I can teach you how to make some desserts. Then we can be at the shop together every day."

Compared to Chinese dishes, desserts were relatively easy to make.

Jiang Liu wanted Jun Qingmeng to start with something simple.

Jun Qingmeng hesitated.

She thought for a few seconds before whispering, "Honey, let’s wait another two years. I can’t rest easy with Tongtong at the kindergarten by herself. I need to be there to watch over her."

"Once she starts elementary school and isn’t at the kindergarten anymore, I’ll definitely leave!"

"Mm, that works too. The kindergarten is close to our shop, so you don’t have to miss me so much. I can find time to come see you. How about that?"

"Mhm! That’s fine, but you have to make sure you rest and don’t get too tired." Jun Qingmeng was happy to hear that Jiang Liu would visit her, but she didn’t want him running back and forth.

"Honey, what if I can’t learn how to make desserts? Will you look down on me? But I can help you carry plates and do odd jobs. As long as you don’t mind."

"You...! I won’t. Don’t overthink it."

"Hee hee, then one more kiss. I want to kiss you. Please, honey~"

She unleashed a full suite of cute and coquettish charms.

Jiang Liu didn’t refuse.

The two of them kissed again for a full minute, SMOOCH SMOOCH.

Jun Qingmeng’s bangs were disheveled, and a light sheen of fragrant sweat appeared on her face.

Her body was reacting.

"Hurry up and sleep," Jiang Liu said helplessly.

"Let’s talk a little longer. I... I want to talk with you more."

Jun Qingmeng caught her breath.

"Alright."

The two of them held each other tightly.

Breathing in each other’s scent.

They chatted about the things they saw and did as children.

Jiang Liu was surprised by Jun Qingmeng’s childhood experiences.

Compared to her, he felt like a village boy, while Jun Qingmeng seemed like a princess from Jing City.

As they talked, before he knew it, Jun Qingmeng was murmuring as she drifted off to sleep.

She felt exceptionally safe in Jiang Liu’s arms.

Jiang Liu’s body was warm.

On his left, Tongtong was sprawled on top of him. On his right, Jun Qingmeng was hugging him, not even letting go of his leg.

Bathed in the moonlight, Jiang Liu gazed at the half of Jun Qingmeng’s face that was visible.

Her skin was so delicate it looked like it would break with a touch—fair and flawless. Her nose was small and straight, and her long eyelashes twitched from time to time.

The breath she exhaled was pleasant, carrying the subtle, sweet fragrance of a young woman.

After sleeping for a while, in the middle of the night, once the two of them were fast asleep, Jiang Liu went downstairs to make some buns.

Based on the current growth rate of positive reviews, Jiang Liu estimated it wouldn’t even take ten days; maybe just a few more would be enough.

AM.

Cool air slipped through the cracks in the window, but the room was warm and fragrant.

Ever since Jun Qingmeng had arrived, the house had taken on a pleasant, cozy scent.

The three of them woke up.

Tongtong was hugging one of Jiang Liu’s arms, her head resting on it, her two little legs wrapped around his left leg.

Jun Qingmeng’s clingy posture was much like Tongtong’s.

Except her legs were long and slender, which made being hugged by her even more comfortable.

Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng glanced at each other and smiled.

They each had one half of him.

After they had gotten ready, the three of them went downstairs.

Today, Tongtong was wearing a white tank top, a yellow cartoon-print jacket, and a hair clip that Jiang Liu had bought for her.

Tongtong loved it.

Jun Qingmeng wore loose, straight-leg jeans, white sneakers, and an oversized white cotton long-sleeved shirt. She had silver heart-shaped earrings, and a blue star-shaped clip pinned to the left side of her forehead.

The whole look was very cute and pretty.

Jiang Liu wore a new tracksuit. He didn’t dress up much, no matter the season.

But he was very handsome.

He looked stylish in anything he wore.

Jun Qingmeng’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, and she made a point to compliment him a few times.

’A husband needs praise too!’

They went downstairs, got in the car, and drove to the market.

On the way, Jiang Liu checked his WeChat messages.

