Chapter 38: Chapter 37: I Don’t Want to Hinder Your Happiness.
Jiang Liu almost burst out laughing.
Suppressing a laugh, he gave Tongtong a light pat on the butt.
"You really are my little sweetheart!"
"I know, I know! Hehe."
「Meanwhile.」
Jun Qingmeng returned to her residential complex.
Her home in Brocade District wasn’t close to Jiang Liu’s in Huasheng District.
The two were about five or six kilometers apart, so she usually took a taxi or had her best friend drive her.
Jun Qingmeng went up to the seventh floor, took out her key, and opened the door to her apartment.
The apartment was nicely decorated. The living room had a plush white rug, with Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf dolls tossed under the sofa. Guo Jia’s snacks were piled messily on the table, and underwear was strewn everywhere.
"That lazy slob, Guo Jia!"
Jun Qingmeng muttered angrily. Standing by the door, she took off her shoes, neatly put away her shoes and bag, then hung her white T-shirt on the coat rack before changing into some light pajamas.
Hearing the noise, Guo Jia ended her livestream and poked her head out of her bedroom. In a sarcastic tone, she said:
"Well, well, if it isn’t my goddess of dating, back from the wars. Weren’t you on a date with your beloved? How could you bear to come back so soon? Don’t tell me he wasn’t into you?"
She was wearing a nurse’s uniform. At one meter sixty, she was petite, with average looks. A bit of heavy makeup made her look decent enough.
Jun Qingmeng rolled her pretty eyes, not wanting to engage. She put the steamed buns on the table and flopped ungracefully onto the sofa, sprawling out.
Guo Jia walked out and looked around, her expression a little disappointed.
"Where’s the little one? Why didn’t you bring her back with you?"
Jun Qingmeng pursed her lips.
"What are you thinking? She’s his daughter, and he treasures her more than anything. You want me to kidnap her for you?"
Guo Jia’s eyes darted around playfully. "Then you could have just brought your crush back with you," she teased with a grin. "His daughter would’ve come along then, wouldn’t she?"
"Ha. In your dreams."
"So where’s the food I asked you to bring me?"
"There. The buns on the table."
"Buns? Seriously? I’ve been waiting here for you all day, and all you brought me are buns?"
Guo Jia’s hopeful enthusiasm instantly deflated. She had only eaten a few snacks for lunch.
She hadn’t eaten anything all afternoon or evening. She was sick to death of takeout, and all her snacks tasted the same. Nothing sounded good.
She had been counting on her bestie to bring back something delicious, but all she got were... buns?
"Ugh, I should have just ordered takeout. Forget it. I’m just... so tired."
Guo Jia’s posture, which had been full of anticipation, instantly slumped.
Like a boneless zombie, she dragged herself back toward her room.
"Are you sure you don’t want to try one? *He’s* the one who made them!"
A pretty smile played on Jun Qingmeng’s lips.
She had unshakable confidence in Jiang Liu’s buns. Even she, who was accustomed to the finest foods, couldn’t stop praising them. So how could her friend, who’d been cooped up at home for ages, possibly resist?
"’He?’ You mean your crush?"
Jun Qingmeng gave a noncommittal shrug. She’d picked up the habit from Jiang Liu and thought it was rather fun.
Guo Jia’s interest was piqued. "Well then, I’d better get a taste of your man. Jiang Liu, here I come!"
She picked up a bun with two fingers, a lecherous grin on her face.
Jun Qingmeng was suddenly annoyed. The smile vanished from her delicate face.
"Guo Jia! If you’re going to be like that, I’m going to get mad!"
Guo Jia raised an eyebrow. Holding the bun, she sat down on the sofa and stroked Jun Qingmeng’s gorgeous legs. "Tsk, tsk," she said.
"Just look at you. One date and you’re already getting all defensive over him. I never knew our great beauty Jun Qingmeng had this side to her. What a rare sight."
"Just eat your bun! I don’t want to talk to you anymore."
Jun Qingmeng rolled over, flopping onto her stomach on the sofa and idly scrolling through her old class’s group chat.
Guo Jia gave her perky butt a few more pats,
then, satisfied, she finally popped the bun into her mouth.
But the moment she took a bite...
...her eyes went wide with shock. All her previous lack of appetite vanished.
The bun had cooled down a bit, but thanks to the corn oil, the dough wasn’t sticky at all. It was still firm and dry. The amount of oil in the filling was perfect, so it hadn’t clumped together.
The soft dough burst open in her mouth, revealing a fragrant, tender pork filling that was neither fatty nor greasy. The juices squeezed out, mingling with the crisp, sweet-and-spicy tang of chopped green onions. It was the ultimate experience.
Guo Jia stared at Jun Qingmeng, completely dumbfounded.
