Chapter 190: An Unexpected Letter, "Not Afraid

Seeing her dorky-looking reflection in the mirror, she covered her mouth in shock.

"Daddy, WAAAH! Tongtong doesn’t want this mouth anymore! It’s so ugly!"

Jiang Tongtong ran out of the bathroom crying and threw herself into Jiang Liu’s arms for comfort, feeling wronged.

"Tongtong, I think it’s pretty cute, don’t you?"

Jun Qingmeng patted her on the head.

"It’s not pretty! It’s not! It’s ugly like a stinky bear, WAAAH!"

Jiang Liu picked Tongtong up. "Well, whose fault is that? Who was it that was sucking on the bottle? Don’t worry, it’ll be gone after you sleep."

"Waaah..."

For the rest of the evening, Tongtong had to pull out her little mirror to check her reflection every few minutes.

9:30 PM.

Jun Qingmeng stood up from the sofa. "I... I should head back. It’s getting late. You two should get some sleep."

She was worried that her being there would keep Jiang Liu from getting a good night’s rest.

Even though she really wanted to stay and be close to him.

Jiang Liu checked the time and said, "There’s no rush. We still have a lot of fruit left. Let’s hang out a little longer."

"Okay!"

Jun Qingmeng’s mood instantly brightened.

She sat back down on the sofa, hugged Jiang Liu’s arm, and rested her head on his shoulder, sweetly watching Tongtong play on the tablet.

Jiang Liu felt her touch and was a little awkward. After a moment’s hesitation, he didn’t pull away.

"Daddy, you two have to watch carefully! Tongtong is going to draw you a picture!"

"Okay, we’re watching."

Jiang Liu rested his chin on the head of Tongtong, who was in his lap, and watched his daughter draw.

Tongtong skillfully operated the tablet, tapping here and there.

Soon, a bizarrely shaped little house appeared, with a dense cluster of stick figures at the entrance.

Jun Qingmeng was puzzled. "Tongtong, what did you draw? I don’t get it."

Jiang Liu knew what his daughter had drawn—it was clearly his shop—but he didn’t say anything.

Tongtong giggled, looking endearingly silly with the red circle around her lips.

"This is Daddy’s food shop! See this person in black? That’s Sister Yang. And this one is Uncle Xia."

Jiang Liu asked, "Then what about the three of us?"

Tongtong frowned, tilted her head back, and rolled her eyes at Jiang Liu.

"You silly Daddy! Tongtong and Mama Qingmeng are at kindergarten, and you’re in the shop making buns!"

"????"

’Fine, fine, fine.’

’So that’s how you get out of drawing us, huh?’

"Jiang Liu, can I take a picture to send to Aunt Lin?"

"Sure. How should we pose? I’ll cooperate."

Jiang Liu had no objections; he had been thinking about sending his mom an update on his life anyway.

"Tongtong will cooperate with Mama too~"

"You two are so good!"

Jun Qingmeng tapped Tongtong’s little nose, then arranged their poses.

"Like this... yes, like this. Tongtong, wrap your arms around your daddy’s neck and pout at him. In a second, I’m going to feed you, Jiang Liu, a mooncake. You have to open your mouth wide and look happy."

Jiang Liu and Tongtong obediently did as she said.

Jun Qingmeng took out her phone, set a timer, and placed it on the coffee table.

Then she hugged Jiang Liu’s arm, leaned on his shoulder while looking at him sweetly, and held up a mooncake to feed him.

Jiang Liu played along, opening his mouth wide. "Ahhh—"

*CLICK.*

In that instant, the photograph became eternal.

Even years later, whenever Jiang Liu saw it, he would sigh with fond nostalgia.

"It’s so lovely. Wait, let me send it to Mom."

As she spoke, Jun Qingmeng casually lay down in Jiang Liu’s arms.

Suddenly, Jiang Liu was holding two angels.

’The pressure is a little intense.’

Jun Qingmeng fiddled with her phone right in front of Jiang Liu, even carefully editing the photo.

"Is that really necessary...?"

Jiang Liu’s mouth twitched.

He had just watched Jun Qingmeng add a pair of bunny ears on top of his head.

All three of them had them, but his just looked so strange...

"It’s so nice, so cute! We’re all super adorable, right, Tongtong?"

"Yep, yep! In that case, could I trouble Mama to get rid of Tongtong’s mouth too?"

Jun Qingmeng pretended she didn’t hear.

She was starting to act more and more like a certain father-daughter duo.

The photo was sent to Lin Qiu.

「At that moment.」

Lin Qiu was in the middle of a cold war with Jiang Dahai.

When she saw the photo, she quickly waved him over. "Dahai, come here, quick! Our daughter-in-law sent a message."

Jiang Dahai immediately shot up from the sofa and rushed over in a few quick steps.

"Let me see."

The two of them were instantly in harmony.

"Hey, not bad! Our son and daughter-in-law are looking more and more like a family."

Lin Qiu typed back: "So lovely. You already look like a family. What happened to Tongtong’s mouth? From kissing? So funny. (Grinning face emoji)"

Tongtong looked at the message from her grandma. She couldn’t read, but she recognized her own name and a few simple words.

