After Nian Nian finished checking her bag and left with a satisfied look, the programmer excitedly shared this in the employee communication group:

[The big boss’ daughter is so cute that my heart is melting.]

[Even though I was hesitant to take money from Xiao Jiang, she insisted and was very polite. She put the instant noodles into a small bag she was carrying. It was clear she really liked them.]

[Though I’m not into luxury items, I recognize that brand of bags. The lady boss recently became the spokesperson for that brand. A small bag like that must be expensive. I feel like my instant noodles are suddenly classy.]

The programmer boasted:

[Hey, I don’t know what magic my instant noodles have, but the little boss really likes them.]

Other employees responded:

[Xiao Jiang seems to be under four years old. Generally, children that young don’t eat instant noodles, right?]

[A fan of “Super Mom” mentioned that the boss lady once stopped her daughter from eating instant noodles during the show. If you sold instant noodles to the little boss secretly, the big boss might investigate.]

The programmer was confused and didn’t know about the restriction. He just thought Xiao Nian Nian was cute and would have given her a cabinet full of instant noodles if needed. Now, he was unsure if he could buy back the packet of instant noodles, even willing to pay ten times the price.

But considering how much Xiao Nian Nian valued the instant noodles, it might be impossible to buy it back.

When Nian Nian returned to her father’s office, Jiang Chen was almost done with his work. Since Nian Nian was there, he decided not to work too late.

“Nian Nian, let’s go home.” He picked up Nian Nian, but she quickly moved the bag away, afraid the instant noodles inside might be crushed.

Seeing how much his daughter cherished the small bag, Jiang Chen touched it and heard the rustling sound of plastic inside.

“Nian Nian, what’s in here?”

“Nothing.” She moved her bag away, avoiding her father’s hand.

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow. The bag was bulging, but he decided not to pry. His daughter also had her own secrets.

Nian Nian sighed with relief when her father didn’t ask more questions.

After getting home and showering, it was almost bedtime.

Nian Nian missed her mother.

Just then, her mother called.

When the video call connected, Nian Nian saw her mother’s face.

“Nian Nian, do you miss your mother?” Shen Mingyou asked on the video. “Mom will be back tomorrow. Sleep well tonight and listen to Dad, okay?”

“Okay.” Nian Nian nodded.

They chatted a bit more, and after her mother said she loved her, Nian Nian ended the call with satisfaction.

Jiang Chen, who had been waiting to talk after his wife finished, saw the call had ended and wondered, “Why did you hang up?”

Nian Nian said innocently, “He hung up after he finished talking, Old Du.”

“Dad hasn’t told you yet.” Jiang Chen scratched his daughter’s nose.

“Dad, do you have something to say?” Nian Nian asked. “I’ll help you next time.”

“……Forget it then.”

Jiang Chen tucked his daughter into bed: “You can go to sleep now.”

Nian Nian, with her big round eyes open, suddenly said, “Dad, Nian Nian is hungry.”

“Are you hungry?” Jiang Chen wasn’t sure if Nian Nian usually ate before bed. He looked at a small notebook his wife had left with care instructions. He couldn’t find anything about bedtime snacks.

But since she was hungry, he wanted to help.

“Daddy will make you some milk, okay?” Jiang Chen asked.

Nian Nian said, “I don’t want milk.”

“Then what do you want to eat?” Jiang Chen wondered if he should call the chef to make something for Nian Nian.

Nian Nian finally saw her chance. She took out a small bag from under the pillow, unzipped it, and showed its contents.

“Eat this,” Nian Nian said to her father with excited eyes.

Jiang Chen looked at the bag of instant noodles, which filled the entire small bag, and noticed the messy ingredient list. “Can this be eaten?”

“Yes,” Nian Nian replied. “Others eat it.”

Instant noodles are unhealthy for adults if consumed too much, and even more so for children. Jiang Chen considered taking the noodles away and telling Nian Nian she couldn’t eat them.

But seeing her hopeful eyes, Jiang Chen hesitated and said, “You can only eat it this time.”

Nian Nian was thrilled and agreed to eat it just once.

Jiang Chen went to the kitchen to cook the instant noodles. Although he wasn’t a great cook, making instant noodles was simple. He boiled the noodles, and soon they smelled delicious. He brought the small pot to the table.

“Nian Nian, don’t tell Mom about eating instant noodles today. Let’s keep it a secret between us, okay?”

Nian Nian nodded eagerly. Although she felt a bit guilty about not telling her mother, she was excited to try the noodles. If her mom knew, she wouldn’t allow it.

“Eat up.”

Nian Nian picked up her chopsticks and tried a noodle. It didn’t taste amazing, but it was interesting, and she wanted more.

Jiang Chen watched with concern as Nian Nian enjoyed the noodles. He worried about the potential stomach issues from eating too many instant noodles. His wife’s notebook had warned against feeding Nian Nian unhealthy food, and he remembered her saying Nian Nian mustn’t be harmed in any way.

Feeling regretful, Jiang Chen asked, “Nian Nian, can Daddy have a taste too?”

Nian Nian looked surprised, “Dad hasn’t eaten it either?”

Jiang Chen admitted he had never tried instant noodles. He took a bite, and found the taste surprisingly good. He ate a couple of bites but was shocked to find that there were no noodles left in the pot.

“…” He had only taken a few bites!

Nian Nian noticed that her father had eaten most of the noodles. She thought her father had intentionally eaten them all, leaving none for her.

Jiang Chen saw how upset Nian Nian was and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, Nian Nian, I didn’t mean to.”

“Dad did it on purpose!” Nian Nian felt her father deliberately ate everything so she wouldn’t get any.

Jiang Chen insisted he didn’t mean it, but Nian Nian didn’t believe him and was very upset. She had hoped for a full meal but ended up with only a couple of bites.

Nian Nian was so angry she decided to run away from home. She dragged a heavy package from her toy room and went towards the door.

Jiang Chen, confused, asked, “Nian Nian, what are you doing?”

“I’m going to run away from home,” Nian Nian declared. Without her mother around and with her father having eaten all the instant noodles, she didn’t want to stay at home anymore.

Jiang Chen just watched, finding it amusing that a little girl was so determined to run away.