Solitary Toss of Tenderness

Jiang Huaixi, wake up for me

Lu Zizheng’s mind wandered for too long. She was lost in watching the fireworks, and Jiang Huaixi had been observing her all along. When she finally snapped back to reality and turned her head, Jiang Huaixi was caught off guard, unable to retract her gaze in time.

To mask the awkwardness, Jiang Huaixi pretended to casually inquire, “I didn’t expect you to be so romantic. Do you enjoy watching fireworks?”

Lu Zizheng smirked faintly and stirred the shrimp balls in her plate. “Not really. It just reminded me of someone who owes me a fireworks display. I don’t know why, but it feels like I’ve been waiting for it for a very long time.”

She noticed a slight chill in Jiang Huaixi’s smile, as if she was deep in thought. She withdrew her attention and happened to glance downstairs, where a child was playing in the snow while their parents tried to pull them away. To change the subject, she asked, “Can you build a snowman?”

Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow and countered, “Why don’t you take a guess?”

Lu Zizheng pursed her lips and smiled, saying, “Hmph, I already know you definitely can’t.”

Jiang Huaixi showed interest and said, “You seem to know. How about teaching me, then?”

Lu Zizheng chuckled and replied, “Are you willing to pay tuition?”

Jiang Huaixi refilled her empty glass with a bit of liquor, gently swirling it around, and provocatively remarked, “Well, it depends on how good of a teacher you are. I don’t usually make bad deals.”

Lu Zizheng shook her head regretfully and disdainfully said, “I’m not teaching a skill, but a sentiment. Sentiment is priceless, how could there be any loss? You only gain, never lose. It seems you don’t understand the market.”

Jiang Huaixi set down her glass, picked up a napkin to dab at the corner of her lips, and said, “Indeed, sentiment is truly priceless. It lingers in the heart, unforgettable over time, and ever fresh.” Her words carried a hint of meaning, yet it was simply a reflection.

Sentiment, oh sentiment, Lu Zizheng sighed, “Speaking of which, it has been many years since I last built one. I remember the first time I built a snowman, it was my dad who taught me, guiding me step by step. We would roll a big snowball first, then a smaller one, while Mom, who couldn’t bear the cold, held a pointy carrot and waited to help give the snowman a nose…”

In her eyes, Jiang Huaixi could clearly see the nostalgia and longing that resided within Lu Zizheng.

With a flicker of thought, Jiang Huaixi casually said, “Let’s go then.”

Lu Zizheng, not following Jiang Huaixi’s train of thought, reflexively asked, “Go where?”

Jiang Huaixi furrowed her brow, saying, “Weren’t you going to teach me to build a snowman and find that sentiment?”

Lu Zizheng only just realized today that Jiang Huaixi was truly a person of action who meant what she said. She glanced at the window where the snow had barely covered the ground in a thin layer and chuckled, “The snow is so thin right now. How can we build a snowman anywhere?”

Jiang Huaixi furrowed her brow, fixedly looking at Lu Zizheng, and said, “I have my ways. Just tell me if you want to go or not.” Her expression was surprisingly serious, and Lu Zizheng could discern that she wasn’t joking.

After a brief moment of confusion and surprise, Lu Zizheng wiped the corners of her mouth, picked up her bag, and stood up, responding, “Let’s go then.” She added with a smile, “Besides, if we keep eating, there won’t be any room for dessert…”

Jiang Huaixi took the lead as she walked ahead, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips, her long hair swaying with the sway of her graceful figure.

In her peripheral vision, she noticed Lian Xuan watching them, seeing them off with her gaze…

Once they left the restaurant, Lu Zizheng grabbed Jiang Huaixi’s hand and held it up, palm open, saying, “Give me the car keys. I’ll drive.” Jiang Huaixi was usually moderate in her alcohol consumption, only taking small sips, but this time she had surprisingly had quite a few drinks.

Jiang Huaixi obediently took out the keys from her bag and handed them to Lu Zizheng, saying, “Here you go, a law-abiding citizen.” She took out her phone and casually played with it while speaking, “I’ll be waiting here. Do you have any problem with reversing?”

Lu Zizheng turned and walked away, saying, “Rest assured, just wait peacefully, no need to worry.”

