"I feel awful..."
Lying pitifully on the bed in her rented apartment, Ning Chu clutched Wen Yang's sleeve, looking up at him with misty eyes, a vulnerable expression on her face.
Seeing his small succubus looking so weak, pitiful, and helpless tugged at Wen Yang’s heartstrings. He gently patted her head to comfort her. "I'll go get us some food soon. After you eat, take some medicine and get some rest. I’ll help you take the afternoon off."
"Just take the afternoon off for me?"
"Then... I’ll take the afternoon off too and stay here to take care of you."
Only then did Ning Chu nod with satisfaction, resting her head weakly on his lap, sniffing audibly.
Though she truly felt unwell, she wasn’t so sick that she needed to skip class. In fact, back when she was still a man, she would rarely take medicine for minor illnesses. Even if the medicine was right in front of her, she wouldn’t bother with it, just toughing it out for a couple of ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) days.
She didn’t usually like showing a vulnerable side in front of others. But right now, this was her boyfriend.
Of course, she had to put on a poor, pitiful face to get Wen Yang to dote on her!
Watching him fuss over her so tenderly, she felt a warm glow in her heart.
The little succubus lay sprawled on Wen Yang’s lap, groaning pitifully. Despite only having a slight fever, she acted as though she were on death’s doorstep.
"Tissue."
Wen Yang quickly grabbed a couple of tissues and handed them over, but Ning Chu merely tilted her head, giving a tiny, helpless sniff.
"This isn’t just a low fever; you’ve practically paralyzed yourself."
"My arms ache... Fine, if you’re so unwilling, I can manage on my own."
He chuckled and shook his head, helping her wipe her nose.
"What do you want for lunch?"
"Not much of an appetite..."
"Eat a little something. How about steak? Some protein to strengthen you."
Her eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes! I haven’t had steak in ages! Is it expensive?"
"Delivery should be around forty for a serving. I'll get you one."
He placed an order on his phone. "It’s been raining, so delivery might be slow. Expect it around noon."
"I want cola~"
"No way."
"But cola’s good for colds! Haven’t you heard of ginger cola tea?"
He glanced down at her earnest expression, rolled his eyes, and said, "Never heard of it. You’re just being greedy. I’ll boil some hot water for you."
As Wen Yang lifted her head off his lap to get up, he heard a sudden flurry of movement from the bed.
He turned back to see his little succubus rolling around with her tail wrapped around her waist, acting like a spoiled child, thrashing like a child denied candy.
"If I can’t have cola, I’ll die right here, right now!" She flopped dramatically onto the bed, lying still with her head tilted in mock death. Wen Yang couldn’t help but laugh and gave her a light smack on her raised bottom. "Stop fooling around; cola is no good for a cold."
"Alright, alright~"
It was rare to see Ning Chu acting so unreservedly playful. Usually, even when she tried to be affectionate, there was a hint of hesitation. Today, though, she even pinched her voice into a childish tone, showing off a cute side that was both endearing and amusing.
Wen Yang wondered if this low fever had fried her brain a little.
While he boiled the water, Ning Chu climbed up from the bed and, wrapped in her blanket, sat by the headboard.
"Wen Yang, I’ve decided to become a magical girl."
"Clearly, this fever has cooked your brain."
"Come on! With Qian Qian helping, two magical girls together should be able to handle anything!"
With her expression suddenly serious, Ning Chu’s earlier antics vanished. "Besides, I’m pretty sure that octopus Lily is raising is a tentacle monster. If we wait too long, one day Lily might end up in some... tentacle-related scenario!"
She paused, muttering under her breath, "Though, she might not even mind..."
That little octopus looked like something straight out of an anime—more "innocent" than even the tentacle toys Lily kept at home.
Succubi families even had egg-laying toys!
Wen Yang frowned, shaking his head again. "I’m saying no, and that’s final. Don’t use your illness as an excuse to talk nonsense."
"But the tentacle monster was my creation; it came from my novel..."
"Don’t flatter yourself. It’s just a coincidence that your story and reality overlap."
With a scowl, Wen Yang slammed the kettle down on the table, startling Ning Chu, who shrank back.
It looked like this plan wouldn’t be getting his approval.
Ning Chu’s expression shifted, and she looked up at him pitifully. "You scolded me!"
"No, I didn’t." Wen Yang quickly softened, smiling apologetically as he sat beside her. "Take good care of yourself, and don’t worry about anything else."
"Hmph!"
She puffed her cheeks, turning her head away and crossing her arms like an indignant little pufferfish.
"Alright, alright, I was wrong. No more scolding."
No wonder some girls tended to act a bit spoiled and unreasonable—it was hard not to, with someone doting on them like this. After enough time, anyone would become a little demanding.
Ning Chu mused to herself, then, as if nothing had happened, let her angry expression melt away and leaned comfortably against Wen Yang. "Did you order the steak?"
"Yes, I did."
"And what about you?"
"I’ll grab some fried noodles from downstairs later."
"Why don’t you have some steak too? I won’t finish it all anyway."
She suddenly sniffled, her body tensing as she tilted her head back and let out a loud sneeze.
"Haa-choo!"
The force of it made her head wobble, and by the time she recovered, a clear trail of snot dangled from her nose, threatening to fall onto the blanket.
Panicked, she pointed to the bedside table. "Tissue! Tissue!"
Wen Yang quickly handed her a tissue, chuckling as he helped wipe her nose. "You even sneeze adorably."
"Adorable, my foot... I’m practically in tears."
Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. The two looked up, and they heard Qian Qian’s voice from outside.
"Are you home?"
"Yeah, what’s up?" Wen Yang got up and opened the door, his gaze quickly turning wary.
Was she here to talk Ning Chu into becoming a magical girl?
"Have you seen Xiao Hei? I couldn’t find him when I woke up this morning." Qian Qian peered into the room.
Sitting up on the bed, Ning Chu seemed far more serious now, no trace of her earlier playful antics. "Isn’t a magical companion standard for all magical girls?"
Qian Qian shook her head. "Not really~ More like a tutorial guide in a game. They stick around for a while to help you get started."
"So if he’s gone, does that mean he’s already bound to a new magical girl?"
Qian Qian’s eyes widened with realization. "Of course! I wonder which girl got roped into his schemes."
Wen Yang breathed a sigh of relief. If the magical girl slot had already been filled, then even if Ning Chu wanted in, she wouldn’t qualify.
Unless, of course, another tentacle monster came along.
He glanced warily out the window.
Ning Chu kept sneezing, clutching a tissue box in her arms, occasionally wiping her nose, her voice thick with congestion. "So, are magical girls only contracted to succubi? Why was that black cat so interested in me and Lily?"
"Huh? You’re a succubus?!"
"..."
"No wonder there’s such a... strong aura of desire around you!"
