Chapter 99: Liu Changqing Becomes Liu Changqing |
"What are you doing?"
Liu Changqing had only chatted with "Jun Zui Xiang Si" twice before, and this was their third conversation. Did they really expect him to disclose personal details so casually?
[Sitting on the couch]
He sent those five words. The reply came almost instantly.
[What are you doing on the couch?]
[Spacing out.]
[Spacing out doing what?]
[Just spacing out, what else could I be doing?]
[Feeling bored lately?]
Liu Changqing was starting to feel bewildered. The way they were talking seemed like they were just fishing for conversation.
[How old are you this year?]
Liu Changqing blinked at the screen, puzzled. Why were they suddenly asking about his age?
[That’s private.]
[Do you have a girlfriend?]
At this, Liu Changqing fell silent, the room growing so quiet he could hear the seconds ticking by. Just as he thought about putting his phone down, another message popped up.
[Haven’t thought about finding a girlfriend? Maybe pay attention to the people around you.]
“…”
Liu Changqing stared at his phone, dumbfounded. What was this person rambling about?
[I’m going to take a shower.]
He sent the message, tossed the phone onto the sofa, and leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
“….”
His gaze drifted to a cobweb in the corner.
“Ah, so you’ve been hiding there all this time!”
Jumping up, Liu Changqing charged into the bathroom, ready for an impromptu deep cleaning session.
Meanwhile, An Yuanyao was furiously typing on her phone.
[What’s the point of wasting your life away like this?]
[Have some confidence in yourself. Don’t give up!]
[Explain yourself before you go showering!]
But it was all in vain.
Her messages sank like stones in a pond, leaving no trace behind.
Lying on her bed, phone in hand, she stared at the screen.
“Idiot! Big dummy! He actually went to shower!”
Frustrated, she pounded her mattress with her fists, venting her annoyance. Flipping onto her back, she glared at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling with agitation.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
“Idiot!” she muttered, rolling onto her side.
Her eyes lingered on the last message Liu Changqing had sent. She stared at it, lost in thought.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The soft sound of knocking startled her. Turning toward the door, she heard a familiar voice.
“Yao Yao, are you awake?”
Startled, An Yuanyao shoved her phone under her pillow, shut her eyes, and yanked the blanket over herself. She feigned steady breaths, pretending to be fast asleep.
When no response came, the person outside the door waited for a moment before stepping inside.
A woman, slightly over 1.6 meters tall, entered quietly. She wore casual home clothes, her hair tied back. Although faint wrinkles lined her face, it was clear she had been exceptionally beautiful in her youth, a resemblance she shared with her daughter.
Standing by the bed, she gazed at An Yuanyao, who was lying with her back to the door. A faint look of helplessness crossed her face.
“When I knocked earlier, I heard noise in your room,” she said softly.
An Yuanyao slowly opened her eyes, her face flushing with embarrassment.
“Mom…”
“Stop lazing around and get up. We’re expecting guests soon,” her mother said firmly, exposing An Yuanyao’s feigned sleep.
Hearing this, An Yuanyao pouted, clutching the blanket tightly.
“I want to go back. I don’t want to stay here!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? You’ve already divorced him. Why would you go back?”
“I…”
Her mother’s tone grew sterner. “You haven’t been home in two years. This time, stay put and don’t go anywhere!”
“But…”
“But what? Are you planning to go back to that Li Chongming?”
“Why would I? We’re already divorced!”
“You silly girl!”
Her mother poked her forehead with a finger, exasperated.
“We opposed it back then, but you still went to him, didn’t you?”
“I was young and stupid back then. I know now what kind of person I should spend my life with!”
Her mother’s face grew curious, her eyes narrowing. “Who is this person?”
“What person?”
“Don’t play dumb. Is the divorce because of him? What’s his name?”
“Mom… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“Are you going to tell me, or should I go ask your dad?”
The threat turned An Yuanyao pale.
Her father, a renowned Chinese painting master, had always been a strict and stoic presence in her life. From her earliest memories, his stern face never betrayed any emotions. His eccentricity often led him to lock himself away for days when inspiration struck.
Under his rigid upbringing, An Yuanyao had once pursued a career as a Chinese painting teacher.
Though talented, her skills fell short of his exacting standards, and years of criticism left her fearful of him.
Now, she was terrified her mother might report this. Bowing her head, she fidgeted with the blanket.
“I… I’ll tell you…”
“What’s his name?”
Her mind raced. She couldn’t reveal Liu Changqing’s name.
Her father had once been friends with Li Wanran’s father, which was why she and Li Wanran had become close despite their vastly different personalities.
If her father learned of her connection to Liu Changqing, there would be chaos.
After a long pause, she murmured, “Liu…”
“What was that?”
Her mother leaned in closer, her expression curious.
“Liu? As in the willow tree?”
“Uh?”
Caught off guard, An Yuanyao looked at her mother in surprise.
“Why are you staring? Just tell me his name!”
“He… he’s called…”
Her gaze wandered to the window, where the green leaves of a tree swayed gently. Inspiration struck.
“Liu Changqing! Liu as in willow, Chang as in constant, Qing as in clear water!”
“Liu Changqing?” her mother repeated, eyebrows raised.