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After the media conference at T University ended, the current department head stepped forward to give Luo Mingjing and the attending journalists a concrete timeline.
“We will form an investigative team to look into this matter as soon as possible. Within a week, we will announce the results of our handling to the public, including disciplinary actions against Professor Ke Ge, the plagiarism verdict regarding Wang Zhenyu’s 20X5 graduation project, and compensatory measures for Luo Mingjing, a 20X5 graduate from the Fashion Design Department. Our university upholds traditional Chinese virtues and will never shield or condone those who violate professional ethics. We hope the media will continue to supervise and encourage us in building a harmonious, excellent, and exemplary campus. Thank you.”
After the meeting and interviews concluded, Luo Mingjing stood by the back door of Shi Chong Building, waiting for Shi Min. His scarf covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.
Because of the public conference, Luo Mingjing had put on glasses. The warmth of his breath fogged up the lenses slightly as he stood in a corner near the entrance, hands in his pockets, head bowed as he stared at his feet.
Shi Min quickly dismissed her acquaintances from the media and hurried down the stairs. Seeing Luo Mingjing alone in the cold wind, head lowered, she initially felt a pang of sadness. But upon closer inspection, she noticed his toes wiggling and his brows free of melancholy—his mood seemed quite good. Shi Min was reassured, dropping her earlier cautious demeanor with the media and allowing a smile to bloom on her face.
She walked over and naturally looped her arm through Luo Mingjing’s, saying, “Cold? It’s still a bit far to where the car is parked.”
“Let’s go around Minghua Road,” Luo Mingjing suggested. “The two rows of ginkgo trees on Minghua Road are beautiful. The streetlights make it perfect right now.”
His tone was cheerful—he truly felt happy.
“The days grow dark so early in winter,” Shi Min said, abandoning the idea of jogging to the parking lot. “Hurry up—it’s cold.”
Luo Mingjing took her hand and tucked it into his pocket, softly murmuring, “You didn’t wear gloves again.”
His voice was low, almost like a self-murmur, but Shi Min heard it clearly and recognized it as a subtle expression of dissatisfaction. She replied, “I’m afraid I’ll lose them. If I do, I’d feel bad.”
That pair of gloves was one Luo Mingjing had painstakingly knitted stitch by stitch. They were light blue, with two snowmen crocheted onto the backs—adorable. Even someone as composed as Shi Min, who seemed to have skipped adolescence entirely, couldn’t help but feel a faint ripple of girlish sentiment when looking at them.
But their cuteness came with a downside—Shi Min was reluctant to wear them.
“You think they don’t match your style,” Luo Mingjing said knowingly.
Shi Min wasn’t one for girlish styles. She shook her head with a sincere smile, both her expression and eyes genuine. Luo Mingjing responded, “Then let’s pretend you secretly want me to warm your hands personally.”
“Heater Mister,” Shi Min teased. “Please hurry—I’m not up for a stroll in this weather.”
Luo Mingjing removed his scarf and draped it over her head, saying, “Walk with me.”
Suddenly, Shi Min said something that caught Luo Mingjing off guard.
President Min said, “Fine, then carry me on your back.”
It wasn’t flirtation—Shi Min wasn’t the type to flirt. So when this line typical of romance drama heroines came out of her mouth in her usual flat tone, it left Luo Mingjing stunned for a long moment.
“Carry you?”
He confirmed once more, and indeed, Shi Min proved herself to be a woman of action. While Luo Mingjing was confirming, she had already acted, proving she hadn’t been dreaming earlier. With agility, she pressed on Luo Mingjing’s shoulders and hopped onto his back, crossing her legs neatly. “Let’s go. Take your time—we’re in no rush.”
Luo Mingjing adjusted her weight higher, then suddenly couldn’t hold back, bending over with laughter.
Shi Min rested her head against his back, wrapped snugly in the large scarf. Her laughter spilled out from the single eye peeking out, sparkling like scattered pearls, shimmering brightly.
“Am I heavy?”
“Not heavy, but don’t crush my hair.” Luo Mingjing said, “Help me pull my hair out.”
Shi Min held his hair in her hand, gently brushing it aside as they chatted idly. “Why are we taking this route?”
“It’s the road from the cafeteria to the Academy of Fine Arts,” Luo Mingjing explained. “The path I walked most during university. Today, my mood… it’s hard to describe. It feels like everything weighing on my heart has vanished, leaving me feeling unusually light. But it’s unsettling, unreal. Walking this road might bring back memories of my three-plus years in university, filling the emptiness inside.”
“Didn’t you date anyone in college?”
“No…” Luo Mingjing said. “At the time, I thought girls were troublesome, and… I was very busy in college, wishing there were thirty hours in a day. Fashion design students rarely have personal time. Back then, I hated when people wasted my time, so I wasn’t popular. At least others knew how to build connections, but… I couldn’t. Maybe I was a bit arrogant, always thinking I was talented and didn’t need to waste time on others.”
Shi Min commented, “Such a shame. Someone like you not dating is such a waste of looks and talent.”
“Don’t make me laugh,” Luo Mingjing joked. “Or I’ll shake you off.”
“Want to visit the night market?” Luo Mingjing asked. “Across from T University.”
“Do you need to buy something?”
“I want to see if there’s suitable fabric to make clothes for President Cat and Jingjing.”
Shi Min gently blew away the strands of hair by Luo Mingjing’s ear and whispered, “You’re thinking about President Cat’s clothes, but what about President Shi’s battle gear?”
Battle gear?
