Sun Xi slept for an endlessly long time. Consciousness first awakened in confusion, yet his eyelids wouldn’t lift. The air was dry, temperature moderate, carrying the smell of heating and dust, but the surroundings were a vast expanse of white—an expanse of heavy snow.

The snow was extremely familiar, layering in staggered patterns, presenting different shapes and textures—fine snow uniformly spread on roads, blood-stained grave-like snow piles, and half-foot-thick accumulated snow pressing on mountain ranges, winding and spiraling, with no end in sight. The distant sky hung with dense mist, air thin. Then suddenly, he saw himself pulling a girl along, like two small ants, running toward the enormous shadow ahead.

He quickly recognized them—that was his younger self, and her younger self.

All around them was heavy snow that had drifted along with them from the past.

He forcefully gripped that hand, squeezing those ice-cold fingertips until they turned white, burning hot, melting, melting into his body. Then rushing toward that unknown gloom ahead, telling himself to break through, boldly break through, to break through into a patch of sunlight.

Until a familiar voice floated over, from far to near, calling his name.

“Sun Xi.”

The snow before his eyes, as if summoned by some magic, grain by grain, inch by inch, rapidly melted and dissolved.

“Sun Xi, wake up.”

With a swoosh, the curtains were pulled open. He opened his eyes—a beam of bright, dazzling light.

So he really had broken through into sunlight.

He saw her walk over, grown-up appearance. Before she could speak again, with instinctive force as if resurrected from death, he rose up halfway, embraced her waist. She fell into his arms, then he pressed her in, tightly gripping her, lying on the bed.

Greedily breathing deeply at her warm neck, warmth rolling through his nasal cavity into his body.

Being alive is wonderful.

Yu Jiuqi let him hold her for a while, patiently waiting for the person who had slept continuously for ten hours to fully wake. She knew that sometimes insomnia lasting too long and sleeping too much both created a brief sense of dissociation from reality—had to grab onto something to feel grounded.

Just that his body temperature was always very hot, especially in the morning. Chest and arms pressed tightly against her, separated by a thick sweater, fine sweat appearing on her fair face.

Sun Xi noticed she was fully dressed, asking in a deep voice: “Leaving?”

Xiao Jiu hummed, saying: “Dad asked me to exchange coins for making dumplings tonight. I need to hurry—supermarkets will all close at noon.”

His nose nuzzled her earlobe: “Don’t want you to leave.”

A tickling sensation. She laughed lightly: “Are you acting spoiled, Brother Sun?”

No response after, body temperature rising a few more degrees.

“We’ll see each other in a few days.”

“How many days?” He pressed.

“I’ll come back to stay on the fifth.”

“I’m coming to pay New Year’s respects on the third. You told your dad, right?”

He suddenly mentioned it.

Xiao Jiu’s gaze settled in a direction he couldn’t see, turning her head slightly, negotiating: “Why don’t we change strategy? A phone call for New Year greetings works too.”

“I already bought the gifts.” Sun Xi understood her worry. “Your dad’s a proper man. On New Year’s, he can’t throw me out.”

“Throwing you out shouldn’t happen.”

“Then could we actually fight?” Sun Xi tightened his arms. “If he hits me, I just won’t fight back and that’s that.”

Xiao Jiu turned to look at him again, inexplicably wanting to laugh, also finding it strange. Strange that Sun Xi, from some point onward, from thinking patterns to interests and accent, had become increasingly northeastern in flavor. Yesterday when Xiao Jiu went to KTV to pick him up from work, she actually saw him enthusiastically squatting in a live stream room listening to Ge Fan PK battle-rap with others.

And looking carefully, that wasn’t Ge Fan’s live stream room but Le Sheng Huang’s live stream room. Sun Xi had already consecutively sent several rocket gifts. Seeing Xiao Jiu, he hurriedly called her, saying “Baby, quickly come send Brother Fan a few gifts, we’re going to lose this round.”

Xiao Jiu rolled her eyes at him, saying our Wendu Water Resort’s live stream room hasn’t seen you spend a penny, not even following or getting a badge. Sun Xi then promised, saying next time Wendu Water Resort live streams, whether it’s Xu Ming selling tickets or Auntie Hong singing opera, he’ll definitely send massive carnival gifts.

Yu Jiuqi at this moment, nestled in his arms, remembering it still made her laugh, humming with laughter.

Sun Xi behind her started moving his hands and feet. Xiao Jiu, afraid prolonged intimacy would delay matters, went along with his momentum to break free, turning to get up, grabbing the small bag of luggage already packed, saying she had to go.

Sun Xi sat up, finally holding her hand and kissing it once. Wrapped in an aura heavy with resentment, on the morning of New Year’s Eve, reluctantly watching his girlfriend leave to spend New Year at Dad’s house.

