Chapter 22

“Daddy is here!” When Cheng Liqi heard the doorbell, she jumped up from the bed, “Mom, I told Daddy to bring your favorite chicken soup dumplings that you love to eat. I told Daddy to come quickly because Mom likes to eat the dumplings hot, they won’t taste good when they’re cold.”

Mom’s stomach hurts for a few days every month, and when she’s in pain she likes to eat the chicken soup dumplings from Maple Grandpa’s house - the plump white dumplings that you can pop into your mouth whole, and wash it down with a sip of the fresh chicken broth. Nothing tastes better, Cheng Liqi thought about the taste and swallowed, slipping off the bed and running on her little legs to open the door for Dad.

Cheng Jinlan didn’t even have time to stop her. She rolled over after getting out of bed, and decided to just go with it instead of worrying about what was happening outside or what Liqi had said to him on the phone. She went straight to the bathroom without thinking about it any further.

By the time she came out, the person who was supposed to come in had already entered. On the coffee table in the living room there were two large bags. Cheng Liqi saw Mom come out and happily pointed to the bags, “Mom look, there are dumplings that you love to eat, shrimps and sesame balls that Grandma loves, soup dumplings that Grandpa loves, sticky rice and red dates cake that Auntie Qiao loves, seafood congee that Uncle loves, and my most favorite custard buns! I asked Dad to buy them all.”

She looked a little pale, her hair was loosely tied up with a clip, which made her fair face look even smaller. Shao Chengze didn’t mention what Little Liqi had said to him on the phone, and gently asked her, “Not feeling well?”

Cheng Jinlan took out her wallet and pulled out some banknotes. While Liqi was busy taking things out of the bags, not paying attention over here, she handed the money over to him, “Tell Liqi you have something to do and have to go.”

Shao Chengze’s hand reached over, but he didn’t take the money. His fingertip brushed against the back of her hand, just for a moment, before quickly pulling away. Her hand was icy cold.

“Stomach hurts?”

She was usually fine, but would get cold hands and feet during those few days every month.

Cheng Jinlan's brows furrowed as she stuffed the money directly into his suit pocket, then took two steps back, putting a clear distance between them.

“No matter what Liqi said to you, those are just a child’s thoughts, don’t take it seriously.”

Shao Chengze looked into her still sleepy eyes. He knew that even if she had dreamed of him and called out his name in her sleep, it was impossible that it was what Liqi had said.

But hating someone in your dreams is also a type of thought, isn't it? If she hated him, didn't it mean that he had once entered her heart?

"Second brother, whose car is parked in the yard?" Fei Zuhui's voice came from the entrance.

Cheng Jinlan's place was right next to her parents' house, with a connecting door in the adjoining wall that they usually used. Fei Zuhui knew her daughter wasn't feeling well these past two days, so she brought food over to this side to avoid more back and forth.

The door to the foyer was half open. Fei Zuhui pushed it open and called into the living room, "Whose license plate is that? Coming so early in the morning."

Cheng Jinlan reacted quickly, grabbing a pair of sunglasses she had casually left on the table and putting them on him before he could refuse.

Fei Zuhui paused at the foyer, looking at the tall man wearing black sunglasses standing in the middle of the living room. She was stunned for a moment, "Who is this?"

No matter what was said, Fei Zuhui would probably misunderstand. Cheng Jinlan could only use his hotel coworker identity to cover for now.

Before Fei Zuhui could react, Cheng Liqi eagerly answered her grandma, "Grandma, this uncle is a delivery person. I suddenly wanted Maple Grandpa's custard buns this morning, so the delivery uncle brought over the buns for me. And foods that Mom, Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Qiao, and Uncle love too! He's amazing to be able to deliver so many things by himself."

After explaining, Cheng Liqi sneakily winked at her parents.

Mom said Grandma can't know yet that he's my dad.

Dad said it's a secret between the three of us that he's my dad.

She's so smart, letting Dad pretend to be a delivery uncle so their secret won't be exposed to Grandma.

Shao Chengze had already halfway raised his hand, originally planning to take off the sunglasses and introduce himself. But now he could only put his hand back down. After all, he couldn't sabotage his own daughter's story.

Cheng Jinlan helped cover their clumsy story, "He's a new employee at the hotel. I'm going over a bit later, he came to discuss some work matters. Liqi wanted custard buns, and he happened to be passing by, so I had him bring some food from Maple Uncle's place."

After explaining to Fei Zuhui, Cheng Jinlan turned to Shao Chengze, "You go back first, we'll talk about the rest when I get to the hotel."

Her clear, limpid eyes were full of warning.

