The Useless Stepmom Brings Her Kids to Reality TV Shows to Photograph Them

Chapter 42 - 42 Body Felt a Little Heavy

42 Body Felt a Little Heavy

Li Yanchen was about to swallow the egg in his mouth before calling out again for his eldest son. He did not expect Li Zexuan to rush like a speeding arrow.

Li Zexuan was an introverted child. He didn’t like expressing his thoughts and emotions in front of others. But seeing his father and his brothers eating together happily, he couldn’t stand feeling like an outsider. His emotions exploded.

He knew that there was a woodshed about a hundred meters away, and there were no cameras there So, he ran toward it and went straight in.

Ever since Li Yanchen had brought him back to the country, no matter how hard he worked or how outstanding he was, his father had never once praised him. Did he feel this bad because he was the only one among his brothers who had the memories of his biological father?

Lin Wan was dumbfounded as well. Before she could say anything, he had run so fast that he was only a blur. In her own world, she recalled that she had done the same when she was on the verge of a breakdown. She had sped past everyone to find a secluded place.

“Dad, brother ran away.” Li Zekai put down his chopsticks.

Li Yanchen’s face remained expressionless.

‘Every time we quarreled, he would sulk until I gave in and apologized. He can’t even apologize once to his younger brother,’ Li Zexin thought. He sighed. He had thought that this time would be the same as well. He had expected his brother to sulk until he gave in. But this was a live broadcast. Although he was just in junior high, he still had to save his own face!

“Li Yanchen?” Lin Wan looked at the unmoving man with narrowed eyes.

Li Yanchen’s teaching philosophy was a little outdated. He expected boys to be indomitable and stoic, not fragile and emotional. He hoped that Li Zexuan would turn out like him, as hard as diamond. So, even if his brothers didn’t catch up, he could step up and inherit Chenxin. Li Zexuan’s habit of being silent and evasive when faced with problems was something that he wanted to force him to change.

[Did Xuanxuan leave in anger? No one went to take a look?]

[Aren’t you worried? Even if there are cameras in the village, our Xuan is hungry. We have to ask him to come back for some food.]

[Is Lin Wan not willing to check on him? She seems to be looking at Li Yanchen the entire time!]

[I beg you, please look after Xuanxuan.]

[My heart aches. Xuanxuan is introverted and not like his brother who can voice out his dissatisfaction.]

[I’m so worried. Director, send someone to take a look.]

Lin Wan looked at the expressionless Li Yanchen. In the original novel, he was brutally cold and indifferent to his three sons. Lin Wan had not found out the cause for his demeanor even when she had reached the end of the novel. She knew that he would not go and check in on his son even now.

Lin Wan decided to go by herself.

[F * ck, it’s actually Lin Wan who is chasing after him.]

[What the hell? Is Lin Wan trying to clear her name?]

[I don’t accept Lin Wan’s innocence.]

After Li Zexuan had rushed into the woodshed, he had collapsed on the ground, unable to use any strength.

Almost every household in Lan Village had a woodshed. The woodshed was dark. It didn’t even have a window to prevent water from getting in and dampening the logs.

Li Zexuan’s breathing was coming out ragged. His limbs trembled. Cold sweat flowed down his face. He felt dizzy.

Lin Wan thought about the situation. ‘Li Zexuan will definitely avoid the places with cameras. The only places that don’t have cameras are the woodshed, pigsty, pond, vegetable field, and Orchard.’

She looked around but didn’t see Li Zexuan anywhere. Fortunately, there was no river in the village. She was afraid Li Zexuan would take things too hard.

Li Zexin was a real hooligan. He knew that he was the one who started the fight. He deliberately provoked him while eating.

The other families were enjoying a delicious lunch, and no one noticed the Li family’s incident.

Lin Wan looked for Li Zexuan everywhere. When she didn’t find him anywhere, her footsteps became quicker. She had a bad feeling about this. She headed back to the courtyard to ask Li Yanchen to look for his eldest son.

In the courtyard, Li Zexin was still being stubborn. “My brother is just so pretentious.”

[Have you guys seen Xuanxuan in the other livestreaming rooms?]

[No.]

[I didn’t see him.]

[I’m so worried. It’s been ten minutes and Lin Wan’s still not back.]

[If anything happens to Xuanxuan, don’t blame me for abusing Li Zexin.]

“You two stay here. I’ll go take a look.” Li Yanchen could not sit still any longer.

In the woodshed, Li Zexuan’s body felt a little heavy. He closed his eyes and tears flowed down his cheek.

On the cruise ship from Country H, all the mechanical devices had stopped working. The ship floating in the middle of nowhere. The storm had been very aggressive. He, along with his brothers and his parents, had been locked inside the cabin. The seawater had risen and almost reached his brother’s shoulders. His father and mother were already injured. They lifted his two brothers and weakly shouted for help…

In the darkness, he had seen a person smashing open the cabin door. When he woke up, he could only see his two brothers beside him.

“Mom…,” he mumbled. Li Zexuan had no strength and energy to go on.

Lin Wan bumped into Li Yanchen when she was passing by the orchard. There was no emotion in the man’s eyes. But it was clear that he was worried about his son because he looked frantic and was walking quickly.

“I’ve searched everywhere, but I can’t find him.” Lin Wan’s head hurt too much when it came to such complicated family problems. In her original world, although she was an outgoing person, she was not good at dealing with conflicts between relatives.

“Split up and search for him. Don’t make it public.”

…

Li Yanchen found Li Zexuan at the entrance of the woodshed not too far away.

Beside Li Zexuan was Xiao Yi, who was carrying some firewood. Li Yanchen did not know that Li Zexuan had almost fainted in the confined woodshed a few minutes ago. Luckily, Xiao Yi, who had come for some firewood, had pulled him out in time.

Li Yanchen saw that his son’s face was flushed and sweaty from running.

“Your dad is here.” Xiao Yi had already talked with Li Zexuan and promised to keep it a secret. “A father’s love is always a tad bit silent and not very expressive. Talk it out with him,” said Xiao Yi to Li Zexuan. “I will see you later.” He then walked away..

All these years, Li Zexuan had constantly tried to face his fear by locking himself in semi-claustrophobic space. His symptoms had definitely reduced but weren’t altogether gone.

“Let’s go back for lunch. In the afternoon, we’ll hang Li Zexin up and beat him up.” Li Yanchen walked to his eldest son. He didn’t know how to comfort people, but his words seem to do the trick. Li Zexuan got up.

[Xuanxuan is back. My heart… Don’t run around anymore! Old Auntie can’t take it.]

[Xuanxuan doesn’t look too good.]

[He just got angry. How can he look good?]

[Daddy still cares about Xuanxuan. he got him back.]

...

Li Yanchen scooped up a bowl of warm egg custard for Li Zexuan.

“I’m sorry,” blurted out Li Zexin. He had vowed not to give in this time but he couldn’t stand his brother being this sad.

“Father’s words hold great weight. He said we will hang you up and beat you.” It was Li Zexuan’s way of saying that everything was alright.

“Hang me up? Dad, did you really say that? I am only fourteen! This is a live broadcast…”

Li Zekai quietly ate his food, afraid that he would be pulled into this as well.