Shen Qiming stared at the photo for quite a while, his gaze growing deeper and more intense.

Jiang Sen followed along, studying the photo for half a day without discovering anything noteworthy.

He wanted to ask, but Shen Qiming had already gotten up and left.

---

Jin Yaotiao received a tearful phone call from Luna.
“Waaaah, I just saw on Weibo that our Ning Shun baby was in a car with some woman! I clicked on the link to check, but the news was already deleted. Do you think it’s real or fake? He can’t possibly be in Linjiang City to date someone, right? He’s only twenty—Mama doesn’t allow him to have a girlfriend!”

The words spilled out in a rush, not even leaving room for punctuation. Jin Yaotiao let it go in one ear and out the other, uninterested in this piece of gossip.

She hummed noncommittally while tending to her cooking.

She used a long-handled spoon to precisely fish out the ham that had been boiled.

This ham had been cured for over five years; from the outer skin to the bones, it exuded the luster of time.

After being boiled, its once-hard texture became much fuller, the lean meat tightened into a fresh and vibrant red, while the fatty parts trembled delicately.

The rich juices seeped out irresistibly.

Jin Yaotiao tasted a piece and nodded with satisfaction.

Currently, the culinary world favored imported hams—like those from Spain—that carried a certain prestige and easily sold for several times the price domestically.

But in her opinion, locally cured ham tasted no worse at all.

She picked up a knife, switched her phone to speaker mode, and deftly started cutting the meat.

Luna was still fuming: “I wonder which woman was lucky enough—ugh, that awful woman! I really want to know who she is! The PR team for my baby’s company works too fast—there’s not even a single photo left. Oh, wait a minute.”

She sounded surprised. “Yaotiao, the photos of your Shen Qiming from that charity gala the other day were deleted too!”

Jin Yaotiao replied casually, “Oh? Is that so?”

Luna shouted in frustration, “Ah, what are you doing? You sound completely distracted!”

Jin Yaotiao calmly cut the ham into evenly sized cubes of lean and fatty meat. “Making rice stew.”

---

When Luna finished her lamenting, Jin Yaotiao hung up the phone and turned to Aunt Cen, who had been watching her curiously from the kitchen doorway. “Auntie, just make a few light vegetable dishes for dinner.”

Aunt Cen was focused on Jin Yaotiao’s movements as she mixed the ham cubes with diced potatoes, fresh peas, and rice.

She responded, “Only a few vegetable dishes? Won’t that be too little? Mr. Jin usually likes eating meat.”

Jin Yaotiao shook her head, thinking about the upcoming health check-up, and gave a vague explanation: “My parents might not have much appetite tonight.”

Aunt Cen seemed unsure but quickly got distracted.

Staring at the steaming rice pot, she asked with confusion, “What is this? Even boiled ham smells this fragrant. Yaotiao, your cooking skills are amazing! That porridge you brought back last time was so delicious, too.”

Porridge?

It took Jin Yaotiao a few seconds to realize what she meant.

She smiled faintly.

That porridge was, in fact, just a very early attempt at cooking.

---

Anjia Private Hospital was one of the most famous hospitals in Linhai City and the surrounding area, known for its excellent service and high fees.

The lobby wasn’t very crowded, and the reception staff stood waiting at the entrance.

When they saw the group get out of the car, they greeted them warmly yet professionally.

“Miss Jin, welcome. The health check-up center is ready for you.”

Jin Yaotiao held onto her father’s arm as he mumbled, distracted by work.

He looked reluctant. “Your mom and I are just here to accompany you. Why drag us along? Can’t you just do the check-up yourself?”

Jin Yaotiao lightly countered, hitting his weak spot: “A friend of mine gifted us three check-up packages. Each one costs 56,800 yuan. If we don’t use them, it’ll be wasted.”

Jin’s father, frugal by nature, immediately felt pained at the thought of the cost.

He grumbled a bit about how today’s kids spend money so recklessly but didn’t resist anymore.

He let the nurses draw blood and take scans. Jin’s mother, having no strong opinions, simply went along with the flow.

Still, their concern wasn’t focused on themselves.