Shao Chengze cooperated with her threatening look and acted like an obedient employee, "Alright, Boss Cheng, I'll head back first then."

Cheng Jinlan indifferently hmm-ed in response. Cheng Liqi happily waved goodbye to Dad. She loved this game, it felt like playing hide and seek, with only her and Mom knowing where Dad was hiding.

"Mrs. Cheng, hello." Shao Chengze stopped by Fei Zuhui as he walked out, greeting her.

"Hello." Fei Zuhui nodded slightly.

Yet she somehow felt something was off, but couldn't pinpoint what exactly. The young man looked quite spirited and polite, but why was he still wearing sunglasses inside the house on such an overcast day?

Shao Chengze left and Cheng Jinlan took the things from Fei Zuhui's hands to distract her from looking outside. "Mom, did brother come over to eat? I have something I want to ask him."

"No," Fei Zuhui grumpily replied, "I called but he didn't pick up, who knows if he was out drinking again last night and still hasn't sobered up. I'm too lazy to bother with him anymore. He's almost 30 but still acts like a kid, how long can I keep managing him? Let him do as he likes, less headache for me and him."

Cheng Liqi swallowed the custard bun in her mouth and said to Fei Zuhui, "Grandma, you have to keep an eye on Uncle, or he'll fly away to Mars if you don't watch him."

Hearing her granddaughter's soft, childish voice made Fei Zuhui laugh so hard her eyes disappeared. "Of course I'll keep an eye on him, can't have your Uncle flying off to Mars where we'd never see him again."

Cheng Liqi nodded, that's right, Mars was too far. She wanted to see Uncle every day.

Cheng Jinlan stood at the window, glanced at the car driving out of the yard, and casually said to Fei Zuhui, "Mom, I'm going to wash up first."

Fei Zuhui only had eyes for her little granddaughter at the moment and didn't even hear what her daughter said.

Cheng Jinlan was halfway through washing her face, bubbles all over, when the person suddenly appearing behind her gave her a fright. "Mom, you scared me half to death."

Fei Zuhui walked into the bathroom and leaned against the cabinet next to her, calling her name, "Cheng Jinlan."

With the look on her mom's face, Cheng Jinlan's heart thumped, thinking she had been found out. Her mom shouldn't have seen him before, how did she recognize him? Or did Liqi let something slip?

"Did something happen? You look so serious," Cheng Jinlan calmly continued washing her face.

She had to look serious for the intimidation tactic to work. Fei Zuhui said, "Do you still remember what you told me a couple days ago, that you don't like younger men and wanted me to introduce men your age? You said that, right?"

"Yes."

"Well I happen to have a boy around your age now. Do you want to meet him?" Fei Zuhui didn't want her to make excuses, "These were your own words, not me forcing you. You can't say it, get my hopes up and find him for you, then brush me off with being too busy at work. That would be no different from playing with your mother's feelings! "

Fei Zuhui was about to continue when Cheng Jinlan rinsed the bubbles off her face and wiped herself dry with face towels. She replied, "I'll meet him."

Fei Zuhui was stunned. "Really?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Then when do you want to meet?"

"Check his schedule, I'm free evenings these days."

Fei Zuhui didn't expect it to be this easy. Since her daughter had finally loosened up, she had to strike while the iron was hot before she changed her mind again. "How about tonight then?" Then remembering she wasn't feeling well, "Nevermind, better give it a couple more days since you're not feeling well right now."

"No need, tonight is fine. Just a meal."

Fei Zuhui looked at her suspiciously, feeling something was off about her easy agreement. "You're not planning something bad, are you?"

Cheng Jinlan laughed, "What bad thing could I be plotting? Weren't you the one who said I should meet more boys and date more."

"It'd be great if you really thought that way. Then it's decided, tonight it is. I'll give him your number and he can contact you when he arrives."

"Okay." Cheng Jinlan set Fei Zuhui's mind at ease. "Mom, I promise I'll go."

Only then did Fei Zuhui feel reassured.

When Cheng Jinlan arrived at Lan Chuan and stepped out of the elevator, she saw the conference room directly opposite full of pastries and drinks from a certain brand.

Seeing Cheng Jinlan, Tang Yicheng quickly came over to explain the situation. "Boss Cheng, Chairman Shao from Qiongmei sent over desserts and coffee, as thanks for our conference team's hard work."

Cheng Jinlan nodded to indicate she understood, and told Tang Yicheng, "Reply in the group chat to thank Chairman Shao for his support of Lan Chuan's work."

"Got it." Tang Yicheng held out a box with both hands, "Boss Cheng, this one is for you."

