expression, then immediately returned to normal and stared straight at Jiang Ling:

“The day after tomorrow, my family is hosting a banquet. Do you want to come with me?”