Before heading into the CT scan room, they reminded the doctor, “Doctor, please take a thorough look at our daughter.

She keeps saying she feels pain here and there—she’s probably got all kinds of problems.”

The doctor, adjusting his white mask, smiled. “Don’t worry, Mr. Jin. Our health center is the most reliable in Linjiang. You look pretty healthy yourself, though.”

Mr. Jin answered confidently, “Of course! I can lift a giant iron wok with one hand. Oh, by the way, does this machine give off much radiation?”

---

Anjia’s services included delivering the results on the same day.

After the scans and blood tests, the family was guided to a waiting lounge.

Jin Yaotiao already had an idea of what to expect, so she ignored the hospital’s refreshments and stood silently by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the distant city.

Seeing her low spirits, her parents, who had been scolding her for days, now felt bad.

Her mother comforted her, “Yaotiao, you’re still young. If your back and waist ache, it’s probably just because of a chill. I’ll help you take care of it—don’t worry, you’ll feel better soon.”

Father Jin grunted in agreement. “Listen to your mother. Don’t wear those indecent skirts in the freezing weather anymore. And as for dieting, I think you’re just making trouble for yourself.”

Jin Yaotiao lowered her eyes and gave a bitter smile. Just then, a staff member from the reception finally entered the room. “Miss Jin, the results of the examinations for you and your family are out.”

She nodded calmly, while Father Jin and Mother Jin were initially relieved, only for their expressions to stiffen again upon noticing the staff’s grave demeanor.

Mother Jin became flustered. “…Is there something wrong with Yaotiao?”

Father Jin also stared intently at the staff member.

The staff member shook his head. “Miss Jin is in excellent health, aside from a slightly weaker digestive system.”

Before the couple could relax, the staff member quickly shifted the topic. “Mr. Jin, may I ask if you have a history of smoking? And have you recently experienced symptoms such as chest tightness or a dry cough?”

Father Jin picked up on the subtext and his expression changed slightly. “What’s the matter?”

The staff member was silent for a moment. “It’s like this. The CT scan of your chest shows a shadow in your lungs. We’ll need to collect a tissue sample for further testing.”

Every word was enunciated clearly, but when strung together, they became incomprehensible in a way that resisted understanding.

The room fell into a prolonged silence. Father Jin and Mother Jin instinctively rejected the unwelcome information, taking a long time before they managed to breathe properly again.

Mother Jin held her forehead for support, unable to stand steadily, and completely missed the part where the staff mentioned her breast hyperplasia needed to be monitored.

Jin Yaotiao stepped forward to support her mother, unsure whether to feel relieved or sorrowful.

The early examination had indeed proven beneficial.

At least her mother’s condition was currently only a mild case of hyperplasia. As for her father…

She glanced at her stunned father and asked, “Is my dad’s condition severe?”

The staff smiled at her. “Don’t be too nervous. In fact, you’re quite lucky. Your father’s other indicators are very optimistic. If it weren’t for the thoroughness of this examination, even our hospital would likely have missed this. In this case, even if it’s confirmed, as long as surgery is done promptly, it shouldn’t be too troublesome. But Mr. Jin must rest well and avoid overexertion in the future.”

---

Mother Jin cried all the way home, while Father Jin remained silent from the moment he heard the test results.

Staring out the window at the passing cars, he let out a long sigh. “At least it’s me and not you or Yaotiao. At my age, there’s nothing much to regret…”

Mother Jin almost screamed, “What nonsense are you talking about!”

Then, as if trying to comfort herself, she added, “The doctor said it—surgery can fix this. We’ll prepare quickly and get it done as soon as possible.”

Father Jin was silent for a moment, then frowned. “I don’t have time right now. Mingde’s new project is still in the works, and the new store will soon need a trial opening. Also, Mingde’s old brand line—its anniversary is approaching. This time it’s a major event, and the main store has invited many distinguished guests. Some senior officials from Linjiang will also be attending. I need to design the menu and new dishes…”

This was the first time Mother Jin had heard her husband mention work like this, and she didn’t know how to respond.

