The reason why Liu Liu Restaurant is so popular is largely due to the beautiful and capable proprietress. Liu Hui greeted the new customers as usual.
But this time she was genuinely a little surprised.
The couple who came in were so good-looking, a perfect match. The man was tall and handsome, with an air of noble self-restraint.
As for this girl, Liu Hui not only thought she was pretty, but also felt that she looked familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
However, this eye-catching couple ended up only ordering the most ordinary sausage fried rice.
Having run a business for so many years, Liu Hui had seen all sorts of strange customers, so she didn't pay any attention and simply told the kitchen staff.
A little while later, another guest arrived. But this time it was an old acquaintance.
As soon as Panzi came in, he shouted, "Sister Liu, can you lend me Brother Sen for a while? Our boss said he trusts Brother Sen."
"Come on, don't treat my man as free labor, making him work for you for free."
Liu Hui snorted. Ever since they found out that Asen could do the accounting, everyone wanted to ask him for help, simply because they thought hiring a professional accountant was too expensive and wanted to take advantage of him.
She was beautiful and charming, and even when she rolled her eyes, it didn't make anyone feel disgusted.
Panzi was still talking.
Liu Hui glanced at the kitchen and said, "Never mind, I'm not going to talk to you anymore. I'm going to serve the dishes."
The waitress happened to be on leave today, so she served the dishes herself.
When she brought the plate of sausage fried rice to the table and placed it in front of the guests, the little girl stared at her for a long time, making Liu Hui wonder if there was something ugly on her face.
Fortunately, the girl quickly lowered her head.
When Liu Hui returned to the cashier, Pan Zai went over and pestered her again.
After Ni Jingxi took a bite with her spoon, she suddenly smiled. Huo Shenyan, who was sitting opposite her, watched her smile until she scooped up another spoonful of rice and held it to Huo Shenyan's lips.
Huo Shenyan lowered his head and took a bite.
Ni Jingxi asked, "How is it?"
"It's delicious." Huo Shenyan chuckled.
Ni Jingxi looked at the plate of sausage fried rice in front of her, the rice grains plump and the eggs golden, and smiled again: "In the past, when people ate my dad's cooking, they all said that his cooking skills were so good that he could open a restaurant."
Unexpectedly, his words came true.
Liu Hui behind him was still refusing Pan Zai until she said, "Sen Ge won't go. He'd definitely rather stay home with me."
Her tone was sweet and affectionate.
Suddenly she heard a clear voice call out, "Boss lady."
The shout made everyone look in that direction.
Liu Hui walked over naturally and saw the sitting girl staring straight at her: "Who made this bowl of fried rice?"
“He’s my man,” Liu Hui said habitually. She was a woman with a bit of a江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) spirit, and she would always call Ah Sen “my man, my man” when she mentioned him.
Ni Jingxi finally couldn't take it anymore. She stood up abruptly, her hands still pressing down on the table. The soy sauce and vinegar dishes on it wobbled.
Seeing her expression, Liu Hui assumed she was dissatisfied with the fried rice and immediately said, "Miss, if you have any complaints, you can tell me first."
“No, I want to talk to the person who did this directly.” Ni Jingxi looked at her and said each word with great emphasis.
Just as Liu Hui was thinking about how to appease her, someone came out of the back kitchen.
He walked over step by step until he stopped and looked at Ni Jingxi, saying, "Miss, I made this fried rice. Is there a problem with it?"
At this moment, it was as if slow motion was playing before Ni Jingxi's eyes.
She slowly turned her head and looked at the man in front of her. So many years had passed. She was not even eighteen years old when he left.
Ni Jingxi thought he would grow old and she wouldn't recognize him.
But time seemed to stand still for him; he remained as gentle and refined as ever.
Ni Jingxi suddenly choked up. She forgot what she wanted to say until tears welled up in her eyes. She looked at him and said, "My name is Ni Jingxi."
Do you remember that there was a girl named Ni Jingxi in this world who has been trying hard to find you and waiting for you to come home?
She is the continuation of your and Gu Mingzhu's bloodline.
Liu Hui turned to look at the man beside her, whose face showed the same bewilderment as hers.
No, he also carried a deeper sorrow than she did.
A sadness came out of nowhere; it was as if the sight of the girl in front of him with tears in her eyes made him feel sad.
Ni Jingxi continued to look at him and spoke again: "You said that Mom is Grandpa's precious jewel, and I am your precious star."
Finally, she couldn't help but blink.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
She looked at Ni Pingsen and said, "Dad, I am Xingxing."