"He made this? The dreamboat you’re crushing on?"
A swell of pride filled Jun Qingmeng’s heart as she gave a faint nod.
"Yes, he made them."
Guo Jia squeezed the bun in her hand and licked her lips, savoring the taste.
’It’s the tenderloin of a young piglet—savory, fragrant, and incredibly tender. There’s none of that strange, cloying flavor you get from farm-fed pork.’
"How did he make these? They’re so good! They’re even better than the buns from Juyuan Inn in Kyoto that cost several hundred yuan!"
"Wait a minute. You didn’t just buy these from some master chef to mess with me, did you?"
Guo Jia shot her friend a suspicious look.
"I didn’t! He made them. Believe it or not."
Hearing the person she liked being doubted, Jun Qingmeng got a little huffy and turned her head away.
"Fine, I believe you. Don’t be so touchy."
Guo Jia polished off the bun in her hand in two bites.
Then she immediately grabbed another one and started eating.
Each different filling was a new, delicious experience.
Guo Jia praised him as she ate. "This guy’s buns are amazing. They’re still this good even when they’re cold."
Beside her, Jun Qingmeng unconsciously puffed out her chest. "But of course," she huffed proudly.
"Ah Meng, I’ve been thinking."
"What is it?"
"I was wrong."
"Huh?" Jun Qingmeng blinked in confusion.
"Actually, what I said earlier today... that was just me being stubborn. I’ve thought it over, and I think it would be great for you to be with this guy. You have my approval. But on one condition: you have to bring me back twenty buns every day."
"Jia, are you even listening to yourself?"
"What? What? I already gave you my blessing!"
"That’s not the point! You’re selling me out for a few buns, aren’t you!"
"But isn’t this what you wanted?!"
"What did you just say?!"
Her secret thoughts exposed, Jun Qingmeng reached out and twisted Guo Jia’s ear.
"Ow, ow, ow!"
Guo Jia immediately started howling.
"It really hurts! The buns were just too good, you can’t blame me! Ow, ow! I was wrong, okay!"
"I’m begging you, Mengmeng! Okay, okay! Ah Meng, I was wrong, alright? I won’t tease you anymore!"
Guo Jia shamelessly begged for mercy.
Like a triumphant Little Princess, Jun Qingmeng huffed twice and let go.
Rubbing her ear, Guo Jia couldn’t resist grabbing another bun and wolfing it down.
She mumbled through mouthfuls about how fragrant it was and how delicious the filling was.
In no time, Guo Jia had eaten eight of the ten buns.
Jun Qingmeng couldn’t help but eat the other two.
For that,
Guo Jia shot her a look like a puppy protecting its food, baring her teeth.
"Whew, that was so good. I ate so many of that guy’s buns, my stomach is pregnant. Look."
Guo Jia patted her stomach.
Something felt off about that sentence, but Jun Qingmeng didn’t give it much thought.
She couldn’t resist going over to pat it, laughing. "Definitely save the baby."
"I finally get why you’re so into him."
"Why’s that?"
Guo Jia said with an air of certainty, "He makes delicious buns."
Jun Qingmeng said, "It’s not just his buns that are good. There’s a lot more to him than that."
"Tch, are you trying to rub your love life in my single face? I’m not jealous, you know."
Guo Jia then asked, "What does he look like, anyway? You’re always so secretive with his picture, you never let me see."
"I don’t have a picture of him," Jun Qingmeng said, shaking her head.
"I don’t believe you for a second." Guo Jia shot Jun Qingmeng a contemptuous look.
"One of these days, I’ll sneak a picture for you so you can feast your eyes."
"Oho, so confident, are we?"
Jun Qingmeng suddenly remembered something.
"You’ll have to eat dinner by yourself from now on. I won’t be coming home to eat with you."
Guo Jia’s reaction was dramatic. She shot straight up from the sofa.
"Don’t tell me you’re planning on going over to his place for a date every single day?"
"Of course not! You’re overthinking it. It’s because of Tongtong. Her dad doesn’t have time to pick her up, so I’m helping Jiang Liu by taking her home, and I’ll just freeload a meal while I’m at it."
"Fine, fine, have it your way. Dinners without you are going to be very unhappy."
"I hate you..."
Guo Jia flopped back onto the sofa again, looking utterly dejected.
Jun Qingmeng’s tone suddenly shifted. "However, I could promise to bring some buns back for you every day."
Guo Jia shot back up again, her eyes gleaming as she stared at Jun Qingmeng.
"Say that again, Mengmeng! I didn’t hear you! Quickly!"
"Uh, I said I could bring you back some buns..."
"Deal! Go on, then! Don’t come back for dinner. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of your happiness."
Jun Qingmeng: ???
...
