Chapter 1

Liang Siyue smiled and said obediently, "Thank you, Aunt Pan"

The young girl suddenly lifted her head, her gaze briefly meeting his before quickly shifting away. In a soft yet clear voice, she retorted, "I do not know who you are."

Zheng Ma forced a smile, but did not respond to her words, "The dough is almost ready, you can go out and busy yourself."

Liang Siyue sat at the very edge of the dining table, moving gently and making not a sound

Zheng Ma quickly came to take the plate from her hands, "Miss Xiao Liang, go take a rest, this is my job."

As she prepared the broth, she also conducted her inspection; the young girl was indeed accustomed to this, her movements were swift and efficient, without any hesitation or delay

Once the person left, Liu Ze became restless

Completed

Liang Siyue said, "Aunt Pan asked me to stay here, but I do not know which room to stay in"

Liu Yubai glanced at her face, smiling, yet without a hint of warmth: "Are you ready to tell Pan Lanlan?"

She put down the book, pushed open the window, and wanted to see who had returned

The Liu family does not lack for such a small amount of money. Moreover, this also saves you, Master Liang, a considerable expense, achieving two goals with one action. Let's decide on this; after dinner, you can return by yourself, Master Liang." Pan Lanlan clearly did not allow anyone to interject.

Pan Lanlan: "Call Zheng Ma to serve the dishes, it's time to eat! If I catch you secretly ordering junk food again, don't even think about your living expenses. When your second brother comes back, I will definitely have him discipline you properly"

"No, my lady did not assign me anything." Liang Siyue rolled up her sleeves and turned on the faucet to wash her hands. "I always need to find something to do; I am not a young lady. My father is just a driver."

A few casual words were exchanged between father and daughter. Just as he was about to hang up the phone, Liang Siyue called out to him, "Dad, what is the relationship between the person Aunt Pan refers to as 'Yu Bai' and her..."

I long to fly to the side of those noble birds, yet they would peck me to pieces. I am so ugly, how could I dare to approach them? However, I no longer care about death; rather than being bitten by those ducks, pecked by hens, or kicked by the girls who raise them, and rather than suffering the torment of pain in the harsh winter, I would prefer to choose a noble death

The little girl who was originally sitting in the living room approached Zheng Ma and gave a slight nod, saying, "Aunt Pan said she would arrive in twenty minutes, so could you please start cooking, Zheng Ma."

Liu Yubai, after asking a question, became too lazy to speak again, and for a moment, the only sound in the living room was that of the news broadcast

Liang Siyue stood in the way he had to take to exit, consciously pushing the suitcase aside to make room

Liang Siyue had no choice but to return to the living room

I lost the remote control, then I reached for the cigarettes and lighter, lit one up after taking a puff, and received a work call.

She took a shower, rummaged through her suitcase to find her pajamas and changed into them, then lay down on the bed, letting out a long sigh of exhaustion

The last to enter was a middle-aged man dressed in plain clothing

Soon, she realized that she had gotten herself into trouble

Liu Ze, clearly just out of the shower, was dressed in a T-shirt and shorts, with a towel draped over his shoulder. He leaned on the railing, looking down at her as if mocking her for daring to disturb the hostess over such a trivial matter

The man passed by her as if he were passing through a gust of air, his gaze never once descending.

Liang Siyue let out a quiet sigh of relief

Slipped into the living room to grab one's own phone, opened a short video app, and while scrolling, ate a meal

Zheng Ma has been cooking in the kitchen for nearly thirty years, and with her children and grandchildren not around, to be honest, it is quite lonely. Nowadays, she wouldn't mind having someone to talk to, even if it is someone from Pan's side.

Then she looked at the most recently arrived lady: "Aunt Pan"

Liang Siyue felt fortunate that this room had an en-suite bathroom, allowing her not to have to step out of the room again

I warn you, in the future at school, do not tell anyone that you know me, and you are not allowed to mention anything I have done to my mother.

Fortunately, Pan Lanlan seemed to finally remember that there was such an ornament in the room, and she waved to Liang Siyue, saying, "Come over and eat."

Xiao Yue, as an outsider, is indeed a disturbance, and moreover, the expenses for food, clothing, and other necessities...

A slight smile, waiting for Zheng's mother to respond

She did not dare to move around in this room, fearing that she might bump into Pan Lanlan and Liu Ze, so she spent the entire morning reading in her own room

She did not know who the person opposite her was, and why they asked for her name but did not follow up.

Taking the time, I also asked Liang Siyue about the household registration: "What school did my mother arrange for you?"

