"As for that men's watch, when you get a boyfriend, you can give it to him!"
Feng Qingyi, carrying the bag, said, "I don't even have a prospect for a boyfriend yet!"
"With your looks, finding a boyfriend would be a matter of minutes."
Jiang Xiaoxiao had helped pass too many love letters from other male classmates to Feng Qingyi during high school.
However, at that time, she wasn't interested, and it seemed she still had no intention of finding someone now.
Feng Qingyi: "I'm not in a hurry. It's fine if I meet someone, and it's okay if I don't. I need to focus on living my own life first."
"You're right. After all, we're still young. We should experience the world and do meaningful things."
The main reason Jiang Xiaoxiao and Feng Qingyi became best friends was that they shared similar values.
Although their hobbies and interests differed, they respected each other.
"Qingyi, our school has rehearsal this afternoon, so I can't have lunch with you. Let's meet up next time."
After reluctantly saying goodbye to Feng Qingyi, Jiang Xiaoxiao left in a taxi.
Feng Qingyi looked at the route back to school and finally decided to walk back, considering it as exercise.
The winter wind was bitterly cold, and her hand carrying the bag turned red from the chill.
Suddenly, it started snowing. The snowflakes were tiny, only visible when looking up at the sky.
By the time they fell, they had already turned to water, leaving no trace of their existence.
Feng Qingyi took out her phone from her pocket, snapped a picture of the sky, and sent it to Qin Yuchuan.
[Yuchuan: Are you outside?]
[Qingyi: Yes, I went shopping with my best friend today. It started snowing just as I was about to head home.]
[Qingyi: But the snow is so light. I really envy the heavy snow where you are.]
[Yuchuan: Are you cold?]
[Qingyi: It's not too bad, not very cold.]
[Yuchuan: Don't look at your phone while walking. We'll talk when you get home.]
[Qingyi: Oh, alright.]
Qin Yuchuan was a very intriguing presence in Feng Qingyi's life.
At first, she was shocked and even scared, as humans naturally fear the unknown.
Later, when the mysterious store appeared on her phone, and he became an important way for her to earn points.
She thought then that the phone in her hand must exist because of him.
Because of him, she had such an extraordinary experience.
When they weren't close, chatting with him was purely for earning points. Initially, she cooked for him because she had used him and wanted to compensate.
After everything was cleared up, he was willing to help her earn points, and their relationship seemed to grow closer suddenly.
To strangers, she might appear aloof, but once familiar, that coldness simply didn't exist.
She liked sharing little daily things with him, like the lunch at the cafeteria, the changing flowers and plants on campus, trending topics online, books she had read, and so on.
He would respond to her chatter one by one, even if sometimes with just a few words, but it inexplicably made her happy.
Besides, he would supervise her studies. Occasionally when she complained, he would patiently guide her, quite like a life mentor.
She didn't know when it started, but thinking of him would make her mood lighten.
With him, she could drop all pretenses, speak her mind freely, and always be herself - bright and unrestrained.
When Feng Qingyi returned to the villa, her clothes were slightly damp. She took off her coat, turned on the heater, and soon the living room became warm.
Curled up in an armchair, Feng Qingyi replied to Qin Yuchuan.
[Qingyi: I'm home now.]
[Yuchuan: Good, did you get caught in the rain?]
[Qingyi: My coat has a hood, so I didn't get wet.]
[Yuchuan: Mm, what do you want to eat tonight?]
[Qingyi: I'm going out for hot pot with my roommates tonight, so you don't need to prepare anything for me.]
[Yuchuan: I see, you seem to have quite a few gatherings.]
[Qingyi: It's much less since starting university. My old friends are scattered everywhere now, otherwise I'd have plans every day.]
[Qingyi: You should go out and meet with friends more often too, don't always stay cooped up at home.]
[Yuchuan: There's no point in attending meaningless gatherings.]
[Qingyi: Well, I suppose you do need to be cautious given your position.]
[Yuchuan: You missed your morning class, you need to make it up.]
[Qingyi: ...You're even stricter than my teachers. I'll make it up right now!]
...
After the snowfall, the General's Mansion was covered in thick snow on the tree branches.
Icicles seemed to hang from the eaves.
The charcoal fire had been lit in the room, adding a touch of warmth to this cold winter day.
Qin Yuchuan sat in his study, reading the books Feng Qingyi had given him.
"General, Young Master Shangguan and Young Master Xu have arrived," Yan Chi knocked on the study door.
"Let them in."
As the door opened, Shangguan Yi and Xu Liyan entered the study, bringing a chill with them.
"Yuchuan, what have you been doing in the mansion all this time?"
Shangguan Yi unceremoniously found a chair and sat down.
Xu Liyan also seated himself.
As guests arrived in the courtyard, Yan Yang quickly served tea.
The courtyard where Qin Yuchuan lived was named Falling Flowers, meaning to shed all ostentation.
There were a few servants in the courtyard, but Qin Yuchuan disliked others entering his living quarters, so whenever guests came, the task of serving tea fell to Yan Chi and Yan Yang.
"What brings you two here today?"
Shangguan Yi said, "Can't we visit you without a reason?"
"If there truly were no reason, you two wouldn't have come together."
Xu Liyan smiled lightly, "Yuchuan is indeed perceptive. We do have something we'd like your opinion on."
"Yesterday, we met with Prime Minister Yu. He seems to have intentions of drawing my father to his side. We wonder what Yuchuan thinks about this."
The people Xuanyuan Sheng promoted, their actions now were likely all his intent.
"You both know very well who's behind him. Why seek my opinion?"
Shangguan Yi lowered his voice, "Besides us, he seems to want to get closer to you as well. This doesn't seem like something that person would do."
"Are you suggesting there's someone else behind him?" Qin Yuchuan showed a hint of surprise, but quickly returned to his calm demeanor.
Xu Liyan nodded, "We do have that feeling. We just don't know who exactly is behind him."
"Perhaps we've guessed wrong. It wouldn't be surprising if the Emperor has some new plans."
"But this Prime Minister Yu seems to want his son to join your Flying Cloud Cavalry."
The Flying Cloud Iron Cavalry was a force that struck fear into the hearts of all nations.
Though numbering only around a hundred, they were the most terrifying presence on the battlefield.
The Flying Cloud Cavalry was filled with talented individuals, none of whom could be underestimated.
Qin Yuchuan's every major battle bore the shadow of the Flying Cloud riders, yet few had ever laid eyes on them.
Xuanyuan Sheng desperately wanted to claim the Flying Cloud Cavalry for himself, but Qin Yuchuan insisted their mission was on the battlefield, not in the imperial court, and refused his demand.
He had thought that after so many years, Xuanyuan Sheng would have given up on this idea, but it seems he still hadn't let it go.