Hu Yongfa and Yue Longfan had reported in as usual.

Back at the shop, the line at the entrance already snaked as long as a dragon.

An old man sighed with emotion, "It’s been years since Yangzhai Street was this lively."

"Boss Jiang is a real lucky star."

Rental prices within a five-kilometer radius had also begun to slowly rise, with more and more outsiders renting places here.

Jiang Liu cooked his delicious food as usual.

Everything was ordinary, yet extraordinary.

Jun Qingmeng helped Jiang Liu bottle juice, occasionally glancing at the busy Jiang Liu with a tender look in her eyes.

She turned to Jiang Tongtong beside her and said happily:

"Tongtong, let’s take a day off next Monday. I’m going to take you to meet my father."

"Yay!" Jiang Tongtong got excited, her eyes shining. "Really? Does that mean I get a three-day break?"

"Of course it’s real. You little rascal, you’re that happy to skip school?"

"Of course I’m happy! Because I can be with Daddy! I like being with Daddy, forever and ever!"

Tongtong then asked happily, "Mommy, if we meet Grandpa, does that mean you’ll marry Daddy? Does that mean we’ll be together for the rest of our lives?"

This was the question she cared about most.

At the mention of marriage, Jun Qingmeng was in a great mood. She smiled and said, "That’s right. I’m planning to marry your daddy. Are you okay with that?"

"Wow! I am, I am! Tongtong has wanted you two to be together for a long time."

"Give us your blessing! Heh heh."

Tongtong bottled the juice with even more vigor. ’I have to earn more money for Daddy and Mommy’s wedding.’

"Then after we meet my father and buy a house, we’ll get married."

"Yay! The little cutie agrees!"

Tongtong was overjoyed.

’Mommy can become my real mommy!’

She really, really liked Qingmeng’s Mother!

Jiang Liu was preparing ingredients off to the side, the corners of his mouth turned up. He was happy listening to the conversation between his daughter and his girlfriend.

6:30.

Jiang Liu made a large pot of twice-cooked pork, as well as a glistening shrimp congee.

The congee contained diced meat from the Little Cyan Dragon, a few green vegetables, and scallions. With a pinch of salt, it was savory, fragrant, and delicious.

A single bowl could make your whole day feel comfortable.

"Daddy, are we having twice-cooked pork today?"

"That’s right. We’re having twice-cooked pork this morning, and also scrambled eggs with tomato."

"Yay! Tongtong loves Daddy’s twice-cooked pork."

The little one had been craving it for days, but her daddy’s delicious dishes were so numerous that she had to wait for them to come up in the rotation.

After breakfast, Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng were reluctant to leave.

They had to part with Jiang Liu again. Not seeing him for a whole day made them so sad they wanted to cry.

"Daddy, Tongtong doesn’t want to go, boohoo."

Jiang Liu smiled and comforted them, "Go on, it’s alright. It’s already Thursday. Just one more day tomorrow, and then we can be together for three days."

"Boohoo, honey, I can’t bear to leave you either."

"Qingmeng, you’re the mom here. Are you trying to skip class with Tongtong?"

Jiang Liu said with a teasing laugh.

Jun Qingmeng pouted and said aggrievedly, "Alright then, honey. You have to remember to miss me."

After a few more minutes, the two of them reluctantly hugged Jiang Liu before heading out.

As they left, they didn’t forget to make heart signs for Jiang Liu.

The corporate drones in line were caught off guard by the public display of affection.

7:10.

Jiang Liu announced that the shop was officially open.

The customers at the front of the line, who had been waiting impatiently, ducked their heads and rushed into the shop.

"Whoa! We finally made it to the front! Boss Jiang, I’ll have a twice-cooked pork set. Your twice-cooked pork is so delicious! I don’t know what kind of pork you use, but it’s so fragrant!"

"I’ll have a twice-cooked pork set too, plus an order of yak meat and a bottle of beer."

"Holy crap, there’s twice-cooked pork today! Brother Jiang, you’re a mind reader! I was just dreaming about eating your twice-cooked pork, and you went and made it, haha."