Ruan Mian ran down the stairs so fast that she missed two steps. Fortunately, she was wearing thick winter clothes, so she felt no pain when she hit the floor. Her knees felt a dull numbness from the impact, so she rubbed them haphazardly, stood up against the wall, and rushed outside again.

The person she longed for had returned from thousands of miles away; he was waiting outside at this very moment. At that thought, the heavy sadness and worry that had pressed upon her heart since yesterday’s parents’ meeting vanished instantly. She ran into the warm winter sun, looking around, and soon saw a man leaning against a car, smoking.

His back was to her. The sunlight rose inch by inch, blurring her vision.

“Qi Yan.”

Those two words escaped her lips involuntarily. They were soaked in all her longing, deafening in her heart, yet she did not dare to shout them too loudly.

She was afraid this was just another dream of her own making.

The man had already seen the girl approaching with a flushed face through the reflection of the car. A faint smile touched the corners of his mouth as he accurately flicked his extinguished cigarette butt into a nearby trash can.

Ruan Mian saw this movement and suddenly stopped in her tracks.

A thought rose above all the excitement in her heart and became clear: it wasn’t him.

Then who was it?

Gao Yuan turned around at exactly the right time. Seeing the girl staring at him with wide eyes, the blush still on her cheeks, but the disappointment in her eyes impossible to hide, he could not help but clutch his chest exaggeratedly. “I know you were hoping to see someone else, but you don’t have to act like this when you see me. I’m hurt.”

He felt his masculine charm had taken a serious hit.

The girl pursed her lips and said nothing. She simply stared at him blankly, a flicker of light moving in her clear eyes.

“You haven’t forgotten who I am, have you?”

Ruan Mian finally reacted and nodded. She could not speak; her throat was tight and dry. That person was still far away in another country, yet he dictated all her emotions.

“That’s better.” Gao Yuan finally felt a bit of balance in his heart.

Students began to enter through the gate one after another, happily discussing the upcoming Christmas Eve. Their laughter and chatter made the winter morning feel vivid.

Ruan Mian found her voice again. “Is there something you came to see me for?”

In truth, she had many questions about that person, but she could not bring herself to mention a single word. She feared she would break down.

Gao Yuan leaned into the back seat and pulled out a cardboard box, holding it out to her.

“What is this?”

Gao Yuan raised an eyebrow. “Open it, and you’ll see. I don’t know what’s inside either.”

He had only come this way as a favor to someone.

Ruan Mian opened the box in confusion.

Gao Yuan leaned in as well. Seeing the items inside, he even flipped through them with interest: a sketchbook, a set of paints, a box of brushes, a box of chocolates, and a bag of fruit gummies.

There was exactly one of everything. Not a single piece more.

Well then. This box had been rushed over by air freight last night. He had thought there would be some rare treasure inside, but instead…

Ruan Mian pressed the box to her chest. Her heart seemed to begin pounding again with a thump, thump, thump. “Did he send these to me?”

Actually, she was already certain, but she still wanted to hear a definite answer from someone else.

Gao Yuan looked at the pink smile on the girl’s face, and his mood improved as well. “Yes.”

The way she bloomed like a flower against the morning sun was truly beautiful. It was no wonder that man insisted on hiding the news of his injury at all costs. If this small face were to start crying, he likely wouldn’t be able to rest until his heart had ached a thousand times over.

Gao Yuan had once thought that, given Qi Yan’s cold nature, he would at least find a woman who was his equal. But looking at the soft girl before him, he felt this was also quite good.

Every pot has its lid; it is destiny that determines what kind of person one meets.

Despite the freezing winter, he felt like falling in love himself.

The girl was observant, and he was afraid that if he stayed, she might notice something was wrong. Since the mission was complete, Gao Yuan brushed away a bit of cigarette ash that had accidentally landed on his clothes. “I’m heading out.”

He walked a few steps and then turned back. “Merry Christmas!”

Ruan Mian waved at him while clutching the box.

Gao Yuan reached the car and turned back once more, shouting to her from across the distance, “Soft Cotton, do you know why every gift he sent you has only one of its kind?”

He left her with that single sentence, nimbly climbed into the car, and started the engine. The car made a U-turn and drove toward the gate.