She grew anxious. "Mama, hurry and read me what Grandma said."

Jun Qingmeng said in a serious tone, "Your grandma is complimenting you. She said you look pretty again, and that we look like a family."

"Hee hee, right? Tongtong is always pretty."

Jiang Liu flicked her little head. "Why are you so narcissistic?"

"Waaah, you mean Daddy! You must be jealous of Tongtong, right?"

Another message came from Lin Qiu: "Qingmeng, since you and Jiang Liu are together, shouldn’t we arrange a meeting with your father?"

"Also, what are the customs on your side? How much is the betrothal gift, and is there anything we need to prepare?"

Jun Qingmeng was a little touched.

Her mother-in-law had always treated her like a true daughter-in-law.

Without hesitation, Jun Qingmeng replied: "Mom, I don’t need a betrothal gift. As for my father... we don’t have to worry about him. He’s... well, he’s not very easy to get along with."

’It’s a no-brainer.’

Her strict and stubborn father would never agree to her being with Jiang Liu.

After all, ever since she was little, her father had planned for her to take over the family business.

As for her marriage, Jun Qingmeng could guess that her father would want to call all the shots and arrange it for her.

Because he would always say: ’You’re still young, your standards for judging a person are shallow. I have more experience; the person I choose for you will definitely be the right one.’

’So...’

Jun Qingmeng had made up her mind long ago. She could do without her father; she just wanted to be with Jiang Liu.

If her father insisted on giving her the company in the future, she would be willing to take it, as long as there were no strings attached.

Then she would spend all the money she earned on Jiang Liu and Tongtong.

Lin Qiu was surprised: "Qingmeng, marriage is a big deal. You should have everything that other girls have. Our family’s financial situation might be average, but we’re willing to give you the best we can."

"You should still try to inform your father. As his daughter, you should tell him no matter what."

Jun Qingmeng said sullenly, "Let’s talk about it later, Mom. Let me marry Jiang Liu first, and then I can explain things to my father. Is that okay?"

"You don’t need to pay a betrothal gift. Jiang Liu and I are already family. His money is my money, and my money is his money. If you give it, I’ll just give it back to Jiang Liu anyway."

Lin Qiu: "Alright then, we’ll do as you say. We’ll save up a little more money for the three of you, even if it isn’t much. For us old folks, our only wish is for your little family to live happily."

’My mother-in-law is so wonderful, and her values are so sound.’

’And she makes me feel so secure...’

Jun Qingmeng: "Okay. Good night, Mom. You two need to take care of your health and don’t overwork yourselves. Try to live to be over a hundred. I want to take you traveling in the future."

Jiang Liu, who was standing to the side, looked like he wanted to say something but held back.

He was terrified that Jun Qingmeng would also say something like: ’Mom, I’ll wait for Jiang Liu to save up enough money, and then how about he brings the money, and I take you all traveling?’

The very words "save money" and "travel" made his eyelid twitch.

Bored, Tongtong was kicking Jiang Liu’s butt with her little feet.

’I can’t understand what they’re talking about, and it’s so frustrating!’

The three of them were lovey-dovey for a while longer.

Reluctantly, Jun Qingmeng said her goodbyes. "Jiang Liu, can I give you one more kiss on the cheek? I have to go home and sleep. It’s my only wish."

Jiang Liu nodded and leaned his face closer. "Go ahead."

Jun Qingmeng closed her eyes, shyly gave him a quick peck, and then stood up, trying to act calm while her heart was POUNDING.

"Okay, Tongtong, I’m leaving now. Will you miss me?"

Tongtong jumped off the sofa and hugged Jun Qingmeng’s leg, unable to bear parting.

"I will! I’ll miss Mama a lot tonight!"

"Then why don’t you come home and sleep with me? Mama will hold you."

Jun Qingmeng stroked her little head.

Tongtong hesitated, biting her little finger in a dilemma. "Mama, I really want to sleep with you too, but what if Daddy misses Tongtong while sleeping all by himself?"

’I have to dote on Daddy. Besides, I don’t want to be separated from him, not ever, ever.’

"Alright then. It’s okay, we’ll see each other tomorrow."

Jun Qingmeng wasn’t sad.

Just like Tongtong, she was also very dependent on Jiang Liu.

’Once we can all sleep together in the future, we can both hug Jiang Liu.’

"Good night, Qingmeng," Jiang Liu said, taking the initiative to smile and wave.

"Mhm! Good night, big baby and little baby."

Jun Qingmeng turned and left.

The lingering warmth of her gardenia scent remained in the room.

「Outside the door.」

The corners of Jun Qingmeng’s mouth curved up. She had made a little more progress in her conquest today.

She believed she would be able to completely win over Jiang Liu very soon.

Jun Qingmeng hummed "Not Afraid" as she walked down the hallway.

"I have courage, I’m not afraid at all~"

「Just then.」

DING!

Her phone chimed.

’Who is it?’

Jun Qingmeng opened it while still humming her song.

She was in a wonderful mood.

However...

After reading the text message, Jun Qingmeng’s heart sank to the bottom of a pit, and her face turned pale.