He decided to have a taste first.

Jun Qingmeng sat to one side, in a daze.

’It’s like I have nothing to do with any of this!’

’My man is actually chatting it up with my stern, rigid old dad!’

’And on top of that, my dad is eagerly unwrapping the gift box.’

She distinctly remembered that whenever the gift boxes at home piled up in the storage room, Jun Xinghe would order the housekeeper to throw them all out like trash.

’He didn’t value them one bit, you know?’

But now, looking at how carefully Jun Xinghe was handling it, as if terrified of crushing the almond cookies inside...

’This...’

’Jun Xinghe? What a complete 180!’

"Mommy, what’s wrong?" Jiang Tongtong asked, tugging worriedly on Jun Qingmeng’s hand.

Jun Qingmeng’s eyes refocused. She forced a relaxed smile and said, "Mommy’s fine. I’m just... a little surprised..."

’I was all prepared for a fight, but this whole thing is starting off way too weird.’

Jun Xinghe suddenly spoke again, his tone serious. "Qingmeng, you’re not a child anymore. No matter what you’re doing, you must learn to keep a level head. You need to remain calm even if a mountain were to collapse right in front of you!"

Jun Qingmeng: ’...Oh, right, right. You’re the life of the party in this room, aren’t you.’

Jiang Liu reached out to help Jun Xinghe open the box.

Inside were rows of beautifully made almond cookies.

"Please, have a taste. I’m not sure if they’ll suit your palate."

"They look wonderful. I could smell how fragrant they were from a mile away, haha."

Jun Xinghe picked up an almond cookie.

"Excellent. They’re beautifully made—much more so than any I’ve had before!"

Jun Qingmeng’s expression grew even more peculiar.

’They’re cold, how can he smell anything? Besides, don’t all almond cookies look the same?’

’Dad is being... especially nice to Jiang Liu!’

’He’s always so harsh whenever he talks to me.’

"Let me try one... Mmm! It’s so flaky! Flaky and fragrant! I almost don’t want to finish it in one bite. I have to take these back and make my old buddies jealous, haha."

Jun Xinghe was beaming, his face wreathed in smiles.

He was so excited that his face was flushed, as if he’d been drinking.

After finishing one, he couldn’t resist grabbing another.

The almond fragrance swirled in his mouth.

’Delicious!’

"Tongtong, would you like one?" Jun Xinghe asked, a kind, grandfatherly smile on his face.

From the moment he first saw Tongtong, he had taken a special liking to this little porcelain doll.

She was not only adorable but also well-behaved.

He had always wanted a granddaughter.

He didn’t care if there was no blood relation; when people get old, they just like having a lively home.

Jiang Tongtong had been in the car for several hours and was a little hungry. She swallowed her saliva and said, "Grandpa Jun, Daddy gave these to you. Tongtong shouldn’t have any."

"Daddy will make some for me when we get home."

Jun Xinghe would not stand for that. He immediately bent down, holding out the box of almond cookies, and said with a chuckle, "What’s Grandpa’s is yours. Here, have one."

"You must be hungry, right? Go on, eat."

Jiang Tongtong turned her gaze to her father.

’Daddy, can I eat one?’

Tongtong was a very well-behaved child. Whenever she didn’t know what to do, she would look to her father and wait for his guidance.

Her father was her pillar of support.

Jiang Liu smiled and said, "Go ahead and eat if you’re hungry. Your grandpa is giving it to you, so it’s okay. Daddy will just make some more for him another day."

"Okay~"

The smile on Jun Xinghe’s face grew even wider.

’Just listen to him.’

’This son-in-law is so damn thoughtful.’

’Sigh!’

’It’s just such a pity.’

’Such a good kid... how did he get saddled with my daughter?’

Jun Xinghe sighed inwardly, a sense of shame washing over him.

Jiang Tongtong didn’t take one with her hands. "Grandpa Jun, is there a plate? I haven’t washed my hands, so I can’t use them to take the food."

Thanks to Jiang Liu’s upbringing, the little one was very particular about hygiene.

Without a word, Jun Xinghe immediately went to the disinfecting cabinet and got a plate.

When it came to doting on his granddaughter, he was a pro.

"Go on, eat up."

Jun Xinghe sat beside Tongtong, watching her.

He was very fond of this little girl.

Jiang Tongtong thanked him in her sweet, childish voice, "Thank you, Grandpa Jun."

"Haha! Don’t be so formal with your grandpa. From now on, what’s mine is yours!"

After he finished speaking, Jun Xinghe smiled and looked at Jiang Liu. "Xiao Jiang, what would you like to eat? Just order whatever you want from the menu."

"Qingmeng mentioned on the way here that you’d be paying, but since we’re all family now, I’ll get the bill. Don’t you dare argue with me!"

Jiang Liu shook his head. "Uncle Jun, this is a matter of etiquette. Please, allow me to pay."

"When I was leaving, my mother specifically instructed me to pay. My family thinks very highly of Qingmeng, and we don’t want to fall short when it comes to proper etiquette."

Jun Xinghe felt even more satisfied with Jiang Liu.

"I’m very happy that you have this sentiment, but didn’t you also enlighten me last time? Just order. Don’t worry about it. We’re family, there’s no need for such formalities!"

Jun Xinghe was already throwing the word "family" around constantly.

He was afraid this prize catch would get away.

Jun Xinghe turned his gaze to the silent Jun Qingmeng, his smiling face from a moment ago suddenly turning grim. "What are you still sitting there like a lump for? Don’t you know how to attend to our son-in-law?"

Jun Qingmeng: "..."

Jun Qingmeng said in a cold tone, "Since you and my man know each other, let me ask you one thing: do you have any objections to us being together?"

Jiang Tongtong looked at her father with a puzzled expression.

’Daddy, why are Mommy and Grandpa being so harsh?’

’They aren’t even smiling when they talk.’

Jiang Liu gently pinched Jiang Tongtong’s cheek, signaling her to stay quiet.

’People have different ways of interacting. This is a family matter between his girlfriend and her father.’

’He shouldn’t butt in without understanding the full picture.’

Jun Xinghe immediately noticed Jiang Liu’s subtle gesture.

He nodded in satisfaction.

’This kid really is the one I picked out. He knows what to say and what not to say.’

’He’s clever, but not a know-it-all.’

Jun Qingmeng caught Jun Xinghe’s look of gratification.

Jun Qingmeng felt even more bewildered. "So, do you approve or not?"

Jun Xinghe nodded. "I approve of you two being together. You have my blessing."

The icy expression on Jun Qingmeng’s face thawed a little. She glanced at Jiang Liu and said:

"That’s more like it. Let’s order."

"Wait." Jun Xinghe’s expression suddenly grew serious. "We haven’t finished talking. What’s the rush?"

"What else is there to talk about? You already gave your approval..."

Jun Qingmeng grew nervous again. Her heart rate quickened, and her hand instinctively clutched the fabric of her suit.

Jun Xinghe crossed his arms, a smile gracing his lips. "Let me ask you, what are your intentions? Are you planning to get married?"

Jiang Liu answered, nodding. "Yes. We want to build a family of our own."

Jun Xinghe smiled. "Marriage, you say. Well, in that case, there are a few things I need to discuss with you two."

Jun Qingmeng was on pins and needles.

She suspected her dad was about to take this opportunity to lay down all sorts of conditions, like whose surname their children would take, or what kind of corporate training they’d have to undergo.

But she didn’t want that.

’It’s not right to put so much pressure on Jiang Liu during our very first meeting. Shouldn’t we at least wait until he and I have a baby to discuss this?’

’What if rushing things makes Jiang Liu angry?’

Jiang Liu seemed to have guessed her thoughts. He reached out under the table and took Jun Qingmeng’s small, cold hand in his.

"Uncle Jun," he said, "please speak. We’re listening."

Just as Jun Qingmeng was bracing herself.

The words Jun Xinghe spoke next left Jun Qingmeng utterly stunned.

"Speaking from experience, I suggest you two register your marriage first, and then have the wedding ceremony later."

..........