The next morning at four o'clock, Chen Yu's Bluetooth earpiece rang with the sound of an alarm.
To avoid disturbing Tuan Tuan's sleep, he had deliberately worn the earpiece, fearing that the alarm would wake her up as well.
Yet he hadn't expected that as soon as he got up, he found Tuan Tuan noisily sitting on the bed, watching him through the small bed window.
"Why are you awake so early?" Chen Yu immediately became anxious, subconsciously checking if his phone's sound was on speaker.
"I went to bed early last night, so of course I woke up early today! Besides, how could you manage alone without me, Dad?"
As she spoke, Tuan Tuan turned on the light and began excitedly putting on her clothes.
These past few days she had experienced the joy of earning money, especially feeling indescribably excited every time the payment notification sounded.
Chen Yu helplessly exited the driver's cab, unfolded the meal cart's bar, and turned on all the fairy lights surrounding the cart.
"Tuan Tuan! Once we've saved enough money and bought a house, you can sleep at home and won't need to get up early and stay up late with Dad anymore!"
"I don't want that!"
Tuan Tuan pouted, "I want to help Dad earn money, and then help Dad find a new mom."
Chen Yu rubbed Tuan Tuan's little head and couldn't help but sigh.
"That's not for you to worry about! You just need to focus on your studies and practicing your dance."
Suddenly, Tuan Tuan grabbed Chen Yu's hand, "So if I behave and study and dance, would you consider letting Teacher Tong Ya be my new mom?"
Chen Yu was taken aback for a moment. Honestly, Tong Ya was really great, but he felt he wasn't good enough for her.
Just as Chen Yu didn't know how to respond, the supplier arrived with raw materials.
"Wow, boss, how busy is your business? You just received supplies yesterday morning and they're already sold out? And today you're even ordering double, can you sell all that?"
Chen Yu smiled politely, "I've got a new trailer, so I can store what doesn't sell!"
The supplier glanced at the brightly lit small trailer and didn't say more, just helped Chen Yu unload all the raw materials.
Just as they waved off the suppliers, Chen Yu saw a white car drive over and park steadily next to the meal cart.
Soon after, Tong Ya elegantly stepped out of the car.
"Eh, Teacher Tong Ya? What are you doing here?" Chen Yu was somewhat surprised.
Tong Ya shook her phone, "Someone didn't reply to my messages last night, I thought something had happened to you and your daughter sleeping in the food cart, so I came over early to check."
Chen Yu was slightly stunned and quickly took out his phone, only then noticing the dozen or so messages from Tong Ya.
"Tuan Tuan's dad, are you asleep?"
"Make sure Tuan Tuan goes to bed early, she has a small dance competition tomorrow."
"You've had a long day too, go to bed early!"
"Can I come over early tomorrow to help you? I'm picking up Tuan Tuan anyway."
...
Looking at all those messages, Chen Yu felt somewhat embarrassed.
He was really too tired yesterday and had fallen asleep as soon as he lay down.
"Wow, I'm really sorry! I went to bed early and didn't see the messages, and my phone is old too, sometimes it doesn't even alert me!"
Tong Ya clasped her hands behind her back, forcibly hiding her sheepishness.
"No worries! How about you give me the first batch of fried cakes you make as an apology?"
"No problem!"
Chen Yu hurried back to the meal cart to start preparing the fried cakes.
Tuan Tuan also ran down at this moment and threw herself into Tong Ya's arms.
"Teacher, why are you here so early? You didn't come because you missed my dad, did you?"
Tong Ya's face instantly turned bright red, "I was just worried about you sleeping in the food cart, what if something happened? And I get up to practice dancing at this time every morning anyway! So I just came over."
This explanation did seem a bit far-fetched, Tuan Tuan didn't believe it anyway.
"So does that mean the teacher is worried about my dad?"
Tong Ya really didn't know what to say, it was as if Tuan Tuan could see right through her thoughts.
However, she still felt a bit disappointed, it seemed to her that in Chen Yu's eyes, she had come just because Chen Yu hadn't responded to her messages.
The temperature at four in the morning in Suzhou City was already low, and Tong Ya had only worn a T-shirt and a plaid shirt when she left the house, she was now shivering a bit.
Tuan Tuan had a sudden idea and quickly went back to the cab, pulling out three jackets from a box.
These were family jackets they had bought before, all Spongebob themed.
But Fang Yuan thought they were childish and had never worn them.
Tuan Tuan put on her own jacket, then handed the remaining two to Chen Yu and Tong Ya.
It had to be said, Tong Ya really did look good in it.
Twenty minutes later, the first batch of thirty fried cakes was laid out on the table.
After hurriedly eating eight, Chen Yu went back to the food cart to stay busy.
From yesterday's experience, it wouldn't be long before customers started arriving!
"Teacher, would you like some water?" Tuan Tuan took down two bottles of juice from the trailer.
"No thanks, I brought some hot water! You should drink some too, don't always drink sodas, it's not healthy!"
Tuan Tuan took Tong Ya's cup and took a sip with a big smile.
"Look, and they said it wasn't a family of three, they've even got their family outfits on! Hey boss, a hundred fried cakes!"
That was when Tong Ya realized that the clothes Tuan Tuan had brought were family outfits.
But she didn't say anything, she just instinctively zipped up tighter, with not a hint of dislike on her face.
Chen Yu was also momentarily stunned, and just as he was about to explain, Tong Ya had already entered the food cart and started helping out with experienced ease, just like the day before.
Chen Yu was bewildered, even if he tried not to think much about it, he was still a bit dazed at the moment.
Tong Ya not only didn't dislike wearing the family outfits, but she also came over to help him like yesterday.
For a moment, Chen Yu suddenly realized that this was what a complete family looked like.
However, he quickly dismissed the thought and buried himself in making fried cakes.
"The boss is really handsome, wooed the pretty lady who came yesterday, right away! Looks like I've got no chance now."
"Who says you've got no chance, you can still eat the boss's fried cakes!"
"Boss, as usual, forty fried cakes!"
…
It wasn't long before the crowd had already surrounded the food cart on all sides.
Luckily, when they bought the fridge yesterday, the retailer had recommended an automated vending style fridge, otherwise it would have been a real hassle.
Just then, the owner of the nearby Sichuan restaurant came over with a few waiters.
"Wow, brother, this place of yours is really bustling!"
Tuan Tuan saw the Sichuan restaurant owner, crossed her arms, and pouted, apparently, she still remembered holding a grudge against him.