After Transmigrating Into The Novel, The White Moonlight And The Female Lead Of The Abusive Romance Got Their Happy Ending - Chapter 2

The taxi carried Wen Tang through Huadu’s congested streets and alleys before finally dropping her off at “Wen Tang’s” home.

At the entrance to the residential community, a middle-aged man in a dark blue polo shirt was pacing back and forth anxiously.

Wen Tang recognized him at once.

That was her “father.”

“Dad—” She opened the taxi door and waved to Father Wen. “Over here.”

The stern-looking middle-aged man, whose expression usually carried an imposing authority even when he was not angry, instantly broke into a broad smile and took the suitcase from her hand.

“I told you I’d come pick you up, but you insisted I didn’t need to.”

“Don’t you have a class this afternoon? It wouldn’t be good to rearrange it at the last minute.”

“You silly girl. Why are you still being so polite with your own father?” Father Wen did not notice the subtle distance in his daughter’s behavior.

As they walked side by side along the tree-shaded path inside the community, he waggled his eyebrows at her.

“We have guests at home. They said they wanted to welcome you back with us.”

?

Seeing Father Wen’s irritated attitude, Wen Tang had a bad feeling.

“Don’t tell me their surname is Fu?”

“That’s right! He came over with his mother. But your mom and Aunt Fu have been friends for so many years, so I couldn’t exactly turn them away on your behalf.”

“On my behalf”?

Father Wen’s words were brimming with dissatisfaction toward Fu Xuan, the male lead. It seemed the original Wen Tang had not liked Fu Xuan very much before going abroad either.

That made her even more curious.

Why, in the latter half of the original novel, had “Wen Tang” willingly become entangled with Fu Xuan?

Had studying abroad somehow made her blind, causing her to suddenly fall for a scumbag?

“It’s fine. Once he learned I was back, he was bound to come looking for me sooner or later. Meeting him now is better than having him corner me at the hospital later.”

She answered tentatively. When Father Wen showed no unusual reaction, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The truth was that she did not possess many of the original owner’s memories. She knew some basic information, but many details were missing. Had she not also been a cardiac surgeon herself, she might have exposed herself during the surgery she performed on her very first day in this world.

The Wen family’s small villa was not far from the entrance. They reached it after only a few more exchanges.

When Wen Tang saw the villa surrounded by luxuriant greenery and blooming flowers, she suddenly remembered that the novel described Mother Wen as a bestselling author. Many of her books had been adapted into films and television dramas.

Otherwise, with Father Wen’s salary as an ordinary university history professor, there was no way he could have afforded a villa in land-scarce, exorbitantly expensive Huadu.

Even Fu Xuan’s first work as a director had been an adaptation of one of Mother Wen’s hugely popular novels. The adaptation had been extraordinarily successful, and Fu Xuan had subsequently been hailed by netizens as a “heaven-sent Ziwei Star” of the screenwriting and directing world.

“Tangtang—”

The moment she stepped through the door, before Wen Tang could even take in her surroundings, she was pulled into a soft embrace.

“Mom missed you so much! And you wouldn’t even let your father and me visit you.”

A soft laugh sounded from the living room.

Wen Tang focused her gaze and saw an elegant woman in a dark blue cocktail dress sitting on the ivory-colored sofa. Beside her sat a young man in a neatly tailored suit.

Presumably, these were the male lead, Fu Xuan, and his mother.

“Mom, people are watching.” Wen Tang gently patted Mother Wen on the back.

“It doesn’t matter. Your Aunt Fu watched you grow up.” Mother Wen did not care in the slightest. “And your Brother Xuan is your childhood friend. You two certainly aren’t strangers.”

“Hello, Aunt Fu. Brother Xuan.” Wen Tang followed Mother Wen’s lead and greeted them.

Madam Fu smiled brightly.

“Look at our Tangtang. She’s all grown up now.”

“Ah-Xuan is so useless. Tangtang is such a wonderful girl, and he still hasn’t managed to win her over.” She gave her son a light shove. “I’ve been looking forward to Tangtang becoming my daughter-in-law for years. When that happens, I promise I’ll treat her like my own daughter.”

“That can certainly be arranged. Tangtang can be your daughter, but you’ll have to let Ah-Xuan become my son,” Mother Wen replied, pulling Wen Tang down onto the sofa. Then she turned and smiled at her husband. “Old Wen, I’ve already chopped all the ingredients. We’ll have to trouble our master chef to make dinner.”

Father Wen laughed heartily.

“No problem. Leave it to me.”

He then turned to Madam Fu.

“But our Tangtang is still young. Her mother and I would like to keep her at home for a few more years.”

