NOVEL WEB
Chapter 26
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Song Anan: "..."
At this moment, she couldn't think of any adjective other than "speechless" to describe her feelings.
Even without looking in a mirror, she could guess what she looked like with her face covered in flour.
So many people were watching her embarrass herself on the livestream.
How humiliating.
Especially with Song Linchuan laughing so recklessly and arrogantly!
It just made her angrier the more she thought about it.
Song Anan glanced at the flour basin Song Linchuan was holding and suddenly felt the urge to do something mischievous.
She took a deep breath, puffing out her cheeks like a pufferfish.
Whoosh~
The flour in the basin was flung up again, but this time it was aimed at Song Linchuan's face.
The annoying laughter stopped abruptly the next second.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
But when Song Anan saw what Song Linchuan looked like, she kind of understood why he was laughing so loudly earlier.
The corners of her mouth slowly curved up and she tried hard to hold back her laughter several times, but ultimately failed.
The crisp, silvery sound of the young aunt's laughter echoed throughout the small courtyard.
【I'm laughing to death, it turns out laughter doesn't disappear but gets transferred huh】
【Young auntie: Come on, let's hurt each other】
【I guessed right, I had a feeling the young auntie definitely wouldn't let Song Linchuan off. She retaliated so quickly!】
【As expected, still the young auntie who takes immediate revenge on the spot for any grudge】
【Let's be fair here, Song Linchuan was really asking for it. I know he didn't do it on purpose, but he laughed way too loudly afterwards】
【As his fan, I'll give an objective assessment - my brother totally deserved this】
【Feels like the young auntie is still very merciful. Not getting beaten up is already Song Linchuan getting off easy】
【Ahahaha, aren't these aunt and nephew so funny? I still can't help laughing watching them】
...
This was the “disaster scene” Pei Kuang walked in on after coming out of the kitchen.
Song Anan's face was covered in flour, with a layer of white powder dusted over her bangs as well.
Song Linchuan was even worse off, with flour going into his mouth while laughing loudly. He looked especially silly.
Pei Kuang really tried to hold in his laughter, but ultimately failed.
His laughter successfully caught Song Anan and Song Linchuan's attention, and they turned to look at him simultaneously.
Seeing him laughing so hard he was bending over and clutching the door frame.
The aunt and nephew's first reaction was the same - find him annoying!
Song Anan turned to Song Linchuan, and the two exchanged a look. It seemed they had reached some agreement.
【Uh...is it just me or did that look Song Anan and Song Linchuan exchanged seem meaningful?】
【Holy crap! Are these aunt and nephew planning to go after Pei Kuang?】
【Young auntie: He's laughing too loudly.】
【Nephew: Let's pull him down then.】
【Oh no, Pei Kuang stop giggling there like an idiot, danger, run!】
The livestream audience's eyes were sharp, successfully seeing through Song Anan and Song Linchuan's scheme.
Of course they shouldn't be the only ones embarrassed!
Song Linchuan reacted faster, immediately rushing towards Pei Kuang with the flour basin in hand as fast as lightning.
Pei Kuang wasn't stupid either, realizing their intention instantly and turning to escape.
But it was too close, so he was still a beat too slow.
Left with no choice, Pei Kuang abandoned his escape plan and turned to wrestle Song Linchuan instead.
He made the first move, grabbing Song Linchuan's hands and forcibly pushing the hand holding the flour basin as far away as possible.
Not giving him any chance to act.
Two similarly built men struggled to gain the upper hand against each other. They were locked in a stalemate.
Just then, when Song Linchuan was distracted, Pei Kuang seized the opportunity to snatch away his flour basin.
Then he grabbed a handful of flour and flung it at Song Linchuan's face.
"Pei Kuang you bastard," Song Linchuan said angrily, his eyes completely caked with flour. "You actually dared to sneak attack me!"
Pei Kuang laughed unscrupulously. "All's fair in war."
"Plus, you struck first."
Song Linchuan quickly recovered and moved to snatch back the basin. But Pei Kuang obviously wouldn't let him have his way, and the two wrestled again without either gaining advantage.
