Early the next morning.

The sky outside was still dark, the cold wind howled, shaking the withered and desolate French Parasol Trees, tearing off the few remaining leaves, and the tall, pale white poplar trunks creaked, mingling with the abrupt bark of a few dogs in the chilly neighborhood and the noise of vehicles speeding past, composing an indescribable morning symphony.

The little beauty lying in bed, with her beautiful eyebrows slightly furrowed and long eyelashes gently trembling, still wasn’t ready to wake up just yet.

She just turned around, presenting her little bottom to the window.

As if silently protesting against the noise!

But it wasn’t long.

It seemed as if a thought was gently calling her from within, urging her to wake up quickly...

And then...

She turned over, slowly, slowly, opened her sleepy eyes, waking up from her dreams, and instinctively called out, "Daddy~."

The soundly sleeping Huang Tao was suddenly awakened. He reached out and touched Xuanxuan’s rosy little face, smiling, "Awake? You’re not going to school today, why not sleep a bit more?"

Could it be that this little one was worried that he would leave without a word like yesterday morning, thus lingering in her mind, unable to sleep, and waking up so early?

It must be that!

But Xuanxuan hadn’t fully snapped out of her sleepy daze yet!

She stared blankly at her father, and only after a long while did she confirm that what she saw was not an illusion.

The little girl, once coming to her senses, suddenly became excited, reaching out to hug her dad’s neck, "Daddy, I thought you’d gotten up and gone to the shop!"

Sure enough!

Just as he thought, the little one indeed couldn’t sleep because she was worried he’d leave without saying goodbye.

Huang Tao felt a bit guilty in his heart, lovingly rubbing his daughter’s little head, tidying her messy hair, and said with a smile, "Not yet, it’s still early, you can sleep a bit more."

"No, no..."

Her little head shook like a rattle drum, with every pore resisting, "I’m already awake and don’t want to sleep anymore."

"Oh, you!"

Huang Tao indulgently yet helplessly reached out to tweak her little nose, "Are you afraid that if you fall asleep, Daddy will leave you at home and sneak to the shop alone again?"

His words touched her heart...

"Huh..."

Xuanxuan’s eyes widened in surprise, "Daddy, how do you know?"

Huang Tao said proudly, "Because Daddy is like a worm in your belly! Whatever you’re thinking, Daddy knows it all!"

"Wow, Daddy, you’re amazing..."

Saying so, Xuanxuan moved closer, puckered her little lips, and gave her dad a sweet morning kiss as her reward.

Uh...

The little one, even with a first-grade diploma, shouldn’t be so easily fooled by Daddy’s words!

Huang Tao was momentarily stunned, looking at the bright-eyed little one before him, couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Xuanxuan: ⊙(・◇・)?

Daddy, what’s so funny?

He looked at Xuanxuan’s adorably confused face, which was cuter the more he looked at it, and couldn’t resist leaning in to kiss her, "Come, let Daddy give you a kiss too."

Xuanxuan giggled, dodging away, "No kiss, your beard is prickly."

Xuanxuan giggled, "Daddy’s beard, prickly..."

Huang Tao reached out to touch his face—yesterday he had just shaved clean, but the stubble had already appeared!

It indeed felt prickly.

He didn’t want these annoying stubbles to poke his precious daughter painfully!

Alright then!

He’d owe it first, and solve the stubble issue later before giving her a kiss.

Huang Tao knew that the little one probably had no intention of sleeping again. Smiling, he said, "It’s about time, we should get up. Later, Daddy will take you to the shop with him, but you must come back for a nap with your grandparents at noon, or you’ll fall asleep in the car before reaching home like last night."

Xuanxuan obediently agreed, "Daddy, don’t worry, I will take my nap properly today."

Then she sat obediently, dressed herself, and finally pulled herself out of her earlier state of confusion, curiously asking, "Daddy, you are a person, and worms are little bugs, right? How could you be a worm in Xuanxuan’s belly?"

Huang Tao: "..."

