Chapter 71: Wanting to See All the World's Beauties With You
Qiao Zhen stood there in a daze for several seconds, her body refusing to obey her commands, stiff and unmoving. She nodded, letting out a soft “mm.” Receiving her response, Qin Yichi stepped forward, and before she could react, he bent down and embraced her, pulling her into his arms.
He held her as if she were the most precious pearl, with utmost care.
Her small face buried against his chest, Qiao Zhen’s mind went blank for a moment. She couldn’t even control her own hands, which instinctively wrapped around his lean, powerful waist.
It felt so comfortable, so safe in his arms.
She’d thought she was like any other girl, that the hug would last just a few seconds. But when she tried to let go, she found his strong arms locked firmly around her back.
Qin Yichi continued to hold her tightly, not letting go.
Suddenly, Qiao Zhen grew nervous, her heart thundering like a startled fawn darting frantically within her chest.
Luckily, all the other boys were too absorbed in inspecting their snowboards to notice the two of them embracing tenderly in the corner.
Besides, the difference in their statures was considerable. Next to Qin Yichi’s towering frame, Qiao Zhen appeared even more delicate, entirely shielded from view.
She held her breath, not daring to move, feeling the heat of his chest and murmured softly, “Qin Yichi, you’re amazing.”
He truly was—everything he did, he did well.
The moment her words fell, Qin Yichi’s gaze grew dark and intense, and a muffled groan rumbled from deep in his throat, striking directly at Qiao Zhen’s heart.
His voice was impossibly alluring…
His hot breath drifted against her ear, mingling with a crisp scent of fresh grass, tickling her softly like feathers—making her shiver with a mix of itchiness and delight.
Her eyelashes fluttered, her heartbeat erratic, legs growing weak. Afraid she might collapse, she could only cling more tightly to Qin Yichi.
She was lost, unable to pull herself free.
She squeezed her eyes shut in distress, her cheeks burning, heart threatening to leap from her chest.
Heavens, everything pointed to one thing: she was utterly doomed…
So she simply buried her head and stayed obediently in his arms.
Qin Yichi’s chest felt ablaze, the fire spreading through his limbs and bones, his whole being set alight.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he lowered his gaze, fixing it intently on the girl in his embrace.
She wore a pink bunny ski suit, looking like a bundle of snow, her fair cheeks tinged with delicate blush—a picture of innocence.
Suddenly, a wicked impulse surged within Qin Yichi.
He wanted to knead her, to squeeze her, and even more… to fiercely tease her.
No one knew how long it was before Qin Yichi finally suppressed his dark urges. He restrained himself and drew back, saying, “Hold on tight.”
He appeared calm and composed, lazily turning around with a nonchalant air, masking the heat burning at his ears and the deafening thunder of his heartbeat.
—Just so he could hold her openly,
—He had hugged everyone.
As they separated, Qiao Zhen breathed a quiet sigh of relief. But Qin Yichi suddenly reached out his hand to her. “Come, I’ll take you skiing.”
She looked up, her breath catching.
In her past life, she’d gone skiing alone and twisted her ankle badly; the memory still frightened her.
The slope here was quite steep—what if something happened?
But with Qin Yichi beside her, she felt enveloped in a cocoon of safety, all fear and worry vanishing.
Qiao Zhen placed her hand in his, heart pounding inexplicably, “Okay.”
Sunlight streamed through the clouds, blanketing the snowfield with glimmering diamond-like sparkles.
Facing each other, hand in hand, Qiao Zhen and Qin Yichi glided slowly from the mountaintop, dancing with the snow.
Their partnership was harmonious and fluid, like a pair of butterflies twirling over the white expanse.
Not far away, Zhang Ning lifted her phone, snapping photos and recording video.
On the screen, one wore pink, the other gray—a little bunny and a big gray wolf. Oh, the sense of destiny was overwhelming, the air between them thick with unspoken intimacy!
They were perfect together! She wanted to push their heads together and make them kiss!
Caught up in her shipping frenzy, Zhang Ning grinned widely, but lost her balance and toppled into the snow.
“Ow!” she cried out in protest.
Zhang Yu picked her up, exasperated. “Didn’t I tell you not to play with your phone while skiing?”
Cold wind whipped their hair as it blew past.
Qiao Zhen held Qin Yichi’s hand tightly, looking down the mountain, her heart rising and falling with the slope.
It didn’t feel like skiing—it felt like waltzing.
Qin Yichi gradually picked up speed, watching her, his Adam’s apple bobbing, “Relax…”
“Is this pace okay for you?”
Qiao Zhen nodded, an unusual light flickering in her eyes, “Yes, it’s fine.”
Everything felt unreal, as if she were dreaming, a subtle emotion welling up inside her.
If only this moment could last forever—she thought that might be wonderful.
Her nerves and fear faded, replaced by excitement, and two dimples blossomed on her cheeks.
She was nearly lost in this splendid winter date, in the thrill of skiing together.
The two figures swept through the whistling wind, carving their mark across the silver-clad snowfield—a perfect trace left behind.
This winter seemed especially romantic.
At last, the group gathered in a circle, taking photos at the ski park, raising a toast to the free and unrestrained wind, and to the passionate, exuberant youth…
When the trip ended and everyone boarded the high-speed train for the journey home, it felt as if they’d been yanked back to mundane reality, a wave of withdrawal and disappointment washing over them.
The boys wailed, “Awooo! It feels like we just got here, why do we have to leave already? I don’t want to go!”
“Press 1 to return to the first day, boohoo…”
“That was awesome, just freaking awesome! Let’s do it again next time, brothers!!!”
Qiao Zhen sat quietly, only nodding and smiling in agreement.
Suddenly, Qin Yichi turned to her, his eyes dark and deep, and called her name, “Qiao Zhen.”
“Hmm?” She looked up at him.
The train sped smoothly along the tracks.
In the relative quiet, as the scenery sped past the window, Qin Yichi, shy and tentative, brushed his finger lightly against hers.
“In the summer, come with me to see the sea.”
—From “Qin Yichi’s Secret Diary”:
Qiao Zhen, I want to see the snow with you, to see mountains and oceans, to watch the sunrise and sunset, to catch shooting stars and auroras, to experience all the world’s most romantic and beautiful sights together with you.