Outside the door, there was no sound, nor any movement.
Since arriving here, his days had been busy, and nights often found him sleepless till dawn. Even breath regulation proved useless. His health had deteriorated, and recently, he had started coughing again. Yet, his hearing remained as sharp as ever.
Just moments ago, as he turned to pour water, he heard the faint crunch of snow being stepped on outside his door and window.
Though the sound was light and fleeting, it reached his ears with unmistakable clarity.
Pei You’an couldn’t fathom who, in this year’s end, in the desolate wilderness of this frontier town, in the deep night of heavy snowfall, would come seeking him at the fodder yard.
He recalled the White Wolf Cub that had sneaked in days ago to steal food, only to be caught in Old Soldier Ding’s trap, injuring its foot. Later, he had treated its wound, fed it, and set it free. But in such bitter cold, with nowhere to find food, the little creature—reckless or desperate—might have returned.
Perhaps the sound of footsteps in the snow had come from it.
Coughing, Pei You’an walked to the door and opened it. A gust of wind, laden with snowflakes, rushed in.
He glanced left and right.
A petite figure of a woman appeared in his line of sight. Covered in ice and snow, she leaned motionless against the window, like an exquisitely crafted snowman freshly made.
Snowflakes danced atop her head, clinging to her hair. She gazed at him, silent tears rolling down her cheeks, already reddened by the cold.
Pei You’an’s eyes lingered on her face for a breath.
“Fu’er!”
He actually exclaimed in shock.
Unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him—in all his twenty-some years, he had never been as astonished as he was now, to the point of losing composure.
For a moment, he even thought he was dreaming, utterly unable to believe what he saw. His body froze.
“Eldest Cousin, I’ve come to find you.”
Jiafu choked out the words, her voice trembling.
She could hold back no longer. For over half a year, since the day he left Quanzhou, day after day, all the worry, longing, hope, grievance, and anger piled in her heart had, at the sight of him, dissolved into tears and this single cry of “Eldest Cousin.” Then she burst into sobs, tears falling like pearls.
Pei You’an strode to her, wrapped his arms around her, and held her tightly, his grip almost crushing her slender frame.
“Fu’er! Fu’er!”
He could say nothing else, only clutching her tightly, repeating her name over and over.
A fierce gust of wind blew, slamming the wooden door against the frame with a loud bang.
The body in his arms was icy cold, shivering uncontrollably. Pei You’an touched her hand and stiffened, his mind snapping to alertness. He scooped her up, carried her inside, and laid her on his bed. He removed her half-soaked cloak and boots, dampened by snow and ice, then pulled the quilt over her, bundling her up. After ordering her to lie still, he shut the door and hurried to add charcoal to the stove.
As he worked, a pair of arms suddenly slipped around his waist from behind, tightening around his abdomen.
Jiafu had slid off the bed and embraced him from behind, pressing her face against his back.
“Eldest Cousin…”
She called softly, her voice still carrying the delicate, tearful lilt of one who had just cried—so full of longing, so full of contentment.
Pei You’an paused, then turned and gathered her into his arms once more, guiding her back to the bed. This time, he lay down beside her.The old, nearly toothless wooden bed suddenly bore the weight of two people, its legs emitting a faint creak.
He cupped her cold cheeks, still streaked with dried tears, in his palms, rubbing warmth into her icy hands before moving to her feet, using his own body heat to warm them.
"Fu'er, you silly girl, why did you suddenly come to a place like this..."
His tone carried a hint of reproach as he looked at her. Seeing her wide, teary eyes gazing back, he stopped mid-sentence. Their eyes locked in silent communion, neither speaking for a long moment.
The room was utterly still. The dim flame of the soybean oil lamp flickered slightly. The only sound was the mournful howl of the north wind across the wilderness. The stove burned brighter now, gradually warming the room just as her body temperature rose.
Pei You'an's face slowly descended toward hers.
Jiafu's lashes fluttered as she slowly closed her eyes. But just as his lips were about to touch hers, he restrained himself.
"Cousin, don't you want to kiss Fu'er?"
Jiafu opened her eyes and murmured the question, her tearful gaze filled with disappointment.
A faint blush spread across Pei You'an's pale face. He shook his head and said softly, "I do want to kiss you. But I've been coughing these past few days. Wait a little longer—once I'm better in a couple of days, I'll kiss you then..."
Jiafu wrapped one arm around his neck while the other pressed against his back.
Perhaps weakened by his prolonged illness, he truly lacked strength. Under Jiafu's pressure, he collapsed softly onto the bed without resistance.
Like a young animal, Jiafu pounced, kneeling beside him as she pressed against his face, kissing and nibbling at him. He winced in pain, dodging her sharp little teeth. Jiafu initially laughed with a touch of triumph, but gradually stilled, burying her face against his bared chest, the back of her head turned to him as silent tears fell.
Pei You'an lay motionless, his eyes closed for a moment before suddenly opening. In one swift motion, he flipped her beneath him, gazing down at her wordlessly before plunging in.
When Jiafu awoke the next day, the heavy snow had ceased, and the sun had risen, its golden rays streaming through the cracks in the wooden door and window. The room was so quiet it felt like a dream.
Pei You'an, utterly exhausted from the night before—perhaps even nearing collapse—still slept deeply, unaware of the hour.
He faced her, eyes closed, one arm draped around her waist, his breath gently brushing her forehead.
