NOVPUBDecember 31st.
Once this day passed, a new year would begin.
And on this very day, Liu Changqing witnessed the first snowfall since arriving in this world. Looking out the window, he saw the snowflakes swirling down.
A wave of cold air slipped in through the window, sending a chill straight to his bones. Turning around, Liu Changqing looked back at the house he’d lived in ever since he came to this world.
The originally cramped living room was crammed with all kinds of old furniture, plus a few newer pieces that An Yuanyao had brought in after moving in.
This home had left a deep impression on the old Liu Changqing, and now, it left unforgettable memories on the current Liu Changqing too.
But… people have to grow.
“Hoo…”
Letting out a breath, Liu Changqing reached out and closed the windows, then turned and walked further into the room while calling out,
“Are you guys ready? Take everything that needs to go. If it can’t come with us for now, just leave it here—we’ll come back for it when we need it.”
“I’m ready!”
Liu Xiazhi darted out of her room, tugging along the little pink suitcase An Yuanyao had bought her, dragging the handle behind her.
Liu Zhiyue, on the other hand, had simply packed a backpack, now slung over his shoulders.
An Yuanyao hadn’t packed much of anything.
In her words, this was where the dream began—everything should be left as is… so they could come back and visit when they wanted to reminisce.
Liu Changqing was traveling light too. Aside from taking the box of photos left behind by the parents of this body, he didn’t take anything else.
He picked up the box, opened the door, and walked out. An Yuanyao followed behind, with Liu Xiazhi dragging her pink suitcase closely behind. Liu Zhiyue came out last.
Their little family—
was moving out.
Liu Changqing had bought a new house.
Ever since the idea first popped into his mind, he couldn’t let it go. He took action right away, only telling the rest of the family after everything was already arranged.
At first, An Yuanyao was a bit reluctant—clearly not too keen on the idea of moving. But after Liu Changqing laid out all the reasons for her, she didn’t say much more.
After all, as time passed, her pregnancy would only become more obvious. The old place, while cozy, was in a remote location, had outdated facilities, and required climbing stairs.
Those were all possible triggers for unexpected problems.
The two kids didn’t have much to say about it. Liu Zhiyue, as usual, stayed quiet and didn’t voice any opinions. Liu Xiazhi, however, was brimming with excitement.
She was, hands down, the most hyped about the move.
On the way to the new home, Liu Xiazhi, sitting in the back seat, kept asking nonstop questions—
Was the wall pink?
Was there a super big princess bed?
Stuff like that.
Liu Changqing, driving in the front, smiled as he answered her.
“Nope.”
Hearing that, Liu Xiazhi froze. After a moment, her enthusiasm dropped hard. She pouted, clearly unhappy.
“I already told you last time, Daddy. I like pink rooms…”
“Alright, alright, no more complaints…”
Liu Changqing replied casually.
He had bought this place with Chen Dafu’s help not long ago. Word was, the previous owner had done all the renovations, but had to rush overseas for urgent matters before even getting to live in it, so he flipped the property quickly.
The price was a bit lower—it was a real bargain.
At first, Liu Changqing had considered just moving into An Yuanyao’s place. But that thought lasted about a second before he pushed it aside.
Thinking it over, that apartment was a gift from An Yuanyao’s parents. And while they were legally married now, and it wouldn’t be weird to live there…
Liu Changqing looked into it in advance, and just like An Yuanyao had said, that place didn’t feel like “home.”
After all, it was practically like a villa, and just going to another room meant climbing stairs—that kind of vibe wasn’t really his thing. If he had to come up with an excuse, it’d be this—
Living there would make Liu Changqing feel like he was mooching off a woman.
And he really didn’t like that feeling.
Maybe that’s just a man’s final bit of pride.
—
They arrived.
The security guard raised the gate, and Liu Changqing drove in. Since he’d already been here a few times—checking out the house, setting up furniture—there was no getting lost.
He pulled into the underground garage, parked in his own spot, pulled the handbrake, killed the engine, and unbuckled his seatbelt. The whole family got out.
They took the elevator, and once they reached their floor and stepped out, Liu Xiazhi was the first to rush in, suitcase in tow.
After she ran in, the other three followed. Liu Changqing put his things down, opened the shoe cabinet, and pulled out the indoor slippers he’d prepped earlier.
He called out to Liu Xiazhi, who had run in with her shoes still on.
“Xiazhi, change your shoes first!”
“Daddy, there’s a balcony!”
Hearing him, Liu Xiazhi came running back, dragging her pink suitcase behind her, voice filled with excitement. She pointed toward the balcony. 𝓷ℴ𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
“It’s even bigger than the one at the old house!”
When she said “old house,” she meant the one Liu Changqing had lived in before his divorce from Li Wanran.
“Alright, I heard you—go change your shoes first.”
“Mhm mhm.”
After changing shoes, Liu Xiazhi rushed straight to the room Liu Changqing had pointed out. When she opened the door, she was stunned by the décor.
After being used to the old house, the shock of the new room hit her hard—
A bigger bed, her own writing desk, and even a personal wardrobe.
Everything she could want was there.
From now on, she wouldn’t have to do homework hunched over the coffee table anymore. She could sit in a chair in her own room and write at her desk.
Aside from the walls not being pink, Liu Xiazhi didn’t have a single complaint.
Unlike his sister’s over-the-top reactions, Liu Zhiyue calmly opened the door to his room, took off his backpack, and began placing his stuff neatly.
Their clothes had all been delivered in advance.
Standing in the living room, Liu Changqing held An Yuanyao’s hand and walked toward the balcony, pointing to a spot outside as the snow kept falling.
“When the weather’s better, let’s put a hammock here, and maybe some potted plants over there, and then—”
“Hubby…”
Before he could finish, An Yuanyao cut him off.
Hearing her, Liu Changqing turned to her and asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“……”
She hesitated for a moment, gazing out at the snowy view from the balcony. Her expression dimmed a little, like she was quietly wrestling with something.
She looked at Liu Changqing and finally asked,
“Will you… still love me in the future?”
That was what An Yuanyao was worried about.
Her biggest resistance to moving stemmed from one fear—
She didn’t want Liu Changqing to change.
The old house may have been small and run-down, but it was warm and cozy. Liu Changqing had always been there, showering her with care.
She was scared that as the houses got bigger and fancier, Liu Changqing’s heart might change too…
Would he grow tired of her? Would he become…
These thoughts had been circling in her mind.
That was why she hadn’t said a single word on the way from their familiar, cozy home.
Even though she knew Liu Changqing wouldn’t become like that, she couldn’t help it. Every time she had a quiet moment, these doubts crept in.
Liu Changqing looked at her. Every flicker of emotion on her face didn’t escape him. He didn’t say a word—just held her hand tighter.
He raised her hand and kissed her fingers.
“I promised you, didn’t I…”
Looking into her eyes, Liu Changqing understood everything she was thinking. That’s also why he’d wanted to move quickly—pregnant women spending too much time at home tend to overthink things.
But now that they’d moved, those worries would fade.
Seeing that hopeful look in her eyes, Liu Changqing gave her a soft smile. Slowly and clearly, he said:
“I won’t change, not in this lifetime.”
