As night deepened, Ning Chu lazily sprawled on the couch, her legs draped high over the armrest, stockings visible and skirt haphazardly arranged, showing the edge of her underwear.
She casually swung her legs, playing on her phone while using a toothpick to poke at the apple slices her mother had cut for her, completely ignoring any semblance of ladylike behavior. Her mother, watching from nearby, couldn’t help but shake her head.
“Honestly, I don’t understand how Wen Yang could like you—sitting all awkwardly, legs splayed out like that.”
Ning Chu, with a defiant «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» smile, retorted, “I’m good-looking~ Isn’t it because of your genes?”
“And I can relax at home, right?”
Her mother's mood softened instantly, as the flattering words melted her irritation. The tone, almost a playful whine, dissolved any thoughts of lecturing. She sat down on the armchair beside her, affectionately ruffling Ning Chu’s hair.
“You've grown your hair out fast, huh? Want to go get it done tomorrow?”
“No need. I think it looks fine like this.”
At this point, Ning Chu’s hair had already reached her shoulders—dark, glossy strands flowing smoothly like silk, with bangs that naturally fell across her forehead in a slightly messy style.
She pushed the strands out of her face, murmuring, “I think I just need to trim my bangs. Otherwise, they’re always in my eyes.”
“What kind of hairstyle do you want?”
Hearing the question, Ning Chu immediately pictured Lily’s long, straight black hair in her mind.
“Just long, straight black hair!”
It wasn’t that she was trying to copy Lily—after all, even when she was still a man, she had a special fondness for long, straight black hair.
Now that she had transformed, it felt like she was getting closer and closer to the ideal version of herself.
After lounging on the sofa for a while, Ning Chu sat up and said, “I’m going downstairs to find Black Bean. Want to come play?”
“She’s got to be back by 9—she’s got class tomorrow.”
“Got it~”
“Don’t take her to eat late-night snacks. Look at her now, she’s getting chubby, even got a little belly.”
“I know, I know~ She’s not that fat...”
Ning Chu half-heartedly acknowledged her mother’s concerns, adjusting her outfit before heading out in her slippers.
They lived in an old, small community with only a few buildings. The property management had stopped years ago, and now security was handled by retired residents doing part-time jobs.
After heading downstairs, Ning Chu looked around for Black Bean and Wen Yang, walking toward the convenience store, the most likely place to find Black Bean.
However, as she reached the store, she saw someone unexpected.
The gray-haired man sat at the door of the convenience store, gazing distant at the balcony of Ning Chu’s home. Perhaps sensing something, he suddenly turned his head, locking eyes with Ning Chu.
“Out for a walk?” Her father immediately stood and approached, his face full of a hopeful smile. “Where are you going?”
His overly enthusiastic manner made Ning Chu step back instinctively, her brows furrowed slightly.
To be honest, before she came back, she hadn’t expected her father to act this way toward her.
After all, her son had become a daughter...
Maybe it was because her father didn’t really have any attachment to his younger son? Perhaps that was why he had accepted the change so quickly?
“I’m looking for Ning Xin.”
After a moment of panic and resistance, Ning Chu stiffened her expression, coldly walking past her father and heading toward the gate of the complex.
Weren’t they supposed to be eating seafood at a restaurant? Had they already eaten and come back? What was he doing here?
Noticing her subtle confusion, her father quickly explained, “I rented a place in the neighborhood.”
“Oh.”
“Ning Xin should be at the entrance of the complex. I saw her earlier.”
“...”
“She’s your mother and...”
Ning Chu curtly interrupted, “Picked up.”
Whether her father believed it or not, that was the truth. Although when Ning Xin was first picked up, she had been a little black kitten.
Ning Chu used coldness to push away her father's enthusiasm, but it was clearly ineffective. Her father continued to follow her like a shadow, persistent in his attention.
“It's still early. How about I take you to buy a few outfits?”
“Aren’t you hungry? Want some late-night snacks?”
“Is your phone working well? By the way, I’ve got receipts, I’m not sure if they can be used for repairs here.”
Where had he been all this time...
Ning Chu muttered in her mind, quickening her pace to shake off the persistent figure behind her.
Arriving at the entrance of the complex, she still didn’t spot Black Bean or Wen Yang, and her father was still right behind her, trying to make conversation.
“Ning Yuan can earn money and support his family now. I saw him the other day. He’s taller than me now.”
“When I left, he wasn’t even as tall as my leg.”
For some reason, one of her father’s words struck a nerve, and an overwhelming surge of frustration boiled up inside her. She stopped, took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with the effort.
Damn it! I can’t hold it in anymore!
“Don’t bother me!”
She suddenly turned around, her voice sharp and high-pitched, so much so that it hurt her throat.
Her father was clearly startled, standing frozen before he looked away, a hint of melancholy crossing his face.
Seeing that expression, Ning Chu instinctively felt guilty, her gaze flitting away, her face burning with embarrassment. After a moment of hesitation, she lowered her head and quickly walked away.
She silently tried to calm herself, pushing away the guilt.
What’s the point of acting pitiful?
Where was he when my brother and I didn’t have a father? When we were so poor, Mom had to work multiple jobs just to survive?
When Mom worked herself sick and died, where was he then?
Now that things are better, he thinks he can come back?
The resentment from both past and present flooded her mind, and Ning Chu’s nose started to tingle as her eyes grew red.
She hadn’t walked far before Black Bean came running up to her.
“I heard my sister’s voice!”
Seeing Ning Chu rushing ahead, Black Bean’s eyes lit up, and she excitedly ran over to hug Ning Chu’s arm. “Sis! I want barbecue! I haven’t had any in a month!”
“You promised during the New Year that if I finished a page of exercises, you’d take me out for late-night snacks! No backing out! You still owe me... ten meals?”
Her lively and cheerful mood calmed Ning Chu down quite a bit. She took a deep breath and quickly put on a gentle smile of an older sister. “Alright, but you can only spend twenty bucks, Mom says you’re getting chubby.”
“I’m not!”
Black Bean, happy as could be, walked toward the nearest barbecue place, singing, “Barbecue~ barbecue~.”
Wen Yang followed Black Bean and caught sight of Ning Chu’s strange demeanor. Turning around, he saw the man not far behind.
Once he had a hunch, Wen Yang asked, “What happened? Did he make you angry?”
Ning Chu’s fake smile faded, and she pressed her lips together, leaning her body against Wen Yang’s shoulder. “He’s annoying.”
Her pretty face showed a sense of disappointment, with a tinge of grievance. Her red eyes gave her delicate features a fragile, almost breakable quality.
“Just ignore him.”
“Come here.”
Wen Yang pulled her close, affectionately holding her waist. “It’s alright. Your eyes are red, don’t cry in front of Black Bean.”
“Next time he bothers you, I’ll punch him! Always making my Ning Chu mad!”
“Yeah, punch him.”
“With his small build, I could knock him straight into the ICU with one punch!”
“Eh? Maybe not, that’s a bit too much...”
