Trapped in Paradise

Chapter 313: The Chaotic Morning

Like she was compensating for something, Ning Chu tightly hugged Wen Yang’s arm, pressing her body close to his hand.

Although she always knew Wen Yang’s life hadn’t been easy, it was the first time she heard about his past.

The casual way he spoke made her heart ache.

How could she have been so idle back then to give the male protagonist a background of being orphaned…

Something she wrote just for fun had turned into the source of Wen Yang’s eighteen years of melancholy in reality.

But instead of succumbing to despair, Wen Yang worked hard to get into college, putting on a sunny facade that made it hard to associate him with that child who lost his parents.

Fate is unfair, but Wen Yang’s fate was penned by Ning Chu.

“I’m doing pretty well now,” Wen Yang chuckled, noticing her sad expression. “You look like you’re the one about to cry!”

“No.”

Ning Chu muttered softly, “I’m sorry.”

“Huh? It’s okay, your family seems great. I just envy it.”

After a brief silence, she took a deep breath, lifted her head, and restored her energetic smile. “The past is in the past! We’re going to build a perfect family together in the future!”

All that could be compensated for now was a warm, wonderful family.

Wen Yang and her family~

“So do you want a daughter or a son?”

Her smile froze, and she shyly turned her head away. “Umm… can we not have kids?”

“One less kid isn’t perfect! How about one boy and one girl?”

“Uh, let’s talk about it later… later…” Ning Chu tried to brush it off, her eyes suddenly brightening as she grabbed Wen Yang’s hand and ran ahead. “Let’s go have breakfast first!”

Having kids seemed terrifying!

Maybe that really is the ultimate form of a female’s downfall?

“This breakfast place has the best food! I’ve been eating here since I was little!” Ning Chu looked toward the stall, waving at the waitress. “Two portions of layered pancakes, five cups of soymilk, four meat buns… and let’s get a portion of soup dumplings to go.”

After ordering breakfast, she looked up at Wen Yang. “These layered pancakes are amazing! I used to think about them every day in college! You have to try them!”

“Sure.”

Wen Yang was also curious to taste Ning Chu’s childhood flavors.

He curiously observed the busy staff at the stall, nostrils flaring as he caught the delicious smells wafting through the air, his stomach already betraying him with an urburb.

“You ate so much yesterday and you’re hungry this early?”

Wen Yang scratched his head sheepishly. “I have a big appetite…”

Receiving the packaged breakfast, Ning Chu eagerly opened the layered pancake bag, blew on it a couple of times, and took a bite.

“You have to try this! It’s so good!”

“Yeah, not bad.”

“Right?!”

Ning Chu glanced regretfully at the breakfast stall, muttering, “Aunt used to give me extra when she saw me, but now she doesn’t even recognize me…”

“Well, you’ve become so beautiful.”

“True~”

Carrying breakfast, the two arrived home at 8:30.

As soon as they opened the door, they found the house was bustling like it was in battle.

“Ning Xin! Hurry up and get dressed! You’ll be late for tutoring!” Her mother urged anxiously. “Hurry, hurry! Don’t dawdle!”

“I’m hungry!”

“Eat on the way! Did you play with all the hair ties? I still need to do your hair!”

“How would I know~ I’m not a cat! I don’t play with that stuff!”

Ning Yuan was awakened, looking utterly done with life, sitting cross-legged on the floor, yawning.

“Mom, be quiet. I want to sleep a bit longer.”

“It’s already 8:30! Still sleeping!”

“I’m tired from work all week.”

Standing at the doorway and watching the chaotic scene unfold, Ning Chu nudged Wen Yang with her elbow, smirking, “Still envious?”

“Uh…”

Wen Yang truly didn’t expect Ning Chu’s mother to have such a fiery side.

She had just been gentle and graceful yesterday, even if she wasn’t very fond of him, she still served him dishes he liked.

The contrast was so sharp that it momentarily left him dazed.

“It’s not so bad, right?”

He scratched his head, and although the scene wasn’t very harmonious, it should be quite warm…

“It’s quite nice~”

Ning Chu walked into the house and placed the breakfast on the coffee table. “Mom, take some for Hei Dou to eat on the way.”

“Okay, check on your sister! Woke up early to buy you breakfast, and all you can do is sleep!”

With Ning Yuan unfairly caught in the crossfire, he could only silently get up to eat, while Wen Yang became as timid as a quail, closely following Ning Chu, afraid to say a word and get chewed out too.

“Wen Yang.”

“In!” Wen Yang automatically straightened his back.

However, her tone immediately softened, smiling gently, “Wait for me, I’ll take you to see the rental apartment when I get back.”

She turned around, her voice sharp and commanding again. “Did you take your backpack? How come you’re just eating now!”

“I’m hungry!”

“All you think about is eating.”

After about ten minutes of chaos, Hei Dou was dragged outside by her mother, a layered pancake in her mouth, her other hand waving back toward the house. “Wooo!”

“She probably said goodbye?” Wen Yang guessed.

“Finally quiet,” Ning Yuan sighed, lying back on the sofa, “So tired. I’ll take a nap after I eat.”

“Go sleep in your bedroom?”

“Sure, help me put the bedding away.”

Ning Chu watched her brother go into the adjoining bedroom, playfully raising an eyebrow at Wen Yang. “My mom is usually okay, quite open-minded. She probably got mad because Hei Dou was dragging her feet, just like me when I was little~”

“If my mom wasn’t a bit forceful, she wouldn’t be able to handle me and my brother.”

Wen Yang smiled wryly, having previously envied Ning Chu’s harmonious family vibes. But after witnessing the tiger mom’s wrath, he was a little scared.

Ning Chu wouldn’t turn into a tiger mom too, would she…

“Time to eat~”

Ning Chu picked up a cup of soymilk, leaning back as she mumbled, “Let’s just buy a house in the north in the future? I heard there’s a place where house prices are super cheap, only a few thousand!”

“Too far. That’s only good for freelancers.”

“Isn’t that perfect then! I’m a great writer!” She shed her jacket, puffed her chest out, and declared, “I made two thousand in royalties this month!”

“Right~ great writer~”

Wen Yang couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What are you laughing at~ What if?” Ning Chu muttered, taking a couple sips of soymilk and grabbing a meat bun, asking while munching, “So, once we rent a place, what job are you planning to get?”

“A milk tea shop? A waiter? I’m okay with anything.”

Her expression tightened a bit. “Umm… don’t get tricked by the bad women out there!”

“I know, you’re the only good woman in the world.”

“Exactly! Outside there are only seductive vixens!”

——————

Tomorrow marks the start of a new month, time to unlock more rewards!

Today is the last day of this month. I suggest using the remaining monthly tickets to slap my face!

---