Song Linchuan turned to Song Anan for help: "Young auntie, take the basin and dump it all over this guy's head."
Song Anan blinked, looking between Song Linchuan and Pei Kuang, somewhat hesitant.
Her original intention was to pull Pei Kuang down so they would all be embarrassed together and no one could laugh at anyone else.
That goal was already achieved, so if she helped Song Linchuan against him now, it would feel a bit unfair.
Also, it was her who had flung flour at Pei Kuang earlier, but when he had the chance to retaliate, he didn't make a move against her.
Looking at it this way, it would be unjustified for her to attack him now.
Seeing Song Anan's hesitation, Pei Kuang immediately moved to recruit her to his side.
"Think about who made you lose face just now, and was laughing so loudly. Don't you want revenge?"
Song Anan was taken aback.
Revenge?
Didn't she already get it?
Hearing this, Song Linchuan became a little anxious: "Pei Kuang, stop pretending to be nice. You were laughing at my young auntie too, we're even."
"No I wasn't!" Pei Kuang staunchly denied. "I was only laughing at you."
Song Linchuan: "..."
【Damn! Pei Kuang really has skills, he even used divide and conquer tactics】
【Hahaha, Pei Kuang you totally get how to sow discord. He actually succeeded in swaying her!】
Faced with Pei Kuang's provocation, Song Linchuan was clearly feeling guilty.
After all, he really had no leg to stand on in this matter.
So Song Linchuan took advantage of Pei Kuang being distracted persuading Song Anan, and with a sudden burst of strength, leaned forward and blew at the flour basin.
But by bad luck, Pei Kuang dodged it, and all the flour flew towards Song Anan instead.
Oh boy!
Song Linchuan successfully proved that if you don't court trouble, trouble won't find you.
Song Anan, suffering collateral damage again, immediately made her choice clear.
The already precarious aunt-nephew alliance instantly crumbled.
Realizing he was in trouble, Song Linchuan immediately turned and ran, but the other two obviously wouldn't let him get his wish.
The three chased each other around the yard, their laughter from the playful chase relentless.
The last ray of sunset spilled in, bathing the small farm courtyard in a layer of soft radiance.
Like an idyllic, beautiful painting.
Not until the flour in the basin was used up did the turmoil in the yard completely settle down.
None of the three were much better off, with flour stuck all over their faces, hair, and clothes.
They had no choice but to first return to their rooms to shower and clean up before coming out to continue the unfinished dumpling wrapping task.
After all the messing around, by the time they ate dinner, it was already 8pm.
But without a doubt, the dumplings were as delicious as ever.
After the livestream ended, everyone was tired from the day's activities and returned to their rooms early.
Past 10pm at night, Pei Kuang came out to get water and happened to run into Song Linchuan, who had just finished a phone call in the yard.
"Calling so late, work?" Pei Kuang asked.
Song Linchuan replied, "Yeah, there's an event that needs to adjust the schedule. Jiang Han is still confirming."
He pointed to the reclining chair in the yard. "Have a seat?"
Pei Kuang nodded lightly and walked over.
The two sat side by side, chatting idly in the yard.
Song Linchuan: "I haven't had a chance to ask you these past few days, why did you suddenly come so early?"
Of course Song Linchuan already knew early on that Pei Kuang would be coming as a flying guest.
But according to the show's arrangements, he should be arriving with the other guests next period.
The director's team had no reason to make last-minute adjustments, so the only explanation was that it was Pei Kuang's own request.
As for the reason, Song Linchuan could probably guess.
"What, you underestimate me too much, Jiang Kai?" Pei Kuang said with a laugh, not denying it.
He did indeed come early because of this matter.
Jiang Kai's intentions for coming on this show were too obvious. His provocations towards Song Linchuan might not be apparent to others, but Pei Kuang saw them very clearly.
It wasn't that he looked down on Song Linchuan and thought he couldn't handle Jiang Kai, but when it concerned Song Anan, Pei Kuang was afraid he would act rashly and really fall into Jiang Kai's trap.
Frankly, Jiang Kai wasn't worth that.