Yu Kaixuan every year required all family members to spend New Year at his house. Dead rule. Anyone dissenting wouldn’t work—especially this year with his bad back, even less daring to provoke him. Provoke him and he could grab his waist, come over, grab your ear and drag you there.

From New Year’s Eve to the second day, Yu Kaixuan always arranged family activities completely full. Because there weren’t many elders left, no need to go out paying respects—Chinese New Year was about reunion and liveliness, just family mixing together eating, drinking, playing, and fooling around.

New Year’s Eve night making dumplings, setting off fireworks, a New Year’s feast drinking straight into the latter half of night. After drinking until people collapsed sleeping chaotically, the first morning naturally waking, waking up then starting mahjong.

Spring Festival mahjong was played for high stakes, the kind with exciting wins and losses. Xiao Jiu in just one afternoon won two months’ salary from Wen Wen and Zhu Duomei. By evening, Zhu Duomei was anxious from losing, trying every way to persuade Xiao Jiu to leave the table and switch players. Xiao Jiu sat unmoved, not even looking at her phone, naturally not noticing her boyfriend’s several pitifully resentful messages seeking attention.

Sun Xi spent Spring Festival at Le Sheng Huang. On the afternoon of the thirtieth, he delivered some gifts to Uncle and Grandma, then never appeared again. Together with several employees also not going home for New Year, he ate a New Year’s Eve dinner. On the first day, customer flow picked up considerably. Most employees on vacation, he worked hands-on continuously, actually not feeling too unbearable.

Xiao Jiu only replied to Sun Xi’s messages late at night, smoothing things over with a few coaxing sentences. But immediately turned around starting to light firecrackers and lose money. After that, never bothered with him again.

Until the evening of the second day, when Yu Kaixuan reserved a table at a seafood restaurant, during the meal Sun Xi sent Xiao Jiu several photos—gifts he prepared for tomorrow’s New Year visit. Besides several fruits and beverages, there were also two king crabs and a case of Moutai, asking if it was enough. Xiao Jiu said enough.

Sun Xi asked again: 【Tomorrow at ten?】 Xiao Jiu replied, 【Ten o’clock.】 He said again, 【Nervous?】

Xiao Jiu glanced at Yu Kaixuan and Wen Wen opposite, wearing New Year battle robes, chatting. Rubbing her fingertips, lowering her eyes in silence for a moment, although she had already prepared family members that Sun Xi would come, still inevitably felt apprehensive, afraid something would happen.

Also didn’t know where Sun Xi now got such confidence, actually comforting her: 【Don’t worry, we won’t fight.】

But the result was exactly opposite.

On the third day of New Year, Sun Xi’s first time entering his girlfriend’s family home, he had a solid fight with the whole family.

To blame, blame that sudden blizzard.

The snow started falling afternoon of the second day. Weather forecast only said scattered snow, but the snow fell heavier and heavier, continuous and unending. Even by the morning of the third day, there was no sign of stopping. Yu Kaixuan’s family lived on a high floor. Looking down from the window, under the rustling goose-feather snow, the entire city seemed frozen still. Only a sparse few silver-clad cars moved slowly. Rooftops and tree branches were all piled with snow in varying heights, a vast expanse of white, quite fairytale-like.

Who knows who started it, saying on such a day, they should damn well go out for a snowball fight, or else this snow would be wasted.

Yu Kaixuan’s family always had one person starting and one person cheering, immediately forming a plan. This time the cheerleader was Second Brother Kai. Supporting his waist, standing before the window, he waved his large hand, saying let’s go, go out, let’s have a snowball fight!

Auntie Hong said forget it, with that waist of yours, one more flash and you’ll be paralyzed. If you’re paralyzed, I won’t serve you. Yu Kaixuan just laughed, saying I won’t fight, I’ll just watch from the side, command. You all fight.

Zhu Duomei and Ge Fan had long been stifled at home, changing clothes ready to leave. Third Uncle also wasn’t afraid of cold anymore, excitedly following, spinning in circles screaming to go out.

Only Xiao Jiu panicked, almost crying in anxiety, also a bit angry, thinking Dad deliberately wanted to leave Sun Xi hanging. He clearly knew Sun Xi was on the way. Wearing a funeral face, just brewing up thoughts to stop them, when Yu Kaixuan laboriously pulled a cotton vest over himself, turning to tell Xiao Jiu:

“Call that whoever too.”

Xiao Jiu didn’t react immediately: “Who?”

“Who who who!” Second Brother Kai impatiently, “Who do you think!”

Xiao Jiu understood, delightedly grinning, going over to kiss Dad once. Then feeling not steady enough, turning to glance at Wen Wen. Wen Wen dodged, lowering her head pulling out her phone saying, then I’ll call Xiao Fu too.

