Trapped In Paradise
Volume 3 Chapter 48 / Chapter 553: Siding with Outsiders
"Isn't this... kind of a bad idea?"
Although he'd managed to pry open the cabinet, Wen Yang still felt guilty. His eyes kept drifting toward the front door, afraid that his future mother-in-law would come home and explode with anger.
"What are you afraid of? It's just a cabinet."
Ning Chu crossed her legs and leaned comfortably against Wen Yang as she flipped through the household registration booklet in her hands.
Suddenly, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "You don't want to marry me?"
"I'm just worried Mom will be angry."
"Let's just get the marriage certificate first~ We can have the wedding later when we've saved more money."
She didn't think there was anything wrong with the plan and replied matter-of-factly,
"Who told Mom to disagree? She snuck off with the household registration booklet to get married back then. Why can't I do the same?"
Wen Yang shook his head helplessly, absentmindedly running his fingers through her hair.
"But I didn't bring my household registration booklet back with me."
"I accidentally packed yours in my bag. I'll go get it in a minute."
He froze for a moment before nearly laughing.
"Was that really an accident... or did you do it on purpose?"
"On purpose!"
Ning Chu planted her hands on her hips and proudly puffed out her chest, making her modest curves stand out.
She stuffed the household registration booklet into her shoulder bag. But when she looked up again, all of that righteous confidence had disappeared, replaced by a pitiful expression.
She rested both hands against Wen Yang's chest.
"Wen Yang... after we get married, you can't ever betray me, okay~"
She clutched tightly at the front of his shirt, looking up at him with watery, pleading eyes. Her soft, kitten-like expression was enough to melt his heart.
"Never! If I ever betray you, may lightning strike me dead!" He agreed without the slightest hesitation.
He had originally wanted to save up a little more money before getting married, but Ning Chu was already so eager that he no longer had any reason to hesitate.
"But... why do you want to get married so badly?" Wen Yang asked curiously.
Ning Chu's deliberately pitiful expression stiffened.
She released his shirt collar, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, avoided his gaze, and turned her head aside.
"Once we're married... you'll be mine."
"You really think I'm going to run away?"
"So many bad women are after you! I have to tie you down by my side..."
She mumbled shyly, "My protagonist can't be touched by any other woman."
Ever since her twenty-second birthday, she'd been thinking constantly about registering their marriage.
It was only because they had both been working away from home—and because the Civil Affairs Bureau had been closed during the Lunar New Year when they returned—that the plan had been postponed until now.
Wen Yang found her both amusing and endearing.
With a gentle smile, he teased, "Then after we're married, you'll have to call me 'husband.'"
Ever since they'd met, the little succubus had never stopped being jealous. Her possessiveness toward him had only grown stronger over time.
"Ehh... that feels kind of weird."
Ning Chu lowered her head, her voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
"...Husband."
"Why do you sound so reluctant?"
Wen Yang's smile widened.
"You weren't this shy last night."
"You're talking nonsense. Last night I was obviously calling you 'Daddy.'"
Ning Chu's face instantly grew hot from the teasing.
She sprang up from the sofa and rushed excitedly into the bedroom.
"I'm going to change clothes! Wait for me!"
"Okay. Hurry up, though. Mom should be back soon, right?"
"Not that soon! I still have to put on makeup! You should get ready too—we have to take ID photos when we get there!"
She changed into a pretty dress, picked up Wen Yang's household registration booklet—which she'd "accidentally" packed into her luggage—and then dashed from the second bedroom into the master bedroom, calling out as she went and borrowing her mother's makeup.
Wen Yang washed his hair, changed into a clean, neat outfit, and washed his face with cleanser. His preparations were finished, so he sat on the sofa waiting for Ning Chu to finish her makeup.
The thought that they were about to register their marriage filled him with both anticipation and nervousness. He could only shake his leg restlessly to ease the pressure building inside him.
His girlfriend was about to become his wife...
And yet he still hadn't bought a house. Aside from a modest amount of savings, he still felt like he had nothing to his name.
