Chapter 52

The next morning there were no classes, so after eating, Song Anan and Song Linchuan didn't go back to school but went directly to his place to spend the night.

After all, today was also Song Linchuan's birthday, and if time allowed, Song Anan wanted to accompany him more.

After leaving the restaurant, Jiang Han suddenly got a phone call and couldn't walk with Aunt and Nephew Song, so he let the driver take them while he took a taxi himself.

Seeing Song Linchuan get into the car a bit unsteadily, Jiang Han sighed silently.

At dinner, Song Linchuan had drunk a little more than usual, and was already tipsy. He instructed the driver, "Make sure to take them upstairs before leaving."

Song Anan also found it strange. At the table today were just her and Jiang Han, and no one was urging him to drink, so how did he get himself drunk?

But Song Anan didn't know this, while Jiang Han knew very well.

Seeing his artist like this, he couldn't help sighing again.

After finishing shooting Director Qi's movie, Song Linchuan immediately went into a big ancient costume drama as the male lead, and had just wrapped up a couple days ago.

The second female lead in this drama was Zhou Wei.

On the day of the wrap party, Jiang Han accidentally found out that back in high school, Song Linchuan had actually liked Zhou Wei. No, you couldn't say he liked her, it seemed he still had feelings for her now.

Unfortunately, unrequited love was hopeless.

Jiang Han had thought Song Linchuan was just oblivious, who would have thought he already had an unrequited love in his heart for so long.

Sigh, his artist was following some melodramatic script, even starting to drown his sorrows in drink.

Half an hour later, the car arrived near Song Linchuan's complex.

As they passed a private kitchen, the driver in front suddenly said, "Oh?"

Song Anan and Song Linchuan looked up at the same time, thinking something was wrong.

"What's up?" Song Anan asked.

The driver quickly waved his hand. "Nothing, I just seemed to see Teacher Pei."

Teacher Pei.

Song Anan's heart stirred. He meant Pei Kuang?

The car was just pulling up to an intersection. The driver pointed to a spot not too far away, "Look over there, isn't that person at the restaurant entrance Teacher Pei?"

Song Anan reflexively looked in the direction he pointed. She did indeed see Pei Kuang's figure.

Next to him stood another person, Xie Yin.

The two's behavior was very intimate. It looked like Xie Yin had gotten something in her hair, and Pei Kuang was helping her get it out. Then he thoughtfully helped tidy her bangs.

This scene, anyone who saw it would understand what was going on.

The tipsiness faded from Song Linchuan. He instructed the driver, "Bury this in your heart, don't tell anyone."

"Don't worry Boss Song, our training covers what we should and shouldn't say. I understand." The driver quickly assured.

Song Linchuan lightly nodded.

This driver was assigned by the company and had been with him for years now. He was pretty trustworthy.

The car quickly passed that stretch, and the inside became silent again.

Song Anan gazed out the window, scenes of the night city flashing by like a slideshow.

At this moment, her heart was far from as calm as she looked.

Recently she had been too focused on her own thoughts, and had forgotten about Xie Yin.

After all, she was Pei Kuang's childhood friend whom he loved but could not be with, even remaining unmarried for her his whole life.

Maybe because of the alcohol, Song Linchuan felt a little stuffy in the car. At the complex entrance, he had the driver stop.

"Auntie, let's get out and walk a bit?" he asked.

Song Anan lightly nodded. A walk would be good, and help sober him up a bit too.

So aunt and nephew got out of the car and walked into the complex.

In early May nights, it was still a little cool.

Song Anan put on the coat in her hands, and didn't forget to remind Song Linchuan to zip up his top.

It was late now, and basically no one else was around the complex. The two didn't speak, just quietly walked.

Clearly, aunt and nephew both had things on their minds, but neither noticed the other's abnormality right now.

At a turn, Song Anan suddenly spoke up, "Are they together now?"

Song Linchuan was startled, and paused a few seconds before reacting - the "they" Song Anan meant was Pei Kuang and Xie Yin.

Song Linchuan thought for a bit, and replied, "They probably are."

From his understanding of Pei Kuang, although he would occasionally joke around with close friends in words, his behavior was always very careful.

Based on how intimate they were acting just now, if Pei Kuang didn't have feelings for Xie Yin, he wouldn't have allowed himself to cross that line.

