Chapter 68

To hug her?

Song Anan widened her eyes and stared at Pei Kuang's back, opening and closing her mouth several times without saying anything.

After about half a minute of stalemate, Pei Kuang turned his head back, his expression very calm. "What's wrong?"

Song Anan pursed her lips and tried her best to appear normal. "Why don't I drive instead, safety first."

"Safety first indeed," Pei Kuang said with a low laugh, continuing, "Don't you trust me that much?"

Song Anan knitted her brows. How could he turn the tables on her? Wasn't he the one who said he was rusty at riding? Yet now he was blaming her for not trusting him?

Before she could say anything though, Pei Kuang spoke up pitifully, "Am I really that untrustworthy? I'm a little heartbroken."

Song Anan was a bit confused.

She couldn't tell if he was genuinely bothered or intentionally teasing her, so she could only helplessly say, "Then you drive."

Seeing her reaction, Pei Kuang didn't continue teasing her. With a smile he said, "Don't worry, I'm not rusty. I ride horses all the time for my drama roles, so it's definitely safe."

Hearing that he was just joking with her, Song Anan couldn't help but pout.

She thought for a moment, then stubbornly grabbed the hem of Pei Kuang's shirt.

Pei Kuang's mouth corner slightly lifted, and he steadily started up the electric scooter.

Song Anan was always very cautious about riding vehicles, especially afraid of falling. So Pei Kuang's earlier words had affected her a bit, worried that he wouldn't drive steadily.

But now realizing there was no issue, she relaxed.

There were still some students who hadn't gone home wandering around campus, walking in pairs and groups. Some were also riding bikes and scooters like them.

Pei Kuang didn't drive very fast, probably not even twenty miles per hour, leisurely puttering along. From time to time other vehicles would pass them. Sitting in the back, the wind blew Song Anan's hair tips, scattering some strands to her ears, tickling her a bit.

She stared blankly at his broad back, lost in thought.

Pei Kuang seemed a bit off today. First there was the incident of him helping wipe her mouth in the kitchen, then just now letting her hug him. Did he take the wrong medication?

In the past he would never do such intimate gestures or say anything that could be misunderstood.

How to put it, she just felt like he was doing it intentionally.

Song Anan lightly shook her head. She must be overthinking it. Maybe this was just how he treated those close to him. After everything that had happened recently, their interactions had become much closer than before...

If it were Song Linchuan, then none of this would be considered out of the ordinary at all.

Thinking of this, a trace of guilt flashed through Song Anan's heart. It must be her problem.

Having made up her mind, she let go of Pei Kuang's shirt hem. Then, both of her hands went directly to his waist.

Pei Kuang had no psychological preparation at all. Feeling the warm touch at his waist, his back stiffened.

His hand fiercely slammed on the breaks, the tires and ground making a sharp screeching sound as the vehicle jerked to a stop.

Because of inertia, Song Anan's body pitched forward, colliding into his back. She subconsciously put her arms around Pei Kuang's waist.

The sudden change happened too quickly. Song Anan blanked out, and when she came to her senses hurriedly increased the distance between them.

Pei Kuang's body was very tense, his neck craned back a bit. "Sorry, are you okay?" he asked.

Song Anan shook her head, but realizing he probably couldn't see it, also said, "I'm fine."

What had happened to make him suddenly brake like that? She asked, "Why did you suddenly stop?"

Pei Kuang choked for a moment. "...I'm ticklish."

Song Anan: "..."

Ticklish, yet he let her hug him?!

-

The two of them circled around campus for quite a while, even going to the cafeteria window to each buy a drink using Song Anan's meal card.

On the way back, Song Anan said she wanted to drive the scooter herself. Pei Kuang didn't insist anymore, and the two meandered their way back to the residential area.

After returning home, Pei Kuang placed the keys on the cabinet by the door, then strode directly to the living room couch, collapsing onto it with his legs sprawled out.

He stared straight up at the ceiling, unable to hold back a sigh. After realizing his own feelings, Pei Kuang didn't plan on sitting around waiting. The girl had come of age, and there were so many excellent boys around her. He was afraid if he hesitated any longer, it would really be too late.

