Chapter 491 Chaos; little girl, a visibly flustered woman, and a shirtless man

Her mother called out firmly, "Xiaomi, remember what we discussed about staying close to me, especially around strangers."

Zhang Wei couldn't help but flash a mischievous smile. "Ahem, pardon my interruption, but I don't see any strangers here." His cheeky comment briefly widened Xiaomi's mother's eyes in a mix of surprise and disbelief at his brazenness, just before Xiaomi excitedly interjected.

"Ice cream, Mommy! Please, can we go?" she pleaded, her eyes sparkling as she pointed eagerly toward the colorful ice cream truck parked nearby.

"..."

Her mother paused, visibly torn between her daughter's infectious enthusiasm and her own reservations about the charming yet suspicious, shirtless stranger with his disarmingly friendly grin.Vissit novelbin(.)c.om for updates

She stole another glance at Zhang Wei, trying to gauge his true intentions, her maternal instincts fiercely on guard.

Xiaomi's mother finally spoke, her voice laced with reluctant caution, "Perhaps just a quick stop, but then we really must be going."

Zhang Wei nodded with exaggerated gratitude. "Fantastic!"

Xiaomi looked up, puzzled, "Who's calling you?"

Xiaomi's mother echoed, perplexed, "Who is calling you?"

After a heated exchange, Zhang Wei triumphed in a way that countless others had failed.

Nearby, a weary woman reluctantly handed over money at the ice cream truck, her expression a mixture of defeat and subtle ire, her stress evident as her daughter seemed to have forsaken her for a new guardian.

Zhang Wei, seated on the park bench alongside Xiaomi, leaned in with a curious grin and asked, "Little bird, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

Xiaomi, who barely seemed eleven with her wide-eyed innocence, eagerly replied, "I want to be a pilot!"

Zhang Wei nodded thoughtfully. "Ah, so the bird wants to flap her wings and soar high in the sky? Enjoy freedom, huh?"

"Hm! Hm!" Xiaomi nodded enthusiastically, oblivious to the deeper implications of his words.

With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, Zhang Wei teased, "How about being an air hostess for the brother?"

Xiaomi blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her face as she pondered the suggestion.

Then, with a definitive shake of her head, she declared, "Nope. That sounds so boring."

Seeing a chance to deflect the brewing storm, he quickly made his move, striding purposefully towards the pair.

"..."

Her words cut off abruptly as her trembling lips formed a silent gasp.

Gasp!

Xiaomi's eyes widened in shock and her hands flew to cover her mouth, a gasp escaping her as Zhang Wei moved with the fluidity of a summer breeze.

In a swift, daring moment, he pressed a tender kiss on her mother's cheek, leaving behind only a fleeting sensation before melting into the day like a phantom.

_____

"Haaa..."

"Haaa..."

Near the intersection leading out of the park, a young woman in a light blue tracksuit emerged from a trail, her pace steady and determined.

Her brown hair was pulled back into a sleek, bouncing ponytail that kept rhythm with her strides, highlighting her athletic frame.

The early morning sun cast a soft glow over her, illuminating the faint beads of sweat that glistened on her forehead, evidence of her rigorous workout.

As she jogged, her breaths were measured and deep, the sound of her sneakers tapping against the pavement creating a rhythmic beat that blended with the surrounding park noises.

In her hand, she gripped a small, neon green water bottle, squeezing it gently every few steps to take quick sips, staying hydrated.

Her focused expression softened as she noticed the unusual scene by the bench—a little girl, a visibly flustered woman, and a shirtless man who seemed to be at the center of some mild chaos.

Curious yet cautious, she slowed her pace, but as the man began sprinting toward her, her heart skipped a beat and she focused intently on her jog ahead.

"Hey!"

The voice halted her in her tracks and drew a frown from Bai Wenling.

!?

She spun around, ready to confront the intruder, but her irritation gave way to surprise as recognition dawned. "Zha—

Senior Zhang?" she uttered in a mix of confusion and disbelief.