Chapter 74: The Outcome

In December, everyone noticed that Qin’s expression had been rather gloomy.

Technically, it was an unusually warm winter. For many years, the weather had never been this mild. In previous years, by this time, the city of B would already be bundling up in thick clothing, but this year, it wasn’t particularly cold at all. It was warm and sunny, with the sun peeking out from time to time.

The storm seemed to have subsided as well.

He Qin observed that one of the things Qin did most frequently lately was checking the weather forecast. He listened to every possible source of weather updates.

One day, an employee casually remarked, “It usually starts snowing by the end of November. But with how warm it’s been this year, I don’t think it’ll snow.”

Qin Shaoleng walked over with a cold expression. “Say that again.”

The employee stammered, “I-I don’t think it will... snow...”

He Qin, who always knew when to speak up, even though she didn’t fully understand the significance of snowfall, quickly interjected, “Well, you never know. If it gets just a little colder, it might snow.”

The employee hurriedly added, “Y-yes, yes.”

Qin Xiao suppressed his violent emotions and walked away. Damn it, why the hell is he talking about snow?

But by mid-December, the snow still hadn’t come.

And Su Ling hadn’t returned either.

Unexpectedly, Qin Xiao found himself growing calm. He instructed He Qin to prepare white feathers.

If it wouldn’t snow naturally, then he’d create the illusion.

During this time, Su Ling’s social media was often updated, mostly by Lin Qing, capturing her hard work on set. She was now in her early twenties, her features less naive and more vibrant with youthful energy.

She was filming a sci-fi drama, and her movements were unexpectedly elegant yet powerful, exuding a newfound maturity.

Day and night, he watched these posts, silently brooding.

Su Ling was no longer the fragile flower she once was. She had grown stronger, truly blossoming into a woman who could no longer be confined or caged by him.

For the first time, Qin Xiao felt a sense of confusion.

Was it right or wrong to let her grow, to nurture her into someone he could barely control?

On one hand, he couldn’t suppress the violent, restless emotions within him; on the other, he couldn’t help but be drawn to the person Su Ling had become.

He had needs—physical desires—that haunted him in the dead of night. He dreamt of her soft cries and pleading whimpers, dreams so vivid they left him breathless.

Yet the snow refused to fall. Was it fate telling him that he could no longer have her?

When the batch of processed feathers was finally ready, it was the end of December.

It had been nearly three months since Su Ling left him.

Her social media hadn’t been updated for a while. Her last post explained that the shoot had been delayed, and she might return home later than expected, asking fans not to wait at the airport on the previously scheduled date.

Qin Xiao stared at the pile of feathers, silent for a long time.

Along with the feathers came several machines designed to spray them around the villa.

He Qin didn’t quite understand. She thought the world of the wealthy was incomprehensible. To mimic snow, each feather had been carefully selected and sterilized. Why did Qin suddenly want to see snow?

“You can leave,” Qin said.

He Qin nodded and left.

The villa was quiet. Aunt Ding had gone home a few days earlier.

With a cold expression, Qin turned on the machines one by one.

Feathers floated through the air, creating a scene even more beautiful than real snow. Soon, the entire villa was blanketed in white. He gave a faint, bitter smile. Ah, the first snowfall.

Fate had never shown him any mercy, from the very beginning until now.

So he fought, seized, and took what he wanted.

First, he fought against people; now, he fought against the heavens.

Truthfully, he was tired.

He sat back on the couch, waiting for the artificial snowfall to finish.

He knew it was futile. He couldn’t keep pretending, couldn’t force her to conform to his desires. She wouldn’t love the version of him that tried to change everything.

Su Ling had quietly returned to the country with Aunt Ding’s key, intending to surprise Qin Xiao. But when she opened the door and saw the flurry of feathers, she froze.

Qin Xiao was sitting on the couch, asleep.

She entered without waking him.

As she stepped into this surreal world, feathers landed on her shoulders and eyelashes. Everything felt soft and gentle. As she approached him, he suddenly opened his eyes, alert and cold.

For a moment, Qin Xiao wasn’t sure if he was dreaming.

A world of white, and her—stunningly beautiful.

Barefoot, she stepped into the feathers, her delicate feet as pale as the downy fluff. Her voice was sweet. “Mr. Qin, I’m back.”

He curved his lips slightly and opened his arms.

She rushed into his embrace.

Her impact hurt him deeply.

I was afraid you wouldn’t come back. I was afraid you were lying to me. I was afraid this love was too painful, just a figment of my imagination.

Su Ling knew exactly what he was doing.

While filming abroad, she had kept an eye on the weather back home. This year had been unusually warm, and it was possible that it wouldn’t snow at all.

After much thought, she realized that Qin Xiao must be feeling down about it.

So she came back.

In his arms, she was obedient and soft. She reached out to catch the floating feathers.

“Qin Xiao, they’re warm.”

He looked at her, kissing her forehead lightly. “Mm, just wait a little longer. It’ll snow soon.”

“No more waiting,” she said. Almost instantly, his dark eyes shattered with emotion.

Qin Xiao’s voice was hoarse. “Just a little longer... it will...”

