The security guard pursed his lips. ’You’ve probably never gotten a reality check from the hardcore fans, thinking you can just show up in the morning and get a bite to eat?’

At 5:45 PM, the sun was setting, and a faint chill settled in.

Jiang Tongtong happily pulled Jun Qingmeng’s hand, excitedly pushing the door open to return to the shop.

As soon as she entered, she called out in her high, childish voice.

"Daddy! Your little cutie is ba-ack!"

Jun Qingmeng also called out, "Honey, your big cutie is back too!"

Jiang Liu quickly wiped his hands and came out. "You’re back. Are you hungry?"

"Daddy, just a little bit!" Tongtong patted her small tummy.

Jiang Liu smiled.

Tongtong leaned in, hugging Jiang Liu’s leg and asking for a head pat.

Jiang Liu stroked his daughter’s soft hair.

"Then have some juice first. It’s room temperature. It’s not good to drink cold things at night."

"Okay~"

"Thanks, honey. Love you!"

Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng sat on stools, SLURP SLURP-ing their juice.

Jiang Liu sat on a chair to rest for a bit and keep the two of them company.

While drinking her juice, Jun Qingmeng looked at Jiang Liu and asked, "What was that delicious thing you mentioned? Is it a new dish?"

"Dough drop soup. Something I whipped up on the spot."

Tongtong blinked curiously. "Daddy, what’s ’brother soup’?"

"Not ’brother soup,’ it’s ’dough drop soup’."

Tongtong still didn’t understand. "Mmm, Daddy, I don’t get it."

Jun Qingmeng shot Jiang Liu a look, then patiently explained to Tongtong, "Dough drop soup. It’s a soup made with little dough balls. ’Geda’ means little lumps."

"Get it now?"

"I get it, I get it! So is it yummy?"

"You’ll have to ask your daddy."

The little foodie, Tongtong, threw herself into Jiang Liu’s arms, wheedling, "Daddy, your little cutie wants to eat dough drop soup! When are you going to make it for me?!"

She had never had dough drop soup before and had no idea what it tasted like.

But Tongtong thought everything her daddy made was delicious. As long as her daddy made it, she super-loved it!

’Even if Daddy gave his little cutie a piece of pickled vegetable, she would still love it!’

Jun Qingmeng followed Tongtong’s gaze and looked at Jiang Liu expectantly.

She also wanted to try the dough drop soup Jiang Liu made.

’My boyfriend is such a good cook; his dough drop soup must be delicious.’

Jiang Liu stroked his daughter’s head, looked at his two little gluttons, and said with a smile, "I’ll make it. Let me finish my work, and we’ll all have some together tonight."

"Yay! We’re having brother soup!"

Tongtong excitedly zipped back and forth around the room.

Jun Qingmeng went into the kitchen to help Jiang Liu.

「6:45 PM」

Jiang Liu announced they were open for business early.

Unsurprisingly, the grannies and grandpas in line showered him with praise.

"Boss Jiang is getting more and more diligent! If you could open at six-thirty next time, that would fulfill this old man’s lifelong wish, haha."

"Hurry up, hurry up! What are you dawdling for, you old coot!"

The moment he announced they were open, a large group of customers rushed into the shop, heads down, and crowded around the counter, chattering as they placed their orders.

Seeing there was no dough drop soup on display at the counter, some customers were a little dissatisfied.

The owner of the flatbread shop asked, "Boss Jiang, no dough drop soup tonight?"

"Not tonight."

"Huh? Why not?"

"What a shame. I heard from my colleague that the dough drop soup was amazing, so I took time off work to rush over, and I still missed it."

"See, it’s not about being early, it’s about being lucky, haha! I snagged a bowl at noon, and the taste was divine!"

"Hurry up and order, don’t keep Boss Jiang from his break. I’ll have a plate of sashimi—haven’t had it in a few days—and a bottle of beer!"

