A Weekend Alone
On Friday during class, Zhang Shaoqing was chatting with Wang Jie about their weekend plans.
“Tonight, the two of us are hitting up KTV, then I’ll head home for the weekend to visit the elders,” Zhang said.
“Sounds good, I also have some things to do this weekend.”
Ning Chu glanced over at Wang Jie in despair.
What else could this couch potato possibly have to do, aside from being dragged around by Zhang Shaoqing to all kinds of crazy places?
“The girl I like… it’s her birthday. I want to go see her,” Wang Jie said, smiling shyly, looking like a little boy who just discovered romance. “I could use your advice on what gift to give her.”
Wen Yang immediately perked up.
Ning Chu rested her head on her arms, utterly bored.
“Eh, is it a crush or are you already together?” Zhang Shaoqing leaned in with gossiping eyes, slinging an arm around Wang Jie’s shoulders. “Spill!”
“Girlfriend,” Wang Jie said, his smile a bit bashful. “We’ve only held hands, though.”
Wen Yang looked shocked: “Whoa, look at you! Keeping it quiet, and meanwhile you’re ahead of the game!”
“We started dating in high school.”
After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Shaoqing slapped his thigh: “Then how about a mobile phone as a gift!”
“…”
Ning Chu suddenly felt Wang Jie might be at risk.
He was a good guy, only holding hands with his girlfriend, and it was a long-distance relationship.
In Little Emperor Wen, characters like him usually ended up as the tragic victims, right?
But the stories she wrote didn’t involve Wang Jie at all, so if anything happened, it definitely wasn’t her fault.
“What does she look like?” Wen Yang added, wanting in on the gossip. “Never heard you mention her before.”
Wang Jie scrolled through his phone and showed them a picture.
She was an average-looking girl with heavy glasses, but her smile was sweet.
Ning Chu sighed in relief.
Good thing she wasn’t some ridiculously gorgeous girl.
But soon, she lost interest in Wang Jie’s affair.
Wang Jie was heading to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday, Zhang Shaoqing was going home, and Wen Yang was off to be a tutor…
What about her? Just left alone in the dorm?!
The thought made her a little anxious.
“Are you really going to tutor?”
After a moment, she couldn’t hold back and gently poked Wen Yang, who was busy preparing his lessons.
“Yeah, don’t worry. The student is a boy, the parents are guys too. Four-hour classes a day. I’ll head out at noon and be back by evening.”
Wen Yang was well-prepared: “I found the tutoring job on a platform, and the parents have already paid. Once the class is over, the platform transfers the money to me, so I won’t be cheated, just subject to a commission.”
He smiled and handed his phone to Ning Chu: “See? I’ve already prepared the lesson plan. The student is only in second year of middle school and struggles with math.”
Ning Chu found herself speechless, only managing a weak mumble: “But platforms aren’t always reliable.”
“Better than having no backup at all.”
“I…” she stammered, feeling flustered, her fingers nervously tapping her nails.
The issue was, what she really cared about wasn’t this.
In the stories, there were protagonists who gave health classes while tutoring seniors, but this time it was a boy. Even if he was a cross-dresser, he couldn’t possibly be like that character.
But the real issue was being alone in the dorm, being scared!
Without the protagonist around, God knows what might happen!
With Zhang Shaoqing and Wang Jie gone, if something went down, she wouldn’t have anyone to help.
Though Ning Chu desperately wanted to say she could just go with Wen Yang and didn’t mind just chilling at the student’s house, watching TV or playing on her phone, saying so made it sound like she couldn’t live without Wen Yang, even making excuses to tag along.
With a guy’s pride, it seemed hard to spit out.
“Am I being dumb? Ning Chu, it’s okay to be scared alone in the dorm~”
The two of them glanced over at Yan Xinya, who had been sitting quietly on the other side.
This wolf girl flicked her tail and said: “Think about it! This is a boys’ dorm! Isn’t it normal for Ning Chu, a girl, to be scared?”
Wen Yang paused momentarily, while Ning Chu quickly shook her head: “No way! How could I be scared? Am I that kind of person?!”
“I’m just worried you might get cheated with Wen Yang’s tutoring! But since he’s got everything prepared, he should go!”
Total fail on the support department!
Yan Xinya shot Ning Chu a disappointed glare while Ning Chu kicked her lightly under the table.
Can you not jump in?!
She originally wanted to gradually persuade Wen Yang.
Now, in her hurry, everything came tumbling out.