When the numbers on the phone screen jumped to 7:32, the sound of the door opening finally rang out

Another aunt in charge of this place is responsible for it, but she is on leave today due to some matters. You can go upstairs to ask the lady, or you could send her a message; don't you have her contact information

He sees through it more clearly than Zheng Ma. Pan Lanlan does not let Lao Liang go; on the surface, it appears to be to win the favor of her father, Liu Wenzhao, but in reality, Lao Liang has long been bought off and turned into her informant. This time, this act not only spares Liu Wenzhao from a troublesome matter but also grants Lao Liang a favor.

Liu Yubai's expression was solemn and serious, a stark contrast to the nonchalant demeanor he had when they first met, now clearly marked by evident anger

After a short while, Mother Zheng came out from the kitchen and began to arrange the dishes

The assistant called to add a 20-minute meeting to his schedule for Monday, stating, "The schedule is full, so I have arranged it for lunchtime."

She sat at the dining table for a while, then proactively cleared the dishes and took two plates of leftovers to the kitchen

Can you roll dough

Pan Lanlan let out a soft "Hmm"

Did you hear it

Liang Siyue nodded

Of course, he was well aware that this praise was directed at Liang Siyue, reflecting his daughter's own abilities. As a mere driver, he could not act recklessly, so he smiled and said: "Then let Xiaoyue stay here for dinner; I still need to take the gentleman's car for a wash"

You may call me Xiaoyue from now on

In the kitchen, Mother Zheng is preparing the ingredients, wielding a knife in both hands, chopping meat into minced pieces with a rhythmic "thud thud thud".

Therefore, she could also understand that, perhaps, Pan Lanlan asked her to stay here to bestow kindness upon them as a father and daughter, and on the other hand, to remind her, especially to remind her father, to always remember who is responsible for their reunion and for her being able to attend high school in the big city.

It is hard to say what it meant, yet it forcibly halted her actions

Zheng Ma went to the restaurant to tidy up the dining table, and Liang Siyue followed to help. Zheng Ma declined a couple of times, but seeing her nimble hands and feet, she eventually acquiesced.

Liang Guozhi paused for a moment, feeling that Pan Lanlan's tone was not one of jest, and he nervously declined, saying, "Xiaoyue comes from a small place and does not understand the rules"

Have you eaten

At noon, I was called by Zheng Ma to have a staff meal, and only then did I realize that Pan Lanlan and Liu Ze had already left.

The young girl is tall and slender, dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans, with her hair tied back in a ponytail. Her skin is fair and clean, and her appearance is quite charming, making her very likable

She recognized that person as Liu Yubai

Zheng Ma has stopped speaking

Liu Yubai did not stop at her feet, his gaze quickly swept over her face, and he vaguely felt that her pair of eyes still had some spirit in them

Liang Siyue vaguely felt that she should not be assigned to such a large room, "It seems inappropriate for me to live here"

The air conditioning cold air that had accumulated on his clothes in the driver's cabin had not yet dissipated, and with his movements, it all rushed onto Liang Siyue's face

She could hardly endure the eerie silence, frequently glancing down at the time

At the dusk of late August, the heat still makes one sweat profusely in the air

Liu Yubai cast a glance towards the door frame, and the young girl seemed to sense it, immediately withdrawing her hand and placing it behind her back

Liu Ze: "I don't want to have dinner with you, Mom."

Horizontal or vertical, it is death

A white top, faded blue jeans, an outfit that is utterly ordinary, and she appears to be quite young, around the age of fifteen or sixteen

When Liu Yubai returned to his old home, there was a strange little girl in the house

Indeed, Zheng Ma has been busy, but upon hearing her words, her expression seemed somewhat strange. I glanced at her and continued to lower my head to roll the dough, lightly smiling as I asked: "Did Madam arrange for you to help in the kitchen?"

Liang Siyue understood that she had been driven out of the kitchen by Zheng Ma

She is not very old, and her upbringing has not been complicated, but that does not mean she is unaware of the ways of the world.

He held the car door with one hand, suddenly looked up, and directly gazed at the room located at the easternmost end of the second floor

Liang Siyue squinted her eyes and saw a car parked in the parking space

Liang Siyue firmly remembered the information on the admission notice, "Qizhong."

The young girl smiled, nodded, and then left

From now on, you should address her as 'Madam' in person

Thus, the "influence" of the Liu family has divided into two factions: one faction consists of Liu Yubai and Zheng Ma; the other faction is made up of Pan Lanlan and her son

As Pan Lanlan walked towards the restroom, she said, "Is Yu Bai returning today for personal matters or official business?"

