As the weather grew colder, the winter in Beijing proved very different from that of the south.

Yao Jiayin had already been on this land for over three months.

The past few days had been so cold that even four layers of clothing weren’t enough to keep her warm. She had no choice but to dig out a bulky, old-fashioned floral padded jacket.

But the moment she stood in front of the mirror, she took it off again.

Yao Jiayin looked at the fair-faced girl reflected in the mirror and formed the gentle smile she wore so often in daily life.

The girl in the mirror returned a shy, harmless smile.

“Winter in the north is really cold,” she said softly to herself.

Food and warmth—being full and being warm—were the most urgent problems she needed to solve right now.

One Week Later

After Class at Noon, A Corner of the Campus

“Even if fate is tossed and turned,
Even if fate is twisted and strange,
Even if fate threatens you…”

A few students from the music club were adjusting the sound equipment.

Yao Jiayin understood Cantonese because her maternal grandmother was from Guangzhou. Back then, her grandmother had met her grandfather at the docks and married into Jiang City.

Not long after Yao Jiayin’s mother passed away, her grandparents were taken back to Guangzhou by her uncle to live out their retirement.

She had heard that winters there weren’t cold. Yao Jiayin had always been curious and wanted to visit.

In the first few years, when there were no phones, they occasionally exchanged letters. Later, contact completely faded.

Her uncle earned good money and had two children. Life only got better and better. Her grandparents were happy and well taken care of.

Yao Jiayin never tried to save money to seek them out. She didn’t want to burden others unnecessarily.

That was also why, when friends asked why she hadn’t applied to universities in Guangzhou and instead chose the capital, she had no simple answer.

She softly hummed along to the popular Cantonese song, rubbing her fingers that were already numb from the cold.

The northern winter was far colder than she had imagined.

But there was one thing the south didn’t have—central heating.

The cast-iron radiators were scorching hot. You could dry socks and towels on them, warm milk, and reheat food.

Yao Jiayin wanted to hurry back to the dorm. Walking outside made her nose ache and her knees stiff with cold.

Just as she carried her cheapest one-dish meal and walked briskly toward the women’s dormitory—

A figure hurried up from behind her.

“Jiayin—hey! Yao Jiayin—!”

She immediately stopped, hugged the lunch box tightly to her chest, and turned around with her usual gentle smile.

“Senior Zhao?”

The surprise and delight on her face softened Zhao Jiahao’s heart instantly.

“The last time I saw you, you were sniffling from the cold,” he laughed. “Not used to how cold Beijing gets, huh?”

As he spoke, he handed her a bag.

“This is a down jacket for you. It’s very light and really warm. You’ll definitely look beautiful in it.”

The large brand logo on the bag made it obvious at a glance that it wasn’t cheap.

Yao Jiayin hurriedly refused.

“A down jacket? I know… this must cost over a hundred yuan, right? It’s too expensive. I really can’t accept it.”

As she spoke, a gust of cold wind swept past. Even in her thick sweater, she shivered.

She rubbed her arms and smiled sweetly.

“Senior, I actually brought a really thick padded jacket. I can wear it when it gets colder. I’ll take good care of myself.”

Seeing this poor yet resilient little white flower, Zhao Jiahao felt even more protective.

“It’s not expensive,” he coaxed. “I bought it on sale.”

In truth, it cost over a thousand yuan—but he couldn’t say that. He was afraid it would scare her.

He turned slightly to block the wind for her and smiled.

“Didn’t you say you found a part-time job at a restaurant? How about this—you take it for now, and later you can give me a gift in return. Deal?”

After being persuaded a few times, Yao Jiayin finally accepted it, her ears turning red.

“Senior, you’re really such a good person. I’m so touched.”

With a lunch box in one hand and the big bag in the other, she looked up at Zhao Jiahao, whose thick brows and sharp eyes made him look especially upright.

“You’ve taken such good care of me—I don’t even know how to thank you properly.”

“I’ll treat you to a meal when I get my paycheck next month!”

Watching her bite her lip nervously, ears red as she offered to treat him, Zhao Jiahao suddenly felt sweet all over.

He almost wanted to buy her pants, shoes, a hat…

It was just money, after all. Worst case, he could borrow some from his cousin once his allowance ran out.

“Sure,” he replied immediately. “There’s a new donkey meat sandwich place outside campus. My roommate really likes it…”

Zhao Jiahao usually ate out and sometimes went to upscale restaurants with his rich second-generation cousin.

But to avoid putting pressure on her, he nearly wanted to say that even a three-yuan milk tea would be fine.

After a moment, seeing the girl he liked smiling and chatting with him despite her pale face from the cold, he blamed himself for being inconsiderate and quickly offered to walk her back to the dorm.

Yao Jiayin’s cheeks were stiff from the cold, yet she said thoughtfully,

“Mm, let’s go back. It’s my fault—I was just too happy to see you, Senior.”

