Chapter 537: Yang Yixue’s Final Plea, Jiang Liu Changes His Phone Number

「The next day.」

The morning sun pierced through the screen window, landing on Jun Qingmeng’s long eyelashes and making them seem to glow.

“Ngh…” Jun Qingmeng mumbled, groggily stroking Jiang Liu’s face before lazily snuggling into his embrace.

Jiang Liu was already awake. He was a little tired after a long night of wearing out his wife.

He opened his phone.

Morse, who had added him on WeChat, sent him a message:

“Mr. Jiang, I believe your new restaurant has immense value. I’ve given it some thought and feel it’s necessary for us to partner up. I’ll provide the capital, you provide the labor. How about a 70-30 split, my favor?”

“Furthermore, I have channels abroad. If you have the ability, we can partner up and expand internationally.”

Jiang Liu’s expression turned strange as he finished reading the message.

‘This guy must be daydreaming. A 70-30 split? I have a priceless wife and a father-in-law who’s practically made of money. Wouldn’t it be better to work with my own family?’

‘Why on earth would I partner with you? What a joke.’

“Honey~ what are you looking at?” Jun Qingmeng had woken up at some point and was now gazing at Jiang Liu with a look of content adoration.

On her stunning face, her eyes, which looked slightly amber in the sunlight, blinked softly.

Her fair, smooth arms wrapped around Jiang Liu’s neck, her breath as fragrant as orchids.

“Nothing important, just replying to some business messages… What’s this? You’re not tired?”

“A little. But I’d rather look at you,” Jun Qingmeng cooed, speaking sweet nothings.

She truly adored Jiang Liu; even when she was tired, she wanted to look at him just a moment longer.

“Just a little?” Jiang Liu raised an eyebrow, then suddenly leaned down and pounced like a big bad wolf. “Then let’s add a little more!”

“Ah! Eek, eek…!”

Fully sated.

Jiang Liu covered Jun Qingmeng—who was now boneless, her eyes rolling back in her head—with the summer blanket, then went to check on his daughter.

He opened the door to Tongtong’s room and found her hugging a tablet, watching *Boonie Bears*.

Hearing the sound, Jiang Tongtong’s eyes lit up when she saw Jiang Liu. She scrambled into his arms, her little lips trembling as she pouted pitifully. “Daddy, Tongtong woke up and you weren’t here. I missed you so much, wahhh.”

“Daddy, can you sleep with me tonight?”

Jiang Tongtong’s face was full of anticipation.

She loved sleeping with her daddy!

Jiang Liu thought for a moment, then booped her cute little nose. “Okay, but you can’t sleep with Daddy every night. You’re a big girl now, so you have to learn to be by yourself, understand?”

“Wahh, okay.”

Jiang Tongtong pressed her face unhappily against Jiang Liu’s cheek. “Daddy, I love you so much. I’ll love you forever and ever. You have to love me forever and ever too, okay?”

“You silly little goose. You’re Daddy’s sweetheart. Of course I’ll love you forever and ever!”

Jiang Liu then asked, “Tongtong, do you want to go on a trip?”

“A trip!?” Jiang Tongtong was instantly excited—a child’s emotions are fickle. “Yay! I really, really want to! Daddy, you bring the money, and Mommy and Tongtong will bring you. Let’s all go to the beach and catch sharks!”

“Ahem.” Jiang Liu’s expression suddenly turned serious. “I talked it over with your mom last night, and we decided to go on a honeymoon. Even though your mom and I didn’t have a wedding ceremony, we’re still married, and Daddy needs to give her a romantic honeymoon, you know?”

“Mmm, and then, Daddy?”

“Well, it’s like this. Originally, Daddy was going to have Grandpa and Grandma look after you for a while, but I figured you wouldn’t agree to that. So I thought about getting you excused from school, and your mom and I will take you with us. The three of us will go on a honeymoon together.”

“Hee hee, Daddy, you’re the best! You always remember to take Tongtong with you wherever you go. Tongtong is so happy!”

Jiang Tongtong’s heart filled with sweetness. As long as her daddy loved her, she felt that everything in the world was perfect.

「Ten days later.」

Jiang Liu opened the restaurant for business as usual.

The spicy aroma of boiled fish wafted out, and the customers in line gulped, their mouths watering.

