214. Reunion at the Station
“Mom! I’m leaving now!”
Dragging a suitcase stuffed with girls’ clothes, Ning Chu arrived at the doormat, putting on the little shoes her mom had bought for her while asking, “Mom! Aren’t you going to see me off?”
“What’s there to see off?”
Her mother lounged sloppily on the sofa, glued to a TV drama with no intention of moving: “Just be careful on the way. Remember to introduce any nice girls you meet at school to your brother.”
“Got it!”
“Mom, really…”
Once she slipped on her shoes and stepped out, Ning Chu pressed the elevator button and turned back to look at her brother trailing behind her.
While waiting for the doors to close, her curiosity gnawed at her, and she asked, “Haven’t you noticed?”
“Noticed what?”
“Mom’s boyfriend, duh~”
Ning Yuan shook his head: “I’ve been away for school and work these past few years; how would I know?”
“Fine…”
It turned out Mom was quite trendy, having met her boyfriend online.
When Ning Chu heard “online relationship,” her first reaction was to think it’s unreliable. But Mom had been in this relationship since Ning Chu’s middle school days, around six or seven years ago… It was impossible that they never met in person; even the most unreliable online romances have to get real at some point.
She stepped into the elevator, leaning against the wall and gazing at her reflection in the mirrored surface, a tinge of melancholy painted on her face.
Her mother passed away during her middle school years in her past life…
She vaguely remembered a stranger—an uncle—showing up to say goodbye, sobbing quite dramatically.
Turning her head to glance at her brother’s back, a smile broke through her thoughts.
In this world, her family would be doing just fine~
“Make sure to eat more vegetables and fruits. Don’t just pick at the meat,” Ning Yuan channeled their father’s role once again, his back to Ning Chu as he lectured, “Cut back on milk tea and sugary drinks; they’re not good for you.”
“Even though I drink them… once or twice a week is fine, just don’t get sick.”
“You used to be a boy; now you’re a girl. Keep some distance from your old friends. There’s no such thing as pure friendship between boys and girls, especially since you’re a… a succubus.”
Ning Chu nodded, half-heartedly replying, “Yeah, I know.”
She was trying really hard to maintain boundaries with her male classmates—except for Wen Yang…
An hour later, they reached the train station.
“Don’t just think about having fun when you get to university.”
“Yeah, I’ll head in now?”
“Go for it.”
Ning Yuan watched as his sister entered the waiting area, eyeing her petite frame with a sigh: “She’s changed so much…”
Not just from being a brother to a succubus sister.
She’d matured, too, becoming more mindful of family.
Through the glass, Ning Chu noticed her brother had yet to leave.
She stood on her tiptoes, stretching her arms to wave at Ning Yuan.
“What are you thinking about?”
But Ning Yuan showed no reaction, still lost in thought.
She bit her lip, glanced at the train ticket details on her phone, and hurriedly dashed to find her platform.
…
The autumn chill always did this: one moment it’s sunny and warm, the next it’s freezing with drizzle.
Wen Yang had been pacing at the exit, glancing up at the big screen to check Ning Chu’s train status, radiating a bit of anxiety as he walked back and forth.
Finally, the announcement for the train’s arrival rang out.
He tilted his head, straining to see the exit when, moments later, a crowd of passengers emerged.
No matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t spot Ning Chu among them… Most likely blocked by the tall folks.
As the crowd thinned out after passing through the gates, he finally caught sight of a small figure dragging a suitcase straight towards him.
Wen Yang was taken aback to see Ning Chu in girls’ clothes today.
With thigh-high black stockings and a high-waisted skirt hugging her slim waist, her short fitted top highlighted slightly noticeable curves, revealing just a hint of her delicate belly button as she walked.
Though her face was slightly pale from the cold.
“Ning Chu!”
Ning Chu promptly dropped her suitcase and sprinted over.
Wen Yang couldn’t help but smile as he opened his arms, ready to welcome his little girlfriend’s embrace, but Ning Chu stopped right in front of him, urgently tugging at his coat.
“Take it off! I’m freezing! I almost froze to d*ath after getting off the train!”
“…”
Ning Chu glanced up at Wen Yang, who was staring at her, and hurriedly threw on his coat.
Blushing, she defended herself, “It’s what my mom bought for me.”
To be fair, Mom had a solid taste; it just lacked fabric, which made Ning Chu feel a bit out of place.
But Wen Yang’s astonished expression filled her with a sense of achievement.
“Oh, my suitcase…” It suddenly occurred to her about the abandoned luggage, and she hurried back to grab it.
Wen Yang followed, helping with the suitcase while saying, “I checked out a few rental apartments for you.”
“Hmm?”
“The cheap ones near the school are mostly hotel monthly rentals. They’re inexpensive, sure, but not very safe—lots of mixed crowds.”
“Let’s skip that for now.”
Ning Chu habitually glanced around nervously to ensure no classmates were watching before shyly linking her pinky with Wen Yang’s.
She still held onto a bit of the modesty from when she was a boy, and with people around, an embarrassing feeling washed over her, making her worry they’d think she was just being all queer.
Wen Yang looked down, unfazed by onlookers. He wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close.
“Too many people! Uh!”
Ning Chu anxiously tried to pull away, but his lips blocked hers, leaving her to lightly smack him twice in frustration. Soon, though, her resolve weakened, and she melted in his embrace.
That faint feeling of suffocation… so uncomfortable yet utterly intoxicating.
A fiery warmth ignited her core; she knew if this were anywhere else, she might’ve danced with him already.
But that overwhelming sense of embarrassment excited her even more.
Wen Yang’s hand on her waist grew restless, trying to explore lower, but suddenly came to a halt, feeling something soft just above her backside.
A gentle squeeze made Ning Chu release an enticing little sigh, before instantly going limp in his arms, as if she might have toppled to the ground if he wasn’t holding her tightly.
“What is this?”
“…”
After catching her breath and regaining some strength, Ning Chu, embarrassed and furious, wriggled free from Wen Yang’s grasp and kicked towards him: “You pervert!”
She peeked around, realizing not many people were paying her any mind.
Most merely cast curious glances before moving on, not interested for a second look, except for a few girls who seemed itching to take her place.
In comparison, public displays of affection were already pretty restrained.
“What was that?” Wen Yang was sure he’d touched something; otherwise, Ning Chu wouldn’t have reacted so strongly.
“Let’s talk about it later! I need to go rent a place first.” Ning Chu strode toward the underground parking lot without looking back, “Order a cab.”
“Okay.”
