Chapter 65: How Did You Manage to Knock Me Flat? |
Seeing An Yuanyao’s radiant smile, Liu Changqing’s expression shifted slightly. For some reason, he turned away, scratching his cheek.
Why does she seem a little off today?
Suddenly realizing something, Liu Changqing pulled out his candy bar phone, pressed the wake-up button, and checked the time on the screen.
“This late already? I’ve got to head to my daughter’s school,” he muttered, then turned back to An Yuanyao.
“If you’ve got nothing else to do, you should head home.”
“Why are you going to Xiazhi’s school?” she asked, completely ignoring his second sentence, her tone tinged with curiosity.
Caught off guard, Liu Changqing paused for a moment before replying. “She has her elementary school finals today. I promised to pick her up.”
“Already? Finals came up so quickly,” she said, her gaze lowering as if deep in thought.
“Aren’t finals always around this time?” Liu Changqing responded absentmindedly, unaware of her contemplative mood. “Anyway, if there’s nothing else—”
“…”
Liu Changqing looked at her in astonishment, completely thrown off by her sudden suggestion. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“Are you crazy?”
“You’re the crazy one! I just want to see Xiazhi—it’s been so long!”
Liu Changqing rubbed his ears. Was there something wrong with them? Why did it sound like she was acting coy?
“What’s wrong with you? I’m picking up my daughter, not hosting a party.”
“I miss seeing little kids too! Take me, please~”
“…”
Liu Changqing stared at her, hands clasped together as she looked at him imploringly.
She’s definitely acting strange today.
Feeling inexplicably uneasy, Liu Changqing rubbed his arms as if shaking off a chill.
“My van isn’t exactly comfortable to ride in.”
“That’s fine!”
“It’s really old and beat-up.”
“A car’s just a mode of transportation. Who cares if it’s new or old, as long as it moves?”
Her serious tone took Liu Changqing by surprise, and he found himself oddly agreeing with her logic.
“That’s… surprisingly reasonable…”
“Hehe! Come on, let’s go!” she chirped, stepping outside ahead of him. She stood by the door, waving for him to follow.
“Come on out!”
“…”
Watching her grin foolishly at the doorway, Liu Changqing found himself momentarily dazed. Shaking his head, he snapped out of it, walked out, and locked up the store.
Once they got into the van, An Yuanyao sat in the passenger seat. Glancing toward the back, she spotted the clutter in the trunk, including the lounge chair, which immediately brightened her mood.
Still, the seat felt a little uncomfortable, so she turned to Liu Changqing, who was inserting the keys into the ignition.
“How do I adjust the seat?”
“Feel around under the seat.”
Following his instructions, she reached down and fumbled for a while before pulling the lever.
The next moment, Liu Changqing’s seat reclined all the way back.
“…”
Their eyes met, and the atmosphere turned awkward. Liu Changqing stayed lying there, staring at her.
“You’re a genius. How did you manage to knock me flat?”
“I…”
Liu Changqing sighed, engaged his core, and sat up. He adjusted both her seat and his own back to their proper positions.
“Put on your seatbelt.”
“Got it.”
She obediently clicked her seatbelt into place, not daring to touch anything else. Satisfied, Liu Changqing turned the key and eased the van onto the road.
As they drove, the atmosphere felt a little stiff. An Yuanyao occasionally glanced at Liu Changqing, who noticed her movements. Perhaps to break the silence, he brought up a topic.
“Haven’t gotten your driver’s license yet?”
“Nope.”
“How old are you now? You should hurry up and get it. It’s only going to get harder later.”
“My sense of direction isn’t great…”
“Well, that’s a relief. Better to stay off the road than be a menace to others.”
“…”
An Yuanyao shot him a resentful look.
Talking to him doesn’t feel like talking to someone my age—it’s more like talking to someone much younger.
The thought amused her, and she changed the subject.
“So, what grade is Xiazhi in now?”
“Fourth grade. She’ll be in fifth next term.”
“How old is she?”
“She’s just turning ten this December. Time really flies—feels like she was just a baby, and now she’s ten.” A smile crept onto Liu Changqing’s face at the thought.
“Yeah…”
An Yuanyao gazed at him, her eyes lingering on his expression as he talked about his daughter. The warmth in his smile and the way his hands rested lightly on the steering wheel left her momentarily entranced.
Liu Changqing, oblivious to her stare, continued driving.
The school wasn’t far, and before long, they arrived. The area was packed with cars, and Liu Changqing had to circle around a bit before finding a parking spot further down the street.
Once parked, he slammed the van door shut, startling An Yuanyao. She glanced at him through the window, then looked at the door and mimicked his action, slamming it shut with gusto.
Dusting off her hands, she trotted over to Liu Changqing’s side.
“When does Xiazhi finish her exam?”
“Should be soon. They had three subjects—math yesterday afternoon, Chinese this morning, and English for the last one this afternoon.”
“They’re learning English at such a young age?”
“Yeah, even though most of them might never leave the country. It’s all just to deal with the occasional foreigner.”
“That’s so sad…”
Liu Changqing didn’t respond, walking toward the school gate with her following close behind.
As they neared the entrance, a voice called out.
“Liu Changqing!”
Both he and An Yuanyao stopped and turned toward the source of the voice. Inside a nearby parked car, Feng Qian waved at Liu Changqing with a broad smile.
“Long time no see!”