"Don’t worry. If I need anything, you’ll be the first person I ask."

"Okay!"

Jun Qingmeng happily rubbed against Jiang Liu’s arm.

’I wish I could be with Jiang Liu forever,’ she thought.

Jiang Liu opened the surveillance feed for the new restaurant to check on things again.

He was mainly checking for cleanliness, especially in the back kitchen.

If a restaurant has a hygiene problem once, it’s bound to happen again.

Inside the restaurant, Hu Yongfa wasn’t putting on the airs of a manager; he was cleaning right alongside the staff.

The employees had great attitudes. A new female staff member had even volunteered to wash dishes for Aunt Hong.

There were so many dishes every day. Aunt Hong had to clean, wash vegetables, and do the dishes—it was too much for one person to handle.

But she was very grateful to Jiang Liu. It wasn’t easy for someone her age to find a job, let alone one this good. Not only was the salary high, but it also included full benefits, and he would even send out red packets with a few dozen yuan as encouragement from time to time.

She truly hoped Boss Jiang’s business would continue for a long, long time.

There were still a few customers in the restaurant who hadn’t finished eating.

Jiang Liu watched for a minute but didn’t see any employees rushing customers out.

At most restaurants, as soon as closing time hits, some employees will start giving customers dirty looks or even try to hurry them out.

This creates a very poor customer experience.

Even if the food at Jiang Liu’s new restaurant, like the steamed buns, was delicious, it wouldn’t be enough to overcome that kind of treatment.

Jiang Liu decided to give Hu Yongfa tens of thousands of yuan each month for employee incentive red packets.

It would be used to reward high-performing employees.

Tens of thousands of yuan was a drop in the bucket for him, but for the employees, performing well and getting a small red packet of a few dozen yuan could make their entire night.

He turned off his phone.

Tongtong snuggled tighter into Jiang Liu’s embrace.

She was getting sleepy, and lying in her father’s arms made her feel safe.

Jun Qingmeng leaned on Jiang Liu’s arm and yawned.

After a little while longer, Tongtong "powered down."

Jiang Liu whispered, "Qingmeng, should we go back and sleep?"

"Okay. Are you sleepy?"

"A little. Put the fruit in the fridge. We’ll bring some to the shop tomorrow, and you should bring some to the kindergarten too."

"Mhm! Whatever you say!"

The strawberries wouldn’t last for long.

Jiang Liu slowly stood up, holding Tongtong.

The little one was sound asleep, a trail of drool running down onto Jiang Liu’s arm.

Jiang Liu chuckled smugly to himself.

’I never drooled when I was a kid,’ he thought. ’My daughter still has a little ways to go to catch up to me.’

Lin Qiu: ?

Back in the room, the three of them lay down in bed.

This time, Jun Qingmeng took the initiative to lie down next to Jiang Liu, resting her head on his shoulder.

Jiang Liu breathed in the faint, sweet fragrance beside him, and his heart began to itch with desire.

’Who could possibly withstand this?’

But he felt that Jun Qingmeng was a good girl. He had to be responsible for her. He couldn’t just act on a whim and sleep with her.

’That would be selfish and irresponsible of a man. What if we don’t end up together? A wonderful girl like her... how heartbroken would she be?’

Neither of them spoke.

Two minutes passed.

Jun Qingmeng asked in a small voice, "Hubby, when are we going to get married? Why don’t we go get the certificate first? I only want to be with you for the rest of my life."

Jiang Liu was stunned for a moment.

"I feel like... are you proposing to me?"

’Shouldn’t I be the one proposing to Jun Qingmeng?’

Thinking of proposals...

Jiang Liu suddenly realized he had never even given Jun Qingmeng flowers.

’Girls are supposed to like flowers, right?’

"Mhm, yes! You can see it that way," Jun Qingmeng said, her ears immediately turning red. She got embarrassed easily.

Especially in front of Jiang Liu.

