The car ca to a stop.
It was already past nine in the evening, nearing ten.
Liu Changqing tried to free his arm from his daughter’s firm grasp but quickly realized it was futile. He sighed and gave up.
Next to him, Chen Dafu opened his eyes, blinking in a daze before rubbing them and glancing at Liu Changqing.
“Pulled an all-nighter yesterday, barely got any sleep, and now spent today running around with you.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t ntion it. Just don’t forget to send the 60,000.”
“No problem.”
Carefully cradling his sleeping daughter, Liu Changqing climbed out of the car, his posture awkward from her weight. The movent startled Liu Xiazhi awake, and she quickly tightened her grip around his neck, clinging even harder than before.
He tried to loosen her hold but gave up after a few attempts. Shutting the car door, he nodded at Chen Dafu, who wasted no ti driving off.
Watching the taillights disappear into the distance, Liu Changqing patted his daughter on the back and said softly,
“Let’s go ho.”
“Mmm…”
Her response was barely audible as she buried her face against his shoulder, her hair tickling his neck. Her sudden clinginess left Liu Changqing a bit unaccustod.
Carrying her, he headed toward the dimly lit stairwell. As he entered the darkened corridor, he stopped in his tracks.
Soone was sitting on the steps.
A bag lay beside the figure, and her hands rested on her knees, her face buried deeply in her arms.
It was An Yuanyao.
Liu Changqing didn’t call out to her imdiately. His gaze lingered, observing her without speaking.
An Yuanyao, however, seed to hear his footsteps. Slowly, she lifted her head, her face faintly visible in the weak moonlight filtering through the stairwell.
For a mont, she said nothing, her eyes on the silhouette of Liu Changqing, standing against the light.
After a pause, she rose, leaving her bag behind, and stepped down a couple of stairs toward him.
As she approached, her face ca into clearer view. Though still drowsy-looking, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
“Where did you go? Why are you coming back so late?”
“How long have you been waiting?”
Liu Changqing’s question caught her off guard, and she hesitated briefly before rubbing her eyes and tucking her stray hair behind her ear. Avoiding his gaze, she murmured,
“Don’t be mad… I ca after going ho, so I haven’t been waiting that long…”
“……”
Liu Changqing lowered his head slightly, his expression unreadable.
“You’re such an idiot.”
“Please don’t scold anymore… I’ll listen to you from now on…”
“Did you get bitten by all the mosquitoes here?”
“Huh?”
Startled, An Yuanyao’s wandering gaze returned to him. Noticing that his usual stoic expression lacked the harshness of earlier in the day, she relaxed slightly.
Then she noticed Liu Xiazhi, clinging tightly to Liu Changqing’s neck. Leaning closer for a better look, her tone turned anxious.
“What happened to Xiazhi?”
“Nothing,” he replied, brushing his hand through his daughter’s hair. Liu Xiazhi remained silent despite noticing An Yuanyao’s presence.
“Heading ho?” Liu Changqing asked suddenly.
“Huh?”
The unexpected question left her montarily confused. After a hesitant pause, she replied cautiously,
“I-I was planning to leave soon…”
“It’s late. Stay at my place for the night.”
“……”
Her eyes widened in surprise as she pointed at herself.
“… at your place?”
“You’ve been here before, haven’t you? Sitting out here like a fool for half the night, and it’s too late to get a cab.”
Without waiting for a response, Liu Changqing started up the stairs.
“Besides… I’d feel uneasy letting you go ho alone this late.”
His voice was quiet, almost mumbled, but An Yuanyao managed to catch the gist of it.
Noticing that she hadn’t moved, Liu Changqing turned back and frowned slightly.
“What are you standing there for? Planning to sleep here?”
“W-wait for !”
Realizing she had been spacing out, An Yuanyao quickly ran up a few steps before pausing to retrieve her bag. Catching up with him, she walked briskly behind.
Liu Changqing shook his head slightly and continued climbing.
The two ascended in silence, but every ti Liu Changqing glanced back, he caught An Yuanyao staring at him.
Before long, they arrived at his apartnt.
With one hand free, Liu Changqing retrieved his keys, inserted them into the lock, and twisted twice before opening the door. After pocketing the keys, he stepped inside.
An Yuanyao, slightly out of breath, arrived a mont later. She paused at the entrance before following him in.
This was her second ti visiting Liu Changqing’s ho.
In the living room, the lights were still on. Lan Yixian, who had been waiting on the sofa, jumped up as soon as she heard them. Spotting Liu Xiazhi in Liu Changqing’s arms, she let out a sigh of relief, patting her chest.
But before she could speak, another figure entered behind Liu Changqing.
The two won locked eyes.
Lan Yixian stared at An Yuanyao.
An Yuanyao stared back at Lan Yixian.
Shock flashed across their faces before An Yuanyao’s expression quickly darkened, her complexion turning pale. She stiffened, her eyes shifting to Liu Changqing’s back.
“She…”
“You can wash up first. I’ll explain everything to you later,” Liu Changqing interrupted her, his voice calm yet firm.
Without waiting for a response, he carried his daughter into her room.
Xiazhi, clearly exhausted, was already fast asleep by the ti he set her down. Gently, Liu Changqing pried her arms off his neck, though it took so effort.
Her hair was ssy, and her small hands clenched tightly even in sleep. Squatting beside the bed, Liu Changqing carefully removed her shoes and socks before pulling a blanket over her.
After patting her lightly a few tis, he stood up and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
When he turned around, the scene before him was unchanged.
An Yuanyao and Lan Yixian remained in the sa positions, staring at each other in silence.
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