Chapter 211 Come here, my dear, let me hug you

Song Ni couldn't bring herself to tell the elders not to complain about Tan Zheng. From Xi Jinjiang's parents' perspective, their grievances from the past could certainly be directed at Tan Zheng. But from Tan Zheng's wife's perspective, she felt even more heartache for him. He must have wanted to participate in that competition, he didn't want to have an accident during his pre-competition self-testing, and he definitely didn't want Xi Jinjiang's accident to happen. All Song Ni could do was visit the elders on his behalf before Tan Zheng returned to the country. "Auntie, I'll help you stoke the fire." Auntie Xi wiped the tears from her face and was about to refuse when Song Ni held up four fingers. "Don't worry, I promise I won't burn down the kitchen." This sentence successfully pulled Auntie Xi back from her emotions, and she chuckled through her tears. "Don't you need your white clothes anymore?" "Clothes can be washed, but the experience of stoking a fire isn't common." This was true. Although Song Ni was dressed simply, her appearance, her figure, and her demeanor all spoke of her privileged background. Auntie Xi hadn't experienced much of the world, but knowing Tan Zheng, and with Song Ni being his wife, it wasn't hard to imagine her background was also extraordinary. The television always claimed that children from rich families were ill-behaved, but that was nonsense. The two affluent people she had met in her life were both exemplary. Song Ni had driven hundreds of miles to see them, and despite their initial coldness, she smiled, spoke sweetly, and tried to win them over. How could they not like her? Moreover, she was fair-skinned and tender, making her seem fragile and worthy of affection. Uncle Xi, having finished smoking, had nothing else to do and began sweeping the already clean floor. After sweeping, he couldn't help but glance into the kitchen. He saw his wife crying as she spoke, then saw the young girl hug his wife, say something, and make her smile again. Uncle Xi withdrew his gaze, saw Song Ni's bag casually placed on the table, walked over, picked it up, and then specially cleared a space on the shoe rack by the entrance, wiped it clean, and placed the bag there. Song Ni, having been pampered since childhood, had no idea how to stoke a fire and was inevitably choked by the smoke. Her once fair and clean face was smudged with soot. The sound of a car approached from outside the yard, and Song Ni's conversation with Auntie Xi abruptly stopped. Auntie Xi's eyes widened as she looked at Song Ni and asked, "Did that sound stop at the gate of our yard?" Song Ni's eyes flickered. She recalled Cheng Ling mentioning that Xi Jinjiang and Tan Zheng had a falling out, but Tan Zheng had chosen to stay there to resolve the issue completely, then persuade Xi Jinjiang to return. So... Song Ni suddenly stood up, took Auntie Xi's arm, and said, "Auntie, let's go outside and see." Auntie Xi followed, a bit belatedly. Upon exiting the kitchen, she saw her husband's eyes were also filled with shock. "Uncle, come with us quickly, perhaps it's Tan Zheng and the others returning." Uncle Xi, being astute, faltered at the word "they." "You mean Tan Zheng brought Xiao Jiang back with him?" Song Ni wasn't entirely sure, but she had a strong premonition that the person outside was Tan Zheng. His return meant he had persuaded Xi Jinjiang. "Let's go see, then we'll know." Then, Tan Zheng, who had flown back to China from England and, upon hearing from his bodyguard that Song Ni was visiting Xi Jinjiang's parents, had rushed over, saw this scene. His little girl was on his left, supporting Auntie Xi, holding Uncle Xi's hand with his right, and running towards him. Her small face was smudged with dirt, but her eyes lit up when she saw him. The sky had already darkened, it was dusky, and a light rain was falling, yet the girl's eyes shone brighter than the stars in the sky. Tan Zheng's chest heaved. He couldn't describe his feelings at that moment. His little girl had quietly investigated everything behind his back, considerate of his feelings, and never asked him directly. While he was still abroad, she had already found out where they were, and upon returning to China, she had rushed here without even taking a rest. A princess, who had been doted on since childhood, had driven alone for five or six hours to a village she had never been to, to visit elderly people who were complete strangers to her. Moreover, these two elders might even dislike her because of him. Tan Zheng knew that the dislike he had felt from Xi Jinjiang's parents for the past five years, Song Ni must have experienced too. Even if it wasn't to the same extent as him, as a proud young lady, when had she ever endured such treatment? And for his sake, the little girl had to go to great lengths to please the elders. Tan Zheng's heart was filled with emotion. Seeing Song Ni's smudged little face, his emotions reached their peak. His little girl had even stoked a fire. Tan Zheng suddenly tilted his head back and raised his hand to cover his eyes. "Tan Zheng! I knew it was you!" The girl's clear voice reached him. Tan Zheng looked down, lowered his hand, and then reached out to Song Ni. "Come here." Song Ni looked at the elders beside her and hesitated for a moment. The man's voice was tight. "Come here, my dear, let me hug you." Only then did Song Ni release the elders' arms and run towards Tan Zheng. How long had it been? Thirty-three days. Too long. They hadn't seen each other for too long. Song Ni ran faster and faster, straight into Tan Zheng's embrace. The man reached out and hugged her waist, and Song Ni naturally wrapped her legs around his waist. Despite the impact, Tan Zheng held her steadily. Feeling the familiar warmth of his embrace and smelling his familiar scent, Song Ni couldn't help but nuzzle into the crook of his neck. Song Ni had wanted to say many things to Tan Zheng, but at that moment, she didn't know what to say. She couldn't utter a single word. The man held her tightly, so tightly that Song Ni could barely breathe. Song Ni gently patted Tan Zheng's back, signaling him to loosen his grip, but he remained unmoved. He even buried his head fiercely into Song Ni's neck, deeply inhaling her scent. Sensing that Tan Zheng missed her just as much, Song Ni's heart softened further. She reached up and gently stroked Tan Zheng's hair, which had grown a bit long. She asked softly, "Why did you come so quickly?" Tan Zheng nuzzled her and couldn't resist kissing her cheek. "I went to London." Song Ni's pupils constricted. She wanted to lift her head from Tan Zheng's embrace to look at him, but his grip was too strong, and she could only continue to press against his neck. "What do you mean?" "The flight was delayed. By the time I arrived, you had already returned to China." And then, after he returned, Song Ni had come here. Song Ni blinked her eyes and quickly understood what Tan Zheng meant. He had flown to London, what else could he have been doing but rushing to see her, perhaps even to give her a surprise. Song Ni smelled the strong scent of smoke on the man. "Did you rush over right after you landed?"