Chapter 84: Never Again |
Standing in front of Liu Changqing and his son was a tall girl dressed in sportswear: capri pants, running shoes, and a baseball cap shielding her face from the summer sun.
She didn’t seem to hear Liu Changqing’s request to step aside. Instead, she raised her gaze slightly and extended an arm, pointing directly at a bewildered Liu Zhiyue.
“Liu Zhiyue, just you wait!”
“Huh?”
Stunned, Liu Zhiyue turned to his father in a panic.
“I don’t even know her, Dad!” he blurted defensively, seeing the peculiar look on Liu Changqing’s face.
“Don’t think you can fool me by pretending to be clueless about what you did! One day, I’ll make you pay!”
After shouting her piece, the girl spun around and jogged out of sight, leaving the father and son standing there in stunned silence.
Liu Changqing said nothing for a moment, stepping back slightly to take in his son’s appearance.
As he looked at his son, Liu Changqing’s thoughts wandered.
He remembered that as a child, Liu Zhiyue had been a handsome little boy with delicate features. Now? Not so much. Handsome wasn’t the word that came to mind.
And yet, the girl—clearly attractive even with her cap obscuring much of her face—had confronted him with such intensity.
Liu Changqing narrowed his eyes in confusion.
Meanwhile, Liu Zhiyue was growing increasingly desperate to clear his name.
“Dad, I swear, I don’t even know her!”
“Alright, alright. I believe you,” Liu Changqing replied dismissively.
“You don’t believe me at all!”
“It’s just a lot to process all at once…” Liu Changqing muttered as he started walking again.
He murmured to himself, “That Zhao Xuanwen girl is pretty nice—good looks, decent height, maybe a little scatterbrained, but that complements you. You two should focus on each other. No need for distractions.”
“What?! There’s nothing between me and her!”
“Got it.”
“Dad, listen to me!”
Liu Zhiyue’s protests continued as Liu Changqing tuned him out, his mind wandering elsewhere.
He had seen the way Zhao Xuanwen looked at his son. It was obvious to him that the girl had feelings for him, even if Liu Zhiyue seemed oblivious.
Pausing mid-step, Liu Changqing suddenly turned to his son with a serious question.
“Tell me—have you ever had dreams where someone talks to you, claiming to be a system or something?”
“What? A system?”
Liu Zhiyue looked at his father, utterly confused.
“What kind of system?”
“Let’s put it another way. Have you ever seen something others can’t, like tasks or missions that give you rewards when completed?”
“Dad, what are you even talking about?”
Liu Changqing scrutinized his son’s face, searching for any signs of a guilty conscience. Instead, all he found was genuine bewilderment.
“Well, that rules out being the protagonist of a system novel,” he muttered under his breath before continuing on.
“What’s this about?” Liu Zhiyue asked.
“Oh, just an idea for a game I’m discussing with your Uncle Feng,” Liu Changqing replied casually. “What do you want to eat?”
“Anything, really. Let’s grab something quickly. Xiazhi’s waiting at home, isn’t she?”
“Good point. How about we just pick up groceries at the market?”
“Sounds good.”
As they reached the school gate, Liu Changqing suddenly stopped and tugged his son’s arm.
“Look over there. Is she waiting for you?”
Following his father’s gaze, Liu Zhiyue spotted Zhao Xuanwen crouched by the roadside, poking at something on the ground with a stick.
“...Just pretend we didn’t see her,” he muttered.
“What nonsense! It’s obvious she’s waiting for you,” Liu Changqing scolded before walking over.
When he reached her, he bent slightly to observe her curious activity.
“What are you doing?”
“I saw a big bug crawl in here!” Zhao Xuanwen replied without looking up, continuing to poke at a crack in the pavement.
The familiar voice made her pause. Raising her head, her eyes met Liu Changqing’s.
Startled, she shot to her feet, nearly colliding with him.
Liu Changqing instinctively stepped back to avoid the sudden movement.
Unfazed, Zhao Xuanwen turned her attention to Liu Zhiyue, her expression one of eager anticipation.
“Uncle, you’re out! Did everything get sorted?”
She casually tossed the stick aside and clapped her hands clean, a bright smile spreading across her face.
Liu Changqing couldn’t help but smile back—her cheerful demeanor was infectious.
“It’s all settled. The school’s leadership decided to place him in the Rocket Class,” he replied.
“...”
The smile on Zhao Xuanwen’s face faltered momentarily, but she quickly recovered.
“That’s great! Rocket Class students are the best!”
Liu Changqing noticed the brief flicker of disappointment in her eyes. He knew she’d been placed in a regular class.
To avoid lingering on the subject, he changed the topic.
“Where’s your parent? Didn’t they come today?”
“My mom’s out of town for work,” Zhao Xuanwen explained.
“That’s a shame. I was hoping to say hello.”
Liu Changqing’s gaze lingered on her for a moment.
She’s a sweet girl. Perfect daughter-in-law material…
“Have you eaten yet?” he asked.
“Not yet.”
“Why don’t you join us for dinner? I’m heading to the market to buy groceries.”
“Really?!” Zhao Xuanwen’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Liu Changqing smiled, recalling how she had devoured three bowls of rice the last time she visited. He didn’t mind—it was heartening to see a healthy appetite.
“Let’s go. I parked nearby.”
“Uncle, did you buy a car?”
“No, just a rental. It’s a bit run-down, so don’t complain.”
“A car’s a car! If it runs, it’s a good one!” Zhao Xuanwen said cheerfully.
Hearing her words, Liu Changqing’s steps faltered briefly.
The comment reminded him of something An Yuanyao had once said.
Since that night on July 5th, he hadn’t spoken to her.
And, most likely… he never would again.
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