Chapter 4

Having easily earned a hundred yuan, Guoguo's little face was full of excitement, "Um, Dad, can you give me another hundred now?"

"Eh, more?" Xu Yun was a bit puzzled, hadn't he just given her a gift?

"You're so slow, of course it's the fee for helping you woo Mom!" Guoguo said with a look of exasperation.

The innocent child's voice hit Xu Yun with a shock that was ten, a hundred, a thousand times stronger than any thunderbolt...

Stealthily glancing towards the kitchen, Xu Yun decisively pulled out a hundred-yuan note from his pocket and handed it over.

Guoguo, now with another hundred yuan, excitedly hopped off the chair and skipped towards the kitchen.

Sitting in the chair, Xu Yun was just marveling at the power of money when a child's voice from the kitchen shattered his thoughts.

"Mom, Mom, Uncle Superman gave me a hundred yuan to help him woo you!"

Even a godfather couldn't be so betrayed! Guoguo had just taken the money and then sold Xu Yun out! This girl really made Xu Yun give in completely.

In the kitchen, Ruan Qingshuang's face turned red from Guoguo's words. She glared at Guoguo, "Guoguo, what are you up to? Quickly return the money to Uncle."

"No way, I've already recognized Uncle Superman as my godfather. It's not easy to have a wild, uh, a dad who can protect Guoguo..." Guoguo said, feeling grateful, her lively big eyes gradually filling with tears.

Ruan Qingshuang, moved by Guoguo's pitiful appearance, felt both sympathy and a twinge of pain. Indeed, apart from Xu Yun, no one else dared to step forward to protect them.

Thinking about this, Ruan Qingshuang's stern face softened. She turned off the stove, carried out a bowl of simmered medicinal soup, and with a hint of lingering blush, smiled apologetically at Xu Yun, "Guoguo is too naughty, don't take her words to heart..."

"I wish I could, but what's the point? This girl has already spilled everything..." Xu Yun was quite depressed, but he said, "Eh, it's fine, hehe, just a kid..."

"Guoguo, return the money to Uncle." Ruan Qingshuang gently stroked the little girl's head, thinking that recognizing Xu Yun as a godfather was probably Guoguo's own idea.

Guoguo pouted her tender little mouth and reluctantly pushed the hundred yuan on the table back to Xu Yun.

Xu Yun couldn't bear to take back the money he had given to a child. He squinted his eyes and smiled like a big bad wolf, "Why don't you keep it to buy candy?"

"No, candy is bad for teeth." Guoguo sighed, shaking her head reluctantly, "Mom says kids who eat candy aren't good kids."

But from her expression, it was clear that she didn't really believe it; she was just acknowledging it out of respect for her mother's authority.

Xu Yun was growing fonder of this little cutie. He reached out and patted Guoguo's head, "Why don't you use it to buy something nice for Mom?"

"That's a good reason!" Guoguo's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously, quickly pulling back the money she had just pushed away.

Ruan Qingshuang was helpless with Guoguo and could only look at Xu Yun apologetically. Guoguo, on the other hand, cheered and went to wash her hands, swaying her little waist as she went.

"I'll return the money to you." Ruan Qingshuang, seeing Guoguo leave, quickly took out her wallet.

"No need, it's fine as long as the child is happy." Xu Yun smiled, the mischievous little sprite was incredibly adorable.

Ruan Qingshuang couldn't agree, "No, no, Guoguo is just a child, but how can I accept your money? I already don't know how to thank you for today."

"Thank me?" Xu Yun glanced at the recruitment ad for a chef and waiter on the herbal soup shop's door, thought for a moment, and patted his stomach, "How about treating me to a herbal soup? American ginseng and stone斛slim meat soup, how about that?"

Ruan Qingshuang was taken aback; she had never encountered someone who could order a medicinal soup without looking at the menu. After a moment's hesitation, she nodded quickly, "Sure!"

When Ruan Qingshuang returned to the kitchen, Guoguo had already washed her hands and come back. Seeing Xu Yun looking at her guardedly, she tilted her head, "Godfather, what's wrong? I'm not a bad person, why are you looking at me like that?"

What a charming child, calling him "godfather" so sweetly and gently! If Xu Yun didn't have a bit of self-control, he might have been sold out by this girl and even counted the money for her.

"Guoguo, aren't we quite a match?" Xu Yun raised his eyebrows and smiled at Guoguo.

Guoguo looked at Xu Yun warily and finally nodded reluctantly after a while, "What do you want from me? Just say it. But I won't tell you that Mom is wearing the same pink underwear as me today."

