Overnight Hit: Vicious Stepmother and Genius Son
Chapter 576 - 573: It’s So Warm?

Chapter 576: Chapter 573: It’s So Warm?

Ye Zhenzhen had climbed several branches up and was currently reaching with focus for the string of persimmons above her head. The slight chill of the wind in her ears meant she hadn’t quite caught what Xiao Chen had said.

"Xiao Chen, what did you say?"

She plucked the string of persimmons and turned her head to look at the little guy,

"Mommy, turn your head, look behind you."

Song Yuchen repeated in a hushed voice and gestured with his eyes.

Daddy and Uncle Xiao Yi were already coming this way.

Ye Zhenzhen turned her head and saw the two tall figures approaching leisurely, seemingly chatting about something.

"Mommy, I’m going down first, okay!"

After saying this, the little guy suddenly felt something was off and added, "Uh... I mean I’m going down to pick up that persimmon, Sister Shanshan she..."

She hadn’t managed to catch it!

Before he could finish his sentence, the little guy looked down the tree again, but there was no sign of Sister Shanshan.

"Where did Sister Shanshan go?"

"I’ll go find her!"

Ye Zhenzhen watched the little guy’s retreating figure with a smile, and her gaze happened to meet the man’s exploring and slightly amused eyes.

Suddenly, Ye Zhenzhen’s heart tightened a bit, feeling slightly guilty.

Earlier, when she had arrived, she heard him planning to go with Xiao Yi to hand over the Strawberry Garden. She didn’t expect him to come so soon.

The man under the tree was wearing a black cashmere coat, his long legs barely visible beneath it, and an apricot-colored turtleneck sweater softened his cold and handsome face.

After all, outside she was not only a female celebrity but also Song Jinze’s wife. Her behavior, not to mention being dignified, shouldn’t include climbing trees.

And he had just happened to see her.

Song Jinze’s eyes were soft as he looked up at the slender figure among the branches. Her seaweed-like long, curly hair was casually tied up, and the stray hairs on her forehead fluttered gently in the cold wind, adding a touch of brightness to the bleak garden this winter.

"Aren’t you cold?"

Song Jinze’s eyes crinkled slightly as he spoke and had already walked to the base of the tree, opening his arms, "Come down now."

His tone was gentle, and upon a closer listen, there was a hint of cajoling.

She thought he would come over and scold her for climbing the tree, but since he wasn’t angry, she was not going to come down that easily. She would pick the persimmons above her head before leaving.

"Wait a moment, I’ll get those big ones down."

The man gestured towards the bigger persimmons high up on the branch and his lips pressed together slightly, "Do you need help?"

"No need, just wait for me under the tree, I’ll be down soon."

Song Jinze looked down at the half-tipped basket at his feet, several persimmons had rolled out from it, and a helpless smile spread across his lips.

Bai Lingshan and Xiao Chen had dashed away from under the tree, and he and Xiao Yi had seen it clearly.

Of course, Xiao Yi was now gone to find them.

Ye Zhenzhen had picked all the persimmons from the branch and was coming down from the tree, where the man reached out to catch her, holding her as she descended.

Landing safely.

Song Jinze held her hand and looked down, "Your hands are so cold, aren’t you feeling it?"

Ye Zhenzhen was wearing a short, light down jacket and pants today. She hadn’t felt cold standing on the tree, but now, entirely enveloped by the man, she only then seemed to react.

She looked up at the man’s superior jawline and spoke softly, "It seems a little bit..."

Cold.

The man raised his hand to smooth her slightly messy hair at the forehead, preparing to take off his coat for her.

"No! I don’t need it, you wear it," Ye Zhenzhen stopped him.

"If you’re cold, wear more, be careful not to catch a cold."

Clearly, the man wasn’t listening to her.

Ye Zhenzhen raised her hand to embrace his waist and, while looking at the man’s aloof handsome face brimming with bright eyes and a carefree smile, she really wanted to know if his face would feel warm to the touch...

"My body isn’t too cold, just my hands. I want to try another way to warm up, is that okay?"

Song Jinze raised an eyebrow, "What?"

Ye Zhenzhen, seeing his serious expression, felt the urge for mischief growing stronger. She raised her hand to cradle the man’s handsome face, "This should do it!"

Song Jinze was caught off guard by her icy hands, frowning slightly, "Is this warm?"

Ye Zhenzhen shook her head, "Not really warm, everything online is fake."

Indeed, looking at his cool face, it felt just as cold when she covered it with her hands.

The amusement at the corners of the man’s mouth began to show a sense of helplessness. He quickly took off his coat and draped it over her, adjusting the collar before bending down to lightly kiss her forehead.

"Let’s go."

He bent down to pick up the basket and led her forward.

The warm winter sun filtered through the gaps in the trees, and one in front of the other, Ye Zhenzhen was looking at the long shadows cast by the sunlight, and the warm, comforting hand holding hers, feeling an inexplicable warmth in this scene...

...

Xiao Yi followed Xiao Chen all the way to the Strawberry Garden, where Bai Lingshan was placing strawberries in a basket. His expression was composed, but his lips curved slightly, "You like eating these?"

Bai Lingshan had not expected Xiao Yi to follow her and was startled by his sudden question, "Ah..."

"Like it, of course I like it, that’s why I picked them," she tried to calm herself.

Xiao Yi said nothing more, taking the basket from Bai Lingshan’s hands, "I’ll carry it."

"Oh... okay."

As Bai Lingshan handed over the basket, their finger tips brushed each other, making her heartbeat race even more.

She immediately lowered her head, daring not to look at the man beside her.

Finding it strange, she cleared her throat with a soft cough, shifting her gaze to Xiao Chen.

Song Yuchen meanwhile, was looking at her with all the mischief in the world, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle a giggle, "Sister, with Uncle Xiao Yi helping you carry the basket, I’m going to find my mom!"

"Didn’t you just get here?"

Song Yuchen exchanged a glance with Xiao Yi, "Uh... I took a wrong turn, I was going to find... my mom!"

He had better go find the butler; he can’t disturb Sister Shanshan’s pursuit of Uncle Xiao Yi.

Bai Lingshan: ...

What on earth is this little guy talking about?

Xiao Yi’s gentle gaze rested on Bai Lingshan’s profile, "Are you avoiding me?"

He had already noticed it back at the hotel, but wasn’t entirely sure until the walk here and just recently beneath the persimmon tree; they had clearly seen each other, yet she had slipped away.

Bai Lingshan felt Xiao Yi’s words hit home and picked a green-white strawberry, her actions belying her words, "No..."

Avoid him? She truly hadn’t, she just felt more and more embarrassed the more she thought about it.

If nothing had happened between them, she could have talked to Xiao Yi every day as if nothing had happened, discussing the script and not minding even if he sometimes refused.

That’s just how Xiao Yi was.

But now, she had taken the initiative with him, and no matter how she thought about it, she felt like she had wronged him; yet strangely, he seemed to feel guilty towards her.

His behavior towards her had improved a lot compared to before.

This only deepened her feeling of guilt.

So many things seem simple when you think or talk about them, but facing them in reality is a whole different story. She had thought that, after that night, she could still interact with him as before.

But now, upon reflection, there was a hurdle in her heart she couldn’t get over...