After the Snow

"A cold winter?"

"No wonder."

"Sister Zhuzi, it's actually snowing here today."

Lin Yu suddenly realized.

"Yeah."

"A few days ago, I checked the weather forecast for City S and saw the temperature drop and heavy snow warnings."

"Did you buy the thermal underwear I told you to get?"

Xia Muzhu had finally finished her tasks at hand. Having a moment to spare, she adjusted the angle of the phone on the kitchen counter and looked at Lin Yu as she asked.

"...I bought them."

Lin Yu paused unnaturally, feeling a bit guilty.

A few days ago, the temperature in City S was still perfectly normal, hovering around ten degrees Celsius every day.

So when Xia Muzhu warned him about the temperature drop and told him to buy some winter coats, her words went in one ear and out the other. Lin Yu didn't take it seriously at all.

After all, who would have thought that such a sudden, freezing winter would hit the usually spring-like South?

Xia Muzhu obviously wasn't that easy to fool. Having lived together day and night, she was familiar with much more than just Lin Yu's body!

"Did you really buy them?"

Xia Muzhu narrowed her eyes and leaned her delicate face closer to the screen. Shedding a bit of her mature, wifely aura, her deliberately lowered voice and questioning look made her appear exceptionally cute and charming.

"I-I bought them."

Lin Yu looked even more unnatural. Before Xia Muzhu's suspicions could deepen, he quickly changed the subject and asked:

"Where is Xia Yueshan?"

"Why isn't he helping you cook?"

"Is he just waiting around for ready-made meals every day?"

"Just wait until I get back, I'll teach him a lesson!"

Xia Muzhu shot Lin Yu a reproachful glance, clearly dissatisfied with his attempt to change the subject. However, she didn't expose him and replied:

"He's not at home. He's out taking a class right now."

"A few days ago, he said he wanted to learn skateboarding with his classmates, so I signed him up for a skateboarding class."

"A class?"

Lin Yu suddenly perked up and nodded excitedly:

"Classes are great."

"Sister Zhuzi, why don't you sign him up for a few more?"

"It's best to make his winter vacation as fulfilling as possible."

"That way, we can have a fulfilling time too."

Xia Muzhu was preparing food in the kitchen. The waves of hot steam stimulated her milky-white, tender skin, bringing out a faint, rosy flush.

Hearing Lin Yu's words, she easily understood their deeper, underlying meaning.

The light blush on her skin noticeably deepened. She cast a soft, sidelong glance at Lin Yu, her eyes brimming with alluring charm.

"Little Shan did very well on his exams this time."

"Except for math, he scored over ninety in every subject."

Xia Muzhu looked away from Lin Yu. She tilted her chin up slightly, seemingly with a touch of playful arrogance, looking as if she was leaving it up to Lin Yu to figure out a solution.

"That's perfect then! Just get him a math tutor!"

"Sign him up for a half-day math class, and let him skateboard for the other half!"

Lin Yu said immediately, unable to hold back his eagerness, wishing he could finalize the decision right then and there.

"But his math score is the highest in his class."

Xia Muzhu poured a bucket of cold water over his plans.

???

Lin Yu was dumbfounded.

What was going on?

His lowest score was still the first in the class?

Xia Yueshan, you brat!

Can't you save me even a tiny bit of worry?

The two of them chatted about everything under the sun until the plates on the table were empty. Lin Yu let out a long burp, which finally marked the end of the video call.

Having eaten and drank his fill, Lin Yu paid the bill and strolled back leisurely.

Holding a toothpick he had snagged from the hotpot restaurant, Lin Yu picked his teeth while casually wandering through the fresh snow, which blanketed the ground like blocks of tofu.

Deep footprints formed one after another, ruining the smooth surface of the snow. The satisfying crunching sound of the snow echoed endlessly, and Lin Yu actually felt a sense of accomplishment listening to it.

Suddenly, Lin Yu stopped in his tracks and furrowed his brows, remembering something he might have overlooked.

Xu Mingyao.

Su Yuyao.

These two...

...

...Couldn't possibly be related, could they?

Lin Yu pondered for a moment.

It was really hard to say.

According to the message Z had sent, the Xu family practically controlled everything in City S.

And Su Yuyao's aunt was the president of S University, one of the top two universities in City S.

Furthermore, Xu Mingyao had previously been studying at S University...

Judging from these two points, it didn't seem like they had absolutely no connection.

Plus, both of their names contained the character Yao...

...

Lin Yu stroked his chin in deep thought.

A moment later, Lin Yu made a decision...

Forget it!

Why bother meddling in other people's business?

Anyway, neither of them had anything to do with him right now, so why overthink it?

With his mind at ease, Lin Yu whistled and stepped through the fresh snow, continuing his walk back to the dorm in a great mood...

...

There is a saying that is very true.

Southerners on a snowy day are indeed much more amusing than the snowy day itself.

"Let's go!"

"Should we go to Linjiang Park to take photos?"

Lang Hua had two patches of red on his face from the freezing cold, but he seemed completely oblivious to it as he excitedly invited Lin Yu to go out and play off-campus.

"Sure."

"Let's go."

Since he was free anyway, Lin Yu agreed without hesitation.

Linjiang Park was located near S University and was considered one of the top parks in City S.

As the name suggested, Linjiang Park was built along the river.

Some clever guy had discovered that a few spots in Linjiang Park were exceptionally photogenic in the snow.

Lang Hua and the others planned to rush over and take photos before the news spread and the park's snowy scenery was completely ruined by crowds.

Lin Yu wasn't very interested in taking photos, but he figured he might as well go for a stroll with them.

It was extremely rare for it to snow in City S, so it really would be a pity to stay indoors all the time.

Leaving S University, they hailed a taxi outside the campus, and the four of them happily set off for Linjiang Park.

A short while later, the teal taxi pulled to a smooth stop at the entrance of Linjiang Park.

Whether it was because they had arrived early enough, or simply because no one cared about those snow photos, no one knew.

In short, Linjiang Park was completely empty, with hardly a soul in sight.

But this wasn't a bad thing for them; fewer people meant they could have even more fun!

Lv Pengju and Wu Zhen walked excitedly in the front, with Lang Hua trailing behind them. Realizing someone was missing, he turned his head and immediately spotted Lin Yu standing by the road where they had just gotten out of the car, fiddling with his phone. He called out impatiently:

"Let's go, Lin Yu!"

"Uh..."

Lin Yu looked up. After a moment of hesitation, he looked at Lang Hua and said:

"You guys go ahead and take pictures."

"Something just came up that I need to take care of."

"What is it?"

Lang Hua was puzzled.

It's a Saturday, what could you possibly have to do?

Lin Yu lowered his head, looking at the all-too-familiar ID on his phone screen, and said softly:

"A friend of mine is here."