Shen Yujing: "..."
He suddenly remembered Song Yi's earlier behavior when she grabbed his hand to prevent him from touching the bandage.
Everything suddenly made sense.
She wasn't genuinely complimenting his looks! She just wanted to distract him and let him embarrass himself with this turtle-patterned bandage!
Then Shen's Father asked, "Why is your face swollen? Did you get into another fight with that Xu boy?"
"Yeah," Shen Yujing nodded, but then paused, "How did you know?"
Shen's Father said, "Who else would dare to actually fight you? Everyone else just carefully lets you win."
Shen Yujing was displeased, "What are you talking about? I always win fair and square!"
"Whatever you say." Shen's Father didn't care much and said, "Have a good dinner at home tonight, I'm heading out."
Shen Yujing didn't understand and asked, "You've already come home, aren't you eating dinner here today?"
"Your mother and I are eating out," Shen's Father said while checking his watch, "It's almost time, got to go."
Shen Yujing: "..."
He could only stand there silently, watching his father's departing figure with exasperation.
The sound of a car starting soon echoed, and the Shen household became empty once again.
His parents were going out for a romantic candlelit dinner, leaving him alone at home, and this was...
This was awesome!!!
So Shen Yujing walked to the hallway and shouted downstairs, "Aunt Zhang! I'm hungry! I want Sichuan cuisine! Make it spicy! Everything super spicy!"
Shen's Mother rarely ate spicy food for the sake of her skin, which meant all the food in the Shen household was quite bland.
Finally, Shen Yujing had his chance, and he was going to enjoy it to the fullest!
After hearing Aunt Zhang's response, Shen Yujing returned to his room.
He sat at his desk, pulled open the drawer, and took out the birthday gift Song Yi had given him—
That ordinary-looking hammer.
Then Shen Yujing placed the hammer on his figurine shelf, right in the center position, and the more he looked at it, the more he liked it, the more satisfied he felt.
Shen Yujing opened the drawer again and took out the hammer-shaped crystal diamond necklace he had specially commissioned.
Yesterday was Song Yi's birthday, and while Shen Yujing and Murong Huan had given her lipstick and perfume, he had kept this necklace, thinking he'd give it to her for the New Year instead.
Shen Yujing picked up the mirror beside his desk and looked at his face.
Suddenly, the bandage on his face didn't seem so ugly anymore.
Was it a turtle or a tortoise?
Well, he couldn't tell, but they were basically the same thing anyway.
Besides, it was something Song Yi had given him.
Thinking about how Song Yi said the turtle that Hang Feng and Xu Che were fighting over was from her, and now she had given him a turtle-patterned bandage.
Shen Yujing figured it out - Song Yi must really like turtles.
Although he didn't understand it, Shen Yujing decided to respect her preference.
After all, everyone has their own aesthetic taste, just like how his mother had accepted a gorilla as her godson, so if Song Yi wanted to accept a turtle as her godfather, that wouldn't be impossible either.
Just as Shen Yujing was deciding to accept the diversity of human aesthetics, something still felt off to him.
If Song Yi liked turtles, what about Hang Feng and Xu Che? Why were they fighting over that turtle?
Although Song Yi had explained to Shen Yujing today that it was because of her grandmother, he hadn't understood it then and had completely forgotten about it now.
He even started wondering if Xu Che and Hang Feng also liked turtles. That seemed rather absurd.
Shen Yujing's smile froze.
No, something still felt wrong no matter how he thought about it, but what exactly was the problem?
*
At the Song residence.
After her shower, Song Yi saw that Hang Feng had sent her a message.
[I'm home, everything's fine, thank you all for today]
Song Yi thought for a moment and replied: [Good, take a hot bath and get some rest early]
Hang Feng replied: [Good night]
Song Yi put her phone aside, stretched, and looked out the window.
Everything had temporarily come to an end, and she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Snowflakes were continuously falling outside the window, creating a beautiful scene that helped calm her mind.
It was just that too many things had happened today, leaving her in no mood to properly enjoy the snow scene, which was quite a shame.
The snow was falling heavier than in the evening, and if they were lucky, there would be snow accumulation by tomorrow morning.
Song Yi took out her phone, took a photo of the falling snow outside the window, and posted it on her social media.
Song Yi: It's the first snow of the year! [Photo]
People quickly started interacting with her post.
Murong Huan: Should we build snowmen and have a snowball fight!
Song Yi immediately declined Murong Huan's offer, saying: I'd love to, but I can't, I'm really sensitive to cold.
Just thinking about grabbing snow with her hands made Song Yi shiver all over, let alone actually building snowmen and having snowball fights.
Murong Huan replied with a dejected: Okay then.
Soon after, Xu Che also posted on his social media.
Xu Che: It's the first snow, beautiful [Photo]
His photo showed a snowflake landing on his palm.
Song Yi liked his post and then got ready for bed.