Ruan Mian chased after him anxiously. After running a dozen meters, she suddenly understood.

She watched the white car disappear into the distance. She reached out to touch her burning cheeks and turned back.

Unique.

He was saying she was unique.

Back in the studio, Ruan Mian placed the box on her lap. A small flame seemed to be burning in her heart, wrapping her entire body in waves of warmth.

She took the items out one by one.

She had researched this brand of paint online before; it was something many artists dreamed of, and naturally, it was very expensive.

She could not bear to eat the chocolates and gummies; she would find a place to hide them when she got home.

Ruan Mian gently opened the brush box. Her fingers danced across them like playing a piano. When her fingertips felt an indentation, she picked one up to look. On the handle, she saw two tiny letters: RM.

It was the abbreviation of her name’s initials. It was on every single brush!

She squatted on the floor and laughed. She stood up and laughed. She even looked at the crooked old tree outside the window, which had lost all its leaves, and could not help but smile.

She did not want to do anything; she just wanted to laugh.

This won’t do. I need to find something else to distract myself.

The moment Jiang Chu pushed the door open, she was grabbed by Ruan Mian. “Sister Chu Chu, be my model.”

“Why are you so happy so early in the morning?”

Ruan Mian smiled. “Because today is Christmas.”

Jiang Chu pinched her cheek. “You’re this happy just because it’s Christmas?”

“Yes, yes,” Ruan Mian nodded repeatedly. “You can receive many gifts on Christmas.”

Jiang Chu caught a glimpse of the items on the table. Seeing the girl’s face flush with shyness, she understood instantly. She could not help but tease her. “You mean you can receive a gift from your sweetheart, right?”

“Sister Chu Chu…”

“Mianmian,” Jiang Chu dropped her joking tone. “You should smile more in the future. Smile just like this; it looks so good.”

Unfortunately, her seriousness lasted less than two seconds before it crumbled. “But don’t look at me with such affectionate eyes while you smile. I’m afraid I’ll be turned by you.”

Ruan Mian was so teased that she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself on the spot.

“No more laughing. Let’s get to work. Didn’t you want me to be your model? When we’re done, I’ll treat you to a meal. We’ll spend tonight together.”

“Huh?”

“Can’t you tell I’m just a single dog?”

Truly, one couldn’t tell.

This girl, who was as beautiful as someone from a painting, had an innate temperament. Every gesture was extremely elegant; she was the kind of person who could only be raised in a great, wealthy family.

Ruan Mian had heard from other students that Jiang Chu’s father was a wealthy businessman in Hong Kong. She had completed her undergraduate studies at a famous art school in Italy. Finding it uninteresting after finishing, she had returned to Z University on a whim to continue her graduate studies.

Yet she was not aggressive like Wang Lin, nor did she use her family’s background to bully others. Perhaps when a person is truly strong and lacks insecurity, their innate temperament becomes more peaceful and less hostile.

When the two came out of the studio, the sky had already turned dark. The streets were full of couples, and all sorts of restaurants were naturally packed.

Jiang Chu was somewhat annoyed. “I should have made a reservation in advance.”

She truly lacked experience.

She walked a few steps and saw Ruan Mian hadn’t followed. She looked back in confusion and saw the silly girl staring at a couple embracing under a dim streetlight…

She hurriedly dragged her away, unable to stop herself from finding it hilarious. She bent over, clutching her stomach and laughing. “You’re so silly!”

Ruan Mian’s face turned beet-red from the laughter. Her heart, however, involuntarily thought: So kissing isn’t just about two lips pressing together. It can also be like that… She had even seen the man’s hand placed on the woman’s…

How could it be like that?

In the end, they wandered around and found no place to eat. Jiang Chu’s gaze was drawn to a spot across the road. “Mianmian, do you want to eat roasted sweet potatoes?”

Ruan Mian was still somewhat distracted. “Okay.” Anything is fine.

“We’ll make do with this for now. I’ll treat you to a big meal next time.”

So the two sat on the steps of the square. Amidst the pink bubbles floating over the entire square, they ate the sweet potatoes in their hands, bite by bite.

“Oh, I forgot something.” Jiang Chu pulled a small box from her jacket pocket. “Merry Christmas.”

