Chapter 277

Xia Xi pretended not to hear his words, pursed her lips under the mask, and turned her head to look out the window.

Although she felt embarrassed, Xia Xi thought of the message Xu Yanfeng had just sent, and the corners of her mouth involuntarily curved upward; no matter how she pursed her lips, she could not stop them from turning up.

She simply gave up.

Arriving at the main gate of Youlechang, Xia Xi removed her mask.

One person led a child in line, walking from the entrance passageway inward.

Xu Yanfeng followed behind Xia Xi, protecting her so no one would bump into her.

He leaned slightly forward, using his height advantage to speak easily into her ear: "Did you see the message I sent you?"

Xia Xi did not want to respond to him.

Xu Yanfeng simply said: "What I sent was, the couple outfits we're wearing today."

Xia Xi hadn't noticed; hearing him mention it, she couldn't help but look back—Xu Yanfeng was wearing a sky‑blue shirt, something he rarely wore in light colors, and suddenly dressing this way made his already outstanding face look especially fresh and handsome.

Earlier, when he had buttoned his coat, she hadn't realized how… youthful he looked, making his age hard to tell.

She too wore a light‑blue shirt with a short black leather jacket on top; whether inner layer or outerwear, she and Xu Yanfeng were in the same color scheme, looking like a couple's outfit no matter how you saw it.

She couldn't refute it: "Oh, quite a coincidence."

After smoothly entering Youlechang, Xia Xi, having done her homework beforehand, took the two kids to try the attractions they could handle.

Xu Yanfeng patiently accompanied them the whole time, taking photos and carrying bags.

After a round, Youyou was sweating profusely, pointing at an ice‑cream model at a shop entrance and telling Xia Xi, "Mom, little brother wants ice cream."

Zi Heng: "……"

Already used to taking the blame for his sister, Zi Heng couldn't be bothered to defend himself.

Xia Xi shook her head, not indulging Youyou: "No, eating ice cream in such cold weather will give you diarrhea."

Youyou raised a finger, pouting her little mouth pleadingly: "I'll just have one bite."

Xia Xi still shook her head, saying some requests could be met but others could not be compromised: "If you only eat one bite, what do we do with the rest? Throwing it away is wasteful, and if someone else eats it they'll also get diarrhea."

After realizing her coquetry wouldn't work, Youyou became honest, hanging her head unhappily.

Xia Xi ruffled Youyou's head and said, "Since you've behaved so well, Mom will buy you the biggest one, okay?" She pointed to the small shop next to the drink stall and asked, "What shape would you like?"

Youyou immediately shifted her attention: "I want colorful flowers!"

"Let's go buy it." Xia Xi took her hand and walked over.

Xu Yanfeng's gaze remained fixed on Xia Xi; whenever Youyou showed a pitiful expression, he wanted to give in, but Xia Xi did not. She was a soft‑hearted yet principled mother.

For a moment, he felt deeply moved, wondering how Xia Xi had become this way step by step; she wasn't born knowing how to educate children.

"Let's go."

Zi Heng stared at the man holding his hand, motionless, and couldn't help but tug him.

Xu Yanfeng's thoughts were jerked back; he lowered his eyes and said bluntly, "Your mom is really amazing."

Zi Heng: "?"

Although he didn't know why Xu Yanfeng suddenly said that, it was true, so Zi Heng didn't object.

Xu Yanfeng brought him to catch up with Xia Xi and Youyou ahead.

It being a weekend, many parents brought their kids to Youlechang; there were also some couples, whispering to each other while waiting in line, and the rest were small groups of female friends.

Some girls kept turning their heads to sneak glances at Xu Yanfeng, hoping to strike up a conversation, but seeing him holding a five‑ or six‑year‑old boy, they suppressed their urges.

However, he looked too young—at most in his early twenties—so he couldn't possibly be old enough to have such a big son; maybe he was just out playing with his younger brother?

It would be a shame to miss out.

A slightly bolder girl, urged on by her friends, mustered courage to approach; before speaking, her face flushed, she lifted her phone and softly asked, "Hello, can I add you on WeChat?"

Xia Xi was ahead in line; hearing this obvious pickup line, her first thought was Xu Yanfeng, and when she turned around, sure enough, they were looking for him.

Xu Yanfeng lifted his eyelids and locked eyes with her.

After two seconds, Xia Xi first looked away, unintentionally glancing at the girl: very young, with fair, translucent skin, light makeup, wearing a milky‑white coat, a red scarf, and a leather beret—she looked like a college student.

Xu Yanfeng's outfit today looked youthful; even with Zi Heng in hand, it wouldn't be strange for people to mistake him for a college student.

Seeing Xia Xi had no intention to speak, Xu Yanfeng narrowed his eyes, displeased.

