Chapter 165: The Savvy Get Ice Cream

Jun Qingmeng quickly said, "It’s okay! We can rent a place. Just having a roof over our heads is enough. I really like Tongtong, and I can treat her as my own!"

For someone so utterly smitten, these questions were purely a formality.

She would go along with anything that made Jiang Liu happy.

Jiang Liu nodded to himself and asked one last question. "I heard your mother went abroad. What about your father? What does he think?"

"You’re a little impulsive, but I have to be clear with you. Marriage isn’t child’s play. Do you think your father will agree?"

By now, the two of them were very close.

Jiang Liu was like a big bad wolf hunting a little white rabbit.

Jun Qingmeng’s heart hammered in her chest. She subconsciously clutched the collar of her shirt and turned her head slightly to the side.

She blushed and replied, "I’ve thought it all through, and... and I’m very determined. As for my father, I’ll make him shut up."

With the tables turned on her, she was a little dazed.

She was torn between shyness and the urge to summon her courage and meet his gaze.

Besides, Jun Qingmeng knew perfectly well.

’My father will absolutely not agree to this marriage.’

’Jiang Liu has a child, and his financial situation is just average.’

’Given Dad’s picky and stubborn personality, the chances of him agreeing are zero.’

’But that isn’t a problem. Just as I told Jiang Liu, I’ll make my father shut up.’

’I just want to be with Jiang Liu, and I’ll never regret it.’

"Is there anything else you want to ask? No matter what, I’m willing."

"That’s all. I’m done asking." Jiang Liu sighed to himself.

Jun Qingmeng asked nervously, "So, are we together now?"

The little cutie hiding behind the door was stunned for a solid three years.

Jiang Liu reached out and stroked Jun Qingmeng’s smooth hair. "Sure. I’m your boyfriend now."

"And you’re my girlfriend."

Jun Qingmeng let him stroke her hair, her eyes locked dazedly on his as her heart began to soar.

She was a little breathless.

’This wonderful surprise came so suddenly.’

’And here I was, all ready to hog-tie him...’

But... what was she supposed to do now that she wasn’t prepared?

’I... what am I supposed to say to Jiang Liu right now...’

In her nervousness, Jun Qingmeng blurted out without thinking:

"Why don’t we kiss to celebrate?"

The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.

’So impulsive.’

"If you’ve got no objections, then sure," Jiang Liu said, a faint smile playing on his lips as he watched the flustered beauty before him.

"Huh?"

Jun Qingmeng snapped to attention, squeezed her eyes shut, and puckered her lips.

She looked both silly and adorable.

He drew closer and closer, their hot breaths mingling.

’Ooh, they’re gonna do something naughty! A little cutie like me should look away.’

’But it’s a good thing I’m a *big* cutie.’

Tongtong peeked out, her big eyes staring unblinkingly.

Gazing at the peerless beauty before him, ripe for the picking, Jiang Liu would be lying if he said he wasn’t moved.

Just as they were pressed close together, about to kiss—

Aunt Xu, wearing a pair of sandals, pushed open the glass door.

"Boss Jiang, I heard you... uh."

’Oh, crap!!!’

’I am SO dead!!!!’

’Did I just ruin Boss Jiang’s big moment??’

Aunt Xu froze for a second. Then, struck by a flash of inspiration, she quickly covered her eyes and turned to leave. "Hey? Why can’t I see all of a sudden? What’s going on? Never mind, I’m just going to go back to sleep."

The moment she was out the door, her gossipy nature took over. She shushed the customers in line and pointed toward the window.

"Shhh, quiet down, everyone. Boss Jiang and that Qingmeng girl are getting busy in there."

The customers’ jaws dropped in shock.

"Holy crap!! For real? Does this mean we’re getting a wedding feast of steamed buns?"

"Getting busy? What is Brother Jiang getting busy with?"

"It can’t be!!" Yang Tuoyang was in disbelief.

Was her dream man gone? BOO HOO HOO...

"A fine cabbage has been snatched up by a pig..." The young office drone who had spoken noticed several hostile glares turning his way and quickly clarified, "I mean, Boss Jiang is the cabbage!"

Huang Yunfeng whisper-shouted:

"What are you all standing around for? Hurry up and stand guard for Boss Jiang!!"

The customers who snapped to it were already standing at the bottom of the steps, blocking the path like a royal guard. This was a golden opportunity to get on the boss’s good side, and they weren’t about to waste it.

