Wife, please behave yourself.

Chapter 45 Private Topics
An Zhaoran's family was easier to get along with than Liu Changcun had anticipated.

It's clear that both of them are kind-hearted elders.

An's mother was a generous person and was very satisfied with him, her fake son-in-law.

Although An's father had a somewhat eccentric temper, in the end, he managed to get away with it.

When they left, An Junan, who had been drugged, had already gone back to his bedroom to rest.

Guo Yan saw him off at the door.

Liu Changcun's trip was a way of repaying An Zhaoran, who had helped him submit his script to internal channels.

I went downstairs and left, returning to my parked car.

Liu Changcun, who was drinking tea instead of alcohol, opened the car door and got in while making arrangements for the rest of the trip.

"I'll take you back to your apartment first, then I'll go return the car."

"Ah."

Nodding in agreement, An Zhaoran got into the passenger seat.

I fastened my seatbelt and continued listening to the man.

"You've managed to get away with this. When your parents bring me up again, just say you're too busy with work to visit them right now."

"it is good."

"Just one word: delay. After you get back to your apartment, send me a few text messages to my number. Remember, they should be casual and everyday."

"Send a text message?"

The vehicle moves forward first, then reverses by turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction.

After making two trips back and forth, they finally turned off the narrow road where there wasn't enough space.

Sitting in the passenger seat, An Zhaoran looked at the person beside her with a puzzled expression.

She could barely understand what the other person was saying earlier, but she just couldn't understand the matter of sending text messages.

Why send a text message?

"You've never been in a relationship?"

Liu Changcun, who was driving, was surprised to hear the question.

He glanced at it briefly and explained with a laugh.

"What couple doesn't call or text each other? After this meeting, when you go home, your parents will definitely ask you about me again."

"..."

An Zhaoran's expression was a little off.

Even though she didn't have an attack, she still listened attentively to the lectures with a serious attitude towards learning.

"What if you accidentally put your phone in a conspicuous place and then accidentally reveal your text message page?"

"Wouldn't that mean my parents would see it?"

"It's good to see that, so they'll be more convinced that we're still dating, instead of that their precious daughter just found some random man to fool them."

"Makes sense."

He nodded silently.

An Zhaoran suddenly realized that the man beside her knew a lot.

An Zhaoran, who had never experienced love before, knew absolutely nothing about it.

However, Liu Changcun, standing beside him, seemed to understand the ins and outs of the matter just like his senior.

With a sigh in her heart, An Zhaoran couldn't help but admire him.

Suddenly she realized something.

Liu Changcun, standing beside me, is so experienced; he must have been trained by that woman, Lin Wanran.

Upon thinking of this, the admiration I had just felt vanished without a trace.

An Zhaoran dislikes Liu Changcun.

However, she disliked Lin Wanran even more.

Back in high school, that woman was always hostile towards her, and even spread false news at a class reunion years later that she had gotten married in a flash.

This caused her to receive many calls from her former classmates seeking confirmation during that period.

Even now, when she thinks back on it, she still feels angry about it.

She turned her head to the side, observing the man driving.

He stared at Liu Changcun's profile.

"These were all taught by Lin Wanran, right?"

The sudden coldness in his tone alerted the man driving.

Looking to the side, I immediately noticed that the other person looked a little angry.

She was fine before going downstairs, so why is she so angry again in such a short time?

Is a woman's mood really that unpredictable during her period?
"What does it have to do with her?"

"Besides your experience with Lin Wanran, have you ever known any other women?"

"Isn't this common sense? If you don't act like this, how can you possibly fool your elders?"

"..."

"Furthermore, as the father of two children, I will not allow you to slander me like this."

Liu Changcun still cares about his reputation.

He didn't want to be branded with a bad reputation for having casual sex with women.

“My social circle is very clean, and my life revolves around my children. Women… will only affect my determination to make money.”

"So you haven't made much money all these years?"

"What kind of talk is this? The bookstore's storefront doesn't cost money, and I didn't buy the house where my child and I live?"

"Too……"

After pondering in silence, An Zhaoran was successfully convinced.

Although Liu Changcun hasn't achieved much over the years, from an ordinary person's perspective, he has managed to accumulate his current wealth through his own hard work.

That's far beyond most people.

As a former star student of the school, An Zhaoran had high expectations for Liu Changcun.

If the other person wasn't so outstanding, she wouldn't have been ranked second all along.

Slandering your opponent only makes you look incompetent.

Leaning back in her seat, An Zhaoran looked away.

I looked straight ahead at the windshield.

"It's pretty awesome."

Who's stronger?

"you."

As she spoke, An Zhaoran continued to reply.

"If it were me, and I only graduated from high school... I might not be doing as well as you are now."

After entering society, An Zhaoran came to understand some of these principles.

If we consider her during her student days, she believed that academic performance was the standard for measuring whether a person was excellent.

After starting work at the station, she realized the importance of relationships.

