"Welcome! Do you have a reservation?"
Wen Yang stood in a crisp white shirt and black vest, his hair neatly slicked back. With a warm smile, he greeted the guests who had just entered the restaurant.
This kind of service work was nothing new to him. Since elementary school, he'd done various part-time jobs out of necessity. From scavenging for bottles in trash bins to tutoring, he’d seen it all. Back in his hometown, his uncles would always save a plate for him at dinner, but after going to middle school in the county, he had to fend for himself.
Once he entered university, although tuition and living expenses were higher, the scholarships and Ning Chu’s support made things easier for him.
Today was his first official day at work. For the past two days, he had been familiarizing himself with the environment, learning the ropes from senior employees on how to be a proper server.
"Please, this way."
He led the guests into their private room and stood by the door, waiting to be called upon.
Although he couldn’t handle tasks like taking orders or serving dishes just yet—two days wasn’t enough to memorize the hotel’s extensive menu—he knew that a single meal here could easily cost over a thousand yuan, plus a 20% service charge. Unfortunately, the service charge didn’t benefit the servers at all.
The hotel also had rooms upstairs, charging hundreds or thousands of yuan per night. Wen Yang wondered what the difference was compared to the cheap inns that charged around a hundred yuan.
He also couldn’t help but wonder what Ning Chu was doing right now.
Standing by the door, hands clasped behind his back, his posture straight, Wen Yang’s mind began to wander.
Someday, he’d love to bring Ning Chu here for a meal and a night’s stay.
But according to the guests, the food wasn’t that impressive. Knowing Ning Chu, she’d probably prefer a street-side plate of stir-fried noodles.
Maybe after his first paycheck, he could save up and buy her a gaming console? Then again, she might feel guilty about the cost and refuse.
Thinking about Ning Chu brought a smile to his face, and his thoughts drifted even further.
He couldn’t forget how strange Ning Chu had been at the last dinner party.
That afternoon, she had suddenly pulled him along, embarrassed and anxious, as they rushed to find an adult store where she bought him a toy.
By the evening, something even stranger happened—someone had drugged him, making him desperate for release.
In the end, Ning Chu, the little succubus, had passed out, screaming in an "ahegao" expression, and the toy didn’t even get used because it wasn’t the right size. Thinking back, it felt almost like Ning Chu had predicted it all in advance, as if she knew he’d be drugged at the party.
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
"Hey, can we get another jug of corn juice?"
Wen Yang snapped out of his thoughts, quickly responding with a nod as he rushed to refill the drink for the guests.
Returning to his post by the door, his mind wandered again.
This wasn’t the first time. On many occasions, Ning Chu had seemed like some kind of prophet, preparing him for situations before they happened or giving him specific warnings.
It was as if she knew which girl would try to seduce him or what unexpected event he might encounter, like she had some inside knowledge.
It was almost like one of those harem novels she wrote, where there’s a story about him being the main character, and Ning Chu somehow knew exactly what would happen to him.
Wait... actually, that did happen. At the beginning of the school year, Wen Yang had secretly peeked at Ning Chu’s screen one night and saw her reading a novel where “Wen Yang” was the protagonist.
Wen Yang fell into deep thought.
...
Walking through the market, Ning Chu glanced around, observing the various stalls.
She knew this market well. Back when she was in elementary school, her mother used to work at a deli here, and she and her brother often wandered around the place.
It had been a long time since she’d last visited. The market had improved significantly, no longer as dirty and chaotic as it once was, though the floor tiles were still slippery from water splashes, making Ning Chu worry about slipping.
She quickened her pace to catch up with her mother, asking, “Mom, what are we buying today?”
“Pig kidneys. Gotta make something to boost your boyfriend’s health.”
“No, he absolutely doesn’t need that!”
That was clearly for the old man, not Wen Yang!
Wen Yang’s body didn’t need any more "boosts"—she certainly didn’t want a repeat of the last time, when she had passed out in a daze, unsure of what had happened afterward. It wasn’t a pleasant experience.
"Let’s just get some," her mother insisted, ignoring Ning Chu’s protests as she bought a pig kidney, along with two kilos of pork tenderloin, muttering, “Ning Xinya loves meat. I can barely afford to feed her these days.”
Since Hei Dou had joined the family, their expenses had skyrocketed, not just in terms of food and clothing but especially for Hei Dou’s tutoring classes. Even though they only enrolled her in morning sessions, the fees were ridiculously high.
As these everyday worries circled her mind, her mother didn’t complain to Ning Chu, casually adding, "It’s almost New Year’s, and we still haven’t bought any holiday supplies."
"Let the old man buy them. Isn’t he coming over for New Year’s?"
"Why not have Wen Yang buy them?"
"Wen Yang doesn’t have any money~" Ning Chu replied with confidence. "He’s only a freshman. How could you even think of that?"
Her mother rolled her eyes. “So, what do you want for New Year’s dinner? Hot pot?”
“That sounds good.”
"Let’s ask the old man to bring some alcohol. We can drink a little that night." Her mother smiled playfully and teased, "Do you want to join us?"
Ning Chu had no interest in alcohol and shook her head, kindly reminding her, “Mom, don’t forget Hei Dou will be home. Who knows what you two might get up to if you’re drunk.”
The next moment, her head received a light tap, and she winced, covering it with her hand in frustration.
Sure enough, teasing her mother always led to a scolding!
She glanced up at her mother’s slightly flushed but otherwise expressionless face and sighed inwardly.
It’s always okay for her, but not for me!
“Can Wen Yang come for New Year’s dinner?” Ning Chu asked a bit nervously.
Although her mother had warmed up to Wen Yang recently, Ning Chu was still worried she might say no.
"Of course. That poor kid doesn’t have anyone else. It’d be sad to spend New Year’s alone."
Ning Chu’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Great!”
Having Wen Yang join them for such a family-oriented event like New Year’s dinner basically meant her mother had accepted him as a future son-in-law.
“You’re always siding with him over your own family.”
After buying hot pot ingredients and some snacks, they made their way around the market. Both mother and daughter ended up with bags full of groceries.
Kidneys, lamb, leeks, scallops—everything was aimed at boosting energy.
Ning Chu couldn’t help but wonder if the old man was going to be worn out soon, casting a curious glance at her mother.
At forty, her mother was still as fierce as a wolf, and being a mature succubus only amplified that. The old man had a muscular build, even more solid than Wen Yang. Was he already struggling to keep up?
"I can tell you’re thinking something inappropriate just by looking at your face."
Her mother, seeing right through her, raised her hand as if to smack her, causing Ning Chu to quickly dodge out of the way.
“Let’s go home and start cooking.”
“Okay~”