The snow fell thicker and faster, leaving the sidewalks nearly deserted.
Although Chi Ze Rui secretly wished the walk could be longer.
Just a bit longer.
But he couldn't bear to let the little girl accompany him in the rain for so long.
So, passing a jewelry store, he pulled her inside.
Wen Ting Xue followed him, dazed, "Are you going to buy a hat?"
Right.
On such a cold day, he was only wearing a black wool coat, which offered no warmth, did it?
Chi Ze Rui didn't answer. Instead, he placed a hat on her head and asked, "Does it look good?"
"Hm?"
Wen Ting Xue instinctively looked in the mirror.
She had to admit, his taste was good.
The fluffy little tiger bucket hat made her look adorably silly.
However—
"Why are you buying me a hat? I'm not cold, you should buy one for yourself."
"Give me your hand," he said.
"What for?"
Despite asking, she still extended her hand.
He held it, and before she could pull away, he quickly released it and asked, "Do you still think I'm cold now?"
"..."
All right.
Even though he was trying to act cool, he really wasn't cold.
His hands were much warmer than hers.
"Little troublemaker."
He flicked her forehead, the hat cushioning the tap.
But Wen Ting Xue found the gesture a little intimate.
Then, he said again, "Next time, if you're cold, just tell me directly.
"If you catch a cold by my side, Yu ge will tear me apart."
Wen Ting Xue: "..."
"I'm actually not cold," she protested.
Chi Ze Rui glanced at her, his expression roguish, "Then why are your hands so cold?"
"I..."
"Shut up, let's buy an umbrella."
Without further ado, he tugged on her collar and led her to choose an umbrella.
After leaving the pharmacy, Chi Ze Rui took a taxi to send Wen Ting Xue home.
On the way, he asked, "When is your school exam?"
"The thirteenth."
"Is Yu ge going with you?"
"Not sure, he's still got a fever."
"Oh." Chi Ze Rui nodded nonchalantly.
After that, he remained silent.
All the way to the Yu family's house, Wen Ting Xue, carrying the medicine, jogged into the house.
Chi Ze Rui rolled down his car window and lit a cigarette.
Only when she had completely disappeared from his sight did he say, "Driver, take me to the bar street."
The Yu family residence, the second floor.
Wen Ting Xue quietly opened the door and entered.
After placing the warm water and medicine on the nightstand, she couldn't resist leaning in to see if he was awake.
To her surprise, he suddenly reached out and pulled her onto the bed.
"Where did you go? Why did it take so long to come back?"
His voice, hoarse from the fever, made his tone exceptionally deep and magnetic.
It sent a blush to Wen Ting Xue's earlobes.
"I went to buy you medicine," she tried to sit up but was held tightly by him.
"Be good, stay with big brother for a while."
His voice was drowsy, he didn't even open his eyes.
Even his breathing was heavier than usual.
"What is this?"
Wen Ting Xue looked at the hat in his hand, asking in confusion, "A hat, what's wrong?"
Yu Wen Li was groggy from the fever, but he could still distinguish a hat.
The crucial point was, he remembered that Uncle Wen and Aunt Yu had been extremely busy lately, let alone buying her a hat.
They probably wouldn't even have time to talk to her.
"Who bought it?"
In the dim light, he asked with a hoarse voice.
A hint of coldness unexpectedly crept into his tone.
Wen Ting Xue recounted the entire story, finally asking, "Do you think I should transfer the money to him."
"No need," Yu Wen Li, his eyes complex, tossed the hat aside. "He's not short of this little money."
Besides, he bought it for you genuinely.
If you really transferred the money, he would feel hurt.
"Oh..."
The little girl nodded obediently, "Then I won't transfer it. Originally, I... Hm?"
Before she could finish speaking, she was pulled into his embrace, in a rather possessive manner.
"If it weren't for fear of infecting you, I would never let you go. Don't you have any boundaries? Hm?"
His rough thumb forcefully rubbed her slightly reddened lips, a punishment laced with gritted teeth.
"Personal items like this, from now on, only I am allowed to buy them, understand?"
Wen Ting Xue remembered how he had been too sleepy to even open his eyelids earlier, and now he was so energetic.
He was truly quite jealous.
