Chapter 77: Family
"Why do you keep running out every few hours?"
Later that evening, when Ning Chu returned to the dorm, Zhang Shaoqing’s questioning voice greeted her.
“What’s wrong with getting some snacks?”
Ning Chu remembered Yan Xinya’s advice to change her tampon every three or four hours, and she now carried a bag of snacks as a cover.
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The tampons were great in every way, except for the intense embarrassment she felt during each change. The slight discomfort when removing it had morphed into a strange sensation of pleasure, leaving her face flushed and needing a few minutes to recover.
Ning Chu planned to switch to an overnight pad before going to bed. She wanted to avoid the tampon swelling up too much overnight, which would make removal even more painful.
She tossed a bag of chips onto Wen Yang’s desk and sat down in front of her computer. Lifting her legs to rest them on the horizontal bar under the table, she opened a snack and prepared to spend the evening watching some anime.
But before she could settle in, her phone rang.
Even without looking at the screen, her heart began to race.
The only people who ever called her were her mother, scammers, and telemarketers...
Neither option was something she looked forward to.
She glanced down and, sure enough, the words "Mom" stood out on the screen.
Ning Chu felt a wave of anxiety. She hesitated for a moment before picking up the phone and heading out to the balcony.
It was only the beginning of the month—what could her mother want?
She leaned against the balcony railing, her head lowered, and answered the call.
“Ning Chu~ why did it take you so long to answer?”
Her mother’s familiar voice came through, sounding almost identical to her mother from the world Ning Chu had left behind.
For a moment, Ning Chu felt disoriented, lost in the sound of her mother’s voice. After a brief pause, she replied softly, “I was busy just now, I didn’t notice...”
“Oh~ Your birthday’s coming up soon. What do you want as a gift?”
“My birthday...?”
“Yes, and it’s on the weekend this year. You should come home to celebrate.”
“Come... home?”
Her mother’s voice was warm and gentle as she laughed softly. “Of course! Your brother is free that weekend too, so we can all go out to eat together.”
“Brother...?”
Every word was like a punch to Ning Chu’s chest, making her throat tighten and her head lower even further. Fighting back her emotions, she responded in a barely audible whisper, “Okay, I’ll come home for the weekend.”
Originally, Ning Chu had been too afraid to face the mother of this world, but now, she found herself desperate to return.
Maybe, just maybe, all of this—being transported here, becoming a girl, going through all these changes—was worth it.
“How’s my brother doing?”
“Him? He’s doing great,” her mother replied, her tone filled with pride. “He’s been so busy with work, though. It’s hard for him to come home. He’s taking time off just to celebrate your birthday.”
“Really...?”
“Oh, Ning Yuan! Come here, take your sibling’s call.”
That name jolted Ning Chu—Ning Yuan. That was her brother’s name.
The puzzle pieces were coming together. It became clearer that the mother and brother in this world were the same as the ones from her previous life.
This world wasn’t just a strange, fantastical realm—it was a parallel universe. One where her mother was still alive, her brother was successful, and she... well, she was here, living as a succubus.
And in her mind, she imagined her mother with horns and a devilish tail, like a succubus.
Then she pictured her brother, possibly becoming a succubus in the future, too...
Ugh~
Just like that, her sentimental mood shattered!
If it really turned out that way, this world would be too far gone!
“Hey! Don’t forget to come home for your birthday.”
Thankfully, Ning Yuan’s voice wasn’t raspy or low—it was unmistakably male.
“Got it!” Ning Chu replied firmly. “Bro, did you get me a present?”
“Present, my ass! The fact that I’m taking time off to come home is your gift!”
“Ugh~”
His voice softened as he continued, “I’ll transfer you 500 bucks. Buy yourself something nice, but don’t tell Mom, okay?”
“Don’t go spending it all recklessly, or we’ll both get chewed out by her.”
“Okay~”
“And what’s with your voice? You sound more and more like a girl. It’s like you’re pouting.”
“...”
Oh no!
Ning Chu cleared her throat and quickly changed the topic. “Have you eaten dinner yet?”
“It’s 7:30. What do you think?”
Ning Chu wanted to probe more about whether her mother was a succubus but feared saying too much would reveal her suspicions. She decided to prepare them a bit instead: “Hey, bro... the past couple of months, I’ve changed a lot.”
“What? You got fat? That’s normal. One of my dormmates gained 50 pounds in three years of college.”
He’s in college too?
Ning Chu marveled at the strange yet comforting similarities between this world and her previous one. “No, it’s not that I got fat... Anyway, don’t be too shocked when you see me.”
“What’s with the secrecy? You never kept anything from me when we were kids,” Ning Yuan sounded a bit displeased but quickly softened. “How’s university? Are you settling in okay?”
“Yeah, I’m getting used to it.”
For once, the conversation with her family didn’t end abruptly. Leaning against the railing, Ning Chu asked casually about things at home, answering her mother and brother’s questions. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, and the gloomy mood caused by her period began to lift.
Even though she was now a girl, which should have made her nervous about how her family would treat her, Ning Chu found herself eagerly anticipating her birthday at home. She even felt like calling a cab right now, just to see her mother and successful brother.
Wen Yang stepped out of the dorm and saw Ning Chu squatting on the ground, chatting softly on the phone.
It was rare for Ning Chu to stay on a call for so long.
He paused, watching the bright smile on her face and listening to the excitement in her voice. He couldn’t help but feel a bit sour inside.
She never seemed this happy when she was with him.
Who was she talking to...?
As he got closer, he heard Ning Chu mention "Mom" and "brother."
Ah, that’s fine then. Future mother-in-law and brother-in-law, huh?
Ning Chu noticed Wen Yang approaching and looked up, raising a finger to her lips in a quiet “shh” motion.
When she lifted her head, tears fell from the corner of her eyes, collecting on her chin before dropping down. Occasionally, she’d pull the phone away to stifle her sobs, only to put on a cheerful tone when she spoke again after hearing her mother’s voice.
Wen Yang’s heart ached at the sight. He quietly returned to the dorm and grabbed a box of tissues for her.
“Alright, I’ll talk to you later,” Ning Chu said, sniffing as she hung up the phone. She wiped away her tears with the tissues Wen Yang had brought, then looked up at him.
“What’s going on? You’re crying and laughing at the same time.”
“It’s nothing... I’m just really happy.” Ning Chu wanted to share her joy with Wen Yang, but she was too afraid of revealing her secret. Instead, she stood up and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. “I’m really happy! I haven’t felt this happy in a long time!”
“Why are you crying again?” Wen Yang asked, flustered, raising his hands carefully to avoid doing anything inappropriate. “Wipe your tears, or Zhang Shaoqing will make fun of you again.”
“Okay! I’m just so happy...”