This winter, Dongping was unusually cold.
With the biting wind outside, Li Dong tightened his coat as he got out of the car at the corner.
In front of County No. 1 Middle School.
When Li Dong arrived, Yuan Xue was stamping her feet and puffing out visible breaths.
Seeing Li Dong, Yuan Xue said, "Let's take a walk around the school. It's been a long time since I was last here."
Li Dong nodded and said nothing, following Yuan Xue into the school.
The school looked the same as before, but in the cold winter, the trees along the paths were yellowed, and a few dried leaves were scattered on the ground.
Walking along the school paths, neither Li Dong nor Yuan Xue spoke.
They continued walking until they reached the school playground. Yuan Xue then said, "Let's sit for a while."
Li Dong found a place to sit down, remaining silent.
Yuan Xue couldn't help but ask, "When did you become so quiet?"
Li Dong smiled and replied, "I learned it from you."
"Boring!"
Yuan Xue rolled her eyes, sat beside him, and stopped talking.
Now, it was Li Dong who couldn't hold back and asked, "Why are you leaving so soon? Don't foreign students get a longer winter break? You're not even staying for the New Year?"
Earlier, Yuan Xue had called to say she was leaving, which caught Li Dong off guard. He thought she would at least stay until after the New Year, but now she was leaving so quickly.
Yuan Xue replied softly, "The school has some issues that I need to handle."
"Is it necessary to go now?"
"Pretty much."
"The foreigners are really unreasonable! You're finally back and at least should stay for the New Year," Li Dong complained.
Yuan Xue couldn't help but chuckle, laughing for a while before saying, "Foreigners don't celebrate our New Year. Once Christmas is over, they don't care about anything else."
Li Dong exhaled, his breath turning into mist.
After a moment, Li Dong asked, "You're leaving tomorrow?"
"Mm, I'm leaving tomorrow. First to Qinyang, then to Beijing, and then taking a flight…"
"I'm not asking about your travel plans. I'm asking if you can't wait even one more day?"
Yuan Xue glanced at him, her lips curling up slightly as she chuckled, "What difference does a day make?"
Li Dong rolled his eyes and said irritably, "You tell me!"
Yuan Xue's smile grew, and she suddenly said, "It's a pity that Dongping doesn't seem to be getting any snow this year."
"You never know; it might snow tomorrow."
"The weather forecast says there won't be any snow."
"The weather forecast says what it says. How would they know if it will snow or not!"
"Don't use dirty words!"
Li Dong grimaced and said, "Forget it, let's go. It's too annoying to stay and look at it."
Yuan Xue gave him a sidelong glance and asked, "Is there anything you want to say to me?"
Li Dong huffed impatiently, "No!"
"Really nothing?"
"Nothing!"
"If not, then forget it. I won't be back next summer. I'll be working over there, and who knows, I might not be back for several years."
Li Dong felt a bit troubled and said after a while, "Why work abroad? Are you short of money?"
"It's not about the money. It's about gaining practical experience," Yuan Xue explained.
"Can't you get practical experience here?"
"Let's not talk about it now. We'll discuss it next year," Yuan Xue interrupted.
They fell silent again. After hesitating for a moment, Li Dong took out a neatly wrapped box from his pocket and handed it to her, saying, "This is for you. A birthday gift. I originally planned to give it to you tomorrow."
Yuan Xue's eyes narrowed, and her lips curved into a smile as she said, "Didn't you say there's no snow and no gifts?"
"Are you annoyed? I'll give it if I want to. What does it matter to you!"
Yuan Xue laughed with her hand over her mouth, amused by his stubbornness.
Holding the gift box, Yuan Xue hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can I open it?"
"Do as you please."
"Well, then I'll open it." Yuan Xue's eyes twinkled with a smile as she slowly unwrapped the gift.
When she opened the box and saw the contents, Yuan Xue's face showed a hint of surprise. After examining it for a moment, she frowned and asked, "Is this real?"
"Guess?"
"Guess my foot! If it's fake, it means you weren't sincere. If it's real, where did you get the money?"