Sweetheart, your reaction time is a bit long!

But come to think of it, it’s not easy to fool kids these days!

"Oh..."

Xuanxuan blinked her eyes, pondering, "Daddy, did the worms in my belly secretly tell you?"

"Yes, when I heard Xuanxuan say she didn’t want to sleep anymore, I quietly asked the worms in your belly: ’Kind and lovely worms, can you tell me why Xuanxuan doesn’t want to sleep, is she really awake, or is there another reason?’ Then the little worms told me the answer!" Huang Tao laughed, spinning a tale based on Xuanxuan’s imagination.

"But, when Daddy asked, why couldn’t I hear your voices? Xuanxuan hasn’t heard worms speak before!" Xuanxuan pouted.

"That’s because the little worms are very shy! They don’t want anyone else to hear them, so they speak very, very softly, so only Daddy can hear them, just to let him know what Xuanxuan is thinking timely," Huang Tao tried hard to cover up, "If others could hear them, the little worms wouldn’t tell Daddy what Xuanxuan thinks next time."

Hearing this, she hurriedly waved her hands, saying, "Then Xuanxuan better not listen, so that next time the worms can still tell Daddy what’s in Xuanxuan’s heart!"

That way, whatever she wants to eat, even if she doesn’t say it, Daddy would know it through the worms in her belly...

Huang Tao found it both funny and frustrating, but he had to continue his far-fetched story with tears in his eyes...

When Huang Tao, holding a fully dressed Xuanxuan, emerged from the bedroom, the unique aroma of ginger filled the air, and he saw Song Cailian busy bustling about since early morning.

Xuanxuan’s little nose couldn’t help but twitch as she smiled and greeted, "Good morning, Grandma."

Hearing her darling granddaughter’s voice, Song Cailian responded with delight, "Ah, Xuanxuan is up too! Go wash up quickly; Grandma has made something delicious for you, eat a bit to pad your stomach before leaving."

"Okay~"

When Xuanxuan and Huang Tao finished using the bathroom, brushing their teeth, and washing their faces, two bowls of steaming ginger and walnut scrambled eggs are already placed on the table.

Huang Tao smiled and led Xuanxuan to sit at the dining table, laughing, "As soon as I smelled it, I thought it was ginger and walnut scrambled eggs, and I guessed right."

"Mom, it’s been a long time since I’ve had your ginger and walnut scrambled eggs, didn’t expect to be in for a treat this morning."

Song Cailian laughed and said, "Just last night, some neighbors sent us some walnuts. I saw ginger juice and eggs in the kitchen fridge, along with brown sugar, so I thought I’d make some for you to try this morning; eat it while it’s hot!"

"What about you and Dad’s?"

"Your dad is still sleeping! I’ll cook him some later; you two eat first."

Saying so, Song Cailian went to do the laundry.

You have to admit, having mom around feels truly wonderful!

Not only can you enjoy hot ginger and walnut scrambled eggs, but the house is also kept tidy and clean.

Thinking this, he didn’t forget to remind Xuanxuan, "Be careful, it’s hot. Take a spoonful, blow on it to cool it a bit before eating."

"Mhm."

Xuanxuan nodded obediently.

She scooped up a spoonful of the ginger and walnut scrambled eggs, which were riddled with tiny holes like a honeycomb, blew on it, and sniffed, "Smells so good..."

Huang Tao, savoring the rich aroma of walnut and egg mixed with brown sugar and ginger juice, found it to be an indulgence that warmed both heart and body.

He scooped a spoonful as well, blew on it, and put it in his mouth.

Soft, glutinous, and silky in texture, the flavor was enhanced by the unique spiciness of the ginger juice, and the scent of walnuts mixed with the aroma of old wine, enjoying a bowl warmed him from stomach to toes.

Ah...

Still the original formula, still the familiar taste!

"Mom, when will you teach me how to make these ginger and walnut scrambled eggs?"

Before the words were out, the cold electronic voice of a system instantly buzzed in his mind.