Chapter 126: An Unexpected Visit |
The engine roared to life as the taxi driver grew excited, grabbing his radio. After a few crackles, the connection was established.
“Old Wang, you won’t believe what I just saw! It was wild! Let me tell you…”
The taxi drove off, leaving the two of them standing there. An Yuanyao’s face still hadn’t shed its look of embarrassment. She fidgeted with the bag in her hands, unable to stay still.
Liu Changqing noticed her actions and felt an urge to laugh but ultimately suppressed it. He turned to her and asked,
“Your complexion doesn’t look great. Didn’t sleep well?”
“Huh? It’s okay…” An Yuanyao replied, looking up.
“I just ran into some things on the way. Otherwise, I would’ve arrived last night.”
“What do you mean?”
“I took a coach bus here.”
Hearing the words "coach bus," An Yuanyao’s face turned sour, and she put her hands on her hips.
“If it weren’t for the bus breaking down halfway and making us wait for another one to pick us up, I wouldn’t have arrived so late!”
Her tone grew more agitated as she continued, “It wasted so much time! I could have been here at dawn!”
“…” Liu Changqing didn’t respond, leaving An Yuanyao briefly stunned. She leaned in slightly and asked,
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“So… you’ve been on a bus since yesterday?”
“Pretty much.”
“…” Liu Changqing started walking.
“You’re unbelievable.”
An Yuanyao hurried to catch up, walking beside him.
“What did I do now?”
“Why insist on taking a bus when there are so many other options? What about a train?”
“Because… because…” An Yuanyao suddenly looked flustered, struggling to explain herself. Could she tell him her parents had been controlling her movements?
Liu Changqing glanced at her conflicted expression but didn’t press further. Soon, they arrived at the car. He unlocked it and got in, while An Yuanyao opened the passenger door and sat obediently in her seat. After fastening her seatbelt, she stared straight ahead, debating whether to share what had happened at home. After all, she had casually mentioned Liu Changqing to her parents…
“Are you settled in?”
“Huh?” His question snapped her out of her thoughts.
Liu Changqing shifted gears, reversed, and turned the steering wheel fluidly in one swift motion. The abrupt movement startled An Yuanyao, making her grab the handle with both hands and shout,
“Ahhh!”
After turning around, the car stopped. An Yuanyao leaned against the window, her heart pounding as she gasped for air. She had genuinely been frightened. Realizing what happened, she reached out and smacked Liu Changqing.
“What the heck are you doing?!”
“You looked out of it. Thought I’d wake you up.”
With a grin, Liu Changqing began driving steadily. Glancing at her, he asked with a chuckle,
“What do you want to eat?”
“Hmm…” An Yuanyao pondered for a moment before smiling back at him.
“I want ramen!”
Liu Xiazhi pouted, gripping her pen as if she wanted to tear her workbook apart. Her eyes were wet, and she looked on the verge of tears. Though she wanted to rip the homework to shreds, she restrained herself.
Her gaze occasionally darted toward Zhou Shiyan, who sat nearby, expressionless. Stretching out her left hand, she counted something.
“Eight times twelve plus six plus four divided by two…”
She muttered while moving her fingers, her expression growing more frustrated by the second. Turning toward her brother, Liu Zhiyue, she looked pitiful.
“Brother, I can’t figure it out…”
“Don’t rush,” Zhou Shiyan interjected before Liu Zhiyue could respond. She gently pulled the draft notebook toward herself and wrote on it.
“See? It’s 8×(12+6)+4÷28 imes (12 + 6) + 4 div 2. You need to calculate the numbers in parentheses first. Then do multiplication and division, and finally, addition and subtraction. Got it?”
She pushed the notebook back toward Liu Xiazhi, pointing at the calculations.
“Come on, try it.”
“I can’t!” Liu Xiazhi’s face turned red as she replied indignantly.
“…” Zhou Shiyan said nothing, taking the notebook back and repeating the explanation step by step. Afterward, she placed it in front of Liu Xiazhi again.
“Try again.”
“Ugh!” Liu Xiazhi’s frustration boiled over as she tried to look fierce, but it only made her appear more comical. Zhou Shiyan wasn’t fazed, staring at her calmly for a few seconds before preparing to go over it again.
From the kitchen, Lan Yixian called out,
“Shiyan, we’re out of soy sauce. Can you run to the store and get some?”
“Okay,” Zhou Shiyan replied, pausing her tutoring session. She stood up, placing the draft notebook neatly on the table.
Lan Yixian handed her some money.
“Also grab three pounds of rice and a pack of toilet paper.”
“Got it.” Zhou Shiyan accepted the bills and walked toward the door to put on her shoes.
Watching her leave, Liu Xiazhi breathed a sigh of relief. Kicking off her slippers, she scrambled onto the sofa and clung to her brother’s neck, pressing her face against his.
“Brother, save me!”
“And now you remember me?” Liu Zhiyue smirked at his sister’s antics, prying her arms off gently. He stood up and turned to Lan Yixian.
“That’s a lot of stuff. I’ll go with her.”
“Oh, sure. Thanks,” Lan Yixian replied, surprised but smiling warmly.
Liu Zhiyue nodded and headed for the door, joining Zhou Shiyan as she waited outside. Once he stepped out, she closed the door behind him.
Lan Yixian stood by the kitchen, gazing at the closed door with a smile.
“Zhiyue… what a thoughtful kid.”
Her eyes shifted to the dazed Liu Xiazhi sprawled on the sofa. Unable to hold back her laughter, she chuckled softly.
This family is truly something.
The thought brought her back to reality, and she suddenly realized the pot on the stove!
She hurried back into the kitchen to find the lid slightly ajar, with liquid spilling over the sides. Grabbing a cloth, she wiped it up, lowered the heat, and replaced the lid. After washing her hands, she resumed chopping vegetables.
For a while, the only sound in the kitchen was the rhythmic chopping of the knife on the cutting board.
Time passed quietly until the sound of knocking broke the silence. Lan Yixian paused, setting her knife down and wiping her hands on her apron. She headed toward the door, listening closely to confirm the sound.
“Shiyan? Zhiyue? Back so soon…?”
She opened the door, only to be greeted by a tall, stunning woman with long black hair. Her expression, however, was distant and cold.
Lan Yixian froze for a moment before hesitantly asking,
“May I ask who you’re looking for?”
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