Chapter 517 - 416: Dad, Fess Up

Chapter 517: Chapter 416: Dad, Fess Up

Liu Dong: "I feel like this is going to be tough. Even Elder Yu lost."

Yang Zhenwu: "This is ridiculous. I think Boss Jiang can just refuse the challenge. The competition isn’t fair. If he’s so great, why not compete with steamed buns or Lu cuisine!"

Yu Guoguang and Hou Canjun also heard the news.

The two exchanged a look, both silent.

Similarly,

More and more people were paying attention to the news of Jiang Liu’s competition against Fu Yuan.

Many A-list celebrities living in Kyoto were even cheering for Jiang Liu on their social media.

After all, this was a matter concerning the honor of Hua Country. It would be a huge loss of face for Sichuan cuisine, with its thousand-year heritage, to be trampled underfoot by a foreigner.

...

「Yangzhai Street.」

The entrance was bustling with activity—people setting up stalls, playing cards, boasting, and chatting.

"Boss Jiang, any new items today?" a girl with a face full of acne asked excitedly, poking her head in.

Jiang Liu, who was arranging bottles of juice, replied casually, "We’ll see."

"Okay then! Boss Jiang, you’re... you’re really handsome!" The girl blushed, pulled her head back, and ran off after speaking.

Jiang Liu touched his face and gave a helpless smile.

’Being handsome is a hassle, too.’

Although it was already September, the afternoons were still very hot.

The bright sunlight beat down on the road, making the street feel like a steamer basket. The heat made customers curse under their breath.

But cursing was one thing; they still had to queue up properly.

5:40 PM.

Jun Qingmeng, holding Tongtong’s hand, pushed the door open and returned to the shop.

Their temples were damp with sweat, and their soft bangs stuck to their foreheads.

Tongtong was wearing the hair clip Jiang Liu had bought for her, looking utterly adorable.

As soon as they entered, they dropped their bags and shouted happily.

"Honey, I’m dying of heat! It’s so uncomfortable. It’s so hot today!"

"Daddy, Tongtong has heatstroke! I want a popsicle."

"It is pretty hot," Jiang Liu said, walking out at the sound of their voices. He added in a slightly exasperated tone, "Have some juice. Popsicles are too cold; they’re not good for your stomach."

With that, he got them two bottles of juice.

One was room temperature, and the other was slightly chilled.

"Are you done with your work, honey? Is there anything I can help with?" Jun Qingmeng asked with a smile, taking the room-temperature juice and lifting her beautiful eyes to him.

"There’s not much to do. You two go and have fun."

"Okay~"

Jiang Tongtong, holding her juice, stuck close to Jiang Liu’s back and pressed, "Daddy! Fess up, did you miss your little treasure Tongtong today?"

"I missed you, alright?"

"What do you mean, ’I missed you, alright?’" Jiang Tongtong demanded, staring with her big, pretty eyes, dissatisfied.

’Daddy’s being so perfunctory! This little cutie is about to die of anger!!’

"I missed you, I missed you! I missed you this morning, I missed you at noon, and I was just thinking about you."

"Hehe, I’ll tell you a secret, Daddy. When Tongtong was sleeping today, I dreamed about you again."

Jiang Liu asked casually as he prepared the Four-Joy Meatballs, "What did you dream about?"

"I dreamed that Daddy turned into Bald Qiang, and Tongtong and Mommy turned into Briar and Bramble!" Jiang Tongtong said, happily sipping her juice.

’Daddy’s juice is super yummy!’

Jiang Liu rolled his eyes.

’Am I that bald?’

Jiang Tongtong giggled. "Daddy, I have something else to tell you."

"Go on."

"So, the kindergarten is holding a gala, and can you take Tongtong, Daddy? Tongtong wants to hear Daddy sing!"

After she finished speaking, Jiang Tongtong took a big gulp of the sweet watermelon juice. The icy sensation made her shiver, and she reflexively scrunched her neck into her clothes.

’A gala?’

Jiang Liu did a quick mental calculation of the timing.

The kindergarten had held a gala for the past two years. They always held it after summer, once autumn arrived.

The weather was neither hot nor cold then—crisp and clear autumn days.

He tried hard to recall the contents of the gala.

It seemed to be mostly parent-child talent shows—singing, dancing, and performing acts.

