Chapter 91: No Objections |
By late afternoon, Liu Changqing, still slightly tipsy, bid farewell to Chen Dafu, who was seated in a taxi. After exchanging a few parting words, he closed the car door and watched as the taxi drove away.
The smile on his face gradually faded, and his half-closed eyes snapped fully open. He shook his head.
He had indeed drunk a bit too much, though it was still within his limits.
Chen Dafu wasn’t a fool.
Despite their seemingly close camaraderie—nearly sworn brothers—when it came to matters of profit, Chen would show no mercy.
Liu Changqing was keenly aware of this.
There was no way he would share a piece of Pokémon with Chen. That project had to remain 100% in his hands. However, collaborating on the handheld console was an entirely different matter—it promised significant profits.
Choosing to walk home to sober up, Liu Changqing decided against returning with the smell of alcohol lingering on him, mindful of the two children waiting at home.
He walked silently for nearly an hour before reaching his doorstep.
Liu Xiazhi was curled up on the sofa, her shoes off. At the coffee table sat his son, Liu Zhiyue, and Zhou Shiyan, surrounded by books.
Casting a quick glance over the table, Liu Changqing leaned against the wall to remove his shoes, swapped them for slippers, and stepped into the room.
Looking at the books spread before them, he turned to Zhou Shiyan.
“Here to help with homework?”
“His grades don’t need my help,” Zhou Shiyan replied softly, shaking her head.
Liu Changqing paused at her words, momentarily confused, before recalling that his son’s test scores had been higher than hers this time. He smiled.
“Even so, you both have strengths to share. Discussing topics together will help reinforce your knowledge.”
“Dad!” Liu Zhiyue called out, embarrassed.
Meanwhile, Zhou Shiyan, staring at Liu Changqing’s slightly flushed face, seemed to contemplate something before standing up. She grabbed a cup from the coffee table, walked to the kettle, and poured some water. Returning, she handed the cup to Liu Changqing.
“Uncle Liu, have some water.”
Surprised by her gesture, Liu Changqing hesitated before accepting the cup, his gaze falling on her stoic expression.
“Thanks...”
Taking a sip, he placed the cup back on the table and straightened up.
To his surprise, Zhou Shiyan continued to stand before him, her head tilted up as she looked at him. Her eyes carried an unusual intensity, almost as if she was waiting for something.
Her gaze puzzled him, and after a moment of thought, he said tentatively, “You’re very thoughtful.”
“Mm!” Zhou Shiyan nodded enthusiastically, returning to the sofa with her head slightly bowed, her cheeks tinged with red.
The faint blush on her face immediately sharpened Liu Changqing’s senses. He glanced at his son, whose expression was equally perplexed.
What’s this about? A single compliment, and she’s blushing?
“Well... you two keep working on your assignments. I’ll lie down for a bit. Feeling a bit dizzy,” he said, retreating toward his room.
Just as he was about to close the door, Liu Zhiyue suddenly called out, “Dad, Aunt An stopped by earlier this afternoon.”
Liu Changqing froze mid-step, his expression briefly conflicted before he turned back, feigning curiosity.
“What did she want?”
“I’m not sure,” Liu Zhiyue replied. “She seemed to have rushed over—she was out of breath when I answered the door. She asked if you were home, and when I said no, she left not long after.”
“...”
Frowning, Liu Changqing couldn’t guess why she’d come. He’d made himself perfectly clear the last time they spoke. Shaking off the thought, he turned and walked into his room, shutting the door behind him with a firm thud.
Left in the living room, the three others continued their respective activities.
Liu Xiazhi remained engrossed in her handheld console, her head never lifting. Several days into summer vacation, she still hadn’t touched her homework, which lay forgotten in her backpack. She was completely absorbed in her game.
Liu Zhiyue, his foot injury now healed, could walk and jump without issue. After getting word that his father wouldn’t be home for lunch, he’d gone out to buy two boxed meals, which they had eaten together earlier. Zhou Shiyan had arrived not long after.
Her visit surprised Liu Zhiyue, especially since she carried her summer homework with her. It wasn’t until she pulled out a math test paper that he realized her intent—to ask for help with her questions.
Despite his initial protests about not being good at math, Zhou Shiyan stood silently at the door, staring at him until he relented and invited her in.
Still, one thing puzzled him: How did she know which floor I live on?
As they worked, Zhou Shiyan suddenly broke the silence.
“Who’s this Aunt An you mentioned earlier?”
Startled, Liu Zhiyue turned to her.
“Why do you ask?”
“Isn’t your dad single? Is she his girlfriend?”
“Are you kidding? There’s no way she’s my dad’s girlfriend. That would be way too...”
He stopped mid-sentence, shaking his head.
Family scandals shouldn’t be aired publicly. While many of his classmates knew about his parents’ divorce, they didn’t know the details. Embarrassing matters like these were better left unsaid.
“She’s more like a friend of my dad’s,” he finally replied.
“I see,” Zhou Shiyan said softly.
“Why do you care all of a sudden?”
“No reason...”
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her voice quiet.
“I was just curious. Have you two ever thought about encouraging your dad to start a new family?”
At that, Liu Xiazhi’s hands froze mid-button press.
Though she wasn’t paying attention earlier, Zhou Shiyan’s question made her stop playing. She clenched the console tightly, then looked up at Zhou Shiyan with an exaggeratedly fierce expression.
“That’s impossible! Stop spouting nonsense, shorty!”
“Xiazhi!”
Liu Zhiyue turned and scolded his sister, his face stern.
Hearing her brother’s sharp tone, Liu Xiazhi pouted and looked down, her expression sulky. She vented her frustration by furiously mashing the console buttons.
Zhou Shiyan, meanwhile, was taken aback by Xiazhi’s strong reaction, confusion flickering in her eyes.
After a moment of thought, Liu Zhiyue set his pen down and leaned back, considering the idea.
It wasn’t something he’d ever really thought about before... but...
Glancing at Zhou Shiyan, he said, “If my dad likes the idea, I wouldn’t object.”