Warm. Safe.
Outside, there was no sound, no movement at all.
Since arriving here, his days had been busy, his nights often sleepless. Breath regulation proved useless, and his health had declined. Recently, his cough had returned, yet his hearing remained as sharp as ever.
Just moments ago, as he turned to pour water, he heard the faint but unmistakable crunch of snow being stepped on outside the door and window.
However light and brief, the sound reached his ears with perfect clarity.
Pei You'an couldn't fathom who, at year's end, in this desolate frontier town, amid the heavy snowfall of deep night, would come searching for him at the fodder yard.
He recalled the White Wolf Cub that had sneaked in days earlier to steal food, only to be caught in Old Soldier Ding's trap, injuring its foot. He had treated its wound, fed it, and set it free. But in this bitter cold, with nowhere to find food, the reckless little creature might have foolishly returned.The sound of footsteps in the snow earlier might have been from it.
Pei You'an coughed as he walked to the door and opened it. A gust of wind carrying snowflakes rushed in, hitting him in the face.
He glanced left and right.
A petite figure of a woman appeared in his line of sight. Covered in ice and snow, she leaned against the window, motionless, like an exquisitely crafted snowman just freshly made.
Snowflakes swirled above her head, clinging to her hair. She stared at him, silent tears rolling down her cheeks, already red from the cold.
Pei You'an’s gaze lingered on her face for a moment.
"Fu'er!"
He actually cried out in shock.
Unshaken even if Mount Tai collapsed before him—never in the past twenty-some years had he been so astonished that he lost his composure.
For a brief moment, he even thought he was dreaming, utterly unable to believe what he was seeing. His body stiffened.
"Cousin, I came to find you."
Jiafu choked out the words, her voice trembling.
She could hold back no longer. For over half a year, ever since the day he left Quanzhou, day after day, all the worry, longing, hope, grievances, and anger that had piled up in her heart—the moment she saw him, they all melted into tears and this single cry of "Cousin." Then she burst into sobs, tears falling like pearls.
Pei You'an strode to her, wrapped his arms around her, and tightened his embrace with such force it nearly crushed her slender frame.
"Fu'er! Fu'er!"
He could say nothing else, only holding her tightly, repeating her name over and over.
A fierce gust of wind blew, slamming the wooden door against the wall with a loud crack.
The body in his arms was icy cold, shivering uncontrollably. Pei You'an touched her hands and stiffened, his mind snapping back to clarity. He scooped her up, carried her inside, and laid her on his bed. He removed her half-damp cloak and boots, soaked through with snow, then pulled the quilt over her, bundling her up before ordering her to lie still. He shut the door and immediately added more charcoal to the brazier.
As he busied himself, a pair of arms suddenly slipped around his waist from behind, tightening around his abdomen.
Jiafu had slid off the bed and embraced him from behind, pressing her face against his back.
"Cousin..."
She called to him softly, her voice still carrying the delicate, tearful lilt of someone who had just cried—so full of longing, so full of contentment.
Pei You'an paused, then turned and gathered her into his arms again, carrying her back to the bed. This time, he lay down beside her.
The old, creaky wooden bed, suddenly bearing the weight of two people, let out a faint groan from its legs.
He cupped her cold cheeks, still streaked with dried tears, and rubbed warmth into her icy hands before moving to her feet, using his own body heat to warm them.
"Fu'er, you fool... How could you suddenly come to a place like this..."
His tone carried a hint of reproach, but when he looked at her and saw her tearful eyes gazing back at him, he fell silent. The two stared at each other, neither speaking for a long while.
The room was utterly quiet. The dim flame of the soybean oil lamp flickered slightly. The only sound was the howling north wind sweeping across the wilderness outside. The brazier burned brighter, and the room gradually warmed—just like her body.
Pei You'an’s face slowly lowered toward hers.
Jiafu’s lashes trembled as she slowly closed her eyes. But just as his lips were about to touch hers, he restrained himself."Cousin, don’t you want to kiss Fu’er?"
Jiafu opened her eyes and murmured, her tearful gaze tinged with disappointment.
A faint blush spread across Pei You’an’s pale face as he shook his head and whispered, "I do want to kiss you. But I’ve been coughing these past few days. Wait a little longer—once I’m better in a couple of days, I’ll kiss you..."
Jiafu looped one arm around his neck and pressed the other against his back.
Perhaps weakened from his prolonged illness, he truly had no strength left. Under her push, he collapsed softly onto the bed, utterly defenseless.
Like a little beast, she pounced on him, kneeling beside him, pressing her face against his, kissing and nibbling at him. He winced in pain, dodging her sharp little teeth. Jiafu laughed at first, a hint of smugness in her expression, but gradually she stilled. Her face buried against his bared chest, the back of her head turned toward him as she silently wept.
Pei You’an lay motionless, his eyes closed for a moment before suddenly snapping open. In one swift motion, he flipped her beneath him, pinned her down, and without a word, plunged into her.
When Jiafu awoke the next day, the heavy snow had ceased, and the sun had risen, its golden rays slipping through the cracks of the wooden doors and windows. The room was so quiet it felt like a dream.
Pei You’an, utterly exhausted from the night before—nearly drained—was still deep in slumber, unaware of the hour.
Facing her, his eyes closed, one arm wrapped around her waist, his gentle breaths brushed against her forehead.
Warm and comforting, it filled her with peace.
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