STT – Chapter 17

Lu Zizheng, you cannot be greedy.

Lu Zizheng was lost in dreamy thoughts about Jiang Huaixi’s pink lips, almost tempted to act, but then heard Jiang Huaixi laugh softly, rustling and turning over to lie beside her.

Lu Zizheng opened her eyes and turned her head to look at Jiang Huaixi. Her black hair was spread out on the pristine snow, her face pale with a hint of red. As if exhausted, Jiang Huaixi lightly closed her eyes, and Lu Zizheng could only see her long, dense eyelashes slightly fluttering, her breathing heavy and short. At this moment, Jiang Huaixi seemed like a snow maiden emerging from an expanse of white snow, noble and pure, yet frail and captivating.

Looking down, Lu Zizheng saw Jiang Huaixi’s clothes were covered in snow, and her black pants, under the light, showed deep and shallow marks, likely soaked through.

Lu Zizheng was startled, quickly sat up, stood up, and urged Jiang Huaixi, “Get up, lying like this will make you catch a cold.”

Jiang Huaixi slowly opened her eyes, smiled gently, and extended a hand: “My body is numb, help me up.”

Lu Zizheng was skeptical but worried that Jiang Huaixi had been lying too long and might be affected, so she extended a hand to help her up. The moment their hands clasped, Lu Zizheng’s heart felt a sharp pain, as if pricked by a needle. She thought her hand had become numb from the cold, yet she could still feel the piercing cold from Jiang Huaixi’s hand.

Becoming more anxious to pull Jiang Huaixi up, Jiang Huaixi looked at her with a smile, not moving at all. Lu Zizheng had to add her other hand to pull her, but exerting too much force, she stumbled and almost fell backward.

At this moment, Jiang Huaixi exerted force, hurriedly grabbed Lu Zizheng’s hand that was about to let go, and pulled forward with force. Lu Zizheng fell with a “thud” onto Jiang Huaixi, at the same time a painful groan was heard from Jiang Huaixi.

Lu Zizheng buried her head in Jiang Huaixi’s chest, her head heated up, her face burning with embarrassment and anger. She hurriedly got up and wanted to walk away, not daring to look at Jiang Huaixi again.

Even though she had struggled to support her body with her hands during the fall, reducing the impact, Jiang Huaixi’s sensitive area was still painfully hit. Jiang Huaixi frowned tightly, feeling both pain and cold, but saw Lu Zizheng get up without a word and walk farther away, even losing the strength to call her back.

Lu Zizheng felt ashamed and angry in her heart, only thinking that Jiang Huaixi getting hit was her own fault. If she hadn’t teased her and made her pull her up but then deliberately did not move, how could she have fallen on her? The soft touch on her face just now, oh, she couldn’t think about it anymore…

However, after walking a few steps, Lu Zizheng remembered the cold touch on her face when she fell on Jiang Huaixi. It was not fake; her clothes must have been soaked through. Her heart sank, and her steps slowed down.

No longer caring about anything else, Lu Zizheng turned around, walked quickly to Jiang Huaixi’s side, squatted down, and softly said: “Huaixi, stop fooling around. Get up and take a hot bath, and change your clothes.”

Jiang Huaixi looked at her with burning eyes, the corners of her lips curved upward again, and weakly said: “I know you have always been jealous that my figure is better than yours, but you shouldn’t have been so ruthless. Now I really can’t get up…”

For once, Lu Zizheng did not retort. Her already red face turned even redder. Silently, she extended her hand and held Jiang Huaixi’s shoulder, helping her up.

With Lu Zizheng’s support, Jiang Huaixi struggled to stand up from the snow, her body swaying slightly, and she grabbed Lu Zizheng’s arm to steady herself.

Jiang Huaixi was very cold, moving slowly and walking with difficulty. Lu Zizheng held her with both hands, her eyes filled with unconcealed worry.

When they passed by the snowman they had built together, Jiang Huaixi stopped, signaling Lu Zizheng to pick up the bag.

