Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 97

Side Story 9

To make a good impression on Li Yu’s mother, Mu Tao diligently researched her personality and preferences.

Her mother’s name was Li Huiping. As far as Li Yu could remember, she had been raised solely by her mother.

Her mother was strong-willed and never backed down from a confrontation.

But despite her strong personality, she wasn’t fierce, but gentle and kind.

Li Yu said that whenever she brought friends home, her mother would be incredibly hospitable, preparing fruits and her signature dishes, even inviting them to stay overnight.

And she would always drive them home personally when they left.

Her mother seemed ageless, always youthful, trendy, and loved following internet trends.

Her internet speed might have been a bit slow, often using outdated memes.

She also adored cats and dogs and frequently sent Li Yu cute animal videos, but Li Yu had always found pets troublesome.

As Li Yu talked, she suddenly remembered something. “The most important thing is the food. This is your strength; use it wisely.”

Mu Tao nodded seriously.

“Mom mostly eats vegetarian food, doesn’t like pork, beef, or lamb, but loves chicken and seafood, especially fish and shrimp, but not lobster or crab, too much work… And she likes spicy food!”

Mu Tao quickly typed everything into her phone’s notepad.

“Also, Mom loves this old singer…”
“Okay!”

“And she doesn’t like…”
“Mm-hmm!”

“Well, that should be enough…”
“Awoo!”

Mu Tao breathed a sigh of relief, scrolling through her notes.

Li Yu peeked at her phone and chuckled. “Such detailed notes.”

“Of course!” Mu Tao hugged her phone and smiled. “This way, I can cater to her preferences and convince your mother that I can take care of you for the rest of your life!”

She seemed truly determined.

Whether her mother believed it or not, Li Yu didn’t know.

But she believed it.

National Day coincided with the Mid-Autumn Festival, a week-long holiday.

Li Huiping’s train arrived around 6:20 PM. Li Yu left work early to pick her up, and they could have dinner together.

On the way home, Li Huiping chattered away.

“Xiao Yu, I thought you didn’t like sharing an apartment. Remember when you first graduated, you were so annoyed with your roommate you spent an extra two thousand yuan a month to live alone?”

“The rent here isn’t as expensive as in City A; why such a small apartment, and with a roommate?”

“Xiao Yu, if you’re struggling, just tell me, don’t hide it. Didn’t you have a monthly allowance in college? I can give you some money, so you can live more comfortably…”

“I checked before coming here, the housing prices here aren’t high, if you like your job, we can buy an apartment here, then you don’t have to share with anyone anymore! It’s so inconvenient!”

“Mom!” Li Yu took her mother’s arm and said with a smile, “This place is easy to clean, close to work, and affordable, no need for a bigger place—I’m very happy here, not bored, not stressed, everything is just right!”

She couldn’t help but mention Mu Tao. “And my roommate is wonderful! We watch TV shows and variety shows together, and she’s very caring, the best roommate I’ve ever had. She’s also very brave, not afraid of any bugs or mice, I feel very safe living with her!”

Li Huiping: “It’s good that you get along with your roommate. But if you need money, just ask.”

“Okay, okay!” Li Yu smiled. “Mom, my roommate heard you were coming, she’s preparing a special dinner tonight!”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have bothered, we could have just eaten out.”

“Her cooking is much better than most restaurants,” Li Yu said. “She loves experimenting with new recipes, she’s spoiled me rotten, you have to try it!”

“Really? So talented?”

“Of course!”

Li Yu couldn’t resist praising Mu Tao.

Li Huiping: “I’ve never heard you praise anyone like this before.”

Li Yu was momentarily speechless, then chuckled. “You’ll understand when you meet her.”

She brought her mother back to their small apartment.

Barely sixty square meters, filled with furniture.

Although it was small and cramped, if you saw it as cozy, it could be cozy.

And the aroma of food that filled the air always dispelled the fatigue of the day.

That night, Li Huiping was full of praises for the dishes, enjoying every bite.

She said she finally understood why her daughter, who hated sharing apartments, was now willing to live with someone.

And she also said, “Xiao Yu has always loved food. Her first words every day after coming home from school were always—Mom, what’s for dinner?”

She even shared some embarrassing childhood stories, much to Li Yu’s chagrin.

“Hey, Mom…why are you saying these things?”

Did she not care about her daughter’s image?

Li Huiping: “Isn’t this just saying that you’ve always been a foodie?”

Li Yu: “I was close to her not just because she shared food with me! There were other reasons!”

Li Huiping: “I didn’t say it was the only reason.”

Li Yu: “That’s what it sounded like!”

Li Huiping: “Did it?”

Li Yu: “Yes!”

Li Huiping: “Oh~”

Mu Tao: “Oh~”

Wait, why was Mu Tao also saying “oh”?

Li Yu opened her mouth, about to say something, when Mu Tao moved her stool closer to Li Huiping and started asking about Li Yu’s childhood.

Li Yu tried to interject but couldn’t.

And Mu Tao’s cooking seemed to have a magical effect on Li Huiping, who, amidst the laughter and conversation, revealed even more embarrassing stories.

Mu Tao listened, suppressing her laughter, her eyes shining with amusement.

Li Yu regretted not having her mother stay at a hotel.

Her previously majestic image in Mu Tao’s eyes was crumbling!

As they chatted, the conversation drifted to various topics.

