A vein popped on Jun Xinghe’s forehead.

He grew even more furious.

’If it weren’t for this damned brat, his daughter might have already met Boss Jiang. They could be hitting it off right now!’

’Just great.’

’His plans for a fine meal have been completely ruined by this useless boyfriend, and the bastard even brought a tagalong.’

Sigh.

Jun Xinghe felt like he could die.

He shook his head firmly. "Impossible!"

"Why not? Just name your terms!" Jun Qingmeng said, her face expressionless, though inside, she was getting anxious.

Jun Xinghe thought for a moment before saying, "It’s not entirely out of the question. After this meeting is over, you’ll come with me to meet someone. And you have to stay in contact with that person."

"A man?"

"That’s right."

"No way. Don’t even think about it! I already have a boyfriend, and we’ve slept together. I’m not going to meet another man behind his back!" Jun Qingmeng shot him down, her expression cold.

"Then we have nothing to discuss." Jun Xinghe’s jaw tensed, and he leaned back in his chair, feigning casualness.

Jun Qingmeng fell silent for a moment before saying seriously, "If you agree to this, I can drop the matter of you driving Mom away."

"Fine! It’s a deal." Jun Xinghe agreed without a second thought.

His wife’s departure for another country had become a thorn between them.

’If he could use his daughter’s boyfriend to get her to let go of this sore spot, it would be well worth it!’

Jun Qingmeng relaxed considerably.

A moment ago, she’d been like a cat with its hackles raised.

Jun Qingmeng stepped out of the private room. "Let’s go, honey," she said. "I’ve settled things with him. He won’t give you a hard time."

"Okay."

Jiang Liu picked up the gifts as Tongtong timidly clutched at his clothes.

As he passed the privacy screen, Jiang Liu took a deep breath, trying his best to appear calm and dependable.

Once he was past the screen, Jiang Liu saw Jun Xinghe sitting at the head of the table, sipping tea with a stern expression. He froze on the spot.

’Why does this guy look so familiar?’

PFFT! Jun Xinghe sprayed a mouthful of tea.

The two men stared blankly at each other.

Jun Qingmeng frowned. The atmosphere grew tense. She subtly moved to stand in front of Jiang Liu, shielding him from Jun Xinghe’s murderous glare.

’Dad must be furious right now.’

’Just look at how wide his eyes are!’

"Allow me to introduce you! This is my husband, Jiang Liu, and the little cutie next to him is our daughter, Jiang Tongtong."

Jun Qingmeng announced, her tone frosty.

Jun Xinghe was utterly dumbfounded.

’What in the world is going on?’

’This isn’t a dream.’

’That’s definitely Boss Jiang.’

’And Tongtong.’

’But the question is, why are they here?’

"You... the boyfriend you were talking about... is *him*?" Jun Xinghe fell silent for a few seconds before looking up and pointing at Jiang Liu.

Jun Qingmeng nodded. "Yes, that’s right."

Jun Xinghe was bursting with joy.

He couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from turning up in a smile.

’Could I be this lucky??’

’So my daughter’s boyfriend is actually Boss Jiang...’

’And the old bastard I’ve been cursing this whole time... was myself...’

Once he realized it was all just a big misunderstanding,

He wasn’t the least bit angry.

In fact, he felt like bursting out laughing.

’This is so fucking awesome!’

’Oh, since it’s Boss Jiang, then everything’s fine.’

Suddenly,

Jun Xinghe slammed his teacup on the table. "Qingmeng, this is outrageous!" he bellowed.

Jun Qingmeng immediately tensed, fiercely shielding Jiang Liu and Tongtong behind her,

like a mother hen protecting her chicks.

’If Jun Xinghe so much as stands up or makes a phone call, I’ll rush forward and stop him.’

Jun Qingmeng was prepared to break ties with her father completely!

However,

Jun Xinghe’s tone suddenly shifted, becoming one of exasperation. "You! How could you make Boss Jiang drive all this way? This place is so remote! Wasn’t that tiring for him?!"

