That year, lying on the cold snow, you came to my side
The hint was buried in your smile...
In the southern country, the world was sealed under a blanket of ice and snow.
The falling snowflakes seemed to want to devour the entire world, while the biting north wind roared, flaunting its frigid sting.
Leon Chen lay on the snowy ground, clutching a soy sauce bottle. The ice-cold snow covered his face, making him shiver. His loud shouts were swallowed by the howling wind.
How could things be this unlucky?
Leon felt like crying. He had merely stepped out to buy some soy sauce, only to slip and fall into a ditch. The heavy snowfall was about to bury him completely. Immobilized by pain, Leon felt the icy weather draining his consciousness. He wanted to sleep.
A soft, bell-like laughter, accompanied by a graceful song, stirred him awake.
Who?
Leon slowly opened his eyes.
White snowflakes tried to sneak into his eyes. Despite the cold, Leon stubbornly kept them open. Amidst the white blur, a figure, even whiter than the snow, stood before him.
Instinctively, Leon reached out for help.
A stronger presence!
"Wake up. You slept very late last night."
The white dreamlike figure slowly faded, replaced by the familiar scene of a classroom. Leon saw Michael Fang and Daniel Zhang shaking him awake.
Rubbing his eyes, Leon groaned like someone half-awake, "Damn you two, I was dreaming of a super beautiful girl, and you woke me up before I could see her face."
Michael scoffed, "You scoundrel, dreaming of cheating on Lily even in your sleep."
"But you're impressive. Even in your dreams, you know it's snowing," Michael laughed.
"What?" Leon was puzzled.
"You were just mumbling something about snow. Look outside," Michael pointed.
Leon glanced out the window, stunned.
At some point, it had started snowing. For Xijing, snowfall was a rare sight.
Leon stared, lost in thought. "You didn't wake me just to see the snow, did you?"
"Not me. It was the class monitor's idea!" Michael said innocently.
Leon turned his gaze to see Isabella Xiang sitting in her seat, looking at him with her usual cold demeanor. Feeling a bit guilty, Leon smiled at her.
Isabella nodded and then shifted her gaze as if nothing had happened.
"Isabella treats you well, doesn't she?" Daniel remarked.
"Probably thought your sleeping face was too ugly to endure," Michael laughed.
If only he knew that last night Isabella had witnessed Leon's sleeping face up close and had even proposed the idea of becoming his fiancée.
Leon recalled the shocking question from last night: "Would you be willing to become my fiancé?"
For most men at H University, Isabella Xiang was a dream. Accepting her proposal was a no-brainer. Leon's response had been equally straightforward. But he had asked why?!
Being a boyfriend as a joke was one thing, but becoming a fiancé suggested they would get married after graduation. Given what he knew about the Xiang family, there would be no easy way out if he agreed.
Isabella's answer was complex, involving the Royal Clan's internal matters. But essentially, Leon had until the end of the year to give his response. The matter remained unresolved and unclear.
"Did you hear the latest scandal about Angelina Dream?" Michael complained. "Someone photographed her leaving a restaurant with a man!!" Since it was all part of a carefully orchestrated plan, Leon wasn't worried about being identified as the scandal's leading man.
Michael linked Leon's recent busy schedule with Lily's album and casually inquired about it. Leon brushed it off lightly. However, he couldn't fool Serena.
When Serena found Leon, she easily guessed the intent behind the publicity stunt. But her main concern was Jenkins. Leon was curious about what had happened that night.
Serena explained that two enforcers from the Sanctuary had visited her to discuss the "Dressage." Enforcers were a special rank within the Saint Hunters. Serena couldn't refuse their inquiry and had answered their questions. One enforcer had mentioned that Jenkins had requested they investigate her special technique.
It was then that Serena understood Jenkins' scheme.
Fortunately, it seemed his plan had failed or he had suddenly vanished.
"Serena, why did you do this? You're putting yourself against the Saint Hunters," Leon said, feeling conflicted.
"Don't you want to change back?" Serena asked.
"Of course I do."
Leon understood Serena's intention. "Do you really plan to help me change back? I heard you need to find the original Blood Clan," he raised an eyebrow.
"The original Blood Clan?"
"If you find them, you must tell me. I don't want you to handle this alone," Leon emphasized his concern.
Serena smiled gently, understanding his sentiments.
The snow in Xijing soon stopped, but it triggered a flood of memories for Leon. Thinking about helping Lily with her lyrics, inspiration suddenly struck him.
During this period, Sienna Tang deciphered the final code from the Heavenly Realm, reaching a crucial point in her research on Easter Island. With the semester exams approaching, Leon and Stella Lin avoided disturbing her work.
