The Christmas Rabbit

Four years ago, Chu Ran and Ye Nanzhi were in a completely different world compared to now.

Unlike the current situation where Ye Nanzhi did everything in her power to avoid her, freshman Ye Nanzhi’s most common habit was following right behind Chu Ran.

During their first winter after entering university, Harbin in December had fully entered its frozen season. Snow was everywhere, but fortunately, the sunset was brilliant, wrapping the pristine white ground in a faint orange glow.

Before the previous snow had even melted, new flakes arrived quietly one night. Pedestrians passing by left a constant “crunch-crunch” sound.

Ye Nanzhi, who had been waiting at the entrance of the teaching building for a long time, spotted that familiar figure from a distance.

Chu Ran walked out of the library and headed toward the school gate.

As fate would have it, she chose to take a shortcut—a quiet path lined with pine trees next to a rockery where squirrels were said to appear in the summer.

Chu Ran didn’t live in the school dorms but rented an apartment alone outside. Seeing her heading toward her rental, Ye Nanzhi quickly hurried over to follow.

Since it had snowed the night before, there were few people on the forest path, and the snow on the ground was still fluffy. There was only a single row of footprints left by Chu Ran.

Ye Nanzhi stepped into the snowy hollows Chu Ran had just made, following her footprints step by step. Chu Ran was tall with long legs, and her shoe size was much larger than hers. Ye Nanzhi trudged along, finding a strange, fresh delight in it.

Suddenly, the person in front stopped. Ye Nanzhi instinctively ducked behind a nearby pine tree.

The footsteps stopped for a moment, then continued forward.

Ye Nanzhi finally breathed a sigh of relief, quietly peeking out to confirm she hadn’t been discovered before continuing her “game.”

Who would have thought that when she looked up again, Chu Ran was standing right in front of her, watching her quietly in a “wait for the guest to enter the trap” posture.

“When did you find out!”

Chu Ran pointed behind her. Ye Nanzhi turned around and came face-to-face with the large glass curtain wall on the side of the library.

Although it was covered in a thin layer of dust, her red coat today stood out with exceptional brilliance against the snow-covered ground.

Tsk. She was so busy stepping in the snow that she hadn’t noticed her surroundings at all.

With a hint of frustration, the girl ground her toe into the snow. “Then why didn’t you say something earlier? You let me hide back there for so long.”

Say something earlier? Why would she do that? Hadn’t this clumsy rabbit been playing quite happily back there?

Chu Ran walked closer. The first thing she noticed was that the girl’s porcelain-white skin was now slightly flushed from the cold.

“Why are you following me? Have you finished reviewing for the exams in a few days?”

With finals approaching, the entire school was shrouded in a tense atmosphere. Although she tried to hide it, Chu Ran noticed the dark circles under her eyes were becoming more obvious by the day. Upon asking, she learned the girl had been staying up late to study.

Truthfully, after that art class ended, Chu Ran had proactively brought their teacher-student relationship for the semester to a close.

For Ye Nanzhi, academics had to come first. Chu Ran’s elective course was, at most, a leisure activity that always had to make way for her major.

“Studying can wait one day! Besides, look around—what kind of ruthless person is still studying today!”

Just as the words left her mouth, her gaze fell on the books Chu Ran was carrying from the library. The atmosphere instantly fell into an awkward silence.

Clearly, Chu Ran was that ruthless person.

Since logic wouldn’t work, Ye Nanzhi immediately changed her face and started acting like a rogue: “Oh, I don’t care! Anyway, I’m not learning a single word today.”

“Who reads books on Christmas Day? I’m not a middle schooler anymore. I’m eighteen; I’m an adult. I want to live an adult life!”

Chu Ran ruthlessly exposed her: “Even at eighteen, failing a final exam means you’ll still lose credits.”

Ye Nanzhi: …

If being a rogue didn’t work, she had to change her tactics.

She feigned grievance, squatting on the ground and curling her body up. “Everyone around me went to find their friends. I’m all alone. I don’t want to be left out.”

Saying this, the girl blinked her bright eyes and quietly pulled on Chu Ran’s sleeve. “Does Senior Chu have plans today? How about we hang out together? That way, we both have company.”

Company.

Chu Ran was quite unfamiliar with this term.

She had always been a loner; it seemed that in her consciousness, there had never been a role for “company” by her side.

As she was pondering, the girl across from her grew anxious. In the past, if she had an idea or a request, Chu Ran would usually reply quickly. But today, seeing Senior Chu so hesitant, could it be…

The guess Ye Nanzhi least wanted to face sprouted in her heart: Chu Ran already has a date!

