As if trying to make up for something, Ning Chu clung tightly to Wen Yang’s arm, pressing her cheek gently against his sleeve.
She had always known that Wen Yang didn’t have a great upbringing—but this was the first time she’d really heard the full story.
He told it all so lightly. But it still hurts to hear.
Why on earth had she given her protagonist such a tragic backstory—dead parents, lonely childhood—just for the drama?
It was just a silly detail she’d added for fun when writing. But now, reflected in reality, it has become the source of eighteen years of grief and hardship for the real Wen Yang.
Still, even after everything, he hadn’t let the weight of his circumstances drag him down.
He’d fought to get into college, hidden his pain behind a sunny smile, and managed to appear so warm and dependable that no one would guess he was the same boy who’d grown up alone.
Life hadn’t been fair to him.
And she—Ning Chu—was the one who had written that unfair fate into existence.
“I’m doing alright now,” Wen Yang said, seeing the sadness in her eyes. He tried to lighten the mood with a teasing smile. “You look more upset than me—are you about to cry?”“No...”
Ning Chu muttered, barely audible. “I’m sorry.”
“Hm? It’s okay. Your family’s nice. I was just feeling a little envious.”
After a brief silence, she took a deep breath and lifted her head, flashing a bright, energetic smile.
“Everything in the past is over and done with! From now on, we’re going to build the perfect family together!”
If there was any way to make it up to him now, it could only be through giving him warmth, a home, a future worth hoping for.
A family built by the two of them.
“Then—do you want a daughter or a son?” Wen Yang asked suddenly.
Ning Chu's smile froze just a little as she quickly averted her eyes. “Uh... can we not have kids?”
“No kids? But a perfect family needs at least one, right? What about one boy and one girl?”
“Uh... let’s talk about it later, yeah?” Ning Chu tried to brush the topic aside. Then, spotting something up ahead, she tugged at Wen Yang’s hand and changed the subject quickly: “Let’s get breakfast first!”
Having children was terrifying!
. . . . . .
“This breakfast stall—I’ve been coming here since I was little. It’s amazing!”
She waved toward the woman at the counter. “Two scallion pancakes, five soy milks, four meat buns... and one order of soup dumplings to go!”
After placing the order, she turned back to Wen Yang.
“These scallion pancakes are the best! When I was away at college, I missed them so much! Just wait until you try them!”
“Alright.”
Wen Yang smiled. He was actually looking forward to tasting a little slice of Ning Chu’s childhood.
He peeked into the food stall, curiously watching the staff hustle and fry things up inside. The smell drifting from the window made his stomach growl loudly.
“You’re already hungry? After everything we ate last night?” Ning Chu teased him.
Wen Yang scratched his head, embarrassed. “I’ve got a big appetite…”
When the order was ready, Ning Chu eagerly tore open the bag of scallion pancakes, puffed on one to cool it, then took a big bite.
“You’ve gotta try this—it’s so good!”
“Mmh. Yeah, it’s really good.”
“Right?!”
She looked back toward the stall and sighed a little.
Standing at the door, watching the whole house erupt into noise and movement like a zoo, Ning Chu elbowed Wen Yang with a smirk.
“Still think our family’s enviable?”
“Uhh...”
Wen Yang hadn’t expected her mom to have such a fiery side.
Yesterday, she had been warm and graceful—maybe a bit reserved, but still offered him food and even made a couple of his favorite dishes.
Now? She was like a general shouting commands in a war zone.
The contrast was whiplash-inducing.
“I mean... it’s still kind of nice,” he said sheepishly.
Wen Yang scratched his head. The morning may have been chaotic, but... it was kind of warm and homey, too.
“Yeah, it’s pretty nice~”
Ning Chu walked inside and set the breakfast on the coffee table. “Mom, take some with you for Black Bean to eat on the way.”
“Alright. And look at your sister!” their mother immediately added. “Out early in the morning to buy you breakfast—and you’re still sleeping!”
Innocently caught in the crossfire, Ning Yuan could only stay quiet, dragging himself out of bed to eat.
Wen Yang, on the other hand, had turned stiff and silent like a nervous quail, trailing obediently behind Ning Chu, afraid to speak in case he got scolded too.
“Wen Yang.”
“Ma’am!” He instinctively straightened up like a soldier.
But to his surprise, her tone softened immediately.
“I’ll take you to look at some rental places when I get back,” she said with a warm smile.
Then she turned around again—and her voice snapped sharp and commanding once more:
“Did you grab your backpack? Why are you already eating?!”
“I’m hungry!”
“All you ever think about is food!”
The whole scene was a whirlwind of noise and movement for ten straight minutes.
Eventually, Black Bean was half-dragged out the door by their mom, a scallion pancake clenched in her mouth. She waved her free hand behind her toward the apartment, muffling a garbled farewell: “Mmph-mm!”
“I think... she’s trying to say goodbye?” Wen Yang guessed.
“It’s finally quiet.”
Ning Yuan let out a long sigh as he flopped back onto the couch. “So tired. I’m gonna take a nap after I finish eating.”
“Why not go sleep in the bedroom?”
“Good idea. Help me fold up the floor mat, would you?”
Ning Chu watched her brother disappear into the bedroom. She gave Wen Yang a playful raise of her brows.
“My mom’s usually fine. She’s pretty open-minded. Just now she was probably frustrated because Black Bean was dragging her feet—just like I used to do when I was little~”
“If she wasn’t a bit fierce, she wouldn’t have been able to keep me and my brother in line.”
Wen Yang smiled weakly and nodded.
Just yesterday, he’d been admiring how warm and harmonious their family was... but after witnessing Ning Chu mother ferocity in full force, he felt a little intimidated now.
Would Ning Chu one day turn into a scary mom like that too...?
“C’mon, eat up~”
Ning Chu picked up a cup of soy milk and leaned back with a contented sigh.
“Let’s buy a house up north in the future, okay? I heard there’s a place with super cheap housing—just a few tens of thousands for a full apartment!”
“That’s really far, though. It would only work if we’re both freelancers.”
“Well, isn’t that perfect?! I am a great author, after all!”
She puffed up her chest proudly, pointing at it as she declared, “I earned two thousand this month from royalties!”
“Of course, of course~ Big-time author~”
Wen Yang couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you laughing at~?”
Ning Chu huffed and took a sip of soy milk, followed by a bite of a meat bun. As she chewed, she asked,
“After we get the apartment, what kind of job are you gonna look for?”
“Milk tea shop? Server? I’m good with anything.”
She looked a little uneasy. “Ugh... just don’t get lured in by some vixen out there, alright?”
“I know, I know. You’re the only good woman in the world.”
“Exactly! The rest are all seductive hussies!”
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