“Mengmeng, come down for lunch!” Jiang Ning called out cheerfully from the first floor.
“Okay, Uncle Jiang, I’m coming!” Mengmeng adorably took the elevator downstairs.
“Mengmeng, remember to wash your hands before eating.” Jiang Ning smiled as he watched her excited little face.
“I know, Uncle Jiang. Mommy said we have to wash our hands thoroughly before meals, or else we’ll eat those nasty bad germs and get worms in our tummies.” Mengmeng’s chubby, baby-fat cheeks carried a look of mature seriousness.
“Jiang Ning, the food you made smells amazing. I could smell it from the third floor.” Su Meng walked out of the elevator at that moment.
Though her face remained cold and indifferent, she nodded in satisfaction.
After washing their hands in the bathroom, Su Meng and Mengmeng came out together.
Mengmeng bounced happily to the dining table.
Jiang Ning picked her up and placed her in the baby dining chair.
Looking at the delicious dishes on the table, Mengmeng’s eyes lit up. “Wow, Uncle Jiang, the food looks so pretty!”
“Go ahead, have a taste and see if you like it,” Jiang Ning encouraged.
Just then, Su Meng also stepped into the dining room.
Today, she wore a fitted black suit. Her hair was perfectly tied up, giving her a powerful presence.
When she saw the food on the table, she frowned slightly. “You made all this?”
“Yes, CEO Su,” Jiang Ning replied.
Seeing her frown, he felt nervous inside. Did she not like the food? Maybe neither she nor Mengmeng liked the dishes he made?
Su Meng sat down, picked up her chopsticks, and tasted a bite of stir-fried mushrooms with meat. A hint of surprise appeared on her usually stern face. “I didn’t expect your cooking to be this good.”
“I used to enjoy experimenting with food and practiced a lot,” Jiang Ning replied modestly, finally feeling relieved.
He then scooped a bowl of rice for Mengmeng and handed it to her, preparing to do the same for Su Meng.
“Jiang Ning, just give me half a bowl,” Su Meng said.
“Alright,” Jiang Ning nodded.
But before he could serve her, Mengmeng spoke up while eating, “Wow, Uncle Jiang, your cooking is so tasty! And the dishes are arranged so nicely too!”
“Mengmeng, what did Mommy tell you before?” Su Meng smiled, but her tone was clearly stern.
“Oh… I know, Mommy. I was wrong. No talking while eating or sleeping,” Mengmeng quickly lowered her head and continued eating quietly.
Still, from the way she eagerly stuffed food into her mouth, it was obvious how much she liked the meal.
Su Meng looked at her satisfied daughter, then glanced at Jiang Ning again, and her trust in him grew stronger. “Jiang Ning, take good care of Mengmeng. When I return, I won’t treat you unfairly.”
“Don’t worry, CEO Su, I’ll do my best,” Jiang Ning replied seriously.
Su Meng picked up another piece of braised beef and placed it in her mouth. Her eyes widened—the moment it touched her tongue, it was a feast for the senses.
The beef was perfectly cooked, every fiber soaked in rich, flavorful broth.
The taste was like a magical key that opened the door to a treasure trove of flavor.
The juices burst on her tongue, blending savory and a hint of sweetness, with subtle spices adding complex layers like rolling hills.
This braised beef was a dreamlike journey for the taste buds, completely winning Su Meng over and making it hard to stop eating.
She couldn’t help glancing at Jiang Ning and said, “Jiang Ning, with your culinary skills, you could be a head chef at a five-star hotel.”
“CEO Su, don’t tease me. I’m not into working at fancy hotels. Too restrictive. I prefer a more laid-back lifestyle,” Jiang Ning gave an excuse.
After all, these cooking skills were only acquired yesterday from the Super Stay-at-Home Dad System.
Normally, Su Meng would only eat half a bowl of rice and a few pieces of vegetables.
Today, though she still ate just half a bowl of rice, she had quite a few dishes.
If she weren’t concerned about maintaining her figure, she would have devoured more.
Eventually, she reluctantly put down her chopsticks and left the table with visible hesitation.
“Mengmeng, Jiang Ning, you two go ahead and eat. I have to leave now.”
“Okay, Mommy. Take care,” Mengmeng responded habitually.
“CEO Su, leaving already? You barely ate. Are you full?” Jiang Ning asked in confusion.
He assumed maybe the food wasn’t good enough, and that’s why Su Meng didn’t eat much.
He had no idea that Su Meng had been fighting the urge to keep eating the entire time. If not for her obsession with maintaining her perfect figure, she would’ve continued stuffing her face.
Jiang Ning didn’t realize his current cooking skills were already good enough to be a five-star hotel’s head chef.
In those places, even the head chefs rarely cooked personally. Guests usually ate meals prepared by senior chefs. Only important or VIP guests would get dishes directly made by the head chef.
Su Meng checked the time and left for the company in a rush.
Watching her retreating figure, Jiang Ning thought to himself that he still needed to improve his cooking skills further. Though Su Meng had complimented him about being head-chef material, he couldn’t tell if she truly meant it, or if it was just because the dish presentation looked professional.
Or perhaps, because she didn’t eat much and left early, he misunderstood that she didn’t like it.
He couldn’t figure out what rich people considered “good food.”
Either way, as long as he thought it tasted good, that was enough.
Maybe it was just a matter of different taste preferences.
Some liked light food, others preferred sweet, salty, or spicy.
He didn’t know what flavors Su Meng liked best. Maybe their tastes were just different.
Jiang Ning thought about it to himself.
“Uncle Jiang, your food is super delicious!” Once Su Meng left, Mengmeng finally couldn’t hold back her thoughts.
“Really? If you like it, then eat more,” Jiang Ning grinned at her praise.
“Mm-hmm! Uncle Jiang, I’ll tell you a secret.” Mengmeng spoke as she ate, peeking toward the door like she was afraid someone might hear.
“Go ahead, Mengmeng, don’t worry. No one’s around. It’s just the two of us in the villa,” Jiang Ning said curiously.
“Actually… I’m not Mommy Su’s real daughter. Mommy Su adopted me from the orphanage,” Mengmeng said seriously, like a little adult.
“What?” Jiang Ning was shocked.
He had assumed Mengmeng was Su Meng’s biological daughter. He’d always had questions. For someone like Su Meng, a CEO, there should’ve been housekeepers at home and even help from her parents. Why was it just her and Mengmeng in such a big villa?
“Uncle Jiang, it’s true. Mommy Su brought me back from the orphanage just a week ago. Before that, she used to visit often and play piano for us. Then one day, I don’t know what she said to the headmistress, but she took me home. After that, she asked me to start calling her Mommy,” Mengmeng said while eating, as if reminiscing.
“Alright then, Mengmeng, since Mommy Su asked you to call her Mommy, that means from now on, you’re her good daughter. You have to be good and listen to her, okay?” Jiang Ning rubbed her head affectionately.
Now that he knew Mengmeng was an orphan, he felt even more tender and protective toward her.
“Mm-hmm! I’ll be very good and obedient. That’s what the headmistress told me too,” Mengmeng replied sweetly.