He shot Mother Wen a meaningful look. Mother Wen pursed her lips, but still went along with him.

“Old Wen is right. There’s no hurry for Tangtang to get married.”

“Did you hear that, Ah-Xuan?” Madam Fu patted her son. “Your Aunt Wen still isn’t completely satisfied with you. You’ll have to work harder.”

Fu Xuan gave a confident smile, as though victory was already within his grasp.

“I understand, Mom. Aunt Wen, don’t worry. I’ll prove myself.”

Mother Wen continued chatting and laughing with Madam Fu, while Wen Tang quietly observed the male lead.

From the moment she had entered, Fu Xuan’s gaze had repeatedly swept over her. She did not know whether she was imagining it, but his stare felt far too blatant, making her uncomfortable all over.

When Fu Xuan seemed about to say something, she spoke before he could.

“Mom, Aunt Fu, I’ve only just returned home, and I still want to focus on my career. Besides, I’ve always regarded Brother Xuan as an older brother.”

Madam Fu’s expression darkened slightly. She discreetly nudged her son and smiled.

“Feelings develop over time. Not everything has to be love at first sight.”

“But Tangtang’s attitude is good too. It’s better for a woman to have her own job. That way, once she gets married, she won’t become like those housewives who watch their husbands all day as though they’re police officers hunting thieves. Men have rebellious streaks, you know. The more tightly you control them, the more they’ll want to go out and fool around…”

Those words were unpleasant to hear.

Wen Tang’s smile faded. She lowered her voice and said to Mother Wen, “Mom, I’ll go help Dad in the kitchen. You can keep chatting with Aunt Fu and Brother Xuan.”

Madam Fu continued smiling.

“Tangtang is so sensible. She’ll definitely make a virtuous wife someday.”

Even Fu Xuan wore a satisfied expression.

Mother Wen frowned, a faint displeasure stirring inside her.

She had originally intended to use today as an opportunity to settle matters between the two children. Now, however, she was beginning to feel that a wealthy family like the Fus might not truly be suitable for her daughter.

“What do you mean, virtuous? She’s just a little glutton. She got tired of the food overseas, so she learned how to cook for herself. Before she went abroad, her father and I never let her enter the kitchen.”

After being contradicted by Mother Wen, Madam Fu gave an awkward laugh and changed the subject to gossip from the entertainment industry.

She and Mother Wen had been high school classmates and had later attended the same university. The two had remained in contact all these years.

Before marrying, Madam Fu had been a famous award-winning actress. After marriage, she withdrew from the entertainment industry and became a full-time housewife.

In the kitchen, Wen Tang stormed in with her cheeks puffed in anger. She turned on the tap and grabbed a tomato at random, pretending to wash it.

Father Wen glanced over and said helplessly, “I already washed that one. Stop tormenting it.”

She abruptly shut off the tap and slammed the tomato onto the chopping board. She opened her mouth, but hesitated.

“What’s wrong?”

“Aunt Fu is talking about Fu Xuan and me again…”

“All right. If you don’t like him, then ignore the Fu boy. Even if you remain single for the rest of your life, your father will support you.” Father Wen swiftly chopped the tomato into small pieces and placed them on a plate. “Stop worrying. Sprinkle some sugar over the tomatoes.”

Wen Tang looked at Father Wen, whose entire expression seemed to declare, Of course I should support my daughter and My daughter is the best in the world.

A bitter ache rose in her chest.

In the novel, this happy family of three had ultimately met an end in which their bodies were left lying in the street.

On the plane, Wen Tang had still entertained the possibility that, if her identity were exposed, she could simply distance herself from Father and Mother Wen.

But now, part of her wanted to become the real Wen Tang.

She longed far too much for the warmth of a family like this.

I’m sorry, Wen Tang of this world. I don’t know why I came to occupy your body. But if there is no way for you to return, and you don’t mind, I will live well in your place. I will also take good care of your parents.

I swear to you that I will change the ending of the novel. They will all live safely and happily into old age.

Suddenly, a cool sensation surged from her chest. It passed through her mind and limbs before finally settling at her fingertips.

Only after a long while did the coolness fade. Her hands, which had previously been somewhat cold, now felt pleasantly warm.

She flexed them experimentally and discovered that the faint stiffness she had felt since her rebirth had completely vanished. The muscles in her hands felt more flexible and powerful.

Her heart now pumped blood joyfully through her entire body. Her whole body felt lighter, and the lingering sensation of death that had always hovered around her was gone.

“Then I’ll take that as your agreement, Tangtang.” She smiled radiantly and murmured under her breath.