After all, he was always very mindful of boundaries when interacting with people.

Song Anan's eyelashes lowered, and her hand in her coat pocket involuntarily paused.

This logic Song Linchuan understood, so how could she not?

Song Linchuan thought of Pei Kuang and Xie Yin, and couldn't help feeling puzzled too. He muttered, "Strange, how did they get to know each other? I don't recall Pei Kuang ever mentioning her before."

He had known Pei Kuang for so many years, yet it seemed like he had never heard him talk about Xie Yin.

Song Anan pursed her lips and said softly, "They are from the same hometown, Pei Kuang knew her before he debuted."

Song Linchuan turned to look at Song Anan. Was it as he thought?

Song Anan lightly nodded.

It was as he thought. Pei Kuang had liked Xie Yin for a very long time, just as he had liked Zhou Wei in high school.

Song Linchuan was startled. "If that's the case, we should congratulate Pei Kuang."

After all, when the one you like also likes you back, even if it takes so many years to get a response, it's still a very fortunate thing.

Not everyone has this kind of good fortune.

Song Anan didn't reply, just walked with her head lowered.

Not getting a response, Song Linchuan suddenly recalled that Song Anan seemed to have said she "didn't like Xie Yin" before.

He hesitated, then said, "Auntie, if you don't like Xie Yin, you don't have to keep in touch with them in the future. Don't mind me, it's fine."

Song Anan was startled, then realized he had misunderstood. But she didn't want to explain more, just casually nodded in response.

"Linchuan," she paused, "is it really hard to let go of someone you liked when you were young?"

Song Linchuan's eyelashes fluttered. After a long pause, he lightly murmured, "It really is hard to let go. After all..."

Song Anan urged, "After all what?"

Song Linchuan lightly sighed, "After all, it's not so easy to forget the first person you had feelings for."

Song Anan lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

After a very long time, she spoke again, "Then, can you forget the first person you had feelings for?"

Song Linchuan paused a few seconds, then replied, "You can, I guess. Time will dull everything eventually."

Just, he still didn't know how much time that would take.

That night, Song Anan slept very poorly.

First she tossed and turned with insomnia until midnight, then finally fell asleep, but it felt like she had barely slept when Li Sirui's phone call woke her up. Checking her phone, it was already 8:30.

She answered, and Li Sirui's voice came from the other end, "Anan, yesterday you celebrated Song Linchuan's birthday, and Pei Kuang was there too right, so the hot search stuff is fake right!"

Song Anan still hadn't fully processed it. "What hot search?"

"Pei Kuang and Xie Yin's scandal," Li Sirui said indignantly. "That paparazzi said what - they had a candlelight dinner last night, how is that possible, he was obviously with you guys..."

Song Anan put her on speaker, then exited the call and went into Weibo.

The #PeiKuangXieYinRelationship# tag was the top hot search. She clicked in, the first post was a video exposed by a paparazzi account.

From the video you could see the filming location was at the entrance of that restaurant last night.

Last night they had been some distance away, only catching a rough look, but this paparazzi video was very clear.

You could even see their expressions. Pei Kuang's face didn't show anything, but his attentive actions said it all. The shyness and sweetness on Xie Yin's face couldn't lie either.

After hanging up, Song Anan stared at her phone for a long time.

Last night, she had even thought darkly that maybe this was just Pei Kuang's one-sided wish. As the female lead of the novel, Xie Yin would ultimately still end up with the male lead.

But she had forgotten one thing. The plot had already deviated far from the novel. So there was nothing strange about Xie Yin ending up with Pei Kuang.

After all, Pei Kuang was really great. It was very normal for someone to fall for him.

Also, since he liked Xie Yin so much, he must be really happy now.

Early in the morning, Jiang Han had picked up Song Linchuan to go to work. Now the whole house only had Song Anan alone.

In a daze she came to the living room and saw the breakfast Jiang Han had brought on the table. Song Linchuan had even specially left a note for her to heat it up in the microwave when she woke up.

Song Anan sat motionlessly in the living room for who knew how long. Suddenly she stood up, seeming to have made a decision.

Without even changing out of her pajamas, just throwing a coat over herself, she rushed out the door.

After leaving the building, Song Anan ran all the way to Pei Kuang's place, taking the elevator, pressing the floor, without any hesitation, even a thread of urgency.

