Not long after sending Dou Changxiao on his way, the sky over North City suddenly turned gloomy. As evening approached, fine snowflakes began to drift down from the sky. The world was somber yet peaceful.

Taking advantage of the light snowfall, Ning Zhu asked Aunt Lin to head home early, lest the ground become covered in snow later on, making the roads slippery and dangerous. Aunt Lin nodded and left.

It was not yet completely dark. Ning Zhu rested his elbows on the windowsill, watching the snow swirling outside.

Whenever it snowed here, he would think of Haicheng. The snow in Haicheng wasn’t as gentle as it was in Beicheng. Coastal cities always had strong winds; gales would sweep up vast swaths of snowflakes, and one could clearly see the shape of the wind traced by the snow—its strokes wild and fierce.

Sometimes, during extreme weather, typhoons and blizzards would coincide, creating an even more terrifying spectacle.

After a single night, the ground was blanketed in a layer of silver. Ning Zhu had planned to play pool with Wei Tingfeng the next day, but when Wei saw how thick the snow was outside, he suddenly got lazy and, rather inconsiderately, backed out at the last minute.

Ning Zhu didn’t bother looking for anyone else. He pulled an armchair into the living room, brewed himself a cup of hot tea, then sat down by the window, clutching the steaming mug, staring blankly out the window like a little old man with nothing better to do.

Whenever it snowed, Ning Zhu always felt drowsy. The malfunctioning part of his system responsible for feeling happiness would briefly reconnect, allowing him to experience the sense of security he’d felt as a child, carefree and lying on the windowsill watching the snow fall.

Just then, a sudden knock at the front door interrupted his tranquility.

Ning Zhu turned to look, set down his teacup, and stood up. As he walked over, he heard the door lock beep, indicating that the visitor’s fingerprint was invalid. Given that Dou Changxiao had declared yesterday, “Then I’ll wait for you to come,” Ning Zhu had ruthlessly revoked the other man’s fingerprint access the night before.

He said nothing and didn’t open the door. Instead, he quietly peered through the electronic peephole and, sure enough, saw the Alpha outside tilting his head slightly, his eyes cast downward toward the door lock. Realizing his access had been revoked, he frowned, looking a bit displeased.

Ning Zhu, on the other end, found the whole scene quite amusing.

Dou Changxiao tried again, but of course, it was still useless.

Ning Zhu saw him pull out his phone and start typing a message.

Then his own phone in his pocket vibrated with a new message. The door panel provided excellent soundproofing, but Ning Zhu was still worried the noise might be heard by people outside, so he turned off the ringer completely before reading the message.

Dou Changxiao didn’t ask him about the door lock.

【Changxiao】: Are you home?

Ning Zhu deliberately took two minutes to reply.

【Ning Huochong】: I went to have a snowball fight.

【Changxiao】: …

【Changxiao】: When will you be done?

【Ning Huochong:】I don’t know, I’m totally into it right now.

【Ning Huochong:】 Crack! He manually typed in a sound effect.

【Changxiao:】.

【Changxiao:】Who are you fighting?

【Ning Huochong:】A friend—the one I mentioned before, Dr. Wei from the Endocrinology Department at your hospital.

Just like Dou Changxiao had shown him the receipt yesterday, Ning Zhu took a screenshot of the chat with Wei Tingfeng about their pool game, cropping out the beginning and end to leave only the few lines about setting the time, and sent it over.

Only after sending it did he realize he really didn’t need to explain so much to Dou Changxiao. What was their relationship anyway? Was it any of his business?

He looked again at the phrase “With who?”, just two words, yet Ning Zhu felt that Dou Changxiao’s attitude was a bit awkward and cautious… which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. After all, this was the same person who had previously dared to call him, his sugar daddy, a “bastard.”

After replying to the message, Ning Zhu glanced toward the door.

Dou Changxiao was still standing right outside his door, showing no signs of leaving.

Ning Zhu wondered hesitantly: Was this kid planning to stand there and wait for him to finish his “snowball fight” and come back? A few more minutes passed, and Dou Changxiao finally went downstairs with a look of disappointment on his face.

Ning Zhu picked up his teacup again and sat back down. He shifted his chair forward so he could see the scene downstairs. Dou Changxiao’s car was parked in the spot below.

He waited a moment, and sure enough, he saw a person emerge from the apartment door. Dou Changxiao slowly got back into his car, but didn’t start the engine or drive away.

Ning Zhu: “…”

He’s not planning to leave, is he?

Dou Changxiao didn’t stay in the car for long before getting out again and wandering around the area. After a while, he got back in, clearly bored with the wait.

Let’s hurry back. Ning Zhu urged him in his mind. Ning Zhu received another message.

【Changxiao:】 How long will it take you to get home?

【Ning Huochong:】 Not sure.

【Ning Huochong:】 What’s up? You aren’t just hanging around outside my place, are you?

【Changxiao:】 …Crouch.

【Changxiao:】No.

He didn’t reply.

Ning Zhu had a feeling that, given Dou Changxiao’s personality, he might actually be capable of waiting downstairs for him to return.

He gently rubbed the warm teacup in his hand, a cozy blanket draped over his knees. The warmer he got, the more irritated he felt thinking about that person wandering around downstairs.

Even though the current situation was entirely that little bastard’s own doing. It was Dou Changxiao who had come over without even saying hello… Ning Zhu frowned, then realized that perhaps he bore a tiny bit of responsibility for it.

