Chapter 245: A Professional at Backing Down
Chapter 245: Chapter 245: A Professional at Backing Down
After about ten minutes, Jiang Liu and Tongtong emerged from the bathroom wearing matching pajamas.
After their bath, the father and daughter looked even more alike.
Jiang Liu blow-dried Tongtong’s hair while she sat on a chair, swinging her little legs.
Just then, Jun Qingmeng pushed the door open and came in, her hair still dripping wet.
The moment she entered, she greeted the elderly couple warmly.
"Uncle, Auntie, I’m here."
"Ah, Qingmeng, you’re here?" Lin Qiu said with a smile and a nod.
Jiang Dahai picked up a golden-yellow orange slice from the table. "Qingmeng, I just sliced some oranges. Would you like some?"
"No, thank you, Uncle. Eating sugary things at night can give you cavities."
Jiang Dahai smiled and nodded at Jun Qingmeng.
He glanced at his son, who was vigorously tousling his granddaughter’s hair, then turned back to Lin Qiu with a sigh. "Sigh, our Qingmeng is so sensible. I’d feel much better if she were the one looking after our granddaughter."
Lin Qiu’s gaze followed his, and she shot Jiang Liu an irritated glare.
"That’s right. When I wanted to look after Tongtong, she refused to come to me, no matter what. Having Liu’er take care of her every day left me terrified."
Jiang Dahai watched the trio, looking like a little family of three, gathered around blow-drying Tongtong’s hair.
He and his wife exchanged a look.
Jiang Dahai stood up and said, "Qingmeng, you and Jiang Liu can stay here and relax. We’re a little tired, so we’re going to turn in for the night."
Jiang Liu turned to his parents. "Mom, take the sliced oranges back to your room with you."
He wasn’t stupid. He knew they weren’t actually going to sleep; they were obviously trying to give him and Jun Qingmeng some space.
"Alright." Lin Qiu turned around, picked up the plate with a dozen or so orange slices, and headed back.
...
As soon as the elderly couple had closed the door behind them, Jun Qingmeng couldn’t help but ask with concern:
"Jiang Liu, how are you feeling now? Does anywhere hurt?"
"I’m fine. Feeling great, actually."
"Oh, you!"
Jun Qingmeng shot Jiang Liu a look of loving exasperation. "Why don’t I finish drying Tongtong’s hair?"
"It’s okay, I’ve got it. She tends to fall asleep when you do it."
"Mm..."
Jiang Liu continued to gently move Tongtong’s head around as he dried her hair.
The little girl sat obediently on the stool, letting her dad maneuver her as he pleased.
’She liked it when Dad was like this.’
Jiang Liu glanced at Jun Qingmeng’s soaking wet hair. "Why haven’t you dried yours? After I’m done with Tongtong, I’ll do yours too."
"That wouldn’t be right..." Jun Qingmeng was tempted. She wanted Jiang Liu to dry her hair too, but the problem was that her boyfriend wasn’t feeling well.
She bit her lip. "It’s better if you don’t, Jiang Liu. I can do it myself."
"Mama, my hair is all dry!"
"Sit down! I’ll dry yours," Jiang Liu said. Having finished with Tongtong, he gently pushed Jun Qingmeng down onto the stool.
Jiang Liu ran his fingers through Jun Qingmeng’s hair.
Her face flushed slightly.
’If it were anyone else, I’d be angry. But with Jiang Liu... it just feels so nice!’
"Jiang Liu, I really like you," she murmured.
"Huh? What did you say?"
The hairdryer was too loud; Jiang Liu hadn’t heard her.
"Nothing," Jun Qingmeng said. The courage she had just mustered was blown away by the noisy dryer.
Once her hair was dry.
At Tongtong’s suggestion, the three of them went back to the bedroom to rest.
Tongtong pushed Jiang Liu down onto the bed.
In the little one’s mind, sick people had to lie down. You couldn’t get better if you were standing up.
Jun Qingmeng sat on the edge of the bed, leaned over, and cupped Jiang Liu’s face, pressing her forehead against his.
"My big baby, I think you might have a fever. Your head is much warmer than mine."
Her soft, fragrant hair brushed against Jiang Liu’s face, tickling him. Jun Qingmeng’s skin was so tender, and it felt wonderful pressed against his.