"You should have told me beforehand! I would have sent someone to pick him up!"

Still feeling a pang of guilt, Jun Xinghe added,

"Qingmeng, give Boss Jiang a foot massage when you get home, you hear me?"

???

’This isn’t how the script is supposed to go!’

Jun Qingmeng’s expression shifted from faint tension to utter bewilderment.

’What’s happening?’

’Shouldn’t Dad be flying into a rage and yelling at us?’

’Instead, he looks overjoyed and is telling me to give Jiang Liu a foot massage.’

’Was I so nervous that I misheard him?’

After his own moment of utter bewilderment, Jiang Liu finally spoke. "Ahem. Mr. Jun, what a coincidence. I didn’t expect to run into you here."

Of course, he remembered the businessman who was always asking him bizarre questions.

The moment Jiang Liu spoke,

Jun Xinghe couldn’t contain himself any longer.

A massive grin split his face.

Haha.

’I bet you didn’t see this coming, you bastards! Jiang Liu is *my* son-in-law, Jun Xinghe’s!’

’From now on, if you want to eat his amazing food, you’ll have to suck up to me! Got it?!’

"Heh heh, Elder Jiang... oh, no, Son-in-law Jiang! I never expected to see you here either! Sit, sit, no need to be so formal. We’re all family now! Come on, Tongtong, take a seat."

"Thank you, Mr. Jun."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Tongtong said politely in her small, sweet voice.

This made Jun Xinghe even happier, and he gently pinched Tongtong’s cheek.

"Son-in-law Jiang, you can just call me... Uncle. No need to be so formal with me."

Jun Xinghe had already stood up, transforming into the perfect host.

He was practically overflowing with enthusiasm.

He fidgeted, unsure of what to do with his hands; he had no experience being a father-in-law.

’A moment ago, he’d almost asked Boss Jiang to call him ’Dad.’’

’Good thing he’d managed to stop himself in time, or he would have made a complete fool of himself!’

’What if his son-in-law thought his father-in-law was an idiot and broke up with his daughter? What would he do then?’

"Tongtong, tell Grandpa, did you not go to kindergarten today?"

"I didn’t go, Grandpa. I had to come see you today," Tongtong replied obediently.

"Haha! How about Grandpa takes you to the best amusement park ever, okay?"

Jiang Tongtong looked at Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu said, "If you want to go, you can go. You don’t have to look at me."

"Hee hee, okay! But Grandpa has to bring Mommy and Daddy along."

"Of course! Little darling, you can bring whoever you want!"

The group was already chatting away warmly.

Meanwhile, Jun Qingmeng was still standing to the side, completely dumbfounded.

Her mind was filled with nothing but question marks.

"Wait, hold on!" Jun Qingmeng said, clutching her head as she turned to Jiang Liu. "Honey, you two know each other?"

"Your dad came by the shop before when you weren’t there," Jiang Liu finally explained with a smile. "We chatted, and he came back a few more times after that, so I guess you could say we’re acquainted."

Jun Qingmeng’s mouth slowly fell open.

’So Dad had already made it all the way to her home base, and she hadn’t even realized her own high ground had been captured...’

She was in shock.

’Her boyfriend had secretly won over her dad behind her back?’

Jun Xinghe asked, "Son-in-law Jiang, is that shop of yours closed now?"

"That’s right, Uncle Jun. Oh, and I brought you a few small gifts. There’s a box of almond crisps I made for you inside."

With that,

Jiang Liu quickly handed the items on the table to Jun Xinghe.

Jun Xinghe wasn’t interested when he heard the word "gifts," but his eyes lit up the moment he heard there were almond crisps made by Jiang Liu.

He happily took the bag. "Which one has the almond crisps?"

"The red box."

Jun Xinghe beamed as he held the box.

’He couldn’t care less about gifts, no matter how expensive. But almond crisps from Jiang Liu were a different story. These were made by Boss Jiang himself.’

’Truly one of a kind!’

’If he brought these back to Jing City, there’s no telling how many people would be dying of envy.’

He opened the box with extreme care.