Last night, light snow had fallen silently. Right now it was still intermittently falling. The thin snow on the road had been pressed by pedestrians and cars, muddily turning into a pool of crushed ice. Fu Xueli wore snow boots. Stepping on it, the shoe surface had already gotten quite wet.

The car found a place to park. First time in Y City, Fu Xueli followed Xu Xingchun all the way, curiously looking around everywhere. Rather than calling this a small city, it was more like a small town nestled against mountains and water, with distant peaks visible.

Everywhere here had a kind of simple and ancient feeling abandoned by the times. Stone lions, candied hawthorns, chimneys emitting straight columns of smoke. Young boys wobbling by on bicycles. Far from the prosperity of the city center, but everything far removed from worldly disturbances.

Very similar to Xu Xingchun’s temperament—emptiness of the four elements, desireless and without demands.

Fu Xueli originally had the problem of a cold uterus. Walking along, her lower abdomen began to feel heavy and dragging. Having only eaten two bites of shumai, her stomach was completely empty, aching faintly.

“Wait until I get back to talk about it.” Xu Xingchun hung up the phone.

Fu Xueli’s face was tightly drawn. She stared at him, asking in a worried tone, “Is something wrong with your work again?”

He shook his head, understated, directly shifting to another topic.

“You’re still lying to me, not telling me anything.” Fu Xueli originally had a difficult temperament. She couldn’t stand seeing Xu Xingchun like this. Her body was also uncomfortable. In frustration, she angrily punched him hard.

The punched Xu Xingchun, quite rarely, was silent for a moment.

Her strength wasn’t small. It hurt a bit. He rubbed his shoulder, shook his head, smiled, “No, I’m not lying to you.”

Someone who normally didn’t smile much, yet was good-looking, his features matured and refined. Though at this moment he only curved the corners of his lips, though it wasn’t earth-shattering, it could still instantly melt this icy world. Fu Xueli’s mind went blank, feeling she’d been seduced.

Xu Yuan stood at the doorway, one hand carrying a plastic bag full of groceries, the other hand pulling out keys. Turning her head, she saw her nephew with a little girl wearing a mask beside him. The two were playing around, their movements very intimate.

When the two approached, Xu Yuan pushed open the door to enter, seemingly casually turning back to say, “Xu Xingchun, straighten your collar.”

Why were Xu Xingchun’s elders just like him—all very proper and cold… didn’t even have a nickname, directly calling his name.

Fu Xueli hadn’t expected this turn of events. Even with her thick face and strong psychological fortitude, she felt a bit embarrassed.

Taking a deep breath, somewhat guilty, she followed Xu Xingchun inside. In the courtyard was a big yellow dog. Seeing the two of them, it barked, rushed over, excitedly wagging its tail at Fu Xueli.

One person and one dog probably stared at each other for five seconds. Fu Xueli’s mouth twitched. She kept dodging behind Xu Xingchun, grabbing his sleeve, her voice weakening, “I’m afraid of it.”

She was afraid of dogs, and didn’t know why she naturally attracted dogs. When she was little too, stray dogs on the roadside especially liked following her home. Last time when filming, luckily Xu Xingchun had blocked that police dog. Otherwise Fu Xueli, scared into completely disregarding her personal image, those ugly photos would very likely have been directly posted to that day’s trending topics.

A white-haired old man sat on a chair under the eaves, eyes closed as if listening to music, nodding his head. Fu Xueli, led by Xu Xingchun, took two steps up the stairs, carefully calling out, “Hello, Grandpa.”

That grandfather had no reaction, as if he hadn’t seen them.

“The old man is getting on in years, his hearing isn’t good.” Xu Yuan came out after putting away the groceries inside, wiping her hands, putting on an apron while asking, “A friend Xu Xingchun brought to visit?”

The question was too subtle.

“Aunt, she’s Fu Xueli.” Xu Xingchun was concise and to the point.

“Oh, really?” Xu Yuan was a bit surprised. Only then did she carefully look at Fu Xueli, smiling, “In the blink of an eye you’ve grown so big. Last time I saw you, you were still a little girl in school.”

Although her appearance was quite abrupt and direct, Xu Yuan didn’t ask much of anything, casually instructing a few miscellaneous things, then went to the back kitchen to cook.

The old man hummed something in his mouth. Xu Xingchun went over, picked up a few pieces of wood from nearby and tossed them into the charcoal basin. Then he took Fu Xueli to a room.

“Sit on the bed, I’ll find the hair dryer.”

Fu Xueli was baffled, her eyes looking at him, “What do you need the hair dryer for?”

After a few minutes, she understood.

Xu Xingchun stepped in front of her, bent down, took off her already wet snow boots, along with her socks.

In the roaring sound of the hair dryer, coordinating with Fu Xueli’s heartbeat, one beat after another, pounding heavily.

Couldn’t help thinking…

Someone like Xu Xingchun in criminal investigation police work—did they all have particularly strong observation skills? Too attentive…

“Why are you so good to me?” Fu Xueli’s body leaned back, both elbows propped on the bed, eyes looking away, hearing herself ask very seriously.

