In the darkness, Luan Nian’s burning lips brushed across Shang Zhitao’s cheek before finally landing on her lips.

He even made a show of saying, “If you don’t want this, I can stop anytime.”

“I don’t…”

Luan Nian sealed her lips. Shang Zhitao took him seriously, but he had no intention of stopping.

Luan Nian’s hands and lips alternated over Shang Zhitao’s body. In the darkness, he explored her thoroughly, feeling how she had changed over these years. This woman hadn’t changed much—no, her waist had become slightly slimmer.

Luan Nian was satisfied, though he had overestimated himself. He thought he could take it slow, but he was the one who became impatient.

His movements suddenly exceeded his control. Shang Zhitao held her breath, then exhaled slowly. Luan Nian’s lips invaded again, biting her lower lip: “You like younger men? Can’t date someone three years older?”

He pinched her face and demanded, “Speak!”

Shang Zhitao let out a muffled groan. Luan Nian was driving her crazy, suddenly igniting her competitive spirit.

“Younger men are energetic, mmm~”

Luan Nian punished her with a bite on her neck, like a thorough vampire.

That night’s passionate encounter ripped away all hesitation from the depths of their hearts, leaving them completely exposed.

Luan Nian had never changed—he liked to take control, following his desires as he conquered Shang Zhitao’s territory. Sometimes he would suddenly stop, taking his time, his tongue exploring her ear, his teeth gently biting her earlobe, whispering unhurriedly: “Next time you mention younger men, I’ll finish you.”

Shang Zhitao refused to surrender. She wanted to provoke him: “Younger men…”

Luan Nian bit her lip, their tongues intertwined with stirring sounds. Luan Nian grew fierce, his strength almost taking Shang Zhitao’s life.

That night felt like a vivid, exhilarating dream. Every pore of Shang Zhitao’s body was filled with Luan Nian’s scent.

When they finally calmed down, she giggled and kicked him: “Go to the guest room! I’m not used to this.”

Luan Nian locked his legs with hers: “I’m not sleeping in the guest room. Why should I sleep there?”

“Being unreasonable now? This is my home.”

Luan Nian didn’t care whose home it was—he would sleep wherever he wanted. He held Shang Zhitao in his arms, and they fell into a long, deep sleep.

It must have been close to noon when Shang Zhitao heard the sound of the digital lock opening, followed by Old Shang’s voice: “She’s fine, just not answering her phone. Probably sleeping too deeply. I’m coming in, wait a moment.”

Fuck!

Shang Zhitao suddenly cursed, kicking Luan Nian off the bed. He woke with a start, sitting on the floor, watching her frantically searching for clothes. While searching, she called out, “Dad, is that you? Wait a moment, I was too exhausted from overtime work yesterday. I overslept and didn’t hear the phone.”

After putting on her clothes, she opened the door slightly and squeezed through the gap, closing it behind her.

“Is Mom worried? I’m fine, you can go back to your business.”

Old Shang sighed with relief: “Good to know you’re alright. I told your mother you were just exhausted, but she didn’t believe me. She said no matter how tired you were, you’d usually be up by now.”

Shang Zhitao forced a smile.

The door behind her opened, and Luan Nian walked out, smiling at Old Shang: “Hello, Uncle.”

Old Shang froze, looking at Luan Nian, then at Shang Zhitao: “You two…”

“Uncle, I will take responsibility for Shang Zhitao.”

Forget about that dating criteria of not being more than three years older—I’ve claimed her now. Luan Nian played the perfect rogue, raising his eyebrows at Shang Zhitao while Old Shang was calling Da Zhai.

Shang Zhitao suddenly realized she had fallen into Luan Nian’s trap. He had been the fox all along, incredibly cunning.

By the time Da Zhai arrived, Luan Nian and Shang Zhitao were both properly dressed, sitting at the table like students caught by a teacher after making a mistake. Shang Zhitao was genuinely afraid; Luan Nian was just pretending.

Old Shang’s timing today was perfect. Luan Nian even felt somewhat grateful to the old man for coming through ice and snow to find his daughter, who wasn’t answering her phone.

Da Zhai looked at Shang Zhitao, then at Luan Nian.

Da Zhai didn’t dislike Luan Nian. He had a handsome face, and though he looked temperamental, his manners were refined.

“What’s going on with you two?” Da Zhai asked.

“Well, it’s…” Shang Zhitao began, but Da Zhai interrupted: “Be quiet. You speak,” directing Luan Nian to explain.

Luan Nian cleared his throat and spoke calmly: “Uncle, Auntie, you probably know something about Shang Zhitao and me. We dated for six years before, then broke up due to a misunderstanding. Now that we’ve reunited, we both feel we still have feelings for each other.” Luan Nian focused on the essential points—this was just like giving a work report, saying only what sounds good because that’s what leaders like to hear.

“But you’re not married yet and living together! What does that look like?” Old Shang poked Shang Zhitao’s forehead: “How could you be so confused!”

“We can get married. I’m ready anytime,” Luan Nian said.

“?” Shang Zhitao looked at him. Wasn’t he the one who had always talked about liberalism and not being responsible for emotions? Now he was suddenly ready to get married anytime? She said to him: “My parents aren’t going to beat you up.”

“What are you saying? Uncle and Auntie look kind and warm, why would I be afraid they’d hit me? I’m serious—I know a girl’s reputation is important, and I’m willing to take responsibility for Shang Zhitao.”

Luan Nian looked so sincere.

