Madam, Please Behave

Liu Changqing hurried downstairs to the local mini-mart to buy a pair of small-sized slippers.

He had just finished cleaning the floor when Feng Shuyan, still wearing her dirty shoes, ran across it again. Speechless at the mess, Liu Changqing decided it was better to buy her a pair of slippers than keep cleaning up after her.

Returning home, he handed the new slippers to Feng Shuyan.

The dead-fish-eyed girl still wore her perpetually uninterested expression.

“Thanks, chubby uncle.”

“I’d feel much better if you left out the ‘chubby’ part.”

Not wanting to argue, Liu Changqing had figured out by now that this was just her personality.

How to describe it?

A sharp tongue but a soft heart?

She wasn’t a bad kid by nature; her teasing was likely just a way to grab attention. It made sense why she had trusted him so much when they met—she must have seen him picking up Liu Xiazhi from school before and remembered him.

Back at home, Liu Changqing turned on the water heater. He had worked up quite a sweat today and definitely needed a shower.

When the water was ready, he called out to the two little girls.

“Time for a bath, Xiazhi!”

No response.

He was used to this by now, though.

He continued, “Get a set of clean clothes for your friend. I’ll wash hers while you two take a bath. Just leave the dirty clothes in the basin outside the bathroom.”

After giving these instructions, Liu Changqing cleaned the spots Feng Shuyan had dirtied again. Then, he picked up her small, dirty shoes, filled a basin with water, and added some detergent.

Taking out a small stool he had prepared earlier, he placed the shoes into the water, letting them soak thoroughly before starting to scrub.

The sight was a little comical.

Anyone who saw a burly man with a large build sitting on a tiny stool scrubbing a child’s shoes would surely find it odd.

A divorced dad had to be resourceful.

From the bathroom, the sound of giggling could be heard. The two girls, carrying clothes in their arms, ran into the bathroom, laughing all the way.

A short while later, two small arms emerged from the bathroom door, depositing a pile of clothes into the basin before retreating and closing the door again.

Feng Shuyan’s shoes were small—so small that Liu Changqing could grasp one entirely with one hand.

Holding the shoe by its sole with his left hand and the brush in his right, he dipped the brush in soapy water and scrubbed diligently.

They were nice-looking shoes.

That was Liu Changqing’s first thought as he examined them.

Perhaps because she had been crouching in the roadside bushes for so long, the soles were caked with mud. But after soaking them for a bit, the dirt began to dissolve.

The water in the basin turned murky.

The design of the shoes was beautiful, predominantly white with a sandal-like style. However, they were different from any sandals Liu Changqing was familiar with. They had an adjustable leather strap over the top of the foot and a decorative flower on the side.

What stood out most was the texture. The soles felt soft yet sturdy, and when he squeezed them, the material was incredibly comfortable.

These are really nice.

Liu Changqing thought to himself.

I should get a pair like this for Xiazhi.

He scrubbed harder with the brush, using a little too much force this time.

Water splashed as Liu Changqing scrubbed harder, accidentally rubbing the decorative flower off the shoe and into the basin.

His movements froze.

“Hmm…”

Looking closer, he noticed the torn fabric where the flower had been attached. Comparing the two shoes, it was clear the one missing the flower looked much worse, and the difference was immediately noticeable.

After a brief moment of thought, Liu Changqing resumed scrubbing, fishing the flower out of the basin and setting it aside.

No big deal—I’ll glue it back on later.

“Dad, what are you doing?”

Liu Zhiyue spoke as he watched his father finish turning off the hairdryer, holding a pair of small shoes in his hands.

“I accidentally scrubbed the flower off her shoe earlier, so I’m gluing it back on,” Liu Changqing explained without looking up.

Picking up a bottle of glue from the table, he carefully applied a few drops to the spot where the flower had been, pressing it firmly into place.

After a moment of silence, Liu Changqing leaned back to inspect his handiwork, squinting as he compared the two shoes.

“Did I stick it on crooked?”

“A little,” Liu Zhiyue admitted, nodding.

“…”

“Eh, doesn’t matter. It’s still wearable,” Liu Changqing shrugged, placing the shoes by the door where the slippers were kept. Thanks to the hairdryer, the shoes were already dry and ready for use.

Just then, the two girls emerged from the bathroom, their damp hair sticking to their faces.

“Hairdryer!”

Shouting, Liu Xiazhi ran over, snatching the hairdryer from near Liu Changqing before dashing back toward the bathroom hand-in-hand with Feng Shuyan.

Watching this, Liu Zhiyue turned to his father with a puzzled expression.

“Is she staying the night?”

“Mm.”

“Why? Why not just send her home?”

“Do you think I don’t want to?” Liu Changqing sighed, looking helpless.

“I asked her for her parents’ contact information the whole way back, but she wouldn’t say a word. It’s like her lips were glued shut.”

“So what now?”

“What else? I’ll go to school tomorrow and talk to Xiazhi’s teacher to find out what’s going on with her family.”

Thinking of the rope-like marks on Feng Shuyan’s wrists and the other injuries he hadn’t yet seen, Liu Changqing’s expression grew grim.

No child is born with a strange personality. Something must have happened.

The next day, Liu Changqing skipped work at the bookstore. After finishing his morning run with his son, he decided to take both children to school.

Feng Shuyan seemed to notice something was off—she kept swinging the shoe that had been glued as they walked.

Liu Changqing pretended not to see.

After dropping the children off and watching them enter the classroom, he made his way to Xiazhi’s homeroom teacher’s office. Since there was no class during the first period, he spotted the teacher right away.

Knocking on the door, Liu Changqing greeted them.

“Hello.”

“Hello, may I help you?”

The teacher, a young woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties, was conservatively dressed. She wasn’t particularly striking in appearance, but her demeanor was pleasant and carried a scholarly air.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Liu Changqing, Liu Xiazhi’s father.”

“Liu Xiazhi’s father?”

The teacher seemed slightly puzzled.

“Xiazhi has always been well-behaved. I don’t recall needing to call you about her.”

“Oh no, this isn’t about Xiazhi,” Liu Changqing clarified quickly. “Actually, last night, I found one of your students—Feng Shuyan—sitting alone by the roadside. She wouldn’t give me her parents’ contact information, so she stayed at my house for the night. I’m hoping to get in touch with her family so they can pick her up.”

“Feng Shuyan…”

The moment her name was mentioned, the teacher’s initial confusion disappeared. Muttering to herself, she pulled out a small booklet.

“She should be living with her father.”

“And her mother?”

“The records state that her mother passed away several years ago. Also… her father hasn’t remarried.”

“I see…”

After a moment of thought, Liu Changqing spoke.

“Could you provide me with his contact information? I’d like to speak with him.”