As night fully descended, the sky suddenly began to snow. It was real snow, not the sleet from before.

To enjoy the snowfall, everyone moved to the flower hall.

High-quality charcoal was burning in the stove for warmth, and all the Chinese wooden doors were open, offering an unobstructed view of the snow falling in the courtyard outside.

The silent servants carried Crystal Palace lanterns, lit the oil inside, and hung them under the porch, illuminating the courtyard as if it were daytime.

The red plum trees planted in the courtyard looked all the more radiant against the backdrop of the white snow and the lights.

Rainy days pair best with tea.

White snow, red plum, incense burner, ancient house, and a man from ancient times like an Immortal, brewing tea gracefully.

Aside from the sound of falling snow, there was only the sound of water and the slight crackling of firewood.

Everything felt so leisurely and tranquil, like a picture of a peaceful time.

Lin Wanwan held a cup of red date ginger tea. She took a sip of tea, admired the scenery, and felt extremely comfortable.

The Laba porridge was ready, but no one felt like eating it except for little Qingyu. Such beautiful moments would be spoiled by having porridge.

Even the foodie Xiao Chong thought at this moment that the beauty of the scenery surpassed the importance of food.

Because all four doors were open, the cold air would creep into the hall along with the beautiful scenery. Lin Wanwan worried that little Qingyu would catch a cold, so she instructed someone to accompany her in the greenhouse to have Laba porridge and not join the others.

Recently learning manners, little Qingyu was very obedient under Cui Ying’s guidance. Her mother’s words had to be heeded, so stay in the greenhouse she did.

This patriarchal style of ancient education might stifle a lot of natural traits, but it seldom resulted in unruly children—a mixed blessing.

For Lin Wanwan, a well-behaved, soft, cute daughter was, of course, more lovable.

While Lin Wanwan was absorbed in the snow scene, a long and distant, serene yet ethereal, gentle and elegant sound of the Ancient Zither wafted through the flower hall.

Lin Wanwan tilted her head slightly, and saw Xiao Chong in plain attire, seated beside a qin table at the side of the flower hall, lightly plucking the strings of the instrument.

As the qin played for a while, Dugu Di drew a Jade Flute from his waist, which could serve as a flute in leisure and a sword in combat, and began to play, perfectly merging with the sound of the zither, the snow, and the crackling firewood.

Lin Wanwan was instantly immersed in this musical feast, sipping tea and listening to the music, clearing her mind to an illusion of being in an ethereal and serene immortal realm.

In such a scene, even the discomfort brought on by her period faded away for Lin Wanwan.

In this moment, all the disturbances and desires of the mortal world seemed not to exist, all dissipating like vanishing clouds!

The barrier between Lin Wanwan and the three people separated by fourteen hundred years suddenly seemed to melt away, along with the sound of the melting snow on the ground, and the qin music that reached deep into the soul made this moment eternal.

The tune ended, leaving a lingering resonance.

For a long time, no one spoke.

Suddenly Xiao Yixun looked at Lin Wanwan and said, "You’re crying."

"Ah?" Lin Wanwan snapped back to reality, touched her face with her fingers, and indeed felt cool tears. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Suddenly unable to stay any longer, Lin Wanwan stood up abruptly and bowed hastily to the three, "I’m sorry, I’m not feeling well, I’ll take my leave. Please make yourselves at home."

Without waiting for a response, she lifted her skirt and left, disappearing into the courtyard in an instant.

As Lin Wanwan left, Xiao Yixun naturally couldn’t stay either.

She didn’t even say goodbye, merely nodding slightly with a haughty demeanor before swiftly retreating as well.

Dugu Di was left feeling helpless by the sudden departure of the two beautiful women.

The guests were still in the hall, yet the hosts had all left cleanly and neatly; this awkward situation was such as he had never seen before, leaving him unsure what expression to have.

"What... what happened to her?" Dugu Di asked Xiao Chong, utterly baffled.

Xiao Chong smiled lightly, showing a look of desolation, and after gently inhaling the cool air, he said, "Didn’t Cousin say she was feeling unwell?"

"Hmm?" Dugu Di felt puzzled, unwell enough to leave without a word and run off crying?!

Perhaps the music moved her to tears, but it was nothing unusual. Lin Wanwan wasn’t the only one brought to tears by Xiao Chong’s qin music.

Especially since the piece they had just played was filled with emotion.

Even he, who had yet to experience love’s awakening, was drawn into it by Xiao Chong’s deeply affectionate music, let alone Lin Wanwan, Xiao Chong’s fiancée!

Her empathizing with the music was quite normal, nothing to be ashamed of.

Dugu Di couldn’t understand why Lin Wanwan had run off in such a rush.

Xiao Chong was silent for a while, then suddenly pushed aside the qin table, stood up, and walked to the door, gazing at the scenery in the courtyard, and sighed, "The snow falls so beautifully, giving everything here life."

Dugu Di frowned, looking at Xiao Chong’s back, and said, "Zifang, you all are too peculiar, really oddballs."

Xiao Chong chuckled softly, "Brother Xiwen, sometimes I quite envy you."

"Envy me?" Dugu Di laughed coldly, "Envy me being half blind, or envy my half-destroyed future?"

Xiao Chong looked back at him, laughed carefreely, and said, "Don’t worry, with this achievement in refining steel, your future is limitless!"

As he spoke, he had already walked into the snow. The guards hiding in the shadows hurried to catch up, holding oil-paper umbrellas.

"Let’s go, why are you still standing there?" Xiao Chong waved his hand without looking back, "Back to the residence."

Dugu Di let out a small laugh and followed, "We said we’d have Laba porridge, but ended up going back with a stomach full of tea."

After the masters left the flower hall one by one, the servants came in to clean up and lock the doors, erasing all traces of the few people drinking tea and admiring the snow, as if nothing had happened.

Lin Wanwan had already returned to the modern world.

It was still daytime in the modern world, a snowless Saturday afternoon.

She went downstairs alone, took out dumplings made by Hua Nong from the fridge, and planned to cook them for herself.

"Yes, I see sunshine everywhere, happiness floats in the city air."

Her phone suddenly rang, and Lin Wanwan picked it up from the kitchen counter to see it was a video call from Lu Shouyue.

She positioned the phone at the right angle and then answered the call.

"Is the annual meeting over so soon?" Lin Wanwan asked, looking at Lu Shouyue in a white shirt on the video.

"No, it’s just about to start," Lu Shouyue loosened his tie, relaxed, and said, "It’s too stuffy in the hotel with the heating on, I came out for some fresh air. And, I miss you."

Lin Wanwan smiled sweetly and softly said, "Then... let’s chat for a while."

Lu Shouyue, through the video, saw the stove burning and couldn’t help but ask, "Wanwan, are you just having lunch now?"

He raised his wrist to check the time, it was already two-thirty in the afternoon.

Lin Wanwan casually replied, "Oh, it’s not lunch. I’m hungry, so I’m making a snack to eat in the afternoon."

"I see." Lu Shouyue smiled at her, then suddenly asked in confusion, "Wanwan, were you crying?"