In the familiar, old elevator, Ning Chu hesitated as she walked back and forth in the small space, her face filled with anxiety and tension.
She stopped, facing the tarnished mirror on the elevator wall. Taking out a comb from her small purse, she began to tidy her hair.
It was her first time meeting her father, and she wanted to make sure she put up a good front at least...
Wen Yang, holding a carton of fruit milk as a gift, looked down at Ning Chu’s restless expression and said, “I think you won’t even see him when you get home.”
“True, there are two bedrooms, and he’s not going to sleep in the same room as Mom...”
“Hey, what if he really does sleep in the same room as her?!”
Ning Chu froze for a moment, looking up at him with a confused expression, “What if he does?”
“Probably not?”
She grabbed her hair in frustration, messing up the neat style she had just arranged, “Anyway, we’re almost home...”
The closer they got to home, the more her mind felt like a tangled mess. She didn’t know whether she should be curious and expectant about meeting her father, or angry and upset, but what she was certain of was that she was nervous as hell.
The elevator stopped, and the iron doors slowly opened.
Ning Chu took a deep breath, her emotions quickly hidden from her face as she forced a cold, indifferent expression, mimicking Lily’s distant and frosty demeanor.
She quickly tidied up her hair and appearance, then nervously glanced over at Wen Yang’s tall figure behind her.
Wen Yang gave her a gentle smile and nodded at her.
Instantly, Ning Chu felt much more at ease, as though she had been infused with a warm, reassuring power.
Stepping out of the elevator, the front door to the house was already open in anticipation of her arrival.
Perhaps hearing the elevator’s movement, Black Bean couldn’t wait and pushed open ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the door, sticking its head out into the hallway. Upon seeing Ning Chu and Wen Yang, it let out a surprised shout, “Sister! Brother-in-law!”
The little cat, barefoot and with its tail straight up, dashed out and leapt into Ning Chu’s arms, rubbing its face against her chest, purring like a cat.
“Eh...”
Ning Chu instinctively leaned back, her face unconsciously flushing with a slight redness.
“Stop rubbing.”
The sensation of being rubbed against her chest made her itch, so she shyly pushed Black Bean away, stepping back a few paces, “Go rub Wen Yang.”
“Brother-in-law~”
Black Bean immediately pounced into Wen Yang’s arms again.
“Black Bean, is there anyone else in the house besides Mom?”
Ning Chu hesitantly looked into the room.
“No!”
“That’s good...”
She let out a sigh of relief and began to shuffle her feet, taking off her sneakers as she walked into the house.
As soon as she entered, the rich aroma of meat wafted through the air. From the kitchen, the sound of the range hood and the clattering of a pan came.
The familiar scents and environment caused her to relax involuntarily. It was different from the feeling she had when she was staying with Wen Yang at the rental apartment—home made her feel like she had mentally regressed by at least ten years.
“Back already?”
“Mm!”
Ning Chu responded while glancing down. Two pairs of slippers, one large and one small, had already been prepared at the door.
“Black Bean, don’t walk around barefoot. Isn’t it dirty? Come inside quickly.”
She put on her slippers and rushed to the kitchen, sticking her head inside to check on her mother, who was busy preparing dinner.
“Mom~ What are we having for dinner?”
She asked eagerly.
After not seeing each other for over a month, her mother looked no different from when they last met during the New Year—still wearing that gentle smile, though there was a trace of worry between her brows.
“Lychee pork, spare rib soup, sweet and sour fish...”
She continued to busy herself in the kitchen, muttering the menu, and after covering a pot, she turned to look at Ning Chu, teasing her with a smile, “You look good, huh?”
Her daughter looked much better than during the New Year—her complexion rosy and radiant, with no sign of acne or dullness. It seemed like her eyes were even shining, the look of someone who had eaten and rested well.
“It’s okay.”
“You should take it easy. Make sure Wen Yang takes care of his health, don’t let his body break down in a couple of years~”
“Mom!”
Ning Chu rolled her eyes at her mother in embarrassment.
She couldn’t exactly explain that it was her own body that couldn’t handle Wen Yang! She had practically passed out from begging him every time.
If not for today’s circumstances, Wen Yang had held back; otherwise, she’d be staggering as she walked right now.
“Alright, alright, I won’t say anything more.” Seeing her daughter’s embarrassed red face, her mother covered her mouth and chuckled. “Where’s Wen Yang? Let me see if he’s been drained by you.”
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t talk about it!”
Just then, Wen Yang, with Black Bean clinging to his arm, came into the kitchen.
“Hello, Auntie.”
Her mother sized Wen Yang up with a glance. Contrary to the pale and exhausted look she expected from a man living with a succubus for over a month, he looked quite healthy, even energetic.
He not only met the succubus’ needs but also managed to maintain his own physical and mental well-being.
No wonder he was the man her daughter had chosen.
Her mother flashed him a friendly smile, “Why are you still buying things? Don’t buy anything next time, Ning Xin doesn’t like fruit.”
“Should I buy some meat next time?”
“Sure!” Black Bean immediately raised its hand in agreement.
“In about an hour, dinner will be ready. You two should rest first, don’t be in the way.”
Black Bean grabbed Wen Yang’s hand and led him into the living room, “Brother-in-law! I have a turtle! I’ll show you!”
Meanwhile, Ning Chu entered the kitchen and eagerly helped her mother.
Her eyes quickly darted around her mother as she couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Mom, what’s your plan now?”
“Are you going to divorce him directly? Or are you going to let him go? That uncle seems too pitiful...”
Her mother’s face darkened, and she grabbed the spatula, pretending to hit Ning Chu on the head.
Ning Chu quickly covered her head in defense, “I’m just concerned about you!”
“You think I need you to worry about my business?” Her mother mockingly glared at her, rolling her eyes. “You’d better think about how you’re going to deal with him.”
“Me?”
“That’s your father, aren’t you going to recognize him?”
Ning Chu shrugged indifferently, “It’s like he didn’t even raise me, and he didn’t give me a single penny. Does he think I’m going to take care of him? I don’t even know what he looks like.”
As soon as she mentioned it, she suddenly felt a bit panicked.
It seemed that, legally speaking, even if her father hadn’t fulfilled his duty to support her, she would still be responsible for his care in old age.
It was ridiculous!
Ning Chu froze, walking into the living room. She had thought the worst situation would be her mother’s response, but now it seemed to be herself.
Looking at her mother’s attitude, it seemed like she had already prepared for divorce, but Ning Chu was still completely unprepared.
Suddenly, the door knocked.
She paused, looked up, and saw Black Bean rushing to the door, opening it.
Standing outside was a man, about 1.7 meters tall, with a slender build and white hair. He wore a leather jacket, and despite the wrinkles on his face, there was a trace of the handsomeness he must have had when he was young...
At the first glance, Ning Chu could see her brother’s resemblance in his face.
This is... her father?