So on the morning of the third day of New Year, Yu Kaixuan’s family two cars, Sun Xi one car, Manager Xiao Fu one car—four cars braving heavy snow departing from different directions in Stone City, driving toward an artificial lake clearing in the eastern suburbs. There had already been half a winter’s accumulated snow, adding this current snowfall, enough for a thoroughly satisfying snowball fight.

Snowball fight, as the name implies, was fighting. Fighting was never any romantic gentle matter. No respect for age or size, no gender courtesy—just fight.

But northeastern snowball fights were different from other battles. No tactics, no team formation, even less teammates. One-on-one fighting worked, surprise attack free-for-all also worked—completely based on mood and state. Catching whoever, beating whoever.

Xiao Jiu had played like this since young. Sun Xi had never gone this wild, especially the first time pulling a car of gifts to his girlfriend’s family home, halfway getting pulled to this wilderness, then told to fight the whole family. He didn’t know what it meant, who was fighting whom. For a moment somewhat dazed, tall body awkwardly standing there, glancing at Yu Jiuqi for help.

And Xiao Jiu had already started fighting with Ge Fan. She compressed a large snowball, fiercely throwing it at Ge Fan’s face. Ge Fan got anxious, grabbing a large handful of snow chasing after. After catching up, grabbing her collar, stuffing snow down Xiao Jiu’s neck—a bunch of chaotic screaming.

Yu Kaixuan supported his waist, standing there watching his daughter while digging snow out of her neck while chasing Ge Fan kicking, laughing heartily.

Sun Xi’s eyes darkened, heart feeling somewhat unhappy. At this time, from who knows where, a hidden weapon came—a large mass of snow solidly hitting his shoulder. Through the dense goose-feather snow looking over, seemed to be Manager Xiao Fu.

Sun Xi was stunned, still not moving. Before long, another mass of snow from a different direction hit him, hitting his face, splashing into his eyes. Already couldn’t tell who it was.

Seeing him still standing there, Yu Kaixuan got anxious, shouting at him: “Are you stupid? Fight back!”

Sun Xi looked over, hesitating, as if still unable to let loose.

Yu Kaixuan frowned, face full of disdain: “Completely useless, just waiting to get beaten.”

Sun Xi was immediately provoked. Just as Ge Fan grabbed a snowball coming over, Sun Xi bent down picking up a large handful of snow, fiercely meeting him head-on. One dodge, one throw—completely smearing Ge Fan’s face.

Ge Fan exclaimed: “Holy shit, my eyes, blinded my eyes!”

Zhu Duomei followed over, joining Ge Fan: “Who! Who hit my brother’s eyes?”

Xiao Jiu automatically stood on Sun Xi’s side: “Good hit Brother Sun! Hit him, exactly him!”

Zhu Duomei called Wen Wen: “Sister Wen, come over, let’s take them both down together.” Then bluntly adding, “New grudges and old grudges, settle them all today!”

Xiao Jiu called Meng Huihong: “Auntie Hong, Auntie Hong, haven’t you wanted to teach these two wastrel kids a lesson for a long time? I’ll help you! Today if we don’t beat them into submission, this family will fall into chaos in the future!”

Zhu Duomei shouted: “Fine, don’t run when the fight starts!”

Xiao Jiu replied: “Run what, fear what, who doesn’t have medical insurance!”

Manager Xiao Fu and Third Uncle were in the middle. After waiting ages, seeing no one calling them, Manager Xiao Fu gentlemanly gestured to Third Uncle, meaning let Third Uncle choose teams first.

Whether it was the heavy snow blurring Sun Xi’s face or not, Third Uncle actually no longer feared him. After hesitating, he stood behind Sun Xi.

War was imminent. Accumulated snow splattered, screaming continuous. Yu Kaixuan stood there, excitedly pulling out his phone, while muttering tactical commands while recording video.

The video showed complete chaos. Not one person’s body was clean. Burying in snow, dragging on the ground—long unable to distinguish victory from defeat.

Yu Kaixuan was watching excitedly when suddenly a hidden weapon came, heavily hitting his forehead, nearly making him stumble. He endured the pain supporting his waist, looking over, looking toward the snowball’s direction—it was Sun Xi.

Sun Xi, seeing he’d accidentally hit Yu Kaixuan, panicked and lost his composure, standing there.

Ge Fan stirred things up: “He’s done for, completely done for. Haven’t even done anything yet, daring to hit father-in-law. Won’t have good days in the future.”