Enduring the icy wind sneaking into her collar, she walked slowly alongside him.

“Goodbye, Senior~ I’m heading in now~”

“Mm. See you next time, Jiayin.”

……………

As soon as she entered the dorm, Yao Jiayin placed the lunch box on the radiator.

She then took off the thick but not very warm sweater and pulled out the pale pink down jacket.

When she noticed that the tags had all been cut off, she chuckled softly and put it on, walking to the full-length mirror.

She loosened her ponytail, zipped the jacket up to her collar. The fluffy standing collar wrapped around her slender neck.

Black hair, snow-white skin—soft, pink, and delicate.

Clothes really did make the person. And money truly could nourish someone.

Her roommates returned one by one after eating. Seeing Yao Jiayin trying on new clothes, they gathered around to praise her.

Xu Jiajia, a local, recognized the brand immediately.

“Jiayin, isn’t that from Brand X? I saw it in the display window just last week—it’s a new arrival!”

Another local roommate, Sun Hui, circled around her, praising her nonstop before muttering,

“Damn, Yao Beauty—where did you get the money? …Ah, I don’t mean anything bad, it’s just that this jacket is really expensive…”

The room was warm. Yao Jiayin took the jacket off and hung it up carefully.

She didn’t avoid the question.

“It was a gift from a friend. I’m still thinking about what I should give back.”

Chen Juanhui, who was from Shanhe Province, let out a playful “Oh~~” and teased,

“Which pursuer gave it to you?”

“You’ve turned down so many confessions these past two months—looks like this one has a chance?”

A blush spread across Yao Jiayin’s face. She shot them a playful glare.

“Oh, come on—treating me like gossip entertainment again~”

She didn’t plan to hide it and smiled.

“It’s that Senior Zhao I mentioned before…”

“You all know I’m really poor. I saved up my own tuition.”

She looked at the mirror again, her fingers brushing over the embroidered logo on the left chest, her voice lowering.

“I’ve seen this brand in magazines. This jacket must cost at least a thousand yuan.”

“My part-time job only pays about four hundred a month… What kind of gift should I give him? Sigh—”

The three roommates all liked Yao Jiayin. She was usually obedient and cute, occasionally saying something surprisingly bold.

Poor but not timid. Gentle with everyone.

Hearing her worry, they immediately sat down to brainstorm.

“That Senior Zhao?”

“Looks like he comes from money. Then don’t give him a branded gift—why not knit a scarf yourself?”

“That’s a good idea. The materials are cheap, but the sentiment matters.”

“Oh right—Christmas is coming up. People like to give apples as confessions. Jiayin, if Senior Zhao confesses to you, would you say yes?”

When asked that question, Yao Jiayin was mentally calculating which yarn would be cheapest.

She didn’t even want to spend ten yuan unnecessarily.

“Huh?”

She looked up at the three pairs of eager eyes, thought for ten seconds, then smiled shyly.

“Yes.”

If he continued to treat her well—sincerely, generously, and with consideration for her pride… why not give it a try?

………….

A Few Days Later

Faced with his close friends’ questions, Zhao Jiahao was uncharacteristically shy.

“The day after tomorrow is Christmas. I’m planning to find an excuse to ask Jiayin out and officially confess.”

“I don’t know if she’ll agree to be my girlfriend… damn, I’m kind of nervous.”

The two friends immediately shuddered.

One of them bumped him with his shoulder.

“Quit acting innocent. You’re still in contact with your rich ex-girlfriend. Aren’t you afraid she’ll find out and start making trouble again?”

Another friend, who had a girlfriend, grew serious and advised him,

“Zhao Jiahao, that’s enough. Don’t act on a whim.”

“I asked my girlfriend about it. That freshman comes from a really poor family—she’s simple, and it wasn’t easy for her to make it to Beijing on her own.”

“When you’ve had your fill of playing the considerate hero and then graduate and break up with her, aren’t you afraid she’ll fall apart?”

It’s easy to go from frugality to luxury—but hard to go back.

That tough, poor little white flower—once she got used to spending freely with Zhao Jiahao—

How would she adapt when reality snapped back?

Zhao Jiahao frowned deeply and kicked both friends.

“Get lost! We’re not even together yet and you’re already cursing us to break up!”

“She’s not like Xuanxuan. Xuanxuan was spoiled by her family, had a princess temper. Being friends was fine, but dating her nearly suffocated me. I didn’t date anyone for two years after that…”

“On the first day of school, Jiayin was like a pure white jasmine flower suddenly bursting into my world… I’ve never felt that kind of heartbeat before…”

“Jiayin is kind, simple, gentle-tempered, considerate, understanding…”

“I’m warning you—when my confession succeeds, I’m treating both dorms to dinner. You’d better behave yourselves and not say anything stupid.”

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