Chapter 172 - 162: Salt and Pepper Corn Kernels. The Happiest Kid in the World.

Light rain fell from the gray sky, PITTER-PATTERING against the front windshield.

Tongtong was pressed against the car window, watching the pedestrians on the street.

She had Uncle Che.

She wouldn’t have to get caught in the rain anymore.

"Daddy, it’s so nice to have a car, hehe."

Jiang Liu smiled.

He suddenly asked, "Tongtong, you’ve saved up a lot of snacks, haven’t you? You’re going to kindergarten tomorrow, so remember to bring some for your good friends. After you’ve shared them, Daddy will buy you more."

He wanted his daughter to learn how to share with others. Besides, he was earning good money now, so he was confident and wasn’t afraid of his daughter being a little spendthrift.

"Okay~"

Tongtong readily agreed.

Back at their residential complex, Jun Qingmeng was the first to get home, carrying fifteen buns and a bottle of juice.

The moment she walked in the door, Guo Jia excitedly pounced on her.

"Juice! Buns! Quick, quick, quick, I’m starving!"

"Huh? You brat, how could you only bring back this little? Just these two things, and hardly any of it! What am I supposed to do for breakfast and lunch tomorrow??"

She had completely forgotten her plan to ask her best friend how she got together with Jiang Liu. Her mind was filled with nothing but the shape of buns.

Jun Qingmeng threw down her cartoon-print cloth bag and said angrily, "My boyfriend isn’t a robot. Don’t you think he gets tired after working all day? You should be grateful I managed to get you fifteen buns and a bottle of juice at all."

As she spoke, Jun Qingmeng plopped down huffily on the sofa, changing into her Crab Boss slippers and a T-shirt that read, "Busy Spending Money."

Guo Jia was very, very unhappy.

She sulked, squatting by the table and shoveling food into her mouth.

Thinking about how she had nothing to eat for breakfast or lunch tomorrow, she started being passive-aggressive.

"Sigh. Ever since *someone* started dating, her kind and clever best friend isn’t so important anymore, I guess. Siiigh~"

"Oh, forget it. Maybe it’s better if I just starve to death. That way, I won’t get in the way of a certain someone’s sweet little world for two."

Jun Qingmeng, who was combing her hair in front of the bathroom mirror, rolled her eyes and retorted, "Jiang Liu is launching a new regular item tomorrow. Since you want to starve, I just won’t bring any back for you. You can just stay home and starve, then."

What?

What did she just say?

HOLY CRAP!!

Jiang Liu is launching a new item?!

That news was way too explosive!

The words were barely out of her mouth before Guo Jia was already hugging Jun Qingmeng’s legs.

Her eyes were wide with surprise as she asked, "Mom, are you telling the truth?"

"Mm, I am. Don’t call me Mom. I don’t have such a troublesome daughter."

Guo Jia begged shamelessly.

"I don’t care, you are my mom! Mommy! Can you bring a portion back for me tomorrow? If you do, I’ll agree to anything. I’m begging you!"

"If I don’t get to try the new item, I will literally die."

She really wanted to eat it, okay?

Guo Jia didn’t even ask what it was. For a regular dish made by Jiang Liu, was there even a need to ask if it was good?

Jun Qingmeng looked down at her pitiful-looking best friend and said, "Look how lazy you are, making me bring you food every day. I’ll ask Jiang Liu tomorrow. Anyway, just remember to pay for it if you want to eat."

Guo Jia was so excited she nearly started dancing for joy.

"Wow! Mommy, I worship you!" Guo Jia hugged her legs and snuggled up against her. "Mommy, don’t you worry, I’d have no problem paying double!"

Just getting to eat it was a win in her book. Ever since she’d had Jiang Liu’s food, she found she didn’t want to eat anything else.

Having secured Jun Qingmeng’s promise, Guo Jia excitedly ran back to eat her buns.

She was so happy. There would be a new delicacy tomorrow!

Jun Qingmeng prettied herself up and went over to Jiang Liu’s apartment.

"Qingmeng, you’re here. Go sit with Tongtong and watch *Boonie Bears* for a bit."

Jiang Liu was in the kitchen, shucking corn.

He was planning to make some salt-and-pepper corn.

If it turned out well, he could give it out to the neighbors as a little treat next time.

