Chapter 43 - 42: Bubbling with Cuteness

He was dying to snatch it away and chug it down.

"Hey, son, what flavor is it? How’s it taste?" Uncle Niu asked, swallowing hard.

"It’s amazing! Better than any juice I’ve ever had!"

"For real?"

"Try it and you’ll see."

With a smug look, Wang Dongxu glanced at the crowd staring with longing.

The smile on his face widened.

’He had to be the first customer to try Jiang Liu’s new drink, right?’

’Should I take a picture to remember this moment?’

With that thought, Wang Dongxu took out his phone and snapped a picture.

This made everyone in line burn with envy.

Inside the shop.

Tongtong sat on a small stool, happily ladling juice into bottles.

Her delicate, adorable face was beaming with excitement and joy.

’She could finally help her daddy!’

"Tongtong, take the bottles you’ve filled and put them in the fridge out front."

"Okay, Daddy."

It was soon 6:15.

Jiang Liu sprinkled some flour and rolled out the last ten wrappers.

He placed ten small balls of dough directly on the board, dusted them with dry flour, and then used a long rolling pin with practiced skill to quickly flatten them.

It was an efficient and fast method, but one that required a high level of mastery.

’Phew, time to start making the buns. I’ll make eight hundred to start.’

Jiang Liu did a quick calculation. At his speed of making one bun every three seconds, it would take him a little over thirty minutes.

Without further hesitation, Jiang Liu began to work. He skillfully scooped a dollop of filling onto a wrapper in his palm. With a quick pinch and squeeze of his left hand and a deft twist from his right, a perfect bun was formed. He then casually tossed it into a flour-dusted bamboo steamer.

「Forty minutes later.」

Jiang Liu arranged the eight hundred buns in the steamers.

He set them to the proper temperature.

"Daddy, look! Quick, look!"

"What is it?" Jiang Liu turned his head to look.

"Geez, you silly Daddy! Look at this bucket."

Tongtong proudly pointed to the empty juice bucket, her chin tilted up as if to say, ’Hurry up and praise me!’

"Wow, Tongtong, you did a great job! You helped Daddy out with so much work. As a reward, you can have some ice cream tonight."

"Yay, yay!"

Tongtong jumped for joy, but her foot slipped on some spilled juice, and she fell right on her bottom.

She sat on the floor, stunned and completely bewildered.

"Tongtong! Where does it hurt?"

Jiang Liu rushed over, scooped Tongtong up, and checked her all over.

"Where did you get hurt? Tell Daddy where it hurts."

Tongtong was cradled in Jiang Liu’s arms.

Pouting, she clutched her bottom. "I fell on my butt, Daddy. It doesn’t hurt... not at all. Tongtong’s butt is just a little numb."

Jiang Liu sighed in relief.

"Let Daddy rub it better."

"No, don’t rub it! It doesn’t hurt, Tongtong doesn’t hurt at all! Don’t worry about me, you can go back to work."

Tongtong said bravely, gritting her teeth.

A moment later.

"SOB... WAAAH... It hurts, it hurts! I think my butt broke into eight pieces, Daddy..."

After a good deal of comforting, Tongtong finally stopped crying.

Jiang Liu’s heart ached for her.

Luckily, Tongtong had a padded bottom; otherwise, a fall like that would have hurt for a whole day.

Jiang Liu went out, carrying Tongtong, whose face was still stained with tears.

"Boss Jiang, off to take your daughter to school? How about I take her for you?"

"Get outta here. I can see you’re up to no good. You just want to kidnap our Tongtong, don’t you?"

"I’m innocent, Auntie!"

"Oh, was Tongtong crying?"

Tongtong shyly buried her face in Jiang Liu’s chest.

"I wasn’t crying."

As she spoke, she let out a few more sobs.

Everyone’s heart went out to her.

"Boss Jiang, what happened to Tongtong? Why was she crying?"

"She took a little fall on her bottom just now, but thankfully, she’s alright."

"Oh, that’s good. I have some ointment at home, I can bring some over for you at noon."

"Or you could bring her to our hospital for a shot?"

A young woman looked at Jiang Liu expectantly.

"Boss Jiang, my mom brought back some really good liniment for bruises from Shanghai. It works like a charm."

Seeing his well-intentioned customers all chiming in, Jiang Liu smiled and declined their offers. "Thank you, everyone. It’s nothing, she just took a little tumble. No need to worry."

"Oh, right. Please just wait here for a bit. Don’t wander off, I’ll be right back."

"Sure, no problem! We know the drill. Go on, do what you need to do."

"Hurry back, Boss Jiang! The craving is killing us! I’m so hungry I’m starting to think everyone looks like a steamed bun."

...

Jiang Liu carried the still-pouting Tongtong.

"Daddy, you can put me down," Tongtong said, her heart aching as she felt Jiang Liu’s tired, tense arms.

Jiang Liu gently booped her little nose. "You’re an injured soldier now. Daddy can’t bear to make you walk."

"Wuwu."

Tongtong hugged Jiang Liu’s neck, clinging to him.

Arriving at the kindergarten.

Jiang Liu immediately spotted Jun Qingmeng, who was holding a lanyard with the children’s pick-up cards.

It looked like she had dressed up specially today. She was wearing a pure white dress that complemented her fair skin, and her figure was curvy in all the right places.

In the morning sun, her delicate features looked absolutely beautiful.

"Jiang Liu, good morning!"

Jun Qingmeng took the initiative to greet him with a smile, her eyes lingering for a few seconds on their matching outfits.

