494. Father
Inside the familiar old elevator, Ning Chu paced back and forth in the cramped space, her pretty face a canvas of anxiety and tension.
She stopped in front of the elevator’s worn mirror, fished a comb out of her little bag, and started taming her wild hair.
It was her first meeting with her father; she had to at least put on a good show…
Wen Yang, holding a carton of fruit-flavored milk as a gift, glanced down at Ning Chu’s restless demeanor and said, “I guess you won’t see him once you get home.”
“True, with two bedrooms, he can’t possibly be sharing a room with my mom…”
“Hey? What if he really is sharing a room with her?!”
Ning Chu blinked in surprise, looking up at him bewildered.
“Really? No way, right?”
She tugged at her hair in frustration, undoing her previously neat hairstyle and turning it into a messy nest: “Anyway, we’re almost home…”
The closer they got, the more her brain turned into a tangled mess. She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to feel curious and excited about seeing her father or furious and annoyed, but one thing was certain—she was nervously sweating bullets.
The elevator came to a halt, and the iron doors slowly opened.
Ning Chu took a deep breath, the turmoil on her face swiftly masked beneath a cold, indifferent expression, deliberately adopting a frosty demeanor like Lily’s to keep others at arm’s length.
She quickly tidied up her hair one last time and shot a panicked glance back at Wen Yang’s tall figure.
Wen Yang just smiled gently and nodded at her.
Instantly, Ning Chu felt a wave of warmth wash over her, soothing her nerves.
As they stepped out of the elevator, the front door of their home was already opened wide for her.
Perhaps sensing their arrival, Black Bean eagerly shoved the door open and poked his head out into the hallway. Upon seeing Ning Chu and Wen Yang, he exclaimed, “Sister! Brother-in-law!”
The little cat, barefoot and with its tail standing high, rushed out of the doorway and leaped into Ning Chu’s arms, pressing its face against her chest and purring like a cat.
“Ehh…”
Ning Chu instinctively leaned back, her cheeks betraying a blush she couldn’t hide.
“Stop rubbing against me.”
With her chest feeling ticklish from the cat’s affectionate nuzzles, she blushed even more and pushed Black Bean away, taking two steps back while covering her chest: “Go bother Wen Yang instead.”
“Brother-in-law~”
Black Bean pounced right into Wen Yang’s arms.
“Black Bean, is there anyone else at home besides Mom?”
Ning Chu peered nervously into the living room.
“Nope!”
“Good…”
She sighed in relief, then shuffled her feet, kicked off her sneakers, and stepped into the house.
As soon as she walked in, a rich meaty aroma wafted toward her, mixed with the sounds of the kitchen—hissing from the range hood and the rhythmic clanging of her mother cooking.
The familiar scent and environment made her involuntarily relax. Unlike her time with Wen Yang in the rental apartment, being home made her feel at least ten years younger.
“Back already?”
“Uh-huh!”
Ning Chu responded as she looked down to see two pairs of slippers, one big and one small, already waiting for her.
“Black Bean, don’t run around barefoot! Isn’t that dirty? Get inside quickly.”
She slipped on her slippers and dashed to the kitchen, peeking in at her mother busy preparing dinner.
“Mom~ What’s for dinner tonight?”
She asked eagerly.
After more than a month apart, her mother looked no different than during the New Year—still with that warm smile, but now there was a hint of worry in her brows.
“Lychee pork, rib soup, sweet-and-sour fish…”
While busy, her mom rattled off the menu, covered a pot, and then turned to Ning Chu with a smile: “You look good?”
Compared to the New Year, her daughter appeared much healthier—rosy and glowing, not an ounce of acne or dullness in sight, and her eyes seemed to radiate light as if she had been well-fed.
“I’m alright.”
“Make sure to take it easy; tell Wen Yang to watch his health, or he’ll crumble in a few years~”
“Mom!”
Ning Chu shot her mother an embarrassed glare.
She couldn’t exactly say, “It’s because I can’t handle Wen Yang!” since she often fainted in a heap, begging for mercy.
If it weren’t for today’s circumstances, if Wen Yang hadn’t held back, she’d be wobbling all over the place right now.
“Alright, alright, I won’t say another word.” Seeing her daughter’s flushed face, her mother stifled a laugh behind her hand. “Where’s Wen Yang? Let me see if he’s been drained dry by you!”
Didn’t we just agree to stop talking about that?!
Just then, Wen Yang appeared, with Black Bean still clinging onto his arm, joining them in the kitchen.
“Hello, Auntie.”
Her mom looked Wen Yang up and down. Contrary to her expectations of him appearing worn out or pale after living with a succubus for over a month, he looked surprisingly energetic.
Not only could he satisfy a succubus’s needs, but he also seemed to be in great shape.
What a catch her daughter had snagged!
Her mother flashed Wen Yang a friendly smile: “Did you buy things again? Next time you come, don’t bother; Ning Xin doesn’t even like fruit.”
“Should I bring some meat next time?”
“Sure!” Black Bean immediately raised his hand in enthusiastic agreement.
“In about an hour, it’ll be dinner; you two should go relax first and quit causing chaos here.”
Black Bean pulled Wen Yang’s hand towards the living room: “Brother-in-law! I have a turtle! Come see!”
Meanwhile, Ning Chu headed straight into the kitchen, dutifully aiding her mother.
Her eyes darted around as she couldn’t hold back her curiosity any longer: “Mom, what are your plans?”
“Planning to divorce him outright? Or are we ditching the uncle? That would be kind of pitiful for him~”
Her mother’s expression darkened as she brandished a spatula, pretending to aim it at Ning Chu’s head.
Ning Chu quickly shielded her head: “I’m just worried about you!”
“Do I really need you to worry about my life?” Her mother rolled her eyes with mock frustration. “You should think about how to get along with him.”
“Me?”
“That’s your dad we’re talking about, aren’t you going to acknowledge him?”
Ning Chu scoffed dismissively: “As if he ever raised me. Not a single penny! You can’t expect me to take care of him, right? I don’t even know what he looks like!”
Upon bringing this up, she suddenly felt panicked.
Wait a minute… legally speaking, even if her father hadn’t fulfilled his parental duties, she might still be responsible for supporting him.
How absurd!
Ning Chu stood in the living room, feeling like she had just discovered that the worst situation was not her mother but herself?
Looking at her mother’s demeanor, it seemed she was already ready to divorce, but Ning Chu wasn’t remotely prepared!
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
She paused, looking up just as Black Bean bounced over and flung the door open.
On the other side stood a man, perhaps around five-seven, gaunt, with a head full of white hair, clad in a leather jacket. His wrinkled face still bore traces of youthful handsomeness…
At first glance, Ning Chu noticed the shadow of her brother’s features in him.
Is this… her father?
