By the time class ended at six, darkness had already fallen, and the campus lights were glowing brightly.
Ning Chu once again turned down Zhang Shaoqing’s invitation to dinner and KTV, diverting from the usual route back to the dorm with Wen Yang, heading instead toward the campus gate.
“Wang Jie! You coming or not?” Zhang Shaoqing’s voice carried from behind.
“If my girlfriend finds out, I’ll be dead...”
“Damn! Then I’ll go hang out with Qianqian!”
Hearing Zhang Shaoqing’s exasperated grumbling, Ning Chu smirked to herself.
With her advising Qianqian, there was a good chance this guy wouldn’t get anywhere with her tonight.
Though, truthfully, Ning Chu wasn’t entirely sure Zhang Shaoqing and Qianqian were right for each other. Apart from Zhang’s unique “preferences,” there was also their age gap—if they did end up together, both families might not approve.
“What do you feel like eating tonight?” Wen Yang asked, holding Ning Chu’s chilly hand tightly in his own. “Should we cook or get takeout?”
“Let’s do takeout. We don’t even have an exhaust fan at home; what could we possibly cook?”
“Career planning... Wen Yang, what do you think I should do in the future?”
After just finishing a class on career planning, Ning Chu couldn’t help but feel a bit lost about her own future.
While she had confidence in Wen Yang, she herself wasn’t so sure. Apart from being a transmigrator who used to be a guy, she had no particular skills she could bank on for a career.
She wasn’t even sure what she was capable of doing.
“Write your novels, obviously. Don’t you have a lot of readers?”
“Well, I used to... Now it’s just enough to get by.” She sighed, a hint of worry in her expression. “And I have no idea what to write next; I’ve already finished my autobiography.”
Wen Yang chuckled. “Weren’t you the one telling me not to worry so much about the future? You’ll just get more stressed out. And now you’re doing the same thing?”
Ning Chu looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “But you’re different! You’re my protagonist! Of course, you’ll excel at whatever you do!”
“I’m just... not that impressive...” The spark in her eyes dimmed, and the little succubus pouted. “I’m bad at games, writing novels might leave me starving, and my grades are average at best.”
“But you’re my author. How could you be less than me?”
“Ehh, if you put it that way...”
“Don’t worry about it. Just do what you enjoy; I’ll handle the money side of things.”
Ning Chu glanced at Wen Yang, a sudden smile lighting up her face. “Then I’ll be a stay-at-home decorative doll! And I won’t ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ do any chores!”
“Deal.”
“I’d be bored out of my mind in a few days.”
“Ahh—” She sighed wistfully. “When will my novels be adapted into comics or dramas? Then I’d never have to worry about food or rent again.”
As they talked, they reached the bus stop outside campus. Leaning against Wen Yang’s chest, Ning Chu stared down the road, watching for the approaching bus.
With Wen Yang’s arms wrapped around her waist, her thoughts drifted back to her conversation with Yan Xinya that afternoon.
Her period really was a bit late this month.
While she had adapted to her new life as a girl, she wasn’t as sensitive to these things as her “original model” friends were. If not for Yan Xinya’s reminder, she probably wouldn’t have noticed.
Frowning, she realized that based on her usual cycle, it should have started three or five days ago.
But today, there were still no signs of it.
Though a few days late should be totally normal, right?
She pulled out her phone to check, letting out a satisfied, “Yep, totally normal.”
“The bus is here,” Wen Yang said.
As the bus pulled up, a surge of students crowded around the doors, everyone jockeying for a position to board.
“Wen Yang! Get on first and grab us a seat!”
With his tall frame, Wen Yang cut through the crowd like a wolf entering a sheep pen, clearing a path as he boarded the bus and snagged a double seat in the back.
He turned to look out the window at Ning Chu, who was still struggling to get through the crowd, jumping up and down in frustration.
A light floral scent drifted over, and he turned to see a girl sitting beside him, her phone clutched nervously in her hand.
“Excuse me... could I have your WeChat?”
“This seat is taken.”
A loud voice rang out before he could even respond. Suddenly, Ning Chu burst into the bus, rushing from the front to the back, eyes blazing.
The girl turned pale at Ning Chu’s intimidating presence, quickly getting up and moving to another seat.
Ning Chu sat down with a huff, smoothing her slightly disheveled hair. When she looked up, she saw the amused smile on Wen Yang’s face.
“What are you laughing at?”
“Just a moment ago, you were struggling outside, and in the next, you rushed right in.”
“Well, I couldn’t just stand there when some random girl sat next to you!”
Feeling the stares of other passengers on her, Ning Chu’s cheeks reddened. She ducked her head, muttering, “What are you looking at? Never seen a real girlfriend putting a bad girl in her place?”
“Real girlfriend, huh?”
“And there are no concubines, so don’t get any ideas!”
Wen Yang chuckled. “One of you is already hard enough to handle; why would I want anyone else?”
“Who’s hard to handle now?!” She huffed, but then relaxed, leaning her head on his shoulder, too sleepy to argue any further.
Almost got my house “stolen” from right under my nose!
That girl wasn’t even that pretty; where did she get the confidence to try and compete with me?
Even though she knew Wen Yang would definitely turn someone like that down, she couldn’t help but tense up whenever a pretty stranger tried to flirt with him, afraid it was another “plot-triggering” supporting character.
If it was one of those inescapable scenarios, like Wen Yang getting drugged at a dinner...
Ning Chu couldn’t guarantee she’d always be there in time to save him.
After a few stops, the bus arrived at the village where their rented apartment was. Ning Chu and Wen Yang got off first, watching as a few other students followed from the back.
Several food stalls were set up near the village entrance, and the area that had been quiet yesterday was bustling now that school was back in session.
“Want to get a sausage?”
The smell of grilled sausages wafted over, and Ning Chu’s stomach let out a loud growl in protest.
“Haven’t you had enough sausage?”
His teasing made her ears go red as she shot him a glare. “You’re paying!”
“Want me to treat you at home?”
Her face flushed even deeper, and she cast a quick, nervous glance around, whispering, “People will hear!”
“There’s no one nearby, relax.”
“There’s a vampire over there! She definitely heard us!”
She pointed toward a young vampire girl in the distance, someone they knew named Nana, who had once suffered from a strong fear of men.
Nana immediately covered her pointy ears with both hands.
Now that was a guilty reaction! She’d definitely heard!
“If you’d stayed calm, she might not have thought anything weird.”
“...
