Time seemed to stand still.

After Liu Changqing said those words, Zhou Shiyan fell into a long silence.

She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to refute what Liu Changqing had just said, but no sound came out even after her mouth opened. In the end... she lowered her head.

Seeing Zhou Shiyan like this, Liu Changqing didn’t speak for a while either.

Until...

He took two steps forward, walking up to Zhou Shiyan.

He raised both hands and gently lifted her lowered head, his eyes meeting hers directly.

Zhou Shiyan clearly hadn’t expected Liu Changqing’s action. With her face being held like that, she stared straight at him with eyes full of confusion.

“Sometimes... don’t overthink things. At your age, you shouldn't be burdened by all this.”

Liu Changqing’s low voice entered Zhou Shiyan’s ears, followed closely by his next sentence.

“You’re making yourself suffer because you don’t want your mom to feel bad...”

After saying that, Liu Changqing let go of her face and instead pulled her into a hug.

His left hand rested on the back of Zhou Shiyan’s head, gently holding this child in his arms.

As for this child, Liu Changqing didn’t dislike her.

On the contrary, during their brief time together in the past, he had thought more than once that she was a very sensible and mature kid.

But today he finally realized.

A child is still a child—she wasn’t as mature as she appeared to be.

She had her own thoughts, her own emotions.

But that wasn’t maturity.

Zhou Shiyan’s eyes widened completely. She hadn’t expected Liu Changqing to do something like this.

A reaction started to rise inside her, telling her to pull away from his embrace, but the moment that thought emerged, it was as if a mysterious voice in her mind said...

Just... stay a little longer.

Stay in this embrace that felt like a father’s...

Her breathing gradually calmed, and Zhou Shiyan slowly closed her eyes.

Her cheek pressed against Liu Changqing’s chest, feeling the breadth of his chest.

It felt so safe.

Just like she had once believed—he made her feel safe, like as long as he was around... there was nothing to worry about.

If he were together with Mom, maybe she could live like Liu Xiazhi—carefree and light-hearted every day...

That kind of life... must be really happy.

Liu Changqing had no idea what was going through Zhou Shiyan’s mind right now. He just wanted to hug this child.

He lifted his head and glanced toward the stairwell, took a deep breath, and then said,

“Enjoy this moment while it lasts.”

After saying that, Liu Changqing let go of Zhou Shiyan.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“Let’s go home... get some rest. You’re already exhausted.”

“Mm...”

That response was barely audible. If Liu Changqing hadn’t been watching her closely, he might not have heard it at all.

He placed a hand on her head and smoothed her hair.

He had to admit, Zhou Shiyan’s hair was very soft—silky to the touch.

After a few gentle strokes, Liu Changqing finally gave her head a light pat, then took her with him and left the spot, heading toward the elevator.

Zhou Shiyan didn’t say another word on the way.

But just as the elevator doors were about to close, she kept staring straight at Liu Changqing.

As if trying to carve his face deeply into her memory.

The elevator doors closed.

Only Liu Changqing remained standing at the elevator, listening to the descending hum of the lift. He stood still for a moment before walking back to his own front door.

He pulled out the key, unlocked the door, and stepped inside.

Chen Dafu looked like he had nothing to do, munching on an apple from the fruit basket on the coffee table.

When he heard Liu Changqing come in, he kept chewing the apple while speaking in a muffled voice.

“What did that girl come talk to you about?”

“Just some minor things.”

Liu Changqing didn’t tell anyone what he and Zhou Shiyan had discussed. After closing the door, he walked over and sat down on the sofa.

Chen Dafu’s apple chewing was absurdly loud.

Just as Liu Changqing was about to ask him to chew more quietly, he heard him say,

“I think your son likes her.”

“Oh yeah? How do you know?”

“Come on, I’ve worked with Lan Yixian long enough. That day during winter break, your son came to see her, but no one knows where the two of them ran off to.”

“They went on a date?”

“Pretty much. He was riding one of those little electric scooters, took her somewhere—who knows where. Honestly, I’ve been suspecting they’re already dating. But you’re the parent—you can’t go around splitting lovebirds. I think they’re great together. Don’t ruin it.”

“……”

“Young people these days are so open. When I was his age, sure, some people were dating, but they weren’t so brazen about it... tsk tsk tsk, kids nowadays...”

“……”

Chen Dafu rambled on nonstop beside him.

But Liu Changqing had sunk into deep thought.

He had noticed it, more or less—compared to Zhao Xuanwen in the past, his son was clearly more attentive to Zhou Shiyan.

Kids at this age were already curious about girls.

With that thought...

Liu Changqing leaned back, his whole body sinking into the sofa.

Like a sigh, he softly muttered,

“First love, huh...”

————————————————————

By the time Liu Zhiyue got home, it was nearly ten at night.

The moment he opened the door, he saw his father waiting for him.

Sitting alone on the sofa, looking like something was on his mind.

Changing shoes, Liu Zhiyue asked casually,

“Where’s my mom?”

“She’s in the room, getting ready for bed.”

Liu Changqing replied, then looked over at Liu Zhiyue, who had just changed into his indoor slippers.

He raised a hand and waved him over.

“Zhiyue, come here for a sec.”

“What is it?”

Just as Liu Zhiyue was heading toward his own room, he heard Liu Changqing speak.

Though a bit confused, he still obediently walked over.

Liu Changqing looked at his son’s face.

After a moment of thought, he patted the sofa beside him.

“Sit here.”

“Okay.”

Taking off his shoulder bag and placing it to the side, Liu Zhiyue sat down next to his father, watching him with some confusion, sensing there was something he wanted to say.

Liu Zhiyue didn’t quite understand what was going on.

Liu Changqing looked at his son.

Compared to when he first arrived in this world, his son had changed drastically—his looks, his energy, his spirit...

The father and son looked at each other.

After a moment of hesitation, Liu Changqing finally asked,

“Do you remember what I told you before?”