After Being Blackened All Over the Internet, I Ruled the Military Variety Shows
Chapter 426 - 417: Clues in Dreams, Pretending to be Affectionate Sisters Unwillingly

Chapter 426: Chapter 417: Clues in Dreams, Pretending to be Affectionate Sisters Unwillingly

Fortunately, the crew’s camp had already prepared in advance, with drainage ditches dug, solar emergency lights fully charged, and the tents reinforced.

After finishing these tasks, everyone still had time for a hearty meal before they each went to rest, waiting for the impending storm.

Before midnight, the storm arrived as expected.

Raindrops pattered loudly against the tents and car roofs, the only difference being one was louder and the other softer.

Jiang Lingxi was awakened by the sound of the rain, sitting up to look outside the window.

Changning, who was already a light sleeper, woke up from the noise, using the small nightlight in the carriage that wasn’t turned off to look over, "Sister Xi?"

"It’s nothing, go back to sleep."

Before closing her eyes again, Changning glanced at Lu Zhengzheng, who was still snoring softly on the sofa bed opposite, then looked at the sesame bun sleeping on the mat below, raised an eyebrow after seeing his posture.

To be able to do something like cling to someone’s leg while awake, it’s surprising how orderly his sleeping posture is.

At this sight, she couldn’t help but take a closer look.

Previously entangled by this guy nearly to the point of collapse, plus being weakened by hunger and surgery, she hadn’t taken a good look at what this sesame bun looked like.

With food and drink these past two days, he finally regained some strength, and his good foundation followed suit.

Now illuminated by the small nightlight, amidst flickering shadows, the facial contours imbued with more determination and a pronounced nose were fully revealed.

The more she looked, the more she noticed an inexplicable allure.

Changning covered her mouth, gave a light cough, and lay back.

No matter how good-looking, he’s still just a shameless sesame bun clinging to people!

"Mom..."

Jiang Lingxi, half-awake, and Changning, about to go to sleep, both heard this vague sleep-talk.

The two of them simultaneously turned their heads towards the source, both pricking up their ears.

Unfortunately, the person sleeping on the ground only uttered that one word and made no other sound.

Changning couldn’t help but sigh, "If only I could crawl into this guy’s dream."

"Go to sleep, we’ll ask him tomorrow if he remembers dreaming anything."

After getting used to the sound of the rain, the two soon fell back asleep.

When they awoke again, the sky had brightened, the rain had lessened, but from the looks of it, it wouldn’t stop anytime soon.

Imagine waking up, opening your eyes and being face-to-face with a pair of eyes staring intently at you, what would it feel like?

Just a little bit, just a little closer, Changning’s fist would have landed on that guy’s nose.

Jiang Lingxi came out from the bathroom, seeing the two staring wide-eyed at each other, spoke: "Did you ask him?"

Changning was startled, only then remembering the task she intended to do last night, the fist she hadn’t yet withdrawn turned into grabbing the collar of the sesame bun, "Speak, what did you dream of last night?"

Jiang Lingxi: "..."

This stance of impending torture, hopefully, won’t scare him back!

Fortunately, her worry didn’t materialize.

"My mom, I want to find my mom!"

Changning’s eyes lit up, and she asked urgently, "Where’s your mom?"

"I don’t know."

Changning: "..." Is this guy messing with her?

"Your mom must be at home, I’m asking where your home is?"

"No, I don’t have a home!"

Changning pressed the head that was vigorously shaking in denial, looking to Jiang Lingxi for help.

What does this mean?

On one hand, wanting to find his mom, yet saying he has no home.

It’s all very confusing.

No home, yet where’s this mom coming from?

"Wait, apart from your mom, did you dream of anything else?"

"Mom was drawing and ignored me."

Changning ignored the aggrieved look on his face and continued to ask, "So, your mom is a painter?"

Shaking his head.

"Not a painter, then what could she be? A designer?"

Nodding.

Changning’s eyes lit up, surprised that she guessed correctly by chance, "Designing what? Buildings, clothes? Speak, where are you looking?"

Jiang Lingxi gave a light cough, "It should be clothes."

Changning: "..." This guy seemed to have been looking at his clothes just now.

"So she’s a fashion designer, with a son your age, she’d be at least forty-five or older. If she’s famous, that’s great, but if she’s not, it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack."

Unable to get more information, Changning felt somewhat deflated.

Jiang Lingxi, however, was alright; after all, she wasn’t the one being pestered, "Let’s first check among the famous ones, if we find something, great, if not, we’ll look for other clues."

