Reborn in 2006, I met Mr. Zhou from the past.

"I think this place is fine. It's a bit pricey, but safety is the most important thing for a girl living away from home," Wen Xiaofen said, slumping onto the soft sofa and letting out a long sigh.

"But...we don't send Xiaonan that much living expenses every month..." Su Guoyuan frowned slightly, and before he could finish speaking, Su Fengnan put down her backpack and interrupted him with a smile.

"Dad, you forgot I still have royalties." She quickly poured her parents a glass of water, then pulled up a small round stool to sit down. Her tone was light and confident. "It's quiet here, and the security is good. You can stay here when you come back."

Seeing that her parents still seemed hesitant, Su Fengnan analyzed the situation clearly: "The house in our hometown has been empty for so long, it definitely needs a major overhaul before anyone can live there. The house is probably damp, and the yard is probably overgrown with weeds too, it needs a lot of repairs. How about we stay here for the next few nights and go back to clean during the day? Is that arrangement okay?"

Hearing his daughter arrange everything so clearly, Su Guoyuan's worries dissipated considerably, so he stopped thinking about it and simply let his daughter make the arrangements.

He sat down next to Wen Xiaofen, then, as if suddenly remembering something, looked up and asked, "By the way, what were you two doing in Zhucheng on such a cold day?"

"..." Su Fengnan was taken aback by the sudden question and was momentarily at a loss for words.

She opened her mouth, her mind racing, but she didn't know how to tell her parents that she had secretly opened a dessert shop.

Seeing that Su Fengnan had suddenly fallen silent and looked embarrassed, the couple exchanged a glance, and alarm bells immediately went off in their minds, and they couldn't help but imagine the worst.

"What exactly did you guys go to do?" Upon seeing this, Su Guoyuan frowned, and his tone instantly became more serious.

"Oh dear, speak properly, don't scare the child." Wen Xiaofen quickly patted Su Guoyuan's shoulder and scolded him in a low voice.

Even though her soul was mature, Su Fengnan still felt a little nervous facing her father's suddenly stern face, a sense of awe deep within her. She took a deep breath, knowing that she would have to tell him sooner or later anyway, so she decided not to hide anything and slowly said, "Dad, Mom... I opened a dessert shop in Zhucheng."

"You mean...the kind that sells cakes?" Wen Xiaofen reacted quickly and immediately grasped the key point.

"Hmm..." Su Fengnan nodded obediently.

"Was it also paid for with your royalties?" Su Guoyuan was stunned. His eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

Su Fengnan nodded again.

The couple exchanged another glance, both seeing shock and relief in each other's eyes. Su Guoyuan took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil in his heart, and his tone softened: "Alright, now that it's open, let's honestly explain what's happened these past few days. Don't make me question everything, okay?"

So, following her parents' lead, Su Fengnan recounted the ins and outs of opening the dessert shop in great detail. She spoke clearly and logically, from acquiring the shop location and decorating to sourcing goods and the trial operation, leaving no detail overlooked, but cleverly omitting all connections with Zhou Chenyu.

After hearing about everything his daughter had endured alone during this time, Su Guoyuan felt both gratified and proud. Looking at his graceful and capable eldest daughter, he couldn't help but recall the gossip from his hometown—people always whispered behind his back that he was "born childless and his line would end."

In truth, Su Guoyuan wasn't inherently sexist, but he couldn't stand the grating gossip in the village; it always made him feel suffocated. But now, seeing his daughter so capable and sensible, even more successful than many of the sons raised by other families in the village, he felt incredibly gratified! Those gossips that once stung him now seemed like a joke in the face of his daughter's undeniable achievements.

Seeing Su Guoyuan's lips curl into a wide smile, his eyes brimming with triumphant joy, Wen Xiaofen couldn't help but laugh and pat his arm, interrupting his thoughts: "Su Laoba, what are you thinking about so intently? How about this, tomorrow we'll go to Zhucheng together and take a look at your daughter's shop?"

"Sure!" Su Fengnan's eyes lit up, and she was the first to nod in agreement. "Dad, how about we take the bus first thing tomorrow morning?"

As soon as she spoke, Su Guoyuan picked up his water glass, took a sip, then thought for a moment and gently shook his head: "Forget it, let's not go tomorrow. We just got back and are only thinking about getting the house ready. We still have to visit all our relatives and friends, so we really can't afford to waste any more time. How about... we go to Zhucheng before we leave after the New Year?"

"Okay, whatever you say," Wen Xiaofen agreed with a smile, feeling that her husband had considered everything very thoroughly.

The matter of going to Zhucheng to check out the shop was settled so pleasantly, and Su Fengnan naturally respected her father's arrangement.

Soon, steaming hot food was served. The family sat together, enjoying a long-awaited reunion dinner amidst the aroma of the food filling the house.

After dinner, the living room was filled with the faint aroma of tea and the tantalizing scent of roasted melon seeds. The family sat around the sofa, a lively variety show was playing on TV, and Su Fengxia and Wen Xiaofen were laughing heartily at the funny parts of the program.

Su Guoyuan held a few sunflower seeds in his hand, occasionally steering the conversation towards the online store's recent revenue, wanting to hear his daughter's opinion. To his surprise, no matter which area of ​​data he threw at her, Su Fengnan could catch it steadily, not only analyzing it logically but also keenly pointing out the next breakthrough.

"Dad, we could actually consider proactively recommending products," Su Fengnan said, peeling a sunflower seed. His tone was relaxed yet confident. "Before, we only relied on static images. Now we can definitely try short video pushes; the visual impact is much stronger. Also, we can build a dedicated community for those loyal customers who have given positive reviews and made repeat purchases. We can prioritize recommending new products or good sources to them, thus revitalizing our private traffic. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Su Guoyuan's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but slap his thigh, exclaiming repeatedly, "This idea is brilliant! How come I didn't think of that? Let's go back and give it a try!"

This deep conversation with his daughter gave Su Guoyuan a sudden realization. He secretly planned to put this idea into practice when he got back, and even his thoughts while watching the show were drawn to the planning of his online store.

By the time the father and daughter finished their business, it was already late at night. Su Fengnan quickly made up the beds and settled her parents in their own room. She then slept in the same bed as Su Fengxia.

The night outside the window was gentle, and the breathing inside was deep and even. Su Fengnan listened to her sister's even breathing, but her mind was still replaying the conversation they had just had. She knew that the transformation of the online store was only the first step; their family's path had only just begun to unfold.