Author's Note: Brother Shenyan: Don't be sad, Xingxing, your husband will comfort you.
The tadpoles were looking for their mother, and the little star finally found its father.
*
Chapter 63
Ni Jingxi had initially managed to control her emotions, but when she saw Ni Pingsen looking at her with a blank expression, she couldn't accept it. The father she had longed to find, her only remaining blood relative in this world, was looking at her with such a strange expression.
It was as if... as if she really was just an insignificant person.
But she isn't.
She is Ni Jingxi. She shares his surname and is the continuation of his bloodline in this world, as well as his only family member.
“Dad.” Ni Jingxi couldn’t help but step forward and gently hug him.
Having traversed time, she was finally able to embrace him again.
Finally, as if sensing something deep within his heart, Ni Pingsen slowly raised his hand, but after a moment of lingering in mid-air, he finally placed it on her back.
His daughter?
He had no memory, no past, and no idea where he came from or what his name was. When he woke up in that dilapidated little hospital, Liu Hui was the only person beside him.
He never knew that he actually had a family.
Ni Pingsen gently embraced the girl in his arms. He knew absolutely nothing about her before, but when she threw herself into his arms, he felt a pang of heartache.
He was genuinely heartbroken.
After an unknown amount of time, when Ni Jingxi released him, she looked at him and asked softly, "You really don't remember me?"
Ni Pingsen paused for a moment, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
He seemed to sense Ni Jingxi's anxiety, and after a long while, he slowly spoke: "Although I know you'll be sad to hear me say this, I'm sorry..."
He really doesn't remember.
Ni Jingxi took a deep breath. She was no longer surprised by this outcome. She knew her father wouldn't abandon her and her grandmother for no reason; they were his greatest concern in this world.
He won't abandon them.
Ni Jingxi's face was still wet with tears, but she still managed a smile and shook her head: "It's okay. I know there must be a reason why you haven't been able to come back all these years. I know."
Ni Pingsen chuckled lightly, his expression less guilty.
After all, if she really is his daughter, why doesn't he remember her...
At this moment, Ni Pingsen carefully examined her and suddenly asked, "What's my name?"
Ni Jingxi was also taken aback.
After a moment, she looked at him solemnly and earnestly and said, "Your name is Ni Pingsen, Ping as in peace, and Sanmu Sen."
Ni Pingsen silently repeated the name. Come to think of it, this was the first time he had ever heard his own name. Life's twists and turns are truly strange.
At his age, he felt like he was hearing his own name for the first time.
At this moment, Liu Hui didn't say a word. Her eyes were fixed on Ni Jingxi. From the moment Ni Jingxi called out "Dad," Liu Hui's heart sank.
It's like someone who has been shrouded in their own beautiful dream for too long, forgetting that a dream is just a dream.
Once that outer bubble bursts, she will have to face reality.
Only when she looked at Ni Jingxi's face did she realize where this sense of familiarity came from. Although she didn't look much like Ni Pingsen, her demeanor was remarkably similar at times.
It passed by in a flash, leaving even her stunned.
Ni Jingxi glanced around and said, "This isn't the place to talk. Can I have a chat with you?"
“Of course.” Ni Pingsen also had many questions to ask, but he turned to look at the restaurant and hesitated: “It’s almost noon, the busiest time, and one of the waiters is on leave today.”
He was worried that the restaurant wouldn't have enough staff.
Liu Hui immediately said, "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on things here."
Ni Pingsen was still worried and asked, "Can you take care of this by yourself?"
He wanted to talk to Ni Jingxi immediately, but he was also worried about things here.
Finally, Liu Hui smiled gently: "Go ahead and go, they're all regular customers, what's there to worry about?"
Ni Jingxi glanced at Liu Hui quietly without saying a word.
Finally, Ni Pingsen took off his apron. But at this moment, he also noticed Huo Shenyan. In fact, he had been wanting to ask him, "Is this your boyfriend?"
The two look so good together that no one would believe they weren't a couple.
Ni Jingxi turned her head to look at Huo Shenyan, took his hand and held it in hers. Their fingers intertwined, and she smiled: "Not boyfriend, husband."
Ni Pingsen looked at Huo Shenyan in surprise.
At this moment, Huo Shenyan looked at him and said respectfully, "Father."
Ni Pingsen finally couldn't help but ask, "How old are you? You're already married?"
His eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe it, and his tone was somewhat impatient, as if to say, "How did you get married?"