"Three bottles of juice and fifteen steamed buns, Boss. Can’t you sell me a few more buns? I want to bring some for my colleagues."

The person asking was a host from a nearby wedding planning company.

Jiang Liu said, "Sorry, sir, but the shop’s policy is a maximum of fifteen buns per person, per visit."

"Ah!"

The host sighed regretfully. "Your buns are just too good. I had one from a colleague yesterday and I’ve been craving them ever since. I was hoping to buy some extra to bring back for the missus."

"Isn’t that the truth! The quality of every one of Boss Jiang’s buns is guaranteed. I’ve eaten hundreds of them and have never gotten a single bad one."

"For real? That amazing?" a man in a suit who had come from far away after hearing about the shop’s reputation asked, his face full of surprise.

"He’s telling the truth. I’ve never had a bad bun here either, and I’ve never heard of anyone else who has."

The man in the suit grew even more interested.

He was from Shi City. A friend had told him there was a god-tier food joint on South City’s Yangzhai Street that served dishes worthy of the world stage, so he had driven over specifically to see for himself.

"Hey, handsome boss, could I please have fifteen buns and a bottle of orange juice?"

"Sure. Find a seat and I’ll bring them to you."

Hearing this, the man in the suit turned to scan the shop. It was packed.

The grannies and grandpas had firmly occupied all the seats.

He gave a wry smile. "Never mind, I’ll just wait here."

Soon, plates of steamed buns were brought to the tables, and the aroma of their fillings gradually filled the room.

"Delicious! This shop’s buns are out of this world, and the juice is pure and fresh. Totally worth the money!"

"I pretty much treat Boss Jiang’s place as my personal cafeteria. Don’t be fooled by my thirty-five hundred a month salary; I’ll probably end up spending it all here."

"Hiss... damn, this ham is fragrant as hell! Boss, where do you get this ham? It’s even got a fruity aroma. So damn good. What kind of pig is this?"

Jiang Liu just smiled and didn’t answer.

The man in the suit’s stomach rumbled at the aroma, and he impatiently tapped his index finger on the counter.

He didn’t have to wait long before Jiang Liu had plated his buns.

"Qingmeng, get this customer a bottle of orange juice."

"Okay, honey!"

That one "honey" shattered the hearts of every male in the shop.

Whenever Jun Qingmeng was in the shop, gazes would secretly drift toward her from time to time.

After all, just looking at such a beauty was enough to whet one’s appetite.

The man in the suit eagerly picked up a scalding hot "Three Delicacies" bun. The soft yet firm wrapper carried a light, fresh scent and wasn’t the least bit sticky.

In terms of appearance alone, it already blew all other buns out of the water.

The man in the suit took a bite. The soft skin of the bun burst, releasing a gush of scalding, rich broth into his mouth that flowed over his tongue. With that one bite, the fragrant and tender shiitake mushroom inside exploded with fresh, savory, lightly salted juice.

His eyes widened in disbelief, his scalp tingling.

"This bun costs two freaking yuan?"

The man in the suit voiced the question burning in his mind.

’So affordable, so delicious... what kind of garbage have I been eating all this time?!’

His stomach churned with a hot, empty craving.

Standing at the counter, the man in the suit began to wolf down the buns, stuffing one after another into his mouth.

"Delicious, so delicious! Boss, how did you manage to make this chive bun so crisp yet tender? Incredible!"

Jiang Liu just smiled. "If you like it, come back for more."

"What time do you open in the morning? I’ll be here to ambush you."

"Around seven, but you’ll have to get here early."

"I get it!"

Having eaten and drunk his fill, the man in the suit let out a satisfied burp.

He glanced enviously at Jun Qingmeng, who was helping Jiang Liu clear plates.

"Boss, is this beaut... is this lady your wife?"

"Mm, that’s right." Jiang Liu didn’t bother explaining their actual relationship.

The man in the suit said with envy, "I really envy your family. Your daughter is so much prettier than mine."

"Hehe."

...........