Confused, Lu Zizheng squatted down, picked up the bag, and handed it to Jiang Huaixi. Jiang Huaixi moved her stiff fingers and took out two black, round beads, a red carrot, and a small bracelet from the bag, gently placing the facial features on Lu Zizheng’s snowman.

Lu Zizheng stared blankly at her actions, her expression gloomy. So, there were materials left after all!

Jiang Huaixi adjusted the nose of the snowman she made, adjusted the curvature of the mouth, blinked her eyes and said: “Snow Baby feels extremely ugly, crying and asking when you will give it back its eyes.”

Following Jiang Huaixi’s words, Lu Zizheng looked at the snowman. The eyeless snowman with its drooping mouth corners indeed looked pitiful and unhappy.

A smile appeared on Lu Zizheng’s face. She took out two black beads from her pocket, carefully placed them in their original positions, and lifted the corners of its mouth, making Snowy show a cute and happy smile.

Satisfied with the two snowmen, Lu Zizheng extended her hand to support Jiang Huaixi, urging: “Alright, satisfied now? Let’s go inside.”

Following her steps, Jiang Huaixi moved forward. Just before entering the house, she looked back. The courtyard lights dimmed one by one as they left. In the courtyard, only the silver glow of the full moon remained. In the cold and silent wind, the snowmen she and Lu Zizheng built stood straight, hand in hand, smiling against the wind…

As soon as Jiang Huaixi entered the house, a middle-aged woman in her fifties hurriedly brought up two cups of hot milk, nervously handing them to Jiang Huaixi and Lu Zizheng, murmuring: “Miss, you finally came in. Zhang Ma was so scared. It’s so cold outside, how could you bear it?”

Lu Zizheng took the milk, softly thanked her, but did not drink it immediately. She also looked at Jiang Huaixi with a worried expression.

Jiang Huaixi, however, stared at the milk in her hand, the meaning all too clear.

Lu Zizheng retracted her gaze and, under Jiang Huaixi’s watchful eyes, drank the hot milk. Her body warmed up as the hot milk went down.

Only then did Jiang Huaixi take small sips of her milk. Zhang Ma, standing by, urged: “Miss, I’ve already prepared the hot water. Go take a bath to warm yourself up.”

Jiang Huaixi placed the cup on the tray, and as soon as she turned her gaze towards Lu Zizheng, she heard Zhang Ma hurriedly persuade: “Ah, Miss, don’t worry. I have also prepared hot water for Miss Lu, and the clothes and guest room are all ready.” Seeing Jiang Huaixi unmoved, she turned around and walked upstairs: “Miss Lu, follow me…”

Jiang Huaixi was worried that Lu Zizheng might be unwilling to stay overnight, but Lu Zizheng showed no sign of displeasure and followed Zhang Ma upstairs, reassuring Jiang Huaixi: “I’m fine, you just take care of yourself.”

Jiang Huaixi softly responded with an “Mm,” then turned around and walked towards the bathroom on the first floor.

Lu Zizheng followed Zhang Ma to the second floor and entered the guest bathroom. Zhang Ma pointed to the clothes placed to the side and said: “The clothes are brand new and have been washed once. I don’t know what style Miss Lu likes, so please bear with them for now.”

Lu Zizheng smiled politely and said: “It’s no trouble, you are very kind.”

Zhang Ma briefly explained the details of using the bathroom and then retreated, advising Lu Zizheng to wash up quickly to ward off the cold.

Lu Zizheng tested the water temperature, finding it just right. She took off her watch and placed it on the bathroom counter, undressed, and got into the water, feeling a sense of relaxation wash over her. She let out a long, slow breath.

Perhaps it was the extreme comfort or the exhaustion from the earlier playfulness, but as she sat in the bathtub, she soon felt drowsy and, with her eyes half-closed, fell asleep.

When she woke up, the bathroom was filled with steam. The bathtub was fully automatic, keeping the water temperature consistently warm, but her skin had already developed fine wrinkles. Lu Zizheng frowned slightly, gathered her thoughts, and diligently washed her hair and body.

