"I can’t believe I missed it."
Regret was written all over Si Wen’s face.
She was filled with remorse. If only she’d found Lin Xi sooner, they could have enjoyed the fun of a snowball fight a whole year earlier.
Lin Xi discerned her thoughts and comforted her softly, "It’s not too late to play now. See? We’re having a lot of fun, aren’t we?"
Si Wen pouted slightly, still seemingly unsatisfied. "But how can this compare? Playing by myself is a completely different experience from laughing and having fun with everyone else."
Gently taking her arm, Lin Xi chuckled. "Alright, alright. Next ti there’s a chance, I’ll take you out to play again. Don’t be angry anymore. Getting angry gives you wrinkles, you know."
Hearing this, Si Wen’s mood improved slightly. "Then we have a deal. You can’t lie to ." She stared at Lin Xi earnestly. "If you lie to , I’ll really stop talking to you for good."
At that mont, Xue Yang also sat up, his gaze shifting between the two beauties. "It’s getting late," he suggested. "We should head back."
Then he turned to Si Wen. "You should co back with us, too."
Si Wen, however, brushed the snowflakes from her clothes and responded nonchalantly, "I’m not going to be your third wheel."
Xue Yang frowned slightly, his voice full of concern. "You’ve been playing for so long; you must be cold. When we get back, I’ll make so ginger soup for us to warm up."
But Si Wen just waved a dismissive hand. "I’m not that delicate. You guys go on ahead. I’m leaving."
With that, she turned and walked toward her own building. Xue Yang and Lin Xi were helpless and could only let her go.
Hopefully, her body is as resilient as she claims.
When the two of them got back ho, they each went into a warm bathroom to enjoy the comfort of a hot shower. The lted snow and cold were gradually washed away.
Xue Yang sighed contentedly, quickly finished his shower, and changed into comfortable pajamas. The house was well-heated, a stark contrast to the damp, cold winters of the south. In the south, it’s cold outside and even colder inside; surviving the winter there depended on shivering and sheer grit.
Xue Yang stretched, his gaze inadvertently falling on the bathroom Lin Xi was using. The sound of water was still running, so he knew she was still showering. He went into the kitchen and started busily preparing ginger soup. Soon, its fragrance filled the room.
Just then, Lin Xi erged. After her hot shower, her cheeks were rosy, like a ripe apple that made one want to take a bite.
Xue Yang brought out the steaming ginger soup and waved her over. "Co on, drink this while it’s hot."
Hearing him, Lin Xi quickly ran over, her face beaming with a sweet smile. "You made it so quickly, Xue Yang? You’re so capable."
Xue Yang nodded and smiled. "Making ginger soup isn’t hard."
Lin Xi smiled sweetly. "Have you had so?"
"I’ve already had mine."
Lin Xi then took the bowl and drank it all in one go. As soon as she finished, she felt a warmth spread from her stomach throughout her body. "Ah, that’s so warm."
After finishing the soup, Lin Xi took the initiative to wash the bowls. Xue Yang cooked, and Lin Xi washed the dishes. This had already beco their norm.
"It’s getting late. We should get so rest," Xue Yang reminded her.
"Okay."
Lin Xi looped her arm through Xue Yang’s, and they walked toward the bedroom together.
***
After Si Wen returned ho, she casually turned on the lights, and a warm glow instantly filled the space. The heating had already been running silently, so the mont she stepped inside, a comforting warmth enveloped her, dispelling the cold and fatigue from outside.
Her clothes were soaked with lted snow. She walked into the bathroom without hesitation, turned on the tap for the bathtub, and water began to fill it slowly. She took off her wet clothes one by one, setting them aside. As the sound of running water faded, the tub filled to the perfect level.
Si Wen lifted her leg and elegantly stepped in. The warm water instantly enveloped her body, and the comfort that surged up from the soles of her feet made her let out a contented hum. At that mont, all her fatigue and the cold seed to be driven away by the warmth. She savored this rare mont of peace and comfort.
After soaking for a long ti, until every last bit of chill had been driven from her body, Si Wen slowly stood up. However, as she prepared to dry off, she was shocked to realize she had forgotten to bring a clean bathrobe into the bathroom.
She was alone in the silent house. Faced with this predicant, Si Wen had no choice but to feel her way in the dark to turn off the bathroom light. Then, relying on mory, she moved cautiously toward her room, afraid of tripping or bumping into sothing with every step.
Finally, she felt the bed and found her clothes. The mont the fabric wrapped around her body, she felt a long-lost sense of security. She lay down and turned the light back on. The warm glow once again illuminated the room and ward her heart. At last, she recovered from her recent panic and unease.
Recalling what just happened, Si Wen couldn’t help but think that if soone else had been ho, she might not have had to stumble so clumsily into her room in the dark. But she quickly chuckled at herself. If there really was another person in the house, she would most likely find it very hard to get used to. After all, she was already used to being alone.
***
After the first snow, Christmas arrived. This year, it happened to fall on a Saturday, adding a touch of holiday warmth and cheer to every corner of the city. The streets were brilliantly lit and filled with the sound of laughter as the festive atmosphere perated the air.
Lin Xi texted Si Wen, asking her to hang out.
However, Si Wen’s reply was unexpected: "You two go on without . I have plans."
Unwilling to give up, Lin Xi dialed Si Wen’s number, hoping she might have changed her mind, but the call went unanswered. Lin Xi reluctantly put down her phone and turned to Xue Yang beside her. "Xue Yang, it seems Si Wen really does have plans. Let’s just go have fun by ourselves."
Xue Yang nodded in understanding.
It was hard to believe. The sa person who used to insist on sleeping between them now wouldn’t even co out for Christmas. Was it really because she didn’t want to be a third wheel? He was skeptical.
Still, if she didn’t want to co out, he couldn’t very well force her.
Putting aside his doubts, Xue Yang took Lin Xi’s hand, and they went to celebrate their first Christmas as an official couple.
After replying to Lin Xi’s text, Si Wen began to cough violently.
The truth was, she had caught a cold. Her refusal wasn’t about being a third wheel. But even sick, she didn’t want Xue Yang and Lin Xi to know.
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