I almost choked! Xu Yun almost spat out blood! What do kids these days think about? But he still subconsciously glanced at Ruan Qingshuang's back, and indeed, he could faintly see a hint of pink through her clothes. Guoguo's words were probably true.

Looking at Guoguo's cute little underwear with a cat embroidered on it, Xu Yun couldn't help but imagine Ruan Qingshuang in such cute underwear.

But he quickly shook off the thought. Pointing to the recruitment ad on the door, he asked, "Guoguo, has Mom found a chef yet?"

"Not yet." Guoguo shook her head unhappily, picked up a spoon, and took a sip of the silver ear and pear soup, "No one is willing to work for 1,500 yuan. But Mom doesn't have more money to pay."

Xu Yun smiled, "What do you think about me being the chef?"

"You?" Guoguo put down her chopsticks, stood on the chair, and with her mischievous big eyes, scrutinized Xu Yun several times, occasionally asking some completely unrelated questions, "Can you sing children's songs?"

"Sure!"

"Can you tell ghost stories?"

"Of course!"

"Can you play truth or dare?"

"No problem!"

"Can you make Mom happy?"

"Definitely!"

At this moment, Ruan Qingshuang came out with a bowl of American ginseng and stone斛slim meat soup. Seeing the strange looks on the two of them, she couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"

"Mom, I found a chef for you! Salary of 1,000 yuan!" Guoguo proudly pouted at Xu Yun.

Xu Yun was taken aback and whispered to Guoguo, "Wasn't it 1,500 yuan?"

Guoguo, standing on the chair, leaned close to Xu Yun's ear and threatened in a voice only they could hear, "Do you want to woo my mom or do you want the extra 500 yuan?"

This was a real trump card! Xu Yun, fearing that the girl would blurt out his intentions, didn't dare to haggle. 1,000 yuan it is.

"Children speak without thinking, don't mind her." Ruan Qingshuang, not hearing their conversation, quickly picked Guoguo up from the chair. Unbeknownst to her, the two had already exchanged meaningful glances.

"Guoguo isn't speaking without thinking." Xu Yun took a sip of the herbal soup, "It's good. But the ratio of American ginseng to stone斛is a bit off. If you add a couple of slices of ginger to mask the herbal taste, it would taste even better."

Ruan Qingshuang was stunned by Xu Yun's critique, "You really know about herbal soups?"

Xu Yun nodded. This was a golden opportunity given by Guoguo, allowing him to work for such an excellent boss. He had to seize the chance to show off, "A bit, just the basics."

Guoguo secretly gave Xu Yun a thumbs up: "Great job!"

"Then... are you really willing to work here?" Ruan Qingshuang asked tentatively, hoping Xu Yun would agree. After today's incident with the thugs, she felt that without a man in the shop, she and Guoguo would find it hard to handle any problems.

Xu Yun nodded, pretending to think, "If you trust my skills, I can give it a try."

"Really!?" Ruan Qingshuang was overjoyed; she never thought she would have such good luck!

Xu Yun nodded, "Mm-hmm."

"Yay!" Guoguo jumped up excitedly, raising her innocent face and winking at Xu Yun, "1,000 yuan a month, that's what we agreed on."

This little money-grubber was really helping her mom save money!

Ruan Qingshuang lovingly patted Guoguo's head and said to Xu Yun, "I'm a bit tight on cash right now. If you don't mind, I can double your salary next month when business picks up, okay?"

Before Xu Yun could speak, Guoguo had already made the decision for him, "No need, no need. Dad is coming here just to be closer to Mom. He doesn't care about the salary."

Dad?! Ruan Qingshuang was stunned.

Xu Yun blushed, this little girl was really selling him out completely!

"Eat!" Guoguo ignored the two awkward adults, sat down seriously to enjoy the delicious food her mom made, and said teasingly, "New chef, aren't you going to show off your skills? I don't keep idle people around."

This girl really had a bit of a boss's air... Xu Yun was speechless again, "I'll show you my skills."

Ruan Qingshuang also wanted to test Xu Yun's cooking skills. She hoped he was good, otherwise her family's herbal soup brand would be ruined. But she was too embarrassed to say it. Since Guoguo had spoken up, she didn't stop him and let Xu Yun tie on an apron and head into the kitchen.

Guoguo winked at Ruan Qingshuang, seemingly waiting for her mother's praise. With all her clever ideas, she could see through her mother's thoughts.

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