Top-tier Auntie in the Entertainment Industry

Chapter 105

Looking at the calendar in his hand, Pei Kuang was overwhelmed with emotions.

He reached out and pulled Song Anan into his arms, hugging her tightly, his whole body trembling slightly.

Undoubtedly, Song Anan's words had indeed dispelled the deepest unease in his heart. She had agreed to be with him because she liked him, not out of pity.

This realization made him ecstatic, but at the same time, a dull ache rose in his heart.

Pei Kuang didn't ask her why she had given up confessing. He wasn't stupid. With just a little guesswork he could figure out what had happened on that date, during that time period.

The girl's feelings were all laid bare on this calendar. It was as if scenes from that year flashed before his eyes.

He didn't know how many mornings the little girl had eagerly flipped through the pages of this countdown calendar, full of anticipation for becoming an adult, ready to reveal her pure, ardent, radiant affection out in the open sunlight, only to abruptly stop short one day.

The one she liked had entered a relationship, so she could only suppress her feelings entirely, telling no one, bearing the burden alone.

This was the first time Pei Kuang regretted agreeing to the Zhang family's request back then.

At the time when his popularity had plummeted and his career path was uncertain, he hadn't regretted it at all. He had only felt lightened after repaying the favor and cutting ties with the Zhang family and Zhang Man.

But now, he regretted it. He regretted it a lot!

So for the next two years, all of his one-sided attempts to contact her must have been very distressing for her.

Pei Kuang still remembered something Song Linchuan had casually remarked on Song Anan's 18th birthday.

- It doesn't look like my little auntie is very excited about becoming an adult.

Not looking forward to it...

It wasn't that she hadn't looked forward to it. It was that he had ruined her anticipation.

Pei Kuang didn't speak. Song Anan was nestled in his arms, and she saw his expression. Her heart couldn't help panicking a little.

"Even though I was young back then, after repeatedly verifying my feelings, I was certain I liked you."

She paused, then said heavily, "Don't doubt it."

A sharp pain pierced Pei Kuang's heart. He said softly, "I know. I don't doubt it."

He stroked her head. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

Song Anan lowered her eyelashes and shook her head. "It had nothing to do with you. No need to apologize."

She had liked him, but he hadn't known.

As for everything that had happened in between, it could only be said to be a twist of fate. No one was to blame.

Afraid that Pei Kuang would overthink, Song Anan thought for a moment, then added, "I really don't care about this anymore. I never expected you to agree back then anyway, even if I had confessed."

Pei Kuang was stunned for a moment, not quite grasping her meaning. "Why?"

Song Anan looked up at him, her gaze deep as she said sullenly, "You didn't feel that way about me back then. I knew it."

Pei Kuang choked on his words. He really had no argument against this.

Song Anan obviously wasn't dwelling on this either. Instead, she looked at him curiously and asked, "Say, if I had smoothly confessed back then, do you think you still would have fallen for me later?"

Without a trace of hesitation, Pei Kuang said, "Of course."

Song Anan snorted. "Don't patronize me."

Pei Kuang laughed softly. He really wasn't patronizing her.

The little girl had no idea how wonderful she was.

Falling for her was the easiest thing in the world. It was merely a matter of sooner or later.

"Can I have this calendar?" Pei Kuang asked.

Song Anan paused. "What do you want it for?"

Pei Kuang squeezed her hand with a smile. "I want to keep it properly. In the future when we're both old, I'll take it out as a family heirloom."

Song Anan's eyes brimmed red again. "Then it's a deal. No matter what happens in the future, you can't let go."

Pei Kuang kissed the corner of her eye and solemnly promised, "Mm, I won't let go."

Never letting go for a lifetime.

Song Anan was scheduled to go abroad in mid-June, while Pei Kuang would leave in September.

Still, he went first to study abroad with her for half a month, until Song Anan had adjusted before returning.

After deciding to study abroad, Li Dong had stopped giving him new jobs, but he still had to complete previously committed projects.

