Chapter 46: The Misunderstanding |
Liu Changqing’s head throbbed from the impact.
Stumbling back two steps, he clasped his head with both hands.
"Oh my gosh! That hurts like hell!!"
Before he could regain his senses, he felt someone shove him hard.
Thrown off balance, Liu Changqing fell to the ground, landing squarely on his backside.
Lan Yixian rushed into the room, grabbing the terrified Zhou Shiyan in a protective embrace.
"Don’t be scared! Mommy’s here!"
She shouted, clutching her daughter tightly while holding a yellowish-brown stick-like object in one hand.
Gritting his teeth, Liu Changqing pressed a hand to his aching forehead and struggled to his feet.
Thankfully, it wasn’t a brick or something equally hard, or he might not have made it out unscathed.
As the sharp initial pain dulled slightly, Liu Changqing freed one hand to point at Lan Yixian while still holding his forehead.
"Why did you hit me?!"
"You’re despicable! She’s just a child!"
Lan Yixian’s face flushed as she shouted, her expression resembling that of a furious lioness.
"I know she’s just a child!"
Liu Changqing felt utterly wronged.
He had gone out of his way to escort Zhou Shiyan home. Upon realizing no one else was there, he had prepared to leave immediately to avoid misunderstandings—only to be ambushed at the door.
Pressing his hand to his forehead, he took a few steps forward.
Lan Yixian clung tightly to Zhou Shiyan, trembling as though ready to collapse from nerves.
"Mom…"
"Don’t be afraid! Mom will protect you!"
Lan Yixian pulled her daughter closer, pressing Zhou Shiyan’s face against her chest. The girl couldn’t speak and could only make muffled sounds of protest.
Her hand holding the "weapon" trembled uncontrollably.
Liu Changqing finally approached the two. His gaze landed on the object that had struck him.
A French baguette.
This… hurts that much?!
His face turned pale as he pointed at himself with his free hand.
"You think I’m here to harm your daughter in the middle of the night?"
"This morning, I thought you were an upright man. I never expected you to be such a beast in human form! My daughter is only fourteen—how could you?!"
"Mom…"
Zhou Shiyan struggled against her mother’s grip, managing to free herself slightly and call out.
"Don’t be afraid!"
Lan Yixian cut her off, pulling her daughter back into her arms and turning resolutely to face Liu Changqing.
At over 1.8 meters tall, with a sturdy build, Liu Changqing could probably lift Lan Yixian with one hand.
The realization seemed to sap her confidence.
"D-Don’t think for a second… t-that I’m scared of you!"
"Could you let your daughter explain before jumping to conclusions?"
"Hm?"
"What do you mean, ‘hm’? Can’t you see she wants to say something?!"
Hearing this, Lan Yixian hesitated and glanced at the struggling Zhou Shiyan, who was pushing against her arms, trying to break free.
Finally, Lan Yixian loosened her grip.
Once free, Zhou Shiyan anxiously looked at her mother.
"Mom, you misunderstood Uncle Liu!"
"Mis-misunderstood?"
"After my evening class, I felt like someone was following me. Thankfully, I ran into Uncle Liu, and he walked me home."
"...…"
Zhou Shiyan’s words left Lan Yixian stunned.
Her expression shifted rapidly—from confusion to embarrassment to guilt.
Slowly, her head lowered, and she avoided Liu Changqing’s gaze, realizing she had made a huge mistake.
After an internal struggle, she suddenly turned around and bowed deeply toward Liu Changqing in apology.
"I’m sor—ah!"
Liu Changqing was struck again.
When Lan Yixian spun around to bow, her head collided with Liu Changqing’s chest like a heavy blow.
It felt as though she had knocked the air out of his lungs.
"Ugh… cough, cough, cough!"
His throat tickled as he staggered back, clutching his chest and coughing violently.
Meanwhile, Lan Yixian clutched her forehead, wincing in pain from the collision.
"Mom, are you okay?" Zhou Shiyan hurriedly stepped forward to support her mother, concern evident in her voice.
"I’m fine…"
Lan Yixian replied softly, then glanced at Liu Changqing, who was still rubbing his chest.
Her guilt deepened.
"I-I’m so, so sorry…"
"Alright, just stop talking…"
Still clutching his chest, Liu Changqing raised his free hand to interrupt her.
Ignoring his words, Lan Yixian continued apologizing.
"It was… really my fault…"
As she spoke, she took a couple of steps toward Liu Changqing.
Seeing her approach, he immediately stepped back, raising his hand.
"Stop! Stay right there!"
"...…"
"Let’s maintain a safe distance so neither of us gets hurt!"
Hearing his wary tone, Lan Yixian felt a pang of sadness.
Her grip on the baguette tightened.
The baguette had been given to her by a coworker after her shift, and she had strapped several more to her back for convenience while cycling.
When she had arrived home and heard a man’s voice in the room, memories of past incidents flooded her mind. Panicking, she had grabbed the baguette and struck without hesitation.
Now, faced with the aftermath, her regret was overwhelming.
Lan Yixian lowered her head, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt like a schoolchild being scolded.
"I didn’t mean to… I thought you were a bad person…"
"I get being protective, but… your daughter wasn’t screaming or struggling. She was having a normal conversation. How could you assume I was up to no good?"
Liu Changqing stared at her with exasperation and continued.
"I have two kids of my own. Do you really think I’d harm a child?"
"I-I…"
Lan Yixian’s face turned bright red with shame. She bowed deeply again.
"I’m sorry!"
At that moment, the baguette strapped to her back came loose, falling and hitting her on the back of the head before rolling to the ground.
For a moment, there was nothing but awkward silence.
Liu Changqing’s expression shifted as he glanced at the bent-over Lan Yixian and then at the bewildered Zhou Shiyan.
"Sigh…"
Finally, Liu Changqing let out a long sigh, bent down, and picked up the baguette.
After tidying it up, he handed it to Zhou Shiyan, who held it awkwardly in her arms.
Dusting off his hands, Liu Changqing tried to calm himself before looking at the still-downcast Lan Yixian.
"Stand up already. I didn’t expect someone as frail as you to hit so hard..."
Only then did Lan Yixian dare to raise her head. Her eyes immediately went to the obvious bruise on Liu Changqing’s forehead.
Her face turned even more hopelessly apologetic.