Night slowly settled in.

After dinner and baths, the family of four sat side by side on the sofa, all dressed in matching fuzzy pajamas with little cat faces printed on them. A blanket was spread across their laps, while the TV in front of them played one of the season’s hottest dramas.

Ning Chu pulled her legs up, sat cross-legged, and snuggled deeper under the blanket, hugging it close to her body.

“Is it really that cold?” Ning Juan asked with a smile, glancing down at her daughter that was leaning against her. “Planning to go out tonight?”

“Nope.”

Ning Chu shook her head firmly. Besides, a hotel room was over two hundred yuan. Even though she’d scammed three hundred out of her brother earlier, she still couldn’t bear to spend it.

She yawned, leaning even closer to her mother’s side, muttering, “Feels like it’s colder than last year.”

“It used to only drop to four or five degrees. This year it’s down to one or two.” Ning Juan chuckled as she watched TV. “Running out in the middle of the night in this weather—of course you’ll get frostbite.”

“I already got frostbite back at school, okay? What’s that got to do with this?”

Her mom always liked connecting completely unrelated things.

“Sis order late-night snacks”

“Here, take my phone. You pick.”

“Okay!”

She had promised Black Bean that two extra pages of workbook exercises could be exchanged for one meal. Now she owes dozens. She had underestimated—thinking this cat hated homework.

At least with Black Bean’s pace of asking for snacks, the debt wouldn’t be paid off even by the end of winter break.

Ning Chu leaned against her mother’s shoulder, arms wrapped around her arm, eyes on the TV, yawning occasionally.

It felt warm and comfortable, both her body and mind at ease.

Her mood felt like rippling water brushed by a gentle breeze—calm, with faint waves of happiness spreading out, leaving her utterly at peace.

She was deeply addicted to this kind of family atmosphere, something she hadn’t felt in so long...

Last year around this time, she had turned down her grandpa’s invitation and spent New Year’s alone on a cold, empty sofa. Furniture and clutter surrounded her, while the noisy sounds from downstairs only deepened the emptiness inside.

Her mom had been gone for years, her brother was off somewhere wasting his life, and she was facing her final semester of senior year—staring down graduation, society, the future.

She hated New Year’s. Hated the joyful laughter drifting from the neighbors’ windows. Hated seeing little kids in the courtyard, playing with sparklers under their parents’ care. Hated the cheerful, bustling Spring Festival Gala on TV.

She had cried so many times, and yet every New Year’s her eyes would still redden.

But now? Her mother, long gone, was back at her side. Her brother, once a dropout and delinquent, now had a stable career. And the family even had a noisy little kitten to brighten the house...

Even if this kind of life grew dull over time, she wished it could last forever.

Coming to this parallel world, even if it meant becoming a girl—even if it meant turning into a succubus and being “stuffed like a cream bun” every day—It was worth it.

“Mom! Sis is crying!”

Black Bean piped up, pointing dramatically at Ning Chu’s eyes.

“I’m not! Don’t talk nonsense!”

She quickly ducked her head, hiding her red eyes so her family wouldn’t notice.

Ning Yuan glanced sideways at her.

“Who upset you this time? Crying during New Year’s, really?”

“I’m not crying!”

Ning Chu took a deep breath, forcing away the sting in her nose. She had always been emotional, and after becoming a girl, her feelings only swung even harder.

“It’s Mom, definitely! Mom’s always picking on Sis~”

Ning Juan reached across Ning Chu and tapped Black Bean’s head.

“I was just joking with her. Can’t you tell the difference between serious and not?”

“Aw~”

Then she looked down at her daughter, curled up like a ball under the blanket with only her head sticking out.

“What’s wrong?”

Ning Chu forced a teasing tone, though her nose still felt sore.

“Mom’s an ancient relic now, it’s so depressing~”

“You brat!”

Ning Chu quickly tried to flatter her mother.

“I was joking, mom is so beautiful—you’ll always be eighteen!”

“Right, Black Bean?”

“Right!”

“See? Mom, my brother’s not saying anything. That must mean he thinks you’re old.”

Ning Yuan’s survival instincts kicked in instantly.

“I never said that!”

Ning Juanr’s sharp eyes caught the redness still lingering around Ning Chu’s eyes. She reached out and gently pulled her daughter closer, their shoulders pressed warmly together.

When the drama episode ended and switched to boring commercials, Black Bean yawned, flopped sideways into Ning Chu’s lap, curled up, and flicked her tail tip lazily.

Ning Chu had mostly steadied her mood by then. She glanced down and asked softly, “Didn’t you just order food?”

“Wake me up when it gets here~”

Even though she had become a cat girl, Black Bean’s sleep habits hadn’t changed much. She could pass out anywhere, anytime—and wake up just as easily.

Ning Chu stroked the little head resting on her thighs, rubbing her hand over the smooth, furry cat ears. Curiosity got the better of her, and she bent down, prying them open a little to peek inside. Thanks to the ear-cleaning solution they used every morning, the insides were surprisingly clean.

But as time ticked on, Ning Chu grew visibly restless.

Her legs bounced lightly, her eyes flicking to the clock on her phone again and again.

A little after nine. If she left now, she could just catch Wen Yang getting off work.

The thought crept in on its own—but she smothered it hard.

No. Absolutely not.

Her gaze kept sliding to the wallet on the shoe cabinet. Inside was her mom’s membership card. Discounts on everything at the hotel. They got free breakfast too.

She shook her head violently.

“The food’s here!”

The moment the elevator dinged outside, Black Bean, who had been dead asleep seconds ago, bolted upright. She darted off the sofa and sprinted to the door like lightning.

Ning Chu swallowed. Her own stomach growled with hunger, but the other

kind of hunger.

Ning Juan caught her anxious fidgeting. With a teasing smile in her eyes, she watched her daughter’s unease, clearly curious how long Ning Chu’s willpower would hold out.

“You guys want any?”

Black Bean came running back with the delivery, ripping open the bag with gusto. Out came fried chicken and milk tea.

“Want some, Sis?”

“No.”

Ning Chu took a deep breath, suddenly jumped to her feet, and headed straight for the bathroom.

“Mom, I’m washing up and going to bed.”

“You’re not going out?”

“What would I go out for? It’s freezing.”

If she just slept now, she wouldn’t have to think about all those messy, tempting thoughts.

Besides, if Wen Yang didn’t go back to the rental tonight, Zhang Shaoqing would use it against her again tomorrow. That shameless guy was such a pain.

After a quick wash, Ning Chu dove into her bedroom, burrowed under the covers, turned off the light, and shut her eyes, trying to force herself to sleep.

But she tossed and turned, unable to settle.

Eventually, she opened her eyes again, glanced at the time, and felt her anxiety spike even higher.

‘Great, I’m not getting any sleep tonight, am I?’

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Link for character illustration:

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