The next few days were unexpectedly peaceful for Leon.
A few days later...
A black Lamborghini parked in front of a private villa in Xijing. The door opened, and out stepped a young man with a straightforward demeanor, none other than Leon. The biting wind swept through, making him shiver. He shook the snow off his coat and sighed at his watch. "Ability no. 97, Underwater Breathing, successfully loaded." Why couldn't it be a warmth-providing ability?
The cold weather in Xijing had become more severe, with constant light snow and temperatures below freezing. Thinking of the news about global warming debates in Copenhagen, Leon found it all quite ironic. Xijing was turning into an icebox.
Stepping into the villa, the warmth of the heater quickly dispelled the cold from Leon's body.
"You finally made it," a girl greeted him, stepping out from another room. Angelina Dream, dressed in a short skirt, woolen pants, and a pink sweater, looked refreshingly vibrant.
"Where are they?" Leon asked.
"They've been here for a while."
Angelina enthusiastically brewed a pot of hot coffee. After instructing her manager, she led Leon to her piano room.
He found Lily playing the piano, with Serena by her side. They smiled and greeted him.
"What's this?" Leon asked.
"Oh, I'm teaching Lily how to play the piano so she can compose her own songs," Angelina said, showing no trace of her wild side from the racetrack, much to Leon's relief.
"After all, true talent is evergreen."
"Thank you," Leon said sincerely, appreciating Angelina's kindness.
Angelina extended her hand. "Let me see the lyrics you wrote for Lily."
"It's nothing special. Don't laugh," Leon handed her the lyrics.
"No matter what you wrote, I can turn it into a top-notch musical feast," Angelina said confidently. She had every reason to be proud, given the room's vast collection of books, instruments, and trophies.
Leon sat beside Lily, watching her play the piano.
Lily was playing Chopin's Mazurkas. While considered one of the easier pieces in Chopin's repertoire, mastering it required significant emotional and technical prowess. Having only recently started learning, Lily occasionally struggled with some passages.
Noticing her imperfect posture, Leon unceremoniously adjusted her position to ensure perfect coordination with the piano. Lily, blushing, let him move her without protest, though she turned crimson with embarrassment when his hands settled her hips on the bench.
Serena and Angelina watched in astonishment. "Leon, you seem so professional!" Serena exclaimed.
"Really?" Leon laughed, snapping out of his instinctive behavior. With the world's top piano talent now his, such expertise flowed naturally whenever he touched a piano, similar to his acting experience. He earnestly guided Lily on proper piano techniques.
Under his guidance, Lily's playing improved noticeably in both harmony and precision.
"Impressive, you have some talent," Angelina remarked.
Gradually, Lily found her rhythm, her playing becoming fluid and smooth.
Serena approached Leon. Watching Lily, she said, "Lily's contract is finalized, and the new album is in preparation. Are you planning to be her manager?"
"I think you should take that role," Leon smiled. "Lily feels more at ease with you, and you can help protect her."
Serena smiled warmly, understanding his meaning.
"Then I'll gladly accept."
"Good."
As the gentle piano music filled the room, Angelina reviewed the lyrics Leon had written. Initially intrigued, her expression turned to surprise as she read.
"Leon, did you write these lyrics?" she exclaimed suddenly, causing the music to halt.
The three others looked at the flustered songstress.
"If it's not good, forget it," Leon said, smiling.
"Leon's lyrics aren't good?" Lily asked softly. "But I'd like to use whatever he wrote as the main song."
"I agree," Serena added.
"I didn't say they were bad. Quite the opposite, they're heartfelt and moving, more like the sonnet." Angelina laughed.
"Really?" the two girls asked, surprised.
Angelina cleared her throat and glanced at Leon. "The song is called Ethereal Snow. The name is a bit odd, but Leon, you have potential as a romantic. Lily, you should keep an eye on him; he might woo other girls."
Angelina's words piqued their curiosity, and they leaned in to read the lyrics.
The lyrics were unique. Rather than a song, it felt more like a poignant monologue.
"In that cold year, upon the icy ground,
You came to me, with smiles so bright and fair.
A hidden prelude, secrets profound,
Unveiled in your presence, without a care.
I masked my heart with tones of nonchalance,
Yet watched you with a fervor deep inside.
A childish hope, a foolish dalliance,
In this one-sided game, where I abide.
Our meeting, like a fairy tale so sweet,
Yet tinged with parting's sorrow, we must greet.
You spoke of fate, its designs complete,
While I despised this destined, bitter beat.
If only we could shape a lovelier tale,
I'd say, though late, my love will never pale."
Lily read aloud, the air filling with a faint sense of melancholy that lingered.