As Lu Zizheng drove the car out, when she heard Jiang Huaixi approach, Jiang Huaixi had already ended her call and stood with her hands in her pockets, looking relaxed. After the car came to a stop, Jiang Huaixi reached out to open the door, teasingly saying, “You took quite a long time. I thought you were trapped in the parking lot, and I was about to come to your rescue.”

Lu Zizheng cast a cold glance at Jiang Huaixi. She hadn’t noticed how Jiang Huaixi parked when she stopped the car, but now that she was driving, she realized that Jiang Huaixi’s parking skills were quite impressive. It was a close call, and she could have been trapped in the parking lot. No wonder Jiang Huaixi had asked her if she had any problem with reversing. She couldn’t help but suspect that it was intentional.

Jiang Huaixi wore a mischievous smile and spoke sincerely, “Zizheng, I’m entrusting myself to you. The roads are slippery at night, so please be careful.”

Lu Zizheng stared straight ahead and spoke in a cold voice, “Shut up. If you say another word, I can’t guarantee that I won’t drive the car into a ditch.”

Jiang Huaixi pursed her lips and fell silent. She helped Lu Zizheng set up the navigation and entered the destination. When the road conditions were poor, she offered some guidance to Lu Zizheng.

Following Jiang Huaixi’s directions, the car smoothly left the city and headed towards the quiet and desolate outskirts. Along the way, the snowfall became heavier, causing Lu Zizheng to drive even more cautiously.

After passing through a desolate area, the car entered a villa district, and the sight of lights and inhabited houses started to appear.

Located halfway up the mountainside, this area was noticeably colder than the city. Throughout the journey, they could feel that the snow had accumulated much thicker than on the city roads. However, as the car entered the villa district, there were no traces of snow on the road. Lu Zizheng assumed that the residents in this area were prompt in clearing the roads.

From a distance, they could see a villa ahead, brightly lit unlike the others. As they approached, they noticed that the villa gate was wide open, and a few people were vaguely standing in front of it.

Jiang Huaixi spoke up, “Just stop there ahead, and let’s go in.”

Lu Zizheng turned off the engine and got out of the car, following Jiang Huaixi.

Indeed, there were several men in suits standing in front of the gate, slightly bowing and showing deference to Jiang Huaixi. They respectfully addressed her, “Miss.”

Jiang Huaixi asked in a calm voice, “Is everything ready?”

The man standing at the front responded, “Everything is ready.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaixi nodded and paid no further attention to them. She turned to Lu Zizheng and said, “Let’s go inside.”

As they entered the courtyard, Lu Zizheng was astonished by the sight before her. The ground was covered with neatly piled snow, and as soon as she stepped in, her shoes sank halfway in. She quickly realized the connection with the scene they had witnessed earlier on the road.

She turned to look at Jiang Huaixi and saw her gazing at her with a faint expression, but there was a subtle hint of anticipation in her eyes. What a romantic fool she was. Lu Zizheng felt touched in her heart, but teasingly said, “Working for the Jiang family isn’t easy. Even during the festive season, you’re responsible for shoveling snow and clearing the path in the middle of the night for the boss’s enjoyment. Boss, did you give them any extra bonus for that?”

Jiang Huaixi crouched down, casually playing with the snow. She looked up at Lu Zizheng and nonchalantly replied, “Don’t be too obvious with your envy of the rich. Well, do you think this is enough for you to build a snowman?” Her eyes sparkled, making it difficult for Lu Zizheng to refuse.

Lu Zizheng squatted down, extending her hands and pushing up a thick layer of snow. She chuckled and said, “Ten snowmen would be more than enough.”

Starting from the surroundings, she slowly pushed the snow towards the center, compacting it. “Here, it’s time for class. Whatever I do, you just follow along.”

Jiang Huaixi nodded, assuming the role of an eager student.

Lu Zizheng rolled a large snowball for the base of the snowman, and Jiang Huaixi mimicked her actions to create another one. Then, Lu Zizheng pushed out a smaller snowball, and Jiang Huaixi earnestly made one following suit.

With the bodies of the snowmen complete, Lu Zizheng picked up two branches from under a tree in the courtyard to make the snowmen’s arms. Jiang Huaixi followed suit. The branches she found were much longer than Lu Zizheng’s, almost reaching the hand of Lu Zizheng’s snowman.

Everything was perfect, except for the facial features that were still missing. Lu Zizheng looked around for suitable materials but couldn’t find any. While she was pondering with a furrowed brow, she heard Jiang Huaixi lightly clap her hands, the sound crisp and pleasant.