"What about that hat? It's quite pretty."
The little girl deliberately provoked him, and as expected, she heard a cold laugh, "You like it?"
"No, no, no—"
Wen Ting Xue quickly shook her head, but it was too late.
On the thirteenth, the school exam. On the twelfth, they had to go to the Imperial Capital to prepare.
Yu Wen Li's fever had mostly subsided, so he accompanied her. Mu Chen happened to have business in the Imperial Capital.
Thus, the three of them traveled together.
Chi Ze Rui hid at the airport. After their flight took off, he booked a ticket for the next flight to the Imperial Capital.
Everything went smoothly on the day of the exam. However, Mu Chen had a minor accident.
He needed to stay in the hospital for a few days.
Yu Wen Li and Wen Ting Xue canceled their booked flights to take care of him.
Unexpectedly, at half-past four in the morning, Qiao Xi Xi rushed over, looking anxious.
"Is he okay?"
She asked, grabbing Wen Ting Xue's hand, her eyes quickly reddening.
She had seen the news of the car accident, recognized his hair color, and bought a ticket overnight to come.
She had never traveled alone far from home since she was young; her brother or friends always accompanied her.
Only this time.
She disregarded everything, just wanting to confirm his safety as quickly as possible.
"Xi Xi?"
Mu Chen came out of the doctor's office. He saw her at a glance and thought he had a problem with his eyes.
But as he approached, he realized she was really here.
At that moment, his heart was filled with an indescribable emotion.
He just felt that such a good girl, why did she have to meet him.
"You're okay! You're really okay, that's great, so great!"
Qiao Xi Xi threw her arms around him, her excited words stumbling.
Tears fell, quickly soaking Mu Chen's hospital gown.
"I almost thought I wouldn't see you again, and you wouldn't answer my calls..."
Mu Chen's hands hung by his sides. After a long while, he raised them to embrace her.
"My phone was broken, I haven't replaced it yet."
"Then I'll get you a new one tomorrow," the little girl volunteered. "I know your favorite model, your favorite color, and the brand you must have."
Mu Chen appeared aloof and indifferent, but in reality, he was sentimental.
He could listen to a song for a very, very long time.
The spoon he used as a child was still in his storage box.
These were all things she had observed with care, and she was very sure she understood his preferences extremely well.
Mu Chen stared at her blankly for a long time, finally nodding in concession, "Alright, I'll listen to you."
The minor accident wasn't serious.
After five days in the hospital, Mu Chen was discharged.
As the Lunar New Year approached, Wen Qing brought Wen Lin Feng to visit again.
"Big Brother, you say, taking care of Mom..."
Wen Qing's eyes gleamed. "He's naturally obliged to, but our family also needs to eat.
"He's tied up at the hospital now. What about our future meals and drinks?"
Wen Zhong En didn't want to listen to her nonsense. "What exactly do you want to say?"
"Hehe." Wen Qing smiled. "Big Brother, could you help me out? I see Mom still has a long way to go.
"Why don't you arrange a job for me? I'll bring Xiao Feng to Jiang Cheng too. As for accommodation..."
She looked around. "This is a three-story house, and even outsiders have a place to stay. How much more so for relatives, right?"
Her entitled expression greatly displeased Wen Zhong En.
Just as he was about to correct her habit, a sharp scream pierced the silence. "Xiao Xue!!"
By the time Wen Zhong En got up, Wen Ting Xue had already tumbled down the stairs, her forehead covered in blood.
"Yi Yi!"
Wen Zhong En rushed over with a look of great alarm, but Yu Wen Li, who had just entered, was faster.
"Call an ambulance! Quickly!"
He carried the now unconscious Wen Ting Xue outside, exuding a chilling aura.
The culprit, Wen Lin Feng, carelessly pouted, "Such a drama queen, falling won't kill her."
Hearing this, Xu Ke Xin stiffly turned her head, "What did you say?"
"I said she deserves to die," Wen Lin Feng swung his game console, "Who told her to snatch things from me and hit me!"
Yu Xiu Xiu, finally snapping back to reality, grabbed her phone and smashed it onto his face.
Her eyes red, she said word by word:
"If anything happens to my daughter, I'll make sure you rot in jail!"