212. Putting Down Roots
It’s been a day and a night since returning home, but Ning Chu hasn’t noticed anything unusual about her mother.
Thinking back to Lily’s estimate of maybe having a “certain kind of fun” every two days, she’s starting to wonder if maybe the older they get, the less often succubi get to indulge.
Or maybe it’s something else entirely, like estrogen?
It’s only seven in the morning, and her mother shouted her awake.
Ning Chu, clad in a nightie, stretches and yawns, wriggling around in bed, arms raised above her head, eyes squished shut as she stretches like a lazy cat.
It’s her first time wearing a nightgown and, honestly, it’s not half bad.
The smooth satin fabric feels soft and luxurious. No tight pants squeezing her; she feels like she’s wrapped in a thin layer of cloth—so comfy, so cozy!
But really, Ning Chu prefers to sleep in nothing at all…
That’s true freedom! Just skin to quilt, feeling the soft warmth enveloping her. She highly recommends it to everyone. Too bad she’s always in a boys’ dorm and now has to share a bed with her mother at home—no chance for wild nights like that.
Opening her eyes and looking down, she realizes her long nightgown has hiked up to her waist due to her restless sleeping position, leaving her plain white cotton underwear fully exposed.
Good thing her mother just woke her up and didn’t come in.
She yawns again, sitting up, suddenly feeling… odd.
Looking back, she touches the base of her spine. Ning Chu’s face freezes.
“Mom…”
“Hm?” Her mother is sitting at the vanity, doing her eye makeup.
“I… I have a tail now…”
Her mother pauses, turns around, and upon seeing Ning Chu’s woeful expression, can’t help but laugh. “It’s fine, a tail is totally normal! Now hurry and get washed up; we’re heading back to the countryside!”
“…”
How can you take this so well?!
For a normal person, having a tail is just too weird!
And right now, it looks like a little rat tail—who knows when it’ll grow to be anything decent?
“When will yours get bigger? It’s so tiny that it doesn’t even fill out your clothes…” Her mother mutters while continuing her makeup, completely oblivious to her daughter’s inner turmoil.
Ning Chu lets out a heavy sigh.
“It hasn’t been long since I changed from son to daughter! Now I have to grow a tail. Aren’t you worried about my mental health?”
At least her underwear is small; the tail conveniently sits right above it, so she doesn’t have to cut a hole or anything.
But pants are definitely off the table today.
Fortunately, her mom bought her a few cute little dresses yesterday.
Rubbing her tired eyes, Ning Chu rises and heads to the wardrobe, sifting through her options before finally settling on a black little dress.
It’s time to go back to school, and she needs to make a good impression on Wen Yang!
Now she understands why some girls take half an hour to choose what to wear before heading out. She’s not quite that dramatic, but it still took her several minutes to pick from her few outfits.
“Go wake your brother.”
Now that Ning Chu is washed up and dressed, her mother gives another command.
“Okay.”
Dressed in a fitted white long-sleeve top that accentuates her curves—just a little apple-shaped bump!—and a black short skirt paired with black thigh-high socks, she’s ready.
Not in the mood to cut a hole in her tights, she heads to Ning Yuan’s room and, as usual, pushes the door open without knocking.
“Bro! Wake up!”
Flipping the switch to the lamp, the dim room brightens, and she glances towards the bed to find that Ning Yuan is, as always, sprawled out on the left side.
“Get up!”
Ning Yuan finally stirs, yawning and stretching, uncovering his body clad in nothing but boxers. He flips over and mutters, “What time is it?”
“Just past seven. We’re going to the countryside today.”
Ning Chu glances at her brother’s bare chest, feeling utterly unbothered.
Living in a boys’ dorm has desensitized her; she’s seen it all.
Compared to Wen Yang’s sculpted, muscular figure that even guys would want to touch, Ning Yuan’s bony frame is just… not appealing.
“Get up already!”
Previously, Ning Chu would’ve jumped on him to wake him up, but now she stands at the foot of the bed, patiently nagging.
After a bit of coaxing, Ning Yuan finally sits up in a dazed state, rubbing his head as he squints at Ning Chu.
“…”
Suddenly remembering something, he fumbles for his glasses on the nightstand and, once adjusted, sees a little beauty standing there with her hands on her hips, wearing a face full of stubbornness.
His gaze drops to his boxers, and in panic, he yanks the blanket over himself, his face turning red as he stammers, “You should leave now.”
“Like I’ve never seen a guy in boxers before.”
“Nah, you’re a girl now! Just go.”
Ning Chu isn’t bothered; she strolls out yawning, only slightly concerned about her future sister-in-law’s happiness.
The countryside is a tad far, requiring a full hour on the bus.
At seven-thirty, the three of them head out for breakfast, and as they settle on the bus, Ning Chu leans forward awkwardly, mindful of that little tail of hers, afraid she might squish it.
She can feel it growing quickly; she initially thought she might need to alter the storyline further, but just half an hour in, it’s already noticeably longer.
It might complete its transformation today.
She never wanted a tail!
Imagining Wen Yang using it against her makes her shudder; it won’t take much for her to lose all resistance.
How terrifying is that!
With the danger of drawing too much attention looming closer…
Ning Chu sighs hopelessly. Because of this, she’ll have to find a rental apartment to crash in tonight—no longer able to stay in the boys’ dorm.
In a dorm, there’s no way to hide it.
The structures outside begin to grow shorter, fields and hills emerge, and an hour later, they arrive in her hometown county.
Changing her ID went smoothly—if you ignore the look of shock on the clerk’s face.
Such cases are quite rare for her…
In about half a month, her ID should arrive at school by mail.
“Should we visit Grandpa and Grandma?”
“Let’s skip it this time… next time.” Ning Chu feels a bit timid; her grandfather isn’t the most easygoing person. Who knows how he’d react to her becoming a girl?
Her mom doesn’t press the issue. “Well, let’s go wander around then.”
It’s been a while since Ning Chu returned to this small county town, and it looks almost exactly the same as she remembers—hardly any changes. She can even see the places she grew up eating at, though now there are more people from outside.
As familiar scenes start to emerge, the last remaining veil of unreality in this world begins to lift.
She looks up at her mother, who’s latched onto her arm, eagerly dragging her around to shop for clothes. Then she glances back at her brother, with one hand in his pocket, heads down, engrossed in his phone.
And Wen Yang, her roommates, her close friends… without realizing, she’s interwoven herself into this world like a tangled ball of yarn.
Even if she were given a chance to go back and be a guy again, she’d have to ponder it for a long while.
She’s truly putting down roots in this world…
——————
Got some stuff to do tonight, so just two updates today!
