The yard had a chubby snowman by late morning, complete with a carrot nose, a plastic trench coat, a scarf, and a broom in hand.
The northwest wind rustled the plastic coat, making it look quite amusing.
"Xiao Chuan, take a picture of me quickly!"
Li Ya retrieved a camera from the room, stood beside the snowman, flashed a peace sign, and beamed with a bright, charming smile.
Qin Chuan, camera in hand, captured the moment with a smile.
"Let me see! Am I ugly in the photo?"
Li Ya hurried over to Qin Chuan, snatched the camera, and admired her own picture.
"Wow, it's so ugly! No, you have to take more pictures of me!"
"I'll strike a few more poses."
After all this fuss, it was unknowingly past eight in the morning.
"Oh no, I haven't made breakfast yet!"
Li Ya exclaimed. The two of them quickly ran back inside to make breakfast together.
"Xiao Chuan, are you going to work at the electronics factory today?" Li Ya asked while they ate breakfast.
"I'm the big boss, so it's up to me whether I go or not!" Qin Chuan said with a smile.
"Then neither of us needs to go to work today, let's be lazy together." Li Ya suggested.
Qin Chuan looked surprised, then chuckled after a few seconds, "I think that's a great suggestion, I'm all for it!"
"See, I thought so too!"
"Hehe!"
"Haha!"
After breakfast, it started snowing again outside, and the flakes grew larger, blanketing the world in white.
In their warm house, Qin Chuan and Li Ya huddled together, sitting by the window and watching the heavy snowfall.
"Xiao Chuan, if I remember correctly, this is the first time we've enjoyed the snow together, and in our own little place."
"Right, the first time!"
"I really wish this moment could last forever. I think I'll remember this moment for the rest of my life."
Li Ya nuzzled Qin Chuan's neck like a kitten seeking warmth.
Qin Chuan stroked her soft hair and chuckled, "Silly girl, if you want it, I can be with you anytime."
"Hehe, Xiao Chuan, you're so good to me."
Li Ya truly relished such sweet words. She snuggled closer in his arms, found a more comfortable position, tilted her head up, and gazed intently at his handsome, resolute face.
The more she looked, the more enamored she became, the more she liked him.
"I think I'll never be able to leave you in this life. If you ever don't want me anymore, I'm afraid I'll die..."
Qin Chuan lowered his head, his gaze meeting her adoring eyes. His soul inexplicably trembled, as if struck by an electric current. He couldn't help but hold the woman in his arms tightly.
"Sis, as long as you don't let go, I'll never let go in this lifetime. I swear!"
"Mmm... I know! Xiao Chuan, come love me..."
Li Ya's beautiful eyes were now veiled by a thin mist, a sign of her arousal.
Qin Chuan lowered his head, and their lips soon met.
The snow fell heavier, but the room grew warmer.
By the glass window, two figures were wrestling, back and forth, engaged in a fierce play.
The snow continued to fall all day, accumulating over a foot deep.
In the evening, Qin Chuan and Li Ya went to the residential area because someone had invited them for hot pot.
The host was Qin's second brother. It was unavoidable; ever since he acquired an Audi through illicit means, he had been showing off every day, making all his brothers envious.
After all, it was an Audi, and a new model at that, a luxury car worth five to six hundred thousand.
They all clamored for Qin Gang to treat them to a meal and bleed him dry.
And so, Qin's second brother became the main subject of the treat.
However, Qin's second brother was never one to be stingy. He booked a table at a high-end hot pot restaurant in the county town.
A group of people sat in a private room, the atmosphere very lively.
Besides Qin Chuan and Li Ya, there were also their eldest brother Qin Yang, Zheng Chengdao, Yao Dong, Bai Xiaoguang, Chen Jinyu, Ergou, Sanmao, and a large group of other brothers.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, everyone's faces were flushed red. They had drunk a lot, and the private room was filled with smoke.
"Xiao Chuan, I'm going to the restroom." Li Ya couldn't stand the pungent smell of smoke in the room, as every single man was a heavy smoker.
"I'll accompany you, it's a good chance to get some fresh air," Qin Chuan said, standing up.
They left the private room together. Li Ya went to the restroom, while Qin Chuan opened a window in the corridor. A blast of cold air rushed in, clearing his somewhat dizzy head by a third.
Outside on the road late at night, with thick snow piled high, it was empty, with no one in sight. The entire street appeared rather quiet.
However, the various restaurants were bustling with activity, with people crowded at the windows.
During winter with snow, many people had rare days off.
At this time, calling a few good friends for a meal and drinks was truly a joy in life.
Just then, Qin Chuan noticed a few figures standing by the entrance of a lamb restaurant across the street. Qin Chuan found them somewhat familiar.
He couldn't help but shake his head, thinking he was hallucinating. After a closer look, he finally confirmed that they were indeed people he knew.
No, to be precise, they were faces imprinted on his soul. Qin Chuan would never forget any of them in his life.
"Why are they here?"
"They seem to be waiting for someone!"
Qin Chuan observed their movements carefully. A few minutes later, a taxi appeared on the street. The men and women who had been standing by the lamb restaurant entrance all turned their attention to the taxi.
When the taxi stopped, they eagerly rushed towards it, their attitude extremely solicitous.
At this moment, the taxi door opened, and a figure stepped out.
"Mom!"
Upon recognizing the person who got out of the car, Qin Chuan couldn't help but frown, his expression turning grim.
"Xiao Chuan, what are you doing?"
"Opening the window in this cold weather, aren't you afraid of catching a cold!" Suddenly, Li Ya's voice came from behind. Qin Chuan turned around and saw that Li Ya had finished using the restroom.
"It's nothing, just blowing some air to clear my head," Qin Chuan replied.
"What's wrong? Why does your face look a bit off?" Li Ya, with her keen observation, noticed Qin Chuan's unusual expression and asked with concern.
"It's nothing, I just drank a bit too much..." Qin Chuan said, then turned his gaze back to the street opposite. To his surprise, his mother and that group were nowhere to be seen.
He quickly poked his head out, searching everywhere. There was no one in sight within a radius of several hundred meters along the street.
"What are you looking at?" Li Ya felt Qin Chuan's behavior was a bit strange. She leaned towards the window and looked around as well.
"Huh? Isn't that Auntie? She seems to be preparing to eat with friends!" Suddenly, Li Ya pointed towards the opposite side of the street.
Qin Chuan quickly followed her gaze and saw his mother, Jiang Cuihua, entering a private room with that group by the second-floor window of the lamb restaurant.
"Sis, wait for me here for a moment, I'll be right back!" Qin Chuan said quickly.
"Xiao Chuan, wait for me, I'm coming too!" Seeing this, Li Ya hurried to follow him.