Madam, Please Behave

Chapter 85: A Family

Liu Xiazhi stepped out of her room.

After washing up and changing her clothes, the first thing she did was feed her two little tadpoles. Standing by the windowsill, she looked at the tadpoles with a smile, murmuring softly, "Grow up quickly, okay?"

Children's interest in something often burns bright but fades quickly. However, Liu Xiazhi was different from other kids her age. When she liked something, her affection lasted a long time—whether it was fried chicken or tadpoles.

She tore a small piece of bread into bits, rubbed it into crumbs with her thumb and forefinger, and sprinkled them into the plastic bottle. Watching the tiny black dots bob up and down inside the bottle, her face lit up with joy.

The sound of a key turning in the lock interrupted her thoughts, followed by the door opening.

Liu Xiazhi turned her head slowly, hearing the noise at the doorway. What followed was a voice she found as grating as a devil's call.

"Excuse me!"

Zhao Xuanwen shouted as he stepped in, carrying a backpack. He quickly kicked off his shoes and barged in, his gaze darting around until he spotted Liu Xiazhi, who looked stunned. His eyes lit up.

"Xiazhi!" he called, running over and pulling her into a bear hug.

Liu Xiazhi’s face was buried against his chest, and she still held a half-eaten piece of bread in her hand. Startled by the sudden embrace, she froze, then quickly began struggling and pushing against him with her small hands.

"Let go of me!"

"Don’t you miss me? It’s been so long..."

Zhao Xuanwen, sensing her resistance, reluctantly let her go with a pout.

Freed, Liu Xiazhi dashed to her brother Liu Zhiyue standing at the door, clutching him tightly and burying her face against his stomach.

"Why is he here!" she exclaimed.

Her arms clung tightly around her brother, who awkwardly tried to console her while juggling the items he was carrying. Liu Zhiyue looked helpless.

Seeing his son's predicament, Liu Changqing stepped forward, took the groceries from him, and turned to Zhao Xuanwen, who now stood by the window looking dejected. Smiling kindly, Liu Changqing said, "Don’t take it to heart. My daughter can be a bit sharp-tongued, but she’ll warm up to you with time."

"I just don’t like her!" Liu Xiazhi shot back.

"Xiazhi! Don’t say such rude things!"

Her father’s reprimand startled Liu Xiazhi, who froze momentarily. Her big eyes widened before she lowered her head and stayed silent, clearly reflecting on his words.

Her unexpected reaction surprised Liu Changqing. This girl...

Understanding the importance of softening his tone after a scolding, Liu Changqing’s voice grew gentler.

"Didn’t you want fried chicken? I made a special trip to the market to buy drumsticks. I’ll fry some for you in a bit."

"Mm..." Liu Xiazhi continued clinging to her brother but didn’t throw a tantrum like she normally would.

Perplexed by her sudden compliance, Liu Changqing shook his head and carried the groceries into the kitchen. He had specifically bought breadcrumbs on the way home. Like many parents, Liu Changqing was wary of the hygiene standards of fried food sold outside. For his children, only the cleanest ingredients would do.

Each drumstick passed his inspection, earning his seal of approval: these were good drumsticks!

After preparing the ingredients, Liu Changqing got to work. He cleaned the drumsticks, placed them in a bowl, and started marinating them. Once those were ready, he moved on to the other ingredients.

In the living room, Liu Zhiyue was comforting his sister, while Zhao Xuanwen hovered awkwardly nearby. As Liu Changqing chopped vegetables in the kitchen, he could faintly hear their conversation.

In the month since coming to this world, he had fully adjusted to his new life. The initial awkwardness of facing his two children had been replaced with a growing sense of familial bond.

Smiling, Liu Changqing quickened his chopping pace.

In his previous life, he’d been much like Liu Zhiyue and the others—waiting quietly at the table while his parents prepared meals. Ever since he could remember, his parents never fought.

The memory brought a smile to his face. For a moment, it felt like there was someone else in the kitchen cooking alongside him.

After dinner, Liu Changqing asked his son to walk Zhao Xuanwen home. The children had played so hard that by the time Zhao Xuanwen left, Liu Xiazhi had fallen asleep on the sofa.

Kneeling beside the sofa, Liu Changqing studied his daughter’s small face.

Genes were truly remarkable. While Liu Xiazhi’s eyebrows and mouth resembled his own, her eyes, face shape, and nose were a mirror image of Li Wanran’s.

Looking closely, Liu Changqing suddenly felt as though Liu Xiazhi was a miniature version of Li Wanran.

He now understood why the previous owner of this body had distanced himself from the siblings, especially Liu Xiazhi. It was likely because of this face.

Lost in thought, Liu Changqing gently brushed aside a strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek, revealing her entire face.

What a fool, he thought bitterly.

The previous Liu Changqing had been dealt a good hand but had squandered it completely. If only he hadn’t pursued Li Wanran in high school, things might have turned out differently.

By his judgment, the high school version of Liu Changqing should have been drawn to someone like An Yuanyao—kind, beautiful, with a good figure and a pleasant demeanor.

He couldn’t fathom why the old Liu Changqing had been so infatuated with Li Wanran, to the point of making one foolish decision after another, leaving him with a mess to clean up.

"Licking boots leads to nothing in the end..." Liu Changqing muttered to himself.

He lifted his hand and lightly touched his daughter’s face, gently brushing against her cheek.

The movement seemed to disturb her, as her brows furrowed as if she were dreaming something unpleasant. Suddenly, her small hand shot up and grabbed his tightly, holding on with surprising strength.

Liu Changqing froze for a moment, intending to pull his hand back, but he paused when he felt the warmth of her grip.

Looking closer, he noticed a tear slipping down Liu Xiazhi’s cheek as she murmured in her sleep, "Dad... don’t leave me..."

The room fell silent.

Liu Changqing clearly heard her words and felt a pang in his chest. Was she having a nightmare?

For a moment, he was stunned, but his expression gradually softened. Gently, he pulled his hand free and scooped her up into his arms. She curled into a small ball against his chest.

Looking at her furrowed brows and delicate face, he whispered softly, "I won’t leave. We’re family, after all."