Madam, Please Behave

Chapter 37: Zhou Shiyan

In his previous life, Liu Changqing’s father had once given him a stern warning.

“Women are like floods, like beasts. Stay away from them and just focus on your studies!”

A young, impressionable Liu Changqing, then still in elementary school, had nodded earnestly.

The very next day, he kicked a girl who was constantly clinging to him, knocking her to the ground. She cried for a long time.

Throughout middle school, he kept to himself, preferring to hang out with boys and avoiding close contact with girls.

By high school, he had grown out of his childhood cluelessness. He began noticing the scent of shampoo in girls’ hair, which stirred unfamiliar emotions in his once-calm heart. For the first time, he began questioning his father’s words.

But the impression his father had left on him was too strong. Liu Changqing ultimately chose to remain steadfast in his belief in his father’s teachings.

Until…

After graduating from college and returning home, he overheard a conversation between his parents one night. Passing by their bedroom on his way to the bathroom, he heard them speaking in hushed, worried tones:

“Do you think our son doesn’t like women? He’s never had a girlfriend all these years…”

In that moment, Liu Changqing felt as though he had been struck by lightning.

So my dad was just trying to keep me from dating during school?

A flood of memories rushed through his mind:

• The girl who clung to him in elementary school.
• The girl who brought him water during middle school’s long-distance running event, when he was gasping for breath.
• The girl in high school who always dragged him to study together and promised they’d attend the same university.
• The girl in college who would call him out late at night to watch the stars.

It all clicked.

But by then, it was too late. With no experience in relationships and a life accustomed to solitude, Liu Changqing simply carried on single.

Eventually, he stopped caring.

As long as I succeed in my career, I can settle down later. I’ll marry someone who’s decent, not fat or thin, takes care of the family, and whom I don’t dislike. That’ll be enough.

But just as his life began to improve, he transmigrated into this world.

Lying in bed, Liu Changqing thought about many things. His eyes, however, remained fixed on his phone screen.

Was what I said too awkward?

Liu Changqing realized he wasn’t very skilled at talking to women. His conversational style was the same whether he was speaking to a man or a woman.

Maybe I should grab a romance novel from the bookstore tomorrow?

Even though I already have kids, being single for two lifetimes isn’t ideal. And the kids… they need a mother’s love, right?

At that thought, a face with a silly smile popped into his mind.

Liu Changqing shivered and quickly shook his head.

What am I even thinking?!

Glancing at his phone again, he saw there was still no reply.

With a sigh, he set his phone to silent mode, placed it on the pillow beside him, and pulled the blanket over his stomach.

I’ll focus on raising my son and daughter. The rest… can wait.

Closing his eyes, Liu Changqing decided to sleep.

Liu Zhiyue’s one-week suspension ended.

After finishing his morning run with his father, he returned home. By now, his body had adapted to the exercise regimen.

No longer was he struggling to lift his legs after every workout.

In fact, after his morning run and a hot shower, he felt surprisingly refreshed.

Habit… really is scary.

After resting for a bit, he went downstairs to grab breakfast before heading back up.

For the past few days, Liu Changqing’s routine had been consistent: he’d finish his morning run and head straight to work, leaving the house to Liu Xiazhi and Liu Zhiyue.

Worried about Liu Xiazhi oversleeping or being unsafe on her way to school, Liu Changqing assigned the task of getting her up and ready to Liu Zhiyue.

After getting ready himself, Liu Zhiyue went to his sister’s room and forcibly carried her out of bed. He then wiped her face with a damp towel to wake her up properly.

The result?

At breakfast, Liu Xiazhi glared at him with a pout, her eyes filled with resentment.

Between bites, she muttered, “It’s still early…” and “Big brother is so annoying…”

Despite her complaints, Liu Zhiyue saw her safely through the school gates just as they opened.

Ignoring her long, accusing stares as she walked in, he waved and called out, “Study hard!”

Then, he turned and made his way to his own school.

The atmosphere in middle school was completely different from elementary school, especially for ninth graders like Liu Zhiyue.

With finals approaching, morning self-study had become a fixture of their schedule.

When Liu Zhiyue entered his classroom, only a few students were there.

I guess I’m early, he thought, settling into his seat.

Taking out his books, he stacked them neatly in the corner of his desk.

Not long after, Zhao Xuanwen burst into the room with a cheerful smile, jogging over to sit beside him.

“You’re finally back!”

She opened her bag and, like Liu Zhiyue, placed her books on her desk in an orderly pile.

“It was so hard to concentrate in class without you here.”

“Like you ever concentrated in class before,” he teased.

“I do too pay attention in class!” Zhao Xuanwen puffed up her cheeks indignantly, refuting his claim.

Used to her stubborn rebuttals, Liu Zhiyue merely hummed noncommittally in response.

At that moment, Zhang Yuan walked into the classroom.

His gaze briefly met Liu Zhiyue’s.

Liu Zhiyue responded with a big smile.

But Zhang Yuan quickly lowered his head and looked away, heading to his seat in the corner without further interaction.

The smile faded from Liu Zhiyue’s face as he turned to Zhao Xuanwen.

“Has anyone asked you to buy stuff for them recently?” he asked.

“Nope.”

“What about helping clean the blackboard or staying after school to do chores?”

“That’s the weird part—nobody’s asked me to help with anything lately…” Zhao Xuanwen said, her expression puzzled.

Seeing his desk mate’s clueless demeanor, Liu Zhiyue relaxed a little.

This silly girl…

Morning self-study began.

The 30 minutes of reading time passed quickly, followed by the first class without a break in between.

The school day consisted of four morning classes, three afternoon classes, and three evening self-study periods. Top-performing students who felt they didn’t need the extra evening sessions could apply to skip them.

This meant that every morning, students faced 75 straight minutes of study and class without a break.

Liu Zhiyue found the schedule exhausting.

When morning reading ended, the teacher entered the classroom with a textbook in hand.

But before the teacher could reach the podium, a girl ran breathlessly to the doorway.

Her straight black hair immediately drew attention.

Unlike Zhao Xuanwen’s hair, her jet-black locks shone with a natural vibrancy, sleek and smooth under the sunlight.

Her face, though slightly tired, was striking. She wore the standard school uniform, which somehow looked more refined on her.

“Late,” she announced, addressing the teacher.

“That’s alright. Take your time next time—being a little late is no problem,” the teacher replied with a smile.

Academic excellence truly is a privilege.

Sitting nearby, Zhao Xuanwen watched with envy.

When she had overslept and arrived late last time, the teacher had scolded her until she was nearly in tears.

Clutching her pen tightly, Zhao Xuanwen muttered under her breath, “Zhou Shiyan can be late, and the teacher doesn’t even care. It’s so unfair!”