Trapped In Paradise
Volume 3 Chapter 45 / Chapter 550: Opposition
"Mom! Black Bean! I'm home!"
After spending just one day and one night at Lily's house, Ning Chu was back home the following evening.
Including her annual leave, she had only taken six days off in total, so she had to make the most of this trip home. She was even planning to spend the last day of her vacation lying around like a couch potato in her apartment, getting some proper rest.
"Big Sis! Brother-in-law!"
The moment she called out, Ning Chu felt a sudden gust of wind rushing toward her. She quickly planted her feet and barely managed to withstand Black Bean's flying tackle.
"Ow... That hurt..."
She suspected that in a few more years, Black Bean would be strong enough to knock her flying.
"Brother-in-law! Did you bring anything tasty?" Black Bean hugged her sister around the waist while craning her head toward Wen Yang, who was still standing outside the door.
"Uh... I forgot."
Hearing those dreadful words, Black Bean's eyes widened in shock. She took a step back in disbelief.
"Then I'm sleeping with Big Sis tonight! We haven't seen each other in so long!"
The corner of Wen Yang's mouth twitched as he shot Ning Chu a questioning look.
"When we came home for the New Year, she insisted on sleeping with me. The only way to bribe her was with snacks..."
Who knew this little cat would learn so quickly?
Ning Chu sighed helplessly.
"Go buy some."
For the past few days, they had either been staying in hotels or at Lily's house. Being constantly on edge had left her with barely any appetite. A perfectly healthy succubus was practically wasting away. She'd been listless all day, her complexion had suffered, and she'd even developed a tiny pimple on her chin.
Now that she was finally home, it was time to eat properly.
"Alright. I remember there's a place selling egg burgers by the entrance to the neighborhood."
Wen Yang had just taken off his shoes but bent down to put them back on.
"Black Bean, do you want one?"
"Yes! Two!"
"Okay. Give me about fifteen minutes. Leave the door open."
Just then, Ning Chu's mother came out of the bedroom and happened to hear the exchange. She glared at Black Bean.
"At this rate, you'll end up as fat as a pig."
"As if~"
"Stop standing in the doorway. Should I cook you something?"
"Mom, there's something I want to talk to you about."
Ning Chu stopped her mother just as she was about to head for the kitchen. Slipping into her house slippers, carrying Black Bean clinging to her body, she hurried over.
"What is it?"
Ning Juan looked at her in confusion.
Ning Chu's face was visibly flushed. Avoiding her mother's gaze, she stammered nervously,
"I... want to find a time for Wen Yang and me to register our marriage first."
"So soon?"
"We've already been together for four years. That's not exactly soon, is it?"
Before she realized it, they had been dating for four years.
For most of that time, Ning Chu had lived together with Wen Yang. Although they were technically still boyfriend and girlfriend, in reality they were already much like a married couple. The only difference was a marriage certificate.
That was how she saw it.
Ning Juan, however, frowned. Black Bean, still hanging from Ning Chu, tilted her head curiously.
"What's wrong?"
Instead of going to the kitchen, Ning Juan sat down at the dining table.
"Have you even looked at what Wen Yang has right now? If you married him, he couldn't even afford a proper wedding."
"He has nearly a hundred thousand yuan in savings now. He can afford a wedding..."
"What about a house? Are you planning to live in a rented apartment with him?"
"We can take our time with that~ Renting is fine. If we don't like it, we can always move."
Although Ning Juan was generally quite satisfied with Wen Yang now, the thought of her daughter marrying a man with no house, no car, and no financial security left her deeply uneasy.
Wasn't that practically getting a wife for free?
The gentle smile gradually disappeared from her face, replaced by a serious expression.
"Have you thought about what happens if the two of you break up?"
Ning Chu shook her head vigorously.
"If you're not married, then breaking up is just breaking up. But once you're married, separating becomes much harder."
"With your looks and qualifications, finding someone who's just as handsome as Wen Yang but wealthier wouldn't be difficult. But if you become a divorcée—"
Ning Chu interrupted her.
"Mom, why would I break up with him?"