A breeze appeared from nowhere, gently lifting several strands of hair beside her ears.

Father Wen had not heard her clearly.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. I said—” Wen Tang rested her head on her father’s shoulder and acted spoiled, just as a real daughter would. “I’m hungry. Can I sneak a few bites?”

“Eat! Of course you can eat!” Father Wen waved his hand grandly and pushed all the meat dishes toward her. “What kind of cook doesn’t sample the food?”

Wen Tang immediately took a small bowl from the cupboard, placed a little of every dish inside, and stood somewhere out of the way, holding the bowl while watching Father Wen cook.

The novel had not described Father and Mother Wen in much detail. She only remembered a few lines—

“Father Wen is a university history professor. Mother Wen is a bestselling author. The two are deeply in love.”

“After Wen Tang disappeared, Father Wen resigned from his job and set off with his wife to search for their daughter without hesitation.”

“Even before her death, Mother Wen never understood why the daughter who had once been outstanding in both character and academics would deliberately cause a patient’s death during surgery.”

Wen Tang had always felt that the portrayal of “Wen Tang” in the novel was strangely contradictory.

On one hand, she was said to be a rare and outstanding cardiac surgeon. On the other, she went on to commit all sorts of illegal and criminal acts…

“What are you thinking about?” Father Wen waved a hand in front of her face.

“Nothing. I was thinking about a surgery.”

“Start carrying the dishes out. We’re almost done. Once the vegetables in the wok are ready, we can eat.”

Wen Tang pushed her doubts aside.

“Got it. It’s been a long time since I tasted your cooking.”

Once all the dishes had been served, everyone raised their glasses.

“Cheers—”

Wen Tang alone drank juice. Everyone else had poured themselves red wine.

When Madam Fu saw the lavish spread and the orange-yellow carrot juice in Wen Tang’s glass, she looked increasingly satisfied.

“I’m telling you, good girls like our Tangtang are becoming harder and harder to find these days.”

Wen Tang smiled but did not answer. She quietly picked up a slice of chilled beef with her chopsticks.

Madam Fu refused to let the matter go.

“Just look at those young celebrities in the industry nowadays. They look less and less like proper young ladies. Drinking, swearing—honestly, they behave like shrews.”

Mother Wen disagreed.

“Oh, girls need to be a little stronger when they’re out in the world. That’s how they protect themselves. When Tangtang was abroad, her father and I would rather she act fierce than allow anyone to bully her.”

Madam Fu placed some vegetable salad into Wen Tang’s bowl with a smile.

“Tangtang, eat more vegetables. They’ll help you maintain your figure. For women like us, beauty is our greatest asset.”

When Wen Tang did not respond, she continued relentlessly.

“I have a few meal plans at home. You can follow them with me later. I guarantee we’ll shave a few more centimeters off your waistline…”

Wen Tang finally could not take it anymore.

She dropped her chopsticks onto the table and retorted, “Aunt Fu, I’ve held back all this time because I respect you as my mother’s friend.”

“First, regarding whether or not I drink: I’m not drinking because I’m worried I may have surgery tomorrow, and alcohol can affect my performance. It has nothing to do with your theory that ‘good girls don’t drink.’”

“Second, regarding my diet: I am eating food in my own home. I will eat whatever I like. I don’t need you pointing fingers and telling me what to do.”

“Furthermore, from a nutritional perspective, a balanced diet containing both meat and vegetables is the most reasonable way to eat. As a surgeon, I also have greater physical demands than most people. I need to consume enough protein to make sure I don’t suffer hypoglycemia and faint at the operating table.”

“Tangtang, your Aunt Fu is only saying these things for your own good.” Beneath the table, Mother Wen tugged at her daughter’s sleeve and tried to smooth things over. “I’m sorry, Lingling. Tangtang has always been rather straightforward. Ah-Xuan is much better. Look at how calm and steady he is…”

Madam Fu had spent many years navigating the entertainment industry. Even after being spoken to like this, she did not become angry. Her expression remained unchanged as she followed Mother Wen’s lead and began praising her son.

“I’m not boasting, but the film Ah-Xuan recently directed unexpectedly became the dark horse of the summer release season. I’m simply waiting to enjoy an easy life now.”

During the entire meal, the only person who may have genuinely enjoyed himself was Father Wen.

He cheerfully peeled prawns and cracked crab shells for his wife and daughter, occasionally linking arms with his wife so they could drink from each other’s glasses.

After dinner, the Fu family’s driver arrived.

Madam Fu and Fu Xuan said goodbye to the Wen family and got into the car.

Wen Tang did not see the twisted expression on Madam Fu’s face after the car door closed.