When Liu Changqing heard Zhou Shiyan say she had taken a day off, he looked a bit surprised. He had learned from Lan Yixian that this kid had gone years without ever asking for leave.

She only took time off when she was really sick and had no other choice, but at the moment, Liu Changqing didn’t see any signs of illness.

Her complexion was rosy, her eyes were bright…

She looked perfectly healthy!

"Uncle Liu, can we talk?"

Zhou Shiyan said again.

Her words brought Liu Changqing back to his senses. Just as he was about to invite her inside, he heard Zhou Shiyan say—

"No need, let’s just talk outside."

"Alright."

Liu Changqing first took a careful look at Zhou Shiyan after she said that, then nodded in agreement.

He had already sensed that something wasn’t quite right.

After replying, Liu Changqing turned toward the sofa and spoke to Chen Dafu.

"You sit for a bit on your own."

"Got it."

With that, Liu Changqing walked out wearing his indoor slippers. Since he had the key in his pocket, he simply closed the door behind him.

As the door clicked shut, Liu Changqing followed Zhou Shiyan for a few steps. They passed the elevator and arrived at the stairwell of the emergency exit.

Only then did Zhou Shiyan stop walking.

She turned and looked at Liu Changqing.

Because it was a bit dark, Liu Changqing stomped his foot. The noise triggered the stairwell light, which lit up with a click.

After doing that, Liu Changqing looked at her.

His expression turned serious.

"Go ahead, what is it?"

"After my high school entrance exams, my mom and I will be leaving here."

"Yeah, I know."

He responded calmly. Liu Changqing had already learned about this from Lan Yixian when she visited two days ago.

After hearing that he knew, Zhou Shiyan continued.

"I like Liu Zhiyue."

"……"

Liu Changqing’s eyes flew wide open the moment Zhou Shiyan said those words. He stared at her, stunned and unable to believe what he’d just heard.

He never expected… that this little girl would be so blunt!

Yes.

What shocked Liu Changqing wasn’t the fact that Zhou Shiyan liked his son.

It was that she had the nerve to say it to the face of the father of the boy she liked.

Back before they moved, Liu Changqing had already sensed that Zhou Shiyan had feelings for his son.

It was clear when she used to tutor his daughter. While his daughter was solving problems, Zhou Shiyan’s gaze would often drift toward Liu Zhiyue.

It wouldn’t have mattered if it was just occasional. But during that time, Liu Changqing had clearly seen her sneak glances at his son more than once.

And whenever Liu Zhiyue looked her way, she’d quickly turn her head and explain the problems to his daughter, acting like nothing had happened.

He had noticed, but Liu Changqing never brought it up.

But who would’ve thought… she’d just say it outright in front of him.

Looking at this petite young girl, Liu Changqing wanted to say something, but didn’t know where to start.

Was he supposed to say… “You’re too young, focus on studying instead of love?”

Come on. There’s no way Liu Changqing could say something that cliché.

"But… I can’t like him."

While Liu Changqing was still in a daze, Zhou Shiyan spoke again. At the same time, her gaze, which had been directly meeting his, dropped as she lowered her head.

"Since I was very little, my dad used to beat my mom a lot. After they divorced, I barely had any memories of him. So that night, when I asked you for help and found out you were Liu Zhiyue’s dad…"

Her voice paused slightly, as if she was hesitating.

But in the end, she still said it.

"In the second year of middle school, I was the math class rep. One time when I went to the office to get test papers, I accidentally overheard the teachers talking. That’s when I found out you were divorced. So after you helped me that night—"

She lifted her head and looked at Liu Changqing.

Word by word, she said clearly:

"I wanted you to be my dad."

"……"

Liu Changqing hadn’t expected her to say that.

And in that moment, as she said it, memories from the previous year came flooding back.

That time, Zhou Shiyan brought him a cup of tea and didn’t walk away right after. Instead, she stood in front of him with a look of anticipation.

Waiting to be praised.

So that’s what she was thinking at the time…

She wanted me to be her dad…?

Looking at Liu Changqing in front of her, this time Zhou Shiyan didn’t avoid his gaze. Those beautiful eyes, so much like her mother’s, showed a flicker of struggle.

But it quickly disappeared.

"That’s why I convinced my mom to ask if we could stay at your place for a while. I know it put you in a difficult position, but I just wanted you and my mom to have more alone time."

"……"

"At first, everything went just like I had hoped. You treated us like guests, then gradually started to look forward to the lunches my mom made, and even asked me if I needed anything. You gave me pocket money too."

"……"

"But… after Aunt An came back, everything changed."

Zhou Shiyan’s hands clenched into fists.

Liu Changqing’s gaze grew more complicated.

He never imagined this kid had thought through so much…

Yes.

During that time, Liu Changqing had indeed developed feelings for Lan Yixian.

When he and Feng Qian came home late after working overtime, seeing that woman dozing on the sofa with her head tilted—when she woke and asked if he wanted to eat something…

He was truly moved by Lan Yixian then.

She was gentle and considerate.

She kept the house beautifully in order, and he didn’t have to lift a finger for chores.

At the time, after being clear with An Yuanyao—who hadn’t finalized the divorce yet—Liu Changqing thought he would have nothing more to do with her. So he started trying to persuade himself to accept Lan Yixian.

She wasn’t bad-looking, and compared to An Yuanyao, she was curvier. She was good at housework, attentive to him, and cared for his children.

Except for being unusually stubborn in certain ways…

She seemed perfect for a steady, domestic life.

But…

The first woman Liu Changqing developed feelings for after coming to this world was—

An Yuanyao.

That woman who dared to love and hate, who would act like a little woman around him, who cared what he thought, who clapped for him with admiration when he said something she didn’t know.

Liu Changqing liked that feeling more.

Maybe it was the latent male ego in him—he didn’t like being contradicted. And more importantly…

Liu Changqing wasn’t a wishy-washy or emotionally irresponsible man.

He knew full well—if he was going to say no, he shouldn’t leave even a sliver of hope.

That’s why he told An Yuanyao not to see him again even before she was officially divorced.

That’s also why, after Lan Yixian and her daughter moved out, he didn’t visit them for a long, long time.

Liu Changqing didn’t want his relationships to get too messy. He didn’t want to two-time anyone.

In his previous life, he had been taught from a young age to take relationships seriously. His parents spent most of their lives without any major fights, always harmonious.

That kind of marriage…

Was what Liu Changqing had always dreamed of.