Liang Siyue determined that the man from earlier was Liu Yubai, the son of his late wife.

Pan Lanlan gave birth to two sons for Liu Wenzhao, the elder named Liu Xun and the younger named Liu Ze. Liu Xun has not yet appeared in the Liu family, and Liang Siyue is still not acquainted with him

Pan Lanlan also smiled: "I just received a call from Old Liu on my way back, saying that the flight was delayed and has been rescheduled for tomorrow morning. If Yu Bai doesn't mind that Old Liu is not here, this meal would certainly be less enjoyable, but we would certainly welcome it."

That is good. Since the lady likes you, you can rest assured to stay here. Although the lady and Mr. Liu are not considered easygoing people, they have never treated us old employees harshly.

Zheng Ma looked at the figure until it disappeared, and then said: "The bench hasn't even warmed up yet, and they are already trying to win her over. What a pity, such a clever little girl, and now she is completely one of Pan's people."

Pan Lanlan returned to the living room after washing her hands, "Where is everyone?"

How far can a girl go in her disregard for rules

What is the matter

After taking a short break, I picked up my phone and made a call to Liang Guozhi

Liang Siyue hurriedly asked: "... ... What happened? Is that room uninhabitable?"

Until the door opened, a dignified lady entered first, followed closely by a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old

Pan Lanlan placed her handbag on the counter in the entrance hall, changed into slippers, and while responding to Liang Siyue's greeting, she asked with a faint smile, "When did you arrive?"

She hesitated for a moment, then sent a message to Pan Lanlan. Twenty minutes passed, yet there was no reply.

Liang Siyue knew she could not avoid it any longer, so she steeled herself and proactively walked to the door, waiting for Liu Yubai to come over

Zheng Ma felt assured to entrust the task of rolling out the dough to her

I understand. In the future, if I have any shortcomings, please be sure to remind me

In the afternoon, she was still hiding in her room, reading or listening to music

The man on the sofa opposite smiled and asked, "Aunt Pan, do you think I shouldn't come back for personal matters?"

Liu Yubai sat down on the spacious sofa, and the first thing he did was to pick up the remote control and turn on the television. He did not like the complete absence of any human voice in this lavishly decorated living room

In a strange place, living under someone else's roof, she did not dare to be as casual as she was in front of her grandmother

The original intention of this trip was to discuss some official matters with my father, Liu Wenzao. Before coming, I confirmed the schedule with Liu Wenzao's assistant. Liu Wenzao went to North City to meet with the producer and is scheduled to return in the afternoon to have dinner at home

The room at the far east end on the second floor

Zheng Ma smiled and said "good"

The coffee table has a marble top, producing a crisp sound when struck

Pan Lanlan and Liu Zeyu took their seats at the table in succession

Liang Guozhi was concerned that his daughter, while temporarily staying at the Liu family, might encounter some misfortune related to the host family. Therefore, he briefly outlined the intricate and complicated relationships within the Liu family.

Liang Siyue subconsciously wanted to stand up, but the man opposite her, who was clearly resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her.

Zheng Ma casually chatted with Liang Si Yue: "Is your grandmother feeling better now?"

You will stay at the Liu family for a few days for the time being, and after a while, I will bring up the matter of you moving out again

The car was turned off, the door opened, and a person stepped out.

No, Aunt Pan is quite good

A short corridor, which Liu Yubai reached in just a few steps

At this moment, the man extinguished his cigarette and stood up

Ah." Mother Zheng smiled.

Liang Siyue was once again at a loss as to what to do next

On the contrary, my grandmother often exclaims, "Our little Yue is just too smart and too understanding."

Zheng Ma said that the young girl is the daughter of the driver, Lao Liang. "How many drivers has your father changed over the years? Only Lao Liang has been satisfactory, using him for ten years. I heard that the young girl lost her mother right after she was born and was raised by her grandmother. Recently, the girl's grandmother fell seriously ill, and her two uncles took her to Yunnan for retirement. The young girl is left without support, and Lao Liang is preparing to resign and return home to take care of his daughter.

Is everything going to collapse?

Just now, when he was on the phone, the young girl was eavesdropping with her ear perked up. Her movements were not obvious; she merely tilted her body slightly, but her expression was serious, as if she were afraid of missing a single word.

