Chapter 47 - 46: Honest Little Darling

"Hahaha~"

Jun Qingmeng couldn’t hold it in and giggled, covering her mouth.

Her chest bounced as she laughed.

"No laughing! I’m being serious!"

Tongtong put on a stern little face, mimicking Jiang Liu by furrowing her delicate brows.

"Okay, okay, I won’t laugh. How about this, Tongtong? If you get your dad’s permission to invite me, I’ll definitely come. How does that sound?"

"Oh! Oh, yay! Hooray!"

Pedestrians waiting for the traffic light by the side of the road looked at Jiang Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng with envy.

"That little girl is so cute. When can I have one like her?"

"Her mom loves her so much, too. I saw when the little girl was jumping, her mom was holding on to her tightly and carefully."

"I really don’t know what good deeds some lucky bastard did to end up with such a beautiful wife and daughter at the same time. Comparing yourself to others is just infuriating."

6:20 PM.

Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong arrived at the entrance of "Second-Best Eats in the World."

A group of grandpas and grandmas smiled as they looked at Tongtong.

"Who is this? It can’t be a Little Fairy who’s descended from the heavens, can it?"

Tongtong giggled mischievously.

"Tongtong, you’re back from school?"

"That explains it. Tongtong and Boss Jiang are wearing matching parent-child outfits. They’re truly a great father-daughter pair. Just look at them, how wonderful."

A young man said with envy, "Boss Jiang’s wife is so beautiful, and his daughter is adorable too. Does a life like that even have any worries?"

"The three of them look so good together. Look at Tongtong’s features—she resembles her dad so much."

Hearing everyone’s teasing remarks, Jun Qingmeng’s face began to burn, but she didn’t offer any explanation.

Jiang Tongtong called out sweetly, "Thank you, grandpas, grandmas, big brothers, and big sisters, for supporting my daddy’s buns! Tongtong likes you all!"

"This little one is just like her dad. She’s got the makings of a businessperson, too."

"Isn’t that the truth? At such a young age, she’s already helping her dad with his business."

Amidst the crowd’s chatter,

the big one and the little one returned to the shop.

"Tongtong, you’re back?"

Jiang Liu glanced over at his daughter amidst the hustle and bustle, feeling much more at ease.

Tongtong excitedly hugged Jiang Liu’s leg, rubbing against it enthusiastically.

"Daddy, I missed you so much! I even dreamed about you during my nap today."

"What did you dream about?" Jiang Liu wanted to know.

"I dreamed... hmm? I forgot, WAHHH."

"But it’s true, Daddy! I’m not lying! Tongtong is an honest little baby."

"I believe you. Come on, Teacher Qingmeng, you and Tongtong can sit inside the counter area."

"I prepared this table and chair for you."

Jiang Liu took out a small, foldable table and chair that he had prepared in advance and set them up in a corner of the counter area.

Then he brought over a plate of buns and two bottles of juice.

Jun Qingmeng’s heart filled with happiness. ’Is this a special seat Jiang Liu prepared just for me?’

She secretly watched Jiang Liu, who was busy and sweating profusely. She really wanted to go over, wipe the sweat from his forehead, and then plant a few big kisses on him...

"Teacher Qingmeng, didn’t you say you wanted to drink the juice Tongtong gave you?"

Jiang Tongtong waved her little hand in front of the dazed Jun Qingmeng.

"Ah, right. I do."

Jun Qingmeng, feeling a little flustered, snapped out of it and nodded.

"Drink up, drink up! After this shop, there’s definitely no village!"

Tongtong stuck a straw in for Jun Qingmeng.

Jun Qingmeng took a sip and corrected her, "The saying is, ’Once you leave this village, you won’t find this shop.’"

"Right, right! That’s what Tongtong thinks, too."

Jun Qingmeng slurped her juice, not forgetting to give her review.

"Jiang Liu, your juice is delicious! I’ve never had juice this fresh and sweet before."

"If you like it, drink as much as you want. They’re in the cooler. Just grab another when you’re done."

Jiang Liu said with a chuckle.

"Boss Jiang, can I grab one myself when I’m finished?"

Huang Yunfeng shouted jokingly from his spot in the line. He was dressed in clean, respectable clothes now.

Before Jiang Liu could even speak, some of the grandpas and grandmas shot him disdainful looks.

"Shoo, shoo! You’re not Xiao Jiang’s wife. You sure are dreaming."

"That’s special treatment for Boss Jiang’s wife and daughter. What, you wanna be his mistress?"