"Good morning," Jiang Liu smiled back. "I’ll leave Tongtong in your hands today, Teacher Qingmeng. Thanks for your trouble."

"Of course. There’s no need to be so formal with me."

Tongtong hopped down from Jiang Liu’s arms and immediately clung to Jun Qingmeng’s leg.

The poor girl seemed to have found someone she could vent her frustrations to.

Her tears started flowing again.

"Teacher Qingmeng, I... Tongtong fell on her butt this morning! Waaah, it hurts so much!"

"Does it still hurt? Should Teacher rub it better for you?"

Jun Qingmeng’s heart went out to her. She had already come to see Tongtong as her own precious child.

She quickly reached down and started gently rubbing Tongtong’s bottom.

Tongtong let out a comfortable little hum.

"It doesn’t hurt anymore, it doesn’t hurt anymore. Teacher Qingmeng’s hands are so soft, so soft."

"I’ll put a little ointment on it for you later to prevent bruising."

Jun Qingmeng shot Jiang Liu a playful, reproachful glance.

"And you... how are you even watching her?"

He just shrugged awkwardly. ’It’s my first time being a full-time dad, what do I know?’

’It’s a miracle I haven’t starved her to death already.’

"Hehe."

Tongtong let out a gloating giggle, a snot bubble popping from her nose.

This made the other parents and children nearby chuckle.

"Well, I’ll be heading off now?"

"Go on. See you this afternoon."

"See you this afternoon."

Jiang Liu turned and left.

Tongtong stood on her tiptoes, watching her father’s retreating figure, reluctant to see him go.

"It’s okay. You’ll see your daddy again right after your nap."

Jun Qingmeng patted Tongtong’s head.

Tongtong’s mood brightened considerably.

She had lacked a mother’s love ever since she learned to walk. Yang Yixue had never been there for her.

Jun Qingmeng, on the other hand, was with her every day as she grew from a tiny tot into a little girl.

"Tongtong, why don’t you head inside? Teacher still needs to greet the other children out here."

Tongtong shook her head, perfectly mimicking her father’s tone and expression. "No way. It’s too dangerous for you to be out here alone. I have to stay and protect you."

After speaking, she sighed.

Love is not easy, and so the little one sighs.

Jun Qingmeng rolled her eyes.

’This kid is just like her father.’

"Alright, then you can be Teacher’s little guardian."

"Hehe, I’m Tongtong the Guardian!"

Just then.

A mother brought her child over.

"Linlin, good morning."

"Good morning, Tongtong."

Linlin was a little girl with slightly full lips. She furtively passed two small paper boats to Tongtong.

She leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Tongtong, I finished your homework for you."

Tongtong darted her eyes around before quickly stuffing the paper boats into her bag.

Then she gave Linlin a surreptitious thumbs-up. "You’re the best! I’ll treat you to my dad’s super juice later."

"Awesome!"

Linlin’s eyes crinkled happily.

Linlin’s Mother kept staring at Jun Qingmeng, making her feel uncomfortable.

"Linlin’s Mother, is... is there something on my face?"

Jun Qingmeng subconsciously touched her smooth cheek.

Linlin’s Mother hesitated for a moment before saying, "Teacher Qingmeng, has something good happened? You seem very happy."

"Do I?"

"Yes, definitely. Your eyes are full of laughter. You look positively blissful, in fact."

Jun Qingmeng suddenly realized that her mood really was exceptionally good today.

She had slept very soundly last night, too.

’Could it be... because of Jiang Liu?’

’That’s it.’ Jun Qingmeng felt her mood lift even higher. She realized that every time she thought of Jiang Liu, and of being able to chat and eat with him every day in the future...

...she couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement.

Jun Qingmeng nodded. "Some pleasant things have happened recently, so I’m just a bit happy."

"Care to share?"

Women do love a bit of gossip.

Jun Qingmeng’s face instantly turned bright red.

Linlin’s Mother’s gaze turned knowing. As someone with experience, how could she not understand?

This was clearly a woman falling in love for the first time—full of an anticipation, shyness, and passion that could set the world on fire.

"Well, I’ll head off then. I wish you all the happiness, Teacher Qingmeng."

"Thank you. Goodbye. I’ll take good care of Linlin."

After Linlin’s Mother left, Linlin became restless.

Linlin tugged on Tongtong’s arm. "Tongtong, come on! I brought a little shovel and some plates from home. Let’s play picnic!"

With her schoolbag on and her hands on her hips, Tongtong put on a mature air.

"You go on and play, Linlin. I still have important business to attend to."

"Oh... okay then. I’ll go play by myself."

Linlin walked into the kindergarten, looking disappointed.

...

Six fifty-six.

Jiang Liu hurried back to the shop.

A long line had already formed at the door.

More and more people were waiting with craned necks.

It looked like there were at least a hundred people.

Passersby stared in amazement at the scene.

Some couldn’t contain their curiosity and, after asking around, found out what was going on.

The buns at this shop were supposedly super delicious, the place was spotless, and the ingredients were all top-notch. On top of that, a new product was being launched today. Those who were in the know had all come to get a first taste.

Next door, Zheng Qiang sat miserably by his entrance, fanning himself.

There wasn’t a single person in his shop today. His customers had either gone next door or... they had gone next door.

"Aunt Wang, where are you going?" Zheng Qiang asked, puzzled, as he saw the part-timer he’d hired walk out.

Aunt Wang wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at Zheng Qiang with contempt.

’The pay was bad enough, but he wouldn’t even turn on the air conditioning. The man was stingy to a fault.’

"I’m going next door for a bun. Oh, and by the way, starting now, I quit. Find someone else to do the job."