"What if it happens? Are you really going to tie your entire life to him?"
"Yes."
The immediate, unwavering answer left Ning Juan speechless.
She stared at the stubborn determination written across her daughter's face.
For a fleeting moment, she thought she was looking at her younger self.
It was exactly the same...
She had been just like this herself.
She'd practically lost her mind—despite having good prospects and every advantage, she had insisted on marrying a penniless young man.
No matter how much her family and friends tried to persuade her, she had stubbornly devoted herself to him.
Ning Juan fell silent for a moment before covering her face with a weary sigh.
"Why are you just as stubborn as I was back then..."
"That's because I'm your daughter~ Besides, you just married the wrong person. Who disappears for twenty years after a single argument? He didn't have a shred of responsibility."
"That's exactly what I thought back then. And look how that turned out."
"If you could do it, why can't I..."
Ning Juan spoke earnestly.
"If I'd listened to my family back then, do you think I'd have had to struggle until my forties, raising the two of you by myself before I could finally live a stable life?"
Ning Chu lowered her head.
She knew how hard her mother had worked in those early years.
She also knew her mother was only trying to stop her from repeating the same mistakes.
All she could do was mutter softly,
"It's different..."
"Marriage isn't the same thing as love. It's not just about spending your life with someone you like. Don't be so foolish."
"Then what is it?"
Ning Chu knew she couldn't convince her mother.
She simply asked the question in return, then turned away without waiting for an answer, leaving the room in low spirits.
Black Bean looked helplessly at her sister's retreating back, then looked up at their worried mother.
"Why are you arguing...? Big Sis finally came home."
"We're not arguing. Go keep your sister company. I'll make you two a late-night snack."
Ning Juan stood up with a helpless sigh and headed toward the kitchen.
But after only a few steps, she suddenly turned and hurried toward the master bedroom.
Sure enough.
Inside the room, she found Ning Chu sneaking around and rummaging through the cabinets.
"Ning Chu! What are you doing in my room?"
"Ah!"
Startled, Ning Chu nearly fell flat on the floor. Looking up in surprise, her eyes darted around before she hastily improvised an excuse.
"Mom, I thought Uncle was home. I wanted to ask what he thought."
"You've already used that trick before."
Ning Juan gave her a light kick on the backside.
"Out."
"That hurts! I really came to ask Uncle!"
Clutching her butt, Ning Chu muttered complaints under her breath as she fled the bedroom.
At that moment, Wen Yang returned with the egg burgers.
Seeing her being chased into the living room in such a sorry state, he looked completely confused.
"What happened? You just got home. Why's everything so chaotic already?"
"Nothing!"
Still pouting angrily, Ning Chu turned and marched into her own room.
She wasn't upset because Wen Yang hadn't "made something of himself."
She was angry at herself for not making the protagonist of her novel a rich second-generation heir.
Even an ordinary middle-class family would have been fine.
If Wen Yang had been born rich, her mother would probably have happily pushed her straight into his arms.
"...?"
"Big Sis argued with Mom!" Black Bean scampered over. "Brother-in-law~ Hamburger~"
Wen Yang handed her the egg burger he was carrying and coaxed her temptingly.
"Here. Tell me what they argued about."
"...Then I want that too."
Black Bean stared eagerly at the cola in his other hand.
"That's for your sister."
"Then I'm not telling!"
Laughing mischievously, Black Bean ran off to the living room to watch television.
Although he could probably get the story out of her if he kept asking, Wen Yang hesitated.
Then he pushed open the door to the spare bedroom and looked inside at Ning Chu, who was sulking by herself.
Comforting his little succubus was more important.
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Tn: I updated the story daily, but if you want to see more chapter of this story ahead of time, please go to my Patreon.
Latest Chapter in Patreon: Volume 3 Chapter 91 / Chapter 597: A Good Remedy for Low Blood Pressure[1]
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/HannibalNotBarca/posts/trapped-in-172547056?collection=234094
[2] https://www.patreon.com/HannibalNotBarca/posts/trapped-in-172547056?collection=234094