Although her brother’s absence made the house feel a bit emptier, Ning Chu’s daily life didn’t change much.
Every day after finishing her studies, she would either go out for a meal with Wen Yang or stay in and order takeout. At night, she’d enthusiastically play games after a day of hard work, occasionally venturing out to walk the dog.
It was a peaceful and fulfilling life...
One evening, Ning Chu had just returned from a walk with Wen Yang and was getting ready for bed. Her mother’s wallet was left out on the dining table, and she noticed it while cleaning up.
Out of curiosity, she took her brother’s bank card and placed it in her mother’s wallet. With a mischievous grin, she tapped her finger on the wallet.
“How many zeros does it have?”
Her mother, who was seated next to her, heard the question, and a subtle smile crossed her face. “Enough to keep us well-fed,” she replied, amused by Ning Chu’s curiosity.
Ning Chu suddenly felt her mother’s gaze on her, making her pause and look up to meet her mother’s eyes. Her mother’s expression was one of subtle amusement as she replied:
“Plenty.”
The sound of the front door opening caught their attention. A familiar male voice called out, filling the room with warmth as he entered.
When asked by her mother about her plans with Wen Yang, she responded, “You’re here already? Leaving so early again? Why not stay for lunch before you go?”
“Mom, you’re practically pushing me out the door already!” Ning Chu joked, but she couldn’t help noticing her mother’s subtle, somewhat disapproving glance.
It didn’t feel as if she was being watched over anymore. Gradually, her mother’s occasional impatience became more apparent. The more time Ning Chu spent at home, spending days gaming in her room, the more her mother’s irritation grew.
If she went out with Wen Yang, or spent the day at her friend’s place, her mother’s mood seemed to improve, happy to have her out of the house.
Ning Chu glanced at her mother and replied somewhat awkwardly.
Eventually, her mother handed her a bag packed with snacks, instructing her to eat properly. “I don’t have any ice cream at home...”
“I just saw a mini ice cream maker online,” Ning Chu responded. “It’s really popular! I should get one.”
“Oh, you and your strange ideas...” her mother muttered, watching her daughter bounce out of the house with a playful shake of her head.
Looking at Wen Yang, Ning Chu’s mother said, “Take good care of Ning Chu at school. Don’t let her be taken advantage of.”
“Don’t worry, no one would dare take advantage of her,” Wen Yang replied with a chuckle.
“At school, she’s quite diligent, but this person, if she’s not holding a slipper in one hand, she’s ready to throw her book down and give up,” her mother sighed.
Wen Yang laughed, clearly amused by the idea. With a grin, he whispered to Ning Chu, “I heard that succubi have a tendency to turn pain into pleasure. Many succubi even enjoy... a bit of rough treatment.”
Ning Chu gave him a sidelong glance, both surprised and slightly embarrassed. This time, she wasn’t prepared for his teasing and was left speechless.
She didn’t even know how to respond, but it seemed like Wen Yang enjoyed teasing her. He’d known her family for a while, so this kind of playful banter wasn’t out of the ordinary for him.
“Are you coming back this Friday?” she asked, watching as he prepared his things to leave.
“Yep, I’ll be back by Friday, and then we’ll have three days off together.”
Hei Dou, who had been lying lazily on the side, suddenly stretched and padded over to Ning Chu, rubbing her head against Ning Chu’s leg, demanding attention.
“When are you going to start treating Hei Dou better? Do you and your sister just ignore her all the time?” her mother asked, half-jokingly.
“How can you remember these things so clearly?” Ning Chu sighed, looking at her mother.
“Don’t pretend you don’t remember. Look at Hei Dou’s little tummy. You can tell she’s been fed well,” her mother teased. “Just make sure she’s taken care of when I come back next time!”
Hei Dou looked up with a hint of pride, as if fully aware of her position as a cherished pet, even flaunting her soft fur as she relaxed next to Ning Chu.
Ning Chu reached down to gently pet Hei Dou’s head, her fingers running through the silky fur, feeling the warmth of the affectionate creature.
Hei Dou’s proud posture softened, and she began to purr, settling down comfortably. Whenever Hei Dou was home alone, she’d curl up on the sofa, but at the first hint of Ning Chu’s return, she’d perk up, eyes shining with excitement.
After spending some time with Hei Dou, Ning Chu received a call from her brother, letting her know he had already arrived and was waiting.
Hei Dou, who was lying lazily by Ning Chu’s feet, suddenly stretched out, rubbing her head against Ning Chu’s leg as if demanding attention.
“When are you planning to start treating Hei Dou better? She and your sister are practically ignored,” her mother commented.
Ning Chu sighed and replied, “How do you remember these things so clearly?”