Wen Yang chuckled in agreement: “Yeah, she’s not that delicate.”
Although Ning Chu did show signs of paranoia, in a dorm where they slept and rested, what could possibly go wrong?
“Such a straight man…” Yan Xinya muttered quietly, rolling her eyes, “Such a tsundere.”
The class ended.
Ning Chu looked glum, resting her chin on her hands as she watched the rush of students streaming out the door, letting out a deep sigh.
Good thing it was just the dorm. Being alone shouldn’t lead to anything too crazy.
Rather than worrying about what might happen in the dorm, she’d be better off worrying about Wen Yang getting seduced by some fox lady on the way to work.
Recently, she had eased off her control over Wen Yang, or rather, the two of them had grown accustomed to their inseparable routine. Wen Yang had become habitually shy around girls, avoiding them.
Just as she relaxed a bit, Wen Yang decided to take up tutoring.
Ning Chu rubbed her temples in frustration, and once most of the students had left the classroom, she stood up, clutching her textbooks to hide her chest from movement.
“I have no choice; I’m running out of money for food,” Wen Yang said, seeing her worried expression and grinning bitterly, “If I don’t find a side job, I’ll starve to d*ath. I can’t just keep freeloading off you, right?”
I wouldn’t mind.
“Uh-huh…” Ning Chu replied, heading out the door first.
Wen Yang noticed her a bit upset and hurriedly caught up to her, assuring, “Don’t worry, I won’t talk to any girls on the way to tutoring. If I see a girl, I’ll run. Okay?”
“I’ll leave around noon and should be back around seven. I can even bring you takeout for dinner.”
Ning Chu felt like this guy was already subconsciously acting like a boyfriend, given how he seemed to want to keep away from other women.
She glanced back at Wen Yang, reminding him of their dynamics: “When you meet someone you like who’s a good person, go for it. Don’t let a good girl slip away.”
But whether she was a good girl, that was her call to make.
“Uh-huh.” Wen Yang replied absent-mindedly.
Walking back to the dorm, Ning Chu couldn’t hold back any longer: “Are you really going? Why don’t we just go to the cafeteria and deliver takeout together? At least we get free food!”
“The tutoring pays better, and you delivering takeout…”
“What’s wrong with that?! It’s a good way to work out!”
Wen Yang glanced at the weather forecast: “Tomorrow and the day after are going to be thirty-seven degrees. Plus, aside from the new dorm building, none of the others have elevators.”
“Then maybe skip it.”
“Since we’re here…”
“Don’t flirt with girls outside! They’re all bad women!”
“Okay.”
“Come back quickly after class, don’t loiter outside. I want pasta for dinner tonight.”
“Got it.”
“Bus should be clear during the noon rush, but don’t take the subway! I heard bad women like to get handsy on the subway with guys.”
“Is there such a thing?” Wang Jie looked up in disbelief.
Ning Chu shot him a glare: “They only go after handsome guys.”
“Got it.”
Wang Jie watched Ning Chu trailing after Wen Yang, mumbling, “How come Ning Chu sounds like a mom?”
He lowered his head, fiddling with his hair in a small mirror.
This was to meet his girlfriend. No slacking off today, he had to look good!
“Hey Wang Jie, when are you leaving?”
“In an hour’s b*llet train.”
Ning Chu leaned in, scrutinizing Wang Jie, furrowing her brow as she rubbed her chin: “Your outfit is way too tacky.”
After nagging Wen Yang, she felt it was time to nag Wang Jie too.
Wang Jie looked utterly defeated. After two months of being in the same dorm, he had a good grasp of Ning Chu’s character.
She honestly fretted about everyone.
“If only we had more time, you should really get a perm. Your hair’s too soft — it just lays flat against your scalp,” Ning Chu glanced at Zhang Shaoqing’s desk, “I remember Shaoqing has some hair gel; I’ll go grab it.”
Gotta make Wang Jie look a bit sharper, wouldn’t want him to end up as a tragic figure.
“This hat is great, try it on~”
“This shirt looks good too, put it on!”
“How about these shoes…”
Wang Jie couldn’t hold back: “Isn’t it a bit much to be taking advantage of Shaoqing’s stuff?”
“I gave him a heads up last night,” Ning Chu fished out her phone, showing Wang Jie her chat with Zhang Shaoqing from the night before. “He said I could use whatever, too bad you don’t have a license, or else he could hook you up with a nice car to impress your girlfriend.”
“…”
“I’m leaving now.”
