NOVPUBJuly 22nd.
A week had quietly passed.
After exercising and taking a shower at home, Liu Changqing noticed something remarkable—pants that had felt tight last month now fit comfortably without him needing to suck in his stomach.
He stood there stunned for a moment before bursting into excitement. Clenching his fists, he gave a triumphant pump and couldn’t help but exclaim, "Oh yeah!"
His moment of celebration was abruptly interrupted by a knock on the bathroom door, followed by a voice.
"Dad, if you’re done, let me in."
"Alright, just a moment."
It was Liu Zhiyue outside the door, and Liu Changqing quickly regained his composure. After taking a deep breath and patting his face to calm down, he opened the door.
His son stood there with fresh clothes in hand.
Liu Changqing gave him a once-over and noticed something different. Reaching out, he patted his son’s stomach.
Liu Zhiyue looked puzzled, his expression a mix of confusion and disbelief.
"Why are you patting my stomach?"
"Why does it feel like you’ve slimmed down faster than me?"
"What?"
"Didn’t you notice your pants getting looser?" Liu Changqing asked while scrutinizing his son.
Suddenly inspired, he grabbed Liu Zhiyue’s arm and led him to the doorway of his room. Placing a hand on his son’s shoulder, he gently pushed him against the wall.
"Stand straight."
Obediently, Liu Zhiyue did as told.
Flattening his palm, Liu Changqing measured the top of his son’s head against the marks etched on the doorframe. These faint lines were ones Liu Changqing had carved after crossing into this world, periodically checking his son’s growth.
He carefully observed the lines. While the measurements were crude, it was clear that his son had grown significantly taller since the last time.
Liu Changqing frowned.
"How did you grow this much?"
"How much this time?" Liu Zhiyue asked curiously.
"About three centimeters," Liu Changqing replied without hesitation.
Retracting his hand, he patted his son’s shoulder, which was slick with sweat.
"Go take a shower. You’re dripping sweat everywhere."
"…"
The sound of the bathroom door locking marked his son’s retreat, leaving the living room quieter.
Since Lan Yixian and her daughter had moved in, bathroom use required a bit more caution. Liu Changqing vividly remembered an awkward moment not long ago when he barged in early one morning, pants unfastened, only to find Lan Yixian inside. Thankfully, his reflexes saved him from a full-blown fiasco.
Turning back to the doorframe, Liu Changqing took out his keys and scratched a shallow mark at the height he had just measured.
When he first arrived in this world, Liu Zhiyue had been about 171 cm tall. In such a short time, he had grown several centimeters, now standing at least 176 cm.
His gaze shifted toward the bathroom, where the sound of running water continued.
"Middle schoolers grow fast," he muttered to himself.
The door to Liu Xiazhi’s room creaked open, revealing her with her hair a mess, strands sticking to her forehead. Her expression radiated displeasure.
Noticing her mood, Liu Changqing called out, "Xiazhi, come here."
With her mouth open, ready to yawn, Liu Xiazhi paused and turned her groggy gaze toward him. Slowly, she walked over, confused.
"What’s up?"
"Stand here. Let me see if you’ve grown taller."
Before she could respond, Liu Changqing pulled her closer and checked her height against the doorframe.
He noticed a faint mark from last week but was surprised to find that her current height was slightly below it.
Liu Changqing was baffled.
"Why are you shorter?"
"Shorter?"
"Never mind," he mumbled, brushing off her question.
Hearing her father’s vague response, Liu Xiazhi puffed her cheeks in irritation.
"I wore shoes last time!"
"Did you?"
Thinking for a moment, Liu Changqing glanced at her feet, now clad in slippers.
"You’re wearing slippers now too."
"But last time, I wore… leather shoes!" she exclaimed, her small fists clenched near her chest as her face flushed red.
Even she felt embarrassed.
The leather shoes Liu Changqing had recently bought were a favorite of hers. The morning she found them by her bed, her joyful scream was so piercing that Liu Changqing doubted he’d forget it anytime soon.
Kids had simple ways of expressing their emotions. When sad, they cried loudly. When happy, they shouted with all their might.
Liu Changqing was used to it by now.
Patting her messy hair, he forced a smile.
"You’ve grown. It’s just not very noticeable yet. Don’t worry, you’re still young and have plenty of time to grow."
Liu Xiazhi stared at him blankly with wide eyes, then let out a loud, exaggerated wail before storming back into her room. The door slammed shut behind her.
Liu Changqing stood there, his hand frozen mid-air as the living room fell silent.
A soft chuckle broke the quiet.
He turned to see Lan Yixian setting the table, her laugh escaping before she could stop it. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"What are you laughing at?" he asked.
"Your family is so lively," she said, smiling as she looked at him.
"This feels like what a home should be."
For a moment, Liu Changqing said nothing. He walked to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
"Where’s your daughter?" he asked.
"She’s studying. Finished her summer homework already and started reviewing for her third year of middle school."
"Hardworking. But she should eat breakfast first."
"No need. I just brought it to her room," Lan Yixian replied.
"Alright," Liu Changqing said as he glanced at the breakfast she had prepared. Without another word, he started eating.
Behind drawn curtains, the dimly lit room was steeped in silence.
Ye Rong lay on a large bed, her face twisted with pain and fear. Her hands clutched the blanket tightly, her head tossing as though trying to escape something.
Time ticked by slowly.
A sharp scream shattered the silence as Ye Rong sat bolt upright. Gasping for air, she gripped the blanket tightly, her throat dry.
After a moment, her gaze fell on the framed photo on the bedside table.
The photo, aged and worn, filled her eyes with a strange mix of confusion and sorrow.
"Why won’t you let me go…"
Her voice was barely audible as she sat in silence, staring at the photo. Finally, her expression shifted, and her eyes grew resolute.