Clearly knowing the answer, yet deliberately being affected, though it felt very comfortable physically and mentally.

Actually she couldn’t deny it—she really liked this feeling of being doted on and coaxed by Xu Xingchun. The feeling of being well cared for and cherished was quite nice. Recalling when she was little, his tenderness toward her was never the same as toward others. Occasionally as violent as sparks flying, but most of the time lyrical and comfortable.

Leaning against the cabinet to dry the shoes and socks, after a while, the clamoring wind sound stopped. Xu Xingchun silently crouched down, gripped her calf, and put Fu Xueli’s shoes on properly.

Looking at the clock on the wall, he said in a low voice, “Sleep for a bit first. I’ll call you up to eat later.”

The lunch and dinner dishes were both very abundant. The sandalwood round table was completely full of dishes. Steaming hot, excellent in color, aroma and taste, very authentic hometown flavors.

They ate with proper rules and etiquette—no talking during meals or sleep. Fu Xueli just kept her head down and ate.

After dinner, Xu Yuan communicated with Grandpa in the hometown dialect that Fu Xueli couldn’t understand. The old man felt for his cane, stood up trembling, and went to the inner hall.

Later the old man brought Fu Xueli a red envelope.

Fu Xueli looked to Xu Xingchun for help with her eyes.

He nodded, indicating she should accept it.

Not until entering the kitchen did Fu Xueli follow closely behind Xu Xingchun, worrying, “Isn’t it not quite right, this red envelope?”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“I… feel it’s not good to take money from an old person. Anyway, I’m not lacking.” She hesitated, “Forget it, I’ll keep it safe.”

Xu Xingchun turned on the stove to heat red date milk for Fu Xueli, conveniently tidying up kitchen waste. Simply handsome and capable.

Fu Xueli stood beside watching, very quickly forgetting this small worry.

He took out a bag of cherry tomatoes from the cupboard, washed them clean and put them in a bowl, placing it in front of her, “Eat.”

Fu Xueli was pleasantly surprised, “You still remember I like eating these.”

“Mm.” Xu Xingchun continued washing dishes.

After eating several, she suddenly realized something, “Do you want some?”

“My hands are very dirty.” Xu Xingchun lowered his tone, “Feed me.”

“Oh…” Fu Xueli casually picked up a cherry tomato, hesitated slightly, then reached over to feed it to his mouth.

Holding her hand up like that.

After a while, he opened his mouth, then swallowed.

Fu Xueli really enjoyed the two of them getting along like this—very homey, very comfortable, like an old married couple of many years. Ordinary yet warm, passing time in the kitchen.

Suddenly felt her face somewhat hot. She spoke to him in a low voice, “Where’s your grandmother?”

“She passed away when I was little.”

“Do you have other relatives in your family?”

“Yes.”

Fu Xueli ate tomatoes on and off, teeth lightly biting and juice spurting. Her lips were dyed bright red, the corner of her mouth also stained with a bit of tomato juice.

Xu Xingchun raised his hand, using his fingertip to wipe it away for her.

Possessed by some impulse, Fu Xueli extended her tongue and licked his finger, bright smiling intent flowing in her eyes. An innocent and naive appearance, sweetly tempting someone.

Heart-stirring yet bone-chilling.

The hot milk in the pot bubbled and boiled.

Grabbing her hand and holding it in his palm, Xu Xingchun turned off the heat, fixed her waist in place, his lips covering hers.

“Xiao Chun, today you take Xueli to sleep in the second room from the left in the back courtyard—” Xu Yuan pushed open the door, poking her head in to look. Saw Fu Xueli with her head lowered covering her face.

Before finishing, the voice disappeared. The kitchen door was closed.

The room was quiet for several seconds.

Fu Xueli twisted her wrist, wanting to break free. Hair at her temples slightly disheveled, still refusing to lift her head. Just kissed until her body went soft, a blush naturally floating up on her face, “Did your aunt just see us?”

“Probably not.” Xu Xingchun’s voice was low, with a bit of soothing, “It’s fine.”

“I want to take a bath.” She nodded, muffledly.

Because the courtyard was constructed many years ago, the bathing place was somewhat far in the back. The lights were on, but outside was still dark. Fu Xueli was timid, making Xu Xingchun stand outside waiting for her.

The courtyard at night was still brightly lit. A cold moon hung in the sky. A little calico cat crouched by the stone brick flower bed, meowing.

Fu Xueli, full of moisture, wearing thick coral fleece pajamas, quietly walked over, pounced hard from behind, covering Xu Xingchun’s eyes.

The next second, she was circled into his embrace.

Her ear pressed against his chest, heartbeat regular and strong.

Xu Xingchun’s scent was very clean, carrying a bit of the grass and wood fragrance of the transition between spring and summer. Every time she smelled it, Fu Xueli felt like she’d been electrocuted, numbingly, electric current passing through her entire body.

She really liked it so much.

Taking advantage of having her period today, she was simply acting recklessly. Arms hugging his neck, using all her strength to domineeringly cling, rubbing like an animal, just not letting go, “Xu Xingchun, today I want to sleep together with you.”