Xu Che quickly sent her a message.
[Not asleep yet?]
Song Yi was surprised but replied: [About to]
Xu Che said: [Just found out your birthday was the day before yesterday, happy birthday. I gave your gift to Murong Huan to pass to you]
Although she felt a bit awkward, since Xu Che had already mentioned giving the gift, it wouldn't be appropriate to decline.
So Song Yi replied [Thank you!]
After thinking for a moment, she sent a second message [QWQ]
This should make it look cuter and friendlier.
Meanwhile, at the Shen residence.
Shen Yujing stared at the two consecutive snow photos in his social media feed, deep in thought.
Why did Xu Che have to post something similar right after Song Yi posted hers?
Shen Yujing checked Xu Che's profile again; his previous post was from several months ago.
Something still felt off, that strange feeling continued to linger in Shen Yujing's heart, growing increasingly uncomfortable.
Even by twelve-thirty at night, Shen Yujing still couldn't figure out what was bothering him.
So he took out his phone and called Xu Che, who answered almost immediately.
Xu Che's voice came through, carrying a hint of impatience, "What do you want now?"
Shen Yujing asked directly, "Why did you make that post? Do you really like snow that much?"
Xu Che was silent for two seconds, then said, "Just took a random photo."
Shen Yujing pressed on, "Then why were you fighting with Hang Feng over the turtle? Do you really like turtles that much?"
"Beep beep—"
The call was hung up.
Shen Yujing: "?"
What kind of person does that? Where are his manners?
But coming back to the question - why? What was really going on?
Still feeling frustrated, Shen Yujing went back to look at the two posts again, his attention focusing on the conversation between Song Yi and Murong Huan.
Murong Huan had invited her to build snowmen and have a snowball fight, but Song Yi had said [I'd love to, but I can't, I'm too sensitive to cold]
Shen Yujing started thinking about his recent encounters with Song Yi, how she always wore scarves and gloves, bundled up from head to toe.
Even then, just a slight breeze would make her nose turn red from the cold.
She really seemed to be sensitive to cold, yet she also seemed to love snow.
*
The next day, Song Yi woke up from her warm bed.
The alarm went off at eight o'clock, and although Song Yi was reluctant, she had to leave her cozy blankets.
Have breakfast, then go meet Murong Huan.
When Song Yi came out of the bathroom after washing up, her father handed her several packed buns and pastries, saying, "Take these to eat on the way."
"Huh?" Song Yi was confused and glanced at the clock on the wall, saying, "There's still time, I can eat before leaving."
"Your classmate came early, you'd better hurry. It's cold outside, don't keep them waiting," her father said while taking out two cups of warmed milk and putting them in Song Yi's pocket, "Take these too, share with your classmate."
Huh?
Song Yi was still in a somewhat sleepy state and asked, "Then why didn't you invite them in?"
"I told her already, but that child insisted on waiting for you outside," Song's Father said, then urged, "Alright, hurry up and go."
"Okay." Song Yi nodded obediently, holding breakfast portions for two people, feeling somewhat confused but still walked out the door.
Coming to find her so early? Could it be Hang Feng?
The snow today was thicker than Song Yi had imagined. Her feet sank comfortably into the soft snow as she walked.
However, just as she reached the front gate, a snowball flew from afar and landed near her feet.
Song Yi stepped back and asked, "Who's there?"
There was no response.
Song Yi walked out of her yard carrying the breakfast, and immediately spotted a snowman nearly as tall as a person built not far away.
The snowman was quite tall, though not particularly well-made, with a somewhat misshapen head.
A carrot and two buttons served as the snowman's nose and eyes, and its creator had comically placed a hat on its head, using two tree branches as its arms.
At that moment, from behind the snowman, a golden-haired head wearing a white knit cap suddenly peeked out, the handsome face flushed red from the cold.
Song Yi called out the name of the person before her in surprise, "Shen Yujing?"
The young man had spent the entire morning building a snowman, shivering from the cold, yet still managed to force a smile as he waved to Song Yi, calling out, "Good morning!"
It should have been such a beautiful scene, but there was one small mishap, just one.
Because with Shen Yujing's greeting wave, a snowball inadvertently flew from his hand.
Perhaps because the cold weather slows down one's mental reactions, by the time Song Yi realized what was happening, it was too late. The snowball hit her square in the face.
Cold, so cold that Song Yi trembled, so cold that she lost her reason, so cold that she wanted to perish together with Shen Yujing.
Song Yi's roar rang out—
"SHEN YUJING!!!"
Song Yi no longer cared about how much she feared the cold. For the first time in her life, she bravely grabbed a handful of snow from the ground and began chasing after Shen Yujing.
When she caught him, she would push his face into the snow! She would make him cry and apologize!!!
Shen Yujing was now panicking too, frantically running away while shouting, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I really didn't mean to!"
"Hey! Song Yi! Please calm down! Stop chasing me!!!"
