Chapter 127: Overjoyed

Chapter 127: Overjoyed

Everyone in the dorm was glad to see Li Meiru's change of heart.

It was a blessing in disguise that she came to her senses sooner rather than later.

Li Meiru: "I’m not going home this winter break; I’m staying on campus."

Most students go home for the New Year, but some choose not to.

The school makes it easy for students to stay on campus during the break. They just need to let the school know, and they can stay in the dorms.

But aside from the dorms and the library, everything else is closed.

Students have to eat out.

Given what’s going on at home, it’s clear Li Meiru didn’t get along with her family this time, so staying on campus is a smart move.

Xia Li asked: "Are you staying to work?"

Li Meiru: "Yeah, I need to save up."

Xia Li: "That’s awesome. If my family weren’t making me go home, I’d stay and work too. Going home’s such a hassle and costs a fortune."

He Jing brought a stack of notebooks, "Check out these notes so you don’t flunk."

Li Meiru thanked her and got to work on the notes.

He Jing’s notes were super detailed, and since first-year classes aren’t too hard, Li Meiru caught up quickly.

Tang Xiuxiu came back from outside: "It’s snowing out there."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "No way!"

She ran to the balcony to check, and sure enough, it was snowing.

"Is Ye Xiaoxiao here? Someone’s looking for her downstairs."

"Thanks, I’ll go down."

Ye Xiaoxiao threw on her jacket and headed downstairs.

She wasn’t sure who’d come see her in this weather, but she had a hunch.

Xia Li had just stepped onto the balcony when she saw Ye Xiaoxiao sprinting down.

From the dorm balcony, she could see the entrance downstairs.

She watched Ye Xiaoxiao run up to a hot guy, and then they walked off hand in hand.

Xia Li widened her eyes, "That’s Xiao Xiao’s boyfriend? He’s a total hottie—better-looking than movie stars!"

Xia Li didn’t realize she’d seen him once during training.

After training, everyone was wiped out, and a bunch of military big shots were standing there. She didn’t look up, so she didn’t recognize Lu Hanchuan.

When Wang Jiao heard Xia Li say that, she rushed over to look.

But all she saw were their backs.

"Is he really that handsome?"

Xia Li: "Absolutely!"

...

Downstairs, Ye Xiaoxiao turned to Lu Hanchuan and asked, "What brings you here all of a sudden?"

Lu Hanchuan: "You can surprise me with a gift, but I can’t drop by to see you?"

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded, "Sure, but weren’t you worried I might not be here, and you’d come for nothing?"

Lu Hanchuan held Ye Xiaoxiao's hand and tucked it into his pocket to keep it warm.

"Why would I care? I’d still come even if you weren’t here. Besides, on a snowy day, where else would you be?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I’ve been swamped lately."

Lu Hanchuan raised his beautiful eyebrows: "Too busy to knit a scarf, huh?"

The scarf he wore today was the one Ye Xiaoxiao had made.

Ye Xiaoxiao looked at him with some surprise, "How’d you know I made it?"

Lu Hanchuan: "I just had a feeling."

He couldn’t admit the scarf looked like a beginner’s work, with uneven stitches.

But he loved it, absolutely loved it.

With the snow falling, Ye Xiaoxiao hadn’t taken time off, and Lu Hanchuan had to return to the army that night, they only had a few hours together.

Lu Hanchuan brought Ye Xiaoxiao to the family quarters, where the heat was already running.

It dawned on Ye Xiaoxiao that Lu Hanchuan must’ve paid the heating bill.

Aside from having the key, she hadn’t handled anything else for the house.

The room was warm but felt a little lifeless.

"There’s nothing here. You hungry? Should we grab a bite somewhere?"

Ye Xiaoxiao asked as she walked into the room.

Once inside, Lu Hanchuan shut the door with one hand, pulled Ye Xiaoxiao close with the other, and kissed her deeply.

When she finally melted into his arms, Lu Hanchuan whispered hoarsely, "Xiao Xiao, I’m crazy about you."

Ye Xiaoxiao gasped, "Lu Hanchuan, you’re such a smooth-talking rogue."

Lu Hanchuan held her close, his lips brushing her ear, and chuckled, "Guilty."

Ye Xiaoxiao playfully punched his shoulder.

Lu Hanchuan: "Stay still, let me hold you a bit longer. I’ve missed you like crazy."

Ye Xiaoxiao said, "Lu Hanchuan, you're so spineless."

"What else can I do? You won’t agree to marry me."

"So now it's my fault?"

"Not your fault—mine. I’m just too impatient."

He was quick to admit his fault.

After Lu Hanchuan let her go, Ye Xiaoxiao told him about her winter break plans.

She would first return to Baishi Village, then come back a few days early to study with Master Song.

Lu Hanchuan asked, "Why not stay at my place?"

Ye Xiaoxiao pushed him away, "No."

Lu Hanchuan clarified, "I don’t mean the compound, but another house. I gave you the address before."

Ye Xiaoxiao thought about it, "That’s still not appropriate."

They were unmarried, and although this era allowed for free love, it was far from being so open. Unmarried couples living together was simply not appropriate.

Ye Xiaoxiao said seriously, "Don’t try to pull a fast one on me."

Lu Hanchuan’s ploy failed, "Before you go back home, come over for a meal. I'll let my family know in advance."

This request wasn’t out of line, so Ye Xiaoxiao agreed.

They stayed in the small house until six in the evening, and it was completely dark outside.

Lu Hanchuan took Ye Xiaoxiao to a nearby hotpot restaurant.

The steaming hotpot, with thick sesame paste and fresh lamb slices, warmed their bellies after a chilly day.

After the meal, Lu Hanchuan escorted her to the dormitory entrance.

"Go on in. I’ll leave once you’re inside."

"Alright."

Ye Xiaoxiao walked a few steps forward. The snow was still falling, though not as thick as before.

The ground was blanketed in a thick layer of snow.

Lu Hanchuan watched as Xiao Xiao walked a few steps, then turned and ran back.

Worried she might slip, he instinctively opened his arms and caught her.

Ye Xiaoxiao rose on her tiptoes and kissed her boyfriend.

"Thank you, I really enjoyed today."

Every time she was with Lu Hanchuan, she was happy.

She didn’t have to think or worry about a thing.

The kiss on her cheek was fleeting but tender.

But for Ye Xiaoxiao, it was already a rare gesture.

Ye Xiaoxiao ran off, waved from the dormitory door, and disappeared.

Lu Hanchuan stood frozen, his heart soaring like fireworks.

The snowy embrace felt like a dream, one worth losing yourself in.

Ye Xiaoxiao was in high spirits, returning to the dorm reeking of hot pot.

Wang Jiao teased, "You’re back! Spill it—what were you up to?"

Ye Xiaoxiao: "My boyfriend stopped by, and we grabbed dinner."