When Will My Childhood Sweetheart Marry Me?-Chapter 30 - 0: She Needs to Steer Clear

It was already seven o’clock when she got home. Normally at this time, the part-time maid would be busy cooking in the kitchen, but today it was eerily quiet, not even a light was on.

Shuyao groped in the dark to press the switch at the entrance, and with a click, the living room lit up bright as day.

After changing her shoes, she planned to check the kitchen but was stopped in her tracks by the sight before her in the dining room.

In the center of the table was a French vintage candlestick with a white candle fitted in it, surrounded by a heart made of red roses. At both ends of the table were tall wine glasses, and next to the kitchen was a bottle of red wine with a decanter set up.

If she wasn’t mistaken, that bottle of red wine was her father’s cherished Lafite 1987, aged for five years.

Was her timing in coming home off?

Just as she was silently regretting, the sound of a key turning in the door echoed from outside, and sure enough, it was her father, who had been away on business for nearly two months.

Seeing his daughter dumbly standing by the dining table, Jiang Tingsong’s stern expression softened and he smiled, "Yaoyao, why aren’t you saying anything? Don’t you recognize Dad?"

Jiang Tingsong casually set down his keys and approached with a bag of groceries, freeing up one hand to pat his daughter’s head, "Go do your homework first. I’ll cook today, and we’ll eat when your mom comes home."

Perhaps because she hadn’t seen her father for a while, Shuyao just felt that the large hand on her head was unusually broad and warm. The longing from earlier faded, leaving only immense joy.

It finally dawned on Shuyao, and she broke into a happy smile, looking up and sweetly called out, "Dad," which entertained her father greatly.

"Dad, this whole table of surprises is for mom, right?"

She suddenly remembered something, snapping back to reality, "Right, today is your wedding anniversary."

That explained it—why Old Jiang had just come back, dusty and weary from travel, and immediately set up such a grand scene.

Damn, the maid really kept her mouth shut. As she left North Alley on the phone, all she asked was what Shuyao wanted to eat, chattering as usual, never hinting at anything else.

Intruding on her parents’ romantic time would just spoil the fun.

Maybe find an excuse to leave?

A sudden thought crossed her mind. While her father was busy with the fish at the sink, Shuyao peeked her head in from the doorway, "Dad, Pei Yan wants to come over for fried rice with egg."

Jiang Tingsong turned off the tap and glanced at his daughter, "Hmm, fried rice with egg is easy, I’ll make a separate portion for him later."

The girl seemed puzzled, "Did you know he was coming to freeload?"

Her father corrected her, albeit not approvingly, "Don’t put it that way. You used to eat at other people’s houses all the time when you were little."

Despite Pei Yan being a no-good, his parents, who were leaders in their field, treated that rascal like their own son.

Shuyao silently struggled for a moment before she told her father, "Don’t go through so much trouble, I’ll take him out to eat. You and mom should enjoy some alone time at home. I’ll just take a walk and come back later."

Jiang Tingsong instinctively wanted to object as he heard his daughter was going out, but before he could speak, the girl was already out of sight. He quickly wiped his wet hands with a cloth and hurried out.

"Yaoyao, you—"

"Dad, I promise I’ll be back by nine. Enjoy your candlelit dinner peacefully, I’m off."

Shuyao didn’t give her father a chance to reply, wrapping up her brief words, changing her shoes, and quickly stepping out.

Only when she entered the elevator did she allow herself a grin.

Her parents’ love was both ordinary and extraordinary—they had walked together for eighteen years, still maintaining the heartbeat and romance of youth, which was truly rare.

A beautiful life is to be cherished. Shuyao didn’t want to turn her parents’ anniversary into just another mundane dinner, so tonight she decided to make herself scarce.