"Is this a sign I should open a street stall selling Stir-Fried Rice Noodles?"
Faced with the system's first unlocked skill, Lu Qin felt no disappointment or letdown.
He had once been a top student at Qingbei University. Had he chosen not to get married, perhaps by now he'd have carved out a name for himself in the world of high technology.
But he didn't regret marrying. After all, without it, how would he have ended up with such a lively and adorable little one?
His daughter was the greatest gift heaven had ever given him.
There's no such thing as a lowly profession—every trade can produce its own champions. Lu Qin firmly believed that as long as one worked earnestly, even selling street food could be a path to success.
Besides, he now had the system.
And since his little girl had always loved the food he made, he had gradually developed a passion for cooking as well.
…
Meanwhile—
In the spacious CEO's office, the gray marble floor was seamlessly tiled, the pristine white walls adorned with exquisite artwork. The entire office was spotless, its minimalist design exuding a cool, aloof elegance.
Shen Muyan had returned from the Civil Affairs Bureau and immediately threw herself back into work. The divorce hadn't shaken her emotions in the slightest.
After all, her marriage to Lu Qin had always been a mere formality. That certificate had never meant anything beyond a piece of paper.
Sitting at her desk, she quickly adjusted back to work mode.
She opened a folder and began flipping through it—several early documents were all customer complaints.
"Guest from Room 8188 complained that the Rose Restaurant's Baby Cabbage in Salted Golden Broth was bland and flavorless, the soup base tasted like plain water—no richness at all."
"An elderly couple from Room 5431 slammed the White Jade Beans with Pig Tripe—'Did the chef cook this with their feet? It's disgusting!'"
"VIP guest Mr. Zou from the Presidential Suite was extremely disappointed with our Michelin chef's skills. All he asked for was a simple plate of Egg Fried Rice, and even that couldn't be delivered."
…
Shen Muyan massaged her temples.
In recent years, customer expectations for hotel cuisine had only continued to climb. Not just at her own O'Rei Hotel—this trend extended across all hotels in Jiangcheng.
Especially for O'Rei, a five-star international hotel chain. Its clientele were affluent and discerning, with high standards for both lodging and food.
Under Shen Muyan's careful management, O'Rei had already reached near-perfection in guest room service, with complaints becoming rare.
Yet complaints about the restaurant department only grew with each passing day.
Food is the essence of life. Cuisine had always been a matter of serious passion and pursuit.
Take the O'Rei Hotel in Annan District—Shen Muyan had already replaced several kitchen teams. She'd tried everything from hiring renowned domestic five-star chefs to poaching names from Michelin three-star restaurants—some even had appearances on food shows under their belts.
Yet despite all that, customer satisfaction with the food remained stagnant.
It gave her a massive headache. Taste is subjective—was she expected to hire national banquet chefs next? That was clearly not realistic.
She closed the file, her mind still mulling over this conundrum. As her eyes drifted, they landed on the divorce certificate beside her desk. Her gaze lingered, her expression blank.
For some reason, her chest felt oddly hollow—an unprecedented lack of motivation creeping in.
She got up and moved to the lounge area, sitting down on a black leather sofa. Her long, shapely legs crossed beneath her professional black skirt. She closed her eyes, trying to rest, and instructed someone to bring her a cup of coffee.
The pretty secretary, Song Xuanxuan, quietly placed the coffee beside her. As the CEO's closest aide, she naturally knew about the divorce.
But ever since the boss had gotten married six years ago—rushed and kept low-key—she'd barely ever mentioned her husband. Song Xuanxuan had always been curious what kind of man the CEO's husband really was. There weren't even any photos on her desk.
From her perspective, the couple clearly didn't have a close relationship.
Then why marry at all?
And now, why get divorced so abruptly?
Curiosity buzzed in her heart like ants on sugar, but she didn't dare ask.
"Boss, are you tired? Want me to give you a shoulder massage?"
"Hmm."
Just a minute into her rest, Shen Muyan's phone suddenly rang.
"SHEN MUYAN!!! YOU GOT DIVORCED?!"
The voice on the other end was laced with shock and nearly cracked from shouting.
Holding the phone a bit farther from her ear, Shen Muyan replied calmly, "Yes. I did. Surprised?"
"Totally speechless! Lu Qin is such a great guy—handsome too—why would you divorce him?! I mean, who could even put up with someone like you, a workaholic with zero sense of fun?!"
"There was no love between us."
"Oh please! Love takes time to grow! But you—you only invest time in your job. Can't you spend more time with your husband and daughter?"
Fang Ya was utterly exasperated with her best friend. Lu Qin was a catch—good-looking, gentle, a great personality—and now she'd just thrown him away? She was bound to regret it.
"What about little Yaoyao?"
"She's with him."
"YOU—YOU—Shen Muyan! You're going to drive me mad!"
"You'll regret this. I'm on Lu Qin's side now."
Fang Ya hung up angrily, not wanting to waste another word on this foolish woman.
To give up such a dreamy husband and adorable daughter—she was nuts.
Unnoticed, Song Xuanxuan had already slipped out of the room, leaving the spacious office quiet once more.
Taking a sip of coffee, Shen Muyan's mind drifted to that man's face.
Truthfully, in her often critical eyes, Lu Qin was… pleasing to look at. And based on the little she knew, his personality and values seemed decent. Maybe, if they'd gotten to know each other properly from the start, they could've had something real—a bright future, even.
But their first encounter had been nothing short of a mistake—wrong time, wrong place.
Two strangers drawn together by a fateful error.
And then… came the child.
Both Lu Qin and Shen Muyan had their lives thrown completely off course. A dramatic twist neither of them had anticipated.
Sinking into memory, she recalled the nights she dragged her exhausted self home, only to find everything neatly taken care of.
Lu Qin was indeed a meticulous man. Though their relationship lacked closeness, he always made her a bowl of noodles.
Simple egg noodles, yet brimming with warmth and flavor. Better than anything in a restaurant. She always finished the bowl clean. She'd never even liked eating late at night before.
Flashes of his handsome face, their adorable daughter, the fragrant egg noodles—they all swirled in her mind.
Then suddenly—ring!
The warm memory shattered.
Another work call.
The workaholic Shen Muyan stood up and returned to her desk, diving back into her endless responsibilities.
…
In the old southern district of the city.
"Young man, honest rent—three thousand a month, and there's even a small courtyard."
"Seeing as you're raising a kid on your own, I won't ask for a deposit or a three-month lease. Just pay the first month and we're good."
The landlady spoke with blunt warmth, and Lu Qin was just as straightforward. He signed the contract and paid on the spot.
He'd chosen this spot mainly because it was close to Yaoyao's kindergarten—just a ten-minute walk.
Though the place was a bit old, the sanitation was decent and the neighborhood was quiet.
The elderly neighbors were all kindhearted. Upon hearing a new tenant had moved in, they came to greet him.
The little one, sweet and polite as ever, charmed them instantly. In no time, her tiny, fair hands were full—an apple in one, an orange in the other.
They'd gone from living in a luxurious villa to this modest neighborhood. The contrast was huge.
But neither father nor daughter seemed affected.
The little one curiously explored every corner of the new home, her eyes gleaming.
"Daddy, let me help you move things!"
Seeing Lu Qin carrying a big suitcase, she ran over with her tiny steps to help.
"Alright, Yaoyao can help by moving her stuffed animals into the room."
"Okay, Daddy!"
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。