Late at night, Lan Village was not very quiet. The croaking of frogs rang all around.
Lin Wan lay on the bed and looked out of the old wooden window. She was suffering from insomnia.
After the live stream which ended at 10 pm, her relationship with her stepsons was rather tense. Even Li Zexuan from the original novel, who rarely spoke to her, had criticized her for 20 minutes straight. Li Zexin looked as if he was going to tear the house down. If she wasn't older than him in age and status, Li Zexin might actually have attacked her. He wasn't an easy person to deal with. As soon as the camera was turned off, he complained that he was hungry and shouted at Lin Wan for an hour. Lin Wan didn't bother to refute him. She had ignored everyone and hid in her room, instead.
If she had known that there was a knife to her neck, she would not have come to this damn place. It had only been one day, and she was suffering.
'How will I spend six days here?!' After much thought, Lin Wan decided that she would send in a withdrawal application to the Festival Group the next morning. She really couldn't deal with her three stepsons and their attitude.
Lin Wan wondered if she should consult with Li Yanchen first. He must be done with his business meetings and contracts, so he might really come to this program. However, he hadn't sent any news at all for the past few days so Lin Wan didn't feel like saying anything at all. Her husband and the stepsons weren't hers, after all.
In the room next door, Li Zexin was still on his brother's bed.
"Big brother, we're in a very bad state, right? Do you think father will come tomorrow?" Li Zexin's rebellious attitude was gone for now. He sat cross-legged with Li Zexuan. He didn't throw a tantrum to chase Lin Wan away, instead he really wanted his father to rush here now that he saw Lin Wan being bullied.
Li Zexuan had criticized Lin Wan for 20 minutes straight after the live stream had ended. He had even thrown away the biscuit she had given him in anger. He was so tired right now that he couldn't even open his mouth to reply. He admired Li Zexin. He had thrown a tantrum and destroyed things all day, yet he was still so energetic.
"I don't know. Let's just sleep." Li Zexuan wrapped himself in a blanket and turned the other way, ignoring Li Zexin who was sitting on the bed in a mess.
The next morning, just as the sun rose, Lin Wan was already carrying her little handbag. She had wanted to leave without telling anybody but thought it would have disrupted the flow of the program. They might think she had disappeared in the wilderness and search for her. So, she figured it would be better to let the staff know that she was leaving.
As for her stepsons, she really didn't want to waste her breath on the eldest and second one. The third one had been a bit kind to her, so she, too, decided to show some respect for him. She tiptoed into Li Zekai's room and placed the remaining biscuits and sausages at the edge of his bed.
He didn't expect Li Zekai to wake up suddenly. The little boy opened his drowsy eyes and dazedly looked at the woman standing by his bed. He let out a scream and got up in a hurry.
"It's me! It's just me." Lin Wan was worried that Li Zekai would wake up the other two.
Li Zekai picked up the biscuits and sausages and looked reluctant. "Auntie, are you really leaving? We won't have any parents for the program if you leave."
"Me being here or not doesn't make a difference. Don't worry. I am sure the Festival Group won't just leave you all alone. Besides, Li Yanchen might be on his way here anyway. He might reach the moment I leave."
Lin Wan was certain that the staff or Li Yanchen would not leave the children alone. As for the criticisms she would face from the audiences for leaving everything, she didn't care at all. The internet was not short of trolls, after all.
"But..." Li Zekai pretended to stop her.
"I have to leave before the broadcast starts. Be good, alright? And good luck!" They had never spent time for either of them to have any attachment towards the other. Even if they spent time, they were all at each other's throats anyway. She couldn't wait to get out of there as soon as possible.
At five in the morning, the sky was becoming lighter. But most people were still asleep. The live stream would start at seven. So, Lin Wan still had two hours to leave. The reason she wanted to leave so early was, apart from wanting to get out of this godforsaken place, she didn't want to face the other two monsters in the morning.
Lin Wan's departure was exactly what Li Zekai wanted. He thought that his father would finally see how unreliable she was. He might even kick her out of the Li family.
Li Wan slowly opened the door and stuck out her head to make sure there were no live cameras outside. She then stepped out. When she turned around to close the door behind her, she felt a dark shadow approach her. The shadow grew taller and bigger as it approached her. It shielded the morning sun that was just rising.
It was said that people froze when they faced fear. Lin Wan's hands shook uncontrollably. There shouldn't be any ghosts in the daylight! She thought that she might still be dreaming. If she closed her eyes and continued walking, no one would be there.
She closed her eyes. She lowered her head and walked.
"Where are you going so early in the morning?" The unfamiliar man stood in front of Lin Wan. His voice was deep and slightly hoarse.
Lin Wan opened her eyes a little.
He was very tall. He was dressed in a white T-shirt and black suit. His dark hair slightly fell to the corners of his eyes. His eyebrows were raised slightly up in doubt. A faint smile appeared on his lips. His cheeks had dimples. She had thought Li Zexuan looked quite good, but this man was simply gorgeous.
'Whose father is this? I didn't see him at the assembly yesterday. Could he be a staff member? It was a pity that such a handsome man had to work behind the scenes.' Li Wan's heart skipped a beat. 'Is he from the props department? Or the make-up department?'
Li Yanchen thought that she had changed a little. She seemed more relaxed and comfortable now. When she was at home, she barely said anything. She would sit in the garden with a book in her hand the entire day. Even after they had married, she had barely said more than three sentences to him.
"Brother, I was just about to go look for you. Um, I was thinking—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Lin Wan heard the wooden door creak open behind her.
"Daddy! Daddy!" Li Zekai almost stumbled. "Daddy!"
Li Zexuan and Li Zexin also rushed out. Li Zexuan looked indifferent, but he clamped his little lips tightly shut as if he couldn't believe this. He didn't even greet his father but stared coldly at him.
Li Zexin was a completely different person from yesterday. His arrogant and angry look was replaced by a pleasant smile.
"Daddy, you're really here! We missed you so much." Li Zekai was like a little kitten, snuggling in the man's arms.
Lin Wan was shocked. She just realized that this man was her supposed husband, Li Yanchen.
He was really here! And, he wasn't a stout and balding man, either. He was handsome. He looked regal and carried a certain assertive aura.