"Wei Xingzhou!" The next moment, Cui Cui's voice rang out from behind.
Wei Xingzhou froze.
"Turn around!" Cui Cui commanded.
Wei Xingzhou hesitated, then finally, cautiously and with a hint of grievance, turned his head to look at Cui Cui.
Cui Cui offered the shrimp in her hand to her father. "Do you want some?"
Wei Xingzhou was nervous. He carefully observed Cui Cui's expression and found that his good daughter genuinely cared for her father and was concerned about him. A pang of emotion struck him, and he quickly reached out to take the shrimp. He peeled the shell and began to eat. It was so fragrant!
"This is delicious!" Wei Xingzhou exclaimed loudly after taking a bite.
Lu Wanqing's cooking was delicious, but Cui Cui's concern for him was even more so. Cui Cui was truly wonderful, living up to her reputation as his good daughter.
Lu Wanqing watched the father and daughter, and the knot of worry in her heart finally eased a little.
The corn and chicken wing stew was already simmering.
Lu Wanqing continued to prepare other ingredients. For the double pepper diced chicken, she needed to dice the chicken first.
Lu Wanqing worked calmly. She took out the chicken, rinsed it under running water, and then brought it back to dice it.
Wei Xingzhou finished one crayfish and quickly ate a second one. He didn't eat any more after that. He walked over to Lu Wanqing and asked what dishes she planned to make.
"No need. You should spend more time with Cui Cui," Lu Wanqing said in a low voice.
Wei Xingzhou paused, then said, "If I just eat and don't help at all, Cui Cui will ignore me even more."
Lu Wanqing: ...
Very well, Wei Xingzhou always understood Cui Cui the best.
"Cui Cui, do you want to help too?" Lu Wanqing asked Cui Cui with a smile.
"I can help too," Sisi, who had been silent, quickly chimed in, saying nervously.
Lu Wanqing stiffened slightly. She really didn't know how to take care of this child who had suddenly appeared and might be Wei Xingzhou's biological daughter.
Wei Xingzhou also stiffened, clearly not knowing what to do.
Cui Cui glanced at Sisi, pursed her lips, and said nothing.
"Mom, I'll help you," Cui Cui said, looking at Lu Wanqing.
"Sisi." Just then, a stranger's voice suddenly called out from outside. It was the mother of the girl named Sisi.
Hearing her mother call her, the girl turned to look at her. "Mom."
"Sisi, come here." The woman beckoned Sisi.
Sisi hesitated, glancing at her father and Cui Cui, before walking towards her mother.
Outside the door, the girl's mother said something to her, and the little girl was finally led away. Lu Wanqing inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief. If that girl had continued to stand there looking pitiful and staring at them, she truly felt she would have been overwhelmed.
With the girl gone, Wei Xingzhou also visibly relaxed, as did Cui Cui.
They continued cooking. With the three of them working together, their efficiency greatly increased, and all the ingredients were prepared in a short while.
The corn and chicken wing stew was also ready. Lu Wanqing opened the lid, and a rich aroma instantly wafted out.
Wei Xingzhou and Cui Cui's eyes lit up immediately. They looked curiously at the contents of the pot.
"What is this?" Wei Xingzhou asked curiously.
"Corn and chicken wing stew. It's very delicious," Lu Wanqing explained.
"Mmm, I can smell it. It smells wonderful!" Cui Cui said in a clear voice.
Wei Xingzhou's gaze towards Lu Wanqing brightened. He had learned to cook over the past few years and could make many dishes, but Lu Wanqing still knew many things he didn't, and they were all very fragrant.
"Let's give Cui Cui a little to try first," Wei Xingzhou said happily.
Lu Wanqing looked at Cui Cui and noticed the child's shining eyes. Cui Cui no longer looked as sad as before. Lu Wanqing also smiled and nodded. "Okay."
Lu Wanqing poured some of the corn and chicken wing stew from the pot into the small bowl that Cui Cui had just used.
"Be careful, it's hot. Let it cool a bit before you eat, so you don't burn yourself," Lu Wanqing reminded her.
"Okay," Cui Cui replied.
Hearing his good daughter's voice gradually becoming less sad, Wei Xingzhou's mood also improved significantly.
The remaining few dishes were easy. The double pepper diced chicken and the shredded pork with garlic sauce were stir-fried for a while and then finished. Lu Wanqing plated them and set them aside.
She cleaned the pot and began to make the last soup.
"What are we making now?" Wei Xingzhou asked.
Lu Wanqing smiled and said, "We'll make another soup. It'll be much better to have soup with our meal."
"Mmm," Wei Xingzhou nodded.
The corn and winter melon soup also cooked quickly and was very fragrant, with a light, sweet aroma that was very pleasant.
The rice was also ready.
Lu Wanqing called the domestic robot over and instructed it to take all the dishes, soup, and rice to the dining room.
This dinner, or late-night meal, was quite satisfying. Except for the initial cooking period when the girl named Sisi stayed with Wei Xingzhou, she didn't appear later, and no one else disturbed them, so they were in a good mood.
After eating their fill, they could finally rest.
Lu Wanqing took Cui Cui back to their room to sleep.
Wei Xingzhou also went back to sleep.
However, compared to before, Cui Cui's mood had improved considerably. She was no longer as sad and gloomy.
Back in the room, Lu Wanqing opened her light terminal and read stories to Cui Cui.
Cui Cui listened attentively. She listened to several stories before she slowly felt sleepy and finally fell asleep in her mother's arms.
Lu Wanqing watched her child for a long time before lying down beside her and slowly closing her eyes.
They slept soundly this time, and when they opened their eyes again, it was the next day.
Cui Cui had actually woken up early, due to her biological clock.
Lu Wanqing woke up because she heard Cui Cui getting up.
"Cui Cui?" Lu Wanqing looked at Cui Cui, who was already up, still a little groggy.
Cui Cui turned around and looked at her mommy. She obediently said, "Good morning, Mommy."
"Good morning, Cui Cui," Lu Wanqing replied with a smile.
Lu Wanqing got out of bed and looked at Cui Cui. "Are you combing your hair, Cui Cui?"
"Mmm," Cui Cui nodded.
"How about I give you a beautiful hairstyle today?" Lu Wanqing said impulsively.
"What hairstyle?" Cui Cui asked curiously, looking at her mommy.
Lu Wanqing was stunned. She had spoken without much thought, just out of habit.
Now that Cui Cui was seriously asking, she suddenly remembered that Cui Cui had grown up with Wei Xingzhou and should have seen all sorts of things.
"Do you like ancient costumes?" Lu Wanqing asked, her mind racing.
"Ancient costumes?" Cui Cui was confused.
Lu Wanqing smiled and nodded. "Yes, clothes from an era even earlier than mine. The clothes from that era were beautiful, and there were many beautiful hairstyles. When dressed up, they looked like little fairies, especially pretty."
Cui Cui was still young, and occasionally wearing ancient costumes for fun was fine.
"But I don't have clothes from that era," Cui Cui said, pursing her lips, a little hesitant.
Lu Wanqing understood immediately that Cui Cui had understood.
She quickly searched on her light terminal. There were some costumes from older eras for sale on the star network, but the styles were limited, and most of them were for adults, with few suitable for children.
"It's okay, how about Mommy makes a few for you?" Lu Wanqing quickly figured it out and said with a smile.
"Mommy can make them?" Cui Cui was surprised.
Lu Wanqing nodded. "Of course. Mommy is very smart. I'll learn it in no time."