The girl waited a moment without a reply, her face reddening further, her gaze growing a bit flustered, not knowing where to look, she added, "Sorry, may I ask if you're married?"

Xu Yanfeng answered honestly: "No."

His voice was low and pleasant; hearing this, the girl felt a little flutter in her heart—she had guessed right, he wasn't married!

The girl was about to say something more when Xu Yanfeng shifted tone: "But—" he shook Zi Heng's little hand, "this kid calls me Dad."

The girl's brain couldn't catch up, and she uttered a hesitant "uh."

He wasn't married, but he had a child—this… this… isn't that a jerk?

The girl couldn't believe such a handsome, upright guy would be a heartless playboy; she tugged her lip and stammered, "Are you… joking?"

Xu Yanfeng bent down, affectionately pinched Zi Heng's cheek, and said, "Call me Dad."

Zi Heng: "……"

Xu Yanfeng's lips moved slightly, and in a voice only they could hear he said, "Good son, in this special situation, can you help me out?"

Zi Heng pressed his lips, paused a good while, then, like a duck forced onto a shelf, reluctantly shouted, "Dad."

This was the brat's first time calling him Dad; although it wasn't wholehearted, hearing it still hit Xu Yanfeng hard—he froze there, his heart feeling as if struck, turning soft and warm.

Xu Yanfeng slowly straightened up, feeling good; he looked at the girl, who, without saying anything else, tossed out "Sorry to bother you" and fled, not even buying anything.

Xia Xi reached the front first, bought a flower‑shaped colorful treat for Youyou, then turned to ask Zi Heng, "Zi Heng, what shape do you want?"

Zi Heng glanced at the poster by the counter and said, "I want a panda."

After the purchase, Xia Xi stepped back from the crowd, and the two kids walked while eating.

Xu Yanfeng suddenly squeezed in beside Xia Xi, turned his head, and warm breath brushed her ear; his voice carried a hint of resentment: "You just saw all that—why didn't you help me?"

Xia Xi expressionless, gave a hum: "Do I still need to help with this kind of thing? When you were in college, weren't there fewer girls chasing you? I never saw you needing help to solve things; you always solved them yourself."

Xu Yanfeng: "That's true."

Xia Xi glanced at him, her eyes seeming to say, "Then what are you still saying?"

"I can't solve every girl either." Xu Yanfeng spoke slowly, "Take you, for instance—I have no idea."

"……"

Xia Xi was about to beg him, can you stop bringing up the past?

Zi Heng was biting his lip when a man walked past him; Xu Yanfeng was talking to Xia Xi, noticed out of the corner of his eye, and pulled Zi Heng aside. The man seemed to realize he almost bumped into someone, turned back and apologized.

Zi Heng stared at the man; he too was there to queue and buy, lifting the child onto his shoulders.

Xu Yanfeng followed Zi Heng's glance, glanced at the father-son pair, lightly patted the back of his head. Zi Heng turned and glared at him; Xu Yanfeng smiled: "You want that too?"

Zi Heng puffed his cheeks: "No way."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Yanfeng scooped him up in one motion; he wasn't ready, let out an "ah", then was lifted higher and higher until placed on Xu Yanfeng's shoulder.

Xu Yanfeng is tall; Zi Heng riding on his neck felt like he'd become a towering giant, overlooking the mountains, feeling both excited and a little nervous, his face flushed.

Xia Xi watched the scene, stunned for a moment, then reminded: "Be careful, don't let him fall."

Xu Yanfeng: "Won't."

After holding Zi Heng and walking for a while, Zi Heng felt uncomfortable, awkwardly saying: "I want to get down."

Xu Yanfeng put him down, turned his face to Youyou: "Youyou, want to try?"

"I don't want to, it's too high, I'll fall." Youyou shook her head, stepped back, hiding behind Xia Xi.

"Look, Zi Heng didn't fall."

Youyou heard that, took a step forward, her eyes showing eagerness to try.

Xu Yanfeng noticed, lifted her up, just like before.

Youyou didn't expect it to be so high; she clung to Xu Yanfeng's head in fear, alternating between screams and giggles, wanting to get down after just a few seconds, so Xu Yanfeng had to put her down.

Xia Xi keenly noticed that Zi Heng's gaze toward Xu Yanfeng had changed, seeming to carry some admiration. She used to think it didn't matter if a child lacked a father; she could give the child meticulous care and love, plus proper guidance. Now she couldn't firmly believe she could completely replace the role of "dad."

Xu Yanfeng's smile hadn't faded, his eyes curved; with this outfit, he was handsomely dazzling.

He suddenly looked over, seeming to notice Xia Xi's distraction, raised his eyebrows: "You also want to ride on my neck?"

"……Ah?"

Xia Xi didn't quite hear what he said, her expression went blank.