"No...it's not like that..." Dian Dian clutched her head in frustration.

“It’s exactly as I said.” Su Xiaonuan continued to provoke her. “You’re an extremely selfish girl. Because of your illness, your mother blames your father and even left him. Look at your father, his hair has turned white from worrying about you. Can you bear to let him feel guilty and worry about you for the rest of his life?”

"ah……"

Dian Dian screamed, and her last line of defense collapsed.

“Dian Dian.” Yu Yang stepped forward and hugged his frantic daughter. “Don’t be like this, don’t be like this… She’s not Dad’s girlfriend. Don’t worry, Dad will never find you a stepmother in this lifetime.”

"Dad, she's really not your girlfriend?" Dian Dian looked up at her aging father with teary eyes.

“Dian Dian, I’m not your dad’s girlfriend,” Su Xiaonuan interjected. “I was just trying to provoke you into saying those things. From now on, you need to overcome your unhealthy mindset, eat properly, become a beautiful young woman who is both mentally and physically healthy, and then go find your mom again. Your family of three will then have a happy life again.”

"Really?" Dian Dian's eyes sparkled. "Will my mom still be waiting for us?"

“Mm.” Su Xiaonuan nodded. “I’m a mother too. No mother would abandon her own child. She resents your father, but she doesn’t resent you. You are her child forever. As long as you stand healthy in front of her, all the resentment will disappear, and she will come back to you.”

"Dad, I want to eat something." Dian Dian finally woke up and pointed to the animal-shaped snacks that Su Xiaonuan had brought.

"Okay, Dad will get it for you."

As Yu Yang's trembling hand reached for the snack, Su Xiaonuan stepped forward and took it away. "We can't give her this now. She hasn't eaten for so many years. Give her some millet porridge to soothe her stomach before giving her anything else."

"If Dian Dian wants to eat, give her one." Yu Yang felt sorry for her daughter, so she lowered her stance and pleaded with her fingers.

"No." Su Xiaonuan showed no mercy, feeding Dian Dian with millet porridge. "Right now, you can only eat easily digestible liquids. You can eat other foods once your stomach has recovered. If you want to get better quickly and go find your mother, you have to listen to me, understand?"

"Mmm." Diandian was surprisingly obedient and drank half a bowl of millet porridge without any adverse reactions.

Yu Yang was overjoyed. He first paced around the ward, then rubbed his hands together and muttered to himself. He thought that his daughter would only be able to survive on nutrients for the rest of her life. Unexpectedly, Su Xiaonuan cured his daughter's stubborn illness by using reverse psychology.

Doctors were at a loss when it came to their daughter's anorexia.

Su Xiaonuan easily cured her daughter's emotional distress, making her eat willingly.

After finishing her porridge, Dian Dian felt a little sleepy.

"Director Yu, let's go. Let Diandian get some rest. I'll bring her some food tomorrow morning." Su Xiaonuan helped Diandian lie down, covered her with a light blanket, and straightened her pillow.

"I'll bring you the food, you're too busy."

“No,” Su Xiaonuan said. “She’s in the recovery phase right now, so she can’t eat just anything. I’ll make her some easily digestible and nutritious food every day. You can make her food again once she’s fully recovered.”

"Comrade Xiao Nuan, thank you so much!" Yu Yang bowed to her in what he considered the most sincere way.

...

The two returned to the store and witnessed a shocking scene.

The store was packed with customers, both inside and out.

The waiters were three police chiefs dressed in police uniforms.

This was truly an unexpected scene.

The news spread like wildfire through the food street, attracting many diners who came specifically to see the big names serving food. They weren't there for discounts or promotional offers, but simply to witness the impressive sights of the waiters.

Su Xiaonuan felt a little bad and told them to go back.

Yu Yang, however, got excited, rolled up his sleeves, and laughed heartily. "Old friends, I'll run errands with you all."

"Heh, judging from your appearance, have you been eating something?" Lu Kuan hadn't seen Yu Yang's brow unfurrowed in a long time.

"Old Lu, I really have to thank you." Yu Yang put his hand on the other's shoulder. "If you hadn't dragged me here, Dian Dian would have missed the opportunity. Now it's all good, Dian Dian can eat, and soon my daughter will be healthy and well."

"That's wonderful!" Lu Kuan immediately gave Yu Yang a hug.

The other two also hugged Yu Yang.

Even without saying a word, a hug and a gentle pat on Yu Yang's back convey all the best wishes without words.

Afterwards, the four big shots went back to working as waiters.

There were just too many guests, so Su Xiaonuan let them be and went into the kitchen to cook.

With Xiao Nuan joining us, the food was served much faster.

Su Ming sent away the customers who were still in line, telling them to come back tomorrow, as the ingredients they had bought today were all sold out.

For the last few tables of guests, it was no longer possible to serve them according to the menu on the blackboard. They could only make whatever was available. Of course, this dish was only special when made by Su Xiaonuan.

Even scraps and leftovers can be transformed into something magical in Su Xiaonuan's hands.

...

When Su Xiaonuan and her father got home, it was already one o'clock in the morning.

Hearing the door open, Ye Mei ran out and whispered, "Keep your voice down. The children have only been asleep for a little while, and they keep crying for their mother. I told them that I'm busy at the restaurant, but they still want me to take them there."

Ye Mei stayed at the shop until the children got out of school and then left.

"Mom, you've worked so hard!" Su Xiaonuan gave Ye Mei a big hug.

"Mom, you're not tired!" Ye Mei patted her back. "But you, you haven't stopped from morning till night. Go take a shower and get some rest. Don't get up early tomorrow. Your dad and I will go to the shop early."

"No. You guys go so early and don't even know what you'll be doing. I'll go instead. You guys continue to be my support staff. Things will get easier after these three days."

"Xiao Nuan, I don't think things will be any easier in three days. There will only be more and more people coming to eat. Why don't you invite two more people?"

"Okay, I'll hire people tomorrow." With that, she picked up her handbag and placed it on the table, putting all the money and tickets inside on the table, counting them one by one, and then making notes in her notebook.

"It's too late, go take a shower and go to bed early," Ye Mei said. "Let me help you with the bookkeeping."

"Mom, this money is dirty. You've already taken a shower. Anyway, I'm dirty. Clean it up before you take a shower."

"Sigh!" Ye Mei sighed, "Earning this money isn't easy!"

“Mom, this situation is only temporary. Once the business is on track, I will hire more people. In the future, our family won’t have to go to the store to work, and I will have more time to spend with you.”

"I hope so!" Ye Mei felt a pang of regret for her impulsiveness back then. If she hadn't been so impulsive, she might still be able to help her daughter now.

Su Xiaonuan handed the counted money to Su Ming. "Dad, take this money. We'll use it to buy groceries tomorrow."

"Heh, quite a bit." Su Ming put the money into his military satchel. "I should have made a profit, right?"

"Even if we only make a few hundred yuan, and customers give us a 10% discount, we still make money."

...