With a "ding" the elevator door opened, but when she stepped out, it was like she suddenly woke up.

Only at this time did Song Anan react - rushing over impulsively, what could she even do?

Besides, there was no guarantee Pei Kuang was even home now.

Just as she hesitated about pressing the elevator to go back, a familiar voice suddenly came from a nearby door.

"What did you say!!" It was Pei Kuang's manager Li Dong's voice.

Song Anan looked up. Through a door left slightly ajar, she reflexively took a couple more steps forward.

Pei Kuang's voice came from inside. "Just do as I said first, no need to clarify or take down the hot search."

"Pei Kuang, do you know what you're doing?" Li Dong said in shock. "If you don't clarify, it's equivalent to tacitly admitting it."

Pei Kuang's voice was very calm. "I know."

Song Anan didn't continue listening. She turned around and pressed the elevator button, going downstairs in a daze.

There was only one explanation that made sense - because it was the truth.

At that moment, all her previous expectations fell apart.

Back at Song Linchuan's place, Song Anan sat on the sofa in the living room. From the corner of her eye, she happened to glance at the backpack she had casually left on the coffee table yesterday.

Thinking of something, she got up and picked up the backpack, then took out the countdown calendar from inside.

This was something she had deliberately put in before leaving yesterday. She had thought about staying overnight here, so she brought it with her.

Song Anan stared at the countdown calendar for a good while before finally closing it, ending the countdown.

The days when she had enthusiastically flipped through the calendar were still vivid in her mind.

Perhaps from the very beginning, it was destined that her and Pei Kuang would end prematurely.

Whether she was of age or not didn't matter anymore.

The so-called confession was also unnecessary now.

But it was okay. The one she liked got what he wished for, so she should be happy for him.

Song Anan tried hard to persuade herself, but why did she still feel like crying?

Time would fade everything.

Now it seemed that the one who needed to forget was her.

With a "plop", it was the sound of her tears falling on the cover of the calendar.

Song Anan knew that starting today, she had to cover up that tiny feeling in her heart that could no longer see the light of day.

Her first love had withered so quickly.

And the word "like" instantly lost its luster.

-

The scandal between Pei Kuang and Xie Yin was making waves online.

Song Anan didn't deliberately pay attention to the online news. She only heard Li Sirui mention it a few times. Not only did Pei Kuang's side not deny it, Xie Yin's company didn't come out to deny it either.

So their behavior was understood as acquiescing to the relationship.

Later, afraid of losing her composure, Song Anan deliberately avoided it. She spent most of her days holed up in the library, only returning to the dorm before the doors locked at night.

Song Anan tried hard to pretend that everything was normal, not letting anyone detect anything unusual. She did succeed in that, really no one discovered her tiny feeling that couldn't see the light of day.

Time passed steadily as usual, and soon it was Song Anan's 18th birthday.

The day before, her dorm mates had bought a big cake and celebrated her birthday. Cheng Ke saw that Song Anan was very indifferent about it, and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

After all, she had been eagerly making a countdown calendar looking forward to becoming an adult before.

Song Anan made up an excuse to brush it off. The others didn't think much of it either, thinking that the novelty had just worn off for her.

On her actual birthday, Song Zhenhui and Zhao Ya came to City B to celebrate Song Anan becoming an adult.

Originally, according to Song Zhenhui and Zhao Ya's intentions, they were going to hold an coming of age ceremony for her in City S, but Song Anan had rejected it on the grounds that she was too busy with schoolwork to take time off.

That night, Song Linchuan also hurried back from the set to join them for a family dinner celebration.

After dinner, Song Zhenhui and Zhao Ya didn't stay at Song Linchuan's place, but found a five-star hotel nearby to stay in.

Song Anan was going back to school, and happened to be going the same way as Song Linchuan.

On the way, Song Linchuan suddenly remembered something. He turned around, took a gift bag from the back seat, and handed it to Song Anan.

Song Anan was stunned for a moment. "Didn't you already give me a present?"

Song Linchuan waved his hand and directly put the gift into Song Anan's hands. "This is from Pei Kuang, he asked me to pass it on to you."

Song Anan's hand holding the gift bag involuntarily paused.

Just after midnight today, Pei Kuang had sent her a message wishing her happy 18th birthday.

