Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Actually, Jing Hanchuan was agitated by some comments online.
He felt uncomfortable. Just as Duan Linbai said, this kind of thing wouldnât last long. Moreover, the comments about Xu Yuanfei were all positive. They were just praising her for her beauty.
But it was as if someone was peeping at something that belonged to him.
He hesitated before driving out alone.
When he came out, a certain big shot was accompanying his wife to watch a TV drama. When he saw him go out, he asked, âWhere are you going?â
âI have something to do.â Jing Hanchuan didnât answer directly.
A certain big shot reached out and touched the mustache at the corner of his mouth.?He doesnât go out during the day. Why is he going out in the middle of the night?
But he didnât probe further.
So he had no idea that once Jing Hanchuan went outâ¦
He didnât return all night.
***
At this momentâ¦
Xu Yuanfei stared at her phone for a few seconds. It had been two hours since Jing Hanchuanâs last message. She pursed her lips tightly and called him.
Previously, her consciousness had been a little scattered, and she had been in a daze. She kept feeling like she was dreaming.
The call connected almost instantly.
âHello.â The manâs voice was a little dry and hoarse.
âDid you go back to sleep?â she asked tentatively. âI was waiting for your message, but I fell asleep.â
âNot yet.â
Xu Yuanfeiâs heart suddenly tightened. She turned on the lights, pulled open the curtains, and raised her hand to wipe away the layer of white mist on the glass. The cold wind swept up the white snow, covering the sky and earth in white outside.
It was actually snowing.
âWhere are you?â
âThe tourist area opposite your house.â
The opposite side of the Xu residence had been developed into a tourist area. But in this season, there were no tourists. But it could shelter him from the wind and snow.
âOkay, wait for me.â
Jing Hanchuan wanted to tell her not to come out, but she had already hung up anxiously.
Xu Yuanfei wrapped herself in her down coat and quietly opened the door. The lights in the corridor were all voice-activated. She didnât dare to be loud and slowly walked forward under the faint light of her phone.
Her nerves were tense. It was the first time she was sneaking out in the middle of the night.
Even the slightest sound frightened her.
As she went downstairs, her fingers gripped the handrail tightly while she paid close attention to her surroundings.
Just as she was about to leave, she remembered that Jing Hanchuan had been waiting for her for a long time. It was snowing heavily outside, so his body was probably cold. She sneaked into the kitchen, took a small thermos flask, brewed some ginger tea, and slipped out like a thief.
The snowy weather wasnât too cold, but the cold wind was raging. A gust of cold wind blew, and her entire body shivered.
She was only wrapped in a large down coat, and cold wind instantly blasted her body. It was so cold that her teeth were chattering.
Creaking sounds echoed as she stepped on the snowy snow. But there were street lights here, and she was familiar with the terrain, so she quickly walked out of her courtyard.
Before she reached the tourist area, she saw someone walking over slowly.
The man was wearing a long black down coat that reached his knees and holding a black umbrella in his hand. Facing the wind and snow, he quickened his pace when he saw her.
Xu Yuanfei suddenly turned around and looked at the door behind her.
Heâs crazy!
He actually ran over directly?
What if heâs discovered?
But soon, he was already in front of her. The umbrella covered her head and blocked the wind and snow for her.
âYou didnât even take an umbrella?â
His entire body was cold, and even his breath was extremely cold. When it blew on her face, there was no warmth at all.
His skin seemed to have fused with the ice and snow, and his lips seemed to have a faint layer of frost on them, making them look pale and transparent.
âI came out in a hurry.â Xu Yuanfei held the thermos flask. âWhy didnât you call me? Why did you wait so long?â
Jing Hanchuan sized her up. Her face was fair and clean, but it was red from the cold wind. She was wearing loose pajamas, making her look exceptionally petite.
âLetâs talk in the car.â
âOkay.â
Jing Hanchuan sized her up. She actually came out in slippers.
âTake the umbrella.â
Xu Yuanfei took the umbrella in a daze. Before she could regain her senses, her entire body suddenly rose into the air. He picked her up by the waist and carried her in arms. Her breathing tightened. She held the thermos flask in one hand and the umbrella in the other and leaned quietly in his embrace.
He walked very quickly but steadily. Even though he was carrying her, he felt very relaxed, and even his breathing wasnât irregular.
But a gust of wind blew, and the umbrella was overturned. Xu Yuanfeiâs arm tightened, but she still couldnât grab it. The umbrella was instantly blown a few meters away.
