Chapter 7 Ordering Food

Xu Qingying was stunned.

The netizens in the live stream were also stunned, frozen like wooden chickens, and after their initial shock, they began howling wildly!

[Call him “Dad” once and get a card?!]

[Who said the stepfather doesn’t like Zhi Li? I’d kill for this kind of “dislike” ahhhh!]

[I just asked my dad to “dislike” me, and he rolled his eyes at me so hard.]

[A bank card! That’s a freaking bank card!!!]

[Why do I hear indulgence in that cold, indifferent tone?]

[Indulgence my foot, they clearly don’t know each other well.]

[Forget whether they’re close or not, did Zhi Li really make her stepfather crouch down just to say good morning? Was it a “good morning” that earned her the bank card or a “Dad”?]

[Definitely “Dad.”]

[Are you sure Zhi Li only said good morning? The live stream went black for a second or two!]

[That was because a maid’s skirt brushed past the camera →_→]

[What could happen in one or two seconds? The stepfather is clearly swiping his card to buy the title of “Dad”!!!]

Zhi Li had never seen a bank card before. She barely recognized the words on it and had no idea what it was for, simply assuming it was a welcome gift from her new dad.

Holding the bank card in her hand, her heart felt like a firework tube bursting with dazzling sparks.

Not only did her new dad give her money, but he also gave her a gift. Her new dad really likes me just like Grandma! And yet, Cousin misunderstood that he would ignore me. Once Mom’s show is done, I’ll definitely explain to Cousin how wrong she was about him!

A sweet smile bloomed on Zhi Li’s face as she chirped, “Thank you, Daddy!”

Jiang family’s matriarch, Song Yin, watched the interaction between Zhi Li and Jiang Yanheng from around the corner.

Her expression had been neutral until she spotted Xu Qingying in the distance. Her face instantly darkened, and she turned to leave.

No wonder Xu Qingying had rushed to bring Zhi Li home just one day before the show. She was clearly planning to use the child as a bridge to win over both the family and the audience!

How could she be so heartless as to exploit such a young child!

Now it made sense why Zhi Li had suddenly grown bold enough to be affectionate overnight—especially toward Jiang Yanheng, that block of ice. It had to be Xu Qingying’s doing.

Xu Qingying must be recycling her old tricks, tweaking them before teaching them to the child!

Zhi Li also noticed Xu Qingying and immediately dashed over, her little feet pattering like a fledgling bird eagerly fluttering into its mother’s embrace.

Once she reached her, she pulled out a stack of hundred-yuan bills from her little bag and handed them all to Xu Qingying without missing a single one. “Mom, all this money is for you!” That way, you’ll have plenty of confidence!

This spot was already a near blind spot for the camera. Though the viewers couldn’t see much, they could hear Zhi Li offering the money.

[Is Xu Qingying making her daughter act out a “well-behaved” script?]

[Does your “well-behaved” script only include giving cash and not bank cards?]

[…Only giving cash and not cards, hahahaha, I’m dying.]

Jiang Yanheng watched as Zhi Li handed Xu Qingying the red paper money, his lips curling into a faint smirk.

This little one sure knows how to present Buddha with borrowed flowers.

Just as he was about to leave, another thought struck him—what was the name of this little girl who had just called him “Daddy”?

Xu Qingying hadn’t accepted the money from the little bag yesterday, and she couldn’t take it from the child now either. She stuffed the bills back into Zhi Li’s bag. “This is your allowance. Buy whatever you want with it. You don’t need to give it to Mom.”

No sooner had she spoken than Jiang Yanheng approached.

Xu Qingying looked up and saw him.

He was very tall with excellent bone structure, likely having just returned home from a flight. His crisp suit bore a few creases, and the top button of his white dress shirt was fastened, giving him a mature yet aloof demeanor.

Jiang Yanheng—the contractual husband from the original host’s memories.

Their agreement lasted one year, and from the original host’s memories, she had desperately wanted to turn their fake relationship into reality and become the true mistress of the Jiang family.

Xu Qingying knew her wits were no match for a shrewd businessman like Jiang Yanheng. Rather than pretending to make their relationship real, she preferred leveraging the Jiang family’s status to advance her own career during the contract period. Once the variety show plot concluded, she would immediately take Zhi Li and leave the Jiang household.

Jiang Yanheng was also observing Xu Qingying.

He had only met Xu Qingying twice, yet he could still see the poorly concealed calculations in her eyes.

But the person before him now exuded a tempered calmness and resilience, somewhat reminiscent of the self-made business partners he had encountered who had clawed their way up from the bottom.

Had Xu Qingying’s earlier scheming all been an act for his benefit?

What was the purpose?

Caught between the two, Zhi Li glanced left at Xu Qingying, then right at Jiang Yanheng. Suddenly, a memory surfaced in her mind—the sight of children being taken out to play by their parents, as she had often watched from her balcony in the past.

“Mom, Dad,” Zhi Li reached out with her small, delicate hand, gently tugging at Xu Qingying and Jiang Yanheng’s fingers, her eyes brimming with quiet anticipation. “Are we going downstairs to have breakfast together?”

