You know what?” An Ke stepped back in surprise, her eyes wide as she stared at An Qiao. The siblings hadn’t seriously talked in a long time. In her memory, he was still that little boy who would whine and crawl into her bed in winter, wanting to warm her feet. Time had passed so quickly. Unknowingly, he had grown into an adult. Looking at his tall, straight figure, An Ke’s tears uncontrollably fell drop by drop. She hated Jun Hao – even if she tore him into pieces, it wouldn’t ease her hatred. But why didn’t she want An Qiao to know about what happened between her and Jun Hao? In her view, hating or seeking revenge should be her responsibility; she didn’t want to drag An Qiao into it.
“Sister… sister…” An Qiao called out: “I only want you to be happy. You took care of me in the past, and now I want to take care of you. If you truly want to be with him, I won’t say another word.”
“This is between me and him. Don’t interfere. Go pack your things and go to school tomorrow.”
“No, this isn’t just between you two. He’s indirectly responsible for our father’s death.”
An Ke understood the deep hatred in his heart and said weakly again: “Even if revenge is to be sought, I’ll do it. You go back to school tomorrow.”
“I’m not going back to school. I’ve already signed a contract with a foreign enterprise and will start working next month.”
An Ke trembled, asking excitedly: “What did you say? Say it again.”
“Sister, don’t get excited. I’m prepared.”
“You’ve grown up, so you can disobey me? Do you know what Dad’s biggest wish was?”
“I know, I know everything. As long as I’m capable of defeating Jun Hao, you can hold your head high and not be humiliated.”
“I said this is between me and him. Don’t interfere,” An Ke almost shouted. A wave of nausea rose from her stomach, and she couldn’t help but retch.
An Qiao rushed forward to support her: “Sister, are you okay?”
An Ke barely stopped retching, her strength completely drained: “Xiao Qiao, if you still consider me your sister, listen and study well. As long as you’re doing fine, that’s my greatest comfort. Dad’s matter is mine. Even if revenge is to be sought, I should do it.”
“Sister, I’m also part of the An family. Don’t take everything on yourself. You should know that your well-being is my greatest comfort too.” An Qiao was equally stubborn.
“If you want to seek revenge on me, I’m always ready. But let’s see if you have the ability,” the siblings argued intensely, not noticing Jun Hao standing by the slightly open door. Beside him was the always beautiful Leng Xiang, both wearing slight smiles.
No.” An Ke’s first reaction was to not let Jun Hao know: “No, no, it must be my overthinking.”
“What are you talking about?” Jun Hao walked closer to her.
An Ke suddenly roared, venting all her unease on him: “Why are you here? Leave quickly, I don’t want to see you.”
“Women are truly incomprehensible creatures.” Jun Hao shook his head, unmoved by her anger. Looking at An Ke, who had just been as gentle as a kitten and now turned into a mother lioness, he arrogantly said: “I want to see you, so I’ll see you. It’s not up to you to say you don’t want to.”
“Get out!” Several people who heard the shouting from the outer room rushed in, seeing An Ke pacing anxiously in the room, while Jun Hao still had a smile on his face, though no one saw the hint of helplessness in his smile.
“What are you looking at? Everyone, get out.” An Ke hugged her head like a headless fly, darting around the room, not allowing anyone to come near. Moments later, she dry heaved into the trash can, but nothing came out.
“Lin Sao, what are you standing there for?” Jun Hao shouted displeased.
Lin Sao understood the situation at a glance, and An Ke didn’t want her to come close. She didn’t want to expose anything: “She might have eaten something wrong. I’ll make some medicine, and she’ll be fine.”
“She’s throwing up like this and it’s nothing?” Jun Hao asked dissatisfied.
“If others don’t believe in my medical skills, don’t tell me you don’t believe either.” Lin Sao rolled her eyes behind his back, thinking to herself: “I’ve never seen such a stupid man.”
An Ke’s anxious heart couldn’t be calmed. She could dodge once, but not twice. She wanted confirmation but didn’t want Lin Sao to know, because if Lin Sao knew, Jun Hao would know too.
“Everyone, please leave. Let An Ke rest, she’ll be fine soon.” Lin Sao drove everyone out, then turned to Jun Hao still standing there: “Hurry up and leave.”
“I have to leave too?”
“You should leave the most.” Lin Sao gave him no face: “Don’t you know patients need peace?”
After settling An Ke, Lin Sao pulled Jun Hao aside when she went out.
“Are you still not planning to let An Ke know about the pregnancy?” Lin Sao asked in a low voice.
“Not for now.” Jun Hao frowned, looking back at the closed door, feeling uneasy.
Lin Sao analyzed: “From her appearance just now, she seems to have noticed.”
“Absolutely not before she can accept it.” Thinking about her expression earlier, it seemed she would have difficulty accepting their child. He unconsciously clenched his fist: “I’ll find a way to prevent her from knowing.”
Lin Sao worried: “Women are sensitive about these things. It won’t be hidden for long.”
“Hide it for as long as possible. Aren’t there medical cases similar to pregnancy symptoms?” Jun Hao turned and walked out, lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and then stomped it out.
Inside the room, An Ke was equally anxious. She dared not think about what she would do if there was really a child, and what Jun Hao would do.
……………………………………………
038 Undercurrent (Part 1)
An Ke finally managed to avoid everyone and went to the hospital for a check-up. The doctor told her this was a pregnancy illusion, but this phenomenon would affect her menstrual period, almost no different from pregnancy. She must take good care of herself. Lin Sao also told her this was a condition, not a pregnancy, and after a period of conditioning, her condition improved significantly, and she was finally at ease. Jun Hao disappeared again after that day. She still lived in the old An family house, with Chen Yun and Lin Sao now taking care of her. Wherever she went, they would follow her front and back. However, today both of them were out on errands. And that stubborn An Qiao had been persuaded back to school by a few cold words from someone.
This day, An Ke was in a very good mood. She went to the market to buy vegetables and personally cooked to make up for her recent worries and to celebrate that Jun Hao hadn’t bothered her recently. As she approached home, she saw Pei Xuanyan standing in front of her door from far away. The winter sunlight fell on him, and he stood motionless like a sculpture, staring at the gate.
“Brother Xuanyan, you’re here.” An Ke ran towards him quickly: “Why didn’t you come in?”
Pei Xuanyan turned his head and looked at her. The rigid lines of his face softened slightly, and the corners of his mouth raised a very small arc: “If I just go in, wouldn’t I be like a thief?”
“Hehe…” An Ke laughed lightly: “If there’s a thief as good-looking as you, I’d be willing to be robbed.” She opened the locked gate and made a gesture of invitation: “Mr. Pei, please come in. Excuse my poor hospitality.”
Pei Xuanyan hesitated, unable to move. Looking at her brilliant smile, he again thought of the charming girl who had left him five years ago.
An Ke walked ahead, completely unaware of Pei Xuanyan’s unease, and said to herself: “Brother Xuanyan, you’re in for a treat. Today, I’ll let you taste my signature dish, braised pork.”
“Braised pork?” Pei Xuanyan tried to suppress that inexplicable emotion and followed her to ask.
“Yes, braised pork. My dad loved this dish, so I make it best.”
