You can't play tricks on me anymore

"It's snowing again. Feels like there's been so much snow this year."

Sitting on the platform, Hu Yuying reached out, trying to catch the falling snowflakes. But as they landed on her warm, soft palm, they melted into tiny droplets of icy water.

Sniffing the air, she chuckled lightly. "The sweet potatoes are done roasting."

Using a wooden stick, she pulled the sweet potatoes out of the fire.

"Long Aotian, try the sweet potatoes I roasted."

"They must be delicious."

"Long Aotian~ You haven’t even tasted them yet!"

"I don’t need to taste them to know they’re good. Everything you make is delicious—I’ve personally confirmed that!" He gave her a thumbs-up.

Watching Hu Yuying’s flushed cheeks, Long Aotian couldn’t resist pinching them gently. "How come even after being together for so long, you still blush so easily?"

"I don’t know." Even though he was the most familiar person to her, even though he was the one she adored, she couldn’t help but blush in front of him—completely beyond her control.

The snow fell heavier, layering even thicker over the already white ground.

Yet the small fire provided the warmest comfort in that moment.

"Looks like you won’t be able to go back today, Long Aotian." Hu Yuying crouched down, shaping a snowball from the ground and tossing it off the platform. Then, stealing a glance at him, she murmured softly.

"I didn’t plan on leaving early when I came here."

"Before arriving, I’d already made up my mind—if your grandparents didn’t approve of me, I wasn’t going anywhere."

Hu Yuying pressed her lips together, suppressing a smile.

She touched his cheek with her cold fingers. "Then I’ll go prepare a room for you."

"Wait a little longer." Long Aotian cherished these moments alone with her.

He wanted to stay with her just a little longer.

Unzipping his coat, he wrapped her snugly in his arms.

......

Walking back home through the snow, the women who had been gathered around the fire earlier had already dispersed, returning to their own houses due to the weather.

"It’s not convenient to take a bath here, so warm yourself by the stove, Long Aotian. I’ll go get your room ready."

After returning, Hu Yuying told her grandmother about Long Aotian staying overnight.

Her grandfather, having had a bit to drink, had already gone to bed.

Seeing the snow outside growing heavier, her grandmother even helped prepare a room.

Unlike the heated rooms in the city, this one was chilly. Hu Yuying carried in two thick quilts.

"It’ll get colder at night, so two quilts will keep you warm." As she spoke, she laid them out on the bed.

From where Long Aotian stood, watching her make the bed, he couldn’t resist stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her from behind.

Feeling his embrace, Hu Yuying squirmed slightly—after all, they were still at home.

Outside, in the city, Long Aotian could do whatever he wanted... but here was different.

"Just for a little while. Just a little."

Hearing his words, she stopped resisting.

She continued arranging the bed while letting him hold her.

Once the bed was made, she gently patted his hands. "All done."

"Which room are you staying in?" Long Aotian whispered.

"Next to yours." She pointed at the wall.

"What about your grandparents?"

"Grandfather had some wine and is asleep. Grandmother is taking care of him."

"Then take care of me too. I’ve also been drinking." Suddenly, Long Aotian started acting shamelessly, flopping onto the bed and pretending to be drunk.

Hu Yuying gave him a light smack. "I didn’t see any signs of you being drunk when we were on the mountain earlier."

"And besides, my grandparents are home. You better not try anything, understand?"

Long Aotian sat up, looking at her seriously. "Do I seem like someone who’d be so inconsiderate?"

"Today’s my first time meeting them. Of course I want to leave a good impression!"

"Then let go of me." If not for his hands starting to wander again, she might have actually believed him...

In the small room, Long Aotian sat on a stool while Hu Yuying perched on the bed, catching up on what they’d each been doing during their time apart.

Mostly, Hu Yuying wanted to know how Long Aotian’s father felt about her.

Since Long Aotian had come to meet her grandparents, she was thinking of visiting his father soon too.

"When I told Old Han we were together, he was so happy he bought a bottle of liquor that same night. Said I’d done well to win over such a good girl like you, and that if I ever treated you badly, he’d break my legs to make it up to you."

Hearing this, Hu Yuying let out a soft laugh, her heart swelling with the joy of being accepted.

The happiness was so real, so beautiful.

Long Aotian couldn’t help but stand and move toward her.

Seeing him approach, Hu Yuying quickly covered her mouth. "No kisses."

"You saw right through me? Was it that obvious?"

"Mhm. Super obvious."

Even so, she lowered her hands, tilting her head up to gaze at him with wide, glistening eyes.

Slowly, she leaned in closer.

Silent longing, yet in this moment, it roared louder than anything.

She had missed him from the second they’d parted.

He had promised to come for her, to meet her grandparents—and when it came to serious matters, he never broke his word to her.

Day after day, she waited.

Her emotions were hers to control, yet they still swayed for him...

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door.

Hu Yuying snapped out of her daze, gently pushing Long Aotian away. Breathless, she called out, "Grandmother?"

"Let Xiao Tian rest for a while. It’s getting late—come help me with dinner."

Hu Yuying stuck her tongue out at Long Aotian. "What do you want for dinner?"

"I bought some lamb from town not long ago. How about lamb stew tonight?"

"Sure." Long Aotian patted his chest lightly in agreement.

She opened the door and stepped out, joining her grandmother in the kitchen.

"Grandmother, I’m thinking of visiting Long Aotian’s father soon too."

Her only family was her grandparents, and she never hid anything from them.

She could tell they both liked Long Aotian...

"That’s only right. Since Xiao Tian has come to meet us, you should meet his family too. Your grandfather and I won’t stand in your way on this."

The way her granddaughter’s eyes lit up at the mention of Xiao Tian...

The respect he showed her and her husband, the affection he had for Hu Yuying...

After hearing their story, what more could they worry about?

As elders, they wouldn’t be around to take care of Hu Yuying forever.

If they were willing, if they loved each other, if they were committed to caring for one another—that was enough...