As Lu Xun once said: "If you want to open a skylight, everyone will object, but if you propose tearing down the roof, then they’ll agree to open a skylight."
That pretty much captured Ning Chu’s current mood.
If she was told she’d be growing horns right away, she’d never accept it. But when the alternative was pregnancy... well, maybe horns weren’t so bad.
She gently patted her head, trying to feel for any small protrusions.
Nope, nothing there yet...
Her grandma’s horns were kind of cute, actually. What Ning Chu struggled with was the idea that growing horns would make her look even less human.
She could at least hide her tail, but horns? No way to hide those.
Everyone at school would know she was a horned, non-human girl. And if she let something else slip, her succubus identity wouldn’t stay a secret either.
With most people’s stereotypes about succubi, she’d be labeled a flirt.
Only someone like Lily, who could maintain that icy, expressionless facade, would have a shot at changing people’s preconceptions.
The more she thought about it, the more mixed her feelings became.
Should she be relieved she wasn’t pregnant, still holding onto some semblance of her former self? Or was it sad that she’d soon be growing a pair of “steering wheels”?
As she leaned against Wen Yang’s shoulder on the bus ride home, Ning Chu sighed, mumbling, “I wonder if ground-up horns can be used in medicine.”
Maybe this world’s version of Viagra included succubus horn powder.
She looked up at Wen Yang and caught a glimpse of a quickly suppressed grin. Wen Yang’s expression turned to feigned sadness as he patted her head, trying to comfort her. “It’s okay. It’s happened, so let’s look to the future.”
“You’re obviously happy about this.”
“Happy? Seeing you upset is almost enough to make me cry.”
Seeing Wen Yang’s mock tearful expression made Ning Chu laugh, feeling a bit lighter.
Turning her head to hide her smile, she protested, “You’re totally thinking about those horns as ‘steering wheels,’ aren’t you!”
“What steering wheels? I don’t have that kind of kink.”
“Pff!”
As a protagonist in a certain type of story, Wen Yang’s “preferences” could be described as... all-encompassing.
Since he was a character Ning Chu had created, they theoretically shared the same tastes.
...
The problem was, Ning Chu had no desire to mold herself into something out of her own fantasies! Would she end up swooning at her own reflection?
Too weird!
“We’re here.”
“Mm.”
They had left school around three-thirty, had their checkup at the hospital, and now it was a little past six in the evening.
Street vendors were setting up food stands at the entrance to their village, and students were returning, bringing some liveliness to the usually quiet place.
Drawn in by the scent of street food, Ning Chu momentarily forgot her worries and tugged Wen Yang over to a stinky tofu stand.
“One order, mildly spicy.”
“Got it!”
She looked up at Wen Yang and gestured on her own head.
“What is it?”
“If I grow horns, doesn’t that technically make me taller?”
The thought unexpectedly lifted her spirits.
Wen Yang chuckled and nodded. “Yep, then you’ll be one horn taller than Lily.”
“One horn taller? That’s... weird...”
Her phone suddenly buzzed, interrupting her train of thought. She took it out and answered the call.
It was Yan Xinya: “Ning Chu! How did the checkup go? Are you really pregnant?”
“Nope.”
“Oh, thank goodness! That scared me! I just checked with An’an, and the advisor said that if you’re unmarried but planning to have a kid, the school might even advise you to leave~”
“So what’s going on with you? A missed period, craving sour things—aren’t those signs of an illness?”
Hormonal imbalance didn’t really qualify as an illness, right?
Ning Chu didn’t hide it, replying, “The doctor said it’s a hormone issue.”
Lily’s voice came through on the other end, “Is she pulling all-nighters with Wen Yang? Wen Yang must be quite something~”
All-nighters? Just staying up late!
Wen Yang is my main character in that kind of story! Of course, he’s something else!
“Oh, well, make sure to rest more then~”
“Mm... It’s not because of the late nights. The doctor said I’m about to grow horns.”
“Whoa! Steering wheels! Lily, why don’t you have any? When are you going to grow some?”
“......”
Yan Xinya then asked Ning Chu, “So, will you end up poking holes in your pillow when you sleep?”
“???”
“And what about when you’re snuggling with Wen Yang? Wouldn’t you accidentally poke him?”
Thinking of her grandma’s curved horns, Ning Chu tilted her head slightly.
How would I know? Guess I’ll have to ask Grandma about that!
“I don’t know... I’ll just have to see when the time comes.”
“Oh well, at least you’re not pregnant. Lily and I are off to eat, bye-bye~”
“Mm, bye-bye~”
As soon as she hung up, her stinky tofu was ready. She paid, but her gaze drifted back to Wen Yang’s chest.
Wouldn’t it be awful if she accidentally jabbed him there and left two bloody holes...
No, it wouldn’t come to that, right?
And if she grew horns, her head would be heavier. Would her neck be able to handle it?
She already felt uncomfortable carrying the weight of a C-cup...
“Anything else you want to buy?” Wen Yang asked, not guessing the thoughts running through her mind and assuming she wanted more snacks.
“No, let’s go home.”
She shook her head, then anxiously touched her head again.
Previously, every change—like the silver lines or her tail—only appeared after she had messed with the story’s plot. But this time, she hadn’t done anything, yet now she was growing horns.
“Wen Yang, what if the horns end up looking terrible?”
Wen Yang didn’t hesitate before saying, “Even if they look terrible, I don’t mind.”
“But I mind!”
“Then maybe look into plastic surgery. I’ll save up for you.”
“???”
Now that’s a new one~
Back at their apartment building, Ning Chu spoke up, her voice tinged with worry, “What ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) if I end up growing wings after this?”
“That would make you look even less human,” she muttered, “Things were never like this before.”
Wen Yang wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “It’s alright.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but Wen Yang quietly said, “Aren’t I always here?”
Her protest stayed stuck in her throat, and Ning Chu lowered her gaze, mumbling, “But what if you leave, like my dad?”
Today had been an emotional rollercoaster, and it left her feeling more vulnerable than usual.
“I’m your main character—where could I go?”
“I...” Ning Chu looked up, seeing her own reflection in Wen Yang’s eyes.
“Didn’t you say you were stuck with writer’s block? Now you’ve got something new to write.”
“You’re right!” Her eyes lit up, and her steps quickened back toward the apartment. “Finally! Some new content to work on!”
