Liu Changqing might’ve bought a little too much.

By the time he rode the elevator up and reached his apartment door, his hands were so full that he had to set all the bags on the ground just to fish out his keys from his pocket.

He placed the bags down and had just inserted the key into the lock—

Before he could even turn it, the door suddenly opened.

Startled, Liu Changqing instinctively stepped back and stared, confused, at the person who had just opened his front door.

It was someone he hadn’t seen in a while—Lan Yixian.

He froze for a moment.

"You... what are you doing here?"

"I came to see Yuanyao... She called and said you went out shopping for clothes, and she was home alone. Plus, the breakfast shop’s closed now, so I figured I had time to come."

"It’s closed?"

Liu Changqing caught the important part.

He bent down to pick up the bags from the floor, then walked inside.

He took off his shoes and changed into his indoor slippers. Turning slightly to glance at Lan Yixian standing nearby, Liu Changqing asked softly.

"You closed the breakfast shop? When did that happen?"

"Just last week."

She answered casually.

Lan Yixian looked at the side of Liu Changqing’s face for a while, then turned her eyes away.

"Last month, didn’t Chen Dafu’s father come by? Then... at the end of February, Xiyu and Chen Dafu made their relationship official."

"They’re dating?"

"Yeah... since early March, neither of them has been working with me anymore."

"I see."

Liu Changqing responded, not knowing anything about this until now.

The last he’d seen of Chen Dafu, the guy had vanished and never contacted him again—like he disappeared off the face of the earth.

Who would’ve thought, in just over twenty days, he managed to win over Gu Xiyu?

That kid really pulled it off?

After changing into slippers, Liu Changqing walked into the bedroom and placed the big and small shopping bags inside, then came back out.

He glanced at An Yuanyao sitting on the sofa, her face filled with worry, and then turned to Lan Yixian.

"So... you closed the shop because you didn’t have enough staff?"

"No."

Lan Yixian shook her head.

"That area’s being demolished."

"Huh? Demolished? How come I didn’t hear about that? Will it reach my old place?"

"Uh... probably not. I haven’t heard anything about your neighborhood being demolished."

"Sigh... It’s been so many years, and that area still hasn’t been torn down..."

He muttered quietly, then looked at Lan Yixian and asked.

"So... what are you going to do afterward? Find a job and take care of the kids at the same time, or...?"

"Actually, I came here today to say goodbye."

"..."

Lan Yixian’s words left Liu Changqing stunned in place.

His eyes widened a little as he stared at Lan Yixian, who had calmly said those words.

"What... do you mean?"

"After Chen Dafu and Xiyu left, his father had someone come to talk to me... asked if I was interested in working in food service."

"Food service?"

"Yeah... it’s a breakfast shop called Early Bite. Construction’s already started in City B. They said they’ll try running it first... and if business goes well, it could expand into a national chain."

"..."

"They originally wanted me to head over now, but there’s less than three months until Shiyan’s high school entrance exams. I don’t want to mess up her studies, so..."

"..."

After hearing all that, Liu Changqing finally understood.

That was probably why his wife had looked worried just now... An Yuanyao must’ve already heard the news.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Changqing asked.

"Did you tell your daughter about this?"

"Yeah."

"What did she say? Does she want to go to City B with you?"

"Shiyan didn’t mind..."

Lan Yixian took a breath, forcing a bittersweet smile.

"That kid has always been mature. When I told her about it, she said... if life would be a little easier in City B, then let’s go..."

She paused briefly in her tone.

"Actually, one of the main reasons I’m leaving is because of my ex-husband... He came looking for me again earlier this month. Somehow, he found out about the demolition."

"If it’s because of him, I can get someone to help you deal with it..."

"No need. I’ve already troubled you enough. I don’t want to bother you again this time."

Lan Yixian cut him off firmly.

Her words landed in Liu Changqing’s ears, every syllable clear and firm.

To him, Lan Yixian wasn’t as fragile as she appeared. After spending some time with her in the past, he’d gotten a decent sense of her personality.

She was the type who looked like a gentle and virtuous housewife, but when it came to certain things, she had her own mind—sometimes even stubbornly so.

Liu Changqing had once tried to change her opinion, but failed.

She seemed like someone who would obey if you just raised your voice a little—but if you actually thought that, you’d be dead wrong...

During past conversations with her, Lan Yixian had refuted him more than once.

An Yuanyao had also heard what Lan Yixian said.

Bracing herself against the sofa, she struggled a little to get up.

With her belly showing, she took slow steps and walked to Liu Changqing’s side.

"Don’t go. If you leave, I’ll be all alone again... I still have four months to go before I give birth. Didn’t you say you wanted to see the babies?"

"When the time comes, just call me before you go into labor. I’ll come back."

"But... if you’re worried about your ex-husband, Changqing and my brother can both help you deal with it..."

"Thank you for your kindness, but I want to handle this myself."

As she said this, Lan Yixian looked at An Yuanyao, then shifted her gaze to Liu Changqing beside her.

When she saw An Yuanyao holding his arm instinctively, her eyes dropped slightly.

"Chen Dafu’s father is offering a high salary... If I go, Shiyan will be able to choose whatever high school she wants. I can finally afford to buy her the things she’s always wanted..."

"Yixian..."

"I won’t be leaving right away. I’ll wait until after the kids finish their exams. In the meantime, I’ll still come visit you..."

After saying that to An Yuanyao, Lan Yixian turned her eyes back to Liu Changqing, who had remained silent since the beginning.

She hesitated for a moment, then said,

"I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you yet. I guess now’s not too late, right?"

As she spoke, Lan Yixian smiled.

"Liu Changqing... congratulations on becoming the father of twins."