Ruan Mian felt slightly embarrassed and said softly, “I didn’t prepare a gift.” Her mood these past few days had been like a roller coaster.

Jiang Chu wiped her hands with a tissue and smiled. “Doesn’t the painting you did of me today count?”

“See if it fits. I thought it suited you perfectly the first time I saw it.”

Inside the box was a crystal anklet with a small charm, adorned with a single ruby.

“…Will this be very expensive?”

“How should I put it?” Jiang Chu’s beautiful brow furrowed slightly. “It shouldn’t be considered expensive. In the future, once I sell that painting of yours, I expect I could buy dozens of these.”

“…”

She was finding ways to dispel the hesitation in Ruan Mian’s heart again.

Ruan Mian was touched. Just as she was about to say something, a dark figure suddenly rushed out from the nearby bushes. The person snatched the item from her hand and ran away quickly.

Ruan Mian was stunned.

Jiang Chu reacted extremely fast. She propped herself on the steps and jumped down, shouting “Robbery!” while chasing after the dark shadow.

Ruan Mian didn’t even have time to call her back.

The young man who snatched the item was committing his first crime; he was terrified. That woman was chasing him relentlessly from behind, and at some point, a man acting bravely for a good cause had joined in. He tightly gripped the item he had just stolen. Why does the texture feel a bit wrong?

Damn! How did I end up stealing a sweet potato?! Where is that shimmering chain?

He looked back. The woman was only a few meters from catching up. The young man truly felt like dying. He had no choice but to use all his strength to keep running forward.

The entrance to the small alley was right before his eyes. Once he was out of here, it would be his territory. Would he still be afraid of not escaping then?

But just as that triumphant thought flashed through his mind, someone jumped onto his back. His center of gravity became unstable, and he fell face-first onto the ground.

That woman looked petite, but her strength was immense. She flipped him over like a fried egg with ease. An arm was held across his throat like a sword. “Hand over the item!”

Gao Yuan, who arrived immediately after, was also shocked by this scene.

He had been drinking with his brothers at a food stall earlier when he heard someone shout, “Robbery.” Seeing that the victim was a weak woman, he had chased after them without hesitation.

Unexpectedly… she didn’t need help at all.

The young man handed over the mangled sweet potato with an innocent look. “Sister, spare me! I…” I really only stole your sweet potato.

Cough, cough, cough… Before the young man could finish, she pressed him into the ground. He choked on the cold wind and began to cough violently.

“If you don’t hand it over, I’ll search you myself.”

Gao Yuan stood by and watched. The woman looked incredibly beautiful, smiling in the moonlight. His heart suddenly gave a very heavy thud.

He kept staring, unblinkingly.

She was actually about to reach out and take off his jacket. The young man looked as if he were dying of shame and indignation as he struggled to crawl away. Fortunately, Ruan Mian arrived at that moment, out of breath. “Sister Chu Chu… the anklet is still with me…”

“Ruan Mian?”

Ruan Mian looked over in surprise. She paused. “Why is it you?”

The world was truly small.

Gao Yuan was delighted, smiling like an old fox.

Jiang Chu also got up from the ground and walked toward Ruan Mian. Her expression was somewhat between laughter and tears.

She glanced at the man with the roguish smile.

Gao Yuan’s reaction was exceptionally fast. “Hello. I am… Ruan Mian’s friend, Gao Yuan. Gao Yuan as in ‘High Aspirations’.”

Jiang Chu looked at Ruan Mian with a questioning gaze. Seeing her nod slightly, she also smiled. “Was it you who was following behind me just now?”

Gao Yuan cupped his hands. “I am ashamed, truly ashamed.”

He quickly added, “Since we are so destined, would you mind if I treated you to a meal?”

The two had only eaten sweet potatoes and were indeed hungry after the exertion. Since this person was someone Ruan Mian knew and had a way to find a place to eat, Jiang Chu didn’t act coy and accepted graciously.

After the three had eaten, Ruan Mian returned home around nine o’clock. The light in her room was on. She pushed the door open to find the child sitting on the bed writing characters. He ran over when he heard her.

She handed him the red bean egg tart in her hand.

The child ate happily.

Ruan Mian put her gift box away and sat beside him to check the homework he had just written.