Jiang Liu caught the scent of her sweet breath and shyly turned his head aside. "It’s nothing. It’s probably just from the hairdryer."
Jun Qingmeng sat up straight, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you have a thermometer here? If not, I can go back to my place and get one."
"Yeah, we do. It’s in the coffee table drawer in the living room."
"You two wait, Tongtong will go!"
Tongtong trotted out, stuck her bottom in the air as she rummaged around, and quickly returned with the thermometer.
"Daddy, don’t move. Let me check you first."
"Okay."
Jiang Tongtong copied Jun Qingmeng, cupping Jiang Liu’s face and pressing her own forehead against his.
"Wow, you’re really hot! Daddy, you’re not really sick, are you?!"
Tongtong felt so upset she wanted to cry.
Her eyes started to well up with tears.
’I’d rather be the one who’s sick, not Daddy. When I’m sick, Daddy takes care of me, but if Daddy’s sick... *sob*, I’m so useless.’
Jun Qingmeng took the thermometer, gave it a good shake, and held it up to the light to check it.
"I can put it in myself."
"Just lie still. You’re the patient now, so you have to listen obediently!"
"That’s right, Daddy! The two of us will take care of you!" Tongtong said, furrowing her brow and mimicking the expression Jiang Liu made when she was sick.
’I have to become a big kid who can take care of Daddy!’
Jun Qingmeng placed the thermometer under Jiang Liu’s arm.
"Behave. Don’t fidget. If it falls out, you’ll see how I deal with you!"
"Yes, President Jun."
??
Jun Qingmeng gave his thigh a playful pinch and laughed. "Think you can get away with teasing me just because you’re sick?"
Tongtong copied her, pinching a bit of his leg too.
’Gotta take advantage of Daddy being sick to tease him a little.’
"Hey, stop messing around."
"Hmph! Don’t you joke like that again!"
Tongtong turned and grabbed the tablet.
"Daddy, can we watch some SpongeBob together?"
"Sure."
Jiang Liu took the tablet and opened a streaming app. ’He had money now.’
’Whatever Tongtong wanted to watch, he’d buy the subscription for it.’
After about ten minutes of watching.
Jun Qingmeng took the thermometer out and checked it.
37.6.
A low-grade fever.
Jun Qingmeng furrowed her pretty brows. "See? This is what you get for walking in the rain. Now you have a fever."
"It’s not a big deal. It’s just a low fever. I’ll be fine after a good night’s sleep."
Tongtong’s ears perked up. Hearing that her daddy wasn’t seriously ill, just had a bit of a cold, she let out a tiny sigh of relief.
Her cheerful mood returned.
"Daddy, you’re sick! Lie down, Tongtong will get you some medicine to drink!"
With that, Tongtong ducked her head, stuck her bottom in the air, and started rummaging through a box under the bed.
Now that she knew her daddy was okay, she started getting mischievous.
’Time to get revenge for all the yucky medicine!’
’Every time she got sick, Daddy would make her drink super, super nasty medicine.’
’Now it’s finally Daddy’s turn to be sick.’
’Hehe!’
’Let’s see which medicine is the most bitter... that must be Daddy’s favorite!’
Suddenly.
Tongtong was suddenly airborne.
Jiang Liu had picked her up by her clothes with one hand and placed her back on the bed.
"What are you doing, Daddy? I was looking for medicine for you."
"Sit still and be good. My sickness doesn’t need any medicine, and don’t even think about making me drink the nastiest one!"
"Mmph!!" Tongtong covered her little mouth in shock.
"Daddy, how do you know everything I’m thinking?"
"Because you’re my daughter. You stick your butt in the air, and I already know what you’re plotting. Get it?"
"Hmph! I’m not talking to you anymore."
Jun Qingmeng looked at Jiang Liu and teased, "You can guess everything Tongtong is going to do. Were you just like her when you were a kid?"
"For example—’I’m mad at you!’ Hahahaha."
Jun Qingmeng mimicked Tongtong’s tone, laughing so hard she shook.
"Not at all," Jiang Liu said with an embarrassed smile.
Tongtong’s eyes lit up. "So Daddy took after me ever since he was a little boy."
?
Tongtong covered her head with her hands.
"Are you going to keep saying silly things?"
"Waaaah, Daddy, I was wrong! I’ll never say it again!"
She was a pro when it came to surrendering.