"What's that you got there? Hold it a little further away, I can't even see the wok!"
The perfect cooking temperature was a matter of seconds. When cooking for his daughter, he had to bring his A-game!
Ni Guangli stared at the wok, not even blinking.
Ni Bingyan obediently moved it a bit further away, suppressing the smugness in her heart as she asked:
"Dad, take a look at this house. Do you like it?"
Ni Guangli had excellent vision and saw it clearly with just a glance.
"A house? It looks alright! But isn't it a bit too small? You want it? How much is it? Let Dad see if I have enough cash on hand."
A father who would grant his daughter's wish without a second thought was just too lovable!
Ni Bingyan's eyes sparkled as she clasped her hands together as if in prayer. "Dad! Are you going to buy it for me?"
Ni Guangli shot her a look. "I was planning to buy you one when you graduated, but then I got so angry I forgot, didn't I?"
Before she graduated, he had insisted she live on campus, afraid his fairy-like daughter would be taken advantage of. After she moved out, he worried she'd run into a bad landlord and planned to buy her an apartment. But despite all his precautions, she had been snatched away by that heartless mutt. He was so furious he never brought it up again.
'He was just making up for it now. It wasn't because she wanted it that he was offering to buy it!'
Ni Bingyan suddenly felt a little awkward. "Ahem, Dad, I already bought this house. I came back this time to tell you that if you go to Beijing, you don't have to stay in a hotel anymore. From now on, you can stay at our own place."
She thought for a moment then added, "I paid in full. It took all the money I've saved these past few years. We don't have a big family, so it's spacious enough. The main thing is the yard is pretty big, and I planted fruit trees all over! They'll definitely bear a lot of fruit next year! The room I saved for you is on the first floor, it's south-facing with a big balcony. I've already tidied it up, so you can move in anytime!"
As she spoke, she ran back out, dragged her suitcase into the house, and pulled out the property deed.
"My work schedule is pretty packed recently. I'll be filming straight through to the New Year. No one will be living there for a long time, and I'm afraid of burglars, so I'll feel safest leaving it here at home."
She couldn't possibly carry all that jewelry around with her. She'd installed a safe as soon as she bought the house. Bringing the deed home was just a way to make her dad happy.
And as expected, Ni Guangli was overjoyed!
Nothing could compare to the sense of security that owning a house provided!
Especially since she had bought it with her own money! Not with money from that Jiang fellow.
'No wonder she drove back in that dusty little clunker. She must have spent all her money on the house.'
Ni Guangli silently calculated his spare cash, planning to transfer some to his daughter later.
People in the entertainment industry were notorious for judging a book by its cover. If you showed up to an event dressed shabbily, you'd get flamed online. It was hard to get by without money on hand.
His daughter had cleared her head and knew how to live a proper life now. As her father, he was happier than anyone!
"The fish balls are done. I'll wash the wok. You go up the slope and pull a couple of heads of celtuce. I'll stir-fry them with some garlic. Old Xu did a great job with them this year. They're crisp and sweet, with a fantastic texture!"
Their home was a large mountain villa. They employed someone to grow vegetables specifically for their private kitchen restaurant. If customers were interested, they could even go into the fields and pick their own.
If her dad said it was good, it had to be really good.
The Ni family had a rule: nothing in the world was more important than a good meal. Ni Bingyan didn't hesitate. She grabbed a bamboo basket and headed for the vegetable patch, feeling delighted with herself the whole way. 'I'm so brilliant!'
It was true! A father was far happier seeing his child living a stable, grounded life than receiving any gift.
When she returned with the vegetables, the Mapo Tofu was just coming out of the wok.
Ni Guangli was also beaming. "We don't have any fancy ingredients at home, so I just made some tofu to have an extra dish. It's spicy, and you've been hungry for a while, so I'm worried it might be too much for you. Just have a few bites for now."
He hadn't wanted to make anything spicy, but his daughter loved it, and he just couldn't bring himself to say no.
Ni Bingyan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Dad! I can't eat that much! Aren't you getting tired?"
Ni Guangli just smiled. 'It's only three dishes. How could I be tired?'
He was bursting with energy now that he knew his daughter wasn't wallowing after her Breakup and was instead working hard and staying grounded!
Forget three dishes, he could have made three hundred!
"You did the right thing this time! It's important for a girl to have some backbone! He may be rich, but his money isn't ours, and we're not greedy. If a relationship doesn't work out, you just break up. Our Bingbing is still young. You'll eventually find someone who truly cherishes you. When you do, I promise I won't stand in your way like this."
Then, afraid his daughter would be sad, he added:
"Our family isn't doing badly, either. I'm working hard to make money, and when I'm gone, it'll all be yours. You don't have to worry about having a hard life. When you're in a relationship, just hold your head high. No matter how well-off the other person is, you have no reason to feel inferior."
Seeing her staring at him, her eyes red and welling up with tears again, Ni Guangli's voice softened.
