Jiang Mengxin waited under the eaves of the teaching building until it felt like the flowers were about to wither.
In the stairwell, the sound of light, slow footsteps echoed. Some people only needed to hear those footsteps for her face to come to mind.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Su Mumu said softly.
“What did Lao Deng say?” Jiang Mengxin asked.
“Nothing much.” Su Mumu smiled and walked forward, glancing at the sky. She reached out to feel the snowflakes landing in her palm. “Shall we go?”
Jiang Mengxin froze for a moment. “Yeah.”
School had already let out.
The sycamore path was indeed covered in snow. As they walked through, the faint fragrance of snow and flower petals filled the air.
*Puda, puda.*
It was the soft sound of feet treading on snow.
The two of them walked side by side at a leisurely pace.
From the corner of her eye, Jiang Mengxin stole glances at Su Mumu from time to time. Her pure, exquisite face featured dimples whenever she smiled.
She was so beautiful.
They had known each other for so long and were incredibly close, so why did she still feel this way?
She felt as if Mumu had somehow become even prettier recently.
‘Is it an illusion?’
Her skin seemed whiter, her eyes more soulful… her eyelashes were longer, and her baby fat seemed to have thinned out…
‘It must be an illusion.’
‘Probably.’
‘I’m just too anxious.’
Jiang Mengxin mocked herself inwardly.
As they neared the school gate, the tricycle old man was still holding his ground. “Young lady, would you like a cup of fresh milk?”
Jiang Mengxin opened her mouth, preparing to refuse.
Beside her, the girl’s voice rang out with a hint of excitement.
“I’ll take two servings, please,” Su Mumu said.
“Alright!” The old man beamed. “There’s a discount for the couple set for two… No, wait, I misspoke. Best friends get a discount too… Ah, haha!”
“It’s fine,” Su Mumu said, shaking her head.
Jiang Mengxin was dazed, turning to stare at Su Mumu.
Soon, two servings of fresh milk were handed over. Su Mumu passed one to Jiang Mengxin. “It’s so cold. Use this to warm up.”
Jiang Mengxin was even more astonished.
She looked down at the fresh milk held right in front of her, feeling utterly at a loss.
“Are you in a daze, Xin Xin?” Su Mumu asked, puzzled.
“No… Mumu, how… why…?” Jiang Mengxin swallowed the word ‘forgive’ and changed her question. “Why aren’t you making me pay you back?”
“Pfft — hahaha!” Su Mumu couldn’t hold it back anymore and doubled over with laughter.
Her laughter was as pleasant as silver bells.
She swayed with mirth as the snowflakes danced in the air.
A flush of crimson gradually crept up Jiang Mengxin’s face. “Are you teasing me?”
Su Mumu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and grinned. “I’ve got you figured out, Xin Xin!”
“Oh, really!” Jiang Mengxin’s face turned even redder as she ground her teeth. “I’ll show you teasing!”
As she spoke, she reached out with both hands and ruffled Su Mumu’s hair into a messy nest.
It was just like petting a cat.
“Hey… stop, stop, stop! I’m getting motion sickness!” Su Mumu quickly pleaded for mercy. At her feet, the snow cat kept rubbing against her ankles.
It seemed to be sympathizing with its Master.
This time, Jiang Mengxin stopped faster than she ever had before.
“From now on, I’ll be the one paying you back,” she said.
“Ehh…” Su Mumu covered her mouth. “Is Sister Jiang playing the overbearing CEO?”
“That’s right.” The corners of Jiang Mengxin’s mouth curled upward, and much of the tension left her expressive eyes. “Sister Jiang will take care of you.”
“I don’t want that! I want to be self-reliant and constantly strive for self-improvement!” Su Mumu stuck out her tongue.
“Then no allowance starting tomorrow,” Jiang Mengxin said.
“Ah! I was wrong, I was wrong! Sister Jiang is the best! *Sob, sob.*” Su Mumu pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears.
“Hmph.” Jiang Mengxin tilted her chin up slightly.
