Madam, Please Behave

<p108" data-end="225">The car slowed to a stop, pulling into the usual spot. Liu Changqing was the first to get out after opening the door.

<p227" data-end="271">Right after, An Yuanyao stepped out as well. <p273" data-end="450">With the car door shut behind her, she was still holding a plastic bag. She had carefully put all the bones from what she ate on the way into it and brought it out with her too. <p452" data-end="615">As she walked forward, Liu Changqing reached out, wanting to help carry the leftover pig trotters—but she dodged his hand, still gnawing on one and looking at him. <p617" data-end="683">“I can carry it myself… I’ll share some with you once we’re home…” <p685" data-end="691">“Hss…” <p693" data-end="823">Liu Changqing sucked in a breath and frowned slightly. Watching this new side of An Yuanyao, he couldn’t help but find it amusing. <p825" data-end="868">“Take it all, I’m not fighting you for it.” <p870" data-end="879">“Really?” <p881" data-end="1020">At that question, Liu Changqing nearly laughed. In front of him was a woman holding one half-eaten pig trotter and another still untouched. <p1022" data-end="1046">It was… oddly hilarious. <p1048" data-end="1160">Such a strong contrast to the An Yuanyao from before—who used to eat slowly, neatly, and barely ate much at all. <p1162" data-end="1341">Seeing the smile forming on Liu Changqing’s face, An Yuanyao seemed to realize something too. She looked down at her own feet, at the flat shoes she’d worn out today, and mumbled, <p1343" data-end="1394">“I don’t know why… I just really wanted to eat it…” <p1396" data-end="1495">As she said that, she lifted her head to look at Liu Changqing, her voice carrying a note of guilt. <p1497" data-end="1531">“Sorry… I’ll share half with you…” <p1533" data-end="1562">“You really have gone silly…” <p1564" data-end="1570">“Huh?” <p1572" data-end="1706">Confused by Liu Changqing’s comment, An Yuanyao didn’t get a chance to ask why before she saw him open the car door she’d just closed. <p1708" data-end="1816">He pulled out the bag she had brought with her earlier, slung it over his shoulder, and shut the door again. <p1818" data-end="1882">Turning to her, he lifted the bag slightly in front of her face. <p1884" data-end="2001">“I swear, you’ve got nothing on your mind but pig trotters. You walked out and left your own bag behind, didn’t you?” <p2003" data-end="2007">“……” <p2009" data-end="2086">His words made An Yuanyao unconsciously tighten her grip on the pig trotters. <p2088" data-end="2216">Liu Changqing noticed it but didn’t say anything. He simply slung the bag over his shoulder and strutted forward a couple steps. <p2218" data-end="2300">“I gotta say, your bag’s actually kinda cute… What do you think? Does it suit me?” <p2302" data-end="2314">“Heeheehee…” <p2316" data-end="2487">Seeing Liu Changqing strut around with her bag, An Yuanyao couldn’t hold back her laughter. She quickly caught up and clung to his arm, leaning her whole body against him. <p2489" data-end="2572">Then she tilted her head up, smiling, and held up the pig trotter toward his mouth. <p2574" data-end="2597">“Here, you try it too!” <p2599" data-end="2719">Looking at her bright, beaming face, Liu Changqing didn’t dodge. He took a bite right from the part she’d already eaten. <p2721" data-end="2844">There wasn’t much meat left, and what he got was mostly bone. After sucking on it for a second, he spat it onto the ground. <p2846" data-end="2911">“Nope. I’m done. Doesn’t taste good at all. You finish the rest.” <p2913" data-end="2972">“You didn’t even get any meat! Come on… take another bite!” <p2974" data-end="3133">Watching her push the pig trotter insistently toward his mouth, Liu Changqing dramatically turned his head away like a man of great principle, refusing firmly. <p3135" data-end="3195">The two of them continued walking as they teased each other. <p3197" data-end="3346">Because An Yuanyao was clinging so closely to him, Liu Changqing tried his best to walk steadily. Even so, the two still wobbled a bit as they moved. <p3348" data-end="3394">Side by side, they slowly made their way home. <p3396" data-end="3439">Turned the corner and headed up the stairs. <p3441" data-end="3479">Instantly, the world below went quiet.

