Chapter 244: Zhang Shaoqing Shows Up【6/20】
“Something feels off about the beginning…”
Ning Chu rested her chin on her hand, mumbling as she stared at the novel document.
Since getting Hei Dou, her writing skills skyrocketed in just one day, and she cranked out thousands of words for the opening of her novel.
Is this the pressure that comes with having a kid?!
Her brows furrowed as she pondered for a moment, then ultimately decided to delete the first chapter’s beginning and write it anew.
After all, the website editors wouldn’t be working over the weekend, so she might as well polish it up.
Hei Dou was surprisingly quiet. Since turning into a cat girl, her personality seemed much more stable; she hadn’t caused any fuss for over an hour.
Thinking of this, Ning Chu turned around and instantly felt her blood pressure rise.
“Hei Dou!”
“Ah?”
“You’re rummaging through the trash again!”
Hei Dou blinked, immediately pulling her hands out of the trash can and hiding them behind her back, avoiding eye contact sheepishly.
“…”
Ning Chu didn’t know whether to feel heartbroken or angry.
This cat had been a stray since she was little, so rummaging through trash must have been instinctual.
Fuming, she stepped closer, and Hei Dou’s cat ears perked up and fluffed out as she darted under the bed, trying to hide in the corner and escape the situation.
Only to get her head stuck on the bed frame…
Ning Chu couldn’t help but laugh as she grabbed Hei Dou’s arm and dragged her to the bathroom: “Wash your hands! How many times do I have to tell you not to dig through the trash.”
“I know~”
“You think just knowing is enough? Does it hurt?”
“It doesn’t!”
She pat Hei Dou’s forehead affectionately, then pressed her struggling paws into the sink and scrubbed them with soap.
Ning Chu muttered quietly, “I still have to give you a bath tonight…”
Hei Dou’s eyes widened suddenly, and her struggles intensified: “I don’t want to wash!”
“Be good~”
“Not washing!”
“Hiss~” Ning Chu suddenly realized this cat girl was more troublesome than a hyperactive child.
If she had to take care of Hei Dou for a month and nothing happened to Hei Dou, she’d probably end up in the hospital with high blood pressure first.
Suddenly, someone knocked loudly on the door.
Ning Chu froze, releasing Hei Dou’s hand and peeking out of the bathroom toward the door.
It wasn’t Wen Yang; he had a spare key and wouldn’t knock, plus he always knocked daintily, not thumped it like this.
So who could it be?
Feeling anxious, Ning Chu’s emotions tightened up.
Hei Dou perked her ears and tail, peeking out of the bathroom like she was equally anxious, their two little heads poking out like characters from an anime.
“Bang bang bang!”
The knocking came again, and Ning Chu furrowed her brows, calling out loudly: “Who is it?!”
“It’s me! Zhang Shaoqing!”
What’s this guy doing here?!
Ning Chu glanced down at her long-skirted pajamas and then at Hei Dou, who was only in an oversized T-shirt and her underwear.
Neither of them looked presentable; they were totally inappropriately dressed for any visitors.
Not to mention it was Zhang Shaoqing.
“Wen Yang isn’t here! He went out for takeout.”
Ning Chu hurriedly prepared to change into male clothes, but then a thought hit her: Zhang Shaoqing knew that Wen Yang’s girlfriend lived here, Wenwen.
The question was, does this guy know that she is Wenwen?
Frozen in front of the wardrobe, she contemplated for a moment and decided to test the waters.
“When will he be back?”
“Probably around eight or nine tonight? Or why not come back tomorrow instead?”
Ning Chu purposely pitched her voice higher, cringing even at how it sounded herself.
“Mom~ it’s Uncle~”
Hei Dou tugged at Ning Chu’s arm, whispering.
“It’s Sister.”
Ning Chu tirelessly corrected Hei Dou’s address, then continued to shout at the door: “It’s inconvenient for me right now, so I can’t let you in.”
“Alright, alright~”
Zhang Shaoqing sighed disappointedly outside, about to turn away when suddenly Wen Yang appeared climbing up the stairs, and they almost collided right then.
“Shaoqing?”
“Whoa! You’re finally back!”
Zhang Shaoqing rushed over, grinning, “I was bored in the dorm, so I came to find you.”
“???”
“Let’s go~ Let’s eat barbecue together!” He, completely unembarrassed, didn’t feel at all awkward, “Last time you and your little sister said you’d take me out for barbecue when you had time, right? How about tonight?”
“Um…it’s still raining outside.”
“No problem! I wandered around a bit, and there’s a barbecue place just two hundred meters into the village that’s open.”
Wen Yang really didn’t know what to say.
Headache, he stood at the door, hesitating on whether to open it when suddenly it swung open.
Ning Chu had already changed into women’s clothing, wearing a white mask and looking utterly exhausted: “You’re back?”
“Yeah.”
Zhang Shaoqing immediately leaned closer, scanning Ning Chu up and down: “Why is the little sister still wearing a mask inside?”
“…”
Ning Chu picked up on that familiar teasing tone in his voice.
It seemed she had been found out.
“Let’s go eat barbecue; it’s on you guys.”
“Hi Uncle~”
Hei Dou unexpectedly peeked out the doorframe, cheerfully greeting and then gazing eagerly at Zhang Shaoqing.
Back in the dorms, this guy always liked to buy cat food and snacks for Hei Dou.
“Whoa! Whose kid is this?”
“She’s my relative’s, my cousin.”
Ning Chu explained with pursed lips, pressing down on Hei Dou’s head, fearing this cat girl would call her “Mom” again.
“Oh~ So let’s all go for barbecue?”
“Awesome!” Hei Dou cheered.
Zhang Shaoqing looked at Ning Chu with mischievous eyes: “You can’t wear a mask while eating barbecue, right?”
“I’ll treat you; she doesn’t eat barbecue.” Wen Yang chimed in to defuse the situation, draping his arm around Zhang Shaoqing’s neck, “Let’s go, I made quite a bit during my delivery rounds today.”
“Forget it…”
Ning Chu realized she had already been exposed.
Perhaps when she was found out to be a woman, her relationship with Wen Yang was already crystal clear.
She had no choice but to pull off the mask and rolled her eyes at Zhang Shaoqing: “Eat my foot, get lost!”
“Oh~ Can’t keep up the charade anymore?” Zhang Shaoqing nudged Wen Yang with his elbow, “Even rabbits don’t munch near their burrows; how come you’re so quick to act?”
“I’m just giving my hard-earned money to the right person.” Wen Yang shot back blandly.
“When did you two get together? I swear I didn’t even notice before!”
Ning Chu silently turned back and walked into the house.
This guy must have been bored alone in the dorm and specifically came to tease her!
Her face was already red from the teasing, and she walked to the wardrobe, preparing to change into her usual male clothing.
“Don’t change anymore; you look fine in women’s wear.” Zhang Shaoqing shouted from outside, “Let’s go, I’ll treat you both to barbecue.”
“Do you have money now?”
“Hey~ don’t you know who I am!” He straightened his back, proudly declaring, “I made up with my mom! She just deposited two thousand into my account; it should last me until vacation.”
Looks like even a rich second-generation has to bow for a handful of rice~
“I told her I’m going home tomorrow; wishful thinking! I won’t go back even if you kill me!”
Not only did he bow down, but he’s also a liar!
What’s he boasting about then?
Ning Chu looked at him in confusion.
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