Chapter 88

Song Anan sat hugging her teddy bear on the sofa, her eyes wandering all over the room but purposely avoiding Pei Kuang.

Seeing her flustered state, Pei Kuang's eyes crinkled in amusement as he held back a laugh and said, "Thirsty? I'll get you a bottle of water."

As soon as Pei Kuang stepped away, Song Anan finally relaxed her rigid back.

Thinking back to the earlier scene, her face flushed again.

Ever since they got together, their kisses had only been fleeting pecks. She didn't expect that this time he would...

The moment her lips were pried open, Song Anan was stunned, like an electric current shot up her spine and all her senses were occupied by the man before her.

She froze in place, only able to passively accept everything.

In the end, whether from lack of oxygen or muddled consciousness, she didn't even know how it ended.

Pei Kuang returned with two bottles of water, twisting open one and handing it to Song Anan.

Song Anan took a small sip of the water.

Pei Kuang held her hand while stroking her bangs with the other, smiling as he asked, "Did I scare you?"

Song Anan blinked and steadied herself to say calmly, "Of course not, I was just...a little shy."

Pei Kuang paused and said, "Shy?"

Song Anan nodded emphatically. "Yes, I didn't dislike it or was repulsed. I understand, we're boyfriend and girlfriend, what happened earlier was normal."

After saying this, she felt even more embarrassed. Why did he have to pry so much?

Although inexperienced, she wasn't that naive. Naturally she knew deep kisses were common between couples.

While she could barely understand feeling uneasy, using the word "repulsed" was going too far.

Also, the restraint and careful way he asked...

Could it be her avoidance earlier made him overthink?

Song Anan steadied herself and replied solemnly, "I didn't feel uncomfortable, just...a little shy."

Pei Kuang paused. "Shy?"

Song Anan nodded heavily. "Yes, I don't dislike it or feel repulsed. I understand, we're boyfriend and girlfriend, what happened earlier is normal."

After saying this, she felt even more embarrassed. Why did he have to pry so much?

Although inexperienced, she wasn't that naive. Naturally she knew deep kisses were common between couples.

While she could barely understand feeling uneasy, using the word "repulsed" was going too far.

Also, the restraint and careful way he asked...

Could it be her avoidance earlier made him overthink?

Song Anan steadied herself and replied solemnly, "I didn't feel uncomfortable, just...a little shy."

Pei Kuang paused for a few seconds, before a faint light appeared in his eyes and brows.

She didn't dislike it or feel repulsed...

Doesn't that mean she liked it a little more?

Just as Pei Kuang wanted to say something more, Song Anan's phone on the coffee table rang.

Seeing it was an unknown local number, she picked up without thinking.

After the other party said something, Song Anan replied, "Okay, please wait in the lobby. I'll be right down to get it, thank you."

After hanging up, her eyes lit up excitedly. "The birthday cake I ordered arrived. Can we go down now to get it?"

She had ordered the cake after arriving at the hotel. She didn't expect it to arrive so quickly.

"You ordered a cake too?" Pei Kuang seemed surprised.

Song Anan was also confused. "Of course, you have to eat cake on your birthday."

After saying this, she subconsciously started reflecting. "Am I that incompetent as a girlfriend?"

Otherwise, why was he so surprised that she ordered a cake for his birthday?

Seeing her mistake, Pei Kuang pinched her cheek and explained with a smile, "That's not what I meant. I thought we already ate together on set this afternoon."

Although with her, she still celebrated his birthday after all.

Hearing this, Song Anan frowned in disapproval. "That's different."

But she didn't explain how it was different. "Alright, I won't discuss it with you. I need to hurry downstairs, don't want to keep them waiting too long."

As she got up to leave, Pei Kuang stopped her.

"You don't need to go down, I'll have Liu Hao get it."

-

In another room on a different floor of the hotel.

Liu Hao was sitting bored on the sofa playing games when he suddenly received a call from Pei Kuang.

He immediately hung up and answered the call, "Hello, Pei ge...go get the cake? Okay, I'll head down now."

Li Dong walked out from the bathroom and asked, "Pei Kuang's call?"

Liu Hao nodded, "Pei ge said the cake Little Auntie ordered for him arrived, told me to go get it from the lobby."

After saying this, he naively marveled, "No kidding, Little Auntie is treating our Pei ge like a nephew. She came all this way just to celebrate his birthday, such moving aunt-nephew affection!"

Li Dong glanced at him, no longer able to hold back an amused smile. He thought, this wasn't any moving aunt-nephew affection, just a pair of silly lovers' daily life. "Liu Hao, I want to formally notify you of something," Li Dong suddenly said.

