Daddy's Gourmet Shop

Chapter 650 - 634: Birthday Ceremony

"Let’s dig in!"Tonight’s little birthday star, Xuanxuan, was arranged by Huang Tao to sit at the main seat, while Huang Tao and the others surrounded her like stars around the moon, enjoying this belated yet sumptuous birthday dinner together.

"Daddy, is that sweet and sour ribs?"

Foodie Xuanxuan’s eyes sparkled. Her eyes could scan in all directions, always pinpointing with satellite precision. Compared to a high-definition camera, her pretty big eyes were like a big radar, and all the dishes on the table were within her line of sight.

Then...

The plate of sweet and sour ribs was immediately locked in by her, and she pointed at it with a face full of surprise.

As soon as she spoke, everyone present immediately focused their gaze on the sweet and sour ribs not far away.

On the plate like white jade lay pieces of bright red ribs, lined up close to each other, appearing moist and glossy under the light. Every rib was evenly coated with a sticky sauce, like a layer of delicious jelly, soft and seemingly ready to bounce back at a touch.

Scattered around the ribs were tender green scallions, truly a "touch of green among a sea of red"!

This made the dish appear even more vibrant and aesthetically pleasing.

The scallions with their natural aroma added even more allure to the "sweet and sour ribs".

"Yes, indeed!"

Huang Tao picked up a piece of rib and brought it to her mouth: "This is something Daddy made especially for you, come on, try it, careful, it’s hot..."

"Daddy, you’re so nice, thank you, hehe~"

Xuanxuan pursed her rosy little lips and blew on the sweet and sour rib twice.

Then she gently took a bite.

The sweet and sour juice immediately flowed into her mouth. At this moment, the meat became exceptionally tender, perfectly blending with the rich sauce, blooming in her mouth, making her intoxicated, with a smile that revealed her dimples: "Delicious."

Huang Tao took a napkin to wipe the sauce from her lip corners, smiling: "Daddy will give you another piece."

Qianqian looked on enviously, but she couldn’t reach it, so she could only shout: "Daddy, I want some too!"

Unfortunately!

Her unreliable dad was happily eating away, not hearing her plea at all.

Alas!

Having such a dad is really frustrating!

On the other hand, Xuanxuan’s dad not only gave her sweet and sour ribs but also thoughtfully wiped her mouth with a napkin!

With such a dad, whoever has him is truly blessed!

Alas!

It’s another day of wanting to swap dads!

Huang Tao saw Qianqian staring at him, so he smiled and said, "Uncle will help you serve."

He served another piece of sweet and sour ribs into Qianqian’s bowl.

Qianqian politely thanked, "Thank you, uncle."

Ye Wen, sitting beside, also served a piece for both Qianqian and Xuanxuan. She hesitated for a moment, then added a piece of sweet and sour ribs to Huang Tao’s bowl, saying with a slightly red face, "You eat too, don’t just focus on them."

"Okay, you eat, too."

Huang Tao smiled, seeing others giving them knowing grins, knowing their minds were probably crafting little stories about them. He laughed and changed the topic, "Why are you all looking at me? Eat up! It won’t taste good if it gets cold."

Li Chengzhan said with a smile, "Boss, don’t worry, we will definitely finish all these dishes."

Lin Qiuyu nodded in agreement, "Yes, we will finish this whole table, we won’t go home until every dish is eaten."

Huang Tao chuckled.

Xuanxuan sweetly smiled, "I also want to finish this table."

"I want to finish too."

Qianqian happily said, "I want to eat as much as Xuanxuan."

Xuanxuan looked skeptical, "Qianqian, I want to eat lots and lots of things, I want sweet and sour ribs, braised prawns, fishballs, boiled cabbage, Longjing shrimp..."

Qianqian confidently replied, "Xuanxuan, don’t worry, I can do it too. However much you eat, I’ll eat as much."

Xuanxuan wore an expression of "I believe you": "Alright, I believe you!"

Ye Wen served dishes to both Xuanxuan and Qianqian while speaking, "Don’t eat too much now, there’s something even better to come!"

"Something better?"

Xuanxuan and Qianqian, who were enjoying their food and appetite, hesitated on whether to finish the whole table after hearing Ye Wen.

Ye Wen smiled gently, "Of course, there’s the birthday cake!"

"Oh..."

Xuanxuan and Qianqian, with their mouths full of sweet and sour ribs, responded indistinctly.

The cake is naturally delicious too!

But the feast on the table is also very tasty!

Xuanxuan and Qianqian were caught in a dilemma, wishing they had two stomachs!

At this moment.

Xuanxuan felt something scratching at her shoe.

No need to guess, she already knew which little guy was up to mischief.

Looking down...

Hehe, sure enough, it was Mimi.

Mimi had come over without notice, using its little paw to scratch at her shoe, trying to get her attention.

"Meow~"

Seeing Xuanxuan look down, Mimi lifted its head, gazing at her with round cat eyes, pitiably meowing at her.

Apparently, it was attracted by the aroma of the food.

She picked up a piece of sweet and sour rib from her bowl and wiggled it in front of Mimi.

Mimi then nudged Xuanxuan’s shoe with its big head.