<p3486" data-end="3511">The sky gradually dimmed. <p3513" data-end="3643">Li Wanran lay on the bed, seemingly asleep, though no blanket covered her. Her long black hair was spread messily over the sheets. <p3645" data-end="3695">Her eyes were open—staring blankly at the ceiling. <p3697" data-end="3861">She’d stayed in that position for quite a while now. Like a soulless shell. Though her eyes could still see, there was no motivation behind them. No desire to move. <p3863" data-end="3953">The room was eerily silent. Li Wanran blinked once, then continued staring at the ceiling. <p3955" data-end="3997">Whatever she was thinking… it was unclear. <p3999" data-end="4113">Today was November 27th. It had been a full week since Li Chongming got beaten into the hospital by Liu Changqing. <p4115" data-end="4250">Ever since that visit to the hospital—when she happened to run into Liu Changqing—Li Wanran hadn’t gone back to see Li Chongming again. <p4252" data-end="4388">Still staring at the ceiling, she slowly opened her mouth and let out a long sigh, as if trying to expel the frustration from her chest. <p4390" data-end="4487">She didn’t know why, but ever since that day, Liu Changqing’s words had been echoing in her mind. <p4489" data-end="4507">"Young women…" <p4509" data-end="4637">Thinking of that, her body—motionless for so long—finally stirred. She slowly lifted a hand and touched her cheek with her palm. <p4639" data-end="4643">Age… <p4645" data-end="4705">That was indeed something that Li Wanran cared deeply about. <p4707" data-end="4855">For these past seven days, she’d been doing everything she could to forget Liu Changqing’s words. She tried shopping, eating out, going for walks... <p4857" data-end="4932">But every time she was alone, Liu Changqing’s face would pop into her mind. <p4934" data-end="4956">And that one sentence. <p4958" data-end="5074">Eyes wide open, Li Wanran sat up from the bed. After a moment of thought, she got out and walked over to the vanity. <p5076" data-end="5120">She stared into the mirror… at her own face. <p5122" data-end="5270">It still looked the same as before. No noticeable changes. She had strict discipline when it came to diet and health, balanced everything carefully. <p5272" data-end="5334">She was often complimented on her good skin when she went out. <p5336" data-end="5392">But why… why did her mind keep circling back to her age? <p5394" data-end="5539">She stared into the mirror for a while longer. Then, closing her eyes, the world went dark—and this time, An Yuanyao’s face appeared in her mind. <p5541" data-end="5665">That smiling, radiant An Yuanyao, holding onto Liu Changqing so happily. The two of them shopping together, eating together… <p5667" data-end="5689">Her eyes snapped open. <p5691" data-end="5803">Li Wanran saw herself in the mirror and reminded herself—her life from now on had nothing to do with An Yuanyao. <p5805" data-end="5844">So why… why was she thinking about her? <p5846" data-end="5964">She sat there, unmoving in front of the vanity like a frozen painting, in a large, empty room with no one but herself. <p5966" data-end="6010">Until her gaze landed on that wedding photo. <p6012" data-end="6044">The one of her and Li Chongming. <p6046" data-end="6172">Slowly, the confusion in her eyes began to fade. She remembered that she had fought so long and hard for the love she now had. <p6174" data-end="6244">She couldn’t let it be ruined by just one sentence from Liu Changqing. <p6246" data-end="6306">With that in mind, she reached for the makeup on the vanity. <p6308" data-end="6354">She decided… she should go visit Li Chongming. <p6356" data-end="6427">After all, he was her husband now. Legally, they were husband and wife.