Divorced and Determined: The CEO's Ex-Wife Fights for Love

Chapter 129 Mommy, Can You Help Yao Yao Change Her Slippers?

Since Lu Qin was going to Shen Hongda’s villa for dinner, he decided not to set up his food stall that afternoon. As soon as he sent a notification in the group chat, the chat was instantly flooded with wails of despair.

“Boss Lu, are you abandoning your children? Are you just going to watch us starve on the streets?”

“Boss Lu, you go ahead and take care of your business, I totally understand! Go, I promise not to eat anything and wait for your stall at night! But if you don’t set up at night either, I’ll have to starve until morning!”

“It’s over. I have to eat my wife’s dark cuisine tonight. I don’t want to eat burnt mantou with sparks flying from it. Someone save me!”

“It’s just a few hours! Tighten your belt and punch a few more holes in it! If you’re a real man, you’ll only eat Boss Lu’s food!”

...

Shen Muyan originally had some files to work on in the evening, but she decided not to work overtime, giving her mother some face by trying her cooking.

At Junsheng Villa, Lu Xiyao hadn’t expected to see her dad today, so she was super happy, bouncing into the villa excitedly.

“Daddy, come here, let me change your slippers for you.”

The little cotton-padded jacket (a Chinese metaphor for a daughter being thoughtful and warm) brought out a new pair of slippers for Lu Qin and helped him change into them.

“Mommy, can you help Yao Yao change her slippers?”

Shen Muyan: “?”

“I think you’re getting a little too bold.”

Shen Muyan reached out her finger, ready to flick her forehead.

“Waahh~! Mommy, I was just joking~!”

The little one quickly changed her slippers herself and ran inside, throwing herself onto the sofa. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Both Shen Hongda and Lu Qin laughed.

Shen Muyan was speechless. Lately, this little one has been getting bolder in front of me, especially when Dad and Lu Qin are around.

Jiang Qin saw Lu Qin and immediately pulled him aside to chat, just like in the past, asking about his well-being and catching up on family matters.

As they sat in the living room chatting, Jiang Qin carefully observed Lu Qin and said with some concern.

“Lu Qin, you’ve lost weight recently. Don’t overwork yourself at the stall. Since you’re doing freelance work, take a break when you’re tired.”

“It’s not tiring. Every day feels fulfilling, and life has something to look forward to.”

Lu Qin replied with a smile.

Shen Hongda noticed that Lu Qin was different from before. He seemed more energetic, more confident. He liked Lu Qin even more now.

Shen Muyan curled up on a single-seater sofa, scrolling through her phone. Occasionally, she would glance up at Lu Qin before looking back at her screen.

The phone screen showed a chat with Fang Ya.

“Shen Boss, let’s go out for some fun! Take me to Lu Qin’s place for a meal,” Fang Ya said.

Shen Muyan secretly snapped a picture of Lu Qin sitting diagonally across from her and sent it over.

“Damn! Are you two getting back together? Are you bringing Lu Qin home to get your dad’s approval?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? The little one had a mild throat infection, so he came to check on her,” Shen Muyan said.

“Tsk, tsk. Ultimate dad material. That little one is so lucky.”

“Are you coming or not?” Shen Muyan asked.

“Nah, I’d feel awkward.”

“Since when did you get shy?”

“It’s your family dinner. I don’t want to intrude. But next time you go to Lu Qin’s place for food, you have to invite me! If you don’t, I’ll unfriend your alt account.”

Shen Muyan was speechless.

The housekeeper took some ice cream from the fridge and handed it out to everyone. Lu Xiyao was lazily lying on Lu Qin’s stomach watching TV. When she saw the housekeeper bringing ice cream, she instantly sat up like a zombie, her eyes shining.

“Thank you, Auntie!”

Just as she was about to take the ice cream, Lu Qin stopped her.

“Yao Yao, you’ve used up your ice cream quota for this week. It resets on Tuesday.”