After graduating from high school, Liu Changcun had to support his family and also pay for Lin Wanran's university education.

From any perspective, this is not a simple matter.

However, while admiring him, An Zhaoran thought such behavior was extremely foolish. Judging from Liu Changcun's high school grades, he could choose any university in China. Even if he went to university, his scholarships alone would be enough to cover Lin Wanran's tuition fees.

But what did Liu Changcun do back then?

He declined invitations from many universities and resolutely entered the workforce.

She didn't understand why they were doing this.

It was as if... Liu Changcun had been cursed back then.

He is devoted to Lin Wanran.

"But I don't understand why you didn't go to university back then. Even if you had chosen to continue your studies, you would have been able to afford your living expenses at that time."

After many years, An Zhaoran finally asked the question that had been bothering her.

Inside this rented car.

Upon hearing the woman's words beside him, Liu Changcun fell silent.

An Zhaoran may not have understood, but now he understands why Liu Changcun made that choice back then.

Because of Lin Wanran.

In this world, Liu Changcun lost his parents at a very young age and grew up entirely thanks to the help of his relatives.

The relatives each have their own families, and giving them some money or buying them a few new clothes is already considered a great help.

He lacked parental care and family companionship from a young age.

He met Lin Wanran, a lively and cheerful girl, in high school. Her enthusiasm warmed his numb and cold heart.

Lin Wanran used to love Liu Changcun very much.

He loved her so much that even the slightest eye contact with another girl would make him sulk and unhappy.

The other party was afraid that Liu Changcun would have contact with other women, and that someone as outstanding as him would have other women eyeing him.

Therefore, in daily interactions, his scars of being an orphan are occasionally brought up.

Then she smiled and comforted herself, telling herself that she would always be by his side.

At that time, Liu Changcun thought it was love.

Now, Liu Changcun clearly knows that this is a pathological form of control.

Lin Wanran wanted to control him and turn the school's pride into her possession.

In my memory, it was when Liu Changcun told Lin Wanran about his decision not to go to university.

The happy look on their face is still vivid in my mind.

For the first time in his life, Liu Changcun encountered someone who cared about him, and he blindly wanted to be good to Lin Wanran.

However, as time goes by, the one who has always given more in the relationship will eventually be punished.

Looking ahead, the car drove onto the wide road.

The scenery on both sides of the street swept past in his field of vision, and Liu Changcun, who had been silent for a long time, spoke again.

"Because I was stupid back then."

"Ok?"

An Zhaoran was somewhat surprised.

She never expected that, after a long while, she would hear such a cursing response directed at him.

"So stupid it's pathetic."

"..."

“Lin Wanran used to be the whole world, which is why I wanted to fulfill all her requests.”

The man's answer reached her ears, and An Zhaoran, who heard it clearly, suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Looking at the man beside her, she realized he was completely different from how he was at home.

Without that carefree spirit, it sounds more like someone telling someone else's story.

Serious and earnest.

“But that’s not the case now, so I chose to get a divorce.”

After a pause, Liu Changcun suddenly felt much lighter.

"It can be considered as making a choice for Liu Changcun at that time. I imagine he has been in pain and confused all these years."

"It's as if...you didn't make the decision yourself in the first place."

"Now I've come to terms with it and completely said goodbye to the past."

"It would be best if you truly let go of the past."

Believe it or not, I believe it.

Smiling as he replied, Liu Changcun slightly increased his speed.

"You don't look too well right now. Get to the apartment early so you can get some rest."

"..."

"Oh right, go back and boil some water, drink it before you go to sleep, that will make your stomach feel better."

"Is this someone who cares about me?"

"A well-intentioned reminder doesn't count as concern."

Liu Changcun smiled and looked at the other person, making a joke under An Zhaoran's gaze.

"Although I've never had my period, I know how unbearable the pain can be."

"what?"

"Also, there are many types of sanitary pads, right? Are there any that are suitable for first-time users?"

"..."

A blush quickly rose to her cheeks.

An Zhaoran's eyes widened.

"11 years old... It's about time, so I should prepare in advance so that I won't be caught off guard later."

"..."

"Ms. An, do you have any good suggestions? For example, brands and sizes..."

"Shut up!"

Unbearable, no need to endure.

An Zhaoran was completely panicked at this moment.

He once again revealed the expression that Liu Changcun found ridiculous.

Sitting in the car, her fists were clenched tightly.

"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll consider you a pervert!"

Does this... count?

"Of course it counts!"

After many years, former competitors reconnected.

The two had helped each other, and as they interacted more, they were no longer strangers who had never communicated.

We're somewhat familiar with each other, but not to the point where we can talk about anything.

Is it okay to talk about such a private topic?
In Liu Changcun's view, this is not particularly private.

But in An Zhaoran's view...

Given their current level of familiarity, they are far from reaching the point where they should be discussing this kind of topic.

Hmm... Absolutely not!
(End of this chapter)