Chapter 67
Since Song Anan decided to treat Pei Kuang like a nephew, she really made an effort to do so. Of course, she was still in a desensitization stage. If Pei Kuang was like an allergen to her, it was okay, she would just go through desensitization treatment. She would slowly adapt.
The Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching soon. That day, after getting off work, Song Anan would go to Pei Kuang's home to celebrate the festival together with him.
At 5pm, Song Anan and the other interns were released by their teaching supervisor. She went back to the locker room, took off her white coat, and changed into her own clothes. Then she took her phone from the locker.
When she turned on the phone screen, about ten minutes ago, Pei Kuang had sent her a message.
"Got off work yet?"
Song Anan replied: "Just got off work, about to leave the hospital."
Pei Kuang responded immediately: "Okay, I'm at the side door of your hospital to pick you up after work."
Song Anan was surprised, why did he come over? But she didn't linger and hurried downstairs after saying goodbye to others in the department.
The side door of the hospital was not on the main road, but next to a residential area. Compared to the main entrance, there was relatively less traffic here. Many doctors and nurses who got picked up by family would park here.
During their casual chats before, she had mentioned this in passing, didn't expect Pei Kuang to remember it.
Song Anan went out the side door and indeed saw Pei Kuang's car parked in the parking spot on the right.
She walked over and knocked on the passenger side window. Pei Kuang was lowering his head replying to messages. Hearing the knocking, he looked over.
Seeing it was Song Anan, he directly opened the passenger door.
Song Anan stood by the car door but didn't get in immediately. "Open the trunk, I need to put the holiday gifts from the hospital in."
She then pointed to a pile of stuff not far away.
Pei Kuang looked over accordingly. Indeed, several boxes were stacked behind the car.
"Get in the car first, I'll move them," he said.
Song Anan quickly declined, "No need, I can move them myself."
The stuff looked like a lot, but really wasn't heavy. She had carried them down by herself just now.
Pei Kuang smiled and shook his head. He directly put on a face mask and hat, and got out of the car.
Seeing she couldn't stop him, Song Anan didn't say anything more. She got into the car directly.
After Pei Kuang put the stuff in the trunk, he returned to the car swiftly. As he was buckling his seatbelt, he said,
"A few days ago you messaged me not to buy mooncakes, you knew the hospital would give them out today?"
Song Anan nodded lightly. "Yeah, they said the hospital gives them out every year."
Their hospital's holiday gifts were always down-to-earth. Mooncakes were a must for Mid-Autumn Festival, plus they also gave out boxes of apples and oranges.
"The interns didn't get much. The hospital's doctors and nurses also got rice and oil," she added.
Pei Kuang's brow quirked up slightly. "I had a friend whose parents both worked at public institutions. I heard they always had great holiday benefits, was so envious as a kid."
Song Anan looked at him. "In the future if you want any, I'll give you what I get."
No need to envy others.
Pei Kuang was taken aback for a moment, involuntarily finding it somewhat funny. He really was just making a passing comment, didn't expect the girl to try to comfort him.
Pei Kuang glanced at Song Anan. "You'll give them all to me? That generous?"
Song Anan nodded decisively. They were just some holiday gifts, what was there to be stingy about?
Pei Kuang kept his eyes on the road ahead, lips curving up slightly. He said meaningfully, "For holiday gifts like these, I actually hope we can enjoy them together."
Song Anan paused for a moment.
The holidays where you could get gifts from your workplace were only three: Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.
People usually spent these traditional holidays together with family. He probably meant it that way.
"That works too."
The car drove on normally.
Passing through a red light, Song Anan suddenly recalled something. She turned to Pei Kuang, "Right, did you buy the ingredients for dinner?"
They had agreed to celebrate Mid-Autumn together a week ago. At the time, they had even come up with a menu together, planning to cook together.
Of course, Pei Kuang was the head chef, Song Anan was at most a sous chef, washing and cutting vegetables and such.
"Or you can drop me off at the supermarket entrance later, I'll go buy them," she said.
Pei Kuang smiled. "Already bought them, Liu Hao went to the supermarket early this morning."
Song Anan asked, "Didn't he go home for the holiday?"
Pei Kuang replied, "His family is local, he went back after buying groceries this morning."
Song Anan let out an "oh", "That's pretty good then."
The two chatted casually all the way back to the residential complex.
After going in, Pei Kuang left the stuff in the living room. Song Anan headed straight for the kitchen.
In the kitchen, surprisingly, Pei Kuang had already prepared all the ingredients, just waiting for them to come back and start cooking directly.
"Why didn't you wait for me?" Song Anan stuck her head out of the kitchen and asked in the direction of the living room.
Now she was completely useless.
Pei Kuang came over, smiling as he explained, "I was free at home this afternoon anyway, might as well get it done so we can eat earlier."
Song Anan couldn't refute this logic, but still unwillingly asked, "Is there anything I can do?"
"Of course there is," Pei Kuang said.
Song Anan: "What can I do?"
Pei Kuang took down an apron from a hook on the side of the fridge, put it on, then turned around. "Come, help me tie this on."