Fortunately, he didn't have too many previously scheduled jobs. They were mainly commercial shoots and magazine interviews. These didn't take up too much time.

The only remaining drama was a guest role in the movie Song Linchuan and Director Qi were collaborating on.

When Pei Kuang joined the crew, filming had already been underway for half a month.

Although it was a guest role, his scenes were not few, and most were opposite the male lead.

On the first day, Director Qi called Pei Kuang and Song Linchuan over to discuss the scenes for half a day. Although they had known each other for so long, this was the first time they were collaborating in a drama together. Their teamwork was a little awkward for the first scene together, but after honing their partnership for a morning, their chemistry steadily improved.

In Director Qi's words, this was family chemistry.

Of course, Pei Kuang readily accepted this description of "family."

Song Linchuan clearly wasn't as amenable, but he didn't dare contradict the director's authority.

It had to be said, after Pei Kuang joined the crew, laughter grew more and more frequent.

From the director and actors all the way down to the crew, everyone really enjoyed watching Song Linchuan and Pei Kuang's daily "love-hate relationship" antics on set.

Mainly it was veteran maiden Song Linchuan who would poke Pei Kuang with a jab or two from time to time as retribution for stealing his little auntie.

The behind-the-scenes crew filming the making-of clips was absolutely delighted.

One day, Pei Kuang had just finished filming an opposite scene with Song Linchuan and gone to the side to rest.

Seeing Pei Kuang come over, Liu Hao hurriedly handed him his phone, deliberately lowering his voice, "Brother Pei, your phone. It looks like your little auntie sent quite a few messages in a row. Check if it's anything urgent."

Pei Kuang lightly murmured acknowledgment and took the phone, but he didn't seem rushed.

He could guess what Song Anan had sent. Over there it was probably around 9 p.m. She had likely just gotten out of the lab.

Sure enough, when he opened WeChat, it was just as he had expected.

This was their daily life, able to chat casually anytime, with no need to reply urgently. They could respond when they had time.

So Pei Kuang sat on a small director's chair on set, replying to Song Anan's stream of chatter message by message.

- Busy? Just finished being busy.

- This is super delicious, from the store right by campus. Never had it, we'll go together next time.

- Tiring filming? Not tiring.

...

Liu Hao inadvertently glimpsed Pei Kuang's phone screen. He suddenly thought of a phrase he had seen online: When you find someone who responds to your every sentence, that's true love.

Song Linchuan had just been called over by Director Qi to discuss something. By the time he came back, Pei Kuang had already finished replying to the messages.

"When are you leaving?" Song Linchuan asked casually.

Pei Kuang was a little confused. "What?"

Song Linchuan casually twisted open a bottle of water and took a sip before saying, "I heard you're going abroad from my little auntie when I called her earlier."

"You're really going?" Song Linchuan asked.

Pei Kuang lightly murmured affirmation, "Mm, how could it be fake? I already applied to the school. It's not far from Anan, I'm going in September."

He hadn't yet publicly announced that he was going abroad to study this time. According to Li Dong's thinking, there was no need to deliberately bring it up. They could just address it if he happened to be photographed later.

This way, he and Song Anan would have more freedom abroad.

Song Linchuan clicked his tongue and said sullenly, "What, are you that afraid my little auntie won't want you anymore?"

Pei Kuang shrugged, not hiding it at all, readily admitting, "Yeah, scared to death."

Song Linchuan scoffed, cursing, "Shameless."

But on second thought, that was his little auntie. He reluctantly kept his mouth shut.

Pei Kuang shrugged, looking completely shameless and proud of it. "Can't help it, I'm lovestruck. Can't be away from my girlfriend, what can I do?"

Seeing his smug, show-off attitude, Song Linchuan got even angrier and kicked him directly. "Piss off!"

How sour grapes.

He didn't know how his little auntie could stand this dog.

But of course, Song Linchuan didn't know that his little auntie not only could stand him, she delighted in him.

-

Pei Kuang's scenes took half a month total to film.

