Chen Mei's expression was a little helpless.
She had already put in her best effort, but her cooking skills were far behind Lin Chen's, so the food she made definitely didn't taste as good.
"Mom, the food you make is still pretty good. I've eaten it for so many years, and I still like your cooking the best."
Lin Chen said with a smile, "Xiaoxi, it's okay if you eat a little less. For kids to be healthy, it's good to be a little hungry and cold."
"Yeah."
Chen Mei nodded.
"Xixi, Grandma will practice when she gets home. When you go to Grandma's house later, Grandma will definitely make something even more delicious."
Lin Xiaoxi said in a childish voice, "Grandma, Mommy said kids can't be picky eaters. Grandma's food is also delicious."
"Our Xiaoxi is so good."
Chen Mei said with a face full of smiles.
"Daddy, teach me how to fold paper airplanes."
Lin Xiaoxi still remembered the paper airplanes she wanted to give Chen Mei and the others.
"Okay."
Lin Chen carried Lin Xiaoxi to the balcony and taught her carefully.
Two hours later, after taking a bath and listening to a story, Lin Xiaoxi fell asleep. Lin Chen went to the living room where Chen Mei and the others were watching television.
"Son, how's the contract going?"
Lin Hai asked.
They knew Lin Chen had gone out to sign a contract with the publishing house.
Lin Chen smiled and said, "I treated them to a meal, of course, I signed it. The first print run is three hundred thousand copies, and the copyright fee for the first print, a million or so, should be transferred to me soon."
Lin Hai and the others stared at Lin Chen in shock.
They hadn't earned this much money in their entire lives.
"Dad, I'll find a company online to handle the house, all-inclusive. That way, you'll be much more relaxed later on."
"You just need to oversee it."
Lin Chen said.
Lin Hai asked in surprise, "You're not asking the local construction companies?"
Lin Chen shook his head. "The construction team we usually use specializes in those old-style houses. Even if we gave them the blueprints, it's likely they'd mess it up."
"Hiring a professional company might cost a bit more, but otherwise, there's no downside."
Lin Hai nodded.
"Son, we're planning to go back tomorrow."
Lin Chen asked, surprised, "So soon?"
Lin Hai said, "We need to go back and handle the paperwork for the house. We need to hurry if we want it finished by the end of the year. Otherwise, we'll be stuck staying at someone else's place for the New Year."
"If the house is finished, maybe you can bring Xiaoxi back to celebrate the New Year with us."
Lin Chen figured the important part was yet to come.
Lin Hai and the others probably wanted him to bring Lin Xiaoxi home for the New Year.
"Son, it would be best if you could bring Mengyao back with you too."
Chen Mei said.
The next day, Lin Chen and Lin Xiaoxi saw Chen Mei and the others off at the airport.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I have a gift for you."
"Close your eyes."
Lin Xiaoxi said mysteriously.
Chen Mei and Lin Hai closed their eyes.
Lin Xiaoxi took out a paper airplane she had made: "Grandpa, Grandma, look, this is a paper airplane I made."
"When you see it, you'll remember Xiaoxi."
Lin Chen asked in surprise, "Xiaoxi, you said before that if Grandpa and Grandma's plane flew away, they would ride your plane. Why have you changed your mind now?"
Lin Xiaoxi giggled, "Silly Dad, this is a paper airplane. It's not real, and it can't carry people."
Lin Chen: "..."
Lin Hai and Chen Mei burst out laughing.
"Thank you, Xiaoxi."
Chen Mei hugged Lin Xiaoxi and gave her a kiss.
"Goodbye, Grandma and Grandpa."
Chen Mei and the others entered the airport, and Lin Chen drove away.
An hour passed.
"Host, you have accumulated twenty hours of driving, and your driving skill has been upgraded to Grandmaster Level."
The System's voice rang in Lin Chen's mind.
Lin Chen's parents had been visiting for three days, and during those three days, he had taken Lin Xiaoxi and his parents to many places in Magic City.
He had spent a lot of time driving.
"So I'm a Grandmaster now, not bad!"
A smile spread across Lin Chen's face.
Grandmaster Level meant he was at the world's top level.
The world's best race car drivers were about on par with Lin Chen now. But Lin Chen's level could still improve.
He could still reach Legendary Level, even Mythic Level!
"System, what levels are my various skills at?"
Lin Chen asked in his mind.
He hadn't really paid much attention to it.
Anyway, improving these skills came naturally when he was with Lin Xiaoxi; trying too hard would be counterproductive.
The System said, "Host, your culinary skills have reached a level equivalent to thirty hours of practice, which is like others diligently studying for thirty years."
"Your culinary skills are at Grandmaster Level."
"Your fairytale storytelling is at Grandmaster Level, your driving is at Grandmaster Level, and your painting and calligraphy are at Master Level. The rest are not yet at Master Level."
"Additionally, your physique is at ninety-five points."
"You are proficient in four languages: English, German, French, and Russian."
Lin Chen wore a faint smile.
He hadn't had the System for long, but he had already been completely transformed.
"Daddy, I miss Mommy."
"When will Mommy come back to see Xiaoxi?"
"Does Mommy not want Xiaoxi anymore?"
Lin Xiaoxi started to cry as she spoke.
Lin Chen quickly coaxed, "Xiaoxi, how could Mommy not want you? Mommy will be back soon."
"After we get home, will you call Mommy, okay?"
Lin Xiaoxi nodded.
"Daddy, how much longer until we go home?"
"I miss Mom so much."
Lin Chen said, "It'll be soon. We'll be there after the next intersection."
Half a minute passed. Lin Xiaoxi looked out the window and said excitedly, "Dad, I see Mom's car!"
"That car just now was Mom's."
Lin Chen was surprised. "Xiaoxi, are you sure? Other people might have the same car as your mom, you know."
"Dad, that's Mom's car."
Lin Xiaoxi was very sure.
Lin Chen thought to himself, Xu Mengyao didn't tell him, was she planning a surprise visit to see how he was doing?
Lin Chen quickly drove into the residential complex.
"Beep beep!"
As he got out of the car, his phone rang. It was Xu Mengyao calling.
"Lin Chen, where did you and Xiaoxi go?"
"I'm outside your rental, I rang the doorbell but no one answered."
Xu Mengyao asked as the call connected.
Lin Chen replied, "We're in the underground parking garage, we'll be right up."
Soon, Lin Chen and the others went upstairs.
"Mom."
"Mom, I miss you so much."
Lin Xiaoxi shouted excitedly when she saw Xu Mengyao.
"Xiaoxi, Mommy misses you too."
Xu Mengyao said with a smile, taking Lin Xiaoxi.
Lin Xiaoxi asked innocently, "Mom, do you miss Dad? Dad misses you very, very much."
Lin Chen: "…"
When did he ever say he missed Xu Mengyao?
Xu Mengyao looked at Lin Chen.
Lin Chen was a little embarrassed.
Although he and Xu Mengyao had been intimate, and even had a child, they really didn't know each other well.
"Mom, do you miss Dad?"
Lin Xiaoxi asked again.
"Mmm… I do."
Xu Mengyao nodded.
If she said she didn't, it would affect Lin Xiaoxi to see her parents not getting along.
Lin Xiaoxi looked at her expectantly and said, "Mom, can you stay, please? Xiaoxi wants to sleep with Mom and Dad tonight."
"Good girl."
Lin Chen secretly gave Lin Xiaoxi a thumbs up.