Mu Tao, having done her homework, could discuss Li Huiping’s favorite singer, actors, TV shows, even the breeds and personalities of cats and dogs.

She truly knew how to cater to someone’s preferences.

Many times, when Li Yu didn’t know how to respond, Mu Tao would seamlessly continue the conversation, even steering it towards new topics.

Li Yu could see that her mother was completely charmed by Mu Tao.

So charmed that she even started asking personal questions, essentially conducting an informal interview.

Thankfully, Mu Tao was prepared with a set of reasonable answers, maintaining her “ordinary person” facade.

That night, Mu Tao prepared the sofa and offered Li Yu her half of the bed.

Li Huiping felt slightly embarrassed, repeatedly praising Mu Tao’s thoughtfulness.

Then she whispered to Li Yu—

“Your roommate is such a sweet girl, so capable and efficient, she must have…had a difficult life.”

“Don’t let her do everything, help her out.”

“Cherish her, good girls like her are rare.”

Li Yu felt that these words sounded strange, but she wasn’t sure if she was overthinking it.

Li Huiping stayed in E City for six days, enjoying the local food and exploring the city with the two young women, watching TV with them in the evenings.

She said she hadn’t had such a lively time in ages and was reluctant to leave.

After seeing Li Huiping off, Mu Tao finally returned to her own bed.

That night, she hugged Li Yu and asked softly, “Does your mother…approve of me?”

“She adores you.” Li Yu’s voice was tinged with a hint of mock jealousy. “She paid more attention to you than to me these past few days, constantly praising you, she almost wished you were her daughter instead.”

“Master is jealous?”

“…No, just…your imagination.”

Jealousy or not wasn’t important, what was important was that Mu Tao hadn’t dared touch her for six days.

And now, she was clearly…eager.

Two months after the National Day holiday, shortly after New Year’s Day, Li Yu received a message from Li Huiping.

She said—I want to buy you an apartment in E City.

Renting wasn’t a long-term solution, and moving was troublesome.

And that Mu Tao, if she was willing, could move in with Li Yu.

They could decide on the rent themselves.

Actually, she didn’t even need to pay rent. Li Yu lived alone, it would be nice to have someone else around, to keep each other company.

Li Yu: Mom, save your money, I have savings, I can buy my own apartment.
Li Huiping: What’s the point of saving money? You can’t take it with you when you die.
Li Huiping: I only have one daughter, my money is yours, why be so polite?
Li Yu: (:з」∠)
Li Huiping: I’ve worked hard all my life, what’s wrong with buying you an apartment? I can’t afford one in City A, but I can definitely afford one here.
Li Yu: (:з」∠)

Li Yu thought for a long time, a wave of guilt washing over her.

She finally replied, “Mom, actually…my relationship with her…is a bit…different.”

Li Huiping: I’m not blind.
Li Yu: (:з」∠)
Li Huiping: You told her all about your…preferences, right?
Li Huiping: And you’re not exactly short of money, sharing such a small apartment, and even a bed.
Li Huiping: You don’t seriously think she’s just your “roommate,” do you?
Li Yu: [Speechless]

Li Huiping: I’ve also thought about this for a long time.
Li Huiping: As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.
Li Yu: (:з」∠)
Li Huiping: Am I the most open-minded mother in the world?
Li Yu: Don’t flatter yourself!
Li Huiping: [🤭] (covers mouth and laughs)

Li Yu reread the conversation several times.

Then she smiled softly and forwarded it to Mu Tao.

Fifty years seemed like a long time, but it passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was over.

As they prepared to return, Li Yu reflected on these past fifty years, a normal human life, filled with hardships, with joy, with no regrets.

They moved into their new apartment on their third day back.

Mu Tao, with her culinary skills and her willingness to learn, found success as a food blogger, gaining a small following online.

In their tenth year, Li Huiping sold her house and bought a new one in E City, moving closer to them.

From then on, holidays were more lively.

In their sixth year, they wore wedding dresses and had a small ceremony.

The video they posted online received many heartfelt blessings from strangers.

Although their marriage certificate from abroad wasn’t legally recognized here, Mu Tao didn’t care; she was overjoyed.

Her first wedding with Li Yu, although grand, hadn’t been filled with genuine well-wishes.

Those angry, disdainful glances, a silent disapproval of her desires.

But things were different now.
In this world, they could be together, their love celebrated.

The rest of their fifty years was a quiet, ordinary life, shared moments of joy and sorrow, a story difficult to capture in words.

Ten years, twenty years, thirty years, forty years…

Mu Tao remained by Li Yu’s side.

They struggled together, they saved and traveled the world.

She was there when Li Yu lost her mother, she grew old with her.

A single lifetime, short yet fulfilling.

As they prepared to leave, Mu Tao felt a pang of reluctance.

She had seen a different world, a different master.

And she had become…a different person.

They were going back now.

She would always remember this place, these fifty years.

She would tell this story to anyone willing to listen.

Whether they believed it or not, she would tell them—

She had lived a full life, a happy life, with her master, in another world.

For them, with their long lifespans, it was a rare and precious gift.

[End]

Author note:

The story of Yu Yu and Little Wolf officially ends here.

They will return to their world, diligently cooking and eating, living a good life! And in the unwritten parts of the story, everyone in that world will also protect their world and the people they cherish!