Chapter 131: Pay Up

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Alright, i’ll go cook the dumplings now,” Shen Ning said as she quickly wrapped a large plate of dumplings and carried them to the kitchen.

This VIP room was top-notch and even had a kitchen and balcony, which was very convenient.

Ding Ding, like a little shadow, followed her, leaving Li Zhenting alone in the hospital room.

Li Zhenting, feeling a bit bored, decided to sit down and scroll through his phone.

“Time to eat dumplings!” Not long after, Shen Ning and Keke came out with cheerful smiles. Shen Ning was carrying a tray of colorful dumplings with thin skins, which she placed on a small round dining table. Ding Ding climbed onto the chair and sat down. Shen Ning then brought out a pot of well-cooked chicken soup, scooped a bowl for Ding Ding, and placed it in front of him.

“Ding Ding, are you hungry? Go ahead and start eating.” Shen Ning picked up a dumpling, blew on it gently, and fed it into Ding Ding’s small mouth.

Ding Ding took a bite, and the flavorful juice filled his mouth. He immediately started eating eagerly.

“Slow down, don’t rush, it’s hot,” Shen Ning cautioned. She used a small fan to cool the chicken soup while wiping the sweat from his forehead. After Ding Ding had eaten a few dumplings, she let him drink some chicken soup and placed a soft towel behind his back. She sat beside him, taking care of him.

Shen Ning raised her head.

She saw Li Zhenting watching her with his deep, cold, and profound gaze.

She pressed her lips together.

“Auntie, I’d like to have more in the future,” Ding Ding grinned as he continued to eat.

“Sure.” Shen Ning’s heart quivered slightly at his words, a hint of pain flickering in her eyes. Nevertheless, she didn’t want to let down the cheerful child, so she agreed with a forced smile.

A cold smirk appeared at the corner of Li Zhenting’s mouth.

He got up and walked over to the dining table.

“Mr. Li, would you like to join us for a meal?” Shen Ning asked graciously.

“Can this food even taste good?” Li Zhenting asked, eyeing the food with disdain.

“It’s really delicious,” Ding Ding chimed in.

Li Zhenting responded with an indifferent grunt.

Seeing his reaction, Shen Ning decided to ignore him. She miraculously brought out a large bowl of fresh vegetables from the kitchen, along with a plate of tangy cucumber salad. The vibrant green vegetables and the fragrant cucumber salad were quite appetizing.

At this point, Li Zhenting started to feel hungry.

Initially, he had considered ordering food from a restaurant to share with them, but since they had already eaten, he lost interest.

Shen Ning began to eat on her own.

“Dad, go ahead and eat if you want,” Ding Ding, who was already getting full, suddenly raised his bright, black eyes and extended his little hand to Li Zhenting. “You’ll need to pay, though.”

“What do you mean, pay?” Li Zhenting was puzzled.

“For the meal, of course,” Ding Ding pointed at the food on the table.

Li Zhenting’s expression darkened.

During this time, this kid had already cost him a fair amount of money while staying with Shen Ning. Regardless of the situation, he kept mentioning money, becoming quite the little money enthusiast.

“She’s making this meal voluntarily for you. Why would 1 have to pay for it?”

“Dad, why aren’t you being fair? Auntie bought groceries and cooked for me. I’m your son; you should compensate her. Do you really want Auntie to raise your son for free? How can you, as a man, not feel embarrassed?” Ding Ding was straightforward.

Shen Ning struggled to hold back her laughter at his words.

“Well, if people found out that Mr. Li’s son relies on other women to feed him, it would be quite embarrassing,” Ding Ding continued, speaking seriously and convincingly.

“How much?” Li Zhenting reluctantly asked.

“Not much, just ten thousand,” Ding Ding promptly replied.

Ten thousand? For this little meal!

Li Zhenting felt the urge to give his biological son a good scolding.

But he had no choice; this little guy had him wrapped around his finger!

He reluctantly took out his phone and transferred ten thousand to Shen Ning.

“That’s already ten thousand. If i don’t eat it back, it’s a big loss.” After completing the transfer, he turned and went to the kitchen, grabbing some chopsticks and a bowl before sitting down and digging into the food.

Surprisingly, the dumplings and chicken tasted really good in his mouth. They were just right in terms of flavor, not too salty or bland. Especially the cucumber salad and the fresh greens from the chicken soup, they were simply delicious and perfectly suited his palate.

As he savored this familiar meal, he found himself lost in thought for a moment.

Six years ago, he had eaten her cooking every day, and at that time, he hadn’t thought much of it.

But later, after she had ‘died,* he could no longer enjoy her homemade dishes. Day after day, he dined on food prepared by five-star hotel chefs, and over time, it became tasteless, making him long for the flavors of her cooking.

Several times, in his dreams, he had yearned for this taste.

Now, with Shen Mei unable to cook even a simple meal and Ding Ding depending on him for food, he couldn’t help but feel a complex mix of emotions as he held the chopsticks in his hand..