Chapter 39

Did He Look Funny?

“Thank you,” said Li Yanchen and Lin Wan in unison.

[I heard that Lin Wan was the school Belle in high school. Is that true?]

[Although Lin Wan is not likable, she is indeed beautiful.]

[If she’s not pretty, would Li Yanchen be interested in her?]

Anan walked to Li Zexuan’s side as if there was no one else around. “Brother, I admire you so much. I can’t believe I can play with you here.” The little girl’s eyes lit up.

[Large-scale star-chasing scene]

[Anan’s eyes never left Xuanxuan.]

“Brother, can you sign my violin later?” Although Li Zexuan was indifferent and a difficult person to get along with, Anan expressed her affection for him eagerly.

Li Zexuan was confused by her enthusiasm. His younger brother was about the same age as her, but he didn’t even know what a star was, but Anan was already eager to make connections.

“Brother, you are my role model.” If she didn’t know that this was a live broadcast, she would have screamed a few times.

“Thank you,” he said. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Song Jing saw her daughter talking to Lin Wan’s stepson and tugged at her hand. “Anan, come here.”

“Big brother, I’ll find you later.” Anan was dragged to the other side by her mother.

[What’s with Song Jing’s expression? Why does it look like she is disdainful of her daughter chasing idols?]

[Anan is a violinist and the lead singer of Yun City’s youth singing group. Song Jing is very proud of her. Now that she is openly chasing after a star, Song Jing might be feeling embarrassed.]

[Anan once expressed that her favorite child star was Li Zexuan. Isn’t it cute for a star to chase after another star?]

[This kind of celebrity who relies on strength instead of looks is very inspirational.]

[Is the person above saying that Anan isn’t pretty? She’s only eight years old. A girl changes when she gets older.]

[Maybe I just feel differently.]

[Why do I feel that Anan is a little silly? I find it silly that she asked Li Zexuan to sign her violin.]

[Are you complimenting her or insulting her?]

[Of course, I’m complimenting her. Such a down-to-earth celebrity is so likable.]

Perhaps it was because Anan had just arrived, but her popularity surpassed Li Zexuan’s.

After a simple welcome ceremony on the field, the families began with their tasks.

Today’s task was for the parents to take a break and the children were supposed to handle everything from cooking to housework. The parents could guide them, but they couldn’t take the lead. The camera cut to the kitchens of each family.

Li Zexin kicked the stones on the road and complained all the way. “In the 1990s, was there nothing else to do? Just cook and eat? Didn’t the director know that the most difficult thing for our family is to cook?”

Li Zekai didn’t think much of it. As the youngest son, he only needed to stand by and watch. His two brothers should be able to at least make a meal.

Li Zexuan looked at his own hands sadly. “It’s been hard on you,” he said sympathetically to his hand. “You have to work again.”

Lin Wan was rarely so quiet that the three children found it unbelievable. A few days ago, when the Festival Group had assigned a mission, Lin Wan was the first one to jump and say that she absolutely would not do it.

However, at this moment, she was silent and indifferent.

When they finally reached home, Lin Wan sat on the recliner again. Unlike before, where she laid down and covered her face with her hat, this time she opened a parasol and rested under it.

“Ms. Lin, I don’t know how to cook.” Li Zexin tried to pull Lin Wan up.

“Come here.” Li Yanchen grabbed his son and took him aside. “She doesn’t, either.”

“You’re still protecting her even though you quarreled?” Li Zexin broke free from his father’s arms.

“Who’s quarreling?” Li Yanchen was grateful that there was no alcohol in the Lan Village, otherwise he would have gotten drunk senselessly and done something to regret later.

He tried to recall if he had done anything wrong. But no matter how much he thought about it, he felt that they didn’t really have a conflict between them. The only explanation was that she had met Song Jing today and was reminded of the unhappy things that had happened in her high school. He thought that she was very introverted and hence did not know how to express her frustration, so she suffered alone in silence. She could only vent her most sorrowful emotions on herself.

Li Yanchen was not someone who could act like nothing happened. Hence, he took a stool and sat down beside her.

Li Zexuan opened the rice jar, took out a bowl of rice, and washed it a few times like in the video. Finally, he poured it into the pot, added enough water, and even used his finger to measure the water level.

This was the first time he was cooking. When he put the lid back on and started the fire, he started to worry. Li Zexin stood in front of the pot. “Brother, from now on, we have to take on the responsibility of taking care of our old father.”

[Although I know that it is a mission, I still feel sorry for Xuanxuan. Nannan did not even heed the rules for today.]

[Where are Li Yanchen and Lin Wan? Don’t tell me that they aren’t going to help at all.]

Li Zexin rolled the newspaper and blew big mouthfuls of air at the spark to fan the fire. The boy felt that he had used up all his strength, but the flame was still too small.

“Brother, Dad knows how to start a fire. We should ask for help.” After struggling for a few minutes, Li Zexin really couldn’t handle it. His face was stained with ash.

Li Zexuan, who was in a bad mood, saw his brother’s face and burst out laughing. “Li Zexin, did you put your face into the pot?”

Li Zexin took out the tiny mirror that he always carried with him. He rubbed the ash from his face and rubbed his fingers on Li Zexuan’s face.

Li Zexuan was stunned at first. But then they both pointed at each other and laughed out loud.

[Xuanxuan was tricked by his brother. But he is enjoying this so much.]

Li Zekai heard his brothers laughing and ran over. He touched the pot and smeared ash on his face too.

[Do you think it is mandatory to smear ash on your own face?]

After he was done, Li Zekai stood in the middle of his brothers and pointed at his own face. “Me too. We’re now a family of dark spots.” They laughed.

Li Zekai’s words might have motivated Li Zexin to do new mischief because he wiped his hand on the stove and walked over to Li Yanchen who was in the courtyard.

He rubbed his fingers on his father’s face.

“Now dad also has whiskers like a big cat.” Li Zekai pointed at his father and giggled.

His brother’s action had shocked Li Zexuan. He stood a little away from his father, waiting for the inevitable anger. However, to his surprise, Li Yanchen merely took out his phone and took a picture of himself. Did he look funny? ‘If Lin Wan saw this, would she laugh?’ thought Li Yanchen.

He put the phone back inside his pocket and nudged at Lin Wan. She turned around and looked at him. Li Yanchen had an ashy eight-point beard.

“Is that the work of the Japanese?” Lin Wan’s face broke into a smile. But she tried to pretend to be disdainful. “That’s childish, okay?”