“Haven’t they started yet?? I came all the damn way from Inner Mongolia, thinking I could eat as soon as I got here. Who knew I’d be lining up for days and still not get a spot? This is so frustrating!”

A burly man with a wild beard vented to an old man.

Xia Changzhi chuckled. “It certainly isn’t easy for you out-of-towners. We locals have it a little better.”

The bearded man nodded in deep agreement. “You’re right. When you want to eat here, you can just walk a few steps and get in line. We can’t do that. We have to take planes and trains… Sigh.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Xia Changzhi said with a frown. “What I mean is, Boss Jiang is friendlier to us locals. We can get things like chili oil to go. And I’m an even more special case—I can eat here whenever I want.”

After saying this, Xia Changzhi remained expressionless, but inwardly, he was ecstatic. He had recently become addicted to the thrill of showing off in front of others.

The bearded man was stunned for a moment, then scoffed inwardly. ‘Yeah, right. Keep bragging. A god-like figure like Boss Jiang would give a shabby old man like you special treatment? Even huge celebrities have to find ways to get in line!’

With that thought, the man shook his head with a mocking expression.

‘These days, you run into all sorts of morons. If you’re so special, what the hell are you doing waiting in this damn line?!’

‘Just a local, acting all high and mighty.’

But in the next moment, the bearded man was dumbfounded.

He watched as Xia Changzhi, with his hands behind his back, sauntered into the restaurant under a sea of complicated gazes.

“Ahem, Xiao Jiang, when are you heading to Binhai? I happen to have a lot of convenient travel gear. Want to take some with you?”

Jiang Liu smiled. “Sure. I’ll head out in a couple of days when the weather’s nice.”

“Did you buy an RV? If you haven’t, I can lend you one. Guaranteed to be top-notch!” Xia Changzhi grinned, his face wrinkling up like a wilting chrysanthemum.

Outside, the various celebrities and distinguished guests still waiting bitterly in line were so disgusted they could only grit their teeth.

“Dammit, it’s this old bastard again! I’ve seen him freeloading off Boss Jiang at least ten times!”

“Well, he has helped Boss Jiang out a lot. Just let him be smug. Who knows, maybe he’ll kick the bucket one of these days!”

“Hahaha, now that you put it that way, I feel a lot better.”

“No need,” Jiang Liu said, shaking his head. “Uncle Jun bought one for me. It’s parked right outside my house, and it looks pretty good.”

“That’s good, then.” Xia Changzhi rubbed his hands together. “So, uh, is that boiled fish ready? My old lady wants some. You know her health isn’t great, ahem.”

‘Can’t you come up with a different excuse?’ Jiang Liu’s expression was suddenly a little strange. “It’s ready. Have Qingmeng pack a portion for you.”

“Hahaha, alright, alright!” Xia Changzhi happily found a seat and casually glanced at the jealous customers outside.

So satisfying!

The bearded man was completely floored.

Snapping back to his senses, he slapped his thigh. “Dammit! I should’ve made friends with that old man!”

“Grandpa Xia!” Jiang Tongtong ran over, hugging a teddy bear, and called out sweetly.

“Ah, Tongtong, you’re such a good girl. Have you finished your homework?”

“Mmm, you’re so annoying. It’s done!!”

After saying her piece, Jiang Tongtong turned and dashed back to the kitchen.

Xia Changzhi awkwardly rubbed his nose.

‘Oh no, did I just offend Jiang Liu’s little sweetheart?’

Just then, Jiang Liu’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it. It was a text from an unknown number: “Jiang Liu, it’s Yang Yixue. How have you been lately? How is Tongtong? I miss our daughter.”

“I miss you. For the sake of the fact that we were once husband and wife, can you meet with me? I have something to tell you.”

On a dilapidated wooden sofa, Yang Yixue sat with puffy bags under her eyes and deep, dark circles, her face haggard.

She had opened a beauty salon after coming back, but business was slow, and she was now over two million in debt.

She had truly hit a dead end. Her mother, Li Xiaoyan, was even working two shifts a day at a factory and complained to her every day. She was on the verge of collapsing!

Two streams of hot tears rolled down her cheeks and fell onto the corners of her mouth, bringing a taste that was both salty and bitter.

Yang Yixue clutched her phone, waiting for a reply with a heart full of expectation.

She believed that as long as she sincerely lowered her head and begged Jiang Liu, he would surely soften and help her through this difficult time for their daughter’s sake.