But when pursuing someone, how should he pursue? He didn't have any idea at all.

Going out riding tonight was definitely intentional on his part, including suggesting at school that he would drive the scooter. In matters of the heart, the only friend Pei Kuang could reference was Luo Yi.

Coincidentally, he had heard Luo Yi mention before that when pursuing his first college girlfriend, their ice-breaking point that broke the boundaries of friendship was a time Luo Yi had given the girl a ride on his bicycle.

That time, the girl had put her arms around Luo Yi's waist, and the two tacitly understood, allowing him to begin his pursuit.

But judging by the little girl's reaction tonight, it seemed things were off to a bad start.

From his observations, Song Anan had acted completely normal the entire time. On the contrary, he was the one who had embarrassed himself like an immature brat.

Pei Kuang gloomily grabbed the nearby Qiuqiu who was sleeping soundly, and gave it a fierce rub.

The little guy had been disturbed from its sweet dreams. Opening its groggy eyes to glare at its unscrupulous owner, it decisively ran off to its cat bed.

Resolutely keeping distance from the old man entangled by love!

Pei Kuang helplessly laughed twice. It really was rare for him to be this utterly clueless.

He even started wondering if he should look for some books on romance.

Just as Pei Kuang was deep in thought, his phone on the coffee table rang. Picking it up, he saw the caller ID displayed Luo Yi's name.

Speak of the devil.

He tapped answer and casually turned on speakerphone. "It's a major holiday, yet you're not accompanying your girlfriend. How do you have time to call me?"

Luo Yi laughed and cheerfully replied, "Look at you, do you take me for the kind of friend who forgets his buddies for a beauty?"

"There's still too few instances of you forgetting your friends for beauties?" Pei Kuang didn't feel like humoring him. "If you have something to say then say it, no time to listen to your nonsense."

Luo Yi wasn't annoyed. "Nothing much, just wanted to check up on you for the holiday."

Pei Kuang gave an indifferent "oh".

"Tell me, who did you spend today's holiday with? Your agent, or your assistant?" Luo Yi asked.

Pei Kuang changed to a more comfortable position as he lay there, answering listlessly, "Neither."

Luo Yi was a bit surprised. "By yourself? But you said last time you had someone to spend the holiday with."

Pei Kuang leisurely responded, "Didn't say I was alone."

Hearing it wasn't alone, Luo Yi instantly became interested. "Oh ho, who is it, don't tell me yet, let me guess."

Pei Kuang didn't have any desire to speak, just letting him guess.

But there really wasn't much to guess. Amongst Pei Kuang's closer relationships, there were only so many people. His family wasn't in this city, so the one spending the holiday with him could only be...

After a quick thinking, Luo Yi soon guessed it.

"It's little sister-in-law right." He said.

Pei Kuang lightly mm-hmmed in affirmation.

When Song Anan was mentioned, Luo Yi couldn't help but sigh, "To be honest, although I haven't interacted with little sister-in-law Song Anan before, from previous events she really seems like a great girl."

"If only I didn't have a girlfriend already, I really would want you to introduce us."

Pei Kuang mercilessly said, "Don't daydream, she's out of your league."

Luo Yi wasn't happy. "She's out of my league, but you're good enough?"

Pei Kuang didn't respond.

Luo Yi instantly sensed his abnormal reaction. "No way! You've got a situation?"

Pei Kuang didn't want to say more. "Alright, hanging up."

"Hey hey hey, what hang up," Luo Yi hurriedly stopped him. "What do you mean, don't tell me, you've really developed feelings for her?"

This time Pei Kuang didn't refute, just lightly mm-hmmed. "Yes, I have feelings for her."

He would never joke around when it came to Song Anan.

Since this reencounter with Song An'an, Pei Kuang had noticed her several abnormal behaviors, but it was exactly because he was too cautious that he didn't dare to make a definite judgment.

"How far along is it?" Luo Yi asked.

Pei Kuang thought for a moment before replying, "Just getting ready to chase."

Luo Yi let out an "Oh," then asked again, "What if you can't catch up?"

Pei Kuang paused for a moment. "Then I'll try harder to chase her."

