Wen Ying and her aunt’s family celebrated at Shrimp King, and when she got home, she locked the publishing contract in a drawer. Her mood was buoyant while working on practice papers.
When a person’s in high spirits, the sky seems bluer, the water clearer, everything looks pleasing. Wen Ying had only done half a paper when Chen Ru and her husband returned.
Wen Ying’s shout of “Mum” was especially loud, catching Chen Ru off guard.
It was a day off from the tutoring centre, and Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong could finally rest at home for half a weekend.
The couple exchanged a glance. Wen Dongrong was curious: what had happened?
Chen Ru turned away, not caring, not interested!
This year’s college entrance exam had changed, moving from July to June. Among Wen Ying’s relatives, Qin Jiao and Wen Kai were both taking it.
The difference was that Qin Jiao was a first-time candidate, while Wen Kai was a repeater.
Qin Jiao was under pressure, but Wen Kai’s was even greater.
Last year, Wen Kai scored 569, 31 points above the first-tier university cutoff, yet chose to repeat. No one knew how he’d do this year.
Most repeaters improve their scores, but a few do worse.
Wen Dongrong first asked Wen Ying if she’d eaten lunch. Getting a yes, he brought up Wen Kai:
“I heard from your auntie that Wen Kai’s been studying so hard lately, he’s lost weight, his glasses prescription’s gone up, he must be under a lot of pressure.”
Wen Dongrong was speaking to Wen Ying but meant it for the whole family.
Chen Ru was more relaxed about it now, especially with the Shu family as a contrast. Her in-laws weren’t too bad. Wen Kai had settled in the city, self-sufficient, so Wen Dongrong didn’t need to subsidise him, caring a bit was fine, especially since they were strapped for cash with the house renovation. Wen Dongrong couldn’t even stash pocket money without feeling guilty.
Sigh, he used to get a 500-yuan monthly subsidy, but for some reason, that was gone now, leaving Wen Dongrong quietly resentful.
“Why not invite Kai to Rongcheng to unwind?”
The two days before the exam were a break.
Wen Ying suggested, and Wen Dongrong didn’t object, just glanced around their rented flat, “There’s only two rooms, where would Kai sleep?”
No one anywhere lets guests sleep on the sofa.
Wen Ying blurted out, “You and Kai can share a room, and I’ll sleep with Mum!”
The words slipped out before she sensed something off.
Had Old Wen tricked her?
Wen Dongrong’s expression showed no hint of scheming. Chen Ru’s face was blank. The head of the family turned to his wife, “Is that alright?”
Chen Ru suspected Wen Dongrong was up to something.
But she wasn’t afraid.
Sleep together? Fine, what’s the big deal about mother and daughter sharing a bed?
Their cold war was more mental than anything, they still spoke at home, but Chen Ru had unilaterally stopped meddling in Wen Ying’s affairs.
Sharing a bed wouldn’t fix the root issue, so Chen Ru nodded fearlessly, “Fine, as long as Wen Kai’s happy to come.”
Wen Dongrong coughed lightly, “He’ll definitely want to, I’ll call Big Sis and tell her to let Wen Kai know.”
“Kai’s coming next week, why not bring Grandma and Uncle too for a day in Rongcheng? Grandma hasn’t seen our new house yet.”
In her last life, Wen Ying’s family lived in the same Rongcheng neighbourhood, but Grandma Wen and Chen Ru didn’t get along, so Grandma never visited their home.
In her last life, Wen Ying thought her grandma favoured boys, but this time, looking fairly, Grandma did lean that way, yet it wasn’t true she didn’t care about Wen Ying at all.
Even with blood ties, living together deepens bonds, especially for the elderly, who dote more on the grandkids they raise. Wen Ying was long past resenting her grandma for favouring her cousin.
Wen Ying’s words were well put, and Wen Dongrong was pleased.
He could still call the shots in the Wen family.
But recalling when his wife threw the account book at him in a rage, Wen Dongrong didn’t dare decide alone and asked her opinion.
Chen Ru didn’t object, “Let them come, you’re handling the transport anyway.”
Wen Dongrong made the call. Wen Kai wasn’t home, so it wasn’t clear if he’d agree, but Grandma Wen was thrilled to visit Rongcheng.
To Grandma, her second son was a success, a government cadre with a house in the provincial capital and now a car. She’d long wanted to see it, but Chen Ru never invited her, and Grandma was too embarrassed to ask, her successful son Wen Dongrong was her own, but her shameful daughter Wen Hongyan was too, and with Wen Hongyan’s antics, Grandma felt too ashamed to face Chen Ru!
Since Wen Ying and Chen Ru’s cold war began, the family hadn’t sat down to discuss anything together. Talking about Wen Kai’s visit next week, Wen Ying asked about the house renovation progress for the first time.
Chen Ru nearly said, “None of your business,” but Wen Dongrong jumped in, “The plumbing and wiring are done, next is painting and tiling. Your mum wants your room’s walls pink, what do you think?”
Pink walls?
Wen Ying’s mind went blank.
Since she could remember, she’d never had a pink room, princess or lace dresses were things she’d never owned.
As a kid, she’d fantasised about a princess-style room, but now, past the age of caring about Grandma’s favouritism, she was also past liking princess vibes.
“White walls, they’re timeless and easy to decorate.”
Wen Ying wasn’t sure if Manager Chen really wanted that or if Old Wen was making it up, but she genuinely didn’t like pink walls. If a family couldn’t even express preferences openly, wouldn’t living here feel as stifling as before?
“White it is then.”
Before Wen Dongrong could say more, Chen Ru settled it and went back to her room.
Wen Dongrong shot Wen Ying a look: thought you’d finally got it, but you’re still clueless, you don’t even know how to play along.
Wen Ying was so thrown by Old Wen’s disdain she started doubting herself.
Was she really that dense?
She asked Xie Qian about it, hoping the top student would have a clearer answer.
Far away in Shanghai, Xie Qian had heard from his mum about Wen Ying’s publishing contract but hadn’t got her call to share the good news.
Hmph, now that she wanted to talk, he didn’t want to listen.
He said that, but when his phone buzzed, he instinctively checked his inbox.
Sure enough, it was a message from that hamster.
But it wasn’t about the contract, it was about what colour to paint the house’s walls… The hamster was sharp enough with other matters, so why did she keep tripping up at home?
“What colour the walls are doesn’t matter, does it? By the time your house is renovated, aired out, and ready to move into, the first term of second year will almost be over. You’ll only live there for about a year and a half before the college entrance exam. After that, you’ll go to university elsewhere, staying home less than two months a year. Later, when you have your own place, you’ll spend even less time with your parents, so this issue, to me, is a minor conflict.”
Minor conflicts can be compromised on.
They’re not that important.
Once you have your own place, you can paint the walls rainbow if you want.
Xie Qian agreed that major conflicts shouldn’t be compromised, but Wen Ying wouldn’t budge on these trivial matters. To Chen Ru, it looked like she was just being contrary.
That was no good for family harmony.
Even if she ranked in the top 300 in her year at finals, it still wouldn’t mend her relationship with her mum.
