Overnight Hit: Vicious Stepmother and Genius Son
Chapter 371: I Like You!

Chapter 371: Chapter 371: I Like You!

When they were halfway up the mountain, Song Jinze stopped in his tracks and turned his head to look at the woman behind him, "Can you keep up?"

As he spoke, he took out a black matte thermos from his backpack, opened the lid, and handed it to her, "Have some water first."

After Ye Zhenzhen took the thermos, the man magically produced a handkerchief, raised his hand, and began to wipe off the thin layer of sweat on her forehead.

The man’s series of actions left Ye Zhenzhen even more perplexed.

After she finished drinking the water, she couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Song, you’re so good at taking care of people, have you brought other wom... other people here before?"

"Cough, cough—" Halfway through her question, Ye Zhenzhen interrupted herself with a series of coughs.

She hadn’t intended to be so blunt, but just now her mouth seemed to have a mind of its own, and she blurted out the words "women" without thinking.

Mainly because the man’s fluid series of actions, from offering water to wiping sweat, were too practised.

She just couldn’t help but want to know...

As to why she couldn’t help it, she was bewildered and seemed not to fully understand the reason behind it.

Song Jinze stepped forward and gently patted her back, his thin lips curling into a shallow arc, "The only people who have been here with me are Secretary Zhang and myself; no one else, and certainly no women."

"Really?" Ye Zhenzhen followed up his remark quite naturally.

There wasn’t much skepticism in her tone; in fact, there was a slight hint of delight.

Song Jinze’s deep gaze fixed on the woman, a clear softness flickering in his eyes, and the shallow smile on his lips gradually spread, "Really, only you."

From now to the future, only her.

In that instant, amidst the cold mountain wind mingled with Song Jinze’s deep and pleasant voice as it gently drifted into Ye Zhenzhen’s ears and into her heart. Though his words seemed quite ordinary, they made her feel all warm inside.

Even the chilly mountain breeze seemed to grow warm and cozy.

Song Jinze glanced at the sky and spoke softly, "We need to hurry, the sun will set soon."

"Okay."

Step by step, Ye Zhenzhen followed the man, feeling secure with him leading the way...

Upon reaching the mountaintop, Song Jinze pointed to the slowly setting sun in the distance, "We’ve arrived!"

Actually, even without him pointing it out, Zhenzhen could also see it.

Above the distant tall mountains, the sun was slowly sinking. Lantai Mountain had many peaks; the one they climbed was not the highest, but their spot was indeed the best place to watch the sunset in this area.

Right in front, a stream divided the connection between two tall mountains, perfectly splitting them apart and positioned straight in the path of the sinking sun.

The sunset, like wine soaking the evening clouds, cast the sky with a swath of glowing light from the mountaintop to the valley. It was as if everything was draped in a layer of golden gauze, ethereal and dreamy, a spectacle so dazzling and beautiful it was beyond words.

Unable to contain her admiration, Ye Zhenzhen exclaimed, "Such a beautiful sunset!"

"Do you like it?" Song Jinze asked her with a smile.

Ye Zhenzhen nodded, "Yeah, I like it."

"Do you like the sunset, or do you like me?"

"Both!"

Ye Zhenzhen: !!!

Wait, what was she just saying?

What is this man asking?

Song Jinze chuckled softly, lowering his head to look at the woman in front of him, "Ye Zhenzhen, do you like me?"

At this moment, Ye Zhenzhen was still fretting over her too-quick response just now. Faced with the question the man threw at her once more, she had calmed down considerably. Perhaps the cool breeze at the mountaintop had blown her momentarily heated mind instantly clear.

She countered, "Song Jinze, do you like me?"

On their first day here, they had argued, as she didn’t understand him. After gradually getting to know him, she felt that his kindness towards her might be mostly because of their registered relationship. After all, his self-restraint was exceptional, and he was very gentlemanly.

When it came to love, she wasn’t an ignorant girl. Even without having dated, she had acted in dramas. A man like Song Jinze wouldn’t just be nice to a woman and that mean he liked you.

Even if it was just a script, the male protagonist pursuing the female protagonist would always clarify his intentions, wouldn’t he?

At least up until now, she hadn’t heard him say that he liked her.

And now, she was simply posing a question in response to his, so even if he were to refuse or not answer, she could learn from him and respond in kind.

Song Jinze raised his hand to lightly caress the woman’s face, leaning forward slightly, his dark eyes unwaveringly fixed on the woman before him, "Ye Zhenzhen, I used to think my life only needed work, and that was enough. Marrying you half a year ago was just for my grandfather’s sake; I didn’t want to upset him. In my mind, it didn’t matter who I married."

Having said this, Song Jinze paused for several seconds, observing the woman’s emotions carefully. Seeing no particular change, he continued,

"The fact is, I’ve been busy with work these past six months, and I’ve intentionally neglected you. In my eyes, I thought fulfilling my duties as a husband was sufficient. You said you didn’t need my help with your career, and I chose to respect that decision. In life, I felt that providing for all your material and financial needs was enough.

However, over the past month, I’ve suddenly realized I misunderstood you. Before, I didn’t know you and didn’t even consider getting to know you, so I didn’t like you and even felt some aversion."

Only recently, after understanding you, I found out I was wrong, my perception was wrong, and I missed half a year of precious time."

The deep and magnetic voice echoed in Ye Zhenzhen’s ears, her heart irresistibly thrumming uncontrollably to the captivating sound.

This damn man had brought her up the mountain to see the sunset; could it really be that he wanted to confess his love?

"So, Song Jinze, after saying all this, are you trying to tell me that you like me now?" Ye Zhenzhen couldn’t help but blurt out the question.

Having come this far, she felt it was perfectly appropriate to ask.

Song Jinze took a deep breath and nodded, "Yes... I like you."

This was the most relaxed he had felt all day.

He had first heard from Xiao Chen that her favorite person was her ’boyfriend,’ and then at lunch, he saw that scruffy kid Da Mi, who claimed to be her brother.

The meal was to thank the person who had helped her. He wanted to clarify everything with her, asking who that boyfriend she liked was, why she would seek Da Mi’s help and not his. They were lawfully wedded husband and wife; in theory, they should be closer than anyone else.

She shouldn’t reject his help and turn to others.

On the way here just now, he actually wanted to speak up several times but eventually held back. Asking these questions wouldn’t help solve anything,