34: Chapter 34 Snowball Fight

On the way here, Zhao Xiaoshuai had noticed light snowflakes drifting down, but by now, the snow was falling heavily.

Flake by flake, they looked like tiny feathers.

There was no wind today, and the snowflakes fell quietly, covering the tracks on the ground bit by bit.

The two of them specifically sought out a secluded corner of the residential complex to avoid being accidentally disturbed.

The snow here was thick enough for them to play in.

Chu Xinyi had her hair pinned up with two hair clips, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face. She looked left and right, seemingly considering what to play first.

She hadn't listened to advice about wearing too many clothes, opting only to wear the down jacket Zhao Xiaoshuai had bought for her over her loungewear.

"Playing in the snow should be freezing cold, obviously!"

"If you wear scarves and gloves, bundled up in layers, how are you supposed to play!"

Chu Xinyi rolled happily in the snow. Seeming to have been chilled by the cold against her neck, she sprang up with a little cry of "Yah!", playing with great delight.

"Brother-in-law, don't just stand there like a statue! Help me gather some snow; I want to build a big~ snowman!"

When it snowed, it was incredibly quiet, as if the sounds of the world had all been absorbed by the snow.

Zhao Xiaoshuai could only hear his Sister-in-law's silvery laughter, as if they were the only two people left in the whole world.

Touching snow directly with your hands is bone-chilling.

If you hold it for too long, it feels like the cold seeps from your fingers straight into your heart.

But it was precisely this biting cold that was the unique joy of winter.

"Heh~ heh~," Chu Xinyi's cheeks were flushed red from the cold, and she adorably blew warm air onto her frozen hands.

She turned her head and asked Zhao Xiaoshuai triumphantly: "How is it? Did I build it well!"

Looking at the snowman she had built, Zhao Xiaoshuai couldn't help but sigh once again at the gap between people.

He had played at building snowmen when he was a child, but it was always just a waist as thick as a bucket with a big round ball for a head.

Then he would stick in two twigs, place three pebbles for eyes and a nose, draw a mouth, and call it a day.

At most, he might collect two colored plastic bags to dress it up.

That was the most luxurious snowman he could imagine.

Yet, even though this was Chu Xinyi's first time building a snowman, she had managed to sculpt it by hand, creating a lifelike "person".

With just a few strokes, she had captured a person's attire and even their expression.

It was as if it weren't a snowman, but a "person" who had walked out of a snow kingdom.

He could only say that her innate talent for building snowmen was terrifyingly good.

"This snowman of yours... why do I feel like I've seen it somewhere before?"

"Hmph, guess, and I'll tell you."

Zhao Xiaoshuai looked at his smug Sister-in-law, and his heart stirred.

He quietly grabbed a handful of snow and, with lightning speed, stuffed it into the gap at her neck.

"Yah!!"

The little girl was so shocked she jumped up, frantically shaking her upper body.

Immediately, she grabbed a handful of snow and charged at Zhao Xiaoshuai, looking huffy.

"You snuck up on me! Don't you dare run!"

Since it was just playing, Zhao Xiaoshuai naturally didn't run away full tilt; he deliberately maintained a distance where he was almost caught, leading his Sister-in-law on a chase.

He timed it just right, suddenly turned around, and threw the ball of snow he had been hiding in his hand, hitting his Sister-in-law right in the face with perfect accuracy.

Little did he know, Chu Xinyi suddenly clutched her face and squatted down on the spot.

Zhao Xiaoshuai's smile vanished instantly. He ran over in a panic, "Xinyi, are you hurt?"

Just as he was at a loss, Chu Xinyi suddenly stuffed the handful of snow she had been holding straight into Zhao Xiaoshuai's collar.

"Hahaha, all is fair in love and war! Blehh~"

Once she succeeded, Chu Xinyi scampered away nimbly, finding the time to turn back, stick out her tongue, and make a face at Zhao Xiaoshuai.

Zhao Xiaoshuai's heart, which had been suspended in his chest, dropped back down. He smiled with relief, then reached out and pointed at his Sister-in-law, "Alright, Chu Xinyi, you really got me. If you've got guts, don't run!"

The second round of the chase began.

Chu Xinyi was quickly caught. Thinking quickly, she pulled up the hood of her down jacket, squatted down on the spot, buried her head in her knees, and tightened her collar.

"Can't get me, can't get me!"

Zhao Xiaoshuai tried a few times, but without resorting to force, he was truly stumped.

"Chu Xinyi, you little turtle, if you have the ability, stick your head out!"

"I won't! Let's see how you stuff snow in now, you silly Brother-in-law!"

Chu Xinyi was curled into a ball, looking just like one. Zhao Xiaoshuai had an idea; with a little effort, he pushed her over onto the ground.

She didn't let go even after falling, so he just pushed her like a snowball, rolling her along.

"Hahahaha, push faster!"

Chu Xinyi treated this as another amusement, playing very happily, refusing to let go for dear life.

The two played for a while longer. Chu Xinyi seemed unable to hold on any longer, suddenly let go, and lay on the ground.

Zhao Xiaoshuai tried to hold back, but caught off guard, he still tripped.

He landed almost entirely on top of his Sister-in-law.

"Hahaha," Chu Xinyi was still immersed in the joy, laughing heartily with her eyes crinkled, not noticing at all that Zhao Xiaoshuai's face was less than two centimeters from hers.

The white mist from her laughter was inhaled by him before it could dissipate; it smelled somewhat sweet.

At this moment, if he just leaned forward slightly, he could kiss those tempting lips on that beautiful face.

Looking at his Sister-in-law's face from such close range, his heart gave a fierce throb.

He stared blankly for a long time before coming to his senses, scrambling up, and pulling his Sister-in-law up with one hand.

"Happy?"

"Mm, super happy!"

"Then I'll come play with you every day from now on. You decide what we'll play beforehand."

"Really!?"

"Of course it's real. When have I ever lied to you?"

"That's great! Really every day?"

"Really, really."

"Forever and ever?"

"Uh, until school starts for you."

"Tch~ It's almost time to eat, we should go back and cook."

Zhao Xiaoshuai turned around and led his Sister-in-law home.

In the snowy night, Chu Xinyi lagged a step behind, seemingly muttering something to herself.

But Zhao Xiaoshuai had put on his hood because his ears were red from the cold, so he didn't hear a single word.

"You lie to me often."

"You lied to me saying your salary is very high, and that supporting my tuition, rent, and pocket money is all easy for you."

"You lied to me saying you are very idle, and that you were tired of sleeping at home every day, so you came here to do some labor and exercise your muscles."

"You lied to me saying my sister cares about me often and frequently asks about my studies and life."

"You lied to me saying you are still working."

"You lied to me saying you are still my Brother-in-law."

"But I don't care that you lie to me."

"No matter how you lie to me, I won't be angry."

"Although it seems like something about you has changed, you will always be my..."

Suddenly, a cold wind blew, scattering her murmurs.

"It's getting windy, let's go back quickly, don't get cold."

Zhao Xiaoshuai slowed his pace a few steps, letting his own body block as much of the wind as possible in front of Chu Xinyi.

The wind in front of Chu Xinyi stopped.