ââ¦â
âDonât worry. Hold me tightly.â
The wind was too strong. Actually, even with the umbrella, it might not be able to block much of the wind and snow.
The manâs voice was stifled by the cold wind, but Xu Yuanfeiâs heart was warm.
After some hesitation, she reached out her empty hand and gently hugged his neck.
At this moment, the cold wind blew through their bodies, and there was no heat at all. But when they leaned against each other, they could warm each other up. This feelingâ¦
It was very subtle.
The surroundings were too quiet. Only the creaking sound of Jing Hanchuan stepping on the snow could be heard. It was as if he was stepping on her heart, and every step was extremely heavy.
***
When they got into the car, the heating came, and Xu Yuanfei felt that she had come back to life. She turned her head to look at Jing Hanchuan. There were droplets of water from the melted snow on his head and eyebrows.
He pulled out a tissue from the car and handed it to her to wipe her face while he casually fiddled with his hair.
Jing Hanchuan lived a refined life, but he was a man after all. There were many things that he wasnât that strict about.
In Xu Yuanfeiâs eyes, this casual action was dashing and unrestrained.
If Xu Yao fiddled with his hair like this in front of her, Xu Yuanfei would probably say, âStay away from me.â
âI made you some ginger tea. Have some.â Xu Yuanfei passed the thermos flask over.
Jing Hanchuan reached out, but instead of taking the thermos flask, he gently held her hand.
He controlled his strength very well, not letting her break free but not hurting her.
âYouâ¦â Xu Yuanfeiâs heart suddenly pounded wildly.
The heating inside the car was so hot that it made her entire body feel soft.
âIâm not cold anymore.â
âHuh?â Her voice was puzzled. She didnât understand what he was trying to say.
âHug me, okay?â
His tone seemed to be asking for her opinion. But the next second, he had already reached out and gently pulled her into his embrace.
Xu Yuanfeiâs face was pressed against his chest. Through the fabric, she seemed to be able to hear his steady and strong heartbeat. There had been snow on his body earlier, but now that it had melted, his entire body was hot.
The two of them hugged for a while before Jing Hanchuan rubbed her hair and moved back.
He took the thermos flask from Xu Yuanfeiâs hand, unscrewed it, and took a sip. The ginger tea was so strong that it even choked his throat.
âWhy are you here? If my dad sees youâ¦â The nightmare flashed across Xu Yuanfeiâs mind again.
âThen Iâll go home with you.â
These things couldnât be hidden. Jing Hanchuan was already thinking about how to tell their families.
Xu Yuanfeiâs heart skipped a beat.?Is he joking with me?
âIf I didnât come out, were you planning to wait forever? What if you couldnât see me?â
âArenât you going out tomorrow morning?â Jing Hanchuan asked.
Wait until tomorrow morning??Xu Yuanfeiâs heart warmed by his words. She lowered her head and fiddled with the air vent in the car, not knowing what to say.
After a long time, she changed the topic. âAre you really not going back tonight?â
âThe roads are blocked. I should be able to leave at nine or ten tomorrow.â It was too dangerous to drive at night on a snowy day. The temperature in the capital was extremely low, and it was very difficult for the snow to melt. Tomorrow, the road would be swept clean, and traffic would resume.
âBut you canât spend the night in the car either.â
Xu Yuanfei pondered. âDid you bring your ID?â
âYes.â
âThen drive. Iâll show you the way. There are a few good hotels nearby. After all, itâs close to the tourist area.â
***
Jing Hanchuan started the car and slowly drove on the snow. Soon, he saw the neon sign of a hotel. It was already late at night, and it was silent outside. The car stopped in front of the hotel, and the engine turned off.
After all, their relationship was special. But now, he had parked his car at the entrance of a hotel. They definitely felt a little strange.
Xu Yuanfei pointed at the hotel. âI have friends who have stayed in this hotel. The environment is alright. Why donât you make do here tonight? Itâs better than staying in the car.
âItâs too cold outside. If you stay in the car, your back will probably ache tomorrow.
âHurry up and get out of the car.â
â¦
Just as Xu Yuanfei was about to push the door open and get out of the car, someone grabbed her wrist.
The manâs fingers had already regained their heat. When they wrapped around her wrist, it was as if a hot electric current ran through her, making her back numb.
âWhatâs wrong?â
âAre you coming with me?â His voice was low, serious, and solemn.
Xu Yuanfeiâs mind exploded.?With himâ¦