421. Show Me
In the first semester of freshman year, everyone was still somewhat restrained. Even if they were late, they felt a pang of anxiety; if they occasionally skipped class, they would scramble to get an excuse note from the instructor later.
By the first week of the second semester, everyone was still testing the waters to gauge the teachers’ tempers and personalities.
Now, on a Monday for the first class, only two-thirds of the class showed up, scattered haphazardly in the lecture hall.
College can be as laid-back and free as you want, or as grueling as a senior year in high school. It all depends on whether you’re willing to pay the price.
Ning Chu might often zone out and chat during class, but at least she occasionally perked up to listen. Unlike some students who treated the classroom like an arcade, plopping down, whipping out their mobile phones, and calling friends to play some four-row shooting game.
She rested her head on the desk, wearing a knitted hat with a padded hood. You could vaguely see two symmetrical bumps peeking out from under it.
The long, pointy appendages were becoming hard to hide, but she still wanted to make an effort.
Wang Jie and Zhang Shaoqing arrived right on time, one looking pale and wobbly, while the other looked fresh and glowing.
She increasingly suspected that Wang Jie’s girlfriend might be a succubus.
Sucked dry of all his good vibes, maybe?
Just look at these two… Ning Chu’s mind took a bit of a detour.
Could it be that Zhang Shaoqing had drained Wang Jie’s energy?
“My back hurts like crazy.”
“I told you to exercise more! You just have to embarrass yourself in front of the ladies!”
As the two settled next to Wen Yang, Ning Chu overheard their conversation.
“Look at me! I’m the epitome of manliness!”
“You’ll see who’s scared in the future,” Wang Jie grumbled, burying his head on the desk and yawning like there was no tomorrow.
Zhang Shaoqing looked unconvinced. “No way! Impossible! I’m young and strong, and I even signed up for fitness classes!”
“See? Signing up for fitness means you’re a wimp!”
“I call that planning ahead!”
Qian Qian really wasn’t pulling her weight; she hadn’t managed to drain Zhang Shaoqing’s energy at all.
Ning Chu listened to their banter, internally critiquing Qian Qian for being so ineffective.
Among the few couples she knew, most were girls who had the upper hand. Who knew Qian Qian would tank everyone’s average battle power? How embarrassing!
As for herself… her competition was the male lead! Sure, you can try, but no way you’re getting past me!
The teacher’s roll call ended, and the noisy classroom gradually quieted down.
Yan Xinya had zero interest in the class; after two minutes of listening, she was already yawning incessantly, inching her little head toward Ning Chu.
“Ning Chu~ Ning Chu~”
“The elective course schedule is out! It’s happening tonight in the dance studio of Building F.”
Ning Chu fiddled with the little white pom-poms on the sides of her hood, feeling a bit apprehensive. “Tonight, huh…”
Her freshly bought yoga clothes hadn’t arrived yet, so she’d probably just have to wear the matching ones with Lily tonight.
At least she had Lily to keep her company~
“Have your horns grown a lot again?”
In no time at all, Wolf Girl had spotted the bulges on Ning Chu’s hood.
Ning Chu replied nonchalantly, “Yeah, they’re growing pretty fast.”
Yan Xinya had never grown horns herself, so she accepted the explanation with a blank look. “Oh, really? I still think you should see a doctor…”
“By the way, remember to bring your yoga clothes to class this afternoon. There’s a changing room in the classroom.”
“Got it.”
Yoga class, huh~
Although she didn’t know much about yoga, it should be low-intensity and quite relaxing, right?
Plus, it was just an elective, so the teacher probably wouldn’t throw any complicated moves her way. She could just coast through it.
As Ning Chu mused about the new poses she could unlock in the future, a slightly unfamiliar voice suddenly called out from behind her.
“Ning Chu.”
“Huh?”
She turned to look, confused, at the girl who was vaguely familiar. Despite having been in the same class for months, she still couldn’t remember the girl’s name.
“Um… when I came to class just now, someone asked me to give you this.” The classmate blushed, pulling out a small box of chocolates from her drawer. “I don’t know him; he was just really persistent.”
Ning Chu glanced at the box of chocolates and asked, “Did you tell him I already have a boyfriend?”
“Yeah…”
Understanding, she nodded. “You can keep them. I don’t really like chocolate.”
Who was the neurotic trying to poach Wen Yang, anyway?
What kind of confidence did they have?
Ning Chu grumbled to herself, forcibly shoving the chocolate into the hands of the shy-looking classmate before turning back to poke Wen Yang’s arm.
“Wen Yang~ Someone sent me chocolate~”
“I heard.”
Even though Wen Yang was serious about the lesson, he was the first to notice Ning Chu’s antics.
“Don’t you have anything to say?”
After a brief pause, he nodded thoughtfully, “After class, I’ll buy you a big box, so you can get sick of it.”
“Pff!” Ning Chu burst out laughing, then quickly hunched over to stifle it, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Forget it; I don’t really like sweets.”
She shot a glare at Wen Yang, only to hear Zhang Shaoqing chiming in, peeking over, “Where’s the chocolate? If you don’t want it, I’ll eat it! I skipped breakfast!”
Before Ning Chu could respond, Zhang Shaoqing’s eyes widened in surprise. “Whoa! Ning Chu, what’s that bump on your head?”
“……”
“Did you grow a tumor?”
Ning Chu glanced at the teacher who had just turned to the blackboard, picked up her textbook, and stood up to smack Zhang Shaoqing on the head with it.
Feel the power of knowledge!
“You’re the one with a tumor!”
“Stop being crazy!”
Zhang Shaoqing dodged her attack, and amid the commotion, Wang Jie had noticed something unusual on Ning Chu’s head.
Those long, pointy appendages really couldn’t be hidden anymore…
If she kept trying to cover them up, it would only look more suspicious.
Ning Chu’s mind spun, and she decided to boldly lift her hood, take off her hat, tilt her chin up, and proudly point to her horns. “Ta-da! Look! Aren’t they pretty?”
Wen Yang nodded in agreement. “Very cute.”
Zhang Shaoqing was utterly confused. “What the heck? You have horns? Are you a goat or something?”
“It’s just for fun, you know? It’s girl’s jewelry. What do straight guys know about this?!”
“Who cares about pretty? What kind of gaunt beauty standards are those!” He scoffed, but his curious gaze was still glued to Ning Chu’s little horns.
Then, his attention shifted over Ning Chu to Lily, who was busy putting on a pair of ornamental horns herself.
Zhang Shaoqing paused for a moment and then reached out to yank the horns off Ning Chu’s head. “Let me see!”
“Are you crazy?”
Ning Chu jumped in surprise, quickly covering her head, leaning to the side, and accidentally bumped her head against Yan Xinya’s arm, making both her and Wolf Girl turn pale.
At the same time, Wen Yang grabbed Zhang Shaoqing’s outstretched hand. “Buy your own; that’s a gift for Ning Chu from me.”
“Who cares!” Zhang Shaoqing scoffed, retracting his hand in disdain, then leaned in close to Wen Yang and asked, “Are you looking to experience the life of a fantasy girlfriend? I recommend Ning Chu wearing cat ears and a tail~ Now that would be adorable!”
A succubus is the number one in the world!
Wen Yang silently rebutted in his heart.
