Chapter 42: The Depths of Winter Have Arrived

Chapter 42: The Depths of Winter Have Arrived

Chen Shuoan had done nothing since arriving here but eat and sleep, aside from waking up early each day to study—living what could only be described as the freeloader's life he'd always dreamed of.

Qin Zhonglian hip-checked Zheng Yuanzhi out of the way, pulling the little fluffy thing all bundled up into his arms with a contented sigh.

"It's not even the winter solstice yet and you're already dressed this warm. What? Planning to skip class in the dead of winter?"

"Yes, I intend to have the tutor hold class at my bedside. Otherwise, I won't study."

Qin Zhonglian: "..."

"I'm serious here. Are you going to wrap yourself in a blanket and come to the study then?"

"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean others can't. There's nothing shameful about wrapping myself in a blanket and coming to class. By then, the tutor will be moved by my thirst for knowledge and might even grant me a few days off." Chen Shuoan buried his face in his fluffy collar, boldly dreaming of the future.

Zhang Chenggong snorted with laughter: "It's not even dark out yet, and you're already dreaming?"

Li Wei chimed in: "Hence the name 'daydream.'"

Everyone burst into laughter.

Chen Shuoan, ganged up on with no way to fight back, whipped out his own trump card.

"The prince put this on me. He said I wouldn't be cold this way."

That shut everyone up.

"Tomorrow marks the start of winter, and the weather is indeed freezing. The outfit His Highness the Sixth Prince picked for our Shuo'an is both warm and handsome."

They all changed their tune, chattering and arguing away.

Chen Shuoan sneered, seeing them all for exactly what they were.

Zheng Yuanzhi, rubbing his frozen nose, asked, "What's everyone's plan for the winter solstice? How about tomorrow afternoon I treat everyone to a good meal at Fresh Eats?"

Chen Shuoan pouted, remembering he couldn't leave the palace.

Loneliness was like going to the bathroom in winter with your bare ass—and only you know how cold it was.

Qin Zhonglian patted his shoulder in consolation, in that insufferably smug way of his: "Our Shuo'an's just got the luck of the draw—doesn't have to brave the biting winds outside the palace."

Chen Shuoan gave a cold smile: "If you can leave, leave. If you can't, get lost."

Qin Zhonglian didn't get lost, his big ass planted firmly on half of Chen Shuoan's seat.

"Life is dull and boring, school is murder on mankind. Brother Qin, I can't wait to turn eighteen."

Chen Shuoan pounded the desk in despair, hot tears splashing onto the desk.

"Almost there, Shuo'an. Once the new year passes, you'll become a real good-for-nothing." Qin Zhonglian patted his head like a doting father. "After the new year, the Sixth Prince will set off for Shuobei. Once you turn eighteen and receive your courtesy name, you won't have to stay in the palace as anyone's study buddy."

Chen Shuoan's head shot up, his eyes full of confusion: "The prince is going to Shuobei? He doesn't need to study anymore?"

Qin Zhonglian smiled calmly: "Silly boy, what the prince is going to do is way more important than studying. You should know—books aren't our only way out."

————

The prince was leaving after the new year.

Chen Shuoan squatted by the pond, feeling glum, watching the fish swim around lazily.

Yuan Rang hurried over, grabbed his hand, and pulled him away from the icy pond.

Chen Shuoan looked at their intertwined hands and said out of nowhere.

"I'll miss you, Your Highness."

Yuan Rang smiled, tucking his hand into his own robe, dutifully playing the part of a hand warmer.

"Understood?"

"Mm."

"I can't bear to part, so I can never say it to your face."

Chen Shuoan felt the warmth spread from his fingertips through his whole body, and he felt a little better.

"What's so hard to say? If you keep putting it off, it's the moment of parting that hurts most." Chen Shuoan kicked at a pebble, chasing it and scuffing it over and over.

"Shuo'an makes a good point. I really should face this goodbye properly."

The two walked along the plum path, the red plum blossoms along the path not yet in full bloom, just showing their buds.

The cold wind howled, blowing the buds open just a crack—if you looked closely, you could see the delicate stamens inside, fine and exquisite.

"By the twelfth month, this plum grove will be one of the most beautiful sights in the palace."

Chen Shuoan blew out warm puffs of air, his nose red from the cold. He looked up at Yuan Rang, dazed, and nodded.

"Why the dazed look?"

Yuan Rang laughed heartily, leaning in to get a closer look at Chen Shuoan's face. Then he suddenly put on a worried look, messing with the boy: "Oh no, Shuo'an."

Chen Shuoan's expression sharpened at the call, his back going straight, his whole face dead serious: "What's wrong?"

The prince better not be about to freeze and pass out—he'd grown like a weed these past few months, and Chen Shuoan wasn't sure he could even drag him.

But he was ready for anything!

"You've gone cross-eyed." Yuan Rang waved his hand in front of his face, his expression grave, like it was a super serious matter.

"Huh?"

Chen Shuoan was pretty but not too bright. He yanked his hand out of Yuan Rang's robes and slapped it over his own eyes.

He didn't dare leave even a sliver of space, scared he'd be stuck looking like an idiot forever, and asked in a panic: "How did this happen?"

Yuan Rang said nothing.

He just stared at the pale bridge of Chen Shuoan's nose and his rosy lips, his Adam's apple bobbing, darkness churning in his eyes.

He reached up and covered Chen Shuoan's hand, pressing it firmly over his eyes.

Then he leaned in quickly and gave him a light peck on his soft, warm lips.

Everything was pitch black, and the feeling startled him so much he nearly jumped out of his skin: "What was that?!"

Yuan Rang let out a low chuckle, having gotten away with it, plucking a bright red bud off the plum tree next to him, calmly pinning the crime on the poor innocent bud.

Chen Shuoan heard him lean close to his ear and say, "It looked like a flower."

He relaxed a little, moving his hand away from his eyes to reveal a pair of moist, glistening doe eyes, and said urgently, "Quick, help me check—are my eyes back to normal?"

Yuan Rang's heart softened immensely. Seeing how adorably clueless he looked, he couldn't help but admit to his first crime.

"Shuo'an's eyes are beautifully shaped—they were never crossed. I was just teasing you."

Chen Shuoan: "..."

I'm pouring my heart out to you, and you're playing games with me.

Chen Shuoan let out a cold laugh and strode ahead, leaving Yuan Rang with just a dashing silhouette.

A soft, clear voice reached Yuan Rang's ears through the biting winter wind.

"I'm mad at you, Yuan Rang."

His Highness the Sixth Prince took his sweet time, then caught up in a long stride, whispering an apology into his ear.

"I was wrong. What do I have to do for Shuo'an to forgive me?"

Chen Shuoan gave a proud toss of his head, oozing a smug, coquettish air.

"Tomorrow is the winter solstice, so as punishment, you have to eat a bowl of dumplings I made myself."

Yuan Rang gazed at his cheeks flushed pink from the wind, his heart full of unspoken affection. He could only take his hand again, stepping slightly forward to shield him from the piercing cold.

"Could I also ask for a bowl of longevity noodles?" He brought Chen Shuoan's hand to his lips, breathing warm air over it gently, and said softly, "The winter solstice is my birthday."