Song Anan: "......"
Can he be any more perfunctory?
Muttering that this hardly counted as helping, she still reached out to tie the apron on for him.
Pei Kuang was busy cooking. Song Anan had nothing to do, first going to the living room to play with the cat, then taking a stroll around the kitchen.
Every time Pei Kuang made a dish, she would come over like a curious kitten, asking this and that. Fortunately Pei Kuang was patient, otherwise she really would be annoying.
"This braised pork looks so delicious," Song Anan's eyes were almost sparkling.
Pei Kuang couldn't help but laugh. He picked up a pair of chopsticks from the side, grabbed a piece, and brought it to her mouth. "Try it?"
Song Anan instinctively swallowed. She hesitated, "Is that okay?"
Pei Kuang said, "It's fine, help me taste the saltiness."
Song Anan knew it was just an excuse, but the fragrance of the braised pork was too strong. She thought briefly for a few seconds before deciding to accept this reasoning.
After taking the bite of braised pork, Song Anan ate with great satisfaction, eyes closed, looking like a content little cat.
"Saltiness is perfect," she didn't forget to give feedback. "Extremely delicious!"
Maybe she ate with too much abandon, as at some point, there was some sauce from the braised pork at the corner of Song Anan's mouth.
Pei Kuang suddenly leaned down, lightly resting one hand on her shoulder. Song Anan's body stiffened, reflexively wanting to back away.
"Don't move," he said.
Song Anan stopped in place.
They were too close. Her breathing involuntarily quickened. "Wha-what is it?"
"Nothing," there was a wisp of air in Pei Kuang's voice. "Just some stuff on your face."
"I'll get it myself," Song Anan's voice grew uneasy.
Pei Kuang asked in response, "Can you see it?"
Song Anan: "......"
Indeed she couldn't.
But he could have told her about it.
Just as Song Anan hadn't reacted yet, Pei Kuang was already taking action.
He grabbed a tissue from the side. With the tissue between his fingertips, he gently brushed over the corner of her mouth. She didn't dare move.
He dabbed back and forth several times. Pei Kuang's fingertips accidentally touched her lips.
Song Anan's heartbeat abruptly skipped a few beats. She reacted by trying to flee, but in order to not seem too odd, she forcibly held herself back.
"Still not gone?" she asked.
Pei Kuang looked at Song Anan, the corners of his mouth curved down slightly. "Gone now."
Then he stood up straight again, unfolding the tissue to show her, as if proving he didn't lie.
The two looked at each other.
Song Anan blinked. She murmured, "Oh."
-
They had just set the dishes on the table when Song Anan received a video call from Song Linchuan.
He was still on set this time, unable to make it back for the holiday. He could only spend the Mid-Autumn Festival there.
Song Anan looked at Pei Kuang and said, "It's Linchuan."
Pei Kuang smiled. "He really picked the right time."
Song Anan smiled. Yes, the timing was quite perfect.
The two sat at the dining table. Song Anan accepted the video call, and Song Linchuan's face appeared on screen.
Judging by the background, he seemed to be in a hotel room.
"Auntie, how's it going? Have you guys eaten yet?" Song Linchuan asked.
Song Anan pointed the camera at the food on the table, then panned around. "Just finished cooking, about to eat now."
Song Linchuan exclaimed, "Pei Kuang, you're pretty good! These dishes are impressive. Your cooking skills are getting better and better!"
Pei Kuang raised his eyebrows and said casually, "It's decent, edible."
Song Linchuan rolled his eyes at him and said, "Come on, stop being so modest. I know you're feeling quite proud inside."
Pei Kuang chuckled but didn't refute him.
"Linchuan, have you guys eaten yet?" Song Anan asked.
"We were just about to eat too," Song Linchuan adjusted the camera angle. "Look at this table full of food, all prepared by Brother Jiang."
As soon as Jiang Han heard Song Linchuan mention him, he immediately leaned over into the camera frame and greeted Song Anan.
"Hi, auntie, happy festival!"
Song Anan smiled and returned the greeting, "Happy festival to you too."
Besides Jiang Han, Song Linchuan's assistant was also there. The three of them celebrating the festival together made for a lively atmosphere.
After exchanging greetings, Song Anan propped up her phone on a stand and the group started chatting while eating on both sides of the screen.
Video call for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
After eating for a while, Jiang Han suggested, "Let's make a toast together to liven things up."
The people on both sides of the video lifted up their wine glasses.
"Cheers!"
"Cheers!"
They all took a drink.
Song Linchuan's side was drinking red wine, but Song Anan and Pei Kuang were just drinking juice.
Seeing the glass in front of Pei Kuang, Song Linchuan said sarcastically, "Pei Kuang, are you a kid drinking juice?"
Without even lifting his eyelids, Pei Kuang calmly replied, "Drinking alcohol is unhealthy, you should drink less too."
Song Linchuan scoffed, "Don't pretend to be a saint in front of me. I've never seen you hold back before."
They both enjoyed the occasional drink, but never excessively, and they knew each other's habits well.
Pei Kuang's expression was unchanged. "I've changed. I'll be drinking less from now on."
