Chapter 253: Chapter 252: The Bittersweet Reunion Event

Chen Su gently took the cup from Xu Ying’s hand and asked the staff for a blanket.

Just as he was about to cover her, his fingertips touched the thin fabric, and he couldn’t help but frown—this thickness was definitely not enough.

The Snow Cleaning Weasel poked its head out from Xu Ying’s pocket.

“Shh.”

Chen Su gestured, already taking off his own coat.

The navy blue uniform jacket still carried his body heat. He bent cautiously, carefully draping the coat over the blanket.

The police badge at the collar happened to rest next to her cheek, casting a gentle metallic sheen under the warm light.

The Snow Cleaning Weasel suddenly covered its mouth, using its other paw to point at Chen Su’s ear: [Officer, your ears are really red…]

Chen Su couldn’t understand what the weasel was saying, but instinctively pinched his ear, then gently cupped his hand over the weasel’s eyes: “You didn’t see anything.”

“Remember to wake up Little Xu Station Chief when it gets dark so she can sleep in her room.”

The Snow Cleaning Weasel nodded obediently, rubbing its little face against Chen Su’s palm.

Just as Chen Su was about to get up, Xu Ying unconsciously grabbed his coat in her sleep.

Chen Su froze in place and eventually just gently pinched her sleeve, tucking her wrist back under the blanket.

The glass window reflected his slightly raised smile, and the girl wrapped in the coat with only half of her sleepy face showing.

Outside the store, Fox Director witnessed this scene and shook its head: [Tsk tsk, humans have such complicated courtship rituals.]

It flicked its tail and tossed a pinecone, hitting the store glass right in front of Chen Su: [Why not just carry her back to the den directly?]

Chen Su’s gaze lingered on the glass, drawn to the comical Tibetan Fox outside. Somehow, he saw mockery and disdain in its expression.

He turned to the bar to order a cup of hot milk, whispering to the staff, “When she wakes up…”

When it was completely dark,

Xu Ying was nudged awake by the furry Snow Cleaning Weasel on her cheek, rubbing her eyes in a daze; the sweet scent of milk made her nose twitch.

She opened her eyes to see a steaming cup of honey milk on the table, with a note pinned underneath, written in sharp handwriting:

“Rest well. Tomorrow’s recording will start an hour early, go downstairs at 9:15.

—Chen Su”

A small Q-version sketch of a sleeping girl—her chubby cheeks exaggerated with three “zzz” sleep marks in stark contrast to the sharp handwriting—signed the note.

Hmm? Xu Ying blushed. Could Chen Su have drawn her while she was asleep?

His drawing is surprisingly cute!

Xu Ying felt particularly warm and looked down to see she was covered with Chen Su’s police coat, the faint scent of laundry detergent on her nose.

Xu Ying stood and stretched, preparing to return the coat to Chen Su, only to be informed by a kindly store clerk informed that the police officer had already left.

I’ll return it tomorrow morning.

Xu Ying returned to her room, planning to rest early since the program recording would begin the next morning.

Early the next day.

Xu Ying took Chen Su’s coat downstairs.

Chen Su was already sitting by the window, the morning light casting a soft golden edge to his stern profile.

“Captain Chen, your coat.”

Xu Ying handed over the coat, “Thank you.”

Chen Su accepted it and pulled a small item out of his pocket: “The Tibetan Fox gave me this pinecone, so I made something. See if you like it?”

Curious, Xu Ying accepted it, revealing a delicate pinecone brooch lying silently in her palm, coated with transparent resin and glistening in the sunlight.

“You seem quite popular with the Snow Mountain critters.”

Xu Ying smiled slightly, pinning the brooch carefully on her lapel. Her gaze casually swept past the table-side glass window, beyond which a plump Tibetan Fox tilted its head, seemingly about to poke through the glass—someone had left this cute doodle in the fog with their finger.

“Who knew our Officer Chen was a misunderstood art genius,” Xu Ying laughed, her cheeks dimpling like they were filled with honey, exceptionally warm in the morning light.

Their gazes simultaneously fell on the Tibetan Fox and then were reminded of yesterday’s note with the same doodle. When their eyes met without planning, the tips of Chen Su’s ears were tinged slightly red.

“You’re too kind,” he replied softly, with a touch of nervousness barely detectable in his voice.

Just then, outside the window, a real Tibetan Fox ambled past, carrying a half-eaten carrot. Observing their synchronized head-turn and smile, it squinted with disdain, rolling its eyes dramatically.

“Thwack!” Its fluffy tail slapped heavily against the glass, scattering tiny droplets of water. The Tibetan Fox raised its head and strutted off as if it owned the place, leaving a few muddy paw prints on the windowsill.

Chen Su couldn’t help but chuckle at the serious, feisty Fox Director and said to Xu Ying, “Let’s go, the production car is here, and we need to get to the meeting venue for the second episode.”

The second episode starts with the program guests having brunch, getting reacquainted.

The two of them got into the production van, and the meeting venue was halfway up the scenic area, less than a twenty-minute drive.

The production van stopped in front of a seemingly decrepit wooden house.

Xu Ying looked at the shabby wooden house and the café lodge reserved by the production team—practically another world apart. What sort of stunt was the production team up to this time? Her smile vanished instantly.

Chen Su’s lips curved up slightly, his eyes soft with a gentle smile, “Go ahead, the live broadcast is about to start.”

He paused, his voice unconsciously softening, “Little Xu Station Chief, good luck today as well.”

Xu Ying blinked at him and gave an OK gesture, “Got it!”

The morning light filtered through the treetops, scattering tiny golden patches on her retreating figure. The variety show adventure of “Little Xu Station Chief” was about to begin again!

Xu Ying pushed open the door to the wooden house, the old wood creaking “squeak.”

Inside, the production team’s carefully arranged old field station perfectly recreated the exploration atmosphere of the 1990s—faded climbing ropes coiled like snakes on rusty wall nails; old kerosene lamp glass shades webbed with cobwebs; the wooden table’s paint long chipped, revealing varying shades of age rings.

The staff was busy laying a white plastic tablecloth used for village banquets on the long wooden table. With a “rustle,” the plastic expanded in the air.

Arranged neatly on the table, the enamel bowls and stainless steel plates gleamed with warm light, even the seats were uniformly painted benches.

Xu Ying smiled knowingly, it seemed this morning’s meet-and-greet took a nostalgic approach.

“Oh boy!” Yao Yingzhe strode in wearing a vintage army coat, “With this setup, I almost thought I was back home for a feast!”

“Little Xu Station Chief, long time no see~” Ye Jie, with a decidedly rustic floral headscarf bouncing in, sat warmly next to Xu Ying, the headscarf’s edge playfully flipping up a corner.

Jia Yao was the last to enter, discreetly observing the room’s décor, and when he saw the cobweb in the corner, a barely perceptible twitch crossed his lips.

But as the camera swung around, he immediately switched to a charming, bright smile—in the second episode, he was determined to overhaul his image.

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