After only three hours of sleep, it was already broad daylight. Compared to Xiao Yu, who was glowing with energy, Ye Qingli was a complete mess. She didn't even want to open her eyes.
But thinking about their new trip ahead, she got excited again. She dragged herself out of bed to wash up, still half-asleep.
"Ah..." Her body felt like it was falling apart, sore all over. Ye Qingli winced in pain. It hadn't been like this last night.
Last night.
Right, she still hadn't replied to Zhang Yan's message.
She remembered her phone had been vibrating on the pillow, but Xiao Yu had silenced it and tossed it aside. Ye Qingli looked around and found her phone charging on the nightstand. She hadn't had the energy to charge it last night, so Xiao Yu must have done it.
How considerate of him.
Ye Qingli leaned over to grab the phone. The first thing she saw was her chat with Zhang Yan.
"..."
Zhang Yan had bombarded her with countless messages last night, mostly stickers and the word "Hello?" When she didn't get a reply, she started complaining: "Little liar, didn't you say you couldn't sleep? How come you fell asleep right after sending that?"
At 3:30 AM, someone replied from Ye Qingli's account: "She's cured of her insomnia. She's already asleep."
Zhang Yan, a night owl herself, laughed out loud at that: "Are you kidding me? You fell asleep and still texted me? Sleepwalking? Probably. You can't even tell her from yourself—you typed the wrong character."
"I'm Xiao Yu."
After a full two minutes, Zhang Yan sent an entire page of ellipses, followed by: "Sorry, didn't mean to disturb."
"..." Ye Qingli gripped the phone. What was all this nonsense?
The conversation ended there, leaving her at a loss. How was she supposed to start now?
The bedroom was still quiet. Xiao Yu thought Ye Qingli had fallen asleep again. He came in with a toothbrush hanging from his mouth and saw her frowning at her phone. He immediately understood.
He leaned in and reminded her: "Didn't your roommate ask you how it felt last night?"
Ye Qingli was startled. She turned off the screen and pressed the phone to her chest. She had been so focused she hadn't noticed him come in. Xiao Yu found her guilty look amusing and continued teasing her: "Isn't that a good topic? Just tell her what you really think."
His mouth was full of toothpaste foam, making his speech unclear, like an old man with a white beard. Ye Qingli looked down, tossed the phone aside, stood up, stretched, and walked out without looking back.
"Forget it. Her boyfriend is more buff than you. I'm afraid she'll laugh at me if I tell her."
Her tone sounded a bit helpless and a little dissatisfied.
"...Ye Qingli." Xiao Yu stopped smiling and called her name in a low voice.
Ye Qingli ignored him and kept walking into the bathroom. She was in a great mood.
'Let him keep teasing me.'
'Hehe, it'll drive him crazy.'
...
They arrived in Ice City around noon. They grabbed a quick bite at the station to fill their stomachs, then headed straight to the ski resort.
The scenery along the way was beautiful. The trees by the roadside were thick with snow, sparkling white under the sunlight. Ye Qingli wiped the frost off the window and remembered how her father Ye Yaohui had taken her to a small ski resort in the city when she was little. She had been thrilled since she'd never been before, but when they got there, she realized neither of them knew how to ski. Ye Yaohui fell on his butt several times, and Ye Qingli fared even worse. Without anyone to support her, she bumped her head multiple times, leaving bumps that stayed swollen for days. She nearly disfigured herself.
After that experience, she developed a fear of skiing. She'd never actually skied at a real resort since.
Afraid it might happen again, she turned to Xiao Yu and asked, "Will you teach me to ski like they do in dramas?"
Caught off guard, Xiao Yu didn't watch much TV, but he had a vague idea. It was probably the guy holding the girl's hand while they skied, cheering her on from a distance when she did well, holding her hand if she struggled, and if she fell, he'd rub her head or even kiss her to comfort her.
He seemed to think it over seriously, then shook his head. "No."
"..." That wasn't what she expected. Ye Qingli got anxious. "Then if you don't teach me, what if I fall?"
"Even if you don't fall, I'll push you down." He was still holding a grudge from her morning insult.
The driver chuckled. Ye Qingli hugged her arms and stared out the window, her face alternating between red and pale. Finally, she couldn't hold it in anymore. Frustrated, she reached over and pinched his arm.
"Is this how you act as a boyfriend?"
"I was just joking. Why do you believe everything I say?"
Xiao Yu poked her cheek. It was soft and smooth, with tiny fuzz visible up close. He suddenly realized that since they got together, Ye Qingli had rarely worn makeup. She always went bare-faced, treating him like family.
But that had its advantages. Without makeup, it was easier for him to get close to her, to kiss her whenever he wanted. And her natural face made her look even more innocent. Her personality was also becoming more outgoing. While they bantered, Xiao Yu noticed she seemed to be more clingy. That feeling was amazing. Before this, he never thought dating could be so fun.
He was completely wrapped around her finger.
It was like she had cast a spell on him.
...
Maybe because school was about to start, the ski resort was packed, mostly with kids.
Xiao Yu rented two sets of everything they'd need. After a moment's thought, he went back and bought Ye Qingli a butt cushion and knee pads.
'That way, she won't get hurt if she falls.'
"It's even a polar bear design!" Ye Qingli held it up, grinning from ear to ear.
"By the time we get back tonight, it'll probably be a black bear," Xiao Yu teased as he crouched down to help her put on her ski suit.
"No problem. You can wash it for me."
"In your dreams."