It was because she liked him so much, because she felt so strongly for him.

Though she was embarrassed, Jun Qingmeng still looked at Jiang Liu earnestly, her eyes clear and bright, filled with a mix of anticipation and shyness.

Her breathing gradually started to quicken.

Jiang Liu stroked her head. "I refuse your proposal."

"Aww... okay, Hubby. I’ll just propose to you again in a few days."

Jun Qingmeng felt a faint sense of disappointment. She had hoped Jiang Liu would say yes.

’I really want to be with Jiang Liu officially,’ she thought.

Just then, Jiang Liu suddenly said, "Qingmeng?"

"Hm? I’m here, Hubby."

Jun Qingmeng hummed softly, her sweet breath brushing against Jiang Liu’s face.

Jiang Liu took Jun Qingmeng’s hand and said seriously, "I used to think I was an unlucky person. It wasn’t until I met you that I realized all my luck was just being saved up for you..."

Jun Qingmeng was a bit dazed. She looked up into Jiang Liu’s eyes.

They were deep and sincere.

’Is he...?’

Jiang Liu continued, "I’m not always good at expressing myself, but I can tell you this clearly: I care about you. You’re in my heart. If you’re willing to marry me, I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world. We’ll have our own warm little home. I’ll buy you whatever you like, and I’ll cook you whatever you want to eat. And we’ll have a cute little baby to join us."

"Finally, I want to ask you, Qingmeng... will you marry me?"

Jun Qingmeng had stayed by his side with all her heart when he was at his lowest.

She had warmed him when he was in low spirits.

Jiang Liu felt he owed her an answer that would set her heart at ease.

The proposal shouldn’t have come from her to him; rather, he, Jiang Liu, owed Jun Qingmeng a proposal.

Even though he didn’t have a ring right now, he would make it up to her with much more in the future.

Hearing Jiang Liu’s heartfelt confession, Jun Qingmeng was completely stunned.

Her breath caught, and her heart hammered against her ribs as if it were about to burst out.

Her eyes began to fill with a misty haze.

She started to feel aggrieved...

She felt so, so aggrieved.

After loving Jiang Liu for so many years, she had finally heard his confession today.

"Why are you crying now?"

Jiang Liu laughed and gently pinched Jun Qingmeng’s nose. "You’re a grown-up. How did you turn into a certain little crybaby?"

"Waaaah..."

Jun Qingmeng threw herself into Jiang Liu’s arms, their hands still clasped tightly together.

She began to cry, but she kept her sobs quiet, worried she might wake Tongtong.

After a minute, Jun Qingmeng’s overwhelming emotions subsided a little, and she managed to say between sobs, "Jiang Liu, are you serious?"

She couldn’t be sure, worried that he was just trying to comfort her.

Jiang Liu speechlessly pinched Jun Qingmeng’s soft cheek. "What do you think? That I’m just putting on a play for you in the middle of the night?"

"I just proposed to you. Are you going to say yes or no?"

"Yes! I accept your proposal!"

Jun Qingmeng blurted it out without a second thought.

How could she possibly say no?

Jiang Liu was the only person she had ever loved, and she would love him forever.

She only wanted to be with Jiang Liu, even if it meant eating plain steamed buns for every meal.

"Hubby?"

"I’m here."

"Hubby... waaah... I have a regret."

"A regret?"

"I should have recorded what you just said... Waaah... I was so excited, I don’t think I heard it clearly. Can you say it again?"

"No," Jiang Liu said with a smile, enjoying the soft, fragrant girl in his arms and deciding to tease her a little.

"Pleeease! I want to hear it! Hubby, you’re the best, the best in the whole world!"

Jiang Liu seriously repeated everything he had just said.

Jun Qingmeng listened with great delight.

"Wow, I didn’t know you had it in you. Spill! Have you ever said the same thing to another woman?"

"Nope."

"It’s okay, you can tell me. I won’t get mad."

.......