This task was handed over to the newly-awake 5G surfing expert Lu Zhengzheng.

Though the signal here was sporadic, there were times when the signal wasn’t bad, and by then it was worth checking with the mindset of trying one’s luck.

On rainy days, although the crew’s camp restaurant was open as usual, most people were too lazy to venture out in the rain to eat after working nonstop for two days.

After all, going without one meal wouldn’t starve anyone, and if truly hungry, self-brought snacks would suffice.

Many shared this mindset, resulting in half the breakfast prepared by the crew remaining.

The chef had no choice but to pack the meals into lunchboxes and deliver them tent by tent via cart, giving everyone a taste of delivery service on the Gobi Desert.

In Jiang Lingxi’s group, Changning was just about to volunteer to fetch the meal when she opened the carriage door and saw the food delivery team, saving her a trip.

Just after finishing the meal, Wei Minmin showed up.

She brought along a brand-new set of mahjong tiles that hadn’t been opened or played with since arriving there.

"Come on, let’s play mahjong. A rainy day goes best with mahjong! Also," she cast a warning glance at Jiang Lingxi, "no card counting allowed!"

*

The Gobi Desert was being pelted with wind and rain, nearly everyone tucked away indoors, either resting or playing until the rain ceased.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away in the Imperial City, the skies remained clear and bright.

Xu Ling’an had been busy these past few days getting ready for university.

Or rather, forced to prepare.

Freshmen at Hua University, regardless of being from Imperial City or elsewhere, must stay in the dorms for the first year.

Come sophomore year, you can choose to commute or rent off-campus, as you wish.

Gao Lan had long prepared bedding and living necessities for her granddaughter’s dorm stay, while Zhang Nachuan felt he had no role to play, so he quietly rented a small but fully equipped apartment near the school for his granddaughter.

In fact, had the apartment not been so ideally located and in high demand that it was rent-only, Zhang Nachuan initially planned to buy it outright.

Even though living in the dorms was mandatory for freshmen, it would still be a nice place to stay on weekends or for naps, with conveniences like showering and laundry.

By the time Xu Ling’an found out, the keys were already in front of her.

Faced with her grandfather’s expectant gaze, Xu Ling’an eventually accepted them, "Thank you, Grandpa."

"Silly child, no need for thanks with Grandpa."

Zhang Lingxuan stood outside the door, watching expressionlessly through the gap as Xu Ling’an kept the keys, then pushed open the slightly ajar courtyard gate and walked in with a smile, "Grandpa, An’an, I’ve come to see you."

"Xuanxuan, you’re here, then you sisters should catch up."

Zhang Lingxuan laughed to herself; this visit wasn’t purely to simply chat with Xu Ling’an.

Thinking this, she walked to Xu Ling’an’s side and naturally took her arm, pretending not to notice when Xu Ling’an’s arm stiffened and struggled, only to hold on tighter.

With a smiling face, she said: "Grandpa, An’an is about to start university soon, and we’ll have even less time together. Since I’m off today, I thought of taking An’an out for a meal and some shopping. Would you approve?"

Zhang Nachuan was naturally pleased to see the younger generation getting along, nodding without a second thought, and reminded his older granddaughter, "An’an’s health isn’t good, Xuanxuan, take good care of your sister."

"Rest assured, Grandpa, I’ll take great care of An’an!"

Xu Ling’an couldn’t quite figure out Zhang Lingxuan’s intentions, but looking at her grandfather’s comforting expression under all that white hair, she swallowed the words of refusal.

Forget it, she could deal with it once they went out.

The two walked out seemingly close and warm.

Once outside, Xu Ling’an coldly shook off Zhang Lingxuan’s hand, mirroring the coldness in her voice, "Elder cousin doesn’t like me, so why pretend to be enthusiastic?"

Zhang Lingxuan was taken aback but quickly regained her composure, "An’an, do you have some misunderstanding about me?"

Xu Ling’an couldn’t be bothered to physically reciprocate, "I was actually planning to visit Grandma, so if you want to shop, go on your own. And don’t worry, I won’t slip up if Grandpa asks."

Acting fond of her when clearly not, isn’t she tired?

She wasn’t happy or willing and didn’t intend to cooperate.

Watching Xu Ling’an’s back as she left without looking back, Zhang Lingxuan’s expression hardened.

This girl was going to start university in two days, then the military training would begin, and getting her out would be tough.

This matter today, it had to succeed!