Her entire body was covered by a turtleneck sweater, with only her face showing, yet her aura was like the fragrance of wine, drawing people into the alley to explore.
Chi Cheng then slowly knocked on Shi Ling's door.
Perhaps it was because Christmas was approaching, but when they left the dormitory building, the snow was still falling heavily outside.
In the UK, dormitories are typically low-rise buildings with no more than four stories.
The area was originally covered with large areas of grass and trees, but now it is completely covered by snow, making it impossible to distinguish where the grass ends and the road begins, or even where the sky ends and the ground begins.
As far as the eye can see, it is a world of snow.
There were haphazard footprints and a few crooked snowmen on the ground below the dormitory building, probably because someone had already had a snowball fight.
They walked a little further away, until they reached a patch of land where no one had left a trace.
Each step went almost above the ankle.
As a southerner, Chi Cheng had only seen such heavy snow a handful of times. He bent down and pinched a snowball in his hand.
Before he could even get up, he felt a chill in the crook of his neck.
Shi Ling had already scooped up a handful of snow and poured it down his collar.
She had many snowball fights, so this was just the most common method. Chi Cheng was caught off guard and shivered.
He turned to look at her, and Shi Ling couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile, though she pursed her lips, a smug smile was still evident.
Chi Cheng's eyes were as black as ink, and compared to the fair skin around him, they were like the most captivating vortex in the world.
He stared at her for a few seconds, noticing that Shi Ling looked a little uneasy and was about to take two steps back.
Chi Cheng had already stood up and lifted her up in his arms.
Shi Ling suddenly lost her balance and was spun around twice on the uneven snow in his arms. She felt even more dizzy and reached out to tightly hug his neck.
Shi Ling said, "Put me down."
Chi Cheng chuckled quietly, "Okay."
The next second, Chi Cheng played a trick and lightly threw her into the snow.
Shi Ling knew something was wrong when she saw the smile on his lips. She fell into the soft snow, but it didn't hurt.
Using the force of the impact, Chi Cheng fell into the snow with her.
He lay on top of her, reached out, spread her hands, and pressed their fingers together on the ground.
Shi Ling's palm touched his burning hand, the back of her hand pressed against the cold snow, his breath brushing against her face, as if ice and fire were intertwined throughout her body, burning her from the inside out.
She was still sinking in; she couldn't tell whether she was sinking in because of Chi Cheng's pressing kiss, or because their body heat melted the snow beneath her.
None of that matters anymore.
His lips were also cool as they touched hers, gently lingering there.
At first, his kisses were like snowflakes falling, gentle and tender.
Later, Chi Cheng's breathing became heavier, and his strength increased. He couldn't resist and slightly invaded her lips, chasing and harassing her, giving Shi Ling no room to breathe.
Shi Ling felt herself sinking deeper and deeper, and the snow that had fallen from the treetops seemed to be falling lower and lower, hanging down and entwining them, binding them tighter and tighter, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.
The two kissed until their breaths were warm and their eyelashes were damp, as if they could freeze into ice flowers at any moment.
Chi Cheng gave her another light peck, then released her.
He rolled over and lay down in the snow, holding her hand.
"baby."
"kindness."
When the two of them lay on their backs side by side in the snow, they realized that snowflakes had fallen on their hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes.
Shi Ling closed her eyes and listened quietly to him.
Chi Cheng's tone carried a hint of his usual teasing, "This time you don't think I'm immoral?"
He was referring to the incident where Hook was framed behind his back. The two had broken up before, and the honey trap was a setup.
Shi Ling's voice recovered from the lingering intimacy and became cold and clear.
"You know that's not what I dislike."
Shi Ling spoke up, no longer holding back, and said a lot.
She finally sighed, "You should have told me beforehand and explained things clearly back then."
Both of them were too proud, and before, during, and after they got together, there was always a subtle rivalry between them.
No one wants the other to interfere with their thoughts.
Not only Chi Cheng, but Shi Ling herself also made decisions on her own, only informing him at the airport that he had to return to school.
Chi Cheng smiled and admitted his mistake, "It was my fault."
Shi Ling shook her head. "No one is bad."
It's just a matter of gradually working together to find the best way to get along.
Chi Cheng turned his head and glanced at her. "Baby, your hair has turned white."
Shi Ling didn't turn her head, but she knew he felt the same way.
"The same to you."
Chi Cheng cleared his throat. "I just remembered a song."
"kindness?"
Do you want to hear it?
"want."
Come here and give me a kiss.
Shi Ling: "..."
She could hear the amusement in his voice, but she still turned around and kissed him on the cheek.
Chi Cheng's eyes were full of satisfaction. "Listen carefully."
"Flowers drift down from her head, scattering and gathering without any lingering attachment."
"Who can ask this warmth to remain forever amidst the boundless snow?"
Chi Cheng sang a few lines for her.
After he finished singing, he straightened up and said, "Honey, I have something to tell you."
Shi Ling suddenly realized that she knew what he was going to say.
She was used to his flirtatious talk, but she couldn't stand his serious confessions.
She reached out and covered his mouth, "Don't say it."
Chi Cheng chuckled mischievously and asked her indistinctly, "Are you embarrassed to listen?"
Shi Ling was caught in a dilemma, unsure whether to cover it up or not.
She slowly loosened her grip.
Chi Cheng laughed out loud, "Don't worry."
He pulled her up to sit up, and Shi Ling was a little confused.
But on the snow beside him, a line of words lay clearly.
“I Love U”
Shi Ling knew what he wanted to say.
However, seeing it in person still sent shivers down my spine.
For a man like Chi Cheng to say something like that, it means he's truly willing to be tamed by her.
She didn't actually need him to be tamed.
The two had done many intimate things in the past, but had never actually said such things.
Her eyelashes trembled, and she hummed in agreement.
She pulled him down to lie down again.
It seems their warmth still lingers in the snowdrift.
Chi Cheng knew she was shy, so he didn't tease her any further.
The two then enjoyed the tranquility of their mutual understanding.
Shi Ling also had something to say, but she didn't need to say it either.
Although they were initially attracted by hormones and fell in love with each other, it was not just about physical appearance and sexual satisfaction.
Chi Cheng was a type of person she had never encountered before, and a lover she never imagined.
But ever since Shi Ling met him, he has always been like this, doing things in unconventional ways, relying on his superior skills, and never letting himself suffer losses.
He caught her eye, and so did his temperament.
If he didn't do this, he wouldn't be Chi Cheng.
Shi Ling remembered that when they were in the IELTS class, Ivy teased them and said their names were interesting.
Sometimes it's just an ordinary coincidence, but because two people are interested in each other, it becomes a sweet memory.
Meeting him meant that he could be all-powerful, and all her standards would become meaningless.
They had clashed many times before, neither giving an inch. But now, they were at peace, their hearts in perfect harmony, holding hands as they lay together under the falling snow, feeling each other's breath and heartbeat, letting time take its toll.
If the camera were to zoom out, in this boundless expanse of snow, who knows how many other couples would be embracing and kissing, experiencing different joys and sorrows.
However, just as no two snowflakes are exactly alike, no two loves are the same.