“Waaah~! Daddy, can I have just one? I won’t have any next Tuesday, I promise!”

The little one put on her most pitiful face.

“No.”

Lu Qin was firm with his rules.

“But I really want to eat ice cream.”

Lu Xiyao put on her best tragic expression, playing the suffering child role.

“Too much ice cream isn’t good for your health. Just bear with it.”

As he spoke, Lu Qin opened his own ice cream and took a bite of the chocolate-vanilla flavor. The little one stared at him, longing for a taste.

Shen Hongda, Jiang Qin, and Shen Muyan all started eating their ice cream too. Her willpower was slowly being crushed.

I’m not a three-year-old anymore. I can resist…

But just as she was about to cry from holding back, Lu Qin finally gave her a small bite. The little one didn’t break down completely.

Jiang Qin went into the kitchen to cook and invited Lu Qin in for some guidance. Since they had a housekeeper, Jiang Qin rarely cooked.

But every time her granddaughter visited, she barely ate half a bowl of rice and only picked at the dishes. The housekeeper’s food was great, but the little one had been spoiled by Lu Qin’s cooking.

Jiang Qin wanted to learn a few signature dishes so she could cook for her precious granddaughter.

“Mom, to make the beef and potatoes flavorful, the trick is to mince the doubanjiang (fermented bean paste) before adding it.”

“For minced pork eggplant, there are two key points. First, buy tender eggplants—the ones with thin skin and no black spots in the middle. Second, before stir-frying, lightly coat the eggplant with oil.”

...

As Lu Qin gave instructions, every word was useful and insightful.

Jiang Qin had an aha moment and nodded repeatedly. She hadn’t realized even a simple stir-fried vegetable dish had so many details to consider.

The housekeeper, while washing vegetables, listened carefully. Many of these cooking techniques were new to her. She learned a lot and felt excited.

For example, the order of seasoning.

For stir-fried vegetables: salt → sugar → vinegar.

For stir-fried meat: sugar → cooking wine → vinegar → salt → soy sauce.

For stewing and braising: cooking wine → sugar → vinegar → salt → soy sauce.

Getting the order wrong could change the taste. If it weren’t for the son-in-law stepping into the kitchen today, they might never have known these tricks.

One hour later, one by one, the dishes were placed on the dining table. Dinner was quite the feast.

Shen Hongda glanced at Jiang Qin and asked, “Did you make all of this? Lu Qin didn’t help?”

Lu Qin smiled.

“I just gave instructions. Didn’t lift a finger.”

Shen Hongda looked disappointed.

I was hoping to eat his food…

Jiang Qin raised an eyebrow.

“Are you disappointed?”

Shen Hongda quickly shook his head.

“No, no! I’ve been eagerly looking forward to my dear wife’s cooking!”

His survival instincts were strong. Since Lu Qin hadn’t cooked, Shen Muyan and Lu Xiyao weren’t very excited. But out of respect for Jiang Qin, they acted interested.

Dishes included—Braised Beef with Potatoes, Stir-fried Bamboo Shoots with Pork, Minced Pork Eggplant, and a Three-Delicacy Stew.

As everyone ate, Jiang Qin asked, “How does it taste?”

“Delicious.”

Shen Hongda, Shen Muyan, and Lu Xiyao nodded in unison. Jiang Qin sensed something was off.

They’re all just being polite.

So she turned to Shen Hongda and asked, “Which dish is the best?”

Shen Hongda thought for a moment, then pointed to the Garlic Pork Ribs in the center.

“These ribs are really good. You have chef-level skills!”

Hearing this, Shen Muyan and Lu Xiyao also nodded and took another piece. Out of all the dishes, only the ribs were outstanding.

“Honey, when did you learn to make this?”

Jiang Qin said expressionlessly, “The garlic ribs were made by Lu Qin.”

Shen Hongda froze.

“Didn’t you say he didn’t cook?”

“Only this dish was made by Lu Qin,” Jiang Qin said.

Shen Hongda was speechless.