Usually, after having midnight snacks, Ning Chu would wake up early the next day, full of energy.
But after drinking last night, she slept until midday. It wasn’t until a knock on the door that she groggily opened her eyes and nudged the arm she’d been using as a pillow.
“Someone’s knocking...”
Her voice was hoarse and adorably soft. Still muddled from sleep and with a slight headache, she didn’t feel like getting up at all and just wanted to stay curled up in bed.
“I’ll get it.”
Wen Yang slid his arm out from under her head, shaking his sore arm. Getting out of bed in nothing but a pair of boxers, he walked to the door and opened it.
“Big bro, the sun’s up, and you’re still not up?”
Zhang Shaoqing grinned mischievously from the doorway, greeting Wen Yang with a cheeky wink. “Can I come in? Must’ve been a tiring night, huh?”
Wen Yang shot him a glare, turned back into the room, and grabbed his clothes off the wall to put them on. “Where’s Wang Jie?” he asked while buttoning up his shirt.
“He went downstairs to grab lunch.”
Zhang Shaoqing waltzed into the room, his eyes darting toward the bed where Ning Chu was buried under the covers. Only a pair of half-closed eyes peeked out.
The bed was spotless, with no evidence of the "epic battle" he’d imagined.
“Big bro, we have to check out in an hour.”
“Got it. I’ll pack up soon.”
“Why are you calling Wen Yang ‘big bro’ all of a sudden?” Ning Chu poked her head out from under the blanket, yawning as she asked.
Her clothes were tidy but slightly disheveled. Despite the hotel bed appearing clean, she was still picky and always insisted on sleeping fully dressed.
“Because he’s big.”
“???”
Ning Chu blinked in confusion, not comprehending at first.
With an exaggerated bow, Zhang Shaoqing addressed her loudly, “Sister-in-law!”
Honestly, Zhang Shaoqing didn’t know whether to admire Wen Yang for being lively every day despite having a succubus girlfriend or to admire Ning Chu for being able to handle such a “gifted” boyfriend.
Either way, they were both impressive.
No wonder Wen Yang remained completely unfazed by the advances of other beautiful girls—he probably knew they wouldn’t stand a chance.
“You’re crazy!” Ning Chu scoffed, too lazy to engage with his antics. Propping herself up against the headboard, she rubbed her sore eyes and stared blankly into the room with her large, dazed eyes.
“Sister-in-law, here, have some water.”
With a cheeky grin, Zhang Shaoqing handed her a bottle of mineral water.
Parched after the night, Ning Chu didn’t refuse. She grabbed the bottle and drank several gulps.
“Sister-in-law, did you move into the boys’ dormitory back then just to set your sights on stealing Wen Yang away?”
“What year’s rumor is that? Why are people still talking about it now?”
Ning Chu grumbled. It was a baseless accusation Lin Li had thrown around in their class chat after Ning Chu had ruined one of her schemes. Nobody in the class had taken it seriously, but it seemed the rumor had stuck.
“Ohhh~”
“Why are you staring at me?”
Suddenly wary, Ning Chu glared at Zhang Shaoqing, worried he might be plotting something.
“Back when school started last year, you were a little pretty boy...” Zhang Shaoqing muttered as he turned his head, plopping himself into the computer chair. “And now, you’re a full-blown succubus. Quite the transformation.”
His casual comment made Ning Chu’s face flush red with embarrassment, as if set on fire.
Could they just stop bringing up the past?!
She was trying hard to forget that she had once been a man...
“Back then, she hadn’t started developing yet, and her short hair made her look like a boy,” Wen Yang said, stepping out of the bathroom after a quick wash. His tone was casual as he defended her.
“True. She’s a lot prettier now with long hair.”
Footsteps echoed from the hallway as Wang Jie returned, carrying several large bags.
“Lunch!” he announced, placing fried chicken and burgers on the table. Turning to Zhang Shaoqing, he added, “I’ve got to meet my girlfriend after lunch, so I’ll head out afterward.”
“Wow, seriously? We finally got the whole dorm together, and you’re running off to see a girl?”
Wang Jie sighed helplessly. “I don’t want to go either, but it’s a hassle, and it’s a few hours by bus.”
“I’ll drive you! Let me meet your girlfriend while we’re at it.”
“Well... sure, I guess?”
“There you go! No need to hide her from us.” Zhang Shaoqing ripped open the packaging of the burgers and fried chicken, laughing as he teased, “I thought your girlfriend must be intense, seeing as you always look half-dead after the weekends. Turns out, you’re just weak.”
“...”
“If you were as capable as Wen Yang, wouldn’t your wife be completely smitten?”
“She’d probably end up in the hospital first...”
Hearing this, Ning Chu couldn’t help but agree silently.
Wen Yang’s “capabilities” would likely overwhelm any other girl—not that she minded, of course.
“Come on, time to eat! What are you two doing later?”
“I’ll take Ning Chu to see a movie,” Wen Yang said, handing a burger to Ning Chu with a smile. “I’ve been busy on weekends, so I’ll spend some time with her today.”
“What’s keeping you so busy?”
“Part-time jobs, earning some money.”
Zhang Shaoqing scratched his head. “Why not just play games with me? I’ll pay you ten bucks a game—probably more than you’d make at work.”
Wen Yang shrugged. There wasn’t much to say to a rich kid about topics like this.
Though the lunch consisted of burgers and fried chicken, which Ning Chu hadn’t had in a while, she found it enjoyable for a change.
As they ate, Wang Jie opened his laptop, logging in to complete his daily game tasks. Meanwhile, Zhang Shaoqing kept cracking jokes and teasing his roommates. Ning Chu sat on the bed, her legs curled up, watching the familiar scene with a sigh.
Her current life was great, but she couldn’t help but miss the carefree days of being a guy, joking around without a care among her male friends.
Over time, her memories of her male self had become fragmented. She couldn’t even recall her former appearance, as though she had always been a woman.
“Here, chicken leg.” Wen Yang handed her a drumstick wrapped in a napkin, warning softly, “It’s hot, be careful.”
“Hmm, I don’t feel like eating the bread...”
“Give it to me. You can just eat the meat.”
Zhang Shaoqing quipped from the side, “Who eats burgers without the bread?”
“I don’t want the chicken skin either,” Ning Chu added.
Without hesitation, Wen Yang crouched by the trash can, carefully peeling off the crispy skin from the drumstick, leaving behind the tender, juicy meat.
“Who eats chicken legs without the skin?”
“I don’t want to get fat!” Ning Chu replied confidently.
“And yet you have midnight snacks all the time without a care.”
“Huh?” She froze, suddenly nervous, her fingers twisting the napkin into a ball.
Wen Yang handed her the drumstick and whispered, “He thinks it’s actual food.”
“Oh... I thought I might’ve said something weird while drunk last night.”
“You didn’t, but you were pretty wild. Hopefully, these walls have good soundproofing.”
“!!!”
Ning Chu’s large {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} eyes filled with panic as she glanced at Zhang Shaoqing, trying to reassure herself. “This is an e-sports hotel. It must have good soundproofing, right?”
Seeing her flustered and embarrassed expression, Wen Yang chuckled and nodded. “Maybe.”
