Wife, please behave yourself.

Chapter 25 An Encounter on the Train

Rupert Hoogewerf breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Liu Changcun's response.

He slumped back in the chair, looking completely relaxed.

Having finally risen to the ranks of TV drama directors, he hadn't even warmed up his position before An Zhaoran almost dragged him back to the animation studio.

Upon hearing the man's reply, An Zhaoran felt nothing but incomprehension.

Looking at Liu Changcun, who was smiling, she came to her senses and tried to offer one last word of advice.

"Do you really want to take this role? If it doesn't become a hit, you probably won't even get paid after deducting the costs of publicity and filming."

Aside from the filming expenses, if the show doesn't gain popularity, Liu Changcun's share of the profits will likely be pitifully small.

She runs a bookstore that doesn't make much money, and her two children are in the most expensive stage of their lives—school.

Without even thinking about it, An Zhaoran could understand that the other party must be facing a very tight financial situation right now.

The script was painstakingly created, but the money wouldn't be received until filming was finished.

Even sharing profits is still the same thing.

This is more than just a gamble.

In An Zhaoran's view, it was no different from sending someone to their death.

She didn't understand why Liu Changcun would accept such a condition. Although she hadn't studied the script very carefully, she felt that it could fetch a good price after reading the general plot.

"Why don't you... think about it carefully?"

"No need, let's just leave it at that."

"..."

As An Zhaoran remained silent, she finally looked away from the man.

"I will send it to you once the contract is ready."

I took out my phone; it was a relatively advanced stylus-based mobile phone.

After tapping the screen with a pen for a while, Liu Changcun's phone in his pocket received a new text message.

I took it out and saw that the text message contained a string of numbers.

"This is the number I usually use now; I don't use my old one much anymore."

"I will make a note of it."

"Ah."

Nodding in agreement, An Zhaoran lowered her face and fell silent.

Maintain this atmosphere for a while, then subtly raise your head without leaving a trace.

Facing the direction where Hurun is.

"..."

"Then... shall I go out first?"

Although Rupert Hoogewerf, as a director, is somewhat oblivious, he can still understand these most basic eye signals.

Realizing he had become a third wheel, he silently stood up, holding onto the handle. After gesturing to speak, he saw that An Zhaoran in front of him did not deny it, so he quickened his pace and left the room.

With the door closing, only the two people sitting side by side remained.

Liu Changcun followed Hu Run's departing figure until he walked out of the room before turning his gaze away.

She glanced at An Zhaoran, who remained silent beside her.

Why does this director listen to her so much?

Are you short of money right now?

The sudden question left Liu Changcun bewildered.

Before he could respond, An Zhaoran's second sentence reached his ears.

"If you need anything, just ask me anytime."

"..."

What does this mean? Why is it sounding like they're trying to get you to be their sugar daddy?
"Of course, consider it a loan from me."

It wasn't a sugar daddy/sugar baby arrangement, it was a loan.

Liu Changcun breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought that his charm was so great that even An Zhaoran, who used to hate him, had fallen in love with him.

It seems he was overthinking it; even with a face far more attractive than the average person.

They wouldn't be like succubi, easily falling in love with women.

"It's not necessary right now, but I'll ask if I need money in the future."

Liu Changcun added, declining the other party's offer.

"Thank you for your help this time. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help."

"Ah."

"Since there's nothing else, I'll head back. Someone still needs to be at the shop."

"Do you want me to send you off?"

Did you drive to work?

"That's not it."

Shaking the crystal flip phone in her hand, An Zhaoran said softly.

"I can pay your fare."

"..."

Looking at An Zhaoran, who said those words with a serious expression.

Liu Changcun felt that controlling his facial expressions and not breaking down was really not an easy task.

Have you ever said that your family is poor?

Why does she feel like she's about to go hungry?

It's just a taxi; he can easily call one.

"Thanks, I have money to take a taxi myself."

A reply, word by word.

This time, Liu Changcun emphasized every word.

The expression is very clear.

In front of the bus stop sign.

Liu Changcun looked at the timetable on the bus stop sign.

