Madam, Please Behave

Chapter 94: Meeting

Liu Changqing shook his head, trying to dispel the unsettling thought.

Remarrying? The mere idea sent chills down his spine, and he almost broke out in goosebumps.

Calming himself, a sense of sadness crept in.

What kind of woman would want to marry a divorced man with two kids?

Pushing the thought aside, Liu Changqing focused on what truly mattered—raising his children.

After this resolution, he returned to the bathroom. Spotting Liu Zhiyue brushing his teeth, Liu Changqing nudged him aside to splash water on his face. He grabbed a bar of soap, lathered his hands, and washed his face thoroughly. Then, taking the pink towel his daughter used, he rinsed it under the faucet, wrung it out, and headed to her room.

There, Liu Xiazhi was sprawled on the bed in a highly unflattering position, with one leg hanging off the edge.

Liu Changqing walked over and gently wiped her face with the towel. Soon, she woke up groggily.

“Get up and have breakfast,” he instructed before heading back to the bathroom to finish brushing his teeth.

Once he was ready, he found Zhou Shiyan still sitting on the sofa in the same posture.

This girl...

“Want to watch TV?” he asked.

“No, I don’t watch TV.”

“Then what do you usually do at home?”

“Sometimes I read, or I work on my summer homework.”

“...”

Liu Changqing couldn’t help but envy Lan Yixian. This is what other people’s daughters are like.

His own daughter hadn’t touched her homework since the summer vacation started. She spent all her time glued to her handheld console, and not a single page had been filled out.

In contrast, Zhou Shiyan was well-mannered, polite, and beautiful—flawless in academics and diligence. She even helped out at her family’s breakfast shop every morning. Yesterday, when she saw him return tipsy, she immediately poured him a glass of water.

The only areas where she lacked were...

“Uncle Liu,” Zhou Shiyan suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

“What is it?” he asked, snapping back to reality.

Her eyes held a hint of anticipation.

“My mom wants to invite you to dinner to show her gratitude.”

“Huh? Dinner?”

“Yes. She said that if it weren’t for you, something terrible might have happened to me. She’d like to express her thanks.”

“Ah... That’s not necessary—”

“Please don’t refuse!” Zhou Shiyan raised her voice slightly, cutting him off.

Her seriousness left Liu Changqing momentarily speechless.

“To you, it might not seem like much, but you’ve helped us a lot. We have no other way to repay you, so at least let us show our gratitude,” she continued.

“Uh...”

“Uncle Liu!” she pressed, her expression firm, her eyes unwavering.

Eventually, Liu Changqing sighed in defeat.

“Alright, fine. But don’t choose an expensive place—a street stall will do.”

“When should we meet?”

“Tonight. My mom’s already taken leave from work at the supermarket.”

“Okay. Just send me the address when it’s time.”

“Alright,” she said, standing up and bidding farewell before leaving the house.

Liu Changqing stared at the closed door, realizing that this dinner invitation was likely the real reason for her visit.

Suddenly, he felt a piercing gaze and turned to see his son standing in the bathroom doorway.

“What?”

“She said you saved her. What did she mean?”

“Nothing, just a small incident,” Liu Changqing replied casually, heading to prepare breakfast, leaving a bewildered Liu Zhiyue behind.

---

That evening, Liu Changqing arrived at the agreed location.

From a distance, he spotted Lan Yixian standing outside a restaurant.

It wasn’t the street stall or small eatery he had suggested but a decently upscale restaurant with elegant decor.

She scanned her surroundings, and when her eyes landed on him, they lit up. She waved energetically.

“Over here!”

Liu Changqing paused mid-step, her loud call drawing the attention of nearby passersby. Feeling slightly embarrassed, he quickened his pace to reach her.

With a sigh, he said, “Didn’t I tell your daughter to pick a casual spot? Why here?”

Lan Yixian didn’t respond immediately, instead gazing at him for a moment before saying, “You saved my daughter. Picking a small place wouldn’t feel right.”

“It’s no big deal! I think small places are better—portions are generous. These restaurants serve tiny portions on huge plates. One chopstick and it’s gone!”

“Have you already made a reservation?” he asked.

“Yes, I booked a private room,” she replied.

“Cancel it. Let’s go for barbecue instead.”

“What?”

“I’ve been here before. The portions are tiny, and they charge a yuan for a glass of water,” Liu Changqing whispered, mindful of being at the restaurant’s entrance.

“Really?”

“Why would I lie? Come on, let’s cancel it together.”

With that, he led the way inside.

Caught off guard by his sudden shift, Lan Yixian hesitated before quickly following him.

Moments later, they emerged from the restaurant, their cancellation successfully processed since no preparations had started.

Liu Changqing took the lead, walking quickly, while Lan Yixian trailed behind in slightly formal attire and high heels. The clacking of her shoes on the pavement caught his attention, prompting him to slow his pace.

As the distance between them closed, they walked side by side.

The silence lingered until Liu Changqing broke it.

“Why didn’t your daughter come along?”

“She’s working on her summer homework. She got stuck on a question, so she sent me alone.”

“Hardworking kid,” he remarked.

“Mm-hmm!” Lan Yixian’s face lit up at the compliment.

“My daughter’s always been well-behaved. When she was born, she was so tiny and never cried—I was terrified!”

“Some kids are like that at birth,” Liu Changqing nodded.

“And when she got older, she’d always earn little rewards in kindergarten, like those red flower stickers. I kept every single one!”

“You’re a great mom. Thumbs up to you!”

“Thumbs up?” she asked, puzzled.

“It means I agree with you and think highly of you,” he explained, giving her an actual thumbs-up.

Lan Yixian stared at the gesture for a moment, a curious expression on her face. Then, unexpectedly, she let out a small laugh and quickly covered her mouth.