Luo Mingjing remembered—underwear!
In that brief moment of realization, Shi Min added, “Hurry up. I dream of sleeping with you every night.”
“I’ll finish tonight—one evening will do,” Luo Mingjing said. “Actually, I’ve been struggling to come up with a satisfying design… But since you’re in such a hurry, I’ll make you one first so you can wear it and fight your battles faster. You must win, President Shi.”
Shi Min laughed, blowing softly, “That depends on how many rounds the enemy can last.”
“...” Luo Mingjing stopped walking, astonished. “Is it trendy now for girls to openly flirt with guys? This is embarrassing for me!”
“Fairy?!” A passing girl wearing a big mask and glasses exclaimed, recognizing Luo Mingjing instinctively turning his head. She quickly scurried back, removing her glasses to stare at him.
Glasses Girl: “Eh? It really is you! MirrorRealmEnlightenedFairy!”
“...Yes,” Luo Mingjing nodded, despite the embarrassment.
“Ah!! Oh my god, it really is you!” Glasses Girl waved her glove-ball greeting, then pointed at Shi Min. “Your girlfriend!”
Luo Mingjing: “Yeah, who else?”
Shi Min didn’t move, not even shifting her face. Still revealing one eye, she smiled lazily at the girl and raised two fingers in a lazy wave as a greeting.
“Oh, so cute!” The girl found her odd charm electrifying, especially the two-fingered greeting. “Turns out you’re not some sugar daddy!”
For a moment, Luo Mingjing didn’t know how to react.
Thankfully, Glasses Girl kept things lively: “Nothing special—I just happened to glance up and saw a handsome guy with long hair. Thought I’d call out and see, and turns out it’s really you. Keep it up! Oh my, my heart’s been on edge all day. Did things go smoothly at school?”
“Mm,” Luo Mingjing nodded, expressing gratitude for her concern. “Thanks, it went well.”
“Do you know who I am?” Glasses Girl excitedly teased. “Guess! Guess!”
Luo Mingjing remained silent.
His old fans’ IDs were often too awkward to mention.
Shi Min drawled, “The fairy moans beneath me.”
“...Mm,” Glasses Girl covered her mouth but still let out a strange squeak. “Girlfriend’s merciless! No mercy, and here I was trying to flirt a little. Suddenly blurting it out... so embarrassing...”
How weren’t you embarrassed when you chose your username, girl! Luo Mingjing was torn between laughter and tears.
Glasses Girl spoke quickly and showed good judgment: “Won’t delay your lovey-dovey moment. Bye! I’ll change my ID tomorrow. Girlfriend’s glare is burning holes through me—it’s terrifying.”
As she backed away, Glasses Girl said, “Fairy, keep it up. Things will get better after hitting rock bottom!”
After waving goodbye to the random fan, Luo Mingjing continued carrying Shi Min. Approaching the dormitory building, he intended to introduce her to his modest old quarters where he lived for three years. But before he could speak, a familiar voice called out from behind, “Oh yeah, Fairy! When are you streaming? Are you ever opening that cat car again? We’re waiting every day to weld the doors shut and drive it to the city outskirts!”
Luo Mingjing froze momentarily, then sprinted like mad, carrying Shi Min as if running a hundred-meter dash.
This might have been the most terrifying demand for updates he’d ever encountered.
In less than half a minute, Luo Mingjing carried the “heavy” CEO out of the South Gate.
He set Shi Min down, still catching his breath, when Shi Min asked, “Luo Mingjing, what about my car? When are we going for a ride?”
Learning mischief takes just thirty seconds.
On the way back, snowflakes drifted onto the car window. Luo Mingjing snapped back to reality, surprised. “It’s snowing?”
Shi Min saw it in the rearview mirror and turned the car toward the city outskirts.
She drove to an open suburban area beside a mountain road still under construction.
Luo Mingjing asked, “Are we stopping here to admire the view?”
Outside the window, the moon hung bright in the night sky, its light pure and serene. Snow fell quietly, sticking to the car windows, gradually whitening the edges.
Shi Min pulled out a bottle of wine, examined it under the moonlight, uncorked it deftly, and took a hearty swig.
Luo Mingjing leaned forward between the front seats and asked, “What are you doing?”
Shi Min turned, hooked her arm around his neck, pressed her lips to his, and passed the sip of wine into his mouth.
“After drinking, there’s only one kind of car we can drive,” Shi Min said. “Come.”
She unbuckled her seatbelt, swung her long legs over, and sat directly on Luo Mingjing’s lap, kissing him deeply.
Their lips and tongues slowly explored, dancing together. Luo Mingjing gently pushed her away, whispering, “What about your battle gear?”
“It doesn’t matter—it all comes off in the end,” Shi Min said. “Under this auspicious snow and bright moon, seize the moment. Eat when you should eat, sleep when you should sleep. Don’t waste it.”
Luo Mingjing took a deep breath, pulling her close and deepening the kiss. They sank into the seat.
Shi Min’s pale, slender fingers threaded through Luo Mingjing’s long hair, trailing downward until she removed his glasses. Between kisses, she squinted and softly sighed, “So good.”
Under the moonlight, a tear streak traced Luo Mingjing’s eye. His gaze held restrained desire, teetering on the edge of consciousness. Something soft within him stirred, though it wasn’t crying—no tears, just a faint trail. All of it lay bare before her.
So good.
Shi Min thought, Be with me, Luo Mingjing.
Under this bright moon and falling snow, in this warm affection amidst the cold winter, let us surrender ourselves to each other.
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