Liu Changqing took the elevator back ho.
Since it was already past midnight, when he opened the door and entered, apart from his son showering in the bathroom, only his wife remained—sitting on the sofa, waiting for his return.
An Yuanyao.
The sound of their son showering echoed in the background. Having long passed her usual bedti, she kept blinking her eyes, trying desperately to stay awake.
When the door opened again, An Yuanyao, seated on the sofa, abruptly lifted her lowered head and looked toward the entrance.
Her husband’s figure appeared firmly in her line of sight.
She froze for a few seconds before suddenly rising from the couch, rushing toward him with quick steps.
Spreading her arms, she wrapped them tightly around him.
Caught off guard by his wife’s sudden embrace, Liu Changqing instinctively took a step back, but his arms moved reflexively to encircle her.
His hands locked firmly around her waist.
Pressing her face against his chest, An Yuanyao had clearly been overwheld with worry.
After the incident with their daughter, her husband had left ho without a word, only returning now… Leaving her, unaware of any details, anxiously waiting alone at ho all this ti.
She… had been terrified.
Even with her mother and their two children at ho, the absence of her husband had left her heart unsettled.
All those fears dissipated the mont she saw him return.
An Yuanyao murmured to herself, clinging tightly to him, unwilling to let go.
"It’s okay… it’s okay…"
"What’s wrong? You look so frightened."
"You have the nerve to ask!"
Her voice rose slightly as she pulled her face away from his chest. The hand that had been wrapped around him lifted, pounding lightly against his chest in frustration—though with barely any force.
It didn’t hurt Liu Changqing at all;
if anything, it felt like a massage.
"You left without saying anything and only ca back now… You didn’t even call to let know you were safe…"
"It wasn’t anything too serious."
"You still should’ve told ! You just took Dafu and our son and left without a word…"
As she spoke, a hint of anger flickered in her tone.
Her hand, which had been lightly tapping his chest, slid down to his waist, employing her usual thod of punishnt—
A pinch.
Though it didn’t hurt in the slightest, Liu Changqing exaggerated his reaction out of habit.
"Ow—that hurts!"
"Huh? I didn’t even use any strength?"
Hearing his cry of pain, An Yuanyao was startled, instinctively rubbing the spot she had just pinched.
But before she could massage it twice, Liu Changqing grabbed her wrist.
His face leaned in close.
"Just kidding."
"You—!"
Realizing she’d been tricked, An Yuanyao froze for a few seconds before quickly recovering. She opened her mouth to retort, but her husband’s next move left her speechless.
After a few muffled protests, she finally quieted down.
Ti passed silently.
The only sound in the house was the shower running in the bathroom—until their daughter’s door creaked open.
Su Yan, stepping out of her granddaughter’s room, happened to witness the scene. Her eyes widened montarily before she cleared her throat pointedly.
Hearing the noise, the couple imdiately separated.
An Yuanyao reflexively pushed her husband away, smoothing her clothes and wiping her mouth as if to hide evidence.
"Mom…"
"You’re still recovering from childbirth… Wait a little longer."
"……"
Her mother’s blunt reminder made An Yuanyao’s face burn red.
Nothing was more embarrassing than being caught by her own mother.
If anything could make it worse—
"Got it."
"Changqing!"
Her husband’s casual response flustered her further. She glanced between her mother and him, unable to believe he’d say sothing like that in front of her.
How… how shaless.
In contrast, Liu Changqing remained completely unbothered.
"We’re family—no need to be shy."
"Exactly, what’s there to be embarrassed about? You’re already a mother of two, yet you blush so easily… People might mistake you for so eighteen-year-old girl."
Her mother’s remark left An Yuanyao rooted in place. If the ground had cracked open at that mont, she would’ve dived straight in.
Too… too humiliating.
"You two should rest soon. Xiazhi just fell asleep."
Su Yan said this before hesitating, then added while looking at her son-in-law,
"That child has probably never been hit before… so she’s been upset all day."
"……"
"Not that I’m saying you were wrong, but… Well, talk to her properly tomorrow."
She trailed off mid-sentence, as if realizing she’d said too much, and stifled a yawn before heading toward the guest room.
Once her mother closed the door behind her, the living room fell silent again.
After a mont of thought, Liu Changqing quietly approached his daughter’s room and gently pushed the door open.
The lights inside were off.
Unable to see clearly, he stood at the doorway for a long ti before finally stepping inside.
An Yuanyao followed softly behind him.
The couple stood by their daughter’s bedside.
Perhaps because it was the first ti her father had ever struck her, Liu Xiazhi—who had always been doted on—seed deeply affected. Even in sleep, her face looked troubled.
Her eyes appeared slightly swollen from crying.
Without a word, Liu Changqing sat by her bed, pulling the slipped blanket back over her.
He gave it a gentle pat.
For a long while, he simply watched his sleeping daughter, lost in thought.
Eventually, he stood and left the room, followed by his wife.
As he closed the door behind them, he spoke quietly.
"I’ll protect you and the children."
"……"
"I promise."
Looking at her husband’s solemn expression, An Yuanyao didn’t know what thoughts weighed on his mind.
But as his wife, all she needed to do was stand by him and offer silent support.
That… was enough.
She squeezed his hand.
Gazing at him, she responded with a single word.
"Mn."
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