Liu Hao exclaimed, even his breathing slowed. "Wha-what is it?"

A formal notification? This must be big news!

Li Dong gently coughed and patted his shoulder solemnly. "Your Pei ge has a girlfriend."

"What?!" Liu Hao's eyes bulged wide and he jumped up.

"Pei ge has a girlfriend? With who? Impossible, I didn't notice him with any actress..."

Halfway through, Liu Hao seemed to realize something as his pupils shook again.

"Don't tell me...Little Auntie?"

Li Dong sat there calmly, and although he didn't speak, his expression said it all.

Liu Hao was dumbfounded. After a long time, he scratched his head anxiously, seeming to want to say something.

"Alright, stop staring and go get the cake," Li Dong gave him a push. "It's your brother's girlfriend's cake of love, don't be slow or Pei ge will blame you."

Even when Liu Hao stood outside Pei Kuang's room holding the cake, he was still in a daze.

Pei Kuang opened the door. "Come in."

"Oh," Liu Hao went in and handed over the cake. "Pei, Pei ge, your cake."

Pei Kuang didn't notice his abnormal behavior and took the cake. "I ordered dinner, they have your number to call when it's ready."

Liu Hao nodded mechanically, "...Okay."

Pei Kuang finally noticed something off. "What's wrong?"

Liu Hao scratched his head. "Nothing, I'm just still processing what Li ge said about you and Little Auntie."

Just then, Song Anan walked over. Pei Kuang put his arm around her shoulders, grinning smugly.

"What's there to process? Let me formally introduce you, my girlfriend."

Liu Hao's mouth twitched.

His Pei ge was like a proud peacock showing off right now!

-

The cake Song Anan bought wasn't big. With the rushed timing, she couldn't customize it and just chose a basic one from the shop.

Soon after, Liu Hao brought up the dinner Pei Kuang ordered.

He ordered a four-person serving, including Li Dong and Liu Hao's portions.

But the two insisted on not being lightbulbs. Taking their portions, they returned to their room to give the couple space.

Of course Pei Kuang was happy to have them gone, but Song Anan was clearly uncomfortable being teased so openly. This was her first time experiencing it.

Dinner was ordered fully based on Song Anan's tastes. She disapproved seeing Pei Kuang eat it. "Since it's your birthday, you should have ordered what you like."

Pei Kuang passed her chopsticks with a smile. "Who said I don't like it?"

Song Anan pouted. "Liar."

After dinner, they started on the cake.

Song Anan put in the candles, lit them, and specially went to turn off the lights in the room. She watched Pei Kuang excitedly, "Quick, close your eyes and make a wish."

The flickering candlelight was reflected in Song Anan's clear eyes.

Pei Kuang's heart stirred. He couldn't remember the last time he made a wish. Even on birthdays outside he would just close his eyes for show.

But this time he sincerely closed his eyes and made a wish.

A wish for only him and Song Anan's future.

After blowing out the candles, Song Anan went to turn on the lights again and ran back, urging Pei Kuang to cut the cake.

Pei Kuang cooperated by cutting the first slice and handing it to Song Anan.

"No, the birthday person should have the first piece." Song Anan waved it away.

The birthday person eating first represented others' care and well wishes.

However, Pei Kuang shook his head and insisted, "I want to give it to you."

Song Anan was stunned for a moment, then understood his meaning and said, "Then I'll eat it together with you."

This time, Pei Kuang did not refuse again. So the two of them left the large half cake aside and ate the small piece with their forks, one bite for him, one for her.

After the cake-eating part was over, naturally the gift-giving part followed.

Song Anan hopped to the sofa, grabbed her backpack, and took out a gift box.

However, when she was zipping up her bag, she hesitated noticeably, seeming somewhat reluctant.

Pei Kuang suddenly leaned over and said, "What gift is it? I'm so looking forward to it."

Song Anan paused, then decisively zipped up her backpack and handed over the gift box in her hand.

"See if you like it?"

Pei Kuang took the gift joyfully. Seeing it was a tie after opening the box, his eyes lit up.

"Of course I like it!" A tie was a relatively intimate gift. When a girl gave her boyfriend a tie, it meant she hoped to tie him down and make him belong only to her!

Just based on this implication, how could Pei Kuang not like it?

Song Anan saw him fondling the tie and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as he liked it, she had chosen the right gift after all.

She had bought this tie at the mall just yesterday, the time was very tight. She had worried she didn't pick the right one and Pei Kuang wouldn't like it.

As for why she bought it so late, Song Anan subconsciously glanced at her backpack nearby and silently sighed.

Let it go, pretend it never happened. As long as she didn't mention it, no one would know.