His last day of filming happened to land on Qixi Festival, Chinese Valentine's Day.

That day happened to coincide with an important sunrise scene to be filmed, so Pei Kuang and Song Linchuan came to the halfway up the mountain before 3 a.m. After finishing their makeup and styling, all the equipment was already in place.

After shooting a few scenes, Director Qi was finally satisfied and let the two go back to the hotel to catch up on sleep.

To save trouble, Pei Kuang had been sharing a car with Song Linchuan throughout this drama production. The car arrived at the hotel and the two got out one after the other, chatting while walking into the hotel.

When they reached the elevator, the two happened to see Pei Kuang's assistant Liu Hao receiving a huge bouquet of roses from a delivery man.

He turned around and saw Song Linchuan and Pei Kuang, caught by surprise.

Just then the elevator arrived. The three got on.

Song Linchuan casually asked, "Hey, who are the flowers for?"

Liu Hao blankly looked at Pei Kuang, not saying anything.

Song Linchuan frowned, shooting a dangerous look at Pei Kuang, "Yours?"

Pei Kuang roughly guessed what was going on and stiffly replied, "They should be for me."

Hearing this, Song Linchuan's expression immediately changed. He grabbed Pei Kuang by the collar, "Damn you! On a holiday like this, you dare accept roses from someone else!"

Pei Kuang paused, suddenly feeling a bit absurd. "No, wait, what if, just hypothetically, these aren't from someone else?"

Song Linchuan was still angry and didn't catch on at all. "Don't play word games with me. If they aren't from someone else, then they could be..."

He trailed off mid-sentence, finally realizing who the flowers were from.

Song Linchuan let go of Pei Kuang awkwardly, lightly coughing, as if wanting to diffuse the awkwardness.

The elevator slowly ascended.

Liu Hao wished he could just disappear on the spot. The bouquet in his arms felt like a hot potato.

Song Linchuan glanced at the flowers, then turned his head, but couldn't help taking a second look, and then a third...

With a 'ding', the elevator door finally opened. Song Linchuan hurried out first.

Liu Hao didn't get off. His room wasn't on this floor.

He silently handed the flowers to Pei Kuang, then hit the close button after seeing him out.

Their rooms were next to each other. Song Linchuan was opening his door when Pei Kuang walked over.

"Hey, still coming to my room for breakfast?" Pei Kuang asked.

Song Linchuan paused, looking at him incredulously. "My aunt even bought you breakfast?"

Pei Kuang: "..."

Wasn't it him who told his assistant to buy it?

He didn't like the smell of food in his room so he had it specially delivered to Pei Kuang's room.

Song Linchuan realized what happened now too. He casually mumbled "Oh".

Once inside, Pei Kuang put the flowers on the table and couldn't help laughing.

"Hey, can I ask why you didn't think Anan would send me flowers?"

Hearing this made Song Linchuan flare up again. "Piss off! Stop showing off."

Why didn't he think of it? Because he never considered it at all. After all, his aunt had never done anything like this before.

"Shameless. Shouldn't you be the one sending flowers to my aunt on a holiday like this?" Song Linchuan said grumpily.

Pei Kuang glanced at him. "How do you know I didn't?"

Song Linchuan: "..."

Pei Kuang knew better than to provoke him further.

But by coincidence, Song Anan made a video call just as the two were eating breakfast.

As soon as the call connected, Song Linchuan complained to the screen, "Auntie, you're playing favorites!"

Song Anan was a bit confused, not understanding what was going on yet.

Pei Kuang pointed to the flowers next to them and she immediately caught on.

Song Anan was quite helpless. She scratched her head and said, "Linchuan, wouldn't it be weird if I sent you flowers on a holiday like this?"

Song Linchuan: "..."

Is that what he meant?!

"I didn't mean the flowers!" he indignantly said, "Auntie, stop spoiling him. What does a grown man need flowers for?"

Song Anan: "???"

Um... isn't he still talking about flowers?!