Yes, what day was it? It was Christmas! She must have been booked long ago. The only person left out on a day like this was probably just herself.

Ye Nanzhi sighed. If she had known, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.

Seeming to resign herself to the reality before her, she pulled a gift into Chu Ran’s hand. “Then forget it. Even though we can’t spend the holiday together, this was prepared specially for you.”

Inside a dark green velvet bag, a golden bell hung right in the center, decorated with a few tassels. Pulling the drawstring open, an apple lay quietly inside.

“What is this?”

“It’s a holiday. Giving an apple brings good luck—peace and safety. Don’t you know?”

No wonder she had seen vendors selling pre-packaged apples on carts lately. Wrapped in a layer of cheap paper, the price doubled, yet they didn’t lack buyers; many young girls were rushing to buy them. It seemed this was the intention.

“Did you buy this outside too?”

Ye Nanzhi shook her head. “Many of those pre-wrapped apples are low-quality or rotten. I picked this one out at the fruit shop and wrapped it myself at home. I even sewed that golden bell on by hand!”

No wonder. No wonder the thread at the closure was halfway sticking out.

But after Chu Ran discovered that loose thread, she instead tucked the apple into her bag, placing it right next to the thesis she had just printed.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t prepare a gift for you.” Chu Ran spoke up. Today, she unusually lowered her head. “As an apology, I’ll let you make the arrangements today, okay?”

Chu Ran had her laptop, documents, and several books she had just borrowed in her bag; it was truly inconvenient to carry them around. So Ye Nanzhi suggested accompanying Chu Ran back to her place to drop the things off before starting their schedule.

The rental was not far from Jiangzhou University. After leaving the school gate, it was only a ten-minute walk.

The residential area looked quite old. In the shed downstairs, abandoned bicycles had been piled up for who knows how long. Fortunately, the paths were clean. Although the security guard at the entrance was elderly, his presence offered some sense of safety.

Once downstairs, Ye Nanzhi proactively offered to wait there and didn’t go up. They were both girls; a sudden unannounced visit would likely be inconvenient. Seeing the girl’s persistence, Chu Ran let her wait in the security office.

As for her, she went up and back as quickly as possible.

“Tell me, what do you want to do today?” A lightened Chu Ran asked, hands tucked into her coat pockets.

Ye Nanzhi revealed a mischievous smile. “I want to do some ‘adult things’.”

Twenty minutes later.

Passionate, rhythmic music filled the air, accompanied by flashing colored lights and several men and women twisting their bodies to the music on machines. Facing the scene before her, Chu Ran couldn’t help but confirm once more: “Are you sure this is what you meant by ‘adult things’?”

Just coming to an arcade?

“Of course not. I want to drive race cars and play the claw machine!”

Chu Ran: …

“Oh, Senior Chu, don’t just stand there. Faster, faster!” Ye Nanzhi tugged on Chu Ran’s sleeve, diving into the ocean of games.

From racing simulators and shooting games to basketball machines and bowling, the two played through almost every attraction.

Before they knew it, even though they weren’t wearing coats, both their faces were flushed, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on their foreheads.

Finally, a room-temperature juice was handed to Ye Nanzhi. The girl didn’t care about anything else and took several large gulps. She had originally wanted an iced one, but Chu Ran had decisively refused, citing her bad stomach.

“What do you want to play next?”

Her fingertip pointed forward. Ye Nanzhi’s target fell on the rows of claw machines. She stuffed the last of the game coins into Chu Ran’s hand. “Senior Chu, if you catch three dolls, the evening meal is on me, how about it? If you fail, you have to buy me ice cream today!”

Ye Nanzhi had only managed one bite of that cherry ice cream last time. Since then, the only cold treat allowed was an iced milk tea Chu Ran had mercifully let her have, and then she wasn’t allowed to touch anything cold again.

Since it was for her own good, Ye Nanzhi grudgingly kept the promise. But today, even though she was this hot, Chu Ran still insisted she didn’t have a cold drink. She had to make Chu Ran buy her an ice cream personally and then watch her eat every single bit of it to “avenge the past”!

These claw machines were famously difficult. Chu Ran missed twice in a row, coming up empty-handed.

Ye Nanzhi spread her hands, feigning innocence while secretly calculating in her heart whether to get a cone or a McFlurry later.

Definitely a McFlurry—she had to get her money’s worth! She heard there was a new strawberry flavor McFlurry, and the second one was half price. She would have to make Chu Ran bring it to her personally!

