Chapter 70: Skiing for Two, A Romantic Winter Day

That evening, everyone enjoyed a hot pot dinner featuring local specialties, and, keeping it secret, ordered a massive cake for Niu Yifeng to celebrate his birthday on February 2nd. As Qin Yichi pulled the cake out from behind him, Niu Yifeng was instantly moved to tears, and the child next door was so tempted that he cried as well.

Qiao Zhen gifted him a pair of sunglasses and a thermos, while Qin Yichi presented him with a gaming chair, which was shipped directly to his house. Niu Yifeng bawled loudly, gripping Qin Yichi’s neck with one hand and reaching toward Qiao Zhen with the other, exclaiming, “Oh, I’m so touched! I love you guys!”

The moonlight was like silver, and the tourist attractions at night were even more beautiful. The city lights shimmered, countless lanterns reflected upon the lake, outshining the stars above.

Leaning on the bridge, Qiao Zhen felt the evening breeze, carrying a koi lantern, gazing into the distance. Her lips curved gently, and her eyes mirrored the dazzling stars.

She truly adored this kind of travel.

Freedom, comfort, joy, and excitement…

After wandering through another attraction, the group returned to the hotel, exhausted, their WeChat step counts easily in the tens of thousands.

With her hair freshly dried, Qiao Zhen emerged to find Zhang Ning sprawled on the bed, watching television.

The TV was airing a romance drama. After the male and female leads confirmed their relationship, they went on a date; the male lead shot arrows and caught stuffed animals to please the heroine. Finally, the two listened to music together in the snow, fingers intertwined, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes.

Qiao Zhen: “…”

Wait, isn’t this plot oddly familiar?

Zhang Ning sipped yogurt, quietly complaining, “Romance dramas these days are so formulaic! The leads fall for each other out of nowhere, get together out of nowhere, none of it is as sweet as you and Yichi!”

Qiao Zhen’s ears flushed pink as she softly retorted, “How are we sweet…”

Zhang Ning insisted, “You are! Your gazes are magnetic, your eyes are full of each other. Even passing dogs would be envious! Don’t believe me? Look at the photos!”

Ning Ning blinked her starry eyes, propped her chin, face full of anticipation, as if she was already imagining their wedding day.

Qiao Zhen, unusually silent, returned to her own bed, opened the group chat photos, and scrolled to a picture of her and Qin Yichi standing hand in hand before the ancient city, eyes locked.

Her breath caught.

Heavens… In the photo, the way she looked at Qin Yichi was utterly infatuated!

Blushing, Qiao Zhen quietly saved the image and set it as her chat background.

Unable to resist, she scrolled through their past conversations, reviewing every moment:

Pearl: [Quick! Open the door! I bought you some amazing roasted chestnuts from downstairs!]

Yichi: [I bought some snacks for you too.]

—

Pearl: [Passed my computer proficiency exam! Thank you, Teacher Qin! Next time, dinner’s on me! O(≧v≦)O! [little bunny hopping.jpg]]

[Yichi patted my head and said, “Well done!”]

Yichi: [You’re naturally smart.]

—

Pearl: [So nervous, I’m about to perform live on stage, what do I do…]

Yichi: [I’ll be with you.]

…

And after their haunted house visit, hours spent on voice chat to soothe her nightmares.

There were too many memories to recount.

Though these exchanges brought warmth and happiness, as Qiao Zhen scrolled, her eyes inexplicably stung, her nose tingled, and her chest felt tight.

Why is he so wonderful?

Everyone said he was intimidating, hard to approach, arrogant and unruly, yet he was the most gentle and attentive person.

Whenever she received a message from Qin Yichi, she couldn’t help but feel elated, her heart fluttering, silently repeating his words over and over.

Qin Yichi almost always replied instantly.

On the rare occasions when he was busy and didn’t check his phone, Qiao Zhen would wait, full of hope, clutching her phone for his response.

Every concern was met, every word echoed.

Qiao Zhen turned off her phone and took a deep breath.