Her voice trembled uncontrollably. “Do you want to die? The doctor said you can’t overwork yourself, and you’re still thinking about cooking? Do you think Mingde can’t survive without you?”

Father Jin gave a bitter smile. “I just can’t let go.”

Among the older generation in the Jin family, few besides him were still dedicated to honing their craft.

The younger generation was too inexperienced, and in a company where seniority and skill determined respect, he feared they wouldn’t command authority.

No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t pick a capable replacement from among his relatives.

At this moment, he suddenly heard a familiar voice from beside him. “Dad, let me do it. I can take over.”

Father Jin looked at his daughter and sighed, thinking she must be joking.

He had spoiled this daughter since she was young, providing her with a life of luxury.

How could she possibly handle the complexities of the business world? Not to mention the main store’s upcoming event, with so many people and tasks—how could a young girl like her manage it?

Still, her willingness to shoulder his burdens touched him deeply.

---

Father Jin’s melancholy over his illness lessened somewhat.

Stepping out of the car, he was immediately greeted by the aroma wafting from their home, filling the entire yard.

A few neighbors out for a walk lingered outside the garden wall, their eyes fixed on the house.

Upon seeing him, they called out, “Old Jin, impressive! As expected of a renowned chef. What’s cooking at your place today? The smell is outrageous!”

Father Jin was momentarily stunned. He had been dragged to the hospital straight from work by his daughter and didn’t recall cooking anything at home.

Aunt Cen, their housekeeper, came out briskly to greet them, smiling. “Ah, sir and madam, you’re finally back! Yaotiao’s rice has been done for ages, and it smells so good we couldn’t bear to stay inside. Quick, quick, let’s eat.”

Father Jin, who had no appetite, was ushered inside by Aunt Cen.

At the dining table were only a few simple vegetable dishes.

He intended to retreat upstairs to be alone, but Aunt Cen hurriedly brought out a copper pot from the kitchen, capturing his attention.

She lifted the lid, and a rich, heavy fragrance billowed out with the steam, instantly filling the room.

While serving the rice, Aunt Cen explained, “Yaotiao told me to turn off the heat at seven o’clock sharp. I didn’t delay by a second.”

Father Jin, already in a foul mood, was unexpectedly drawn in by the aroma and actually felt a bit hungry.

He sat down silently after a moment of thought.

Taking a bite, he discovered it was rice cooked with ham.

The salty richness of the ham mixed with the soft, fluffy potatoes, and the occasional sweet crunch of green peas.

The rice was perfectly steamed—simple ingredients combined into a dish that outshone any delicacy.

He paired it with a bite of stir-fried vegetables.

Though Aunt Cen’s cooking skills weren’t stellar and he usually preferred meat, the vegetables’ crisp freshness complemented the bold ham rice wonderfully.

The hunger that had been absent all day suddenly surged. Holding his chopsticks, Father Jin turned to look at his daughter in the living room.

Jin Yaotiao was on the phone, speaking fluent foreign languages he couldn’t understand.

She noticed his gaze, said a few more words, then hung up.

Father Jin was about to ask about the rice when his daughter spoke first, her expression different from usual. “The doctor’s arrangements are set. A surgeon from the Mayo Clinic. If all goes well after confirmation, they can schedule your surgery in a month.”

Her words stunned Father Jin. His first reaction wasn’t to scold her for acting on her own, but to note the name she mentioned.

Mayo?

Even with his reluctance toward hospitals, he knew of it.

Years ago, a business friend had gone there for heart surgery, expending significant effort to get in.

That’s when he learned of the existence of hospitals so exclusive they even selected their patients—money alone wasn’t enough.

But from the checkup to now, how much time had passed?

And his daughter had arranged it all with just one phone call?

Feeling dazed, he watched as she put away her phone, strode forward, and leaned on the table with both hands. With a firm, commanding tone, she said, “So, you will have the surgery. As for the kitchen, whether it’s at home or the company, it’s mine now. Got it?”

Father Jin: “…”

Jin Yaotiao raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

Father Jin looked at his bowl, then at his daughter.

The tall, broad-shouldered old man suddenly felt a little… intimidated.