He was indeed sincere. Over these years, his friends had all settled down one by one, leaving him alone. He couldn’t lose on this matter.

But actually, he had wondered over the years: if Shang Zhitao hadn’t left back then, what would their ending have been? They probably would have married. Maybe they would even have children by now.

Luan Nian had gradually realized during their long relationship that spending his life with Shang Zhitao wouldn’t be painful; rather, it would end his previously dull life and begin a warm, lively one.

Shang Zhitao still didn’t speak.

She felt it was too fast.

She hadn’t even had time to think about what had happened today before it all unfolded. She finally spoke: “Dad, Mom, how about this… let me talk to him alone…”

“Go ahead and talk. We’re leaving. The shop is busy.”

As the two elders walked toward the door, Da Zhai suddenly asked Luan Nian: “How old are you?”

Before Luan Nian could answer, Shang Zhitao said: “He’s almost forty.”

He thought age shouldn’t be an issue. He just needed to give an age the elders would accept—he didn’t need to show his ID card. But Shang Zhitao was ruthless. Da Zhai’s look at Luan Nian changed, probably thinking that a man so old without being married must have some problem.

“If Taotao hadn’t broken up with me, we would probably be married by now,” Luan Nian replied, neither humble nor arrogant, speaking methodically with a calm demeanor.

After Da Zhai and Old Shang left, the couple went out to walk the dog.

It was freezing outside. After walking in silence for ten minutes, Shang Zhitao asked him:

“Ready to get married anytime?”

“If I hadn’t broken up with you back then, we’d have children by now?”

“Yes,” Luan Nian answered her. “Every word I said was true. When I told you to wait for me to come back so we could talk, that’s what I wanted to discuss. I wanted to start over with you, to date with marriage as the goal. But then you left.”

Luan Nian looked at Shang Zhitao. The icy city’s cold weather had turned their ears bright red, and the tip of Shang Zhitao’s nose was slightly red too.

The northern cold is a straightforward cold—the chilling wind cuts right through you.

“Liars get their noses frozen off,” Shang Zhitao said.

Luan Nian grabbed her hand and made her pinch his nose: “Is it gone?”

“No.”

“So, Shang Zhitao, can we get to know each other again? Starting from the first time we met.”

Back then, you were twenty-two, I was twenty-eight, and we were in our prime.

Back then, you were pure and brave, I was worldly and hard, but when our eyes met, we began an extraordinary life journey.

If we can’t go back to that time, then let’s start from today. You’re thirty-two, I’m thirty-eight, and we’re still determined, still hopeful about life.

Perhaps our love will traverse the cold, reach spring, and welcome the clear early spring that belongs to us.

The tip of Shang Zhitao’s nose grew redder, tears freezing on her face. She looked terrible, but she still said: “Okay.”

She had never thought that the dream she had at twenty-two would come true at thirty-two.

This was probably the most wonderful part of life.

Luan Nian held her hand in one of his and Luke’s leash in the other. They walked for a long time in the ice and snow. By the time they got home, they were frozen through.

Luan Nian went to cook, and Shang Zhitao hugged him from behind, her cold hands slipping under his clothes, giving him goosebumps.

He turned to look at her, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes, only lifting his shirt until those attractive abs came into view.

She lowered her head to bite them, causing Luan Nian’s abdomen to tighten suddenly. But Shang Zhitao was relentless, slowly moving upward, standing on tiptoes to kiss him, her cold hands exploring him again. Luan Nian closed his eyes, thinking this woman was now too much to handle.

He abruptly lifted her onto the stove counter, pressing against her: “Whoever runs away is a bastard.”

“Well, it won’t be me.”

Shang Zhitao hooked her leg around him. The cold countertop caused her pain but also gave her a bit of joy.

“Not going to eat?” she asked when Luan Nian lost control.

“No, I’ll eat you first.”

Shang Zhitao thought to herself, Who said younger men were better? Only she knew how good this older man was. She wouldn’t trade Luan Nian for ten younger men.

The two fooled around until evening, when Luan Nian finally released the fire that had built up over several years. He asked her: “Want to go out to eat?”

“Yes.”

Shang Zhitao jumped off the bed: “Let’s go out to eat!”

“You’re not tired?” Luan Nian was surprised by her energy.

But Shang Zhitao said: “Our activities are much more demanding than yours—they take so much more energy!”

She finished with a giggle: “Can we go out for some drinks? It’s snowing outside.”

“How do you know it’s snowing?”

“I’m an Ice City girl. I can smell when it’s snowing.”

Luan Nian opened the curtains, and sure enough, it was snowing.

“How many snowfalls does Ice City get in a year? It seems to snow from autumn to spring, endless snow.” Shang Zhitao put on a sweater, then the down jacket Luan Nian had given her: “Do you know which of all the gifts you’ve given me over the years I like the most?”

“Which one?” Luan Nian asked.

“Everyone since our reunion.”

Shang Zhitao cupped his face: “Every gift since our reunion, I never thought about selling. I truly like them all.”

“None were as expensive as the bags.”

“But all were better than the bags.”

“If you say so.”

Shang Zhitao thought it wasn’t that he had become better at giving gifts, but that he as a person had changed. Though still sharp, he had begun to think about what she wanted.

Shang Zhitao had always wanted to love him as an equal, and each day since their reunion seemed to bring them closer to the state of love she desired.

Was this her luck?

She slipped her hand into Luan Nian’s pocket and said to him: “I want to go see Dr. Liang.”