TNIBFT -Chapter 91 You’re Not an Ordinary Daughter

Only now you remember me?

Too late!

Ye Shuangxue sulked and refused to listen to Ye Tian. As she ran, she deliberately kicked her legs, her little feet surprisingly strong, sending snow on the ground flying everywhere.

Carrying two children on his shoulders, Ye Tian slightly turned his head to avoid the flying snowflakes.

Seeing his daughter being naughty, he frowned and said, “Shuangxue, stop fooling around.”

“Hmph!”

Unconvinced, Ye Shuangxue snorted lightly and continued doing as she pleased. She kicked up the snow happily, having the time of her life. Her pair of red lion-head shoes were already half soaked.

Ye Tian took a few quick steps forward and knocked her on the head with a sharp rap.

“Ah!”

Clutching her head with both hands, Ye Shuangxue widened her eyes and stared at Ye Tian. “You hit me? You big dummy, didn’t you see that they—”

Aggrieved and angry, Ye Shuangxue hadn’t even finished speaking when Ye Tian raised his hand and gave her another knock.

Pouting stubbornly, she turned her head away and stopped talking. Seeing Ye Tian ignore her and walk past without even glancing at her, the little girl puffed up her cheeks in anger and followed behind him, shouting loudly,

“I don’t like you anymore! I don’t want you to carry me, I don’t like you anymore…”

Before she could finish, Ye Shuangxue suddenly felt her feet lift off the ground. She fell into a warm embrace, a familiar, fresh scent of soap drifting into her nose.

“Thump, thump, thump…” Her heart began to race.

All her emotions instantly turned into excitement and shyness.

Other than Ye Tian, no one had ever held her like this.

Not having to walk, being cared for, being noticed and cherished—it felt absolutely wonderful.

Lowering his head, Ye Tian looked at the daughter in his arms. Her slightly yellowish hair was tied into two small buns, her fair little face delicate and translucent. Her long eyelashes were like tiny fans, and her pink lips made her look just like a Barbie doll—utterly melting this old father’s heart.

But…

In the next moment, Ye Tian was snapped back to reality by Ye Shuangxue’s words.

“Alright, I forgive you for hitting me. But if you hit me again next time, I won’t forgive you so easily.”

After saying that, Ye Shuangxue arrogantly lifted her chin, crossing her arms.

Ye Tian’s face darkened.

That signature pose—no matter the situation, this girl could pull it off effortlessly.

“How about you get down and walk?”

“No!”

“My knees hurt too, and my toes hurt. I’m a girl, after all. Other fathers dote on their daughters, but you—”

“You’re not like ordinary daughters…”

…

After sending the three children home, Ye Tian saw that Fang Shenghu had already brought along some nearby laborers, as well as people selling blue stone bricks, waiting at the courtyard gate.

After giving Fang Shenghu some simple instructions and handing him enough silver, Ye Tian told the three children not to run around before heading into the city for the hot pot restaurant.

In extreme weather, life was hard for ordinary people—but the hot pot restaurant’s business was getting better by the day.

Even merchants from other regions had come, drawn by its reputation.

From a distance, Ye Tian saw the restaurant’s flag swaying in the freezing rain. The inside didn’t seem as lively as usual—could it be because of the rain?

He strode forward.

“Boss!”

“The boss is here!”

The moment he stepped into the shop, Xiao Wang and a few new employees greeted Ye Tian. Ye Tian gave a slight nod. Xiao Wang had just opened his mouth to speak when Yuan Heipang came charging over and shoved him aside with his backside.

With an exaggerated expression, Yuan Heipang cried out, “Boss, this is bad!”

“This is really bad!”

Seeing him acting so dramatically yet unable to get a full sentence out, Ye Tian grew impatient. “Can you speak properly?”

Yuan Heipang froze for a second, then quickly straightened up. “Yes, yes, yes, I can. Boss, early this morning the City Lord’s eldest daughter came and sat in the shop. Not only did she stop us from working, she even had people drive away the customers. What should we do?”

“Where is she?”

Ye Tian asked.

Before Yuan Heipang could answer, a voice came from the staircase on the second floor—

“Ye Tian, you finally showed up!”

Ye Tian looked up. Xiao Xun’er was standing there, dressed in a light green and white cotton dress. It looked warm, yet the fabric of the skirt was light and flowing, giving her an elegant, airy charm.

The wide sash accentuated her slender waist, delicate enough to be held in one hand.

At her waist hung a jade pendant the color of emerald, its tassels swaying gently as she walked. She had abandoned her usual martial attire; dressed like this, she looked strikingly different—refreshing to the eye.

Noticing Ye Tian staring at her, a trace of disgust flashed through Xiao Xun’er’s eyes. She strode forward casually and sat down at a nearby table, facing him.

“Alright, name your price. How much for this shop?”

Sell it?

Ye Tian frowned slightly.

Behind him, the employees all looked tense. It wasn’t easy these days to find a well-paying job with a good boss. They had only just started working a few days ago—were they about to lose their jobs again?

Yuan Heipang’s beady eyes darted around.

If the hotpot restaurant was taken over by the City Lord’s residence, would that make him one of their people?

If so… that didn’t sound too bad.

But Ye Tian was easygoing. As long as you did your job well, he was a great boss. Still, if the City Lord’s residence wanted to buy the place, who would dare refuse?

“We’re not selling. We only serve hotpot.”

After saying that, Ye Tian walked past Xiao Xun’er, went behind the counter, and pulled out the account book to check yesterday’s earnings.

Being completely ignored, Xiao Xun’er clenched her teeth in anger.

Ever since that one hotpot meal, she had been dreaming about it every night. In her dreams, she ate hotpot again and again—when she woke up in the morning, even her pillow was damp.

But she couldn’t bring herself to return to the restaurant. After all, when she left last time, she had said harsh words to Ye Tian.

If she came back to eat now, wouldn’t that be humiliating?

After thinking it over, this was the only solution.

If she took over the hotpot restaurant, she could eat whenever she wanted. Besides, the restaurant earned a considerable income every day—buying it would be a guaranteed profit.

“There’s nothing I, Xiao Xun’er, can’t get.”

She stepped forward again, standing in front of the counter, looking at Ye Tian with an arrogant expression.

“If you won’t sell, I have plenty of ways to make your hotpot restaurant shut down. What do you say?”

Threatening him?

Ye Tian let out a cold laugh. He set down the account book and looked up at her.

There was only a wooden counter between them. Ye Tian could clearly see the fine pores on Xiao Xun’er’s face—her bright phoenix eyes and her full red lips.

Just as Xiao Xun’er was about to get angry, Ye Tian spoke: “Are you here to eat hotpot, or to take over the place and make money?”

Xiao Xun’er frowned.

Ye Tian smiled slightly. “All the soup bases in this restaurant are my secret recipes. No one else in the world knows them. Even if I sold you the shop, you wouldn’t be able to recreate the same flavor.”

“If you’re here for money, this small profit probably isn’t worth much to the City Lord’s residence, is it?”

He looked at her sharply and continued, “Or… you just want to eat hotpot, but you’re too embarrassed to come in, so you made up an excuse?”

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Having her thoughts exposed, Xiao Xun’er flew into a rage.

Her sudden shout startled Yuan Heipang and the others so much they nearly dropped to the ground.

She turned her head and snapped at them, “Why are you still standing there? Get lost! Are you  waiting for me to treat you to lunch?”