Knock, knock.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
Su Meng answered with a puzzled expression. It was already late—who could it be?
With a creak, the door opened, and Su Che strode in casually.
"Dad, Mom, Sis, I'm here to freeload a meal—"
Halfway through his sentence, he froze.
He hadn't expected the room to be so crowded.
"Huh? Uncle, Auntie, what are you doing here?"
During summer vacation in college, Su Che had accompanied Jiang Ning back to his hometown once, so he had already met Jiang Ning's parents.
"You... you're Su Che? Ning'er's college classmate?"
Jiang Haichuan looked genuinely surprised.
So Su Che was Ning'er's brother-in-law-to-be.
Earlier that day, Su Yunlong had already told him about Jiang Ning, Su Meng, and Su Che, and he knew the family had a son. Seeing Su Che call Su Yunlong and Liu Mengyan "Dad" and "Mom," everything clicked into place.
"That's right, Uncle. You still remember me?"
Su Che grinned as he plopped down onto the sofa.
"Hmm? What's Jiang Ning cooking? Why does it smell so amazing?"
The moment he entered, the rich aroma immediately caught his attention.
"Che'er, what brings you here?" Su Yunlong asked.
Su Che quickly explained,
"Jiang Ning called me this afternoon and said there'd be delicious food and good wine tonight. He invited me over for a family dinner."
Su Yunlong nodded.
"Starting tomorrow, you'll report to your sister's company as vice president. She's going to hand over much of her work to you. It's time for her to step back."
Su Che's eyes widened.
"What? Dad, you're joking, right?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Su Che immediately looked miserable.
"But Dad... I'm not ready yet. There are still so many things I don't understand."
Su Yunlong snorted.
"Don't think I don't know what's going on in that head of yours. You just want to keep fooling around.
It's time to grow up.
Your sister is getting married soon. Before long she'll probably be pregnant with your little nephew or niece. Are you really going to let her keep running the company with a baby bump while you continue playing around?"
Su Che muttered under his breath,
"She's not even pregnant yet..."
That instantly set Su Yunlong off.
"Brat! You've played around long enough! Your sister took over the company the moment she graduated. You've already enjoyed two extra years of freedom, and you're still not satisfied?"
Su Che quietly shot back,
"The retirement age for men is sixty.
When Sis graduated, you weren't even fifty, yet you retired already.
Who retires that early? You're way lazier than I am."
Su Yunlong's face flushed red.
"You little rascal! I'm your father! It's not your place to lecture me!"
Because Su Che had grown up with his maternal grandparents rather than his parents, he never felt particularly intimidated by Su Yunlong.
Seeing the father and son about to start another shouting match, Liu Mengyan quickly stepped in.
"Alright, alright. Yunlong, stop scolding him."
The moment she spoke, Su Yunlong swallowed the rest of his anger, though he still shot Su Che a fierce glare.
Turning to her son, Liu Mengyan spoke gently.
"Che'er, you're not a child anymore.
You know your sister's situation. She's about to marry your brother-in-law.
Maybe next year you'll already be an uncle.
You can't stay carefree forever. Surely you don't expect your sister to keep working while pregnant?
Of course, there are many things about the company you don't know yet.
Your father will help you handle everything until you're familiar with the business.
And I won't let him retire so early anymore.
He'll stay and guide you until you're fully capable. Once you feel he can finally retire, then he can step down.
How does that sound?"
Su Che had always listened to his mother's advice.
Hearing her arrangement, he finally relaxed.
Truthfully, he'd always disliked how his father forced Su Meng to take over the company immediately after graduation.
Back then, Su Yunlong had only been forty-nine.
"Alright."
"I'll do whatever Mom says."
Liu Mengyan then turned toward her husband.
"Yunlong, from now on, stop staying home with me all day.
You're still young. Spend more time teaching Che'er about the company.
And honestly..."
She smiled helplessly.
"Your cooking really isn't very good.
I'd much rather come here and eat Ning'er's cooking than yours.
You're always trying new recipes, but before you've mastered one, you've already moved on to another.
Your dishes always end up either too oily or too greasy.
I've been polite and eaten them all these years, but now that Che'er needs you, stop experimenting in the kitchen."
Her blunt words left Su Yunlong questioning his culinary talent.
She wasn't wrong.
People who love cooking often see a new recipe and immediately want to try it.
But after making it once, they either don't cook it again for months—or never again.
Without repeated practice, no dish ever truly improves.
Over the years, Su Yunlong had probably attempted hundreds of different recipes.
Every time he saw a cooking video online, he'd rush out to buy ingredients.
The next meal?
A completely different recipe.
No wonder Liu Mengyan had finally taken the opportunity to say what she'd been holding back.
Su Yunlong suddenly felt rather embarrassed.
Just then...
A rich, mouthwatering fragrance drifted out from the kitchen.
"Exactly!" Su Che immediately said.
"Brother-in-law actually knows how to cook. Unlike certain people whose cooking isn't great but still like to act all—"
Before he could finish, Liu Mengyan shot him a warning look, telling him to stop.
Had she not been there, Su Yunlong might already have punched the brat.
Jiang Haichuan quickly laughed to ease the tension.
"Alright, alright, in-law. Don't be angry. Kids love teasing.
Still... Ning'er's cooking smells incredible.
It must taste amazing."
He had never tasted Jiang Ning's cooking before.
Just the aroma alone made him swallow repeatedly.
The moment one mouthful of saliva went down, another immediately filled his mouth.
"Daddy..."
Mengmeng's mouth was practically watering.
"Daddy's cooking smells different today!"
She was drooling so much she forgot to wipe her mouth.
Gulp.
Su Meng swallowed hard as well.
"You're right.
Honey's cooking really does seem different today.
It smells even better than usual.
I can't stop salivating."
Gulp.
Ye Shulan couldn't help asking,
"Is Ning'er's cooking really always this delicious?"
Su Meng proudly hugged her mother's arm.
"Mom, Jiang Ning's cooking is at a master-chef level.
Everything he makes is unbelievably delicious.
Our whole family loves eating his food."
Jiang Haichuan sighed with mixed emotions.
"I raised that boy all these years...
And I've never even had the chance to eat a meal he cooked."
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)