Chapter 33: “I Like You—Dream About Being My Boyfriend!” Mastery of Cantonese Cuisine: Stead Perch!
Jiang Feng replied, “Alright, I’ll keep it.”
Just as he sent the ssage, Jiang Youyou wriggled under his arm and into his lap, peering at his phone. “Who are you talking to?”
“Curious little thing,” Jiang Feng teased, booping her nose.
Youyou squinted at the screen, then turned. “It’s Grandma! I miss Grandpa and Grandma.”
Jiang Feng nodded. “Say sothing to her, then.”
He switched to voice ssages.
Youyou clung to his hand and chirped into the phone, “Grandma, I miss you! Will you co visit? We have room now!”
Back when Jiang Feng was still married to Xu Na, she had claid a spare bedroom as her walk-in closet. Another room was reserved for Xu Xiuli—even though she rarely visited, no one was allowed to touch her things.
Whenever Jiang Feng’s parents visited, they had to stay at a nearby hotel. Though Jiang Feng could afford it, Song Jin and Old Jiang insisted it was unnecessary. They’d usually leave after a day.
At least they lived close—just under three hours by high-speed rail and car.
Jiang Feng had argued with Xu Na once, but the result was her shrugging, “I’ll cover the hotel bills. Stay as long as you want.”
Youyou hated the arrangent too, but she’d been too afraid of Xu Na to speak up.
Now, things were different. Jiang Feng’s parents could stay as long as they liked.
Song Jin’s reply ca through: “Youyou! Grandma misses you too! We’ll visit soon and bring treats!”
Youyou bounced excitedly. “Co try Daddy’s buns first! They’re so good!”
Song Jin’s next ssage turned serious: “Youyou, if your dad runs into trouble, call Grandma, okay? He always tries to handle everything alone—never lets us help.”
Youyou nodded sagely. “I’ll make sure Daddy behaves!”
Jiang Feng pinched her chubby cheek. “Do I need to behave?”
“Uhh… Daddy, I was just showing off! Youyou listens to you!”
Laughing, Jiang Feng released her and sent a final voice note: “Youyou and I are heading to bed. Rest early too.”
He carried Youyou to the bathroom for her bath.
anwhile, Rong Shuang slumped against her pillow, eyelids drooping.
Exhaustion weighed on her—though her fever had eased, she hadn’t rested since dawn.
Tang Hei, fresh off her livestream, peeked in. “Still awake?”
Rong Shuang mumbled, “Waiting for him… He’s showering.”
Tang Hei sighed. Ever since her confession, Rong Shuang’s “husband obsession” had worsened!
“Sleep if you’re tired. Jiang Feng wouldn’t want you straining yourself.”
Rong Shuang shook her head. “Need to tell him sothing.”
“Text it! Then pass out.”
“No. I’ll wait.”
Tang Hei’s curiosity piqued. “What’s so important?”
“To say I like him. And goodnight.”
Tang Hei choked on the sudden dog food. “Fine, wait. I’ll get you water.”
Twenty minutes later, Jiang Feng finally finished showering.
He hesitated before picking up his phone. Part of him wanted to avoid ssaging Rong Shuang, but another part worried she might still be waiting.
He typed: “Done showering. Heading to bed—you should too.”
Rong Shuang’s phone buzzed. She jolted awake, scrambling to reply:
“Mhm! Goodnight!
I like you. Dream about being my boyfriend, okay?”
Today’s confession: Check.
The second she hit send, she collapsed into sleep.
Jiang Feng read it and responded: “Won’t. Goodnight.”
For both their sakes, he needed to be clear in his refusal.
He lay down just as Youyou trotted back from the bathroom.
“Daddy, goodnight!” She kissed his cheek and latched onto his right arm.
Jiang Feng ruffled her hair. “Sleep tight.”
Before drifting off, he activated a system lottery draw.
[Congratulations! Obtained: Cantonese Cuisine Mastery (Max Level). You can now cook the world’s finest Cantonese dishes.]
Jiang Feng’s eyes widened.
An entire culinary style—and one of the most globally beloved!
Recipes flooded his mind:
Wok-fried beef ho fun
Crispy-skinned roast suckling pig
Silky poached chicken
Golden “Buddha’s Hand” spare ribs
He could now make any Cantonese dish—at a world-class level.
I could add stir-fries to the shop’s nu…
But he decided to keep the focus on buns for now. The specifics could wait.
For the first ti in years, he felt… free.
No more waiting up for Xu Na, no more midnight (hangover soup duty.
Just sleep when he wanted.
5:00 AM
A light drizzle lingered, the air crisp with petrichor.
Jiang Feng and Youyou washed up, then headed downstairs to the car.
Youyou buckled into the passenger seat and imdiately conked out again.
Jiang Feng smiled. Having a car’s worth it just for this—30 extra minutes of sleep for her.
Before driving off, he checked his phone.
Xu Na had spamd more texts:
“Why are you ignoring ?”
“How do you make xingjiu tang (hangover soup)? Teach .”
“Is Youyou asleep?”
He left them on read.
At the market entrance, Jiang Feng parked and turned to Youyou. “Want to nap in the car? I’ll lock it.”
Electric vehicles didn’t need ignition—no carbon monoxide risks.
Youyou rubbed her eyes. “No, I’ll co.”
As they stepped out, the rain paused.
Then Jiang Feng froze.
Rong Shuang stood at the market gates in a white blouse, black skirt, and pristine ankle socks, holding an umbrella.
Spotting him, she jogged over, beaming.
“Surprised? Do you feel like a husband seeing his wife after work?”
Jiang Feng deadpanned, “My ho isn’t a wet market.”
“Why are you here?”
Rong Shuang stated it like obvious fact: “I’m syncing my schedule to yours. Morning market runs, then taking Youyou to school—saves you ti.”
Jiang Feng’s chest ward, though he kept his tone light. “You don’t need to co this early next ti.”
Rong Shuang huffed. “If you don’t want here, I’ll just follow you. When you agree to date , then I’ll obey.”
Defeated, Jiang Feng sighed. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Youyou, now fully awake, reached for Rong Shuang. “Teacher Rong! Up!”
Rong Shuang scooped her up. “Youyou, I dread about you last night.”
“Really? What did I do?”
“You called Mommy.”
“I can do that now! But Daddy won’t let .”
Jiang Feng ignored them, heading straight for the fishmonger.
“Boss, what’s the price on perch?”
Youyou and Rong Shuang exchanged thrilled glances.
New dish incoming!
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