Liang Siyue caught sight of a man on the opposite sofa, leaning casually against the backrest, sitting in a relaxed manner, with one hand holding a cigarette, his head lowered, appearing lost in thought

Liu Ze smiled and said: "This room is the farthest from my mother's room. My mother has poor sleep, and even the slightest noise can disturb her."

The leftover food was piled up on the countertop, and Liang Siyue was about to put it in the refrigerator when Zheng Ma stopped her, saying, "The Liu family does not eat leftovers."

"Naturally, everyone in the company relies on you for their livelihood." The assistant tactfully ingratiated himself, "I won't disturb you any longer. Wishing you a pleasant weekend"

She sat on the sofa, somewhat at a loss, with a black suitcase standing beside her legs. Her fingers were unconsciously fiddling with the suitcase's combination lock. Although her head was lowered, she suddenly raised it upon hearing footsteps

The man slightly raised his hand as a gesture of greeting

Liang Guozhi: "Have you eaten?"

I am looking for Aunt Pan

After a moment, he asked: "Which room do you live in, Xiaoyue?"

In addition, above these two individuals is Liu Wenzhao's eldest son, Liu Yubai, born of his first wife.

Liang Siyue did not react at all; it was too late to evade, and her gaze collided directly with that of another person

He pointed into the room and said coldly, "Pack your things and get out immediately"

"Come with me," said Liuze

Liang Siyue did not have a good impression of Liu Yubai and was also quite fearful of him

Pan Lanlan, in a fit of anger, snatched his phone and threw it onto the coffee table, saying, "All you do is play all day! What kind of performance is that in the high school entrance exam? Your father is already very unhappy; if it weren't for my persuasion, he would have sent you abroad long ago."

She got up quietly and walked to the staircase, preparing to check if Pan Lanlan showed any signs of coming downstairs—she dared not recklessly disturb her.

On the second day, Liang Siyue got up early.

It is no wonder that he shows no respect towards Pan Lanlan

Before long, footsteps could be heard coming from the stairwell outside the corridor, heading straight towards the door.

Then let Miss Liang stay here with me

Good

Around five o'clock in the afternoon

The young girl was clearly nervous, "... ... Liang Siyue."

Liu Yubai laughed and said: "You don't even let me have a proper meal, are you working for me or am I working for you?"

Liu Yubai chose not to comment and casually chatted for a moment before heading to the living room

The room that Yanagisawa took Ryo to is located at the easternmost end of the second floor

Liang Siyue paused for a moment, "... ... Hmm."

Zheng Ma's movements paused, and her expression stiffened, "... ... Who arranged this?"

Liang Siyue was pained by the extravagance, yet said nothing

Liang Guozhi did not dare to fail to recognize the importance of the situation

Pan Lanlan, indifferent as ever, only spoke again when Liang Siyue had pushed the suitcase to the door: "Are you still renting a place to live, Master Liang?"

"Then you give it a try, I will make the broth." Mother Zheng relinquished her position.

She waved to the boy of about fifteen or sixteen who had just returned with her, sitting slumped on the sofa playing with his phone, and said, "Liu Ze, go to the kitchen and ask Aunt Zheng to prepare the dishes." After saying this, she turned and went into the bathroom

At this moment, Liang Siyue finally stood up and greeted the last person: "Dad"

No

Whether it was his remark to Zheng Ma, "What idle people are you bringing home?" or the subsequent questioning of whether she intended to eavesdrop and report to Pan Lanlan, his tone, whether cold or mocking, made her feel uncomfortable—a kind of aloof indifference, as if he regarded her with even less concern than a speck of dust

Liu Ze's gaze had not left the phone screen, "Aren't you going to stay for dinner, big brother?"

Her voice was crisp and sweet, unexpectedly free of any regional accent, which made her seem very poised. However, her fingers betrayed her—clenching the door frame, a clear subconscious reaction born of tension

Zheng Ma nodded in agreement, just preparing to say a few more words in response to him, when a shadow flickered at the door

The little girl sitting opposite was startled

At this moment, Liang Siyue wished she could truly be air, transforming into a gust of wind to float away, perhaps even catching up with Liang Guodong. Instead, she found herself standing dumbfounded at the door, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.

Liang Guozhi was busy instructing his daughter to quickly thank Pan Lanlan, as their ability to transfer from their hometown county to study here and reunite as father and daughter was entirely dependent on Pan Lanlan's mediation

Pan Lanlan walked in wearing slippers, while observing Liang Siyue, "Let's have a meal here before leaving"

Liu Yubai would visit the old residence once every two or three weeks. Each time, without him having to ask, Aunt Zheng would proactively report what had happened, especially what schemes Pan Lanlan had been involved in.

