Chapter 102: Tongtong Gets Hit

The doorway was spotless. Uncle Niu had just finished sweeping it for Jiang Liu.

And he’d been rewarded as he’d hoped.

The neighborhood uncles and aunts from Brocade District who were out for a stroll,

greeted Jiang Liu enthusiastically when they saw him.

Aunt Fu, dressed in a floral-print dress straight out of the nineties, offered some advice. "Closing up, Boss Jiang? If you ask me, a young man like you should make more buns. What I mean is, you have to work hard!"

Uncle Xue, with his head of white hair, passed by pulling a tricycle full of vegetables. He grinned, flashing a set of large, yellowed teeth. "Just picked these cucumbers from my garden, Xiao Jiang. You want some? I’ll give you a few."

"What a good girl, Tongtong. Do you like figs? Grandma picked them from her own tree, you know."

They hadn’t even taken more than a few steps.

The neighborhood uncles, aunts, and even shopkeepers insisted on stuffing Tongtong’s arms with a pile of treats.

Among them were five sticky figs, a bunch of grapes, two lollipops, a bag of bear-shaped cookies, freshly harvested sunflower seeds, and a box of digestive tablets.

It was a sign of everyone’s affection.

After just a few days, all the customers had come to really like Jiang Liu.

His food was delicious and inexpensive, and he was always thoughtful of their needs.

With a guy like Jiang Liu and food this good,

they’d cry their eyes out if he ever closed up shop.

Tongtong nibbled on a fig, a bag of bear-shaped cookies clutched in her arms.

Jiang Liu and Jun Qingmeng walked side-by-side, carrying bags of all sizes.

Jun Qingmeng turned her head slightly, gazing at Jiang Liu’s handsome profile and his strikingly clear eyes.

Her traitorous heart began to race.

After a moment’s thought, she said earnestly, "Jiang Liu, I really like you. And... it’s the kind of like that will never change!"

"I want to be your girlfriend. Will you give me a chance?"

Tongtong instantly perked up.

She was eagerly soaking in the public display of affection, her big eyes darting between their faces.

’Daddy,’

’Say yes!’

’You idiot!’

’The suspense is killing me!’

Jiang Liu said nothing.

He had his reservations.

Before Jun Qingmeng could even react,

Tongtong was so anxious she nearly jumped to her feet. She shook Jiang Liu’s leg with all her might. "Daddy, you can’t say no to Teacher Qingmeng! She really, really loves you!"

"I’m begging you, please say yes! If you don’t, Teacher Qingmeng will be so sad! And what if she starts ignoring you? Then you’ll be the one who’s heartbroken, you’ll see!"

Jiang Liu shook his head helplessly.

’He doesn’t even own a home yet.’

’More importantly, he had no interest in dating or marriage right now. All he wanted was to focus on running his food shop.’

’A failed marriage had left him with no faith in life after the wedding.’

’Perhaps...’

’...only single men could truly live a high-quality life.’

Seeing that Jiang Liu hadn’t responded,

Jun Qingmeng’s face fell for a moment, but she quickly composed herself and offered a small smile.

Tongtong sighed, her small face scrunched in a frown. "Jiang Liu has been like this since he was a kid—so disobedient. Teacher Qingmeng, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to discipline him more."

A look of utter confusion spread across Jiang Liu’s face.

’Why do those words sound so familiar?’

’Weren’t those the exact words he’d said to Jun Qingmeng at the daycare?’

’Whatever. She was his daughter, after all.’

’It would hurt him more than it hurt her.’

SMACK!

The next moment,

Tongtong rubbed her little bottom with one hand.

"Waah, I was wrong! Tongtong won’t do it again, Daddy," she whimpered.

Tongtong pouted, looking wronged.

Jun Qingmeng clutched her full stomach, her laughter ringing out clear and bright.

She was even more beautiful when she laughed.

A few young men walking past couldn’t tear their eyes away.

They’d never seen a girl with such an extraordinary air about her, except maybe on TV.

"Tongtong, your teacher isn’t giving up. As long as your dad doesn’t say yes, I’m going to keep confessing. I refuse to believe he can hold out forever."

Jun Qingmeng made a small fist, full of determination.

Jiang Liu shot her a surprised glance.

She was completely serious; it didn’t look like she was joking at all.

Tongtong shook her head helplessly. "Sigh... Teacher Qingmeng, you’re the only one who would put up with him. Any other teacher wouldn’t have the patience. Let’s stay in close contact by phone from now on."

"Don’t worry about being a little strict with him, either. We parents only do what’s best for our children. He’ll understand when he’s older."

SMACK!

Tongtong clapped a hand to her right buttock and begged for mercy. "Daddy, I was really, really wrong this time! I’ll never, ever do it again!"

’This poor girl. It’s exhausting, trying to secure her father’s happiness.’

Tongtong’s dramatic expressions

made both Jiang Liu and Jun Qingmeng burst out laughing.

Their eyes met in a moment of shared understanding.

Jiang Liu found her gaze a little too intense and turned away, embarrassed.

Jun Qingmeng tilted her head, an amused smile playing on her lips as she continued to watch his face.

’Her future boyfriend is pretty shy, isn’t he?’

’But she liked shy boyfriends.’

He opened the car door and turned on the air conditioning.

The three of them piled into the car.

As the cold air washed over them, Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong both shivered, goosebumps rising on their skin.

But it felt so good.

Tongtong flopped down in the back seat, kicked off her shoes, and propped her little feet up against the window.

The seat beside her was piled high with all sorts of snacks and fruit.

"Want to listen to some music?"

Jiang Liu asked as he started the car.

Jun Qingmeng looked at Tongtong. "Tongtong, is there a song you want to hear?"

Tongtong immediately sat up, leaning forward over the back of Jiang Liu’s seat.

"I do! I want to hear ’The Bestest Daddy.’"

"Is that okay?"

Jiang Liu searched for it on the music player.

And started playing it.

Tongtong even sang along with the melody for Jiang Liu: "*Daddy, you have to come home early~ to spend time with me and Mommy! The yummy food in the kitchen~ has a wondrous kind of magic~*"

Even though she was completely off-key, Jiang Liu listened with a happy heart.

’This daughter was worth all the effort!’

The car ride was filled with warmth.

As they passed a dense patch of woods by the Moat, beams of light from flashlights danced about below.

They were looking for cicadas.

Before they knew it,

Tongtong had started to snore softly.

A smile was on her little face, her tummy rising and falling with each breath.

Jiang Liu pulled the car over, retrieved a jacket from the trunk, and draped it over Tongtong’s tummy.

’It’s easy to catch a cold when you’re sleeping.’

For the rest of the drive, Jiang Liu and Jun Qingmeng fell into a comfortable, unspoken silence.

Every now and then, Jun Qingmeng would sneak a glance at Jiang Liu.

When they arrived at Brocade District,

Jun Qingmeng unbuckled her seatbelt, instructing him, "Drive carefully on the way back. Tongtong’s asleep, so don’t wake her with any bumps."

Jiang Liu nodded. "Yeah, okay."

"I should get going. Can I have a hug?"

Jun Qingmeng’s eyes were bright and full of focus.