The seed that had once taken root in her heart had, unknowingly, grown into a towering tree, lush and vibrant, its roots deep and unshakable.

Each heartbeat felt like green leaves drifting across the lake, sending ripples outward.

…

Luocheng Ski Resort was one of the country’s most famous, attracting countless tourists every year.

Early the next morning, everyone dressed in ski gear, rode the cable car up the mountain, eager to embrace the snow.

Qiao Zhen was most excited for skiing.

Standing atop the snowy peak, she gazed out, as though the whole world was blanketed in white, a breathtaking sight that made her feel small.

Skiers glided down one after another, moving freely and gracefully, sending up clouds of snow and carving elegant curves.

Qiao Zhen wore playful twin ponytails, a pink ski suit, a fluffy bunny helmet, and knee pads and goggles, bundled up and bouncing with excitement.

The next moment, her head was gently tapped twice.

She spun around, glaring at the culprit, her voice aggrieved, “Why are you tapping me…”

Qin Yichi stood behind her, dressed in black and gray, wearing goggles, his helmet adorned with wolf ears, adding a touch of pride to his composed demeanor.

He’d asked her to help choose his ski outfit, and without hesitation, she picked the “big bad wolf.”

It suited his broad shoulders and slim waist perfectly.

The corners of his lips curved slightly, his deep voice drifting to her ear, “You’re so cute, I couldn’t help but want to tap you.”

!!

The sudden directness left Qiao Zhen flustered.

She pursed her lips, refusing to be outdone, stood on tiptoe, and lightly tapped Qin Yichi’s helmet, her voice clear and sweet:

“You’re cute too.”

The other boys couldn’t help but feel envious, frantically tapping each other’s heads, mimicking, “Oh, you’re~ cute~ too~”

Qin Yichi shot them a sharp look, and the warmth and affection in his eyes vanished, replaced by a fierce, world-weary glare.

A stark contrast to just moments before.

The boys: “…” Instantly subdued, begging for mercy.

As skiing began, everyone scattered to enjoy themselves, with Zhang Ning following Zhang Yu to the safer children’s area.

While Qiao Zhen was still figuring out how to ski, Qin Yichi had already surged ahead, testing the slope for everyone.

A boy at the top called out, “Yichi, slow down! Don’t wipe out!”

But Qin Yichi seemed naturally gifted in sports. His motorcycle training and daily core workouts had given him exceptional strength.

Though he was also new to skiing, he moved effortlessly across the slopes, bold and graceful, like an eagle soaring in the sky.

The same skis, yet beneath his feet, they seemed transformed, merging with him and tracing elegant arcs across the snow.

Winter sunlight filtered through thin clouds, bathing him in a radiant glow.

He had barely begun when he managed a 360-degree jump—cool and wild! Instantly catching the attention of many girls nearby.

Even some boys were drawn to his performance.

Qiao Zhen imitated Niu Yifeng and the others, learning their moves, dreaming of being as cool as Qin Yichi.

After some time, she managed to cautiously maneuver her snowboard, step by careful step.

Her ambitions were high, but reality was harsh.

Without warning, as she began to move, she lost control and tumbled backward, landing squarely in the snow.

“…”

Turns out, she truly lacked athletic talent.

When Qin Yichi returned after his run, Niu Yifeng launched himself into a bear hug, shouting,

“Damn, you’re amazing! Quick, quick, give me a hug! Let me absorb some of your talent!”

Qin Yichi paused, chuckled, “Alright, everyone gets a turn.”

Soon, another boy pulled Niu Yifeng aside, excitedly announcing, “My turn, I want some luck too!”

“Me too!”

“Bro, let me soak up your skills! I want to ski like that!”

“…”

After all the boys had their share of luck and glory, only Qiao Zhen remained.

She stood quietly, watching the boys laugh and tease each other, her eyes crescent-shaped with joy.

Suddenly, a tall figure appeared in her line of sight.

Qin Yichi approached, spreading his arms slightly, his voice husky:

“Qiao Zhen, want a turn?”