Trying its best to please.

But as soon as Xuanxuan covertly tossed the sweet and sour rib to it, it grabbed it and started enjoying it happily.

It stopped trying to act cute.

When Xuanxuan tried to nudge it with her foot, it dodged a bit, growling a threatening "woo" sound with its mouth.

Xuanxuan sighed helplessly.

Oh!

When she’s begging for food, she acts all cute, but once she gets what she wants, she doesn’t acknowledge her little master...

Mimi, oh, Mimi, you’re truly an ungrateful little creature...

But what can be done?

Since I begged to raise you, I’ll continue to pamper you with tears in my eyes.

When the dinner was almost over.

Everyone together cleared the table, then proceeded to the next most important step, the birthday ceremony.

All the lights in the restaurant turned off once again.

"Huh? Where did Daddy go?"

As soon as Xuanxuan finished speaking, she saw a few candlelights flickering in the darkness ahead, slightly moving closer. Xuanxuan and everyone saw a big cake being pushed over on a trolley.

"Happy birthday to you..."

Huang Tao hummed the birthday song while slowly pushing the cake over.

"Here he comes, here he comes, Daddy is pushing the cake over!"

Xuanxuan excitedly grabbed Qianqian, cheering and circling around Daddy, eager to see what Aunt Suqin’s birthday cake for her looked like.

Ye Wen worried they might bump into something in the darkness, quickly reached out to stop them, soothingly saying, "Xuanxuan, Qianqian, don’t run around, wait until it’s ready, then go over."

Then she suggested to Qianqian, "Qianqian, shall we sing the birthday song for Xuanxuan too?"

"Okay!"

Qianqian nodded, clapping her hands and singing, "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

Her singing was a bit off-key and didn’t follow the beat, but it didn’t matter at all because everyone else, including Ye Wen, sang along too: "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you!"

Huang Tao pushed the cake in front of Xuanxuan, with the flickering candlelight reflecting on Xuanxuan’s flushed face, her eyes filled with joy as if they were about to overflow.

Huang Tao said with a smile in his eyes, "Sweetheart, make a wish first, then blow out the candles. After you blow out the candles, you can eat the cake!"

Make a wish?

Xuanxuan understood and quickly clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and started mumbling softly.

Huang Tao and the others remained silent, quietly watching Xuanxuan, then clearly heard Xuanxuan’s wish: "Xuanxuan hopes Daddy’s business prospers, Xuanxuan also hopes Daddy can always stay with Xuanxuan..."

Huang Tao was stunned for a moment.

He didn’t expect the little one’s wishes were all about him!

With such a daughter, what more could one ask for!

Everyone else listening to Xuanxuan’s wish looked at Huang Tao with admiration, nothing but admiration.

After a moment, Xuanxuan opened her eyes.

Ye Wen smiled warmly, reminding, "Xuanxuan, you can blow the candles now."

"Yes, yes~"

Xuanxuan didn’t blow out the candles immediately but turned her head to Qianqian beside her, saying, "Qianqian, will you blow them out with me?"

"Okay!"

Qianqian agreed happily without a second thought.

So, the two little ones were picked up by their dads, simultaneously puffing their cheeks, aiming at the birthday cake, then "whoosh" blew them out.

In an instant...

All the candles were blown out.

Clap clap clap~

Soon, enthusiastic applause resounded, echoing in the restaurant, the lights turned on simultaneously.

In the bright light, this Peppa Pig themed cake looked even more beautiful.

Xuanxuan blinked her beautiful big eyes, turned her head asking, "Daddy, don’t you want to know what wish I made?"

"Wish? If you say it out loud, it won’t come true." Huang Tao playfully tapped Xuanxuan’s cute little nose, gently speaking.

"Ah?"

Xuanxuan’s eyes widened in surprise, quickly covered her mouth, muttering softly, "Then I’m not telling."

She didn’t know that Daddy and others had already heard her wish.

Li Chengzhan joyfully shouted, "Cut the cake!"

Ye Wen picked up a plastic cake knife, handing it to Xuanxuan, "Come, let our little birthday star cut the cake..."

Xuanxuan hesitated, "Teacher Ye, will you help me cut it?"

Aunt Suqin bought her a birthday cake with her favorite Peppa Pig design, making it hard for her to make the first cut.

Ye Wen naturally was very happy to help.

She smiled, saying, "Let’s cut it together!"

She let Xuanxuan hold the plastic knife with both hands, while she held Niuniu’s hands, guiding her to cut together.

This first piece of cake...

Who should it be for?

The answer was obvious.

Xuanxuan cut the first piece of cake for Huang Tao, "Daddy, you eat the cake first."

Oh wow~

She truly is my precious darling daughter!

Luo Kai felt warm inside, with joy and satisfaction, reached over, "Thank you, sweetheart!"

However, the second piece of cake went to Ye Wen, "Teacher Ye, this is for you!"

"Oh, mine!"

Ye Wen was delighted, "Thank you, Xuanxuan."

Then it was Huang Yide, Song Cailian, Qianqian, Jiangling, Jiang Chao, Li Chengzhan, Ding Suqin...

Everyone ate cake together, enjoying the delicious, sweet cake.