Madam, Please Behave

Chapter 52: Not Content with the Status Quo

Liu Zhiyue felt his right eyelid twitch after hearing Zhou Shiyan’s words.

"What does this have to do with improving my grades? Why are we suddenly talking about this?"

"I promised your dad," she replied simply.

"...…"

At a loss for words, Liu Zhiyue found talking to her utterly exhausting.

Without a hint of hesitation, Zhou Shiyan took the milk carton, unwrapped the straw, and poked it in.

Seeing her continue eating, Liu Zhiyue sighed and turned his gaze to the window.

---

The evening self-study period passed painfully slowly. With Zhou Shiyan tutoring him, Liu Zhiyue felt like he was barely surviving the ordeal.

When the bell signaling the end of class finally rang, he hurriedly packed his bag, eager to escape the classroom.

As he brushed past Zhou Shiyan’s desk, she suddenly grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"What now?" he asked, confused.

"Wait for me."

"Huh?"

Without explaining further, she returned to her seat, calmly packing her belongings. Once ready, she turned to him, her expression as calm as ever.

"Let’s go."

"Wait a minute…"

Liu Zhiyue pointed at her, then at himself.

"Are you saying… you’re coming with me?"

"No."

"Then why make me wait while you packed up?"

"Our paths overlap for a bit," she replied, her tone indifferent. "We can use the time to review some English vocabulary."

"...…"

Liu Zhiyue’s expression grew increasingly complicated. After a long pause, he muttered, "You’re a devil, aren’t you?"

Ignoring him, Zhou Shiyan headed out of the classroom.

When she realized he wasn’t following, she poked her head back through the door and called, "Hurry up."

Sighing in defeat, Liu Zhiyue slung his bag over his shoulder and followed her out.

---

Their houses were in the same general direction, but Zhou Shiyan’s was farther away.

Feeling awkward, Liu Zhiyue deliberately kept some distance between them, fearing that any classmates who saw them might misunderstand.

Zhou Shiyan didn’t seem to notice his discomfort. She walked briskly ahead without initiating the vocabulary review she had mentioned earlier, clearly using it as an excuse.

Her pace put her about three steps ahead of him.

Trailing behind, Liu Zhiyue found his gaze inadvertently drawn to her.

She was petite, almost the same size as his younger sister. Always dressed in her school uniform, she didn’t seem to mind that it wasn’t mandatory except for formal occasions.

Her long, silky hair swayed gently with each step, catching the faint streetlights in its strands.

As they walked, the area grew quieter and darker.

Liu Zhiyue’s neighborhood was somewhat remote, mostly occupied by elderly residents or families who had moved away. At night, it felt almost deserted.

He slowed his pace as they neared his house.

Should I say something? he wondered.

After a moment of hesitation, he decided against it. They weren’t close enough for formal goodbyes. He could just turn at the corner and leave.

Before he could, Zhou Shiyan suddenly stopped walking.

As he reached the intersection, ready to turn toward his house, he felt a tug on his shirt.

Startled, he turned to see Zhou Shiyan holding onto his sleeve, her face partially obscured by her bangs.

"What are you doing?" he asked, baffled.

She didn’t reply, her lowered head making it impossible to read her expression.

The silence stretched, thick and heavy.

Feeling uneasy, Liu Zhiyue tried to step forward, but her grip tightened, pulling his shirt taut.

With a resigned sigh, he said, "If you have something to say, just say it."

"Walk a little farther," she mumbled.

"What?"

He blinked, unsure if he had heard her correctly.

Still holding his shirt, she raised her head slightly. Her eyes avoided his, and her tone was softer than usual.

"Just… walk a little more."

"...…"

Liu Zhiyue’s expression grew even more perplexed. He glanced around, trying to make sense of her unusual behavior.

Is she afraid of walking home alone? But how did she manage before?

For the first time, he noticed a fleeting hint of fear in her eyes.

"Let me walk you home," he offered.

Though he didn’t know what had caused her fear, it was genuine.

Hearing his suggestion, Zhou Shiyan’s eyes flickered with surprise as she looked at him.

"This area is pretty dark at this hour. I didn’t realize your house is even farther out than mine…"

His voice trailed off as he turned and continued walking, her grip on his shirt pulling her along.

Zhou Shiyan didn’t immediately let go. Instead, she raised her head slightly, watching Liu Zhiyue’s back as he led the way.

Her thoughts were a mystery.

---

"Why are you back so late today?" Liu Changqing asked as his son entered the house and changed into slippers.

"It’s nothing," Liu Zhiyue replied, brushing off the question. After tossing his bag onto the sofa, he turned to his father, a question of his own forming.

"Dad, how did you end up involving Zhou Shiyan? And why did you ask her to tutor me?"

"Her family runs a breakfast shop. We started talking," Liu Changqing replied smoothly, showing no signs of discomfort as he lied. He certainly didn’t want his son finding out the bruise on his forehead was thanks to her mother.

"By the way, when does your school collect tuition?"

"Right after finals."

"That’s not far off…"

Liu Changqing did a quick calculation.

"When exactly?"

"Next Thursday."

"Got it."

Liu Changqing nodded, his mind settling slightly.

Today was Wednesday, June 26th. Next Thursday would be July 4th—just eight days away.

With two days for exams and a weekend, there were only four actual school days left.

Hearing the precise date, Liu Changqing visibly relaxed.

He would receive his manuscript payment before the tuition was due, ensuring the funds would be available.

Noticing his father lost in thought, Liu Zhiyue hesitated before speaking again.

"What about Xiazhi’s and my tuition?"

"Don’t worry about it; it’s all handled," Liu Changqing said with a reassuring smile.

"But your bookstore job’s salary—"

"Do you really think a part-time bookstore job could support a family of three? Don’t underestimate me."

Liu Changqing chuckled, looking at his son’s surprised expression.

"Back in the day, I started with nothing and managed to run my own factory. I can still do it now. You just focus on your studies."

Though his words were meant to comfort, Liu Changqing had no intention of being complacent.

He understood better than anyone why his previous factory had shut down.

And he wasn’t going to let history repeat itself.