Chapter 22

Truthfully, Xu Ai hadn’t decided how to celebrate Nuo Nuo’s birthday.

But they needed to ask the child’s opinion.

So she said, “We need to ask Nuo Nuo.”

Sheng Zexi then went to ask Nuo Nuo.

Nuo Nuo was playing with her toys in the living room, brushing her Barbie’s hair. When she heard her dad, she tilted her head and said, “Daddy, I want to have my birthday with lots of princesses. Is that okay?”

For a child, celebrating a birthday with a bunch of princesses was the ultimate dream.

Sheng Zexi didn’t think it was difficult and nodded, “Okay.”

Nuo Nuo’s eyes lit up, and she thanked him, “Daddy, you’re the best.”

Sheng Zexi reached out, gently patting his daughter’s soft head, and couldn’t help but smile.

Children were indeed adorable. Even a simple thing could make their eyes shine brightly, much easier to satisfy than most adults.

Having promised the child, Sheng Zexi began planning her birthday.

Before the birthday celebration, Sheng Zexi wanted to showcase his cooking skills to the child. So, one evening, he left work early and started cooking in the kitchen.

Of course, he didn’t cook all the dishes. Preparing everyone’s meals would be too much. Since Nuo Nuo liked chicken stew with mushrooms, he decided to make that dish.

He planned to cook in secret, but while Nuo Nuo was playing upstairs, she smelled the delicious aroma from the kitchen. Sniffing the air, she ran downstairs to the kitchen and was surprised to see her father there among the usual cooks.

Nuo Nuo was stunned and asked, “Daddy, what are you doing in the kitchen?”

Sheng Zexi had intended to bring the dish to the table secretly, waiting to see if the child liked it to gauge his cooking skills. But she came in unexpectedly.

Sheng Zexi never thought of himself as shy, but after a slight hesitation, he continued cooking as if nothing had happened. Nuo Nuo was amazed that her dad could cook.

The little girl ran over curiously and asked, “Daddy, are you cooking?”

With a stern face, Sheng Zexi replied, “Yes.”

In reality, he was a bit nervous. Why was he so nervous? Sheng Zexi himself couldn’t explain it.

Nuo Nuo’s mother couldn’t cook, so Nuonuo thought it was amazing that her dad could cook.

“Daddy, you’re so awesome! You can make money and cook.”

Never before had Sheng Zexi realized how much he cared about his child’s opinion.

Nuo Nuo actually praised him. He hadn’t been learning to cook for long, less than a month. Aside from the first couple of days where he was a bit clumsy, Sheng Zexi had picked it up quickly. How did he deserve such high praise from his child?

He was merely doing what a father should do, just acquiring another skill.

For many years, Sheng Zexi had never been acknowledged by his family for learning a skill. But now, with Nuo Nuo, just cooking a dish could earn him such approval.

It felt like a little sun was shining in his heart. Initially, he only planned to make one dish, but now he wanted to make more.

Encouraged, Sheng Zexi felt like a child who had received candy and wanted to do more.

He ended up making two additional dishes.

Soon, Xu Ai came down for dinner.

At the dinner table, Nuo Nuo told her mom, “Mom, all the dishes tonight were made by Daddy.”

Xu Ai, in the middle of chewing a piece of rib, paused slightly, almost unable to believe what she heard.

Nuo Nuo said the dishes were made by Sheng Zexi?

How was that possible?

It was as unbelievable as the sun rising from the west or rolling a seven with a dice. She couldn’t believe it.

She chewed the food in her mouth. The taste didn’t change. It still tasted like the one made by the chef at home.

Sheng Zexi humbly said, “I didn’t make much, just two dishes.”

Although not all the dishes were made by Daddy, Nuo Nuo was still excited and eagerly asked, “Daddy, which dishes did you make?”

Sheng Zexi made chicken stew with mushrooms, a vegetable dish, and Kung Pao chicken.

Nuo Nuo, without hesitation, acted as a guinea pig, diligently eating the dishes her daddy made and praising them.

“As expected, Daddy’s cooking is delicious.”

Xu Ai felt the praise was a bit exaggerated.

Could a novice like Sheng Zexi cook as well as the family chef? The child must be exaggerating to flatter her dad.

Skeptically, Xu Ai tried a bite herself and was surprised to find it tasted pretty good.

Sheng Zexi had actually learned to cook. This man… Xu Ai didn’t know what to say.

Why had he suddenly started cooking?

Was it just to make Nuo Nuo happy?

Though it seemed unbelievable, Xu Ai had to admit, “Not bad.”

She couldn’t cook herself, but Sheng Zexi cooking wasn’t a bad thing for her.

Xu Ai encouraged, “Keep it up.”

Sheng Zexi, having received praise from both his child and Xu Ai, felt good. After dinner, he sent Xu Ai the plans for Nuo Nuo’s birthday party for her to review.

Nuo Nuo had already told Xu Ai about her dad inviting many princesses for her birthday. Xu Ai thought he would handle it himself, but he actually wanted her to review the details.

Sheng Zexi had a professional team at his disposal, so there was no way it would be poorly done. Xu Ai quickly skimmed through the documents but did notice a few issues. They weren’t bad per se, but she thought Nuo Nuo would be happier if it aligned more with her preferences, so she pointed out a few things.

“The fourth point needs to be adjusted…”

The more she talked, the more she wanted to change. As time passed, Xu Ai noticed they had been discussing for almost two hours. Although mainly about the child, this was the first time they had exchanged so many messages. Xu Ai felt like she had seen a ghost.

Sheng Zexi had been very good to Nuo Nuo recently, but she wondered how long this would last.

Hopefully, it would last long and not just be a passing whim.