「Inside.」

Thanks to Aunt Xu’s interruption, the romantic atmosphere shattered, replaced by a lingering awkwardness.

Jun Qingmeng had opened her eyes. Her gaze darted shyly from side to side, her lips were pressed into a thin line, and her face was beet red.

’So annoying!’

"Jiang Liu... How about... we continue?"

The passion that had been rising in Jiang Liu had also been extinguished by the woman’s interruption.

He gave a helpless smile. "Let’s just leave it. We only just got together. Let’s take it slow."

Jun Qingmeng wasn’t quite ready to give up. ’Even if I’m shy and timid about getting intimate with Jiang Liu, it doesn’t mean I don’t want to, okay?’

"Fine!... How about a hug, then?"

She opened her arms.

She looked at him expectantly.

Jiang Liu nodded, not refusing. The two embraced.

Jun Qingmeng was so soft.

Three seconds...

"Okay, you can let go now."

"No!! Let me... hug you a little longer."

Jun Qingmeng wrapped her arms tightly around Jiang Liu’s waist, greedily inhaling his scent.

’I’m so happy!’

’This is the scent of comfort and happiness!’

’I’ll never get enough of it.’

Jiang Liu’s left hand rested on Jun Qingmeng’s soft back, and his right cradled the back of her head.

"I can hear your heartbeat, Jiang Liu."

"Let me listen to yours?"

Jun Qingmeng’s face flushed an even deeper red, and her heart rate quickened.

’If we did that, wouldn’t Jiang Liu have to press his head against my chest?’

’Eek! This beautiful girl is going to die of embarrassment!’

She hadn’t yet realized that he was teasing her again. Without refusing, she thought for a moment and said:

"Can we do it when no one’s around?"

"Whatever you say." Jiang Liu smiled.

In his heart, he felt a certain pity for Jun Qingmeng, though he wasn’t sure why.

Perhaps that was a large part of the reason he had agreed to be with her.

The two of them let go of each other.

And just like that, Tongtong was back in the picture.

She came scampering out.

She hid carefully behind a chair, her big, curious eyes blinking as she watched them.

’Is Teacher Qingmeng going to get pregnant?’

’Does that mean I’m going to have a little brother or sister?’

’Yay!’

"Tongtong, come here." Jun Qingmeng crouched down, clapping her hands happily.

"Mmm, this little kid didn’t see a thing."

Tongtong obediently walked over.

Jun Qingmeng swept Tongtong into her arms and started spinning around and around.

She was overjoyed!

Tongtong was dumbfounded.

"Whee! Tongtong is flying!"

The two of them spun until they were dizzy.

Jun Qingmeng’s face was flushed.

"Tongtong, I’m your daddy’s girlfriend now, okay? Do you have any well wishes for us?"

"Mommy!"

Tongtong sensibly changed her form of address.

She knew that those who read the room get ice cream.

Jun Qingmeng giggled happily and booped Tongtong on the nose.

"You’re such a clever little imp!"

"Hehe, Daddy is the greatest!"

Tongtong had blurted out the flattery without even thinking.

Watching them from the side, Jiang Liu couldn’t help but feel a sense of warmth bloom in his heart.

’It’s great that my daughter likes Qingmeng and doesn’t reject her.’

’Maybe the three of them could live a happy life together as a family.’

Tongtong and Qingmeng were affectionately clingy with each other for a while.

Jiang Liu had already gone to the back kitchen to make some juice.

Tongtong pulled Jun Qingmeng into the back kitchen to join him. "Daddy, two little cuties are waiting for your hugs. Can we have some?"

"Of course. Come here."

Jiang Liu put down what he was doing and wiped his hands.

He picked up Tongtong, then wrapped his other arm around Jun Qingmeng.

The three of them held each other in a tight embrace in the kitchen.

"Hehe, Daddy’s hugs are so warm,"

"My boyfriend’s hugs are so comfy."

After a little while, Jun Qingmeng took Tongtong from him and said with concern:

"Jiang Liu, we can hug again tonight. It’s already two o’clock; you should go rest for a while! We’ll help you bottle the juice."

In the past, Jun Qingmeng had always wanted to show her concern for Jiang Liu but never knew in what capacity she could.

Now, things were different. Jiang Liu was her boyfriend.

Even the tone of her concern had become much more confident.