After draining the water and getting dressed, Lu Zizheng stood at the bathroom counter, took the hairdryer hanging nearby, and started drying her hair. Looking down, she saw the watch Jiang Huaixi had given her, lying quietly on the counter, with the second hand ticking away…

She held the hairdryer with one hand, drying her hair, and unconsciously drew on the misty mirror with the other hand, first sketching the slightly slanted bangs, then the long straight hair on both sides, and finally the delicate and elegant oval face. Just as Jiang Huaixi’s outline was about to appear, Lu Zizheng came back to her senses, spread her palm, and gently wiped away all the mist.

In the mirror, her mouth showed a faint smile, but her eyes held bitterness.

She moved the hairdryer downward with one hand and gently fiddled with her hair with the other, admonishing herself: “Lu Zizheng, you cannot be greedy.”

After drying her hair, Lu Zizheng, with Jiang Huaixi on her mind, didn’t pay much attention to details. Wearing pajamas, draped in a coat, and in cotton slippers, she left the guest room. Just as she stepped out of the room, she saw the young female doctor named Jiang Wang coming out of the room directly opposite, gently closing the door.

Turning around and seeing Lu Zizheng, Jiang Wang’s face showed no hint of surprise. She just looked at Lu Zizheng expressionlessly, her eyes full of scrutiny.

Feeling somewhat uneasy under her gaze, Lu Zizheng nodded lightly and greeted her. As she was about to pass by and go downstairs, Jiang Wang spoke indifferently: “Miss is fine. She took some cold-prevention medicine and went to sleep. You don’t need to worry.” Her voice, like her expression, was cold and devoid of warmth. “Miss instructed that if you are not comfortable sleeping here, I can take you back.”

Lu Zizheng lowered her eyes slightly and replied softly: “There’s no need to trouble you, Dr. Jiang.” Without seeing Jiang Huaixi, she couldn’t put her mind at ease.

Jiang Wang nodded: “Then I’ll go back first.” As she went downstairs, she added: “Miss asked me to prepare some cold medicine for you. Zhang Ma will bring some to your room later.” While speaking, she turned back and gave Lu Zizheng a deep look.

Lu Zizheng couldn’t clearly discern her expression—whether it was envy, loneliness, or sorrow…

When Zhang Ma brought the medicine upstairs, Lu Zizheng was already in bed, leaning against the pillow. Seeing Zhang Ma knock on the door and come in with a tray of water and medicine, Lu Zizheng hurriedly got out of bed, took the cup and medicine with both hands, and thanked her warmly.

Zhang Ma stood watching her take the medicine, sighing that Lu Zizheng indeed had outstanding looks and an exceptional temperament, presenting a likable appearance. However, she was still somewhat displeased; everything was good, but why didn’t she know to care for Miss and instead brought her into such a mess?

Lu Zizheng didn’t know about Zhang Ma’s inner complaints. After taking the medicine, she handed the water cup to Zhang Ma and said another polite thank you.

Zhang Ma hesitated to speak. Lu Zizheng noticed, but in the end, Zhang Ma just stomped her foot, took the cup, and quietly withdrew. Some things, perhaps, were not her place to say, so be it.

Lu Zizheng turned off the light, lay on the bed, thinking about Jiang Wang’s meaningful gaze and Zhang Ma’s hesitation to speak. She murmured “Jiang Bao” in her heart and silently sighed.

Outsiders valued her so much, how would Father Jiang and Mother Jiang feel? Such a prestigious family as the Jiang family, ordinary people probably wouldn’t catch their eye, let alone… let alone…

Lu Zizheng didn’t dare to think further, and knew she shouldn’t. Jiang Huaixi ought to have a better match. If she could stay by her side as a friend, neither too close nor too distant, for a lifetime, it would already be a great fortune. She was glad to stop her thoughts, closed her eyes, and wholeheartedly sought sleep.

She didn’t know how long had passed when she vaguely heard a distant bell chime, announcing that midnight had arrived. In her drowsiness, Lu Zizheng murmured in her heart: December 26th…

And then, nothing more…

LP: Re-translated on July 31, 2024