Sun Xi immediately walked over, apologizing while walking: “Uncle, Uncle, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to, I didn’t see clearly, slipped up.” Seeing Yu Kaixuan ignoring him, even more confused, beginning to speak incoherently, “Uncle, I originally came to pay New Year respects to you today. This turned into… I even brought stuff… Nothing valuable really, if not okay, I’ll give you the KTV.”

Yu Kaixuan hearing this, eyes brightened: “Give me the KTV?”

Sun Xi said: “Yes.”

Yu Kaixuan stared at him: “Really giving? If you give it to me, I’ll take it.”

Sun Xi didn’t recognize the tease, face completely serious: “Give! Really give!”

Xiao Jiu couldn’t listen anymore, going over to expose it: “Dad, that’s enough, aren’t you ashamed? Why should the KTV be given to you?”

Yu Kaixuan also broke character, laughing, pointing at Xiao Jiu shouting: “Raised you for nothing.”

Xiao Jiu also laughed along. Then turning, through the still continuous heavy snow, looking back at Wen Wen behind. Seeing Mom draped in snowflakes, red lips under black clothes and white heavy snow, slightly pursed, smiling faintly yet gorgeously.

Somehow, Yu Jiuqi stared mesmerized for a moment.

The sky hung low gray, so near as if reaching out could touch it. The blizzard fell from who knows where, billowing down covering the entire world. They were immersed in it, blood boiling hot, hearts scalding.

No one mentioned it, but everyone felt it—perhaps blizzards weren’t necessarily fierce, deep winter also didn’t equal cruelty.

When human hearts turn toward warmth, even placed in freezing cold, they could hold hands melting out a patch of firelight.

Past noon, everyone prepared to leave, each lowering their heads clearing snow from their bodies. Heaven and earth quieted for a moment.

Then suddenly, from somewhere, came a faint crying sound.

Wen Wen heard it first.

She stopped what she was doing, suddenly lifting her head, instinctively glancing at the low-hanging hazy sky. Large snowflakes quietly fell on her face, sizzling as they melted. She closed her eyes, carefully distinguishing. Hearing that crying sound didn’t come from the sky but from a definite direction.

She walked toward that direction, passing the artificial lake, crossing through a small patch of withered wild grass and branches. Following the increasingly clear crying, she walked to a wild slope ahead, looking over, seeing a girl.

That girl was only about twenty years old, wearing a white down jacket, scattered dyed yellow long hair, sitting on a stone on the wild slope, gripping her phone, blankly looking ahead, as if long cried out, sobbing softly, intermittently.

“Hey.”

Wen Wen called out. Behind her, Xiao Jiu and all family members also gathered around.

That girl carefully turned back—an extremely delicate face, narrow, three-dimensional. Although eyes swollen from crying, still having a pair of clean clear eyes. Just that the eyes’ depths were turbid, wrapped in deep sadness and despair.

Yu Kaixuan walked with difficulty, falling behind. Across the family’s heads looking over, seeing that face clearly, actually having an instant of distant confusion.

Wen Wen stared at her for a while before gently asking: “What’s wrong?”

That girl didn’t speak, timidly looking at them.

Wen Wen asked again, tone gentle: “Need help?”

She still didn’t speak.

Wen Wen suddenly felt a wave of immense sourness. Not asking anymore, only saying: “It’s okay. It will pass.”

That girl immediately shed tears, biting her lip.

Wen Wen said again, like coaxing and promising: “Everything will pass. Everything will pass.”

The girl raised her hand wiping tears, looking at her: “Really?”

Wen Wen nodded heavily.

She asked again: “Then how will it pass?”

Wen Wen said: “Just endure through it.”

“How to endure through?”

Wen Wen fell silent, brows furrowed, as if recalling, summarizing. Then opening her mouth:

“Just plunge headfirst in. Eyes closed, plunge in.”

“Plunge where?”

“Life.” She said, “Plunge into life.”

Then she took some time, separately glancing at Xiao Jiu, Sun Xi, Manager Xiao Fu, Yu Kaixuan, Meng Huihong, and Third Brother behind. Her chest surging with these twenty-some years’ complex emotions, unknowingly also reddening her eyes. Turning back, holding back emotions, then loudly shouting to that nameless strange girl:

“Just lively and bustling, go home, eat what you should eat, drink what you should drink, love when you should love, hate when you should hate. Just stubbornly, plunge headfirst into this boiling life!”

Plunge in, scaldingly plunge in—life will naturally give you answers.

Those who once harmed you, tormented you, destroyed you, with time, will also slowly heal you.

Have patience. Persist.

Believe in love.

This world never lacks heartbroken people, but mended hearts are even more resilient.

Live on. Please live on.

Please absolutely live on flamboyantly, wantonly, joyfully.

The winter wind will eventually pass.

Believe me.

You too will wait for spring to come.

(The End)