### 365. Unexpected Encounter
The streets weren’t crowded; many migrant workers had returned home for the New Year, leaving the city feeling a bit desolate.
The sidewalk lights had turned on, decorating the greenery with vibrant colors.
Most shops along the street had closed, but a rare milk tea shop was still open. Ning Chu occasionally lowered her head to sip her milk tea while tapping away on her mobile phone.
“If I’d known, I would’ve just gone straight to the rental apartment…”
She sighed dramatically. Even typing on a computer is way more convenient, plus she could play games!
“Why isn’t anyone leaving work early today? There are barely any customers.”
She looked up again at the independent restaurant across the street, impatiently bouncing her leg.
It had been two whole hours!
After dinner, she had come here to wait for Wen Yang, planning to surprise him or check if any of his colleagues were up to some shenanigans. But she’d ended up waiting for two hours.
“Miss, I’m off work now.”
Just as Ning Chu was about to order another milk tea, the young employee, looking about sixteen or seventeen, gently reminded her.
“Alright then…”
At least she hadn’t been waiting for nothing; she’d managed to write a chapter of her novel.
Stepping out of the milk tea shop, the cold wind chilled her dry skin, making it feel like knives were cutting through. She shivered and instinctively hunched her shoulders, hiding her chin in her plaid scarf.
It was the coldest time of the year, with temperatures hovering near zero.
Giving up on the surprise for Wen Yang, she sent him a message asking, “What time are you getting off?”
Moments later, Wen Yang replied: “I’m waiting for the bus.”
“？？？”
When did he leave work! She hadn’t even noticed!
Ning Chu immediately turned her gaze to the bus stop and quickly spotted his tall figure standing under the shelter.
Like a sneaky ninja, she tiptoed behind Wen Yang, reaching out to cover his eyes with her slender hands, and in a playful voice asked, “Guess who I am?”
Just then, a whiff of sweet fragrance reached Wen Yang’s nose, making him wrinkle it in mild frustration. “Who’s the immature ghost?”
“Guess!”
Her small, delicate hands were softer than a cloud, with ten fingers looking like rosy little carrots, the faint scent of girl mingling with a hint of milk…
No guessing necessary; his brain already supplied the answer.
“Let me think… Is it Xin Yi?”
“Wrong! Who’s that?!” Ning Chu exclaimed, her voice no longer able to mask her urgency. “Guess again!”
“Then it must be Si Qi?”
She kicked his leg playfully. “Oh, nice try! Who else? Spill it!”
Wen Yang turned to her with a teasing smile, his eyes filled with warmth. “No one, just you.”
“Pff!”
Ning Chu turned her head, giving him a look of exaggerated disdain, acting all huffy. “Go find your Xin Yi and Si Qi then~”
“Wrong, wrong, not teasing you anymore.”
“Just saying ‘wrong’ is enough?”
Wen Yang looked at the Little Succubus with exasperation. “What do you want me to do? Treat you to a late-night snack?”
“Well, I guess I could somewhat accept that…”
“It’s the New Year. I wonder if the nearby snack street is still open.”
Ning Chu playfully hooked her arm with Wen Yang’s and dragged him along. “Let’s go! Late-night snack time!”
“The snack street is that way.”
Rolling her eyes silently, she wondered how she had ever fallen for this straight guy.
But then Wen Yang lowered his voice, glancing down. “There’s a love hotel over there. I heard the soundproofing is great, so you don’t have to hold back.”
“……”
Ning Chu froze in shock. Her already flushed face from the cold turned even redder. She glared at him in embarrassment. “Why did you bring that up while talking about late-night snacks! Your mind is dirty!”
“Huh? Isn’t it you who’s eating me?!”
“No! Pervert!”
Although it was exactly what she had been thinking just a moment ago, being called out by Wen Yang ignited her rebellious spirit.
Wen Yang tried to assuage her. “Want to give it a shot? It’s not that expensive; I’ll treat you.”
“No way! And where do you think you’ll get the money from?”
“Huabei.” He firmly grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the hotel. “Let’s go, don’t act tough.”
“But I don’t want to!”
Ning Chu stumbled along behind him, struggling against his grip. “Can’t you think of something else?”
“And hotels are super expensive, okay? One night is like working two days.”
“You…” She flailed her arms a bit, but found herself staring at his released hand.
Wait, she had escaped so easily?
Stunned for a moment, she rushed forward and thrust her wrist back into his hand as if nothing had happened.
…
After crossing a street, they arrived at the entrance of an unremarkable motel.
The sign read “Couple’s Hotel,” not “love hotel,” which eased Ning Chu’s psychological burden considerably.
“I heard places like this often have cameras,” she whispered in Wen Yang’s ear, “Let’s not end up in some shady footage!”
“Really?” Wen Yang scratched his head, “I’ll check it out later. Don’t rush.”
“How could I possibly rush?!”
So why did it seem like the air was thick with the scent of succubus allure?
Curious, they stepped into the motel and approached the front desk to check in.
This was Ning Chu’s first time in such a place; glancing at the price list, it was surprisingly similar to a normal motel.
She felt a bit uneasy, worried there might be strange things in the room.
Just as she pondered this, the back door opened.
Ning Chu turned around, frozen in place as she locked eyes with her mother, who had just walked into the motel.
“……”
Both mother and daughter were momentarily unsure how to react to this situation.
As Ning Chu awkwardly tried to lose herself in her thoughts, her mother paused for a moment before pretending not to see anything and headed straight down the corridor.
Now that’s a mom’s mental fortitude for you!
Wen Yang finally completed the check-in, glancing at Ning Chu’s mother’s retreating figure while muttering, “That back looks a bit like an aunt?”
“Are you sure you’re not seeing things?” Ning Chu forced a smile.
Seems like the soundproofing of this motel worked well; otherwise, her mother wouldn’t have chosen this place.
Maybe her mom was a regular here…
Wen Yang scratched his head in confusion, glancing at the room card. “Room 107. This way.”
“This way?!”
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Oh no! Is it going to be her mother’s neighbor?
“Nothing, nothing!”
Wen Yang eyed her suspiciously, but she had already marched ahead, her expression hidden from view.
“107…”
Thankfully, there were two rooms separating them, which wasn’t too far.
Ning Chu sighed dramatically. She had never expected such a coincidence.
Unlocking the door, she collected her thoughts and glanced into the room.
It was pretty much the same as a regular motel, except the lighting had an ambiguous pinkish-purple hue, the bed was round, and the ceiling featured a giant mirror.
And then…
Ning Chu’s attention immediately landed on a chair that looked somewhat peculiar.
She didn’t even know what to call it, but it was something often seen in those novels—designed to secure both legs and easily strike shameful poses.
As expected of her mother’s choice of motel!
——————
Two updates today, just thinking about the plot!
