Darkness gradually consumed the world, and the streetlights along the roads began to illuminate. By the time Ning Chu returned home, it was already past six in the evening.
Her mother, lounging on the sofa watching TV, cast her a glance and rolled her eyes, “Oh, you still remember to come home for dinner?”
“I thought some man had already whisked you away~”
Ning Chu quickly flashed a pleasing smile and playfully sat next to her mother, leaning in, “Mom~ I just had a little something to take care of.”
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“What could you possibly have to do?”
Her mother sniffed slightly, but Ning Chu, feeling justified since nothing had happened with Wen Yang today, wrapped her arm around her mother’s, acting coy, “I just went to an internet café to play games! The computer at home is way too outdated.”
“You should have gone to see your boyfriend instead of going to an internet café,” her mother scoffed, standing up to head to the kitchen. “Go wake up Black Bean for dinner.”
“Okay!”
Ning Chu jogged to the second bedroom, opened the door, and peeked into the darkness. On the bed, the little cat girl, Black Bean, was curled up with a pillow, snoring away like a little pig.
She was always either eating or sleeping...
If no one disturbed her and nothing piqued her interest, this cat could sleep seventeen or eighteen hours a day.
“Black Bean, wake up.”
Ning Chu yanked the blanket off, standing at the foot of the bed with her hands on her hips.
The snoring stopped. Black Bean's cat ears twitched, and her tail flicked in annoyance, but she still didn’t get up.
So, Ning Chu reached out, grabbed Black Bean’s tail, and gave it a gentle tug, “Get up!”
The sudden tug startled Black Bean awake, “Ow!”
She instinctively covered her backside with both hands, then, seeing Ning Chu holding her tail, pouted, “Sis~ I don’t play with other people’s tails anymore!”
“Then why did you pretend you couldn’t hear me?”
“I wasn’t pretending!”
Leading Black Bean to the dining table, Ning Chu glanced at the food on the table—it was noticeably less abundant than usual.
Uncle and her brother had already left, and Wen Yang wasn’t coming over for dinner either. Now that there were only three of them, her mother had casually thrown together leftovers to make a pot of fried rice.
Ning Chu actually liked fried rice and fried noodles, but while eating, her thoughts couldn’t help but drift toward Wen Yang.
His work gathering was scheduled for around 10 PM tonight.
If no unfortunate events unfolded, everything would be fine, and the cup she bought earlier would relieve Ning Chu of sore hands and mouth later on.
But if the storyline triggered as expected, that cup would be her salvation! She didn’t want to become the helpless, overworked milk bun described in the book.
If the storyline concluded as expected, it wouldn’t be over until after 11 PM. By then, her mother and Black Bean would be fast asleep, and any forced intimacy wouldn’t be discovered by anyone.
But she still felt uneasy.
What if some random girl intercepted Wen Yang on his way back to the apartment? Normally, Wen Yang could resist flirtation, but if he were drugged, he wouldn’t have the willpower to resist.
He was the male lead she had cultivated for so long!
“What are you thinking about?” her mother asked, watching Ning Chu almost shovel a spoonful of rice into her nose. “Thinking about your boyfriend again?”
“No, nothing.”
Ning Chu hurriedly lowered her head, avoiding her mother’s gaze, trying to hide her emotions.
She was beginning to think that maybe she’d have to sneak out later tonight to personally pick up Wen Yang after his gathering.
Otherwise, she just wouldn’t be able to relax.
“It's almost New Year,” her mother said, still watching a live stream on her tablet. “Let’s go shopping tomorrow afternoon to get you two some new clothes and groceries for the holiday. We’ll also need to do a deep clean. Your brother’s already cleaned the windows, so that’s one less thing to worry about.”
“Mm, mm.”
Ning Chu absentmindedly agreed.
Seeing her daughter in such a distracted state, her mother could only shake her head helplessly.
From body to soul, she’s already been swept away by that poor boy~
Black Bean, meanwhile, finished her bowl of rice, tipping the last few grains into her mouth. She licked her lips, and with a hopeful look, turned to her mother, “Mom~ There wasn’t any meat.”
“There was minced meat in the fried rice.”
“Was there? I didn’t taste any!”
Her mother gave her an exasperated look, “Eat less for dinner and go do your homework.”
Black Bean, feeling a bit wronged, rubbed her small belly, looking deflated as she placed her bowl in the kitchen sink, tail drooping behind her.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t full, but she hadn’t tasted any meat, and her stomach still felt somewhat empty.
“By the way, does Black Bean only have morning classes?” Ning Chu asked, watching her little sister’s dejected figure. “No afternoon classes?”
“I didn’t want to overwhelm her, so we’re easing into it.”
“Good thinking.”
After dinner, Ning Chu relaxed on the sofa with her phone, chatting with Wen Yang while occasionally helping Black Bean with her homework.
She heard her mother’s footsteps and turned to see her mother putting on her shoes by the door.
“Mom, where are you going?”
“Playing mahjong,” her mother said cheerfully, glancing back. “I might be back pretty late, so look after your sister.”
Ning Chu's mind immediately wandered, thinking her mother might be going to meet up with Uncle. But then, noticing her mother’s casual outfit, she quickly dismissed that thought.
Whenever her mother went out with Uncle, she would carefully select a nice outfit and put on meticulous makeup.
She really was just going to play mahjong.
“Mom, how much are you planning to lose tonight?”
“I’m going to win a few hundred!” her mother shot back with a glare. “If my luck’s bad tonight, it’s your fault for jinxing me.”
“And make sure Black Bean is asleep by ten. Don’t buy her any late-night snacks.”
Black Bean came running over, eagerly handing her mother her scarf and gloves, “Mom~ When will you be back?”
She tried to sound reluctant and concerned, but the grin on her face was barely contained.
Her mother wrapped the scarf around herself, “I might not be back until morning.”
“!!!”
Black Bean's ears and tail immediately perked up.
“Be good and listen to your sister.”
“Okay~ Bye-bye!”
The excitement in her demeanor was unmistakable, as if she had been waiting for her mother to leave.
As soon as her mother stepped out and the door closed, Black Bean returned to Ning Chu’s side, her eyes wide with anticipation, “Sis! Let’s get a late-night snack! Please!”
“Didn’t you just eat dinner?” Ning Chu said, gently pressing her hand against Black Bean’s slightly bulging belly. “You’re already full, aren’t you?”
“Later, okay? I still have homework to do!”
Black Bean instantly abandoned her homework, turning on the TV and expertly retrieving their mother’s tablet from the master bedroom. She then settled herself comfortably on the couch, gleefully swinging her legs.
Until Ning Chu grabbed one of her cat ears, “Do your homework! Do you think I’m invisible?!”