Divorced Dad's Gourmet Shop

Chapter 36: Chapter 35: Getting Choked Up

"These buns are so delicious! They’re amazing! Jiang Liu, you’re incredible!"

Jun Qingmeng exclaimed as she ate.

"Tongtong, how did your dad learn to make buns this delicious? Where did he study?"

Tongtong nibbled on her bun and said proudly, "My dad is self-taught!"

Jun Qingmeng’s admiration for Jiang Liu grew even deeper.

’To think he’s self-taught and can make buns this good... He’d put the top state-banquet chefs to shame!’

"Boss, are there any buns left?"

A student asked, peeking in hopefully.

"Nope, all sold out."

The student’s face fell instantly.

"Sold out? That was fast."

"All right. I came a long way just for a taste. Boss, what time do you open tomorrow?"

"Hmm, after seven."

Jiang Liu still had to prepare a lot of fillings and take Tongtong to school, so he didn’t plan on opening too early.

"Okay! I’ll be here waiting at six tomorrow, then."

Just as the student left, Xue Guang came running over.

Seeing the cozy scene of Jiang Liu’s little family, Xue Guang scratched his head, embarrassed.

He hovered at the doorway, unsure whether to enter or leave.

As he was hesitating,

Jiang Liu smiled and called out, "Uncle Xue, come, let me introduce you. This is my daughter’s teacher, Jun Qingmeng."

"Oh, is that right? The young lady is very pretty. You two look good together..."

Tongtong nodded her little head. "That’s what I’ve been thinking."

Jun Qingmeng pretended not to hear and offered no rebuttal.

She just kept on eating her bun, as if they weren’t talking about her at all.

"Well, Xiao Jiang, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way."

Xue Guang hesitated. He had wanted to ask if there were any buns saved for him.

But seeing the situation, he decided not to interrupt their... candlelight dinner.

"Hang on, take these. I saved them especially for the two of you."

Jiang Liu held out a bag containing twenty buns and handed it to Xue Guang.

Xue Guang was stunned, his heart filled with gratitude.

’He had seen for himself how popular Jiang Liu’s buns were, yet Jiang Liu had still set aside so many for him...’

"Well, I’ll let you and your girlfriend get back to your meal. I’m off!"

Xue Guang deliberately misspoke, giving Jiang Liu a suggestive wink.

He really thought the girl was a great match for Jiang Liu and wanted to help play matchmaker. Whether it succeeded or not was up to the two of them.

"Hey! Uncle Xue, you’ve got it wrong! I told you, Qingmeng is not my girlfriend!"

Jiang Liu explained hurriedly.

’What if Jun Qingmeng took offense? His daughter was in her care, after all.’

Jiang Liu turned around and said apologetically, "Teacher Qingmeng, please don’t be angry. My Uncle Xue just spouts nonsense. He’s like that with everyone. Just pretend you didn’t hear him."

"I’m not angry,"

Jun Qingmeng said with a look of innocent confusion, before stuffing another piece of bun into her mouth.

"These buns are so delicious. I love them. Do you love them, Tongtong?"

"I do, I do!"

"Then have some more."

"Sigh... I want to, but..."

Tongtong pointed to her little belly.

"My little tummy says it can’t take any more."

"HAHAHAHA."

The two beauties, one big and one small, were having the time of their lives.

Their mouths and hands were covered in savory juices.

「7:30 p.m.」

With help from Jun Qingmeng and Tongtong, the shop was quickly cleaned spotless.

Jun Qingmeng’s stomach had settled a bit, and she no longer felt stuffed. She pulled out her phone to scan the payment code. "Boss Jiang, how much do I owe you?"

She asked playfully, mimicking a customer.

Jiang Liu feigned displeasure. "Oh, come on. You’re my daughter’s teacher. I told you, you’re my guest today. How could I possibly take your money? That would be a slap in my own face."

Jun Qingmeng smiled, amused.

"So I get to be a freeloader today, huh?"

"I couldn’t be happier about it."

"In that case, I’ll come every day and eat you into poverty!" Jun Qingmeng joked.

"Bring it on. You think I’m scared of that tiny appetite of yours?"

Jiang Liu said with a nonchalant look.

Tongtong chimed in, playing wingman, "Teacher Qingmeng, do you think the buns are delicious?"

Jun Qingmeng nodded with a look of pure admiration. "They’re more than just delicious!"

Tongtong pressed on, "So, would you want to eat them every day?"

"Of course I would!"

"I have an idea! My dad is super busy every day. So, you could bring me home from school for him, and as a reward, my dad will give you lots of buns to eat! How about that?"