Her mother smiled and said, “If you don’t remember, you’ll see it when you look at Hei Dou’s little tummy. You’ll know she’s been fed well.” She added with a teasing tone, “Don’t let her turn into a pig by the time I come back next time!”
“Hey, this is because I just fed her!” Ning Chu protested, glancing at Hei Dou, who was lying comfortably as if proudly displaying her round figure.
Hei Dou was indeed growing into a charming cat girl with her soft, refined look and elegant manner. Though she ate a lot, she was also very active. When home alone, she would roam around, and when watching TV, she’d even attempt to jump onto Ning Chu’s lap, seeking attention.
Although she was a cat, she had more personality ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) than a dog, especially when it came to her aloof yet affectionate nature. Even the slightest sign of Ning Chu’s return could bring her to life with excitement.
At that moment, Ning Chu received a notification on her phone. Realizing it was time, she turned to her mother, saying, “Mom, my brother just called. He’s already waiting for us.”
"So early?"
Her mother carefully packed freshly made dumplings into a thermal bag. "Wait two minutes, the dumplings will be ready to take. On such a cold day, they’ll stay warm for an hour or two, so don’t worry about them getting cold. Just make sure you eat them while they’re still fresh."
"Alright then," Ning Chu replied, gratefully accepting the bag of dumplings her mother had prepared. The skin was thin but not overly so, while the filling was juicy and tightly packed—not like the loosely filled dumplings you get outside. They had a rich, homemade taste.
Leaning in close to Wen Yang’s side, she whispered, “Didn’t my mom just say that to you?”
“It wasn’t about you?” Wen Yang teased, smiling softly at her.
“Let me teach you a lesson or two then, so you don’t always make her angry,” she joked back.
“Stop talking nonsense! How is that possible?” Wen Yang laughed, reaching out to gently tap Ning Chu on the forehead, his face full of warmth. “I just got paid—do you need anything?”
“Should I add something to the cart?”
“Got a computer?” Ning Chu’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“That’s way too expensive,” he chuckled, “and it’s not even practical...”
Ning Chu looked at Wen Yang with a hint of excitement. "Mom! I found something really cool! It’s called a smart learning pen. They say it can even recognize handwriting!"
Her face was tinged with a bit of red, looking almost emotional. "I bought it online. Don’t you always say I’m spending too much?"
"Do you actually not like it yourself?"
"No way!"
Meanwhile, her mother looked at the two of them huddled together, talking in hushed tones, and asked, "What are they talking about over there?"
"Oh, Ning Chu is hinting she’d like a new gaming computer. And, it seems like our eldest daughter is on board with the idea," Hei Dou chimed in from the sidelines.
Ning Chu quickly grabbed Hei Dou before she could say any more, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"Let’s not linger too long! Otherwise, Hei Dou will keep blabbering," Ning Chu muttered, giving the little cat girl a quick glance to keep her in line.
Her mother didn’t quite understand but saw Ning Chu’s flushed face as she gathered her things, handing over the packed dumplings.
"Here, take it. Be careful on the way."
“Alright, let’s go!” Ning Chu called out.
Wen Yang stepped forward, taking the dumplings and putting them into his bag. Then he picked up his suitcase, ready for the journey.
Dressed lightly, Ning Chu only carried a small shoulder bag as she stepped out with Wen Yang.
"Having a boyfriend makes everything convenient, no matter where you go~" she joked, half-teasingly.
Whether it was at school, out running errands, or even finding a job, she couldn’t deny the stability that Wen Yang’s presence added to her life. Gradually, it became hard for her to imagine life without him.
Wen Yang, glancing at her affectionately, seemed to enjoy hearing her say such things. This kind of life with him brought her a sense of warmth and comfort.
But deep down, Ning Chu reminded herself, “I can’t keep depending on him like this. If I continue, I’ll just become complacent, like a parasite!”
Determined, she quietly vowed to herself to find her own independence.
Reaching the parking lot downstairs, Ning Chu spotted her brother waiting by the car.
"Bro!"
From a distance, Yuan Yuan looked over, a bit surprised, and noticed the slight changes in her. When she ran up to him, he asked teasingly, “Aren’t you tired of meeting up with Lily every day?”
A mischievous smile flashed across his face, but before she could react, he leaned close and whispered in her ear.
Ning Chu froze, then retorted, “Are you sick?”
"Nope." Yuan Yuan slipped his phone back into his pocket and continued, "I’m not going. After dropping you off at the station, I’ll just head back."
"Why the sudden change of plans? Don’t tell me you’re actually interested in Miss Xiao?"
"..."
Though he was curious about the online fantasy of succubi brought into real life, the fantasy was always more alluring than reality. No matter how enticing an online character might seem, facing reality often delivers a harsh wake-up call.
Without responding, Yuan Yuan walked straight toward his car.
"???"
Ning Chu stood there, confused, unsure what had just happened.
