An Siyao: Snow
Not long after Xia Yu and his party arrived at An Siyao's house, Yu Ningmeng also returned to the villa.
After finding Xia Yu, Yu Ningmeng first talked about the matter of Zhu Mei.
"I made arrangements for her in a community farthest from here," she said, looking at Xia Yu.
"As long as there are no safety issues," Xia Yu had no objections. He leaned on the windowsill, pondering the piece of music he wanted to write for Liu Manman.
"Aren't you curious about where it is?" Yu Ningmeng probed Xia Yu.
Xia Yu changed the subject, "When are we going to start working on the ALS treatment?"
It was already January 23rd, and the 24th would be New Year's Eve.
"We'll start after the New Year. I've already talked to Xu Youxiang about it, and she said to find you," Yu Ningmeng sized up Xia Yu, not understanding how he made both An Siyao and Xu Youxiang infatuated with him. Xu Youxiang even had to find Xia Yu for this matter.
She didn't know that the real person doing medical research was Xia Yu, and Xu Youxiang was just a cover.
This cover still had to be used, and Xia Yu had no choice. It was acceptable for Xu Youxiang to suddenly pop up with medical skills, but it would be abnormal for him to do the same.
"What about the research lab?" Xia Yu asked again.
"I suggest you choose our Yu family's lab, and the researchers also from our family. However, if needed, you can use outsiders. The research of this drug is quite important right now. As long as you don't need key positions, everything is negotiable," said Yu Ningmeng.
Xia Yu nodded, it seemed that the person who wanted the medicine was not that simple.
It had nothing to do with him, though; he just wanted to live a quiet life.
"We don't need anyone else. Just transfer the research team we worked with last time," Xia Yu said. He was the one working hard on the drug research; others were just there to assist. As long as they were competent, there was no need for a high level of skill.
"That's good. When the drug comes out, I'll give you a share... never mind, there's no need. You can start researching life after the drug comes out," Yu Ningmeng revealed a mysterious smile.
Xia Yu felt that the progress between him and An Siyao couldn't be this fast, but there was no need to discuss this with Yu Ningmeng.
After the brief negotiation, Xia Yu returned to his room, called Xu Youxiang, and talked for a while before finalizing the research on her body.
"When are you free after the New Year?" Xu Youxiang asked Xia Yu.
Xia Yu thought for a moment and replied, "Probably two or three days after the New Year."
He would go back to the countryside and spend the New Year with his grandparents after meeting An Tianfeng tomorrow.
"I'm at home right now. Come see me on the fifth day of the New Year," Xu Youxiang paused before adding, "I'll show you something good."
Before Xia Yu could ask what that good thing was, Xu Youxiang hung up the phone.
Putting down the phone, Xia Yu picked up the guzheng beside him and continued thinking about the piece of music for Liu Manman.
As time passed, the sky outside darkened.
The maid knocked on Xia Yu's door, informing him that dinner was ready.
Putting down the half-written piece of music, Xia Yu opened the door.
The temperature in the hallway was lower than the room, and the maid draped a coat over him.
Walking down the hallway, he looked out the window and saw snowflakes falling gracefully against the night sky.
Coming from Haiming City to Yaoguang City, it was like going from summer to winter.
Luckily, the villa had air conditioning.
Upon arriving at the restaurant, Xia Yu saw Kong Hanyue, who was with Liu Manman, excitedly watching the snowflakes outside.
"How about we go out and play in the snow after we eat?" Kong Hanyue looked at Xia Yu.
"As long as you're happy," Xia Yu neither agreed nor disagreed.
"Then it's settled. I'm going to build a huge snowman!" Liu Manman declared with enthusiasm.
Xia Yu glanced at the other two who were also leaning by the window, An Siyao and Yuxue seemed much more composed than Kong Hanyue and Liu Manman, merely gazing at the snow ordinarily.
However, at the dining table, An Siyao and Yuxue ate much faster than usual, letting Xia Yu know that they also wanted to play in the snow.
Seeing An Siyao speeding up, Hu Liangle followed suit quickly, let alone Kong Hanyue and Liu Manman.
In order not to be left behind, Xia Yu had to keep up with their pace.
"I'm going first!" Kong Hanyue finished her dinner first, and hurried back to her room to change into thicker clothes.
Yuxue and the others followed closely.
Xia Yu also returned to his room, changing into a down jacket.
By the time he came downstairs, the girls, including An Siyao, were already in the courtyard.
It was surprising that they, who usually took ages to change clothes, were faster than him now.
As he stepped outside, the cold air hit him, making Xia Yu halt his steps.
He mentally prepared himself, then stepped out of the warm house.
It was colder outside than he had imagined, mainly because his body hadn't adjusted after returning from the hot summer in Haiming City.
He touched his ears, which had no protection compared to his tightly wrapped body.
Just as he was considering going back to find a hat, An Siyao came to him, covering his ears with her glove-wearing hands.
Xia Yu temporarily gave up the idea of getting a hat and took advantage of this position to hug An Siyao.
An Siyao was facing him, her hand covering his ears, and her face involuntarily lifted to look into Xia Yu's eyes.
Xia Yu looked at An Siyao's face, which was very close to his.
The courtyard's light was dim, the girl's face half-hidden in the darkness. She wore a snow-white hat with a pair of rabbit ears on it, making her look like a rabbit in the snow at night.
She didn't have the red eyes of a rabbit, but she had two red lips.
Lowering his head, Xia Yu bit those two red lips.
An Siyao's expression changed from shock to a blurred look, and her face flushed.
Pressing his forehead against the girl's, Xia Yu looked at An Siyao's face with great pleasure.
As An Siyao let go of her hand, Xia Yu went back into the villa, grabbed earmuffs, and wrapped his ears up.
Although Xia Yu wanted to maintain the previous position with An Siyao, her hand would become sore if held up for too long.
Coming out again, Xia Yu walked up to An Siyao, ignoring Hu Liangle, who had a hostile look on her face, and looked at Kong Hanyue, Liu Manman, and Yuxue.
The three were rolling snowballs. The snow had started falling in the evening, and although it had fallen heavily, there wasn't much snow on the ground. The three of them rolled around half the courtyard before they had a big snowball.
Rolling another smaller snowball would complete the basic structure of the snowman, but the three were already bored.
When Kong Hanyue stuffed the snow into Yuxue's clothes, the three began frolicking, and the large rolled snowball was lifted to hit each other, breaking into several pieces.
Watching the three girls chasing each other, Xia Yu looked at An Siyao and asked, "Aren't you going to join them?"
An Siyao shook her head, "I've never played that before."
"What's the big deal if you haven't played before? It's not difficult." Picking up a handful of snow from the ground, Xia Yu was about to follow Kong Hanyue's example and stuff the snow into An Siyao's clothes.