492. Nighttime
Later that night, the sky was pitch dark, and Ning Chu curled her knees up, hugging her legs while staring blankly at the inky black sea.
Her shoulder-length hair was blown around by the wind, and her cheeks felt damp and cold.
Behind her, there were the loud screams and chatter of the girls, yet she sat alone on the beach, half her face buried in her arms.
In her mind, she was repeatedly running scenarios of what her reunion with her father would be like, what might happen, and how she should respond…
Maybe he was out there raking in the bucks, but never bothered to find a wife or have kids, just coming back with money to reconcile with her mother?
Or maybe he couldn’t cut it outside and had to return for help?
Perhaps he had his own reasons, which is why he hadn’t contacted the family for almost twenty years?
Her mother already had an uncle, would her father get all emotional and cause some kind of disaster if he found out?
What would he think upon learning his son had turned into a succubus daughter?
What would he even look like? Back when her mother chose him against everyone’s wishes, he had to have been at least pretty dashing, right?
Ning Chu shook her head, trying to dismiss those chaotic thoughts.
Honestly, her mother should just directly divorce that man!
Other than providing sperm, what connection did he have with her?
Ning Chu had never considered the possibility of her father coming back, but now this situation was staring her right in the face, and she couldn’t let her mother handle it alone.
After all, there was also a catgirl little sister at home; she could already picture Black Bean’s bewildered and panicked face.
As for her older brother… God knows what he would think.
“Ning Chu~ Barbecue!”
Yan Xinya came over with disposable bowls and chopsticks, smiling as she plopped down beside her. “What are you thinking about? You’ve been off all day. Camping is so much fun, yet you’re just sitting here soaking in the breeze.”
“I’m just a little drowsy.”
Lily was grilling meat, while the three of them played cards, and Wen Yang had run off to Walking Street to get them milk tea.
“Should we go check out the street too?”
Ning Chu shook her head, turning down Wolf Girl’s invitation; she looked down and picked up a piece of grilled beef tongue, popping it into her mouth.
You could never go wrong with barbecue, and it was cooked perfectly—not too tough to chew, so it was quite good.
“It’s a pity we can’t have a bonfire; that would really set the mood. We could have skewers doing a barbecue feast.”
Yan Xinya mumbled to herself as she piled sand into little mountains. This girl seemed to have a hard time grasping the concept of worries, always sunshiny and a tad neurotic.
Definitely a Husky, right?
“Lily sis, is it done yet?” As soon as the first round of cards ended, Qian Qian scooted up to Lily and asked about the meat.
“Almost there.”
“So slow~”
She suddenly lowered her voice and whispered, “Use magic~ secretly use magic to cook it faster~”
“……”
Once the first round of barbecue was ready, the grill was heated to just the right temperature, meaning the following batches wouldn’t take too long to cook.
Even so, Lily’s grilling speed still couldn’t keep up with how fast everyone was eating.
The group watched the grill with eyes full of hunger, staring at Lily as if seeing their long-lost mother.
“Ning Chu.” Lily picked up a skewer, wrapped it in a napkin, and reached out to Ning Chu.
“Mm, thanks.”
Yan Xinya leapt up instantly, “Lily really doesn’t love me anymore~ You’re not giving me the first skewer!”
Ignoring Wolf Girl, Ning Chu took a bite of the skewer, nodding at Lily. “It’s delicious.”
Lily smiled gently at her, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then dropped back to her grilling.
You couldn’t tell she was a succubus; she was more like that shy girl next door.
“Let me have a taste too!”
And Yan Xinya was probably the Husky that such a neighbor would keep…
How could all girls be so different?
Ning Chu helplessly passed half-eaten skewer to Wolf Girl. “What’s the rush? Isn’t Lily still grilling?”
“I’m starving~ I’m dying of hunger!”
Just then, Wen Yang returned from getting milk tea, bags in hand.
“Milk tea is here!”
Yan Xinya’s ears perked up immediately as she abandoned Ning Chu and excitedly dashed over, snatching a cup of milk tea before running off.
“I also got some snacks.”
Wen Yang set the picnic blanket and distributed the milk tea and snacks, then walked over to Ning Chu, sitting beside her.
“Your jasmine milk tea, added coconut jelly.”
“Great.”
“And I saw grilled sausages and egg burgers—got those for you too.” He unzipped his coat, pulling out the goodies, then suspiciously glanced around. “Quick, take a couple bites before Xinya swipes them.”
His behavior, like he was hiding treasure, made Ning Chu chuckle, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons. “She’s not a bandit or anything.”
“Not by much. Try it out, and if you don’t like it, I’ll let her have it.”
Ning Chu took a bite of the sausage and immediately scrunched her face. “Oof~ So gross…… so spicy!”
She hurriedly took a couple sips of milk tea to wash down the spiciness, but she was still sticking her tongue out, blowing on it, tears welling in her eyes from the heat.
“I said I wanted it mildly spicy… The owner must not have heard me,” Wen Yang mumbled to himself. “Let me try.”
“Xinya!” His expression changed quickly, struggling to keep a straight face as he called out, “Do you want some grilled sausage? I just bought it!”
“Coming, coming!”
Yan Xinya swirled in like a gust of wind, snatching the sausage while whooping as she ran off.
In mere moments, the two heard Wolf Girl’s wailing from behind: “Ah! Water! Water! I’m dying of spice! Those dog couple set me up!”
Ning Chu and Wen Yang exchanged glances, bursting into laughter.
“You’re so mean~”
“Is it really that bad?”
Lily raised her hand, offering a skewer toward Ning Chu, but seeing that couple laughing and chatting, she opened her mouth but didn’t shout out, instead turning the skewer toward Qian Qian, muttering under her breath, “Dog couple…”
As the night deepened, the shops on Walking Street started shutting down one by one.
Qian Qian, who had lost at cards all night, dragged a few girls off to a well-lit area to play mahjong—she was truly both bad and loved to play.
Inside the tent, a little nightlight glowed; today, Ning Chu, who hadn’t had breakfast or milk, was already feeling sleepy, wrapped in her sleeping bag, unable to open her eyes.
The wind rustled the tent, and in the distance, Yan Xinya could be heard exclaiming excitedly, “I won!” Wen Yang sat in the tent, his shadow cast over Ning Chu by the little light.
“I’ll be outside; just shout if you need anything.”
He adjusted the nightlight and turned back to give her a reminder.
“What are you going to do?”
Seeing that bright gaze fixed on her, he hesitated, having lifted his rear to get up but sat back down.
“Forget it, I’ll stay here with you. Get some sleep.”
“Do you want me to tell you a little story or sing you a lullaby or something?”
“NO! Go away!”
