Ye Fanleng chased after her, and Xu Lin followed, closing the door behind them. The three of them got into the elevator.
It just so happened that not far from the residential area was a street lined with food stalls. There were two small eateries with great tasting food, so Xu Lin led the two of them there on foot.
It was Tuesday morning, and there were quite a few people around, as 7 o'clock was the prime time for working folks to have breakfast.
Halfway there, Xu Lin picked up Shaoyao to prevent her from getting lost in the crowd.
The little girl seemed to have never seen such a breakfast street before. She was instantly captivated, her head constantly swiveling from side to side.
"What's that?"
"Doufunao (tofu pudding)."
"Is it tasty?"
"Yes, it's savory."
"I'd rather have meat."
"Alright."
"What about that?"
"Fried egg cake."
"Oh, I know that, it's like fried dough sticks, right? I've seen those before. But Auntie says they're too greasy. I want to eat them, but I'll have the meat first."
"Okay."
"That's noodles, I know!"
"Yes, AH Banmian (a type of noodles). I once had authentic ones in Hebei." Xu Lin glanced at the noodle shop, reminiscing about the times he used to come here frequently during middle school.
"Why are AH Banmian authentic in Hebei?" Shaoyao was a bit confused.
"Let me explain it to you." Xu Lin began to educate the little girl.
Ye Fanleng, following beside them, watched their interaction, unable to hide the growing smile on her face.
While talking to the little girl, Xu Lin kept an eye on her, since men kept trying to get closer. He had no choice but to reach out and grab Ye Fanleng's wrist. Her seductive, fox-like eyes blinked nervously.
"If I can touch you, then stay closer to me."
"Mm… don't tease me~ you're making me want to eat you up again."
"President Ye, don't be too provocative, the consequences are serious."
"How serious?"
"We might end up with three daughters!"
"You really like daughters." Although Xu Lin was joking, Ye Fanleng could tell he genuinely liked the idea of having a daughter.
With Xu Lin closer to her, she put on a mask, which reduced the amount of attention they were getting from the crowd.
"Handsome, do you want to get a zongzi?" Suddenly, a voice stopped them in their tracks.
"Hmm? Zongzi, do they still make fresh ones in winter?"
Xu Lin looked at the zongzi, still steaming. They were quite large; he thought he might be full after eating four of them.
"We sell clay pot noodles and braised dishes. If you order noodles or braised dishes, you get a free zongzi. If you like them, you can buy more."
The young shop assistant, dressed festively in red, looked about his age.
"You even do buy-one-get-one-free. Ms... Fanleng, let's eat here." Xu Lin initially wanted to address her as Ms. Ye, but seeing Shaoyao, he decided to play the part of a doting father for the day.
"Oh… okay!" Ye Fanleng took a moment to react, then nodded. The shop assistant handed the zongzi to Shaoyao.
"Such a cute little girl, this zongzi is for you." The shop assistant smiled and held out her hand.
"Really?" Shaoyao reached out hesitantly.
"Take it, it's free. Your daughter is so cute, and you look so young!"
"Mm..." Xu Lin didn't know how to respond. If things worked out with Ye Fanleng, this little girl could indeed be his daughter.
"Please come in, we have seats inside."
"Alright."
Ye Fanleng followed them inside, feeling a bit more cheerful despite being mistaken for Xu Lin's wife.
Once seated, Xu Lin grabbed a small stool for Shaoyao to sit in the middle, with him and Ye Fanleng on either side.
"What do you have that's ready to serve?"
"We have braised chicken, roasted pork, clear meatball soup, steamed pork, and tofu flower soup. The other dishes will take about twenty minutes."
"Shaoyao, Fanleng?"
"I want steamed pork and roasted pork!" Xiao Shaoyao raised her arm excitedly.
"You're really all about the meat."
Ye Fanleng chuckled, then realized she had been too strict with the nanny, depriving the child of many delicious foods.
"But Mommy said you can have it today, so let's order both."
"Okay."
"And one tofu flower soup."
Xu Lin added a soup, thinking that while the first two were heavy dishes, breakfast should still include some soup.
"This tofu flower soup is really good. It's made with slices of lamb tripe and fresh tofu in a rich broth."
"It's both fresh and not greasy. The lamb is rich in protein, paired with tofu, making it very nutritious."
"Haha, young man, you just gave us a great ad slogan. One tofu flower soup coming up."
"Sure."
"Fanleng, do you want to order something?"
"Actually, the three of you will have plenty to eat with these dishes. The roasted pork is quite salty, so you might want some staple food to balance it out."
The shop assistant quickly interrupted, not wanting them to order too much and waste it.
"Then that's it, thank you." Ye Fanleng didn't order more, handing the menu back.
"Just a moment, your food will be ready soon! Dad, one tofu flower soup, roasted pork, and steamed beef!"
The shop assistant yelled the order to the kitchen, then swiftly continued welcoming guests at the door.
Many customers were regulars. She chatted briefly with them, then brought them inside, placing a pot of tea and calling out orders to the kitchen.
She worked diligently, cleaning tables, collecting dishes, and wiping the surfaces, then sweeping the floor.
Ye Fanleng gazed outside, observing the many people bustling about on their scooters and bicycles, weaving through the crowd.
Among them, some faces were smiling, some were silent, and some were rushing around.
"Xu Lin, I've rarely seen such a genuine side of life. Those of us who grew up in luxury homes missed out on a lot."
Ye Fanleng took a deep breath and removed her mask, noticing a cup of steaming tea in front of her.
"This tea is a local blend, mixed with cheap tea leaves, chrysanthemums, and jasmine flowers. It's a bit bitter, but also sweet—just like life."
"It's very nice." She took a sip, feeling the slight chill in her body dissipate.
She glanced over to see Shaoyao clumsily peeling the zongzi, with Xu Lin making no move to help.
"She needs to learn some things on her own. A daughter can be spoiled, but not coddled to the point where everything is done for her."
"Xu Lin, you're really suited to be..."
Before Ye Fanleng could finish, the shop assistant's bright voice interrupted as she greeted new customers.
"Ah, isn't this Sister Qin? The usual tofu flower soup and small portion of pork ribs?"
Xu Lin picked up his tea, not paying much attention to "Sister Qin." But when the woman spoke, he nearly spat out his drink.
"No, give me everything available, ten portions to go. I'm treating my colleagues."
"Alright, I'll arrange that. Sister, have a seat and rest."
What's going on? It's Qin Yunhe!
Didn't her police station cover a different area? Why did she come all the way here?
Then, as the shop assistant led the way, a familiar, spirited woman walked in. Xu Lin decided to greet her first.
But before he could speak, the shop assistant's words cut through like a knife.
"Your three portions are ready!"