Beside them, the tricycle old man was dumbfounded. He finally couldn’t help but speak up.
“You two girls… one keeping the other… Aren’t you best friends? Is it a keeping relationship!? My goodness… the world is ending!”
Su Mumu felt a bit embarrassed, having forgotten there was an outsider nearby.
Just as she was thinking of how to explain, her palm was suddenly enveloped by a soft force.
She was pulled along into a light jog, running and running, escaping the judgmental gaze of the outsider and the stifling air.
It felt as if the flow of time had slowed down.
For a split second, Su Mumu wanted to let go of their joined hands again.
But on second thought, she abandoned her stubbornness.
‘Lao Deng, considering you failed as an investor, I’ll trust you this once!’
And so, Su Mumu did not pull away.
She let Jiang Mengxin lead her, running all the way, leaving the world behind and the falling snow by her ears. Every sound went quiet.
Only the sound of their heavy breathing remained.
There were many things that were difficult to understand.
Like suddenly becoming a fox demon, or so many things happening all at once…
But there was no turning back now, was there?
Behind her was the campus and the empty bags of fresh milk.
‘Sorry, Xin Xin.’
‘Forgive me for not daring to come clean.’
‘I don’t have the courage to face such a massive Xianzong. I don’t want our relationship to fracture.’
‘I’m weak. I’m a coward.’
‘So…’
‘Will you forgive me?’
‘I don’t dare to say these things to you. I don’t know what to do.’
‘I don’t want to fight.’
‘I don’t want to stare at the ceiling alone every day.’
‘I only have you left by my side.’
‘You can’t hear me.’
‘And I don’t dare to say it.’
‘I’ll just treat this as me venting to myself. Occasionally, even the most sunny and cheerful person has storm clouds.’
“Whew!” Jiang Mengxin stopped her pace, her face flushed. “Honestly, we scared that old man to death…”
“Yeah,” Su Mumu responded, her breathing gradually steadying.
Jiang Mengxin used her palm to carefully brush away the thin layer of snow from the top of Su Mumu’s head.
She was very meticulous.
“What do you plan to do this afternoon, Mumu?”
“Hmm… I’ll probably just sleep at home,” Su Mumu said.
“I see. Then should I come find you tomorrow morning?” Jiang Mengxin asked.
“I want to eat soup dumplings.” Su Mumu’s eyes curved into crescents. “And fresh soy milk. The sweet kind.”
“Alright, alright.” Jiang Mengxin smiled. “Then shall we head to our own homes?”
At the next corner, Jiang Mengxin would head right, and Su Mumu would go left.
The snow in the sky happened to stop completely shortly after they parted.
They went their separate ways, each burdened with her own thoughts.
The way home wasn’t far. Whenever she was alone, Su Mumu always walked quite fast.
She only walked slowly when she was with Jiang Mengxin.
In the courtyard, the snow was thick.
With every step, her feet sank into the snow. Her shoes were nearly soaked through. Feeling weary in both body and mind, Su Mumu threw herself onto her bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.
She muttered to herself.
“This afternoon… I should go to the library to find some information. Something about the fox demon.”
***
On the other side, Jiang Mengxin walked unusually slowly. As she wandered, she looked down at her own palm.
In her mind, she recalled the softness of the hair on Su Mumu’s head.
She remembered every single frame of the moment in front of the tricycle when she had tousled Su Mumu’s hair after buying the fresh milk.
That hair, as smooth as silk with every strand distinct, was like the most beautiful work of art from the heavens.
Su Mumu’s hair wasn’t very long, reaching just below her shoulders, but it was thick and lush. Rubbing her head was just like rubbing a Little cat; it was addictive.
Inwardly, Jiang Mengxin felt a growing, uncontrollable stir of emotion.
‘Mumu, you don’t have any white hairs…’
‘So, whose white hair was that in your bed?’
‘What exactly is going on?’
‘If you won’t tell me the answer, I’ll find it myself.’
Jiang Mengxin’s eyes were filled with complex emotions.