Before he had time to think any further, the front door suddenly opened.
Wen Yang froze for a moment and looked toward the entrance, only to see his future mother-in-law stepping inside with a bag of groceries in hand.
This is bad.
Forcing an awkward smile, he hurried over and eagerly took the groceries from her.
"Mom, why are you back so early?"
"Why do you seem so strange?"
Ning Juan immediately sensed that something was off and frowned as she looked him over.
"..."
Seeing the nervous expression on Wen Yang's face, she quickly came to a conclusion. Covering her mouth, she smiled teasingly.
"You young people really do have plenty of energy~ First thing in the morning, too~"
"I'd better go catch up on some sleep~ You two kept me awake last night. Try to keep it down."
It seemed her daughter was living quite a satisfying life.
Wen Yang wasn't bad either. He'd been with a succubus for four years and still hadn't been completely drained. He didn't even look like he had weak kidneys this time—in fact, he seemed healthier than before.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled and started walking toward the bedroom.
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from inside the apartment.
"Wen Yang! Come here! Let me fix your hair!"
"How about a slicked-back hairstyle? The guys on TV always look so handsome with one~"
Ning Chu had just finished putting on her makeup. She came running out excitedly with a comb and a bottle of hair gel in her hands.
The instant she saw her mother's figure, she stopped dead in her tracks. The excitement on her face froze.
"...Mom."
"Oh? You even put on makeup. Going out somewhere?"
Now it was obvious they weren't planning to "exercise" at home.
If they were, her daughter would still be wearing pajamas—or something so skimpy it barely counted as clothing.
"We're just going out for a walk. I'm taking Ning Chu on a date," Wen Yang reacted quickly and explained.
"Oh?"
Ning Juan eyed her daughter suspiciously.
Compared to Wen Yang, Ning Chu's composure was much worse. The panic written all over her face immediately exposed that something was wrong.
Ning Juan's expression darkened.
"Take my household registration booklet out."
"Ugh..."
Ning Chu pouted, looking completely unwilling.
"Mom, even if you stop me, it's not hard for me to get a household registration certificate anyway."
Ning Juan was so exasperated that she didn't know what to say.
Taking a deep breath, she sighed with a headache.
"Isn't everything I'm doing for your own good?"
"Don't always use 'it's for your own good'..."
"And what about you, Wen Yang? What do you think?"
Knowing her daughter had inherited her own stubbornness and refusal to back down, Ning Juan turned to Wen Yang instead.
Under that scrutinizing gaze, Wen Yang's smile stiffened.
No matter how he answered, he was going to offend someone.
The only question was whether he'd offend his future mother-in-law or his future wife.
After thinking it over briefly, he answered honestly despite his nerves.
"Mom, I'll never let Ning Chu down. I'll do everything I can to give her the best life possible."
"If Ning Chu is ever harmed in the slightest, you'll answer to me."
"See, Mom? He's so sincere~"
Hearing her daughter still acting spoiled and trying to smooth things over, Ning Juan felt the veins in her temples throbbing.
Her head ached from frustration.
"I can't be bothered with you anymore."
She turned and walked straight into the bedroom.
Ning Chu let out a cheer.
Before her mother had even entered the room, she threw herself toward Wen Yang.
"Wen Yang! Come here! Let me give you a slicked-back hairstyle! Don't move!"
"What kind of wedding should we have once we're rich? Which style do you like?"
"We don't have money right now anyway. I honestly can't be bothered with a wedding—it sounds like too much trouble."
"Then how about we use the wedding money to travel for our honeymoon instead?"
"That's a great idea! Let's do it after we've bought a house!"
Behind Ning Juan, the excited voices of her daughter and future son-in-law continued discussing their plans.
As soon as she entered the bedroom, Ning Juan glanced at the cabinet with its lock pried open and the mess surrounding it.
Her blood pressure climbed even higher.
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she let out a helpless sigh.
"My daughter's heart has completely sided with someone else..."
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Note: An idiom meaning she favors outsiders over her own family—in this case, her future husband over her mother.
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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.
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