Compared to the cost of taking the bus, taxi fares are indeed quite expensive.

It's not that I can't afford it, it's just that I feel I should spend money where I can and save where I can.

I took a taxi here because An Zhaoran called and it was an emergency.

When we returned, we had no such concerns at all.

Bus route 203 goes directly to No. 16 Middle School in 13 stops, and no transfers are required.

In summer, an air-conditioned car costs two yuan, but even so, it's still much cheaper than a taxi.

While waiting for the bus, Liu Changcun subconsciously reached into his pocket.

I intended to use a cigarette to summon the long-delayed No. 203 bus.

But when he touched his empty pockets, he realized that he had not learned to smoke in this life.

He awkwardly withdrew his hand.

Liu Changcun only felt that this was a good thing.

Liu Changcun was not addicted to smoking, and considering the upbringing of his two children, he never considered studying.

Nicotine in cigarettes can indeed slightly relieve irritability, but even this lowest-cost method was something Liu Changcun never mastered.

Perhaps this is why he was unable to shake off the pent-up frustration after his marriage broke down.

He became depressed and fell ill at home.

But in any case, being able to quit smoking in this way is indeed an unexpected joy for him now.

After all, in his previous life, he was a TV screenwriter and had been a long-time smoker for many years because of his writing.

Continue waiting for the arrival of bus route 203.

Five or six minutes later, I finally saw vehicles coming from the intersection.

Through the car window, it was clear that there weren't many people inside.

There were plenty of empty seats for him to choose from.

Liu Changcun boarded the bus, inserted two coins, and randomly chose an empty seat.

I leaned back in my chair, enjoying the coolness inside the carriage.

The rising summer temperatures had made him, who had been waiting for so long, feel unbearably hot and restless.

Turning on the air conditioner right now feels incredibly comfortable.

The bus doors closed, and the engine roared to life.

It has just started moving forward.

However, a sudden stop caused Liu Changcun, who was resting with his eyes closed and enjoying the air conditioning, to lurch forward.

Fortunately, his core strength was stable, which prevented him from slamming his head into the back of the front seat.

Liu Changcun slowly opened his eyes, which had been closed for rest, and heard the sound of air being released from the car door.

Looking up, a figure rushed in and came into view.

Just as I was about to run to the back row, the bus driver in front called me to stop.

"Insert coin!"

The coins were placed into the coin box with a crisp sound.

The woman walked back to the back seat, her gaze fixed on the outside of the car window.

Seemingly having spotted something, he anxiously bent down, clutching his bag.

He came to Liu Changcun's side, apologized, and then stepped over him at lightning speed.

Liu Changcun's eyes were drawn to the ankles encased in the long dress.

At the same time, he also caught a whiff of the woman's faint perfume.

She squeezed into the inner seat, clutching her bag tightly to her chest.

He leaned forward, deliberately lowering his body to below the car window.

It was as if they were hiding from something.

The No. 203 bus closed its doors again and started moving again.

Only after the car picked up speed did the woman, who had been leaning forward, slowly sit up straight.

My gaze followed the car window and looked out.

Only after seeing the scenery rushing by did I breathe a sigh of relief, as if I had escaped a disaster.

"call……"

The view through the car window, reflected in the glass, revealed the scenery inside the vehicle.

Liu Changcun's face, turned to the side, was faintly reflected in the car window.

"..."

Wen Yunwei stared blankly at the car window, only realizing what was happening after a few breaths.

He quickly turned his face to the side.

"Excuse me, I just stepped over you. Did I touch you?"

As he spoke, his lowered gaze kept scanning Liu Changcun's body, carefully checking for any dust imprints from the soles of his shoes.

Fortunately, after searching several times, no obvious marks were found on the other person.

Relieved, Wen Yunwei finally raised her face.

She looked at the man sitting outside beside her.

She was about to apologize again, but when she saw the face of the man beside her...

At first I was puzzled, then I started trying hard to recall.

Memories buried for many years resurfaced, and he immediately showed surprise.

"Liu Changcun?"

(End of this chapter)