459. Mom!
Whether back when she was a guy or now, Ning Chu was always that person who loved to slack off during gym class.
While everyone else huddled together to play basketball or kick soccer balls, or at the very least found a couple of friends to game on their phones, she just lounged around, too lazy to even lift a finger.
With just one long gym class in the afternoon, Ning Chu chatted with Lily and Yan Xinya, strolled around the school, and let the day drift away. Oh, and she even planned a trip to the hot springs for the May Day holiday.
After circling the playground twice, finishing her milk tea, and heading back, her little group heard the gym teacher’s call.
“Gather for roll call! Get ready for class to end!”
Ning Chu let out a dramatic sigh of despair.
If it weren’t for this roll call, she would’ve bounced from school early to go back to her rental apartment and game.
After jogging over to the crowd, her gaze landed on another class gathering not far away.
Even at roll call, Qian Qian was on the outskirts, lonelier than a single sock in the laundry.
“What are you looking at?”
Wen Yang finally spotted the little one, sidling up to Ning Chu. “Why didn’t you come find me?”
“Well…”
He turned to follow her pointing finger. “Oh~ What’s up with her?”
A not-so-familiar classmate nearby muttered, “Isn’t that the weirdo from Class Four?”
Another chimed in, “Who? What whack job?”
“Rumor has it she’s… down there…”
Ning Chu lightly kicked the classmate’s shin. When he turned back with a confused face, she smiled sweetly and said, “What a big man you are, gossiping like that! Impressive~”
“Huh? I was just saying…”
“Try again!”
She frowned, clearly annoyed.
Now there were rumors spreading around class that she was a succubus! All thanks to these morons with wild imaginations! While it was true, she’d never admit it…
With a pair of horns sprouting from her head like a sheep and lacking any typical sheep-girl features, it was only natural for people to think of her as a succubus. Thankfully, she hadn’t heard anything too outrageous yet.
Wen Yang looked at her, surprised, and asked, “When did you start caring about this stuff?”
Just then, the teacher called her name, prompting her to raise her hand in acknowledgment. Afterward, she tugged on Wen Yang’s arm and left the crowd, heading toward the school exit.
At that moment, she explained quietly, “I just think it’s annoying.”
Wen Yang discerned her little secret, turned his head to glance at the lonely Qian Qian, and gently smiled, “Why do you always assume it’s because of you?”
“Well, I don’t…” She looped her arm through Wen Yang’s, mumbling, “It’s just when I see her, I feel like I’m looking at my past self.”
“During that phase when your body was changing into a girl, stuck in that awkward space…”
Back then, Ning Chu would sit for hours at her desk, staring blankly, isolating herself from her roommates, coming to life only when a bad woman tried to hit on Wen Yang.
Wen Yang recalled that time, feeling a wave of sympathy as he ruffled her hair, “That’s all in the past. Isn’t everything great now?”
That warm hand stroking her head made Ning Chu squint contentedly and lean into Wen Yang’s hand.
“Yeah, I’ve already come to terms with it.”
After all, she had sunk so low into femininity that there was no going back.
Trading her femininity for healthy family ties in this parallel world and landing a caring boyfriend? She felt like she was getting the better end of the deal.
Her life now was way better than before she traveled!
The lovey-dovey couple strolled out of the school gate together, side by side.
“Tomorrow is the weekend again! Where do you want to go?”
“I want to… Wait, this weekend, didn’t we agree to let Shao Qing throw you another birthday party? Last time was just private between us; I didn’t get my gift!”
“Is that really necessary?” Wen Yang shook his head with a wry smile. “What’s the point of two birthday parties?”
“Well, I have to make Zhang Shao Qing give me something…”
Ning Chu was determined to hit that guy up for a present! It didn’t matter the value—a few buck notebook would do!
Suddenly, a black sedan zoomed past the sidewalk, startling her.
“Neurotic!”
She instinctively shouted, looking up to see the car parked not far ahead.
Wen Yang sighed, “It’s Shao Qing’s car.”
“How do you know that?”
“License plate number.”
Ning Chu paused, baffled why Wen Yang would memorize license plates, but quickly fumed, “That guy is doing this on purpose to scare me!”
The car window rolled down, and an obnoxious head popped out, casually whistling and calling to them, “Get in!”
“What for?!” Ning Chu marched over, hands on her hips and fiercely pointing at him. “Are you nuts? Why are you speeding by the school gate? Don’t you worry about hitting someone?”
Her fierce stance made Zhang Shao Qing shrink back like he had run into his mom, but he quickly mustered up a rebuttal. “There’s hardly anyone around!”
It was only a bit past four, and most students had classes until six, so the school gate only had a few stragglers.
“What if?”
“Alright, alright, get in. We’re celebrating your boyfriend’s birthday. Are we going to the maid café I mentioned before or what?”
“Is that it?”
“Of course, I’ll treat you!”
Ning Chu scoffed, but saw that Wen Yang had already opened the back door. Reluctantly, she climbed in and grumbled, “If it weren’t for Wen Yang’s birthday today…”
No way! A maid café! She’d only ever heard about it online!
Who knows if it’s legitimate!
In the passenger seat, Wang Jie turned around and said to Wen Yang, “I sent you a gift through STEAM. Remember to grab it when you get back. It’s a new game I finished, and it’s pretty interesting.”
“Okay, thanks.” Wen Yang nodded. “I’ll check it out.”
“Just saying your computer might not be able to handle it…”
Zhang Shao Qing chimed in, “So why not go to an Internet café afterward? That game is multiplayer, right? It’s been ages since we’ve gamed together!”
“Since Wen Yang moved out?”
“Then it’s Ning Chu’s fault for stealing our roommate and running away with him, leaving us unable to gather for gaming.”
Ning Chu rolled her eyes. “As if you guys could ever gather for gaming in the past.”
The back seat was spacious, and she lazily leaned on Wen Yang’s shoulder, urging, “Shao Qing, what about your gift? Wang Jie already gave his.”
“Can’t you see I’m driving? You’ll get it when we get there, chill out!”
“Hey! Does Qian Qian know you’re going to a maid café?” Ning Chu suddenly asked. “I thought she would come too.”
Zhang Shao Qing’s grip on the steering wheel tightened for a moment, then he scoffed, “Why should I report to her? Even if I do, you think she would dare stop me?”
“Wen Yang! You need a family hierarchy like mine! Look at you! Whenever you talk to girls, Ning Chu has to keep you in check.”
“And look at me! If I went to a bar to party, would Qian Qian dare say anything? I could visit a club and she wouldn’t say a word!”
Ning Chu crossed her legs, phone in hand, “Keep talking, I’m recording this.”
“Hey~ the maid café is totally legit! Are you seriously recording?! Bro?! Delete that~”
“Calling Dad isn’t going to help~”
“Mom!”