"This one didn't work out, so we'll look for the next one. Who finds the right person on the first try? I was almost forty when I met your mother, wasn't I? But it's risky for women to have children when they're older, so if you find someone suitable, settle down sooner rather than later. While I'm still young, I can even help you take care of the kids."
Hearing these words, Ni Bingyan couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks again.
'Is this what it feels like to have a father?'
'He considers everything for my sake, taking care of my pride while constantly encouraging me to be more confident. This kind of love is so precious!'
'Do I really deserve to have this?'
The repository of memories in her mind opened once again. The bittersweet moments of the original owner's life, growing up under her father's care, slowly merged with her own memories. She felt as if she were reliving the original owner's entire life, and her sobs grew louder.
"Aiya! What are you crying for! You'll cry yourself sick, and then who's going to eat all this food I made?"
Ni Guangli couldn't stand to see his daughter cry, but just as he wanted to comfort her, the wok demanded his attention.
Another second in the wok and the celtuce would be ruined!
"Hey, hurry up and get me a plate! If you're going to cry, at least do it on a full stomach!"
He hastily took the wok off the stove, pretending to be flustered as he asked for her help, which made Ni Bingyan laugh through her tears.
Seeing her wipe away her tears and get back to helping, Ni Guangli finally breathed a sigh of relief.
'It's a young person's first Breakup. It's normal to be heartbroken for a while. After a few more Breakups, she'll get tougher.'
'This is all small stuff. Eating is the main event!'
The kitchen at home was large, and the chef—her father—was very professional. In no time at all, he had whipped up two dishes and a soup for her. After being hungry for so long, Ni Bingyan felt like she could devour two big bowls just from the smell alone!
Unfortunately, they hadn't had time to cook any rice that morning.
"There's still some braised beef left over. I'll make you a small bowl of beef noodles."
Seeing that she had stopped crying but now had a look of regret, Ni Guangli rolled his eyes at her, clearly knowing what she was thinking.
"Dad! I really... can't... eat... all that!!"
'No wonder so many people call men like him 'daddy' through a screen. You'd have to use up several lifetimes' worth of luck to get a father like this!'
'This is just too, too amazing!'
Ni Bingyan set out the bowls and chopsticks, hiccuping from her earlier crying.
Her dad not only had great culinary skills but also a refined artistic sense. The tableware at home was all custom-made, and he had a habit of using different sets for different dishes, making the table setting exceptionally beautiful.
And yet, her dad still said, "Just make do for now. We don't have anything good in the house. When you wake up tonight, I'll make a proper feast for you."
"Okay!"
'This dad is my real dad now. Every day from now on is a bonus. What the hell is there to cry about!'
Ni Bingyan dashed into the bathroom, quickly washed her face, came out, and grabbed her chopsticks to dig in.
One fish ball down, and her heart soared with joy!
Seeing her start eating while still standing, a look of pure enjoyment on her face, Ni Guangli felt extremely satisfied, though he verbally scolded her for her lack of manners.
Ni Bingyan chuckled and sat down, practically burying her face in her bowl!
Seeing her eat like a reincarnated hungry ghost, her father's heart burned with anger! If Jiang Sheng were in front of him right now, he'd probably grab his large iron ladle and give that man a few good whacks!
It was true he knew when to let go, but how could his heart not ache when his daughter came home looking so pitiful?
But Ni Bingyan had no idea that her father was blaming Jiang Sheng for every tear she shed, even the ones for her family.
"Dad, why do you keep staring at me? Aren't you going to eat? Not hungry? Later, I'll show you what I can do. I've traveled all over and learned a lot of new dishes. My cooking can't compare to your mastery, but at least you can try something new."
To Ni Bingyan, Jiang Sheng was ancient history, so far in the past he didn't even register. Seeing her dad stare at her like that made her feel uncomfortable, so she casually brought up a new topic.
"Alright, I'll be waiting then! I'm not afraid of your food tasting bad. After all, it wouldn't be the first time I've eaten your undercooked rice!"
Ni Bingyan fumed as she thought, 'She fed Dad her undercooked rice while practicing, but once she got good, she cooked for that dog of a man!'
"I've improved a lot now. It'll definitely be edible!"
Pounding her chest to guarantee it, Ni Bingyan added:
"My bags are all packed. I'll head straight to the film set from here when it's time. I still have a few days, so I'll cook all the new dishes I've learned for you to try. You can give me some pointers, and once my cooking improves, you won't have to worry about me when I'm living on my own."
"That's a great idea. A girl has to know how to love herself before she can receive more love from others!"
The father and daughter chatted away. Ni Bingyan didn't dare mention the two-hundred-square-meter place on the East Fourth Ring Road, and Ni Guangli didn't dare mention that he live-streamed every day, boasting about how his daughter was a fairy. It was, all in all, a joyful and harmonious scene.