Madam, Please Behave-Chapter 7: Suppressed Sob
The first time An Yuan Yao met Liu Changqing was at the wedding of her former best friend, Li Wanran.
Dressed in a suit, Liu Changqing exuded charm. His hair was neatly styled, and he looked exceptionally handsome. His face was lit up with a smile so bright it seemed to overflow.
In stark contrast to him, the bride, Li Wanran, maintained a cold and indifferent expression throughout the toast.
Despite this, whenever Liu Changqing noticed his wife’s odd demeanor, he would lower his head with a worried look and softly ask if she was alright.
An Yuan Yao watched this scene unfold.
For the first time, she felt envious of Li Wanran.
Though she had won the battle of the love triangle and secured the man she had longed for, keeping him by her side, it didn’t bring her the joy she imagined.
She took meticulous care of him, ensuring everything was perfect. Every night, she stayed up until he came home, reheating his meals and preparing everything for him.
But every time, he would glance at the food with indifference and either claim he wasn’t hungry or that he had already eaten out.
She had never stepped foot in the kitchen before.
Yet, for him, she sought out teachers, studied cookbooks, and consulted others. She worked hard to improve her cooking skills, imagining the day he would smile and praise her cooking—even if just for a second.
But reality was harsh.
Over the years of their marriage, she prepared meals daily, waited until midnight for him to come home, heated water for his bath, handed him his slippers, and hung up his clothes—all of which she washed by hand.
The constant late nights took a toll on her mental state.
Compared to Liu Changqing’s ex-wife, Li Wanran, An Yuan Yao felt there was no comparison.
Read 𝓁atest chapters at fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm Only.
Outsiders might not see such a stark difference, but to An Yuan Yao, it was an undeniable chasm.
One had never known happiness since her marriage, often sleeping late, suffering from insomnia, and never experiencing spiritual fulfillment.
The other was pampered by a devoted husband who expressed his love daily, prepared monthly gifts, and handled all the household chores, including cooking delicious meals.
She remembered asking Liu Changqing for cooking tips when she first started learning.
Li Wanran was happier.
An Yuan Yao had envied her for that.
She didn’t wish for a marriage as perfect as hers—just a little, even just a simple “I love you” would suffice.
On the clock hanging on the wall, the hour, minute, and second hands all pointed to twelve.
“Not coming home again today…”
A faint, desolate voice escaped her lips.
Her gaze drifted to the door.
She had waited long enough and felt a throbbing in her head.
Using one hand to steady herself on the sofa, she stood up with some effort. She had barely taken two steps when she heard the sound of the door unlocking.
She froze momentarily before her heart leaped with joy.
He’s back!
“Chongming!”
Calling his name, An Yuan Yao hurried toward the door. Her rushed steps nearly caused her to trip, but she steadied herself and looked up.
The door opened, revealing Li Chongming’s expressionless face.
He merely glanced at her, too indifferent to show any emotion, and gave her a slight nod.
An Yuan Yao caught every detail of his reaction. A flash of disappointment flickered in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with a forced smile.
“Are you hungry? I made something special…”
“I’ve already eaten.”
An Yuan Yao felt as if her throat had been seized. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
Li Chongming removed his shoes, changed into indoor slippers, and walked past her, tugging at his tie as he spoke.
“I won’t be home tomorrow. The company’s been busy lately.”
Letting out a slow breath, An Yuan Yao steadied herself.
“Is there a problem at work?”
She forced a smile, jogging slightly to keep up with him and tilting her head to look at her husband.
“Don’t overwork yourself. I’ll make some soup for you tomorrow and bring it to the office—”
“No need. I’ll just grab something myself.”
“…”
An Yuan Yao fell silent.
“What about the day after tomorrow? We could—”
“I’ll still be busy the day after tomorrow.”
“W-what about the day after that?”
“Busy then too.”
Li Chongming didn’t notice how her head was drooping lower and lower, her face now nearly out of sight.
Perhaps realizing the lack of response behind him, he turned to glance at her.
“Is it… Li Wanran?”
An Yuan Yao’s voice was frighteningly low.
“What?”
“You’re planning to move in with Li Wanran, aren’t you?”
This time, her words were clear.
Li Chongming frowned, his expression tightening for the first time. It was only now that he took a good look at An Yuan Yao.
How long had it been since he’d properly looked at her? He couldn’t quite remember.
Her features appeared haggard. Her lips, once rosy and vibrant, were now a pale purplish hue. The light makeup she had applied only slightly concealed the tiredness etched into her face.
And her eyes…
They no longer sparkled with the clarity they once had.
Now, they were dull—like stagnant water.
“It’s not that. It’s work-related,” he replied.
“So, you’re not coming home at all?”
Her eyes bore into him.
“Is it because of me? Am I not good enough? Tell me what’s wrong, Chongming…”
She took a few steps forward until she was standing right in front of him. Grasping his arm, she shook it gently.
“I’ll change. Don’t do this to me, please… I’m begging you, Chongming. Don’t leave me like this. I’m so scared. I’m scared of being alone. Don’t treat me like this. I’m begging you!”
By the time she finished speaking, her tone was frantic and her demeanor almost hysterical.
Li Chongming was startled.
At his core, he was a timid and indecisive man.
Though he tried to maintain a cold, detached facade, the sight of his once-submissive wife in such a state unnerved him.
An inner voice urged him: Run.
“Let go of me!”
Breaking free from her grasp, he hadn’t expected her to grab him again. They struggled momentarily, and her sharp cries grew louder and more piercing.
Finally, he mustered enough strength to push her away.
With a loud thud, An Yuan Yao collapsed onto the floor.
Her face pressed against the cold wooden surface as she gasped for air. Her hair fell messily over her face, some strands covering her eyes, obscuring her expression from him.
Taking a step back, Li Chongming grabbed the coat draped over the sofa and bolted for the door.
As he slipped on his shoes, he hesitated for a moment at the door, glancing back at the woman sprawled on the ground.
How did she end up like this?
For a brief moment, memories of their first meeting flooded his mind.
She had been standing by the riverside, under a willow tree, dressed in a white chiffon dress and wearing a sunhat. Butterflies fluttered around her as she smiled with pure innocence.
Her eyes back then had been clear and full of life, like they could tell endless stories.
The sound of the door closing echoed through the house, leaving it in silence once more.
An Yuan Yao remained motionless on the floor, staring at the ground. She made no move to get up.
It was unclear how much time had passed before the empty living room was filled with the sound of her suppressed sobs.
The deafening ringtone of Liu Changqing’s phone shattered the quiet of his room.
Having barely slept two or three hours, he woke up with a start.
Since it was the weekend, the kids had stayed up later than usual.
It was also the bookstore’s only day off, and Liu Changqing had planned to sleep in. But his plans were interrupted by the relentless noise.
Not wanting to disturb the kids next door, he quickly answered the call.
His eyes, still heavy with sleep, barely opened.
“Hello? Who is it?”
“…”
The other end of the line was silent, save for some faint noises.
Liu Changqing waited, his grogginess fading as the silence stretched on.
“Hello? Speak up!”
“Could you… come over?”
It was a woman’s voice.
Liu Changqing was taken aback.
Pulling the phone away from his ear, he glanced at the caller ID.
An Yuan Yao!?
