The Snowy Riverbank

Lin Yi had little choice but to follow Lin Yiting, albeit reluctantly. Given Lin Yiting’s formidable combat prowess, subduing him would be effortlessly simple. He knew that refusing to accompany her would likely result in a thorough beating.

Following the quiet main road for some time, a wide river unfurled before them. Its surface was completely cloaked in a thick blanket of snow. Without the tell-tale embankment and sparse reeds along its banks, it would have been impossible to discern the river’s true course.

Observing the scene before them, a peculiar chill permeated the air. The group lingered for a considerable while until a fierce, biting wind swept through, prompting their hasty departure.

They sought refuge in the windbreak beside the embankment, walking along its length. After an indeterminate period, a low mountain, still adorned with green foliage, appeared before them.

The leaves on the trees were a deep, dark green, each vigorously curled and erect, resembling sharp thorns pointing skyward. They were a rare sight of green in the winter, valiant warriors ceaselessly battling the harsh environment.

At the foot of this mountain lay a vast, flat expanse. The soil there was peculiar, unlike the cultivated farmlands found elsewhere.

Its specific nature remained unclear, but the elders used to say it was once a field where nothing would grow, eventually leading to its abandonment.

Now, this land was overgrown with weeds, a haven for snakes and rodents. However, it seemed an excellent spot for an outdoor camp, perfectly nestled between the mountain and the river.

“How about this place? It should be quite good, right?”

Gu Yulong walked to the edge of the barren land, bending down to inspect it carefully. The soil showed severe erosion, and the terrain was significantly higher than the surrounding fields.

Even during river floods, it was unlikely to be submerged. This elevation was probably why crops wouldn’t grow here. However, as he wasn’t a soil expert, he could only speculate.

“It’s not bad. It should work as a temporary dwelling.”

Gu Yulong was quite satisfied with the expansive view from this spot. From here, one could clearly see the distant river, perhaps even drill a hole in the ice to fish.

However, that was for later. After surveying the camping location, they couldn’t just stay there. They still had to wait for the tents and other supplies to arrive. So, the group returned to the initial bus stop.

“Alright, I’ve told you the location. Now, about the money…”

As she spoke, Lin Yiting extended her hand towards Gu Yulong, her eyes seemingly filled with the glint of money.

Seeing her expression, Gu Yulong offered a slight smile.

“Miss Lin, you needn’t worry about that. The deposit will be given to you once the tents arrive. I didn’t bring much cash with me this trip.”

“Good, it’s a deal then.”

“It’s a deal.”

Afterward, Gu Yulong departed the bus stop with Gu Yuetong. Judging by their demeanor, they were likely off to find some breakfast.

“Sister, why don’t we go back and grab something to eat too?”

Lin Yiting rubbed her rumbling stomach, looking expectantly at Lin Yi. They had left in such a rush this morning that they hadn’t eaten breakfast. After their trip to the river, Lin Yi was already weak from hunger.

“Mm, let’s go.”

As Lin Yiting also felt a pang of hunger, the two returned home together. With nothing pressing to do, Lin Yi, after eating, simply retreated to his bedroom to play games alone.

Lin Yiting gazed at the distant low mountain, her thoughts drifting back to her childhood memories with Lin Yi. Back then, he had been quite mischievous, and she had always been the one to clean up his messes. There were times she had wished she could just abandon him in the mountains to fend for himself.

Yet, his personality had changed considerably. Her younger brother was now much quieter than other boys. Perhaps it was due to the many experiences he had faced, but Lin Yiting found herself quite fond of the current Lin Yi.

Lost in her thoughts, Lin Yiting momentarily forgot the agreed-upon time until the ringing of her phone in her pocket brought her back to reality.

“Hello?”

“Miss Lin, the tents have been delivered. We’ll need your help to choose a good spot later.”

Lin Yiting remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

“Understood.”

After hanging up, Lin Yiting called out to Lin Yi, who was still engrossed in his game, and they returned to the barren land.

Since there were no roads in the vicinity, the vehicle Gu Yulong had called could only park by the roadside. Consequently, everything had to be moved by hand.

Fortunately, there wasn’t an excessive amount of gear: just four tents, two barbecue grills, and some standard toiletries.

It didn’t take long for the group to transport all the items to the barren land, where they then set up the grills and tents. By the time everything was finished, the sun had begun to descend.

Lin Yi donned a coat. He felt much better now, holding the pristine snow in his hands. Feeling the chill in his palms, Lin Yi inexplicably longed for a snowball fight.

He had no idea, however, that someone else harbored the exact same thought. Just as Lin Yi turned his head, a snowball came hurtling towards him. Before he could even react, the sheer force of the impact sent Lin Yi sprawling to the ground.

By the time he regained his senses, the culprit had vanished without a trace. A flicker of inexplicable anger rose within him. Lin Yi stood up, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone present.

Gu Yulong was still tinkering with the barbecue grill, so the snowball certainly wasn’t from him. His sister, Lin Yiting, was the most suspicious, especially since she loved to tease him.

However, Lin Yiting was engrossed in her phone, and the expression on her face suggested she wasn’t the type to play pranks. That left only Gu Yuetong. She was out of Lin Yi’s line of sight, making it seem as if she had committed a misdeed and fled.

But he wasn’t familiar with her; such playful antics were usually reserved for those with a close relationship.

“Sister, did you throw a snowball at me?”

After careful consideration, Lin Yi’s gaze still settled on Lin Yiting.

“Huh? No, I didn’t. What’s wrong?”

Lin Yiting looked genuinely puzzled, not feigning surprise.

Lin Yi scratched his head, bewildered. It couldn’t possibly have been Gu Yulong. After much deliberation, Lin Yi decided to search for Gu Yuetong. Perhaps it really was her.

Stepping out of the camp, Lin Yi saw no sign of Gu Yuetong. Just as he began to wonder, his gaze suddenly fixed on a large tree.

It was a thick pine tree, probably over a decade old. Behind its sturdy trunk, a piece of fabric from a girl’s clothing peeked into Lin Yi’s view.

Seeing this, a mischievous grin spread across Lin Yi’s face. He scooped up a handful of snow nearby and stealthily crept closer.

Just as the snowball in his hand was about to strike her head, the purple-haired girl crouching behind the large tree suddenly turned.

Her light green eyes first widened in confusion, then shifted to shame and anger, before she let out a piercing shriek.

“A monster!”

[Author’s Note: I’ve been having some health issues recently, so tomorrow’s update time will be adjusted to daytime. If I keep updating at these late hours, I’m afraid my body won’t be able to handle it, so… please understand.]