Jiang Liu frowned. "Tongtong, are you asking for a spanking? You think Teacher Qingmeng has nothing better to do than personally bring you home every day?"

’Of course, he would love to have someone he trusted to pick Tongtong up.’

’And right now, Jun Qingmeng was the only suitable person.’

’But the problem was, she had her own life, her own home, and for all he knew, her own boyfriend.’

’It would be such a hassle for her to bring his daughter home every day.’ freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Jun Qingmeng was very tempted. "Would that really be okay?" she asked uncertainly.

She neither refused nor agreed, turning her gaze to Jiang Liu.

Tongtong hugged Jiang Liu’s leg, looking up at him with puppy-dog eyes.

"Daddy, please say yes! Tongtong wants to come home with Teacher Qingmeng! Daddy... Mwah~"

’Hehe, now my mouth is clean again.’

Jiang Liu sighed in resignation and asked, "Teacher Qingmeng, what do you think?"

"Hmm... I can’t hand my work off to my colleagues every day, so if I bring Tongtong home, it might be a little late."

"But it is on my way home. If you don’t mind, Jiang Liu, I think it could work."

Jiang Liu nodded. "All right then. From now on, I’ll treat you to buns every day. All you can eat."

"I have a huge appetite, you know. Be careful, I might eat you out of house and home. Don’t you go backing out on me later!"

Jun Qingmeng hummed a playful threat, raising a small, fair fist.

They made small talk for a while longer, but the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward.

Seeing how late it was getting, Jun Qingmeng decided to take her leave.

"It’s getting late. I should get home and get some sleep. I have work tomorrow."

"Okay. Thank you for everything today, Teacher Qingmeng."

Jiang Liu then brought out the ten remaining buns.

"Take these home with you."

Jun Qingmeng was about to refuse, but then she remembered her hungry best friend at home, who had messaged her earlier asking her to bring back a snack.

"All right, then. I’ll take them. I have a roommate at home; I’ll share them with her."

"Teacher, I don’t want you to go!"

Tongtong, her mouth now wiped clean, ran over and hugged Jun Qingmeng’s soft thigh.

She rubbed her little cheek against it again and again, then her hand snuck out and gave her a pat on the bottom.

"Wow, what a round watermelon!"

Jun Qingmeng’s entire body tensed instantly, as if an electric current had shot through her. Her face flushed a deep red, as if she were drunk.

"Tongtong, are you asking for a spanking? Let go of your teacher right now, or I’m spanking you tonight!"

Seeing Jun Qingmeng’s predicament, Jiang Liu quickly scolded Tongtong. freewebnovel.cσ๓

"Okay, okay! Daddy, do you want to feel? It’s super nice!"

Furious, Jiang Liu immediately gave Tongtong a few swats on her bottom.

"Teasing your teacher at such a young age, are we? Just you watch me teach you a lesson!"

"My bottom’s all tingly... WAHHHH, you’re a mean daddy!"

"Teacher Qingmeng, please don’t mind her. The kid has no filter. Just... you know how kids are. Please don’t take it to heart."

Jiang Liu apologized awkwardly.

’He wished he could find a hole to crawl into. What was all that about feeling her butt? It made it sound like father and daughter were ganging up to harass her!’

Jun Qingmeng’s eyes met Jiang Liu’s in a flustered glance, and she quickly waved her hands.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. Tongtong is still little. I... I’ll be heading back now."

"Let me walk you home. It’s not safe this late at night."

"Is... Is that appropriate?"

Jun Qingmeng was secretly delighted, but she put on a prim and troubled expression.

"Alright then. Be careful on your way."

’Jiang Liu suddenly realized his suggestion was, in fact, inappropriate.’

’The city was brightly lit; what was there to be unsafe about?’

’He was a grown man, his daughter had just harassed her about her butt, and now he was offering to walk her home.’

’That was more than a little sketchy.’

’Teacher Qingmeng would probably misunderstand and think he had some other ideas in mind.’

"Okay, I’m going now. Goodbye, Tongtong!"

"Goodbye, Teacher... WAHHHH, don’t go..."

Jiang Liu flipped the main breaker and did one last walkthrough of the shop.

Only then did he ride his bicycle home, with a pouting Tongtong on the back.

"Tongtong, from now on, you can’t just say whatever you want in front of your teacher, understand?"

"She might not show it, but she could be really upset on the inside."

Tongtong whimpered. "But Daddy, Teacher Qingmeng likes you!"

"Can you two please get together? Please? Tongtong wants a mommy."

Jiang Liu felt a sting in his nose.

’It was true. What child didn’t long for a mother’s love?’