To avoid seeming abnormal, she had politely replied with a "thank you" as well, thinking that would be the end of it. She didn't expect that he would still have Song Linchuan bring her a gift.

"Pei Kuang said he couldn't celebrate your birthday with you in person, so he asked me to say sorry on his behalf." Song Linchuan said.

Song Anan lightly nodded her head, hesitated for a moment, then asked, "How is he recently?"

Song Linchuan replied, "It has been a bit difficult for him lately, lawsuits filling his head. He couldn't come celebrate your birthday with you, it really was helpless of him, don't blame him."

He was under pressure from both inside and outside the industry. Not only was it difficult to explain things to his fans, many previously agreed upon collaborations had fallen through. And there were quite a few competitors trying to pull him down, seizing the chance to smear him.

It really was quite difficult for him.

Song Anan shook her head. She thought that although Pei Kuang's career was a bit tough now, emotionally he had gotten what he wished for.

He must be very happy.

Song Anan hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Song Linchuan, "Linchuan, you guys are friends. If possible, please help him."

Even without her saying so, Song Linchuan would have done it.

"Pei Kuang said his side already has solutions, if he needs help he will ask."

Song Anan gently nodded, not saying anything more. Afraid that Song Anan would worry, Song Linchuan added, "Don't worry, if it really comes down to it, later I'll ask my dad for help. Old Song still has quite a bit of face in the capital circle." Now Song Anan was truly reassured.

Jiang Han in the front seat couldn't help but lament to himself, Song Zhenhui had far more than just a bit of face in the capital circle.

He had a considerable amount of face.

But Jiang Han had to admit again, the relationship between Song Linchuan and Pei Kuang really was quite iron-clad!

Who could have imagined that the first time Song Linchuan would ask his family for resources, after so many years in the industry, it would be for Pei Kuang's sake.

And the uncle and niece of the Song family really were quite loyal, he had grabbed onto this thigh tightly!

-

After her 18th birthday, Song Anan didn't seem to have changed much, at least not to outsiders.

She was still like a little bookworm, shuttling between the classroom buildings, library, and dorm every day, and was even more hardworking than before.

Song Anan started reducing contact with Pei Kuang.

Due to Xiaoqiu's existence, the two would still chat a bit on WeChat every few days, but it was generally just Pei Kuang sending her videos of Xiaoqiu.

They didn't video chat anymore, and even text chats weren't as frequent as before.

But the frequency of Pei Kuang posting about Xiaoqiu on his Moments increased significantly.

Song Anan felt this was good. They should keep some distance.

For her, and for them, it was better this way.

The heavy course load of a medical student left Song Anan no time to indulge in many other things, nor to linger too much in emotions she shouldn't have.

This fleeting crush that stepped on the tail end of her youth was also slowly suppressed, as if that summer's flutter on the seaside was just an illusion.

-

Entering her fourth year of university, Song Anan seemed to suddenly bloom, the baby fat on her face disappeared, and her features became sharper and more dazzling.

Those chasing after her simply started slowly increasing, from the school prince of the Chinese Department, to the genius of the Finance Department, and so on. They all swarmed around her.

But the little girl, whether due to obliviousness or truly having steeled her heart, rejected them with striking resolution.

Although her way of rejecting was very polite, it was also sufficiently resolute, not leading them on at all.

But the effect of this was also obvious. Before long, calm was restored around Song Anan again.

Many people also expressed understanding of Song Anan's approach. After all, the curriculum arrangement for the 8-year MD-PhD program at University B was very compact.

year of general education + 3 years of medical fundamentals + 1 year of clinical internship + 3 years of clinical rotations and research.

The students of this major had to complete an 11-year curriculum in just 8 years. The effort required was naturally much greater.

In her fifth year, Song Anan started her clinical internship at University B's affiliated hospital.

She was busy from dawn to dusk every day, learning so many things she needed to know, absorbing knowledge like a sponge each day, spinning around the departments like a top.

Under these circumstances, time seemed to pass even faster.

In the second term of her fifth year, one day in early May.

After working an overnight shift, right before getting off work, Song Anan was notified that the dean of the hospital, who was also her mentor, wanted her to go to his office.

Song Anan knocked on the door and entered. "Teacher, you wanted to see me?"

