Jun Qingmeng showed no sign of panic at being discovered. Instead, she leaned in closer and asked with a smile, "Is everything taken care of? How did it go?"

At the mention of this, Jiang Liu’s mood lifted. "It went well. She caved. I added a few more conditions, and if all goes smoothly, her visitation rights for Tongtong will be completely terminated."

"That’s good." Jun Qingmeng nodded, then said with some hesitation, "Jiang Liu, those two bun recipes... that’s your creation. If... if you don’t want to give them up, I can find someone to help you sort this all out."

She could use her family’s connections. They could crush Yang Yixue with ease.

But...

’if she did that...’

Still, Jun Qingmeng was willing to help Jiang Liu.

She couldn’t bear to see Jiang Liu unhappy, even if it meant sacrificing everything.

Jiang Liu’s heart softened for a moment. He smiled faintly. "Qingmeng, thank you for your concern, but I really don’t need it."

Jun Qingmeng was both disappointed and happy.

She was disappointed that Jiang Liu wouldn’t accept her protection, but happy that they could still enjoy these quiet moments together, without having to face the clamor of the outside world.

"Okay... If you’re ever in trouble, remember to come to me. After all, I’m your family’s daughter-in-law."

"My mom agreed. I didn’t."

Jun Qingmeng rubbed her eyes, feigning hurt. "Alright, then! Are you really that heartless?"

"Tongtong, what should I do? Your daddy doesn’t care about me at all."

"Tongtong cares about you, Teacher Qingmeng! Let’s hug! Hugs will make the sadness go away."

"Waaah, my little Tongtong is the one who’s good to her teacher, unlike a certain heartless man."

"Waaah, yeah, yeah!"

The two of them hugged, weeping dramatically.

After a moment,

Tongtong asked with feigned casualness, "Teacher, you said just now you were going to find someone. Who is it? Is it a man?"

’I have to keep an eye on Teacher Qingmeng for Daddy. I can’t let someone else snatch her away.’

Jiang Liu, who was slicing fish, felt his ears twitch.

Jun Qingmeng flicked Tongtong’s forehead playfully. "What are you thinking? At your young age, all you think about are inappropriate things, huh?"

"Waaah, you have to tell this little cutie, or she’ll be heartbroken."

Jun Qingmeng took out her phone and showed it to Tongtong. "There are no men in my contacts. If you don’t believe me, you can look through it yourself. From now on, you can check your teacher’s phone whenever you want."

"How’s that?"

As she spoke, Jun Qingmeng glanced over at Jiang Liu.

Jiang Liu quickly turned his head away, pretending he hadn’t been listening in.

’My boyfriend is so cute!’

’I like him more and more!’

Tongtong clutched the phone, her little eyes glinting with a shrewd light.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t read.

She was in a complete panic.

’Daddy still hasn’t said yes. What if my Teacher Qingmeng falls for someone else?’

’It makes a little cutie like me feel very insecure!’

"Teacher Qingmeng, you’re bullying me because I can’t read! Waaah."

Jun Qingmeng smiled helplessly, held Tongtong in her arms, and began explaining the contacts one by one.

The little one’s mood gradually improved.

’So Teacher Qingmeng really, really, *really* loves Daddy.’

’Now I don’t have to worry.’

Hehe.

At 6:10 PM,

Jiang Liu announced they were open for business.

The line at the door was over two hundred people long.

The whole of Yangzhai Street buzzed with excitement.

"Brother Jiang, any shrimp noodles today?" Huang Yunfeng asked casually.

Jiang Liu nodded. "Yes. I forgot to tell you all, but there are thirty servings of shrimp noodles tonight, limit one bowl per person."

Huang Yunfeng froze, then a wave of shocked delight washed over him, his heart pounding. "You actually have it?!"

He had only asked on a whim, not expecting anything to come of it.

"Then give me one order of shrimp noodles, fifteen buns, three bottles of juice, and the tuna, all to go!"

There were a few bigwigs waiting back at the construction site!

The tuna was back to its original price today.

Many customers sighed in disappointment; it was now even further out of reach for their salaries.

Even though it was a bit expensive, they still bit the bullet and bought it without a second thought.

Yang Tuoyang eagerly shouted, "Brother Jiang, one bowl of shrimp noodles, a cup of juice, and a to-go order of tuna for me! The college entrance exams are exhausting. I need to feed my poor little brain!"

Jiang Liu teased, "How about I give you some practice tests to work on another day?"

Yang Tuoyang: ʕ•̀ o •́ʔ !! I’m gonna kill you.

Yu Han, who had clashed with Jiang Liu last time, was also near the front of the line today.

Today, she wasn’t her usual arrogant self. In a quiet voice, she said:

"Boss Jiang, I’d like fifteen buns and a cup of juice, please."

"Alright, one moment."

Jiang Liu’s tone was as gentle as ever.

Yu Han found herself staring at Jiang Liu’s handsome face, lost in a daze.

’It would be so nice if he were my boyfriend.’

Yu Qingzheng had arrived as well.

He got the tuna he had been longing for, and it was so delicious it nearly brought tears to his old eyes.

"I’d heard you were selling wild bluefin tuna, Young Boss Jiang. At first, I didn’t believe it—how could it be so cheap? But now, I’m a believer!"

"Forget one thousand eight hundred, I’d still buy a portion even if it was three thousand eight hundred!"

Jiang Liu just smiled without a word.

Soon, all thirty servings of shrimp noodles were sold out.

The customers who missed out were so mad they were practically hopping with frustration.

They were losing their minds!!

That was the second time they had failed to get any!

Zheng Qiang finally made it to the front of the line today. "Boss Jiang, business is booming, huh?"

"It’s alright. You’re not opening your shop anymore?"

"Nope. All I know is how to make knife-cut noodles. I can’t make any money opening up next to you. There are still eight months left on the lease; I’m planning to sublet it."

An idea struck Jiang Liu, and he asked, "If I wanted to buy this storefront, how much would it cost, roughly?"

As he spoke, he handed the buns to Zheng Qiang.

Zheng Qiang rubbed his bald head and thought for a moment. "Hard to say. The storefronts on Yangzhai Street have all gone up in price. With this much foot traffic right outside your shop, I bet the landlord would sell it for a premium. Two million, minimum."

He and Jiang Liu used to be rivals, but now all he felt was admiration.

"I see."

Jiang Liu clicked his tongue. He wanted to buy the shop next door to expand his own place.

Unfortunately, his pockets were empty.

’I’ll have to find another way.’

With his buns in hand, Zheng Qiang headed home, pleased as punch.

If he went a day without Jiang Liu’s food, his whole body felt out of sorts.

It was just too expensive to eat regularly. Even a simple meal of a few buns and a juice cost nearly a hundred.

"Once the storefront is sublet, I’m going to eat tuna three times a day!"

Inside the shop,

A young monk with ordination scars on his scalp, dressed in a yellow robe, walked in.

He pressed his palms together in a respectful greeting.

"Patron, I’d like a bottle of juice, five chive and egg buns, five shrimp buns, five fennel buns, and a plate of tuna sashimi, please."

The monk’s name was Xin Shan. He had once studied at South City White Pagoda Temple, but he was later expelled and stripped of his monastic status for violating the rules by flirting with female visitors.