Vol 2 Chapter 17: Mother and Daughter

Liu Changqing's chest heaved violently at this moment.

Panting heavily, he stared at the woman before him, unable to comprehend how she had just pressed herself against him.

Her intentions were crystal clear.

Even a fool could tell what she had been trying to do.

Yet this was precisely what terrified Liu Changqing - he couldn't fathom why she would act this way. In such a short time, merely because he'd been semi-forced to escort her home, she had attempted to assault his cheeks with her lips...

What a frightening woman.

Liu Changqing was genuinely shaken, deeply so.

Nearly a full minute after the incident, he still hadn't fully regained his composure, merely gaping at Li Wanran standing opposite him with undisguised disbelief.

At her completely expressionless face that showed no awareness of what she'd just done...

In stark contrast to Liu Changqing's reaction, the perpetrator Li Wanran remained remarkably composed.

Her facial expression showed no significant change, maintaining that same calm as she casually glanced down at the fallen bicycle before lifting her gaze back to Liu Changqing's face.

She parted her lips and spoke:

"Are you afraid of me?"

"......"

Li Wanran's question finally snapped Liu Changqing out of his daze. After several seconds of contemplation, he responded:

"It's not about being afraid..."

He paused briefly before continuing:

"It's just... this behavior is extremely strange. We barely know each other, and I merely gave you a ride home..."

"I already told you this morning - I like you."

"Don't say such things now. At your age, do you even understand what 'like' means?"

"I do."

Facing Liu Changqing's skepticism, Li Wanran answered with absolute conviction.

Having spoken, she took several steps sideways, maneuvering around the toppled bicycle until she stood directly before Liu Changqing.

Staring at that familiar yet somehow alien face...

A flood of memories suddenly surfaced.

Her eyes grew momentarily unfocused, as if unconsciously, she murmured:

"I understand the taste of liking someone better than anyone..."

"......"

Observing Li Wanran as she spoke these words, Liu Changqing experienced an odd sensation.

This person's composure felt almost frightening - she didn't seem like a high school student at all.

More like... an adult woman.

Moreover, from their first meeting until now, within these mere two days, her behavior completely mismatched this era's norms.

Far bolder, and utterly without restraint...

What kind of girl would initiate a kiss so abruptly?

What kind of person does such things?

After a brief silence, Liu Changqing lost all interest in continuing this conversation. Brushing past Li Wanran, he righted the fallen bicycle before hastening his departure.

This time, Li Wanran made no attempt to stop him.

She simply stood there, watching quietly.

Watching Liu Changqing's retreating figure.

Watching him...

Only when he had completely vanished from sight did a faint smile finally grace her lips.

This slightly bashful, boyishly pure Liu Changqing...

Was truly adorable.

As a woman who had borne children, Li Wanran couldn't possibly retain the affected shyness of teenage girls, becoming all flustered over a simple kiss - such behavior struck her as utterly artificial.

She knew Liu Changqing well.

Knew he was an extremely responsible man.

All she needed was to leave the most indelible impression within the shortest possible time.

That... would suffice.

Harboring these thoughts, Li Wanran lingered at her doorstep for quite some time.

Ultimately, she turned and entered her home.

Once inside, that faint smile immediately vanished, her expression reverting to its usual impassivity.

Her father appeared to be absent.

Li Wanran felt neither surprise nor disappointment at this.

In her memories, sightings of her father during middle and high school had been exceedingly rare.

Though his career had flourished splendidly during those years of societal development, his contributions to this household had been minimal.

Consequently, most of Li Wanran's memories involved only her mother.

Yet during this period, her mother...

Her footsteps gradually slowed.

Then stopped completely.

Music played within the room.

Standing before the sofa, she observed her mother reclining sideways in a Sleeping Beauty pose, head propped on one hand.

The silk nightgown's semi-transparent fabric perfectly accentuated her figure.

The elegant lines of her neck presented a truly pleasing sight.

No man could resist such a vision - in her youth, her mother had indeed been first-rate in both figure and looks.

This was Li Wanran's mother.

Ye Rong.

Currently, she appeared somewhat intoxicated. Several empty bottles littered the floor nearby, with a wine glass resting on the small table beside her.

She seemed particularly fond of red wine.

Lost in the music, the slightly drunk woman showed no signs of awakening, not even when her daughter returned home.

Li Wanran simply watched.

After a long while, she finally turned toward the music source.

With her action, the room's music ceased abruptly.

Only then did Ye Rong on the sofa open her eyes.

Her gaze listlessly found Li Wanran.

After a brief moment, displeasure flickered in their depths.

After studying her daughter briefly, she closed her eyes again and commanded:

"Turn it on."

Two clipped words escaped her lips.

Not a request, but an order.

Hearing this, Li Wanran's expression remained frosty as she turned back toward her mother on the sofa.

"......"

Silent. Unresponsive.

Perhaps due to the prolonged absence of music, Ye Rong reopened her eyes, this time glaring at her daughter with undisguised irritation.

She had never liked this daughter of hers.

Especially... those brows faintly resembling her father's.

Merely seeing this face evoked memories of the man she loathed.

Of bearing his child...

Of her past...

"I said turn it ON!"

Her pitch rose sharply.

Abandoning her graceful pose, Ye Rong sat upright, staring directly at her defiant daughter.

Staring at her...

On this day.

For the first time, mother and daughter found themselves at odds.