A man approached Jiang Huaixi, carrying a white bag. He silently placed it beside her and quietly departed.

Jiang Huaixi smirked at Lu Zizheng triumphantly, taking out shiny black beads from the bag. She carefully placed them on the snowman’s head, followed by a cute carrot nose and a small mouth made of a red bracelet.

When the masterpiece was complete, she stood up, admiring her snowman with satisfaction. Then, she glanced at Lu Zizheng’s snowman and mischievously said, “Teacher, your snowman has no eyes, nose, how terrifying! People will have nightmares after seeing it at night.”

Lu Zizheng was startled by Jiang Huaixi referring to herself as “people,” and she trembled slightly. Silently, she also stood up and walked towards Jiang Huaixi’s snowman, with each step sinking deeper into the snow. She pondered for a moment and said, “These shiny beads do look quite beautiful.” Suddenly, she reached out her hand, hesitated, and quickly ran away.

Jiang Huaixi glanced and was shocked to find that the adorable big eyes of her snowman were missing! Realizing it, she lifted her foot and chased after Lu Zizheng, exclaiming, “Give Snowy’s eyes back to me!”

While running, Lu Zizheng chuckled, saying, “Oh, so it’s name is Snowy now? I never knew Miss Jiang had such a playful side…”

Jiang Huaixi couldn’t outrun Lu Zizheng, and after a few steps, she started to feel out of breath. Desperate, she squatted down, grabbed a handful of snow, and threw it at Lu Zizheng. With a swift motion, the snowball hit its target, striking Lu Zizheng’s thigh, causing her to stumble.

Jiang Huaixi felt triumphant and proudly shouted, “Give me the eyes!”

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Lu Zizheng responded, “You want the eyes, huh…” With quick reflexes, she also grabbed a handful of snow and threw it at Jiang Huaixi, saying, “Come and get them if you can…”

However, Jiang Huaixi was already prepared. With a slight shift of her body, she evaded the attack and taunted, “Zizheng, your aim isn’t very good, huh?”

Unwilling to give up, Lu Zizheng raised her hand for another strike, but Jiang Huaixi evaded once again…

“Let me teach you how to hit your target…” Just as the words left her mouth, Lu Zizheng couldn’t dodge in time and was hit by a snowball from Jiang Huaixi, causing her to exclaim, “Ouch!”

“Are you returning the eyes now?”

“No, unless I manage to hit you once…” Lu Zizheng laughed loudly in response.

“Dream on!” Jiang Huaixi bent down, clenched her fist, and prepared to deliver another blow to Lu Zizheng.

Lu Zizheng had become clever and wouldn’t just sit there waiting to be hit. As the snowball came flying towards her, she quickly moved aside and started running. Jiang Huaixi, naturally, chased after her with quick steps.

The two of them engaged in a snowball fight, chasing and evading each other, filling the once quiet and desolate courtyard with laughter and exclamations that echoed in the night sky.

For the first time, Jiang Huaixi heard Lu Zizheng laugh so freely, like a child. When she reached out to grab Lu Zizheng, the latter turned around in panic, only to be embraced and pinned down in the snowy ground.

In her state of panic, Lu Zizheng’s eyes widened—shiny, watery, resembling a cute little deer. Jiang Huaixi raised an eyebrow, a smile filling her face. Unfortunately, her legs had turned stiff and cold, almost losing sensation. She no longer had the strength to flip over and shield Lu Zizheng from any potential harm. With her frozen hands, she propped herself up to prevent putting pressure on her.

“Ah, Jiang Huaixi, get up from me…”

“Sorry, I got so devastated and exhausted when I thought about my snow darling losing its eyes.” Jiang Huaixi lowered her head and locked eyes with Lu Zizheng, her smile mischievous.

Just inches away, Lu Zizheng could clearly see Jiang Huaixi’s ink-like eyes, shimmering with her own reflection like starlight—so clear, so captivating.

Her heart skipped a beat, and in a fluster, she closed her eyes, unable to meet the gaze directly. She was trembling all over from the cold, her teeth chattering. Yet Jiang Huaixi, like those eyes, seemed to radiate warmth, heating up her body. Her breath brushed gently against Lu Zizheng’s frozen face, bringing a soft and comforting sensation.

And those lips, with their subtle pink hue, would they feel just as warm? Lu Zizheng felt herself getting entranced.