Madam, Please Behave-Chapter 163: A Sigh

Zhao Xuanwen had been Liu Zhiyue’s deskmate for two years.

From the first year of middle school, they had been placed in the same class and seated together.

Although they had stopped being deskmates in the third year, the memories of those two years weren’t something that could be easily erased.

She had touched his stomach like this many times before, but Liu Zhiyue had never reacted so strongly.

“…”

A silence fell between them. For some reason, Zhao Xuanwen’s mood started to drop.

Liu Zhiyue, realizing he had overreacted, gently pushed her hand away.

Back in school, Zhao Xuanwen had loved using books to tap against his stomach, watching as they bounced off while laughing out loud.

He had never reacted this strongly before.

But just now, for some reason, he really didn’t want her to touch him.

After thinking for a moment, Liu Zhiyue finally spoke.

“Don’t take it the wrong way. It’s just that after losing weight, my stomach…”

He struggled to come up with a good excuse and ended up adding, with a hint of apology in his voice,

“You’re a girl, and I’m a guy… we shouldn’t be touching each other randomly.”

“I got it…”

Zhao Xuanwen withdrew her hand, placing it on her lap. Her head lowered slightly, and the cheerful expression she had when she arrived was nowhere to be seen.

She didn’t say another word after that.

She didn’t know why, but Liu Zhiyue’s reaction just now made her feel… uncomfortable.

It felt like he was starting to push her away.

The feeling was both unfamiliar and familiar at the same time…

Just like when they first met in their first year—when she had greeted him, but he hadn’t even glanced at her.

The atmosphere grew heavy.

In the kitchen, Liu Changqing finished soaking the dishes in the sink and stepped out, glancing toward the two sitting on the sofa with noticeable distance between them.

His brows furrowed slightly.

But then, he relaxed.

Just as An Yuanyao had once told him—children’s futures should be decided by themselves, not arranged by their parents.

He sighed and turned toward his daughter’s room, gently pushing the door open.

Earlier, Zhao Xuanwen’s offhanded comment had made Liu Xiazhi drop her unfinished meal and run back to her room.

Worried that she might be overthinking things, Liu Changqing had come to check on her.

But when he opened the door, what he saw was Liu Xiazhi sitting on her bed, stuffing what looked like potato chips into her mouth.

He froze for a moment.

Hearing the movement at the door, Liu Xiazhi paused mid-bite, her hand still inside the snack bag as she looked at her father.

When she realized what was happening, she immediately pulled her hand out and shoved the bag behind her.

Shaking her head frantically, she tried to deceive even herself.

“I wasn’t eating snacks!”

“…Where did you get that?”

Liu Changqing stepped forward and stood in front of her, looking puzzled.

At work, he had bought some fruit and small pastries for her and Feng Shuyan as after-meal treats.

But snacks like potato chips… he didn’t remember buying those.

His expression grew suspicious. Reaching behind her, he forcibly took the bag of chips and looked inside.

There were only a few left.

He picked one up and popped it into his mouth.

Hmm… tomato-flavored.

Tasted pretty good!

Watching her father eat her chips, Liu Xiazhi puffed up her cheeks in frustration but didn’t dare to protest.

Liu Changqing glanced at her.

“Do you have more?”

She froze for a second. Her puffed cheeks slowly deflated as she shook her head.

“No more…”

“Really.”

Liu Changqing gave her a look, then started scanning the room.

Squatting down, he nudged her feet aside and pulled open the drawer under her bed.

Inside, clothes were neatly folded and stacked.

He glanced up at his daughter.

Liu Xiazhi grinned at him.

Ignoring her, Liu Changqing continued searching. He lifted the top layer of clothing—and underneath it, there they were.

Potato chips, shrimp crackers, chocolate…

Sighing, he set the clothes on the bed and stood up, looking down at his now expressionless daughter.

“Where did these come from?”

“…Gege bought them for me…”

“…”

At that moment, Liu Changqing suddenly understood why his daughter always ran back to her room after getting upset.

So she wasn’t crying.

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She was sneaking back to eat snacks!

No wonder… no wonder her face had gotten rounder over the past month.

“You wouldn’t happen to be eating these after brushing your teeth at night, would you?”

“I… I didn’t!”

Her words were as good as a confession.

Feeling guilty, Liu Xiazhi didn’t dare to meet his eyes. She kept looking around, avoiding his gaze.

Noticing her expression, Liu Changqing frowned.

Eating after brushing her teeth would be terrible for her dental health. It might not cause immediate problems, but over time, it could easily lead to cavities.

And since she had already lost her baby teeth, if she ended up needing fillings, it would be a shame.

For the sake of her health, Liu Changqing decided to confiscate all her snacks.

Naturally, Liu Xiazhi was unwilling.

But how could a child outmatch an adult?

The result was Liu Xiazhi watching helplessly as her father took all her hidden snacks and carried them out of the room.

In the living room, Liu Zhiyue looked at the snacks in his father’s arms and was a bit surprised.

“…All that?”

“Why are you buying your sister so many snacks? She’s been sneaking off at night to eat them!”

“Huh? I didn’t know… she said she only ate them occasionally.”

“And you believed her? You’d believe anything, wouldn’t you?”

After scolding his son, Liu Changqing turned to Zhao Xuanwen.

“Xuanwen, do you want to take some? Grab whatever you like.”

“No, I’m already full.”

Shaking her head slightly, Zhao Xuanwen’s voice was calm.

Then, she stood up, her head lowered.

“Uncle, I’m going home now.”

“You’re not staying a bit longer?”

“No, I still have homework to do.”

“…Alright then.”

With that, Zhao Xuanwen headed for the door.

This time, she didn’t linger like before. She didn’t even say goodbye as she walked out and down the stairs.

Liu Changqing watched her leave, thinking for a moment.

Then, he lightly tapped his foot against his son’s leg and nodded toward the door.

“Go walk her out.”

“…”

Without a word, Liu Zhiyue got up, put on his shoes, and followed her out.

Liu Changqing could tell—his son’s attitude toward Zhao Xuanwen had changed.

He stood there for a moment, then sighed softly.

“Each generation has their own fate… they’ll figure it out one step at a time.”