Madam, Please Behave

Chapter 63: Do You Walk Without Making Any Sound?

July 3rd.

Chen Dafu had already gone back to inherit his family’s fortune. Before leaving, he told Liu Changqing to call him if there were any problems.

Having completed the transfer of ownership, Liu Changqing directed the workers to move out all the remaining books from the bookstore. The textbooks were sold to nearby schools, while the children’s picture books and other items were quickly sold off at discounted prices. The rest, which was essentially trash, was hauled off as waste paper.

He didn’t have the time to sell everything bit by bit.

Lifting his head, Liu Changqing wiped the sweat from his forehead. Standing at the doorway in the scorching midday sun made his skin sting painfully. The weather was becoming unbearably hot.

Suddenly, a figure quietly approached him and pressed an ice-cold soda bottle against the back of his neck. Liu Changqing shuddered, jumped aside in alarm, and quickly turned around.

“Hehehe!”

A slightly chubby, smiling face came into view. Recognizing the visitor, Liu Changqing let out a relieved breath.

“Stop messing around. My neck is really sensitive—don’t do that.”

Li Qing handed him the chilled soda with a broad smile. Shooting a glance at the silly girl, Liu Changqing reached out, opened the bottle, and took a big gulp. The sudden rush caused the carbonation to surge up in his chest.

“Hic!”

“Hehehe!”

“What are you laughing at? Burping after drinking soda is the proper way to drink it.”

“Uncle, if you drank slower, you wouldn’t burp.”

“You don’t get it. On a hot day like this, you have to down half of it in one go for it to hit the spot.”

“Really?”

Li Qing looked at the soda in her hand, puzzled by Liu Changqing’s logic. Mimicking him, she popped open her soda and took a big gulp. But her smaller throat couldn’t handle the sudden carbonation, and the soda sprayed out of her mouth.

“Pfft!”

“Hahaha!”

Liu Changqing laughed unabashedly at her misfortune. Seeing her frantically cover her mouth in embarrassment, he eventually stopped laughing and pulled a small pack of tissues from his pocket. After opening it, he handed her one.

“Here, wipe it.”

“Mm!”

Li Qing took the tissue, finished what was left in her mouth, and wiped her lips. However, as anyone who’s dealt with soda knows, tissues get soaked easily, leaving bits of paper stuck on the skin.

This was precisely what happened to Li Qing. After wiping her face, she crumpled the tissue, ran to the trash can, tossed it in, and returned.

Today, Li Qing was dressed refreshingly in a floral dress and open-toed sandals. Her hair was braided into pigtails on either side of her head, and she wore a sunhat. The youthful vibe she exuded was so striking it seemed any random photo could land on the cover of a fresh, minimalistic magazine.

Pouting, Li Qing puffed her cheeks as she glared at Liu Changqing.

“Uncle, you’re so mean! Why’d you laugh at me?”

“Well, if your mouth can’t handle it, don’t try to imitate me. Consider this a lesson.”

“Hmph!”

Liu Changqing noticed her cheeks still puffed with anger but didn’t bother mentioning the tissue remnants stuck on her face. She seemed oblivious to it as well. Instead, she glanced at the workers carrying books in and out of the store.

“Uncle… is this bookstore closing?”

“Pretty much.”

Hearing his response, Li Qing’s expression turned gloomy. If the bookstore where Liu Changqing worked closed, didn’t that mean she wouldn’t see him anymore?

The thought made her visibly sad. Liu Changqing noticed the change in her expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Does this mean… I won’t see you again, Uncle?”

“Pretty much.”

Liu Changqing nodded, not elaborating. He only viewed this girl, four years older than his son, as a daughter figure.

Li Qing’s mood worsened upon receiving his confirmation. Suddenly, she thought of something.

“Uncle, why don’t you come work as a dorm supervisor at our school? It’s an easy job to get!”

“No way. At my age, if I worked as a dorm supervisor, the girls at your school would treat me like a thief every day.”

Liu Changqing turned his attention to two workers chatting away.

“Hurry up! Less talking, more moving!”

The two, realizing they’d been caught, resumed their work. Liu Changqing then turned to Li Qing.

“Are your exams over?”

“Yeah… I’ve been wanting to visit, but I had to study. I failed two subjects last semester.”

“No big deal. Just pass the makeup exams.”

“I already failed the makeup exams too…”

Liu Changqing stared at her in surprise, realizing she wasn’t just a slacker—she was a serious underachiever.

“Has your school gone on break? Why are you still here instead of heading home?”

“My house isn’t far—less than an hour’s drive.”

“Even so, don’t wander around just because it’s vacation, especially at night. It’s dangerous for girls to be out alone.”

Taking on a lecturing tone, Liu Changqing felt it necessary to give some advice to a girl her age. Li Qing suddenly raised her head, her watery eyes staring at him expectantly.

Did Uncle remember?!

Feeling uneasy under her gaze, Liu Changqing looked away.

“There was a maniac with an iron rod near my place recently, hitting people left and right. He’s been caught now, but there could be others. Just don’t wander around at night.”

Hearing this, Li Qing’s hopeful expression turned somber again. Not sure what to make of it, Liu Changqing waved her off.

“Go home. Isn’t it more comfortable to relax at home?”

“Uncle…”

“Come find me next time. I’m not leaving this city anytime soon.”

“Really?”

Li Qing brightened instantly. Watching her shift moods so quickly, Liu Changqing chuckled.

“Yes, really. Now, go home and get some rest. I’ll be here for a while longer.”

“Okay!”

Li Qing beamed, her chubby face lighting up like a flower. If only those bits of tissue weren’t stuck to her face.

After reassuring her a little more, Liu Changqing watched her hop away, disappearing down the street. He sighed, looking at his slightly slimmer stomach after recent exercise.

Patting it, he muttered, “Could this pudgy look actually be attractive?”

“Pretty much!”

“Holy sh*t!”

The sudden response and a warm breath near his ear startled Liu Changqing so much he nearly fell over. He turned to see An Yuanyao retracting her neck, holding a bag and covering her mouth as she stifled laughter.

Staring at her, Liu Changqing wore a stunned expression, as if he’d seen a ghost.

“Do you walk without making any sound?”

“You were too lost in thought. I called your name several times!”