A young person couldn’t help but chime in:

"Then he’d better stock up on diapers. I heard a lot of bottoms like to collect diapers."

"What’s that mean?"

"They leak. Can’t hold it in."

It had to be said, these grandmas and grandpas had sharp tongues.

Huang Yunfeng’s dark face visibly darkened even more.

Seeing the topic getting more and more out of hand, Jiang Liu stepped in to smooth things over. "Alright, everyone, that’s enough joking. Let’s not get into a squabble."

He then turned to Huang Yunfeng and said, "I’ll give you a few extra bottles of juice to take home later."

Jiang Liu always looked out for this customer who had supported him from the very beginning.

When Huang Yunfeng heard he was getting extra bottles of juice, he clenched his fists in delight.

He was here to run errands for his bosses. Because Jiang Liu’s buns were still limited per customer, the amount he brought back was never enough for all of them to share.

This was great. Not only could he buy the new juice, he could even get two extra bottles!

Huang Yunfeng was so excited that he immediately forgot his earlier displeasure. "Thanks, Boss Jiang! You’re the one who understands me best."

"Don’t mention it."

The grandpas and grandmas stared at Huang Yunfeng with jealousy.

"Why are you all looking at me? What’s up?"

"Why don’t you try cussing us out a bit?"

"Huh?" Huang Yunfeng didn’t know how to react.

What kind of bizarre request was this??

...

"Yummy! The buns are yummy! They’re yummy no matter how you eat them!"

Tongtong buried her face while gnawing on a bun, looking like she wanted to shove her whole head onto the plate!

"Slow down. Here, have a sip of juice."

Jun Qingmeng held the juice and helped Tongtong take a few big gulps.

"Teacher Qingmeng, you eat too! Let’s both eat a lot. My daddy has lots of buns."

"Okay, I’ll eat a lot too."

Jun Qingmeng ate happily, but also very carefully.

Because not only were these buns made by her crush, but they were also super delicious.

By nearly seven o’clock, Jiang Liu had already sold out of buns and juice.

The customers who arrived late had woeful expressions.

"Seriously? I just went to take a dump and the buns are already sold out..."

"It’s too fast. Especially those grandmas and grandpas—it’s impossible to compete with them for anything."

Customers continued to trickle in, only to leave in disappointment.

Jiang Liu pulled the rolling shutter door halfway down to prevent customers from coming in and bothering him.

Then he picked up a mop and began to clean the floor.

"Jiang Liu, let me do that. You take a break."

As Jun Qingmeng spoke, she stood up, but her stomach was so full that she had to lean against the wall the moment she was on her feet.

Jiang Liu chuckled, at a loss for words. "Alright now, just sit down and digest. No exercise."

Jun Qingmeng was mortified.

’I had a whole plan to help Jiang Liu with his work.’

’Who knew I’d accidentally eat too much?’

She was so stuffed she could barely stand up straight.

Jiang Tongtong narrowed her eyes and patted her tummy. "Daddy, I have something to tell you right now. You can only accept, no refusing allowed. Otherwise, I’ll wet the bed."

Jiang Liu laughed to himself. ’This is the first time I’ve ever heard of someone using bed-wetting as a threat.’

"Go ahead and say it, Tongtong."

Tongtong said, "Daddy, isn’t tomorrow the weekend? I already arranged it with Teacher Qingmeng. She’s going to come to our shop and help tomorrow, okay?"

Jun Qingmeng lowered her head and fiddled with her phone, trying to hide her nervousness.

Jiang Liu shook his head and said, "Your mom is coming for her visitation tomorrow. She said she’s taking you out to play. I already arranged it with her. You’ll wait for her at home at 7:30 in the morning."

Tongtong immediately grew anxious. Tears of grievance welled up in her eyes as she rushed forward to hug Jiang Liu’s leg and beg.

"No, no! Daddy, please refuse her, okay? I don’t want to be with her! Please! I only want to be with you and Teacher Qingmeng! Daddy, I’m begging you!"

Jiang Tongtong still remembered the way Yang Yixue had looked when she’d been fierce with her.

That winter, just because she’d gotten milk on Yang Yixue’s clothes, she had been yelled at and had her arm pinched hard.

She had never shown her any love, only coldness and annoyance.

She absolutely did not want to be with that woman. She only liked Teacher Qingmeng.

Jiang Liu felt helpless as well. He lovingly stroked Tongtong’s head to comfort her.

"I’m sorry, Tongtong, but Daddy’s hands are tied. Visitation rights are stipulated by law. If I refuse, she could sue us, and she might even be able to take you away from me."