Outside the window, goose-feather snow fell in swirling profusion. The northern wind was soundless and still, weaving the snowfall into a hazy white curtain. A thick layer of snow gradually accumulated on the ground, cloaking heaven and earth in silver.
Suddenly, a burst of noise rose from beyond the door. Lu Youqing pushed it open to look, only to see Qin Ke returning from outside, wrapped in a thick dark cloak. Snow had settled on both his cloak and his topknot. His cheeks and the tip of his nose were reddened from the cold, and melting snow dampened the fur lining at his collar.
From beyond the firewood gate came a chorus of barking—it turned out someone else was braving the storm to return home.
"What could be so important that you had to go out in this weather? Look at you—your hands are practically purple from the cold." Lu Youqing hurried forward, reaching out to pull him inside.
Instead, Qin Ke smiled broadly and opened his dark cloak, revealing a carefully cradled armful of red plum blossoms.
Crimson petals and green calyxes, vivid and delicate, graceful and irresistibly lovely—set against the white snow, they shone all the more brilliantly. A faint, elegant fragrance drifted through the air.
"I heard Nanqiao say there's a red plum grove by a nearby temple, and they're in full bloom right now. Red plums and white snow go best together, so I thought I'd bring a few branches back for you to enjoy."
Lu Youqing accepted the bouquet. The branches were rough and sturdy, yet the petals were blood-red and radiant, their fragrance rivaling orchids. She lifted them to her nose and inhaled their gentle scent.
She had seen entire gardens of red plums standing proud against the snow, yet none stirred her heart as deeply as this single armful.
"Put them in that slender, celadon-blue vase in the bedroom," Qin Ke said as he removed his cloak and hung it aside, then went over to the fireplace to warm his hands. "You can admire them whenever you like—so winter won't feel dull."
When building the house, Qin Ke had considered winter heating and modeled the design after European fireplaces. A flue was built above, with clay smoke channels that allowed heat to circulate through the fire wall, gradually warming the entire house.
As a result, his home—especially the bedroom—was warm and cozy, filled with gentle heat that stood in stark contrast to the bitter cold outside.
Lu Youqing poured him a cup of hot tea to warm him, then turned to sit at the table, trimming the plum branches and arranging them in the tall vase one by one. Her movements were graceful and serene.
Once Qin Ke felt warm again, he sat across from her, resting his chin on his hand and gazing at her intently.
The more he looked, the more joy filled his heart.
When the sounds outside finally softened, Qin Ke pushed open the window to take a look, then turned back with bright anticipation.
"Wife, let's go out and enjoy the snow."
"Didn't you just come back from outside?"
"Come on, come on!" His voice was soft and coaxing, carrying a gently persistent tone.
Seeing her reluctance, Qin Ke resorted to his secret weapon.
"All right."
Night had already fallen. Moonlight shifted and flowed, cool and luminous, like a river of stars or scattered jade—it felt as though they had stepped into a painting.
Holding her hand, Qin Ke strolled leisurely with her across the snow. Their footsteps crunched softly, the only sound in the quiet night.
While Lu Youqing was admiring the scenery, Qin Ke subtly shot a look toward Han Qi and the others.
Tree branches were coated with uneven layers of snow, and the world before them was a vast expanse of white.
Seeing them head out, Liu Yue and the others trotted along eagerly—running ahead, then circling back when they noticed the couple walking slowly; chasing one another, tumbling and rolling in the snow until their fur was dusted white.
They played with abandon, and watching them was entertaining in itself.
"Wife, how about we build a snowman?"
Lu Youqing, already wary of his coaxing, nodded at once to avoid further pleading.
Qin Ke scooped up snow, packed it into a ball, then rolled it along the ground. After a few turns, the snowball grew large. Liu Yue and the others, thinking it a game, crowded around his knees to sniff it, their fan-like tails slapping against his clothes.
Driven to exasperation, Qin Ke finally put down the snowball, picked up Shi Wu, and plopped it onto a nearby snowbank.
Shi Wu froze for a moment, then shook off the snow as if finding it delightful, and happily ran back to join the fun.
Helpless, Qin Ke could only play along with them.
Watching the scene, Lu Youqing suddenly found herself thinking that if they ever had children, he would surely be the kind of father who could play wholeheartedly with them.
Realizing what she was thinking, she pressed her lips together, her ears tinged faintly pink.
Seeing that Qin Ke was tied up, she crouched down, black hair falling over her shoulders, and continued shaping the snowball he had set aside. After a few minutes, she rolled it along the ground, forming an even larger one.
When Qin Ke noticed, he finally managed to shoo the dogs away and came over.
Her slender fingers worked the snowball, her expression calm and composed. Above her, snow-laden branches and moonlight formed a canopy, dazzlingly beautiful.
Qin Ke quickly formed another snowball of his own. His movements were swift, and soon the one in his hands was much larger than hers.
Judging the sizes just right, he took the snowball from her and stacked the two together, forming a small snowman.
"Wait here a moment, wife."
He clapped his hands, feeling it needed decoration, and hurried back into the courtyard.
Lu Youqing stood quietly to the side, gazing at the little snowman standing in the snow, warmth softening her amber eyes.
It took Qin Ke a while, but when she saw what he was holding, she immediately understood his intent.
"Don't mess around," he warned the dogs in mock seriousness. "If you break the snowman, I'll dock your meals tomorrow."
"It looks rather odd," Lu Youqing remarked, eyeing the snowman's red nose and the broom handles stuck into its sides.
It looked foolish and clumsy.
Yet unexpectedly adorable.
"All right, let's go back inside." Qin Ke's bright eyes flickered with mischief.
A light breeze passed through the night, shaking snow from the trees. Lu Youqing stepped closer and brushed the powder from his shoulder.
"Let's go."
She assumed he had simply had his fill of playing. In such matters, she was always indulgent.
Hand in hand, they walked back along the snow glowing faintly silver. When they pushed open the courtyard gate, Lu Youqing froze in place.
The once cold, snow-white courtyard was now filled with red paper lanterns. As the night breeze stirred, the lanterns swayed gently, their warm light glowing softly through the falling snow.
From the gate all the way to the door, lanterns lined both sides, illuminating their path home.
"So this is why you insisted on asking me out to enjoy the snow?"
Lu Youqing was quick-witted. With just a moment's thought, she understood why Qin Ke—despite having just returned from the storm—had insisted on drawing her outside.