Chapter 279 276. Learning Nothing from the Pain
After breakfast, leaving behind her father—who always wore a dark expression—An Han had already slipped away to the street corner with Su Peng.
Meetings between her father and Su Peng were always thick with the scent of gunpowder, making her worry whether the two could ever actually reconcile.
After all, some people were just born to clash. It was just like her and Chen Junjie; they had shared a dorm for nearly three years and still bickered every single day. Even if Chen Junjie’s favorability toward her had increased, a quarrel was still a quarrel.
"What am I going to do..." An Han’s face carried a hint of worry, yet her steps remained light. Her large eyes, curved like crescent moons, gazed at Su Peng with a smile.
How was it that when other families found a good son-in-law, the parents were so enthusiastic they feared he might run away? Yet, while she and Su Peng were only in a relationship, her parents seemed to look down on him more and more.
Su Peng clearly had the looks, the ability, and a family background that was exceptionally wealthy.
"At least your mom doesn't reject me too much now."
While her mother didn't overtly reject him, her attitude was clearly one of perfunctory resignation.
An Han inconspicuously glanced behind her and spotted a suspicious figure lurking.
Maintaining a half-step's distance from Su Peng to avoid being too close, she asked, "Why did you call me out so suddenly? It might not be good if my parents find out."
"I have to go back tomorrow. Something came up at home." Su Peng had his hands shoved in his overcoat pockets. His gaze occasionally swept across the streets and pedestrians on either side, but most of the time, it lingered on An Han’s exquisite profile.
"Oh, I see..." An Han’s footsteps faltered, and her whole demeanor wilted slightly.
Even though she hadn't had much chance to go out and play with Su Peng these past two days, being able to see him a few times a day—even seeing his awkwardness in front of her parents—was better than being hundreds of kilometers apart, limited to chatting online.
"It’s okay. School starts in ten days. I’ll pick you up at the station then."
"Yeah."
Su Peng clearly saw the light in An Han’s eyes dim.
Feeling a twinge of heartache, he reached out to rub her small head, comforting her softly: "So, shall we go out and have some fun today?"
"But my stomach doesn't feel very good..."
Even though her "younger sister" (the female persona/body) wasn't seeking trouble right now, the menstrual cramps triggered by drinking cold milk yesterday were still pulsing with a faint, lingering pain.
An Han comforted herself, thinking this was a pain most "original equipment" females experienced—a unique mark of her life as a woman.
However, the persistent ache still took a toll on her mood and energy.
No wonder she’d heard before that one shouldn't mess with a girl during her period.
"Then how about we find a place to sit?" Su Peng withdrew his right hand from his pocket, a flower held between his fingers. "How’s this? Pretty, right?"
An Han rolled her eyes. "Not pretty."
"This..." Su Peng’s smile froze.
"Too flashy."
"Alright..."
Even though she had become a girl and her personality was getting softer, that "straight man" logic was still deeply rooted in her brain.
An Han knit her brows in dissatisfaction but still took the rose, her tone slightly disdainful: "I'll let it slide this time. Don't buy this useless stuff in the future. It’s a waste of money."
A single rose cost about ten yuan, which was enough for her to eat at a snack stall.
"I just thought it would be romantic..."
An Han had no interest in this kind of formalistic romance. Plucking at the rose petals, she muttered, "A plain and simple life is the most romantic."
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
Especially after gaining that "bastard system," An Han truly only sought a peaceful life.
She didn't care about houses, cars, or large sums of money! She had already missed out on countless opportunities anyway. She only hoped the system wouldn't issue any more tasks that pushed her bottom line of shame.
Her bottom line was already low enough, yet she still couldn't withstand the system’s mockery.
Slowly, the two wandered into a street with thin foot traffic.
This street still had stone-brick flooring that hadn't changed in decades. Both sides were lined with quiet clothing stores, with only the occasional person passing through as a shortcut.
"It’s a dead end. Let’s head out."
An Han turned to leave but was suddenly grabbed by the hand.
She looked back at Su Peng in surprise, her face flushing red under his burning, somewhat aggressive gaze.
Ever since she had flirted with him last time and officially became his girlfriend, they barely had a chance to say two words to each other normally.
Now that they finally had some private space, Su Peng was starting to get ideas.
"Stop it, we’re on the street." An Han knew what he wanted to do and shot him a glare. "Besides, my stomach hurts. I'm not in the mood."
His gaze retracted slightly. Su Peng helplessly let go of her hand, his tone tinged with disappointment: "Alright then."
"Also, my dad is following us."
An Han added a low warning.
"!!!"
Terrified, Su Peng hurried to turn his head, but An Han gave his arm a sharp tug: "Just pretend you don't know!"
"Tell me... if your dad hits me, would you help me or him?"
He couldn't help feeling a lingering fear. If he had launched a "surprise attack" on An Han just now, he would have been met with a surprise attack from his future father-in-law.
Only one would have been a kiss, while the other would likely have been a brick to the back of the head.
"I’d call the police and an ambulance."
"How did you notice him?"
Because in the entire street, only her father would look at An Han with such care and doting—which occasionally turned into fury, especially when Su Peng had grabbed her hand. That anger had traveled through his gaze, making it crystal clear to An Han.
"He isn't even hiding; he's following us out in the open. You just didn't look back."
Su Peng felt a cold sweat on his back. With a heart still pounding, he scanned the surroundings with his peripheral vision and indeed spotted that terrifying figure in a corner.
This was way too scary.
"Isn't he being... a bit too much?"
An Han glanced at her father’s current favorability toward her and sighed softly: "Actually, it's quite normal."
After all, the favorability had already surpassed 90.
She hadn't even done anything these past two days; this favorability was rising even more exaggeratedly than when she wore that chest binder.
With the favorability getting higher and higher, An Han began to worry about the possibility of "paternal love" deviating into something else.
While she was worrying, she suddenly felt the pain in her lower abdomen intensify. Her face turned pale in an instant. She subconsciously clutched her stomach, her shoulders hunching as she knit her brows.
Su Peng immediately noticed her distress: "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Stomach ache... I'll be fine once I get back to use the bathroom..."
An Han continued to use that excuse to explain away her condition.
The pain wasn't as intense as last night, but the aching sensation seemed to be spreading toward her hips and thighs, causing her legs to tremble slightly as she walked.
My "sister" must have snuck something to eat!
An Han cursed bitterly in her heart.
Learning nothing from the pain, are we!
She tried her best to maintain a normal posture to reassure both Su Peng beside her and her father watching from the shadows.
"Let's go. Let's head back."
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