Xu Qingying clasped Zhi Li’s hand in return, bending slightly to ruffle her hair apologetically. “It’s my fault for getting caught up with work. Are you hungry, Zhi Li? Let’s go have breakfast now.”

So this little one’s name was Zhi Li?

Having gotten his answer, Jiang Yanheng prepared to leave and return to his bedroom for some sleep. But before he could move, Zhi Li tightened her grip on his finger, her expectant eyes growing moist, as if a single rejection would turn her into a teary mess.

“……” Jiang Yanheng tried recalling the last time his own son had cried. Unfortunately, his son rarely did, so he wasn’t entirely sure whether rejecting Zhi Li would actually make her cry.

Eating breakfast before sleeping wouldn’t hurt.

Jiang Yanheng lowered his gaze, absently rubbing his wristwatch. His sharp features and detached expression created an unmistakable air of distance, as if keeping others at arm’s length.

At this, the netizens, previously riled up by the bank card incident, sprang back to life.

[Even though I can’t see, I can hear that Zhi Li’s stepdad didn’t agree—hahaha.]

[Clearly unwelcoming, can’t even be bothered to join for a meal.]

[Xu Qingying’s slick, making her daughter ask instead of doing it herself.]

[But the rich husband still won’t give face—awkward much.]

Not only did the netizens interpret Jiang Yanheng’s silence as rejection, but Xu Qingying thought the same, guessing he was probably searching for a tactful way to decline.

But if he refused, Zhi Li might take it as a sign that her family didn’t like her.

Xu Qingying decisively made the choice for him. “Your dad just got back from a business trip. He’s exhausted.”

Then, with a gentle yet firm motion, she pulled Zhi Li’s hand back from Jiang Yanheng’s grip. “I’ll take Zhi Li downstairs to eat first. You should rest early.”

With that, Xu Qingying picked up Zhi Li and strode away without hesitation, her figure cutting a decisive silhouette.

Jiang Yanheng watched them leave, his brows furrowing slightly.

He had just been foolish enough to consider wasting time on a pointless breakfast. In the time it would take to eat, he could easily hold a small video conference instead.

Jiang Yanheng pinched the bridge of his nose and turned to leave, only to see Zhi Li glance back at him from the staircase landing.

Zhi Li waved at him with a bright smile, her childish voice echoing down the hallway, “Daddy, get some good rest!”

Her figure disappeared around the corner.

Jiang Yanheng paused for a few seconds before turning toward his bedroom. No wonder he’d had that momentary lapse—the kid really was well-behaved.

Still, breakfast could never compare to the importance of a short rest before diving back into work. That much he was certain of.

——

The carpet beneath her feet was soft and beautiful, woven with clusters of flowers.

As they walked toward the dining room, Zhi Li tried several times to count the flowers she stepped on but kept losing track. Hesitantly, she tugged at Xu Qingying’s hand and looked up, “Mommy, what does ‘business trip’ mean?”

Xu Qingying thought Zhi Li was still bothered that Jiang Yanheng hadn’t agreed to join them for breakfast and explained gently, “A business trip means going somewhere far away for work. The travel back and forth can be exhausting.”

“Somewhere far away…” Zhi Li pursed her lips and asked, “Is Daddy’s work place farther than where Grandma went?” If even strong Daddy found it tiring, wouldn’t it be even harder for Grandma? Grandma wasn’t in good health and took a long time just to come downstairs.

Xu Qingying’s steps faltered slightly before she replied calmly, “Your grandma went somewhere much farther away, so it’ll take a very, very long time before she can come back.”

Hearing “very, very long time” made Zhi Li sad, but remembering how tiring the journey must be, she suppressed her sadness and whispered, “It’s okay if Grandma takes her time coming back. She should rest more and not get too tired.”

Xu Qingying’s heart ached.

How could such a sensible child in the original story end up suffering so cruelly?!

The Jiang residence had two dining rooms—a smaller one for everyday family meals, featuring a 360-degree panoramic view of the entire garden.

Due to camera angles, viewers hadn’t seen Zhi Li and Xu Qingying earlier, but when the two reappeared in the dining room, the livestream finally showed people again.

Yet despite the beautiful dining room, aside from Zhi Li and Xu Qingying, only the butler was present.

[Where is everyone else?]

[The lazy one earlier could at least use exhaustion from a business trip as an excuse, but now? Didn’t the show’s recording mention a grandmother and stepbrother?]

Upon entering the dining room, Zhi Li’s first action wasn’t to look at the breakfast spread but to search the room. “Auntie Butler, has Grandma already finished breakfast?”

The butler pulled out a chair for her. “The Madam has a morning jogging routine and won’t be back for about an hour. You and Madam should eat first. The chef wasn’t sure what you’d like, so they prepared a variety of dishes.”

“Okay.” Zhi Li’s little head drooped in disappointment—she’d have to delay giving Grandma her kiss. After sitting down, she asked the butler, “Auntie Butler, have you eaten already?”

