NOVPUB“You’ve only lost your legs, but she’s lost her love!”
Liu Changqing froze in place, stunned by the melodramatic line. His mind replayed the dialogue over and over.
What kind of warped values are these? Who wrote this? I could write better with my eyes closed!
Meanwhile, Lan Yixian, evidently moved by the scene, wiped her teary eyes with a tissue she grabbed from the coffee table. As she balled up the tissue to toss it into the trash, she suddenly noticed Liu Changqing standing silently nearby.
She blinked in surprise and shot to her feet, clearly flustered.
“You’re back… um…”
“I love her! I love her! My heart and soul belong to her, but… my parents don’t approve of us being together!”
The male lead’s anguished shout from the TV interrupted whatever Lan Yixian was about to say.
Awkwardly, she bent down, grabbed the remote, and turned the TV off, her face flushed with embarrassment. She avoided Liu Changqing’s gaze, looking anywhere else while nervously clutching the crumpled tissue in her hands.
“I was a little bored… Usually, I’d be working at this time.”
“No problem. I already told you—if you’re bored, just watch some TV,” Liu Changqing replied with a chuckle, lifting the bag in his hand.
“I bought you a few outfits. Try them on and see if they fit.”
“Outfits?”
Lan Yixian looked startled for a moment before asking in surprise, “You bought these for me?”
“They’re women’s clothes. What, did you think I bought them for myself?” Liu Changqing joked as he walked over and placed the bag on the sofa.
Looking around, he noticed the kids weren’t around.
“Why are you alone? Where are the kids?”
“Xiazhi said she was bored and wanted to go out. Then all three of them left together,” Lan Yixian explained.
“Your daughter went out too?” Liu Changqing’s voice rose in surprise. “How could you let her go out so casually? What if the debt collectors spot her?”
“It’s fine. Those people have barely seen my daughter. As long as they don’t see me, it’ll be okay.”
“Your nerves are made of steel,” Liu Changqing muttered, shaking his head. “Never mind that—try on the clothes and see if they fit.”
“Right now?”
“When else? If they don’t fit, I’ll drive back and exchange them. I didn’t know your size.”
“Alright…”
Lan Yixian picked up the bag, her gaze lingering on the white shopping bag with some English words printed on it.
It looks so fancy…
She glanced at Liu Changqing hesitantly and asked in a soft voice, “These must’ve been expensive, right?”
“They weren’t too bad. Small change,” he replied dismissively.
“…”
Lan Yixian didn’t believe him. Judging by the bag alone, these clothes couldn’t have been cheap.
Oblivious to her thoughts, Liu Changqing walked to the sofa, sat down, and leaned back to relax. His eyes wandered back to her, noticing she was still holding the bag, lost in thought.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Nothing. I’ll go try them on,” she replied, retreating to the room with the bag.
Feeling a bit bored, Liu Changqing grabbed the remote and turned the TV back on. The drama had ended during their conversation, and a commercial was now playing.
After flipping through a few channels with little interest, he settled on a nature documentary.
“Spring has arrived, and it’s time for animals to…”
“Liu Changqing…”
Before the narrator could finish, a faint voice came from the room.
“What’s up?” Liu Changqing turned his head slightly, lowering the TV volume to hear better.
From the muffled noise, it sounded like Lan Yixian was fumbling with something in the room. He strained to listen and caught her hesitant voice again.
“Isn’t it… a bit small?”
Liu Changqing froze, then asked, “Small? You mean the size?”
“No, it’s not the size… It just doesn’t feel appropriate for someone my age.”
Realizing what she meant, Liu Changqing replied, “Oh, I thought the size was wrong. Don’t worry about it—you’re not that old.”
“I’m in my thirties…”
“So what? It’s all about mindset. Stay young at heart, and even at eighty, you’ll feel like you’re seventeen!”
“…”
Inside the room, Lan Yixian flushed red, tugging at the top she’d just put on.
She had never worn anything like this before, though she’d seen young women at the supermarket dressed similarly. Her more conservative upbringing left her unsure about the style’s purpose or appeal.
After much hesitation, she took a deep breath, slowly opened the door, and stepped out shyly.
Hearing the door, Liu Changqing picked up his cup, sipping water as he turned to look.
“…”
There she stood, awkwardly tugging at the hem of the short top to keep it from riding up. The letters on the fabric were now stretched and distorted into a 3D effect.
“Pfft!”
Liu Changqing couldn’t help it—he sprayed water from his mouth, quickly setting the cup down and wiping his face.
Standing up, he walked over, staring at her in disbelief.
“All three sets are like this?”
“Yes…” Lan Yixian’s voice grew quieter as her embarrassment deepened.
For a moment, Liu Changqing stood speechless, his expression one of utter defeat.
Her outfit—a pink crop top paired with denim shorts and a white belt—looked completely mismatched with her demeanor.
The crop top, trendy among younger women, left her midriff exposed and was certainly not suited for someone unaccustomed to such styles.
After a pause, Lan Yixian tried to speak. “Um… Liu Changqing…”
“Change back into your old clothes. I’ll go get you something else,” Liu Changqing said, his face grim.
