Chapter 375: Ski Resort

Chapter 375 The Ski Lodge

Before New Year’s Day, Ye Xiaoxiao managed to fetch Ye Changsheng.

Since Ye Changning was still traveling across the country, she had him stay at her place.

"Fourth Brother, if you want to read, you can use my study. I hardly use it anymore."

Ye Xiaoxiao often read sitting on the living room rug. Although there were two studies in the house, both sat empty.

Lu Hanchuan was hardly ever home either, and his study had next to no books.

Still, Ye Xiaoxiao left the studies as they were. Even if they weren’t needed now, they could be turned into computer rooms later.

Ye Changsheng had said no at first, but he happened to have a few days off before and after the New Year’s holiday, so he had time to spare and decided to check out what Xiao Xiao was doing.

The little courtyard really was lovely and comfortable to live in.

Ye Changsheng first put his things in his room, then wandered around the yard.

When it was time for dinner, the housekeeper Xiao Xiao hired came to cook.

"Do you live here alone?"

"For now, it’s just me and Sister Hong. I’m not sure if she’ll stay next year."

Ye Xiaoxiao felt that Duan Hong was quite satisfied with her current job, but staying by her side was a waste of her skills.

If a more important opportunity arose, she would probably leave.

Ye Changsheng looked at Ye Xiaoxiao. "Well, you picked such a busy partner. Now you hardly get to see him."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Don’t start with me, alright? Think about yourself first. Once you’re stuck in a lab all day, you’ll be worse than Lu Hanchuan."

Ye Changsheng said dismissively, "But I don’t have a girlfriend, so I don’t have to worry about that."

Ye Xiaoxiao shot him a look.

Though she couldn’t argue, she had actually planned to set him up with someone.

"Are you really not in a hurry? Do you have a girl you like?" Ye Xiaoxiao prodded playfully, leaning in closer. "Or what’s your type?"

Ye Changsheng pushed her head away.

"Nah."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "That’s just because you haven’t met the right one. There probably aren’t many girls in your department, right? Want me to introduce you to someone?"

Ye Changsheng seemed to realize why she had invited him over.

He ruffled Xiao Xiao’s hair.

"You’re so young, yet so meddlesome. These things happen naturally. I’m not in a hurry—I can wait until after grad school."

Ye Xiaoxiao dodged his hand. "After your master’s, you’ll go for a Ph.D. What if you end up a middle-aged guy? You’ll lose your charm compared to how handsome you are now."

Ye Changsheng shook his head. "That’s fine. I’ll still have my studies and career."

At least he’d have something to do.

Ye Xiaoxiao gave up arguing when she realized she wasn’t getting through to him.

She told him straight up, “Rest well today. I’ll take you out tomorrow.”

Ye Changsheng: “….”

Ye Xiaoxiao was way less familiar with the capital than others. After talking Ye Changsheng into coming over, she called Bai Mengan.

“You should’ve hit me up first! For outings like this, you definitely need me. My cousin runs a ski club—we could all go. There’s even an indoor hot spring.”

Bai Mengan perked up at the idea. “Perfect, Yunxiao has tomorrow off too. I’ll bring him along.”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “Great! I was just thinking no one would hang with my fourth brother. Bring the class monitor, and I’ll invite Zhang Kaining and Qu Miao too.”

With so many guys around, Ye Changsheng wouldn’t feel awkward.

Ye Xiaoxiao figured she’d covered all the bases.

Bai Mengan was totally down. “Alright, let’s meet at that spot I told you about. I’ll call my cousin first to book two hot spring pools. Remember to bring ski gear and swimsuits.”

Though rentals were available, your own stuff’s way cleaner.

Ye Xiaoxiao was like, “No problem.”

But she didn’t own any ski gear at home.

Since they’d decided to go, after lunch, Ye Xiaoxiao dragged Ye Changsheng to the mall to shop.

She hit up Qu Miao and Zhang Kaining first—both were instantly in once they heard Chu Yunxiao was joining.

Ye Xiaoxiao drove and swung by to get Qu Miao. As for Zhang Kaining, since he wasn’t at Rende Pharmacy, he was on his own for shopping.

At the mall, Ye Xiaoxiao introduced Ye Changsheng to Qu Miao.

“This is my fourth brother.”

Qu Miao gave him a polite nod.

Ye Changsheng: “Hello.”

As for Duan Hong, she was already familiar—they’d met before.

Once inside, they started shopping. Ye Xiaoxiao told Qu Miao to go wild. “I’ll get you a full ski outfit. Have you skied before?”

Qu Miao shook her head but looked confused. “Do we really need professional gear for just one trip?”

And sports equipment wasn’t cheap.

Noticing Ye Changsheng checking out jackets, Ye Xiaoxiao steered Qu Miao away.

“Mainly, I don’t want to wear used clothes. But I didn’t want you all to think I’m fussy, so we’re all buying together.”

Qu Miao: “No one thinks you’re fussy. But do you even want to learn skiing?”

Ye Xiaoxiao thought about her zero athletic ability.

“I don’t really want to. I’m scared of falling.”

“Then why organize a ski trip?”

"Because I set up a blind date for my fourth brother."

Qu Miao: "..."

That explained it.

Four sets of ski clothes for the four of them, plus swimsuits for the hot spring.

When it came time to pay, Ye Xiaoxiao paid for everything.

She could afford it, sure, but since she was the one who organized the trip, the items weren’t exactly cheap either.

Qu Miao’s salary was decent now, but it still wasn’t enough to splurge like this.

Ye Xiaoxiao wanted her friends to enjoy themselves, so she didn’t want the others to foot the bill.

No one tried to stop her, figuring they could pick up the tab next time.

Ye Changsheng was actually quite interested in skiing.

Though he was good at academics, he wasn't a bookworm. He was eager to try many new sports he hadn’t attempted before.

After buying all the gear, the next morning at eight o’clock sharp,

Ye Xiaoxiao headed out with her crew.

When they arrived, Bai Mengan was already there.

Su Tong and Lin Zhilu had just pulled up and walked to the entrance.

Lin Zhilu hadn’t been invited by Ye Xiaoxiao, and complained when he saw her.

“Xiao Xiao, you went out without even hitting me up?”

Ye Xiaoxiao: “Where’d you come from? I thought you weren’t even in the capital.”

Lin Zhilu seemed like a good kid on the outside, but he was naturally rebellious. After graduation, instead of taking the job his family had lined up for him, he bounced around all over the place doing outdoor activities.

Luckily, he had several older brothers who took the heat for him.

“I’ve been back for days. My eldest brother hauled me home—he actually wants me to work.”

Lin Zhilu feared his eldest brother the most; being more than a decade older made him seem like he might as well have been his dad.

“Just stay in the capital. If you get into trouble out there, your family won’t be able to help. Pretty sure if you lay low, your eldest brother won’t force you to work.”

Ye Xiaoxiao could only sigh at this friend. In the original story, he wasn’t exactly a model citizen either, and ended up badly. Him still being around now was lucky enough.