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