Cheng Jinlan didn't even glance at the box. "I won't be having it, you can share it among everyone."

She was on her period and sweets helped with the pain, but she didn't want to eat what he sent. Tang Yicheng was about to say something when Cheng Jinlan had already entered her office.

Looking at the box in his hands, Tang Yicheng knew Shao had gone through much difficulty to send over the desserts. But judging by the current situation, Shao wanted to reconcile but Cheng didn't give him the chance. Given Cheng's personality of saying one thing and meaning it, once she decided something it was hard to change her mind. Shao's road ahead didn't seem easy.

Cheng Jinlan felt a little better today. She handled some of the work that had piled up over the past two days. In the meantime, she received a WeChat friend request from the other party and confirmed the time and location for dinner tonight.

Without even asking for the other person's basic information, she agreed to this meeting. She didn't know who she was trying to brush off - probably just herself, Cheng Jinlan thought.

Cheng Jinlan left the hotel early in the afternoon and went to pick up Cheng Liqi from kindergarten first before heading to the restaurant. Ever since the paparazzi incident, she tried to pick her up herself whenever possible.

There were many cars and people gathered at the kindergarten gate during school pickup time.

As soon as Cheng Liqi saw her mother, she happily cried "Mommy!" while running towards her. Cheng Jinlan squatted down to welcome her. A chubby little boy also spotted his mother and charged out like an airplane, accidentally bumping into Cheng Jinlan in his haste.

Wearing high heels, Cheng Jinlan was easily thrown off balance with just a tilt. She was about to fall when someone behind her reached out to support her waist.

Without looking back, Cheng Jinlan knew who it was. Some people's breaths and scents were engraved in her bones. She relied on his arm strength to stand firm, then swiftly left his embrace.

"Mommy, did you get hurt anywhere?" Cheng Liqi asked anxiously.

Cheng Jinlan reassured her, "Mommy is fine, didn't get hurt anywhere."

The little boy's mother brought him over to apologize. Cheng Jinlan waved her hand and said it was nothing, it wasn't the little boy's fault, she just lost her balance. Seeing that her mother was okay, Cheng Liqi finally relaxed. She held her mother's hand with one hand and her father's with the other. Her parents had both come to pick her up from school today, making her very happy.

"Mommy, Daddy was so amazing just now, he rushed out and hugged you in an instant."

Cheng Jinlan stroked her little braid but said nothing, just smiling at her.

Cheng Liqi looked towards Shao Chengze again, "Daddy, was your work not busy today, so you came to pick me up from school?"

Shao Chengze also stroked her little braid, "Yes, Daddy wasn't busy with work today."

"That's great." Cheng Liqi swung her little braid happily. "Mommy, can we go shopping at the mall today? Our school holiday is coming up soon, and I want to buy presents for Shen Chuqi and Yun XiLi."

Cheng Jinlan replied, "Mommy has something to do later and can't go shopping with you today. How about next weekend?"

"Oh...okay." Cheng Liqi sounded a little disappointed.

Shao Chengze didn't know if she really had something on or if that was just an excuse to avoid him.

He suggested, "Can I take her shopping while you take care of your errand, then bring her to find you afterwards?"

Cheng Liqi perked up again, "Can we do that, Mommy?"

Children's Day was in ten days after the upcoming school holiday, and she still hadn't chosen a birthday present for Mommy yet. If Daddy accompanied her shopping, she could pick out a birthday gift for Mommy with him today.

Seeing the excitement on her face, Cheng Jinlan agreed, "Alright, Mommy will call you when I'm done."

"Okay, Mommy. I'll be good and stay with Daddy, I won't run around. You take care of your errand without worrying about me."

Cheng Jinlan squeezed her little hand, "Such a good girl."

In the end, Cheng Jinlan didn't say a word to Shao Chengze or even glance at him. Cheng Liqi waved goodbye to Mommy from Daddy's arms, telling Mommy to drive slowly.

After Mommy's car had driven far away, Cheng Liqi hugged Daddy's neck and asked, "Daddy, you still don't know how to make Mommy happy?"

"Not yet for now."

"I see." Cheng Liqi comforted Daddy, "Don't worry Daddy, even if you can't make Mommy happy, there will surely be other boys in this world who can make Mommy happy."

Shao Chengze's expression changed.

"Just like me - when I'm unhappy, Zhou Jiaheng tries to cheer me up but I'm still not happy. But when Shen Chuqi cheers me up, I become happy right away."

Shao Chengze's expression changed again.

"Daddy, isn't this the difference between liking someone and not liking them?"

Shao Chengze's face no longer showed any discernible color.