These past few months, she had taught him new characters every night before she painted. He learned very seriously, and his handwriting was very neat; he was an exceptionally obedient student.

She could not help but stroke his head. The child looked at her with a sweet smile, his small ears red.

* * *

December had only a small tail left. Ruan Mian did not dare to waste a single second, throwing herself completely into the upcoming art joint examination.

Jiang Chu encouraged her constantly, providing meticulous help in all aspects.

Finally, Ruan Mian lived up to expectations and passed the joint examination smoothly; her scores in all subjects were actually quite good.

Just as everything could temporarily relax, the winter break arrived quietly. The winter break for third-year high school students was only seven days, as short as it could be.

She had only finished a few sets of exam papers when the streets were already hung with festive decorations. New Year’s Eve was approaching, yet there was still no news from that man.

On New Year’s Eve, the children didn’t have to stay up late. Ruan Mian returned to her room early. She watched the fireworks blooming outside the window for a while and let out a light sigh.

She pulled her phone from her pocket to send a message. The content was simple, only four words: Happy New Year.

The moment it was sent successfully, the phone vibrated. She stared at the moving words on the screen, unable to believe it. She swiped several times before connecting. “Hello.”

The long-awaited, familiar, low, and husky voice made her eyes feel warm. “Ruan Mian.”

“Mm.”

“Happy New Year.”

She gave another “mm.” “Happy New Year.”

Besides that, she did not know what to say. She clearly had many things she wanted to tell him.

“It is snowing on my side,” Qi Yan’s gaze moved from the IV drip bottle above his bed to the window. “I can only stay indoors.”

His tone was normal, as if he were simply making small talk.

“It isn’t snowing in Z City, but the temperature is very low. It feels very cold.”

She did not know how long this call lasted. The phone was faintly hot by the time he hung up. Ruan Mian held that warmth and thought about their conversation, smiling softly.

She suddenly felt that the coming days held hope again.

Soon, school started. Unlike ordinary students, the art students needed to focus completely on preparing for the individual art exams in March.

The intensity of Ruan Mian’s practice increased significantly. She left home early every morning and did not return until eight or nine at night. She basically didn’t sleep until nearly midnight. The faint blue circles under her eyes never faded.

Days like this continued until the individual exams ended.

She had lost almost a full size in weight.

Jiang Chu was heartbroken seeing her.

“Sister Chu Chu, give me the location in a moment.”

“How about I find something else for you? You should rest for a few days first.”

“No need.” Ruan Mian shook her head and continued drinking her warm water.

“Actually, you don’t have to work so hard. I can help you…”

“It isn’t hard.” She smiled, her small face radiant. “I’m doing something I love. How could it be hard?”

Jiang Chu compromised. “Then I’ll take you there when the time comes.”

A club was looking for someone to paint a mural, offering five thousand yuan. The procedures at school hadn’t been completed yet, and Ruan Mian happened to be free these few days, so she thought of giving it a try.

However, this job was not as easy as she had imagined. After the first day, her body ached all over.

But she didn’t have much time; she could not afford to waste a single minute.

By the third day, the mural had entered its final stages. Ruan Mian mixed her paints, climbed the ladder, and traced a rich peony with her fingertips…

Unknowingly, she ran out of paint. Just as she was about to climb down, she suddenly sensed something and looked down.

The man was standing a few steps from the ladder, tall and jade-like. His black trench coat billowed slightly in the draft from the corridor. Those beautiful peach blossom eyes looked at her deeply; it was unclear how long he had been watching.

This scene was just like their meeting at the club that one time.

Only now she was above, amidst the warm light, while he was in her shadow, his gaze steady and a smile on his lips.

Ruan Mian clearly heard a boom in her brain. The joy in her heart expanded until it nearly exploded. Her hands gripping the ladder were trembling, and her legs were so soft they had no strength at all.

She tried to climb down in a flurry of movement. Because the rungs of the ladder were stained with paint, her foot accidentally slipped…

In the next instant, she fell securely into a warm, solid embrace.

For convenience, she had taken off her jacket earlier; she was only wearing a thin wool sweater. Consequently, Qi Yan could easily feel the rising and falling curves of the girl in his arms…

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