Jing Wenjin smiled very kindly, pointing to the sofa beside him indicating for Song Anan to sit down.

"How has the internship been recently? Are you still adapting okay?"

Song Anan was a bit confused. She had already been interning for almost a year, what would there be left to not adapt to?

"It's been great. Everyone has been very caring toward me." She said.

Jing Wenjin smiled and nodded. Of course he knew all this.

No matter what, Song Anan was his student. At the very least, no one at the entire University B Affiliated Hospital would dare bully her.

"Anan, I remember you participated in a variety show three years ago, right?" Jing Wenjin started leading into today's topic.

Song Anan blinked, and answered truthfully, "Yes, I went with my family at the time."

"Teacher, is there some kind of problem?"

She remembered that neither the hospital nor the school prohibited students from participating in variety shows.

And that was already three years ago. Even if there were new regulations, they shouldn't apply retroactively.

Jing Wenjin waved his hand and said with a smile, "No problem at all, how could there be any problems. Don't be nervous."

Song Anan gently nodded her head.

Jing Wenjin continued speaking, "It's like this. I happen to have an internship-style workplace reality show here. Do you have any interest in participating for a bit?"

Song Anan was startled for a moment, clearly not understanding why Jing Wenjin was suddenly asking her to participate in a show. After all, it really was a waste of time.

No matter the reason, she still honestly expressed her own thoughts: "Teacher, I still have my internship, I don't want to participate."

Jing Wenjin dismissed her concerns, "No problem, we'll film right here in our hospital. It won't interfere with your internship, just your workplace and working style will change a bit, no major impact overall."

Song Anan's brows furrowed slightly. Even so, she still didn't want to go.

After filming the previous variety show, for a very long time afterwards she didn't dare go out shopping, for fear of being recognized.

Luckily it was two years later that she started her hospital internship. By then most people had basically forgotten about her. Otherwise her internship at the hospital definitely would have been inconvenient.

When Jing Wenjin heard it was this concern, he completely dismissed it.

Song Anan was a student that Jing Wenjin thought highly of. Since his promotion to dean, he rarely personally mentored students anymore. Song Anan was the youngest student under his tutelage.

She was talented and very hardworking. With time, she would surely become an excellent doctor. Naturally, he cherished such a promising talent.

Yet Song Anan was still somewhat reluctant. "Teacher, I really don't have much interest. Why don't you find some other senior students?"

But Jing Wenjin did not give up and continued persuading, "There's really nothing to fear. The show only tapes for two months. Didn't I tell you that after your internship ends, I have other plans for you? At the minimum, it won't impact you for the next three years."

He was halfway through his words when he looked into his dear student's clear eyes and pure, unadulterated face. He couldn't help but falter.

There was no way he could convince her like this.

"Alright, go back and think about it carefully first. Don't rush to give me an answer," Jing Wenjin said with a wave of his hand.

Sigh, he really had no choice.

The show's production team had made quite a generous investment into a research project at their school. The project was still in initial research stages with a long cycle and high research difficulty. Usually it was very difficult to attract funding.

But the other party also had requests for Song Anan to participate in the show's filming.

Otherwise, how could he trick his own student like this?

After getting off work, Song Anan took a small detour instead of heading straight back to the B University dorms from the affiliated hospital.

She was still living in the dorms during this internship period since the affiliated hospital was right next to campus.

At this time, she was rooming with Li Sirui. The two of them were in the same department at the main hospital, but not the same ward.

Cheng Ke and Cai Xiaodi were assigned to the international department on the other side of campus. They lived in the staff dorms over there since it was farther from school.

When Song Anan returned to the dorm, Li Sirui had just gotten out of the shower.

She had also worked the night shift yesterday. Song Anan had been held up by the teacher, so she came back a little later.

"I heard that Dean Jing asked for you. What was it about?" Li Sirui asked.

Song Anan told her about how the teacher wanted her to participate in the intern reality show.

The moment she heard the show's name, Li Sirui's eyes lit up. "I know that show. Pei Kuang is also participating as an observer in the studio."

Song Anan was surprised.

Pei Kuang was going too?

"I'd heard earlier that the show was cooperating with our hospital, but didn't think it was real," Li Sirui said.

"So did you agree?"

Song Anan's long eyelashes fluttered as her eyes shifted.