098. Sense of Security
What on earth is going on?
Ning Chu tossed and turned in bed, utterly baffled by her brain.
Clearly, back when she was still a man, she might not have been the most outstanding example of masculinity, but at least she was independent, right?
So why has everything changed since she arrived in this world?
She started feeling insecure, struggling to sleep each night. Even the slightest noise would send her jumping, making her sensitive and fragile. She found herself nervously scrutinizing everyone and everything around her.
She couldn’t even venture out alone. Tonight, she had planned to leave in one go, but within half an hour, with just a few comforting words from Wen Yang, she slunk back, tail between her legs.
This time she didn’t leave out of impulse, but next time, she might not have the guts to try again.
Why is that?
She shouldn’t have this extreme social anxiety.
Is it because of Little Emperor Wen? Or is it this unfamiliar, weak female body? Or, maybe she’s always been this way, just that before she had to rely only on herself?
Ning Chu lay wide-eyed, staring at the pitch-black dorm room, unable to fall asleep.
She struggled to comprehend her own unease, and even more so, to understand why she felt a rush of joy every time Wen Yang appeared, as if her anxiety melted away and a warm wave of security filled her heart.
It was like that at the amusement park last time, and today as well.
It shouldn’t be this way! Wen Yang is dangerous too!
“Still not asleep?”
Wen Yang sensed the vibrations of the bed as he heard Ning Chu moving around.
“Yeah, can’t sleep.”
Ning Chu shut her eyes, trying hard to push away her earlier confusion.
But while the confusion was momentarily set aside, a sense of crisis popped back up.
What if that guy Wen Yang sneakily crawled into my bed in the middle of the night?!
Suddenly alert, she lifted her head slightly and stared at Wen Yang sleeping across from her.
Seeing him lying there without a care, she sighed wearily and flopped back down, her cluttered thoughts tangling into a mess, robbing her of any remaining sleepiness.
So much happened today…
She was pulled into a plot by Yan Xinya in the morning, had to trick Wen Yang into calling the police at noon, and by nightfall, she had transformed into a woman and fainted from sheer stress that landed her in the hospital.
She’s a woman now…
The future that once seemed murky now appeared even darker.
Ning Chu grinned bitterly, turned on her side, curled her legs up, and balled herself into a little package.
In the stillness of the night, Wen Yang wasn’t asleep either.
He just lay there, reflecting on Ning Chu’s behavior today.
She was just like usual, keeping him in check, forbidding him from talking to girls in the morning; then by noon, she gave him trust and confidence to stand up for Yan Xinya; but by evening, she suddenly flipped the script, demanding to leave, and turned suspicious of him.
Women are truly the hardest creatures to understand.
Wen Yang let out a soft sigh, ready to shut his eyes for some shut-eye, when suddenly he felt the bed vibrating slightly.
He stayed still, listening to the sounds in the dorm.
Ning Chu was crying…
The muffled, choppy sobs nearly shattered his heart.
The bed shook more violently, and the crying intensified, mixed with short breaths and hiccups.
Wen Yang struggled to contain himself.
He shot up, but at that moment, Ning Chu’s cries vanished.
“…”
He intended to comfort her by wrapping his arms around her fragile shoulders, but she decided to stop crying right then.
Wen Yang ran fingers through his hair and lay back down.
…
Ning Chu was woken by Zhang Shaoqing’s boisterous voice.
She blinked her puffy eyes and vaguely focused on the ceiling light, her memory of how she fell asleep last night fading like a dream.
Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, realizing the fatigue still clung to her.
“Up yet?”
Ning Chu turned her head down to see Wen Yang stuffing her luggage into the wardrobe.
“Not…”
“If you were leaving, you wouldn’t have returned last night, right? Since you came back, that means you don’t want to leave, am I right?” Wen Yang smiled, giving her an easy way out. “Consider it a favor from me?”
Ning Chu pursed her lips, avoiding his gentle gaze.
“Hey! Ning Chu!” Zhang Shaoqing called with his usual cheerful demeanor, not mentioning last night’s happenings. “Didn’t you two get caught by the instructor? So, does that mean we’re without an instructor now?”
“They’ll assign someone else, right?”
“Ah! Then get that sports meeting sign-up sheet out fast! Cross my name off!”
“Cross mine off too!”
Wang Jie shouted from the balcony while brushing his teeth.
Wen Yang shrugged, “It’s just a sports meeting. It’s not like we’re heading to prison or something.”
Watching the ongoing ruckus in the dorm, Ning Chu curled her legs and rested her chin on her knees, quietly observing their antics.
She still wanted to bolt out of there, but all her bravado and impulse had run out after last night.
But it’s okay. After all, Wen Yang is still a virgin.
Even if he figures out her gender, he’s likely to like her, but he’s still a timid little thing!
When you really think about it, Wen Yang isn’t too dangerous.
Instead, why not use this time to strengthen her own heart, making it tougher against her constant insecurities? Get used to being out alone instead of panicking every time she’s by herself.
Main Quest: Try to go out alone more and build a strong heart!
Side Quest: Keep Wen Yang a virgin to buy time for the main quest!
“Class is starting soon, get up.” Wen Yang was already putting on his shoes. “Ning Chu, do you still want to go to PE this afternoon?”
“Guess I should go. My stomach’s feeling a bit better.”
Ning Chu slowly climbed down from her bunk.
She intended to head to the bathroom first, just like usual, but when she stepped inside, she suddenly remembered the sanitary napkins.
She closed the door with a huff, murmuring to herself in distress, “How do you even change these… Do I have to go to a public restroom?”
Facing the brand-new, just-unpacked essentials, Ning Chu hesitated, her heart racing.
A whole night had passed, yet it still felt like just a dream.
But it wasn’t.
She still couldn’t bring herself to look, let alone touch. After hurriedly wiping herself, she pulled her pants back up and reached into her pocket for a Band-Aid to flatten the pronounced curve on her chest.
The silver lining? Even though she’s completely transformed into a girl, it seemed like the only thing that had changed was how she used the restroom. Her life wouldn’t change too drastically.
As long as that chest size stayed cute and small…
“Today, I’ll try to disrupt a plot and see if the old heavens have changed their punishment.”
Ning Chu mumbled, pushing the door open, just as Wang Jie rushed past her into the restroom.
She was about to wash up when she heard Wang Jie curiously ask from inside, “Ning Chu, why does it smell so fishy in here?”
“Um, I think it was like that last night. The smell was pretty strong.”
“…”
His face went a bright shade of red, and Ning Chu’s heart raced as she remained silent.
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Publishing two chapters first, will add more during the day.
Just when I’m in the thick of it, the whole country goes for a COVID test—headache galore!
