555. Daughters Grow Up and Don’t Stick Around
“My daughter is all grown up and won’t stick around~”
Mom sighed while sitting on the sofa, exasperatedly talking to her mobile phone. “Is there something wrong with her brain? With looks like that, why would she go for a poor kid?”
“Look at that An Han who plays Mahjong with me; she isn’t that much prettier and ended up marrying a rich second-generation guy. She got a whole apartment as a wedding gift!”
“Even if we ignore the whole ‘marrying within one’s social class’ thing, at least Wen Yang’s family should have some sort of stability, right?”
“I don’t know what kind of magic potion she fed Ning Chu; she’s so dead set on this marriage it’s as if she pried open my closet! Come help me fix it when you get back tonight.”
“With my past? Why do you keep bringing that up!”
“Tonight, you better come over! Watch me not take care of you!”
Mom hit a nerve and angrily hung up, tossing the phone aside and collapsing back onto the sofa.
Back when this guy wooed her online, he was quite charming. How come now words just can’t come out of his mouth?
She reminisced about the scene when her daughter dragged Wen Yang out the door, a heavy sigh escaping her lips.
She should have seen this day coming the moment her son turned into a daughter.
She just didn’t expect the scene to mirror her own past so closely it nearly made her do a double-take.
Mom couldn’t quite wrap her head around how Ning Chu only became a girl in her freshman year, then found herself a boyfriend in less than six months, and got married in just four years! Now she’s someone else’s little treasure, and look at her big boy Ning Yuan…
“It’s almost evening, why aren’t you back yet?”
Glancing at the clock, Mom made an educated guess about where Ning Chu and Wen Yang had vanished to.
“She only comes back once or twice a year and spends every day glued to Wen Yang.”
She slumped deeper into the sofa, calculating the time to pick up Black Bean, wondering which restaurant to go to for dinner. After all, it was her daughter’s big life event; even if they couldn’t afford a wedding, they had to eat something nice.
Just then, she heard the sound of the elevator.
As she stepped out of the kitchen, her daughter, glowing and slightly awkward in her steps, opened the door.
As expected…
Mom immediately recognized where they had been all day.
“Mom…” Ning Chu entered, trying to look sweet, her tail peeking out from under her dress and wagging like a little puppy, “Here’s the household registration book back, and also a membership card.”
With a dark expression, Mom took the items, then looked up at Wen Yang.
She had to admit, this son-in-law had impressive stamina. After being worn out half the night, he still managed to spend the whole day out without a hint of tiredness, even putting the succubus through the wringer.
“Did you get the certificates?”
“Mm, look…”
Ning Chu knew she had done something a bit outrageous, avoiding eye contact with her mother and pulling out their marriage certificate from her bag to show.
“You, seriously~” Mom took one glance at the cover and groaned, waving her hand, “Just put it away.”
“Okay.”
She turned her gaze back to Wen Yang; even if she wasn’t too thrilled about his family background, she had to accept it.
Wen Yang was doing well for himself; after a year of interning, he made over ten grand. But if he had to take on a mortgage, that income would barely cover it.
“Earn more money for the house; don’t make Ning Chu keep renting places with you.”
“Mom, I’ll buy one as soon as I can, and it’ll be nearby so Ning Chu can visit you whenever she has free time.”
Mom scoffed at his words but nodded.
Honestly, this apartment might be small and old-fashioned, but its location was prime. New buildings around went for prices like thirty to fifty thousand! Definitely not something a fresh grad could just work hard and buy.
“Why the rush? The economy isn’t great right now; house prices are falling. Who knows, maybe in a few years, they’ll be as cheap as cabbage.”
Mom shot a stern look at her daughter, who quickly shut up and turned her head away.
“Dinner out or home?”
“Let’s eat at home?”
Ning Chu was worried Mom would invite a bunch of relatives.
“It’s still a marriage, you know!” Mom thumped Ning Chu’s head a few times in frustration, “Do you think it’s just buying clothes and groceries?!”
“Ow, ow, ow!”
Ning Chu hugged her head to protect it, retreating until she was cornered against the wall.
It didn’t hurt that much; Mom was just pretending, but Ning Chu managed to put on an utterly pitiful act.
“Consider it decided! We’re going to a restaurant tonight!”
“Who are you inviting?”
“Your brother, your uncle, Black Bean…” Mom turned to Wen Yang, “What about you? Any relatives you want to invite?”
Wen Yang thought for a moment then shook his head, “I doubt any of my uncles can make it.”
“Then forget it.”
Mom sighed in despair, “What a mess…”
Seeing her daughter foolishly lock in a lifetime commitment with a guy, her feelings were a mixed bag, a bittersweet cocktail hard to describe.
At least this son-in-law, though not wealthy, was strong and young. He shouldn’t drain Ning Chu dry like she had seen before with others.
She scrutinized Wen Yang, who wore a simple honest smile, much like a big golden retriever.
“Make sure to exercise regularly and stay in shape. Don’t let yourself go after getting married.”
As a woman who had been there, Mom offered the most sensible advice.
“I work out twice a week, don’t worry!”
Wen Yang gently wrapped his arm around Ning Chu’s shoulders, nodding with a grin.
Only Ning Chu looked a bit pained; how would Mom know that this little succubus couldn’t handle it, often left begging for mercy with a hoarse voice until she passed out from Wen Yang’s antics?
“Let’s go pick up Ning Xin from school and head straight to the hotel.”
Mom turned to go change clothes.
“Good thing Mom’s not too mad…” Ning Chu let out a sigh of relief, bracing herself for the thunderstorm she was sure was coming.
Wen Yang’s heart relaxed as well. He plopped onto the sofa and chuckled, “I thought I was going to get beaten up.”
“Whatever, you’re tough; what’s there to be scared of?”
Ning Chu sat beside him, comfortably leaning on his shoulder.
“I’m so tired; we have to head out again soon…”
Wen Yang gently stroked the little succubus’s head, her silky hair feeling like satin under his fingers. “Just give me a few years, and I’ll throw you a wedding.”
“Ugh, weddings are such a hassle; let’s just use that money to travel instead.”
“Aren’t you the one who promised Lily and Xinya that you’d invite them to the banquet?”
Ning Chu paused, “Oh right~ That way I can even squeeze some cash out of them!”
This lazy little succubus, so uninterested in the grand affairs others cared about, thought a wedding was too much hassle for something that might only happen once in a lifetime.
Wen Yang helplessly suggested again, “How about bridal photos? We can go get those done tomorrow.”
“Ugh, that sounds like such a hassle too~ And it’ll cost several thousand, so expensive.”
“I’m just worried you might regret it later; don’t be foolish.”
“You’re the foolish one; I’m just trying to save you money, okay?!”
