Chapter 570: Chapter 556: The Taste of Happiness

"Screech~"

Just past 11 PM, Huang Tao returned to his home in Huang Family Village. The courtyard was pitch black, but a faint light shone through the glass windows of the living room downstairs.

His mom had deliberately left the light on for him, illuminating his way home!

"Click!"

He opened the front door and gently locked it, careful not to disturb his family’s rest.

"Is that you, Tao?"

A familiar voice softly floated from the partially open bedroom, reaching Huang Tao’s ears. He responded quietly, "Mom, it’s me. I’m back. Why are you still waiting up? Quickly, go to bed!"

"I can’t sleep peacefully until you’re home!"

These simple words transformed the cold winter night into a warm current that flowed through Huang Tao’s heart.

"Are you hungry?"

Song Cailian asked with concern, "If you are, I can make you some noodles?"

"Mom, I’m not hungry. I bought some pastries. Do you want to try one?"

He walked to his mom’s bedroom door, opened the bag of snacks, and motioned for her to take some.

"No need. You should go rest. Xuanxuan should be asleep by now. I wanted to keep her company, but she insisted she was fine alone..."

After saying goodbye to his mom, Huang Tao headed to his bedroom.

He was surprised to find his precious daughter still awake, sitting under the covers at the head of the bed, reading a picture book by the dim light of the lamp.

Mimi lay lazily curled up on the floor by the bed, comfortably dozing with its eyes closed.

It’s a kind of silent companionship.

"Daddy~"

The sound of Huang Tao opening the door made Xuanxuan look up from her picture book. Seeing it was Huang Tao, she immediately shouted in delight, leaping from the covers and extending her arms toward him.

A request for a hug with the cutest expression!

Oh dear!

If she caught a cold from this, it would be quite troublesome!

He hurriedly cautioned, "Xuanxuan, stay put, don’t get out, be careful not to catch a cold..."

But it was too late!

The little one had already jumped out of bed and was running toward him.

Huang Tao, without bothering to close the door, rushed forward, scooped her up, and tucked her back into the covers, scolding softly as he did so: "You, coming out from under the covers without even a layer on, you’ll catch a cold, you know?"

Xuanxuan giggled without a word.

Huang Tao, helpless yet doting, lightly tapped her tiny nose and gently asked, "Sweetheart, it’s so late, why aren’t you asleep yet?"

"Hmm~"

With her big pretty eyes curving into crescents, brimming with excitement, Xuanxuan said, "Because I can’t fall asleep!"

Without Daddy around, she stayed in the living room watching "Peppa Pig" with her grandparents, laughing at the antics of the show.

And so...

She was too excited to sleep!

Blinking her big eyes, she asked, "Daddy, why are you back so late? Was the class reunion too much fun, and you forgot about time?"

Xuanxuan wished she could have a class reunion too, to play with her classmates...

Huang Tao chuckled silently, reaching out to pat her little head. "It wasn’t too bad! We had dinner together and went to karaoke, which made it a bit late."

"Oh, and Daddy also bought you some treats."

"Treats? What treats? Where are they?"

At the mention of treats, Xuanxuan’s eyes lit up with joy, her little foodie self all eager.

"Ta-da!"

Huang Tao waved the plastic bag in his hand in front of her: "The treats are right here!"

"Wow..."

Xuanxuan gleefully grabbed the bag, eagerly rifling through it, "Let me see, let me see, what goodies are in here? Ah, pork floss mochi, my favorite, and egg yolk pastry!"

Her dimples showed with her beaming smile: "Daddy, you’re the best!"

She instinctively licked her lips with her little pink tongue.

She wanted to eat!

"Of course!"

Huang Tao stroked her soft little cheeks, "Daddy loves you the most, sweetie, so I naturally brought back what you love to eat. But, you can’t eat it tonight."

"Why not?"

Xuanxuan’s smile froze mid-air, turning into a frown. She patted her little round tummy with her chubby hands and looked at Huang Tao with pitiful eyes: "Daddy, my tummy is so hungry! Listen, it’s rumbling."

This little clever one!

Huang Tao was both amused and exasperated, "But these are all sweets, eating them before bed could give you cavities and they’re hard to digest!"

"Then, then..."

Blinking her watery eyes, Xuanxuan pleaded in a whisper, "Can I just have one?"

"Or half?"

This pitiful face was irresistible, completely defeating Huang Tao: "Alright, just half of an egg yolk pastry, but you must rinse your mouth after eating."

"Mm-hmm!"

Xuanxuan’s face lit up again, nodding fervently.

Huang Tao took out an egg yolk pastry, sliced it in half with a small knife, and laid some napkins over the blanket.

Xuanxuan carefully held it in her hands, nibbling bit by bit.

The crust was crisp, the filling tender, with layers of flavors, thin as cicada wings, both crunchy and soft.

Inside the egg yolk pastry was an additional filling of sweet cream, soft and sticky, the first bite and hits you with a chewy, smooth snow-like skin, the sweet cream in the middle fragrant with dairy aroma enveloping the delicious egg yolk, both sweet and savory.

Delicious!

Xuanxuan’s eyes squinted with joy, clearly enjoying every bite.

Huang Tao watched her finish, then handed her a glass of warm water: "Here, rinse your mouth and spit the water into the trash can."

Xuanxuan nodded and obediently gurgled.

Then spit into the trash can.

"It’s very late..."

Huang Tao tucked her in snugly: "Sleep tight!"

Xuanxuan obediently closed her eyes, such a well-behaved appearance.

"Good girl!"

Huang Tao brushed her bangs aside and kissed her on the forehead.

Then he picked up Mimi from the floor, placed it in the temporary cat bed outside the door, and went to wash up.

After washing up, he returned to the bedroom, slipped under the covers beside Xuanxuan, and turned his head to look at her.

Her eyelids fluttered slightly.

Understanding, he whispered in her ear, "Sweetheart, are you asleep?"

Was Daddy... trying to catch her out again?

Xuanxuan wouldn’t be fooled this time!

Having been caught many times before, Xuanxuan was smarter now, keeping her eyes tightly shut without making a sound.

Whoa~

She’s improving, getting smarter!

Huang Tao was surprised; he hadn’t thought the little one could be so patient now.

Since that was the case, he decided not to tease her anymore.

Instead, he reached over and turned off the lamp, snuggling up to Xuanxuan through the covers.

Perhaps because Daddy was beside her, Xuanxuan soon fell into a deep sleep.

Listening to Xuanxuan’s gentle breaths in the silence, a wave of happiness swelled in Huang Tao’s chest.