The butler nodded slightly. “I have.”

To viewers, the butler’s words and actions carried deeper implications.

[They don’t know what she likes to eat? Did Zhi Li just arrive in this household?]

[See, this proves Zhi Li isn’t close with her stepfather at all!]

【The stepbrother is nowhere to be seen, and even Grandma avoided them by going for her morning exercise.】  

【I suddenly feel a little sorry for Zhi Li.】  

After sitting down, Xu Qingying first served Zhi Li a bowl of tofu and scallop soup. “Sweetie, have some soup.”  

“Thank you, Mom!” Seeing the soup her mother had personally served, Zhi Li’s disappointment vanished instantly, and she perked right up. This was the first time she was eating at the same table with her mother!  

Zhi Li loved having breakfast with her mom and especially enjoyed the tofu and scallop soup today—it tasted incredibly delicious. She even ate more than usual, her little belly rounding out.  

【These two are devouring their food so happily.】  

【I crawled out of bed and made myself a bowl of spicy and sour noodles.】  

【Zhi Li sprawled on the chair rubbing her little belly is just too adorable.】  

【Xu Qingying’s fans, stop pretending—even eating gets exaggerated by you guys.】  

【Is Xu Qingying planning to quit the industry? Eating this much.】  

“Auntie Butler, do we need to go to class now?”  

“No rush.” The butler turned and brought out a tablet. “This shows all the dishes the chefs at home specialize in. Usually, after breakfast, the family sometimes orders meals for lunch, dinner, and the next morning. Take a look—there are pictures for everything.”  

The old madam and the master were either teaching at school or working at the company during the day, often too busy to even have dinner at home. Most of the time, only the young master used this ordering feature.  

At this thought, the butler recalled how Xu Qingying had pointed at her with a red-nailed finger just two days ago, loudly scolding her for deliberately taunting her with the tablet’s lavish food options, knowing full well that as a celebrity, she had to watch her diet.  

But if she didn’t provide the tablet, this new madam would probably accuse her of not treating her as part of the family.  

Wait a minute!  

The butler’s gaze suddenly froze as she stared in astonishment at Xu Qingying, who had emptied a pile of plates in front of her.  

Could it be that little Zhi Li’s hearty appetite had inspired the madam to finally let go of her dietary restrictions?  

Xu Qingying had no idea what the butler was thinking.  

After finishing the mandatory parent-child variety show required by the plot, she planned to switch careers and revive her past life’s flower shop chain. Why bother with dieting now? As for her recent and future behavior differing from the original character, Xu Qingying wasn’t worried about raising suspicions. With a daughter as adorable as Zhi Li, what flaw couldn’t be overlooked?  

Zhi Li took the tablet from the butler.  

The camera angle perfectly captured the screen, displaying rows of exquisitely presented dishes and a variety of world-class cuisines to the viewers.  

Each page showed 20 dishes, and the live-stream audience watched as Zhi Li swiped through dozens of pages.  

【……】  

【This is more varied than the 998-yuan buffet I had last week… I even spotted king crab, black abalone, and red prawns.】  

【Who said Zhi Li was a little pitiable again?】  

【Pitiable with a bank card shoved at her.】  

【Pitiable with thousands of gourmet dishes to choose from.】  

【Hmph, Zhi Li and Xu Qingying aren’t even welcomed by the wealthy family—they’ll be kicked out sooner or later!】  

Meanwhile, the not-yet-kicked-out Zhi Li clutched the tablet with both hands, her eyes wide with wonder.

From the moment she heard she could order food at home, Zhi Li had been in a daze as if dreaming. When she finally saw the dazzling array of food pictures on the tablet, she rubbed her eyes in disbelief, checking over and over again before fully accepting that she could really order from so many dishes—and there were so many meat options!

Zhi Li’s little finger firmly tapped on the sweet and sour pork ribs.

She hadn’t gotten to eat it at her uncle’s house yesterday, but she really, really wanted to try it!

The ordering tablet passed from Zhi Li’s hands to Xu Qingying’s, then to the butler’s. Xu Qingying reminded him, “Make sure the kitchen controls each dish’s portion to just a quarter of the normal serving size.”

A quarter of the normal portion?

The butler’s gaze shifted to the empty plates on the table and Zhi Li, who was sprawled on her chair rubbing her full little belly while eating strawberries. He couldn’t help but grumble inwardly—just because you’re an actress watching your diet doesn’t mean Zhi Li has to follow along.

[Xu Qingying is so fake.]  

[She ate so happily earlier, and now she remembers her celebrity image?]  

[She can’t compare to Yu Xinrou. Yu Xinrou only had some boiled greens and shrimp this morning—no fake foodie persona here.]  

The live-stream viewers were quick to criticize—until their eyes, along with the butler’s, returned to the tablet and saw the lunch Zhi Li and Xu Qingying had ordered together:  

Twelve vegetarian dishes, ten meat dishes, six desserts, and three soups, covering land, sea, and air—cuisine from all over the world.  

Butler: “…”  

Viewers: “…”