The gift was given, so there was no other procedure after this. Song Anan glanced at the clock on the wall, it was already after 9 pm, how fast time went by!

But as if thinking of something, she suddenly slapped her forehead, "Oh no!"

Hearing her voice, Pei Kuang looked over and asked, "What's wrong?"

Song Anan muttered, "I forgot to book the hotel."

That afternoon at the cafe, she was going to book a room but got interrupted by a message from Pei Kuang. She then completely forgot afterwards.

Pei Kuang rubbed her head and laughed, "It's fine, I already asked Liu Hao to go to the front desk. He'll come over after booking a room."

Song Anan first breathed a sigh of relief, then made a surprised sound, "When did you ask Liu Hao to do that?"

The two of them had been together the whole time!

Pei Kuang smiled and held up his phone, "I sent him a message when you were lighting the candles."

Sure enough, after a while, Liu Hao knocked on the door.

"Give me the room card. I'll take Anan over later," Pei Kuang said.

Liu Hao looked at them apologetically, "Brother Pei, little sister-in-law, the front desk said there are no rooms left."

Song Anan exclaimed in surprise.

Pei Kuang asked, "What about other hotels?"

Liu Hao shook his head, "Several drama crews recently came over, nearby luxury hotels are all booked out. Only the Express Hotel next door has rooms left."

Express Hotel?

Pei Kuang frowned slightly.

But Song Anan didn't mind, "It's fine, I can stay at an Express Hotel..."

"No!" Pei Kuang interrupted her words, "Since there are no rooms left, just stay at my place tonight."

Song Anan, a girl staying alone at a hotel, luxury hotels with good security were still acceptable. But he really didn't feel assured about her staying at an Express Hotel.

Hearing this, Liu Hao promptly left, he was quite tactful.

Song Anan stared wide-eyed at Pei Kuang, "Stay...together?"

So soon!

Although they were boyfriend and girlfriend, even if... well, there was nothing wrong actually, but she wasn't ready yet, what to do?!

Seeing Song Anan had misunderstood, a smile appeared in Pei Kuang's eyes, but he didn't continue teasing her.

"Don't worry, you sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the couch."

Song Anan silently breathed a sigh of relief.

Pei Kuang reached out and flicked her forehead, jokingly said, "You don't trust me that much?"

Song Anan secretly glanced at him, mumbled awkwardly in a low voice, "It's not that I don't trust you."

She was just too shocked.

It wasn't about not trusting him.

Trust was trust, but Song Anan still felt a little uneasy to stay in the same room with him.

After all, this was a studio suite. The living room and sofa were completely open, no privacy at all.

But since she was staying over, Song Anan didn't want to act coy lest she appeared to distrust Pei Kuang.

So she tried her best to act naturally, though unbeknownst to her, she was clumsy and rigid when taking her toiletries into the bathroom.

Pei Kuang shook his head helplessly.

After the bathroom door closed, he retracted his gaze. His peripheral vision happened to notice Song Anan's backpack on the edge of the sofa, as if about to fall off.

Song Anan didn't zip up her bag after taking out her toiletries. When he picked up the backpack, something inside fell out.

It was a blue scarf.

It looked hand-knitted, and upon closer inspection, some crooked stitches could be seen where the yarn had slipped.

Pei Kuang was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously glanced at the scarf hanging next to him. Clearly this was not the one Song Anan would be wearing.

Then why did she also pack a scarf in her bag?

The answer was obvious.

Song Anan came out of the bathroom slowly. She thought she would have to go through some awkwardness, but seeing the item in Pei Kuang's hand, she froze directly.

How did the scarf get into his hand when it was in her bag!

Pei Kuang's brow quirked up as he deliberately asked, "A gift for me?"

Song Anan glared at him and immediately denied, "No, it's for myself."

Pei Kuang uttered an "Oh," and nodded towards the hanger, "Isn't yours over there?"

Song Anan opened and closed her mouth, at a loss for words.

Pei Kuang smiled and pulled her over, holding up the scarf in front of her, "Hand-knitted?"

"The birthday gift you prepared for me?"

Song Anan: "..."

She glowered at Pei Kuang, but he was completely unfazed, insisting on keeping the scarf.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate over a mere scarf, there suddenly came two knocks on the door.

Both Song Anan and Pei Kuang were surprised.

For someone to knock so late, it certainly wouldn't be Liu Hao or Li Dong. They would call ahead if coming over.

Pei Kuang's brows furrowed slightly. He called out towards the door, "Who is it?"

It was silent outside the door for a few seconds. Just as Song Anan wondered if someone had knocked on the wrong door, a woman's voice suddenly came from outside.

"Teacher Pei, it's me."