Madam, Please Behave

After getting a spray at a small clinic, Liu Zhiyue felt the stinging pain on his face ease significantly.

On the way home, he glanced up at his father hesitantly.

He wanted to say something but couldn’t bring himself to speak.

Noticing his son’s hesitation, Liu Changqing smiled at him.

“Don’t worry. I know you wouldn’t be the one to start a fight.”

Liu Zhiyue was surprised to hear his father say that.

In the past, he’d been in fights before. Conflicts between kids are often sparked by a careless word or action. But back then, whenever the school called his mother, she would always scold him first without hearing him out.

Gradually, Liu Zhiyue learned to suppress his temper.

His father, at the time, would always follow his mother’s lead and never comfort or support him the way he did now.

A warm feeling surged in his heart.

“He kept bullying my deskmate. I just couldn’t stand it anymore.”

The image of Zhao Xuanwen’s face flashed through Liu Zhiyue’s mind.

“She’s a really honest and cheerful person, but it feels like the whole class isolates her.”

“A girl?”

“Yeah.”

Seeing Liu Zhiyue nod firmly, Liu Changqing felt a twinge of emotion.

His son was no longer the little boy he remembered.

Taking a closer look at Liu Zhiyue, Liu Changqing realized his son was already about 173 centimeters tall. Though his plump frame made him appear shorter, his size gave him a sturdy, solid look.

His face carried some of Li Wanran’s features, but his eyes and nose resembled Liu Changqing’s. His round face shape wasn’t as clear yet, as the extra weight obscured it.

Unlike many teenagers, Liu Zhiyue’s skin was clear, free from acne.

Liu Changqing couldn’t help but recall his own adolescent years. At that age, his face was riddled with pimples, requiring years of medical treatment to clear up.

If Liu Zhiyue managed to slim down, he would undoubtedly be a handsome young man.

Watching his son’s expression light up when mentioning the girl, Liu Changqing couldn’t miss the subtle hint of joy in his tone.

He understood immediately.

Teenage boys having a crush on a girl was entirely normal, in his view.

“Do you like her?”

“W-what?!”

Liu Zhiyue froze, his face turning red as the realization hit him.

“Dad, stop joking around! I-I just feel bad for her.”

“Okay, okay. I get it.”

“It’s true!”

Liu Changqing grinned, amused by his son’s flustered reaction.

Looking at Liu Zhiyue’s round, nervous face, he suddenly thought of something An Yuan Yao had mentioned.

After a moment of reflection, he spoke.

“Son.”

“Yeah?”

“Let’s lose weight together.”

“…”

Liu Zhiyue stared at his father in disbelief, his mind filling with question marks.

For years, Liu Changqing had periodically brought up the idea of dieting, only to give up after a few days. While his post-divorce weight loss had been noticeable, it wasn’t enough to bring him down to a healthy size.

Here he goes again.

“Dad… if you lose weight, I’ll lose weight.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I,” Liu Zhiyue replied, though inwardly he doubted his father’s resolve.

“Alright, it’s settled then.”

Clapping his hands together, Liu Changqing began planning.

“From now on, we’ll wake up at 5:30 every morning to go running. That way, I can also drop your sister off at school afterward.”

“5:30? Isn’t that way too early?”

“Early? This will help you break that habit of staying up late. And if you do stay up late, I’ll drag you out of bed myself in the morning.”

Hearing this, Liu Zhiyue’s lips twitched.

I just have to endure it for a few days. There’s no way Dad will stick to it this time.

Unconsciously, the two arrived at their doorstep.

Just as Liu Changqing was about to unlock the door, he noticed something unusual.

He could hear his daughter laughing inside.

Frowning, he checked the time on his phone.

At this hour, she should still be at school.

Fearing something might have happened, Liu Changqing hurriedly opened the door.

The scene inside left him momentarily stunned.

A woman wearing a black dress with her hair down sat with her back to him, showing something to his daughter.

Hearing the door open, Liu Xiazhi looked up. Upon seeing Liu Changqing, her expression changed.

The woman turned around, brushing her hair back with one hand.

“Long time no see,” she said.

Li Wanran.

“It’s only been two weeks.”

Liu Changqing glanced at her briefly before looking away.

Patting his son on the back, he signaled him to go inside.

Upon seeing who was there, Liu Zhiyue’s expression grew complicated. Without saying a word, he removed his shoes and walked over to his sister.

Li Wanran called out softly, “Zhiyue…”

“Come on, let’s go to the room,” Liu Zhiyue said, ignoring her.

Taking hold of Liu Xiazhi, who was holding a brand-new recorder, he glanced around and noticed shopping bags filled with clothes.

“Ah, I don’t want to go! Mom hardly ever visits!”

Clearly, Liu Xiazhi didn’t want to leave. She clung to the sofa, refusing to move.

“Be good.”

“No, no!”

“Don’t make me angry!”

The outburst shocked Liu Xiazhi.

She had never seen her brother act this way before. Startled, she froze.

Realizing what had just happened, tears quickly welled up in Liu Xiazhi’s eyes.

Before she could start crying, Liu Zhiyue stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and lifted her into a tight hug.

Only then did Liu Xiazhi burst into tears, her small fists pounding against her brother’s chest.

Standing nearby, Li Wanran watched the scene unfold, her expression complicated.

The sound of the door closing was soon followed by muffled crying from inside. For a moment, the atmosphere between Liu Changqing and Li Wanran turned silent and tense.

Finally, Liu Changqing broke the stalemate.

He gave a small jerk of his head, gesturing outside.

“It’s not convenient to talk here. Let’s go out.”

With that, he turned and stepped out the door.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Li Wanran grabbed her purse from the sofa and followed him out.

As soon as they exited, Liu Changqing shut the security door behind them.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes, took one out, and lit it.

He took a deep drag, then exhaled a cloud of smoke.

“What do you want?”

Li Wanran’s brows furrowed as she looked at him in surprise.

It had been years since she’d last seen him smoke.

After all, she had once said she disliked the smell of cigarettes.

Liu Changqing noticed the shift in her expression but showed no intention of stopping. In fact, a faint smirk of mockery played on his lips.

“We’re no longer married. Whether I smoke or not is none of your business.”

“…”

Taken aback by his tone, Li Wanran froze.

It was the first time he had ever spoken to her like this.

When she regained her composure, her face returned to its usual cold and indifferent look.

“Of course, it’s not my concern.”

“Good. Let’s skip the pleasantries and get straight to the point.”

Squinting slightly, Liu Changqing fixed his gaze on her.

“So, what’s your purpose in coming here today?”

“I don’t have any ulterior motives,” she said, shaking her head.

“I just wanted to see the kids.”

Her eyes drifted to the walls of the building’s hallway, where large patches of paint had peeled away, exposing the rough concrete beneath. The sight made her uncomfortable.

“This place is a complete dump. How can you live here?”

“How noble and detached from reality,” Liu Changqing replied sarcastically.

If he could, he would have spat in her face.

Suppressing his anger, he said, “I think it’s fine. Sure, it’s not as nice as the house I spent over a decade working to buy, but it’s cozy enough for the three of us. No need for your concern, Princess.”

At his words, Li Wanran’s perpetually stoic expression finally cracked, her face tinged with anger.

Placing a hand over her chest, she said, “I’m still their mother. I have every right to be concerned!”

She glanced around the area, her displeasure evident.

“How could you let the children live in such a dirty, chaotic environment?!”