Dou Changxiao never asked if he was home before coming over, because he knew Ning Zhu would always reply, “I’m not here.”

So the other guy had no choice but to pick a random time when he might be home and show up at his door without a word. He coughed as the hot tea went down the wrong pipe, and he pouted in frustration.

Ning Zhu picked up his phone again to compose a message.

There was nothing wrong with just letting him come up. Ning Zhu wasn’t afraid of having his nonsense about a snowball fight exposed—after all, Dou Changxiao had shamelessly denied that he was waiting outside his door. He could even rub it in a little while he was at it.

But then Ning Zhu thought about what might happen next. Once Dou Changxiao came up, he’d surely put on that calm expression and look at him with quiet, resentful, and aggrieved eyes.

That kid was a master at playing the victim these days, often making Ning Zhu feel like he’d been too cruel, which in turn made him feel guilty. Once he felt guilty, he was easily led by the nose by Dou Changxiao.

He thought for a moment, then typed: I’ll be back in twenty minutes.

The reply came back immediately.

【Changxiao:】 Can I come see you? 

Ning Zhu: “.”

And he’s asking me if he can… Is that ghost wandering around downstairs?

【Ning Huochong:】 No.

【Changxiao:】 Okay.

【Changxiao:】 In twenty minutes, right?

Ning Zhu was so annoyed that his body stiffened for a moment.

【Ning Huochong:】……

【Ning Huochong:】Come over and bring me something while you’re at it.

【Changxiao:】What should I bring?

【Ning Huochong:】Any hot drink will do. It’s a bit cold.

【Changxiao:】Okay.

This was purely an excuse; Ning Zhu just wanted to send him away, and he wouldn’t be able to cover up the lie he’d told.

Once Dou Changxiao returned with the items, he could open the door for him and naturally claim he’d just gotten home.

He rested his chin in his hand as he watched the person standing downstairs. They must have been looking for a beverage shop; once they found one, they followed the navigation and headed off in a certain direction.

Ning Zhu’s fingers brushed against a few strands of dry hair. He leaned back to glance at the cabinets in the living room; several of the glass-fronted ones had mirrored interiors. He caught sight of his own reflection—cleaned up and presentable, every strand of hair in place, clearly the result of spending too much time in a heated room. To claim he’d just returned from a night out, such a well-groomed appearance was hardly convincing…

He ran his fingers through his hair to ruffle it a bit, though he still looked quite polished.

Ning Zhu thought for a moment. Seeing that Dou Changxiao had already walked far ahead, he decided to put on his coat, change his shoes, and head downstairs.

As soon as he stepped out the front door, Ning Zhu shivered from the cold wind that hit him in the face. Winter in Beicheng wasn’t as cold as in Haicheng, but the depths of winter were still no picnic.

The wind, laden with fine snow, lashed against his cheeks, quickly leaving them cold and damp, while his forehead, cheeks, and the tip of his nose gradually turned red. He shook his head, letting the wind and snow batter him even more.

Ning Zhu had a high body temperature, so he felt the cold easily; his legs soon went stiff and numb. He shoved his hands into his pockets, shifted his weight, and hopped in place twice.

As he hopped, he turned his body, and when he faced the other way, his gaze locked with a pair of dark eyes a few meters away. 

Ning Zhu: “Ahem…”

He stopped jumping and stood up straight.

Dou Changxiao looked at him, his lips twitching slightly.

His expression reminded Ning Zhu of the moment Dou Changxiao had been blackmailed by him at Anjiang Square. Beneath the calm surface, it seemed as though a multitude of emotions were churning.

Dou Changxiao looked away and said, “…I forgot to lock my bike.”

Ning Zhu: “…Okay.”

He added, “I just got home myself.”

Dou Changxiao didn’t look at him, his brow furrowing with obvious effort. “…Mm.” 

“….. ”

Ning Zhu began to suspect that the other person might have actually seen him coming down the stairs. He kept his hands in his pockets, his face expressionless, pretending the encounter had never happened. Dou Changxiao locked his car and walked toward him.

The two of them tacitly agreed not to mention what had just happened.

Dou Changxiao said, “What would you like to drink?”

Ning Zhu almost said he didn’t need anything, but instead kept his expression stiff: “…Hot milk, I guess. There’s a convenience store nearby. Thanks.”

Dou Changxiao gave a soft “Hmm,” but didn’t move, his dark, piercing eyes fixed on him.

Against the backdrop of the white, hazy, snowy landscape, the color of his eyebrows and eyes stood out in vivid contrast.

Dou Changxiao suddenly asked, “Can I give you a hug?”

Ning Zhu said, “No.”

Dou Changxiao stepped forward and embraced him.

Enveloped in an embrace damp with melted snow, Ning Zhu remained silent for a few seconds before saying gently, “…Changxiao, does what I say mean as much to you as a fart?”

He snorted and continued, “If that’s the case, next time you might as well just not ask my opinion. Why go through this whole process? It’s such a hassle.”

Dou Changxiao tilted his head and kissed Ning Zhu’s ear; this time, he was quite obedient and didn’t ask for his opinion again. 

Ning Zhu: “……”

Ning Zhu: “I take back what I just said. You should ask me after all.” He wanted to prepare himself mentally in advance.

He lifted his face from where their heads were pressed together; all his thoughts had been worn away by Dou Changxiao.

With mixed feelings, Ning Zhu rested his chin on Dou Changxiao’s shoulder and looked up, staring blankly at the snowflakes swirling through the sky. Sigh… Why can’t I push him away?