Pei Kuang raised a brow. "Don't be so full of yourself. I was worried you'd be too impulsive and implicate your young auntie."
Song Linchuan glanced at him with a "hmph".
He would never implicate his dear young auntie.
Thinking of something, Song Linchuan suddenly asked suspiciously, "By the way, when did you and my young auntie become so close?"
Pei Kuang thought he was still bothered by the incident of him and Song Anan teaming up to dump flour on him tonight. With distaste he said, "Rest assured, she's your precious young auntie, no one can compete with you."
Tsk! The 'auntie's boy' really couldn't be provoked.
He would be jealous over this? Pei Kuang didn't even dare imagine, if the young auntie got a boyfriend in the future, this guy would probably plunge into a vat of vinegar.
"Of course." Song Linchuan said matter-of-factly.
She was his dear young auntie after all!
"But who told you about this?" he continued. "I'm talking about when you met my young auntie in the neighborhood before."
Pei Kuang turned to look at Song Linchuan in surprise. "How do you know about that?"
Song Linchuan looked at him incredulously, as if it were obvious. "Of course my young auntie told me herself."
It was just a chance encounter in the neighborhood, not some huge deal. Why was he making that expression?
Pei Kuang was taken aback, immediately feeling helpless inside.
She had pleaded with him so pitifully at the time to keep it secret, even going as far as to 'heavily bribe' him, yet she herself had spilled the beans.
As expected, a guileless young auntie who couldn't keep a secret!
But Pei Kuang was always prudent. Not knowing what exactly Song Anan had told, he gave vague responses and changed the topic.
Song Linchuan didn't notice anything amiss either. Lying on the reclining chair, he gazed at the vast night sky, recalling the sight of Song Anan's laughter tonight.
She had looked truly happy laughing with Pei Kuang when they ganged up on him.
His young auntie hadn't laughed so freely and unburdened in a long time. The last time was probably back in childhood, when his grandparents were still alive.
Pei Kuang had assumed he would be jealous over Song Anan siding with him.
But how could that be? He hoped his young auntie could always be this happy.
"Don't be fooled by how obedient my young auntie is now. When she was little, she was a total crybaby. Once she started bawling, there was no consoling her. I didn't even dare provoke her." Song Linchuan said.
When he was young and ignorant, he had often made Song Anan cry, earning beatings from his parents countless times.
Pei Kuang was a bit surprised. The young auntie was a crybaby?
He really couldn't tell at all.
Song Linchuan bragged with a smug expression, "What do you think, isn't my young auntie cute?"
Pei Kuang smiled. "Yes, cute."
He meant this sincerely, with no pretense whatsoever.
Yet for some reason, Song Linchuan's tone suddenly shifted. "You were wondering before, how could my young auntie have such a huge amount of money when she was so little, right?"
"That was the inheritance my grandparents left for my young auntie."
Pei Kuang was startled. Inheritance?
That can't be... Song Linchuan looked at Pei Kuang's expression and guessed what he was thinking.
He was right. His grandparents, also Song Anan's dad and mom, were no longer in this world.
When Song Linchuan was little, his grandparents liked peace and quiet, so Song Anan had always lived with her parents in their hometown.
At that time, Song Linchuan's dad was at a high point in his career, so their family lived in City S.
Their hometown wasn't far from City S either, just a two to three hour drive. They visited each other frequently and saw each other often.
About nine years ago, when Song Anan was eight years old, her grandparents and Song Anan were driving to City S to visit them. On the way, they got into a car accident. To avoid an oncoming big truck, Song Linchuan's grandfather drove into a roadside barrier.
Because that stretch of road was a bit remote, by the time the ambulance and police arrived, his grandparents had passed away. Only Song Anan survived.
When Song Linchuan rushed over with his parents, they saw Song Anan just sitting there motionless, silently crying tears. She was like a rag doll that had lost its soul.
"Actually, ever since I was little, I was unhappy to have such a young aunt. I always felt like she was just a little sister, yet I had to call her 'auntie', which was kind of embarrassing."
On top of that, Song Anan had always acted like a little adult, insisting that she was the elder and should take care of him.