Luo Yi was clearly not going to let him off easily. "What if even after more effort, you still can't catch up?" Pei Kuang sighed silently. "If after exhausting all my efforts it still doesn't work, then just let go. She deserves the best."

He knew what Luo Yi was getting at, afraid that he would get obsessed.

Of course Pei Kuang had considered this possibility. That night he stayed out on the balcony all night thinking through various consequences.

Love unrequited was also normal.

After all, in his opinion, Song An'an was born to get the best, but he clearly wasn't.

But what could be done about it? He was just a toad lusting after a swan.

He wanted it, wanted it so much...

Luo Yi couldn't stand seeing him like this. He cursed directly, "Get lost! Don't give me that deep affection literature crap. You haven't even started chasing the girl yet you're already this despondent. Do you even have any sense of manliness?!"

Pei Kuang let out a "Hey," "Wasn't it you who insisted on asking?"

How could he blame this on him?

Of course Luo Yi wouldn't admit his own mistake, directly changing the topic. "Alright, it's just chasing a girl, what are you afraid of with a love expert like me here?"

He wouldn't have brought this up, but now Pei Kuang thought of what happened tonight again.

Although he didn't really want to tell Luo Yi, with that guy's character, if he knew he would surely not miss the chance to mock him.

But there was no other way. Right now he really needed someone to help him come up with ideas.

While not daring to boast about anything else, when it came to chasing girls, Luo Yi really did have the right to speak.

Pei Kuang didn't hesitate much before telling him what happened tonight. After Luo Yi finished listening he laughed wildly.

"Damn, this cracked me up. I have to say, Pei Kuang, today you too! Back in school it was always me copying your homework, now the wheel of fortune turns and it's your turn to copy me!"

Pei Kuang also laughed thinking about it. It really was like copying homework.

"But you really are capable, always saying back then not to directly copy but to adapt appropriately. How come when it's your turn you don't know how?" Luo Yi said.

"That definitely won't work. Chasing girls still requires the proper methods and techniques, needs to be tailored to each person."

Pei Kuang raised his eyebrows. "Cut the nonsense. Get to the main point."

Luo Yi made a "tsk" sound. When it came to this, his sense of superiority came out all at once.

"Like you said, the girl treats you the same as her cousin, so of course she doesn't have any intentions toward you that way. So what's the point of blindly flirting?" he said.

Pei Kuang thought for a moment before humbly asking, "Then what should I do?"

Luo Yi didn't hurry to answer his question, but instead asked, "Let me ask you, does Song An'an have someone she likes?"

Pei Kuang was startled for a moment. "Shouldn't have."

She had rejected Jing Fan, so she clearly didn't like him.

The two had been seeing each other frequently recently, and he hadn't heard her mention any boy. She probably didn't have someone she liked.

Moreover, Song An'an had said before that if she had someone she liked, she would have him help screen the person.

The little girl should be true to her word, right?

Hearing this reply, Luo Yi frowned. "Hey, can you be a bit more reliable? There either is someone or there isn't, you can't be vague about this."

Pei Kuang ignored him.

Luo Yi put on a "childish and unteachable" look, and heaved an exaggerated sigh.

"Fine, then for now let's assume there isn't anyone. Your top priority right now is to figure out her ideal type. Know yourself and know your opponent, understand?"

Pei Kuang was silent for a few seconds. "What if she already has someone she likes?"

Luo Yi replied, "Then first figure out how far along they are in their relationship, and if there's still a chance to take advantage of the situation."

"Alright, that situation is too complicated. I won't say too much more for now. You should hurry up and get this issue figured out. Remember, don't leave a trace!"

Pei Kuang was a bit confused. "Why no traces?"

Luo Yi replied, "Are you dumb? She doesn't have feelings for you, if you startle the snake in the grass then how can you subtly influence her later on?"

After dropping this line, Luo Yi waved dismissively and directly hung up the phone.

This style really had the air of a love expert.

Pei Kuang's fingers unconsciously tapped on his knees as his gaze fixed on a spot in the air, looking deep in thought.

The problem was, how should he find and confirm this with the little girl?

And without leaving traces...