Song Linchuan snorted derisively, and was about to say something more when Song Anan suddenly spoke up.
"He's right, too much alcohol is bad. Linchuan, you should learn from Pei Kuang and drink less in the future."
Song Linchuan: "......"
Damn!
He knew something was off with Pei Kuang today, turns out he was waiting to ambush him here.
Song Linchuan glared at Pei Kuang through the screen. "Of course, of course. I don't drink much usually either, just drinking a bit more to celebrate the festival."
He quickly changed the topic, "By the way, auntie, did you guys buy mooncakes?"
Song Anan shook her head. "No, we got mooncakes in the festival gift box from my hospital, enough to eat."
Hearing that Song Anan's hospital even gave out festival gifts, Song Linchuan became interested right away and had her show him everything they received.
Song Anan didn't mind and got up, holding her phone and pointing out each item to him before sitting back down at the table.
The meal ended up dragging on for over two hours with the video left running. Later, Song Linchuan's director called him for something and they finally ended the call.
After hanging up, Jiang Han couldn't help but remark, "Your auntie and Pei Kuang seem a little too close. They interact really naturally, just now before hanging up, your auntie wanted a napkin and Pei Kuang handed it over without her even asking."
Tsk tsk, he was watching them from the side - Pei Kuang is so attentive to your auntie, their interaction seems almost like a couple.
Song Linchuan glanced at him. "What are you trying to say?"
Jiang Han didn't beat around the bush any longer. "Well, I was just thinking, don't you think maybe they're secretly..."
"Don't talk nonsense," Song Linchuan frowned. "Remember the other day when my auntie called me while you were next to me? She said she sees Pei Kuang as a nephew and told me not to be jealous."
Jiang Han shrugged. Your auntie may not have any other intentions, but that doesn't mean Pei Kuang doesn't.
Seeming to discern his thoughts, Song Linchuan said, "Alright, stop speculating randomly. Pei Kuang has someone he likes too."
Hearing this, Jiang Han became curious at once. "Who is it?"
Song Linchuan impatiently replied, "Why are you so gossipy? Anyway, it's not my auntie."
Jiang Han uttered an "Oh", and didn't ask further since he wouldn't say.
Fine, if he says it's not, then it's not.
Jiang Han thought to himself, he doesn't know who Pei Kuang likes, but as long as he knows who Song Linchuan likes, that's enough.
-
After tidying up the house a bit after 8pm, Song Anan and Pei Kuang went downstairs carrying a bag of trash, planning to walk around the complex to aid digestion after the big meal.
After throwing out the trash, Pei Kuang turned around and looked at Song Anan, asking, "Isn't your electric scooter still here?"
Song Anan was puzzled. "Yes, why?"
She had ridden her e-scooter over last time, but later took a taxi for something and her scooter was still parked downstairs at Song Linchuan's parking spot.
"Why don't we take it out for a spin?" Pei Kuang asked, seeming very enthusiastic about the idea.
"Okay," Song Anan agreed.
The scooter key was left in Song Linchuan's place, so they went upstairs again to get it before heading out to the vehicle.
The two of them rode the e-scooter to the complex entrance.
Song Anan stopped at the exit gate and called out to the security guard uncle in the guard booth, "Uncle, can you please open the gate for us?"
The uncle poked his head out, and seeing it was Song Anan, he was already used to it.
Truth be told, although many luxury cars passed through this upscale complex daily, she was the only one constantly zipping in and out on a little e-scooter.
But seeing there was someone else with her today, he was still a bit surprised.
"Sure thing."
The uncle used the remote control to open the gate.
Song Anan thanked him, then revved the scooter and shot out of the complex onto the road.
"Where do you want to go?" Song Anan turned her head and asked the person behind her.
Pei Kuang hesitated briefly, "Your school?"
Song Anan considered that it was still early, and their school was closed for the Mid-Autumn break with most people home for the holidays, plus it being nighttime, there should be no issues.
"Okay, hold on tight then."
At the next intersection, Song Anan made a U-turn, and the e-scooter raced at full speed, arriving at the gates of B University in no time.
B University had two campuses, East and West, separated only by a road, with a bridge connecting the two for easy access.
Song Anan's dorm was in the East campus, also where she had given Pei Kuang a tour last time, so she turned the handlebars and entered the West campus this time.
The West campus was larger, with most of the buildings like the library, labs, etc. located here, perfect for riding around.
After touring for a bit, at a bend, Pei Kuang took the initiative to ask if he could have a try driving it.
Song Anan didn't mind at all, she rode this scooter all day long, nothing novel about it to her.
The two switched positions.
Once Song Anan was seated securely, seeing he wasn't moving for a while, she couldn't help asking doubtfully, "What's wrong? Can't you drive it?"
"I can drive." Pei Kuang replied.
"But it's been a long time, so I'm a bit rusty."
Song Anan's eyes went wide. Rusty?!
She hesitated for a few seconds, then for safety's sake still spoke up, "Maybe we should..."
"Should you hug me?" Pei Kuang suddenly said.
Song Anan: "!!!!"
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