Yuan Xue took out the necklace from the box. It was a platinum chain with a snowflake-shaped transparent diamond in the middle.
Yuan Xue assumed the diamond was fake, but even a platinum necklace wasn't cheap.
Yuan Xue wore a platinum necklace herself, and this one probably cost several thousand yuan.
Li Dong was still a student with a not-so-wealthy family, spending such a sum on a gift was quite a gesture.
Yuan Xue, who was from a well-off family, felt both happy and uncomfortable receiving such an expensive gift. It wasn't about vanity for her.
Seeing her expression, Li Dong understood her thoughts and explained, "I earned the money myself."
Yuan Xue's face immediately brightened, her eyes turning into crescent shapes as she smiled and said, "Really?"
"Believe it or not!"
"Alright, I believe you. But this is too expensive. I'll accept it this time. Next time, don't buy such costly gifts; get something cheaper."
"Next time? Aren't you not coming back?" Li Dong replied irritably.
"Are you mad? Or are you upset about the cost of the necklace?" Yuan Xue teased.
"Both!"
Yuan Xue laughed happily and ignored his complaint. She took off the necklace she was wearing and handed it to Li Dong, saying, "I'll wear this one you gave me. The one I was wearing is for you."
Li Dong understood her gesture; she was offering her own necklace as compensation, fearing that he had spent too much money.
Even though he understood her intentions, Li Dong accepted the necklace directly. It still held the warmth from Yuan Xue.
As for the scent, he didn't smell it clearly, but he leaned in and checked. It seemed like there was a faint hint, but not obvious.
Yuan Xue saw this and rolled her eyes, saying, "Can you not be so gross?"
Li Dong looked at her and asked, "Are you saying my gift is gross?"
Yuan Xue was both amused and helpless, replying, "Fine, if you think it's gross, it's fine. Can you stop being so petty?"
"Nope!"
Li Dong huffed and stuffed the necklace into his pocket. Standing up, he said, "Let's go. It's cold here."
"Wait a minute. Can you help me put it on?" Yuan Xue opened her hand, and the snowflake-shaped diamond sparkled under the sunlight.
Li Dong hesitated for a moment. The scene was too familiar, making him unsure if he should help her put it on.
After a moment's hesitation, Li Dong accepted the necklace.
Since he had already given the gift, there was no need to be overly sensitive about it.
He squatted down, wrapped his arms around Yuan Xue's neck, and helped her put on the necklace. After a while, Li Dong mumbled, "What about that promised hug?"
Yuan Xue couldn't help but burst out laughing, holding her stomach and saying intermittently, "I… cough cough… I was wondering why you're so slow with putting on a necklace. Turns out you were waiting for this!"
Li Dong's face turned green. Damn it, was she playing him?
Annoyed and embarrassed, Li Dong pulled his hands back and stood up, ready to leave. He felt utterly humiliated!
Unexpectedly, Yuan Xue suddenly stood up and hugged him from behind, softly saying, "Li Dong, thank you."
Li Dong's movements froze, and his throat felt a bit dry as he replied, "You're welcome."
"I'm leaving now. I'll give you time. If by the time I graduate you still haven't made a choice, I won't come back."
After saying this, Yuan Xue released Li Dong and ran off.
Li Dong didn't chase her. First, he sighed in relief, then felt a bit overwhelmed.
Of course, he wished for a life with both Yuan Xue and Qin Yuhan. Both were exceptional women, and he naturally wanted both in his life.
This was likely every man's dream.
Unfortunately, things rarely go as hoped.
Both Qin Yuhan and Yuan Xue were proud individuals, and the more outstanding they were, the more prideful they became.
Currently, since Li Dong and Qin Yuhan weren't married yet, Yuan Xue could tolerate his hesitation.
But once Li Dong and Qin Yuhan were officially together, stepping into marriage, Yuan Xue might indeed no longer be a part of his life.
Li Dong sighed. There were indeed things money couldn't solve.
If he told Yuan Xue he had money, lots of money…
Thinking about it, Li Dong figured it wouldn't make much difference. If it were about money, Yuan Xue wouldn't cling to him.
Li Dong shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. He would take things one day at a time.