Fang Ya realized for the first time that someone could look handsome even riding a three-wheeler.
It mainly depended on who was riding it.
Inside a Chinese-style villa.
Chen Dahai ate the delicious Ice Crystal Cake while reviewing the information.
Having eaten someone's Ice Crystal Cake, he had to do something for them.
He had already sent people to investigate Lu Qin's recent circumstances.
He was currently living in rented housing, Unit 1702A, Chengnan Old District.
The monthly rent was three thousand.
He currently made a living setting up a stall selling fried rice noodles.
He ran his stall during three periods—morning, noon, and evening. Business was booming, but his income was unknown.
His morning stall was mainly outside Sunshine Elementary School, while his late-night stall was at University Town Night Market.
He brought his daughter along when he set up his stall at night.
"Hm... this kid is pretty hardworking."
"But he's putting his effort in the wrong place. Setting up a stall isn't a long-term plan."
"Business is booming? No matter how booming it is, can it make more money than a regular job?"
Chen Dahai flipped through Lu Qin's academic records again. He was a top graduate of Qingbei and had once worked at Myriad Technologies Company. His résumé was quite impressive.
But why didn't he find a proper job instead of setting up a stall?
Chen Dahai couldn't understand it.
Looking at Lu Qin's handsome ID photo, Chen Dahai considered how to help Shen Hongda with this favor.
After all, having accepted someone's food and gifts, it wouldn't do if he failed to handle the matter properly.
He would get familiar with the kid first.
Chen Dahai decided to take things one step at a time.
Then he received a phone call from someone asking around about Ice Crystal Cake.
They said Jiangcheng had Crystal Cake, Osmanthus Cake, and Mung Bean Cake, but no one sold Ice Crystal Cake.
They had even asked around among those reclusive Private Chefs, but found nothing.
Chen Dahai was very disappointed. He didn't believe Shen Hongda's claim that it had been made by some famous foreign dessert chef.
This Ice Crystal Cake was one hundred percent a domestic pastry snack!
Thinking that he would have to beg that miser Shen Hongda whenever he wanted Ice Crystal Cake in the future, he was unwilling in every possible way.
"Papa, did you miss your little cutie these past two days~?"
"Guess."
"I guess you missed me very, very much~! Papa, did I guess right~?"
"You guessed right."
"What reward do I get for guessing right~?"
"What reward do you want?"
"Can I have an ice cream as a reward~? Green Mood."
Lu Qin pointed at the rearview mirror. "Look in the mirror. There's still chocolate around your mouth."
"Auntie Fang Ya took you out to play and bought you ice cream, didn't she?"
Lu Xiyao leaned over to take a look, then hurriedly covered her little mouth with both hands.
Oh no, she had been found out!
"Hehehe~!"
Lu Xiyao acted cute.
"Since you ate several ice creams during the two days Dad wasn't around, you won't have any ice cream next week."
"Wuwuwu~! Papa~! No, you can't! What am I supposed to do without ice cream~?!"
"Have it cold."
Lu Xiyao was sad for 3.5 seconds, then let out a faint sigh. Being a kid was so hard. She couldn't even eat ice cream freely.
"Then can I eat Papa's fried rice noodles, Mung Bean Paste, and Ice Crystal Cake~?"
With no ice cream, she could only eat the food Lu Qin made.
As long as it satisfied her cravings, that was enough.
"You can." Lu Qin nodded.
The father and daughter returned home.
"Papa~! I'm tired. Can I rest for a while~?"
"Mm. Go rest on the sofa and change your shoes."
"Okay. Papa, will you rest with me too~?"
The father and daughter leaned back on the sofa to rest. The little girl held Lu Qin's arm, her head resting against him, her eyes fixed on the television screen.
A Chinese animated show, "The Haier Brothers."
"Thunder means rain is coming, lei oh~!—What~?"
"When it rains, you need an umbrella, lei oh~!—I know that too~!"
The little girl sang along with the theme song. She knew it well and didn't go off-key.
A smile touched Lu Qin's lips as a gentle warmth filled his heart.
Watching the little girl grow up peacefully by his side was a very happy thing.
After watching the cartoon for a while, the little girl fell asleep against Lu Qin.
Lu Qin laid her down, covered her with a blanket, and turned off the television.
He walked into the kitchen and began preparing ingredients for the late-night stall.
Fang Ya was "sneaking food" in the hotel's back kitchen.
"This Pea Flour Cake is pretty tasty, but Chef, do you know how to make Ice Crystal Cake?"
"Ice Crystal Cake? No."
The pastry chef, who had over a decade of experience, shook his head. "Miss Fang, do you mean Crystal Cake?"
"No. They may look similar, but they aren't the same."
Fang Ya ate only one piece of Pea Flour Cake before stopping.
After eating Lu Qin's Ice Crystal Cake, all other pastries tasted far inferior by comparison.
Seeing Fang Ya's expression, the pastry chef couldn't help feeling puzzled.
Even his best Pea Flour Cake failed to satisfy her. Just how delicious was that Ice Crystal Cake?
Besides, he had lived for so many years and had never even heard of a pastry called Ice Crystal Cake.
After Fang Ya left, Chef Xiong took out his phone and called his teacher.
"Ice Crystal Cake? There really is such a pastry."
"It's a local specialty from the Northeast and isn't widely known. I heard it's a kind of Rice Cake made from Glutinous Rice. The process is rather complicated, and making it delicious and authentic requires considerable skill."
Boss Lu, can you be my brother-in-law?
"Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
Chef Xiong said, "A customer asked about it today. I'd never heard of Ice Crystal Cake, so I called to ask you, Teacher."
"I've only heard of it too. I haven't had the chance to go north and try it myself."
Chef Xiong said, "Jiangcheng seems to have it. That customer had eaten Ice Crystal Cake and lost interest even in the Pea Flour Cake I made."
"Oh? Then I absolutely have to try it when I get the chance."
After hanging up, Mai Dejun had just slipped his phone into his pocket when it began vibrating again.
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