Ning Chu turned to see Wen Yang already fully dressed and heading for the door, so she hurriedly followed: “Wait up, I’ll go with you!”
The dorm was left with just Ning Chu.
Feeling a bit down, she quietly locked the door, crouched down to hug Black Bean, and plopped back at her computer.
The usually boisterous dorm was now eerily quiet with just her.
Black Bean squirmed in her arms, nipping at Ning Chu’s hand.
A little sting made her frown: “Bite me again, and I’m taking you for neutering tomorrow!”
Black Bean didn’t grasp her words, instead, holding onto her hand with his front paws and kicking with his legs, taking another bite.
The bite wasn’t hard, but Ning Chu was furious: “Let go! I feed you every day, and this is how you repay me?!”
The pain wasn’t intense, but soon she felt something unusual. Allowing Black Bean to chew on her hand, she furrowed her brow, slightly dazed by the sensation.
It hurt, but it also had a vague hint of pleasure?
What the heck! I’m not a masochist!
Startled, Ning Chu hastily pushed Black Bean away, who promptly jumped down from her lap and disappeared in a flash.
“You ungrateful little monster…”
She muttered, glancing hesitantly at her just bitten hand, still puzzled.
Why?
After a long sigh, not thinking too much, Ning Chu leaned on her desk, idly clicking the mouse while occasionally casting glances out the window.
If someone timid just finished watching a horror film and was confined in a small space alone, they’d be on high alert for every sound.
Yet Ning Chu had spent these last two months submerged in Little Emperor Wen vibes.
Though her face showed little expression, her eyes keeping close track of the corners and windows fueled her anxiety further, her nerves tightening with each tick of time.
“Everything should be fine, right?”
She nervously bit her lip, opened a game to distract herself.
But with each character dying again and again, her unease grew, sensing an overwhelming malice creeping in from all directions, as if a pervert might suddenly appear and pounce on her.
She wanted to take a nap, but didn’t even dare to blink.
“Bang!”
A sudden noise nearly made Ning Chu’s heart stop. She turned her head, only to discover it was Black Bean knocking over the trash can.
She stood up, fidgeting restlessly, pacing around the room, and eventually stopped in front of the wardrobe.
Ning Chu opened the wardrobe and peered into the depths at a pajama shirt.
“Doesn’t matter if it’s useful, at least it brings some comfort.”
She mumbled, reaching for the shirt and putting it on.
Maybe it was psychological, but this shirt, belonging to Wen Yang, actually eased her frayed nerves a bit.
Taking a gentle breath, she could smell his scent lingering on the fabric.
Then she pulled out a huge wrench from Zhang Shaoqing’s closet… that was the very tool he had taken along when they adventured into the teaching building during a ghostly episode.
Feeling safe again, her anxieties faded; clearly, most of her fear was just a lack of strength!
With her mood much improved, Ning Chu’s little brain began to wander…
If this was working well, could she pack up all of Wen Yang’s clothes when she took off?
But wouldn’t he just freak out and cry? That poor guy, it’s not like he could even afford to buy more clothes!
“Bang bang bang~”
Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the door.
The calmness she had just regained evaporated in an instant, and Ning Chu flinched, looking uncertainly at the door.
Who could that be at this hour?
After a brief silence outside, a familiar voice called out: “Ning Chu~ It’s me, Yan Xinya.”
“Xinya?”
“Yep!” The next moment, Yan Xinya’s smiling face peeked through the window, “I climbed over the wall to get in~”
“Eh?”
Ning Chu hurriedly jumped up and opened the door for Yan Xinya: “What are you doing here?”
The wolf girl pricked up her ears, curiously sauntering into the room, eyeing the boys’ dorm while answering. “Aren’t you scared being alone this weekend? I came to keep you company.”
“I’m not scared!”
Ning Chu grumbled, shutting the door behind them and locking it once again.
She looked up at Yan Xinya, wearing a cropped top revealing a hint of her abs, and instantly felt much more at ease.
Now, even if a pervert decided to attack her with the protagonists gone, the wolf girl could send that guy packing!
“You’re really not scared? Then why didn’t you answer me when I knocked?” Yan Xinya’s gaze fell on the wrench. “Isn’t this a bit overkill?”
“Nope, not scared.”
“Then should I just go home?”
“Since you’re here now~” Ning Chu immediately warmly ushered her forward, pushing Yan Xinya onto the chair. “Come on! Let’s play some games! Do you want some afternoon tea? My treat!”
——————
Two updates today, aiming for more tomorrow!
