Chapter 100: Li An’s Backer
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Li Hanchen put Mu Sheng’s seat belt on after Mu Sheng got into the car.
Li Hanchen’s actions seemed so natural that Mu Sheng was incapable of detecting anything amiss.
Mu Sheng could sense a faint pine scent when Li Hanchen came close to her. Mu Sheng’s throat felt a little dry, and she automatically glanced into Li Hanchen’s coat pocket.
Li Hanchen noticed Mu Sheng checking his pocket and smiled. “You already had a lot of candy today. No more for you.”
Mu Sheng veered her eyes. “Who said anything about candy?”
Li Hanchen smiled even more. “You’re right. No one said anything about candy.”
Mu Sheng felt inexplicably awkward when she heard what Li Hanchen said. She looked out the car window and rested her eyes. After spending all day waiting on set, she was a little tired.
Since Mu Sheng stopped talking, Li Hanchen seated himself and started the engine.
Halfway through the journey, Li Hanchen suddenly pulled up by the roadside. “Give me a minute.”
“Uh huh,” acknowledged Mu Sheng with her eyes closed.
Before long, Li Hanchen went back to the car. Mu Sheng could smell a refreshing scent in the air and promptly opened her eyes to see a big bouquet of sunflowers.
Mu Sheng was puzzled as she looked at Li Hanchen.
“It is your first day of work. Why are you so unhappy?” Li Hanchen placed the flowers in Mu Sheng’s arms. “If you don’t mind, you can tell me about it.”
Li Hanchen could tell Mu Sheng was sad when she walked towards the car.
Mu Sheng looked at the sunflowers in her arms. They were brightly colored and looked warm, so they lifted her mood. “I just happened to remember something and it made me sad.”
Li Hanchen turned to glance at Mu Sheng before he finally took out a piece of candy from his coat pocket. “I am giving this to you as a reward for your first day at work. This is the last piece of candy you are getting today.”
Mu Sheng looked at the candy in front of her helplessly. Why did she have a feeling Li Hanchen was coaxing her like a child?
Mu Sheng reached her hand out to take it. “Thanks.”
Mu Sheng lowered her head to eat. There was still some sadness on her face, but it was a lot better than earlier.
Li Hanchen moved his hands slightly while they were on the steering wheel. He wanted to touch Mu Sheng’s head just like he did with Li An, but he ended up pulling his hand back.
He should not rush into things and scare her.
Li An drooled as he memorized his school work. “Auntie Lin, when are they coming back. I’m famished.”
This conversation happened on a daily basis, so Auntie Lin was now accustomed to it. She used the chopsticks to take a few pieces of meat and poured a bowl of soup. “Why don’t you have some first? Your brother called to say it will take over ten minutes for them to get back.”
Li An glanced at the steamy meat and shook his head. “No. I don’t want to eat alone.”
He had been eating alone all these years. Now that he was living with his older brother and sister-in-law, he would rather wait than eat by himself.
Auntie Lin felt touched by what Li An said. “Okay. It’s better to eat with everyone around.”
Li An glanced at the main entrance, but there was no sign of Li Hanchen. He leaned towards Auntie Lin. “Do you know what my older brother has been up to all these years?”
“I don’t know in detail, but he has been very busy.”
“I see.” Li An lowered his eyes. “Was he so busy that he had no time to come back and see me?”
Ever since Li An asked Li Hanchen about this, Li An felt sore about something. Even though his older brother escaped his abductors nine years ago, he did not once contact him.
“He was too busy to come back.” Auntie Lin noticed how sad Li An was and was worried that she might say the wrong things.
“Uh huh.” Li An squeezed a smile. “I’m fine, Auntie Lin. I know he was busy.”
The soup was ready, so Auntie Lin had to leave after comforting Li An a little.
The moment Auntie Lin left, Li An stopped smiling.
He could not understand how Li Hanchen could be so busy that he could not come back or even give him a call.
Everyone kept telling him Li Hanchen was dead all these years.
Li An had always felt like an orphan since he had lost his parents and older brother. He often woke up in the middle of the night in tears from nightmares.
After he finally mustered the courage to ask Li Hanchen about it previously, Li Hanchen avoided the subject.
This doubt remained in his heart and became increasingly big. Every time he saw Li Hanchen, Li An could not help wondering if he was a burden to Li Hanchen.
Li Hanchen did not look him up in nine years. If Li An did not force himself on Li Hanchen, Li Hanchen might never have taken him back.
The more Li An thought about it, the sadder he felt. He even failed to notice when Li Hanchen and Mu Sheng came home.
“Li An?” Mu Sheng walked over and waved her hand in front of Li An.
Li An finally snapped out of his daze. His eyes were as red as a bunny as he glanced at Mu Sheng before looking at Li Hanchen standing behind her.
It seemed as though Li Hanchen had done something terrible to him.
“Sis-in-Law.” The moment Mu Sheng arrived, Li An felt as though there was someone he could talk to, so his eyes became even redder.
Mu Sheng turned to glance at Li Hanchen. “Did you make him copy his schoolwork again?”
Li Hanchen quietly glanced at Li An who seemed absolutely miserable. “Nope.”
“Then did he forbid you from eating?”
“…”
Li An looked at Li Hanchen and noticed the speechless look on Li Hanchen’s face. Li An quickly realized Mu Sheng seemed to be more powerful than Li Hanchen.
It appeared! Li An now had a backer!
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He was too shy to tell the truth and come clean about his fears that Li Hanchen might not want him around. However, he was not going to pass up on this opportunity to ask for something.
Li An put on a sad face and looked at Mu Sheng. “Sis-in-Law, my room is so cold. All of you have heaters in your rooms, but not me.”
Mu Sheng did not know about this, so she looked at Li Hanchen.
Li Hanchen said, “I will get someone to install it tomorrow.”
“Sis-in-Law, I have to copy some school work 500 times because I couldn’t memorize it. I can’t finish it,” Li An continued pushing for more.
“100 times,” replied Li Hanchen before Mu Sheng even said a word.
Oh yay! Li An felt proud of himself in his heart. “Sis-in-Law, I want to…”
Before Li An could finish his sentence, he detected a cold draft in the air. He glanced at Li Hanchen cautiously and almost turned into an ice statue when he sensed the coldness radiating from Li Hanchen.
Li An scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He had gone too far. “Sis-in-Law, let’s eat. Auntie Lin made a lot of good stuff.”
Auntie Lin cooked quite a spread tonight. Even though she felt a little sad, the beautiful sunflowers and this sumptuous meal made her spirits lift.
Cat Live and the viewers were earnestly waiting while Mu Sheng ate dinner.
