“Jiang Ning, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you. I thought you weren’t satisfied with the BMW I arranged for you,” Su Meng said apologetically.
“CEO Su, you’re overthinking it. Right now, I just want to live a good life with Mengmeng. I don’t have any demands,” Jiang Ning replied helplessly.
Su Meng looked at Jiang Ning again.
She didn’t understand it herself. It had only been one day, yet she had already examined Jiang Ning countless times and scrutinized every word he said.
Maybe it was because she cared too much about Mengmeng, or maybe Jiang Ning had performed so exceptionally that it didn’t feel like he was someone concerned with personal gain.
Su Meng, who had long been immersed in the business world, was used to looking at people with a skeptical eye, analyzing every word they said.
Jiang Ning had no idea what was going through her mind. He genuinely just wanted to take good care of Mengmeng. Maybe the Super Stay-at-Home Dad System had already given him more than enough. Or maybe it was because Mengmeng had secretly told him that she was adopted from an orphanage, and that made him want to be even better to her.
Seeing Jiang Ning so sincere, Su Meng felt that maybe she had gone too far tonight.
She felt a bit guilty—she shouldn’t have looked at Jiang Ning with such suspicion.
What Jiang Ning had shown today wasn’t just a perfect score as a caretaker—it had gone far beyond the responsibility of a parent. He was even more attentive than a biological father.
People are often like this.
If a boss hires an employee who doesn’t work seriously, they’ll feel dissatisfied—thinking that since they’re paying them, the employee should work two, three, or even ten times harder in return.
But if the employee does too well or exceeds expectations, the boss starts getting suspicious, thinking the employee must have ulterior motives or bad intentions. So they begin to scrutinize them.
Su Meng was no exception. Jiang Ning’s performance had simply been too perfect.
And after what her brother said to her earlier in the afternoon, she couldn’t help but feel that the better Jiang Ning treated Mengmeng, the more it seemed like he was trying to win her over.
After all, Su Meng was a famously beautiful CEO. In the Su Group, everyone knew she was the only daughter. Plenty of rich heirs were constantly trying to woo her, flatter her, even grovel before her.
So it was no wonder she had kept examining Jiang Ning throughout the entire one-hour walk.
Unknowingly, the two had walked several laps around the neighborhood.
An hour passed.
“Mengmeng, that’s enough. Time to go home now,” Su Meng called out to Mengmeng, who was still playing on the lawn ahead.
“So soon? Mommy, I still want to play a bit more,” Mengmeng said reluctantly.
“No, you’re all sweaty. It’s time for a bath and bedtime.”
Seeing Su Meng so firm, Mengmeng finally turned and ran back.
The three of them returned to the villa.
“CEO Su, I’ll handle Mengmeng’s bath. You’ve got a business trip tomorrow—you should focus on packing,” Jiang Ning said as they stepped inside.
Su Meng nodded. “Thank you, Jiang Ning.”
Then he took Mengmeng into the bathroom.
Jiang Ning filled the bathtub with hot water, tested the temperature with his hand, and after making sure it was right, let Mengmeng get in.
After a long day of activity, he wanted her to enjoy a warm soak so she’d sleep well.
But the tub was designed for adults, so when Mengmeng got in, she immediately started splashing around, even imitating dog paddle strokes like she’d seen on TV.
While Jiang Ning wiped down her chubby little body, he ended up getting drenched by her splashing.
“Hehe! Uncle Jiang, look! Isn’t Mengmeng’s swimming amazing?” Mengmeng said joyfully, seeing Jiang Ning soaked.
“Mengmeng, you’re being a bit naughty. This is how you’re supposed to swim.” Jiang Ning demonstrated proper swimming strokes beside the tub.
Having grown up in the countryside, Jiang Ning had learned to swim in rivers from a young age and was a natural swimmer. Teaching proper swimming form was nothing to him.
Five minutes later…
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired Grandmaster-level Swimming skill.]
A flood of swimming knowledge rushed into Jiang Ning’s mind, and his body and limbs began to change. His arms and legs felt stronger, more flexible.
He’d earned another skill—just from playing in water.
And this skill didn’t only cover basic strokes like freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly, but also diving and various water-related techniques.
The amount of information was massive.
Jiang Ning would need some time to absorb it all.
Ten minutes later…
“Alright, Mengmeng, bath time’s over. You can’t soak too long, or you’ll catch a cold.” Jiang Ning quickly lifted her out and rinsed her off with fresh hot water.
“Mengmeng, go read some children’s books for a while. Uncle Jiang got soaked and needs to change clothes,” he said.
“Okay!” Mengmeng obediently went to her little reading nook.
It was filled with fairy tale books, picture books, and storybooks with both text and illustrations.
Jiang Ning returned to his room and changed into dry clothes.
“Mengmeng, time for bed,” he said as he came into her reading nook.
Mengmeng didn’t even look up, still reading, “But Uncle Jiang, I still want to read a bit more.”
Jiang Ning smiled, “Nope, it’s too late. Mengmeng needs to be good and go to bed.”
“Fine, then tell me a story.”
“Okay. This time, Uncle Jiang will tell you a brand-new one—you definitely haven’t heard it before.”
They headed to Mengmeng’s bedroom.
This time, Jiang Ning didn’t need to search for stories online. The fairy tales in his mind were already enough to last Mengmeng over a month.
Mengmeng lay down on the bed, and Jiang Ning stood beside it, animatedly telling the story with gestures and expression.
Mengmeng listened, completely mesmerized.
At the door, Su Meng quietly watched.
Even she had never heard the fairy tale Jiang Ning was telling.
She stood still, listening and watching him, her eyes dazed and unfocused.
“What’s wrong with me? Am I… enchanted?” Su Meng’s face flushed red, and she quickly left.
Half an hour later, Mengmeng had fallen asleep.
Jiang Ning tucked her in gently, tiptoed out, and closed the door softly.
Then, he grabbed the mop from the bathroom and began cleaning from the first floor.
The third floor housed Su Meng’s office and piano room.
At the same time, Su Meng was on the phone with Su Che.
“Sis, why are you calling so late? What is it?” Su Che said impatiently. He was in the middle of a game.
“Su Che, be honest with me. What exactly did you tell Jiang Ning when you recommended him?”
Su Che groaned. Her call had just cost him the game, “Sis, what could I have said? He still doesn’t even know I’m your brother.”
“Su Che, did you tell him to pursue me? Or hint at matching us up?”
“Oh come on, sis! You’re being ridiculous. Do you really think your smart, capable little brother would be dumb enough to say something like that? If I’d told Jiang Ning that, would he have even agreed to be a stay-at-home dad?”
“Su Che, tell me exactly what you said to him—word for word. Don’t leave anything out,” Su Meng said sternly.
She still couldn’t believe Jiang Ning could be so attentive and patient with Mengmeng—better than her own father ever could be. Even she herself couldn’t match that level of care.
“Fine. I’ll tell you. Listen carefully—I’m not repeating this again.”
Su Che then recounted everything, exactly as it had happened.
“You said I’m cold and aloof? Do I come across that way?” Su Meng said, annoyed.
“Sis, go ask anyone. Your ‘cold CEO’ image is famous. Can’t your own brother tell the truth for once?”
“Enough, enough. I’m hanging up.” Su Meng ended the call in frustration.
“Looks like I overthought it,” Su Meng breathed a quiet sigh of relief.