She smiled shyly. “This is it.”

He gripped her chin. “Are you sure?”

She pouted playfully. “Yes, I remember. On the first snowfall, I’ll marry you.”

The heavens had never favored him, but she pitied him.

Regardless of the laws of this world, she only cared about the present.

He couldn’t hold back anymore. Pushing her down, he kissed her softly on the corner of her lips. “Su Ling, Ling Ling...”

The falling feathers tickled her, and she couldn’t stop laughing.

After a while, she responded softly, “Qin Xiao.”

His eyes burned with desire. Yet, despite the intensity of the moment, he held back. This wasn’t a dream, so he couldn’t lose control.

“Is it okay?” he asked.

She bit her lip, tilting her head shyly. “Yes, Qin Xiao. I’ll let you touch my feet forever, but you can’t bully me.”

He chuckled softly. “Alright.”

But men often lie in bed.

Su Ling wasn’t someone who easily changed her mind. In her past life, she had fainted during their first time, so she never felt the initial pain. When she woke up, the emotional turmoil overshadowed the physical ache. Later, she experienced desire without pain.

Now, however, she felt it acutely.

She cried out, “Stop.”

But Qin Xiao didn’t stop.

At this point, whoever stopped wasn’t a man.

Besides, her cries were sweet to his ears.

She whimpered softly, placing her foot in his palm. “Stop, please. Don’t move. Here, touch my foot.”

But when her tears finally dried, she realized that giving in like this wasn’t the answer.

At the height of passion, he trembled with emotion. “Ling Ling… Ling Ling… tell me you love me. Promise you’ll never leave me.”

Who could resist such a plea? Her foot still rested in his palm, and he played with it freely. Buried deep within her, Su Ling tried to kick him weakly. “You scoundrel…”

No matter how tender he was with her now, there were some things he wouldn’t compromise on.

In the end, she fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

The storm passed.

The room was pristine white.

Even in her sleep, tears lingered at the corners of her eyes.

He gently wiped her tears away and held her close.

Qin Xiao closed his eyes. He thought back to their first encounter in Green Plum .

And the secret buried deep in his heart.

Just over two years ago, that was their actual first meeting.

The girl with the ponytail stood in the sweltering summer heat, her head bowed as she nervously spoke to the manager of the milk tea shop.

Something was said, and she laughed softly—a pure, clean, radiant smile.

Even just her profile softened the entire summer.

For the first half of his life, he had never loved anyone. Living had been meaningless. But in that moment, his heartbeat went wild, irregular, pounding uncontrollably.

His voice trembled as he asked, “Who is she?”

They were hanging out on the second floor across the street. His gaze followed her.

From the group, Tang Weiwei stepped forward. “Qin Shao, I know who she is. She’s Su Ling, a classmate of mine.”

But she added, “Su Ling doesn’t date. Last week, a rich second-generation heir pursued her passionately, but she rejected him outright.”

“Su Ling takes studying and acting very seriously,” Tang Weiwei said. Qin Xiao furrowed his brows, lost in thought.

Love was something that unraveled slowly. He had fallen for her long ago, but she never knew.

And she never would.

That’s why, when she wore the ghost makeup, he was both amused and frustrated.

Having seen her beauty in countless forms, how could he be deceived by appearances?

He continued to play along with her act.

Throughout that summer, he thought constantly about what it would be like to have her, to possess her.

Every day, he drove from afar just to catch a glimpse of her.

Desire fermented, and simply watching was no longer enough.

Even if no one brought her to him, he would find a way to get closer to her.

That summer, she wore beige sandals, her feet pale and adorable.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

From that day on, he discovered the existence of a foot fetish.

Qin Xiao put on his sunglasses and approached her for the first time. His heart raced wildly.

He could even smell the faint scent of gardenias on her.

He casually pointed to a drink. “What’s that called?”

The girl smiled softly, her face blooming like flowers. Her voice was soft and sweet. “Sir, it’s called ‘Green Plum in the Palm.’“

Thus began the story of Green Plum.

That summer, they were on opposite sides—one on stage, one off.

One avoided the performance with fear, while the other anticipated it eagerly, his dark eyes filled with longing—this was the first encounter he had prepared for her.

That winter.

When Su Ling opened her eyes, her lashes were wet.

Last night, Qin Xiao had been too rough, and her body still ached faintly. But in her sleep, she dreamed of fragments from her past life.

The dream was hazy, unclear.

She seemed to dream of his final days.

His hair was gray, his face stern.

Alone on a mountaintop, sitting in a wheelchair, he watched the sunset.

“I’ve forgotten you,” he said. “I forgot you long ago.”

Su Ling woke up, looking at the handsome young man before her, and smiled faintly.

This life, I’ll stay by your side, and you’ll never feel sad again. How wonderful.

Time moved slowly, and everything was still within reach.

She blinked sleepily and drifted off again, this time without dreaming of the sorrow from his past life.

Sunlight spilled across the floor, and she was awakened by Qin Xiao.

The floor-to-ceiling windows were wide open, and white feathers danced in the air.

The man’s voice carried a hint of laughter. “Ling Ling, it’s snowing.”

—END