At that time, Song Linchuan was just a little brat, and naturally found it unacceptable. After all, he was seven years older than her. Why should he listen to her?
That's why he was always trying to provoke Song Anan, and felt very happy when he made her cry.
It seemed to be his way of proving, see, you little crybaby aren't the elder.
"But after my grandparents passed away and my aunt came to live with us, my parents talked to me all night. After that, I stopped provoking her and just went along with her wanting to be the elder and letting her boss me around..."
Pei Kuang lowered his eyes, feeling heavy-hearted.
He really hadn't imagined that Song Anan had such a heartbreaking past.
For an eight year old girl to watch her beloved parents die before her eyes, it was too cruel.
Could this be the original motivation for her wanting to study medicine?
The topic was a bit heavy. Song Linchuan had just spoken out of feeling in the moment. When he came back to his senses, he changed the subject.
"Let me tell you a secret about my aunt," he said casually. "She's afraid of ghosts, but loves watching horror movies."
Pei Kuang was surprised and couldn't help but laugh.
Afraid of ghosts yet loves watching horror films?
She was really a coward who loved thrills.
Song Linchuan: "When we were little, she would often ask me to watch with her, but she also felt embarrassed for me to know she was afraid of ghosts. So she always pretended not to be scared. I never exposed her, and always acted really frightened myself. It wasn't until she grew up that she realized."
Pei Kuang couldn't help laughing.
She really was a cute little auntie, always acting proper even as a child.
Talking about Song Anan's "black history", the two chatted until very late.
It wasn't until they were about to go back to their rooms that Song Linchuan suddenly remembered what Jiang Han had told him midway through their conversation.
"Oh right, I have to leave early tomorrow morning around 4am. Can you let my aunt know tomorrow morning?"
The second season of "Dear Family" had finished filming today. They were originally going to go straight back to City B, but a promotional event had been moved up at the last minute. So he could only head over early.
Pei Kuang: "Don't worry, I'll definitely get her home safely."
--
The next morning at 7am, Song Anan woke up right on time.
Their flight was at 11am, so they had plenty of time.
When Song Anan woke up early in the morning, she was in a great mood thinking about going home.
But looking at the rooms inside and outside, she somehow felt a hint of reluctance to leave.
Realizing her own contradicting feelings, Song Anan shook her head helplessly then went out to the yard, running into Pei Kuang.
"Good morning."
Pei Kuang smiled. "Morning."
Song Anan stretched lazily and looked around the yard, not seeing Song Linchuan anywhere.
"Linchuan's not up yet?" she asked.
"He had a last minute promotional event and left around 4am. He told me to let you know," Pei Kuang explained.
Song Anan let out an "oh", knowing that Song had left for work. She didn't think much of it.
"He asked me to accompany you back to City B today," Pei Kuang added.
At that, Song Anan felt a bit helpless. She wasn't a child, she could go back herself just fine.
"No need, I can go back myself. You don't have to go out of your way to send me."
Hadn't he said yesterday he needed to go to City S to meet a director or something?
Pei Kuang smiled and shook his head, insisting he had promised Song Linchuan and had to keep his word.
"It's no trouble. I'm meeting them tomorrow. I'll have time to see you home and still catch my evening flight from City B."
Seeing his insistence, Song Anan didn't say anything more.
She casually asked, "Did he say what work it was?"
Pei Kuang replied, "A guest for an extreme variety show's aerial filming. He said he owed the producer a favor."
Extreme variety show?!
Song Anan's face suddenly turned pale, as if thinking of something. She had a bad feeling.
She asked in a trembling voice, "Wh-what's it called?"
Pei Kuang frowned. "I think it was called Challenge Yourself. What's wrong?"
Challenge Yourself!
Going in circles, Song Linchuan ended up participating in that show after all.
Song Anan's vision suddenly went black, and she staggered a few steps, nearly falling over. Luckily Pei Kuang quickly reached out to steady her.
A few seconds later, she grabbed Pei Kuang's hand tightly, voice shaking badly, "Hurry...take me to find him..."