Before her thoughts finished, there was a clunk as a plushie fell.

Chu Ran took out the trophy and stuffed it into Ye Nanzhi’s hands. “That’s one. You better start thinking about what to eat for dinner!”

Before Ye Nanzhi could recover from her shock, the second trophy fell successfully.

Wasn’t it said that claw machines were based on probability?! Why is Chu Ran so smooth! She caught one almost every two tries. If she was lucky, she even got one in a single go.

Soon, the two of them were draped in several plushies.

Seeing that there were very few coins left in the box, Chu Ran asked Ye Nanzhi, “Have you decided what to eat?”

Darn it… Ye Nanzhi stomped her foot mentally. It looked like the McFlurry was a lost cause!

She looked up and saw the largest machine ahead.

This machine was more expensive than the ones outside, requiring three coins for one try. Correspondingly, the prizes inside were more than one grade higher than the ones outside.

Ye Nanzhi’s gaze landed on the hair clip right in the center.

It was a rabbit hair clip. The white rabbit was lifelike, with a faint blush on its cheeks and a heart-meltingly cute smile.

“You want it?” Chu Ran asked her.

Ye Nanzhi nodded. “That little rabbit is so cute! Senior Chu, can you catch it?”

“Let’s try.”

As they watched, the claw went straight for the rabbit and grabbed its head firmly. Seeing this, Ye Nanzhi almost jumped with excitement. Just as the claw reached the top, it suddenly loosened—clatter—and the little rabbit fell back to its original position.

“It dropped.” Ye Nanzhi looked back at Chu Ran with a pout.

Chu Ran dropped three more coins and repeated the action. Sure enough, at the same spot, the little rabbit fell again.

But this time, it didn’t land in the same spot; it moved forward slightly.

One after another, the little rabbit in the machine went up and down, while Ye Nanzhi outside the machine paced around in anxiety.

As the box of coins reached the bottom, the rabbit hair clip was like it was on a tour, traveling all over the machine, but it stayed stuck near the exit, with no intention of coming out.

Only three coins were left in the box. Ye Nanzhi had almost given up hope.

“Forget it, Senior. It’s just really hard.” Instead of blaming or mocking her, she comforted Chu Ran. “I already have so many plushies. Let’s leave this clip for the next time we come.”

“But, don’t you want a Christmas gift?” Chu Ran took the last coin out of the plastic box and held it in her palm. “How about this last time—you press the button? Let’s cooperate. Maybe it’ll work.”

But how is that possible? Even as good as Chu Ran is at this, she couldn’t do it. How could things be different just because I pressed the button at the end?

“Come on, give it a try.” Chu Ran beckoned to her. “If we succeed, I’ll buy you ice cream.”

With a bit of reluctance, she walked in front of Chu Ran.

A warm chest pressed against her back. Her hand was taken and placed over the button on the right.

“In a bit, I’ll tell you, and you press it.”

Ye Nanzhi nodded.

The last coin was dropped into the machine. Following the joystick Chu Ran controlled, the claw inside began to move.

Looking down, Chu Ran finally noticed the fresh fragrance belonging only to a young girl emanating from her embrace. Following the smooth forehead, she saw long, fan-like lashes fluttering slightly, and tiny beads of sweat on the tip of a small nose.

The girl was very nervous, standing motionless before the glass of the machine, her gaze fixed on the interior.

“Are you ready?” A rare clarity in her voice was tinged with a hint of huskiness. Chu Ran’s throat bobbed subconsciously.

“Now! Press it!”

With a snap, the silver claw began to descend, and Ye Nanzhi’s heart rose to her throat. It grabbed the rabbit’s body again, rising shakily. Just as it reached the top, the claw gave a jolt, and the little rabbit was tossed into the exit.

Did… did we succeed?

“We got it, Senior Chu! We got it!”

Ye Nanzhi turned around in excitement. As she turned her head, her lips brushed squarely against Chu Ran’s jaw.

A soft sensation, carrying a warm breath. Chu Ran was startled and took a sudden step back.

The girl, immersed in joy, didn’t notice the ambiguous moment at all. She bent down to retrieve the clip, tidied her hair, and clipped it to her temple. She faced Chu Ran and asked, “Senior Chu, look! Does the little rabbit look good?”

Only when she looked up did she notice that Chu Ran seemed a bit different.

She reached up to touch the other’s forehead. Sure enough, it was burning hot. “Senior Chu, are you unwell? You seem to have a bit of a fever.”

“I… the air conditioning is too hot.”