A lot of parents would be there.

Jiang Liu hadn’t gone the last two times.

One time, Tongtong had a cold, and the other time, Jiang Liu was busy with work.

’In other words, his daughter had never attended.’

While Jiang Liu was lost in thought,

Jun Qingmeng walked into the kitchen and said, "If you’re busy, I can turn it down. Our family just won’t go."

Jiang Tongtong pouted, looking pitifully at Jiang Liu. "Daddy, can we just go for a little while? It’s not even an hour."

She held up her pinky finger to illustrate. Her daddy was such a good singer, and Jiang Tongtong wanted all the other kids to know that he was amazing, the absolute best in the world!

Jiang Liu smiled and nodded in affirmation. "Sure, I don’t mind. If you two want to go, I’ll go with you."

"Mmm," Jiang Tongtong hesitated for a moment, then said, "Daddy, if you’re really busy, we don’t have to go."

’She was suddenly worried about tiring her daddy out. Daddy had to earn money to support his little cutie, and if he got tired, this little cutie would feel heartbroken.’

Jiang Liu looked at Jun Qingmeng. "Do you want to go?"

"Yes!" Jun Qingmeng nodded.

’If it were just her, she wouldn’t want to. But if Jiang Liu was going, she really wanted to.’

"Alright, then we’ll all go together."

"Wow! Yay! We’re going to the gala!" Jiang Tongtong cheered, raising her little hands and spinning around Jiang Liu.

"Daddy, hurry and pick Tongtong up! She wants to reward you!"

"MWAH! MWAH! MWAH..."

"Okay, okay, any more kisses and I’ll burn the food," Jiang Liu said, quickly putting Tongtong down.

Jun Qingmeng brought her flawless, pretty face closer and shot Jiang Liu a playful glare. "You kissed Tongtong. Aren’t you going to give me a kiss?"

"Of course. Mwah."

"You kissed me, so I have to kiss you back!" Jun Qingmeng pretended to be angry and gave Jiang Liu a firm kiss.

"Are my wife’s lips sweet?"

"Sweet. The sweetest in the world!" Jiang Liu said seriously.

"Daddy!"

"Yes, yours are sweet too!"

Jiang Liu went back to work.

Jiang Tongtong couldn’t sit still. She swung her legs excitedly and asked, "Daddy, if we go to the gala, what song will you sing for everyone?"

"Let me think..."

"Think faster," Jun Qingmeng urged, her face full of anticipation.

Jiang Liu pondered for a minute, then said, "How about I sing the theme song from *Boonie Bears* (’You Never Left’)?"

He had a decent talent for music. He often watched *Boonie Bears* with Tongtong, so he knew the song by heart.

Jiang Tongtong’s eyes lit up, and she tugged on Jiang Liu’s pants. "Daddy, that’s the one! Don’t change it! Tongtong wants to hear Daddy sing the bear song!"

"Daddy~"

"Honey~ You’re the best." Jun Qingmeng cooed, her sparkling eyes fixed on Jiang Liu’s profile. "So can you sing a few lines for us right now?"

It was a mature, queenly voice trying to act cute.

Tongtong and Jun Qingmeng exchanged a look and started laughing.

This was something Tongtong had taught Jun Qingmeng at noon.

During their nap, Tongtong had secretly told Jun Qingmeng, "Daddy loves it when Tongtong acts cute for him. Whenever I do, he hugs me and kisses me. Mommy, from now on, let’s both act cute for Daddy together."

Unfortunately, Tongtong knew in her heart that this tactic didn’t work for getting popsicles or fried chicken.

’The little cutie is sad!’

Jiang Liu paused for a second, then nodded. "Alright. It won’t interfere with my work anyway. I can warm up my voice."

The two beauties, one big and one small, immediately sat down obediently, resting their chins in their hands as they looked at Jiang Liu with anticipation.

Jiang Liu mentally rehearsed the pitch and rhythm a few times before he began to sing softly:

"In the vast, starry sky~"

The moment he opened his mouth, both Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong looked at him with pure adoration.

’Is this the legendary ’kneel at the opening note’?’

Jiang Liu’s voice was clear and bright, his enunciation crisp. He then lowered his tone, making it rich and magnetic.

"Only your silhouette remains~"