Liang Guozhi hurriedly said: "I won't disturb you while you are having your meal. Xiaoyue has just arrived, and I still need to take her to buy toiletries"

Liu Ze wore a helpless expression, not bothering to refute, merely responding with repeated "mm-hmm" in a perfunctory manner, waiting for Pan Lanlan to vent her anger.

Liu Ze: "He has left"

Has the lady not made things difficult for you

Liang Siyue was taken aback

Liuze

Liu Yubai put down his phone and also threw away the silver lighter that he was still holding in his hand

"Yes," Liang Siyue said with a smile, "I often make buns and steamed bread with my grandmother at home"

Liu Yubai did not respond definitively and asked her: "What is your name?"

Liang Guozhi reached out to touch Liang Siyue's head and said, "You stay here for now, and I will take you out for a meal when I have time." He hesitated for a moment, leaned in closer, and whispered, "Follow the rules, speak less and do more."

After washing up, Liang Siyue went to the back kitchen to see if Aunt Zheng needed any help

Zheng Ma smiled and said: "Understood. Miss Xiao Liang, please go sit in the living room and rest. Feel free to take whatever you want from the fridge. I am busy preparing the dishes and may not be able to attend to you properly"

I went..." Liu Ze was surprised, "My mom did it on purpose, sending you to monitor me?"

I understand

Suddenly, Liu Ze appeared, leaning his head down from the upper floor, greatly astonished: "What are you doing up here!"

After all, she feels that the young girl is still very young and does not understand these complexities

Liu Yubai did not comment, smiled after listening, rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands, and simply said: "What kind of idle people are being brought home"

Liu Ze muttered: "... ... I couldn't wish for anything more."

After sending her father to the foyer, Liang Siyue returned to the room with her suitcase. However, the current situation made her too afraid to speak up

Liang Guozhi sighed: "As a driver, I cannot afford to offend anyone. Xiaoyue, during this period, you should also keep a low profile and avoid offending anyone, especially the eldest son, Liu Yubai. Even Liu Wenzhao himself sometimes has to bow to this eldest son."

Liang Siyue remained silent

Hans Christian Andersen's "The Ugly Duckling"

Liang Guozhi waved to Liang Siyue, signaling her to bring her suitcase and come with him to his home

After finishing the meal, Liuze took the bowl upstairs

Pan Lanlan was an actress in her youth, and during her acting career, she became acquainted with the renowned director Liu Wenzhao. At that time, Liu Wenzhao was already married, and despite knowing this, Pan Lanlan developed feelings for him. After several years of entanglement, Liu Wenzhao divorced his first wife and married Pan Lanlan, who was already pregnant at that time

Zheng Ma's expression softened a bit as she glanced at Liang Siyue

Pan Lanlan had a poor appetite, and after drinking half a bowl of soup, she left the table, went back to the hall to take her bag, and went upstairs

In the evening, I suddenly heard the sound of cars coming from outside the window

Her heart raced, and she was in a state of panic, immediately leaving the window side

Zheng Ma was about to wash the dishes when she noticed Liang Siyue still standing there without moving. "What's wrong? Is there something on your mind?"

... ... Hmm

Zheng Ma shrugged her shoulders

Pan Lanlan's expression turned cold as she scoffed, "What is this? Is this a hotel? You come and go as you please."

It is a suite with a private bathroom

She leaned her body outward, trying to get a clearer view of the situation in the driver's seat

Much better, I had a video call with her a few days ago

Liang Siyue asked: "So you belong to Aunt Pan's faction?"

He is frugal with money. In large cities, rent is high and the cost of living is also elevated. This time, because his daughter is coming, he has finally made the decision to exchange his original studio for a small one-bedroom apartment, preparing to give the bedroom to his daughter while he will make do with a folding bed in the living room.

Liang Guozhi chuckled and said: "Ah"

Liang Siyue did not inform Liang Guozhi that she felt Pan Lanlan's attentiveness was only for show, while behind the scenes, she presented a completely different demeanor. Insisting that she stay at the Liu residence might have ulterior motives.

At this point, Mother Zheng scoffed and said, "Ms. Pan really knows how to handle things. She understands that your father cannot be separated from Old Liang, so she directly had Old Liang bring the young girl to her side. It is also she who personally intervened to resolve the difficulties of transferring from another city to attend school."

No one speaks at the dining table, as it is the family rule of the Liu family

Liang Siyue explained the reason for her impudent visit