Corn wasn’t expensive anyway, so he didn’t have to worry about losing money or anything.

Jun Qingmeng didn’t listen. She raised her hands, tied her hair back into a ponytail with a hair tie, and strode coolly into the kitchen.

"Jiang Liu, you go rest! You’ve had a long day. Let me shuck the corn. And don’t forget, you’re not alone anymore, you know."

"From now on, I’m going to spoil you!"

Jun Qingmeng’s tone left no room for argument.

Her eyes were large and lovely, with clear whites, double eyelids, and long lashes.

"You really don’t have to..."

Hmm?

Tongtong’s ears perked up. She scrambled off the sofa and ran into the kitchen, hugging Jiang Liu’s leg and rubbing her cheek against it. "Daddy, me too! Tongtong will spoil you too!"

Jiang Liu gave a resigned smile.

"You two... acting like a couple of little flatterers. Alright, go watch your cartoon. This kitchen is tiny; it’s getting crowded with the three of us."

"No, a little crowding is good for you."

"Daddy, you’re not allowed to chase Tongtong away."

"Tongtong wants to be the one who spoils Daddy the most! I’ll stay with you forever and ever! When you’ve earned lots and lots of money, more money than you can spend, Tongtong will take that money and bring you to the amusement park and lots of other places to play. And if Daddy gets sick, your thoughtful Tongtong will take you to the best hospital, okay?"

"Daddy, are you touched?"

Jiang Liu was left completely stunned.

"Yes, I’m touched. Daddy will work hard to earn money. And in the future, the money I earn will be for the two of you to spend."

"Hehe," Tongtong giggled foolishly.

’It’s so nice to have a daddy. And a mommy, too.’

’I must be the happiest kid in the world right now, right?’

Jun Qingmeng refused to leave no matter what.

She cherished every single minute she spent with Jiang Liu.

Tongtong was also in the kitchen, "helping" in her own unhelpful way.

"Jiang Liu, you’re sweating. Let me wipe your forehead."

"Am I?"

"Don’t move."

Jun Qingmeng leaned in and wiped his forehead with a tissue. Their faces were so close that Jiang Liu could even see his own reflection in the depths of her eyes.

"Jiang Liu, your skin is so good. And your eyes... they feel so bright."

Jun Qingmeng was a little surprised. She realized that not only was her boyfriend’s skin flawless, but his eyes were also bright and full of life.

"It’s alright, I guess," Jiang Liu shrugged.

Tongtong tilted her head back, growing anxious as she watched the two of them being all lovey-dovey. She wanted to wipe Daddy’s sweat too, and she wanted to be close to him!

"Daddy, can you pick Tongtong up, please? She can help you wipe your sweat, too."

"Okay!"

Jiang Liu scooped her up with one arm, lifting Tongtong into his embrace.

Tongtong copied Jun Qingmeng, leaning close to Jiang Liu’s face and carefully wiping it.

She blew a puff of her sweet, milky breath.

"Daddy, does that feel good?"

"It feels great."

"Mwah! GIGGLE GIGGLE GIGGLE."

Tongtong gave Jiang Liu a kiss, then laughed so hard her whole body shook.

Before long, the salt-and-pepper corn was ready.

In the kitchen, Jun Qingmeng suddenly asked, "Jiang Liu, how do you feel about me right now? Have you had any thoughts about marrying me?"

’She was afraid of losing Jiang Liu; she wanted to be tied to him forever.’

Jiang Liu thought for a moment, then answered honestly and responsibly, "Let’s just see. We haven’t known each other for long, and we’ve only been officially dating for a day."

"Okay."

Jun Qingmeng felt a faint sense of disappointment.

But she quickly regained her confidence. ’Jiang Liu already agreed to be my boyfriend. As long as I keep trying, it won’t be long before he’s my husband!’

"Daddy, Qingmeng Mommy is really nice. You have to marry her, okay? Your little cutie is begging you."

Tongtong pleaded desperately from the side.

"Stop talking and open your mouths."

Jiang Liu fed each of them a mouthful of the salt-and-pepper corn, effectively shutting them up.

As Jun Qingmeng chewed on the corn, her complicated thoughts were instantly swept away by the delicious texture. Surprised, she commented: