Chapter 8

The Snow Falls Everywhere ❄️

Ning Xuechu hadn’t even moved yet when her stomach suddenly let out a loud growl.

She quickly pressed her hand against it, lips tightening as her head dropped in embarrassment.

Seeing the girl’s flushed, aggrieved little face, An Jianqing couldn’t help but laugh softly. She carried the tray to the bedside and said with a smile,
“Xuechu, come eat. It’s still warm.”

“Thank you, Sister.” Ning Xuechu blinked, her cheeks burning as though they were on fire.

Ning Xuechu hadn’t eaten all day. She quickly began devouring the meal.

But suddenly, she froze mid-bite, her lips parted as she swallowed hard.

“Did it get stuck?” An Jianqing asked with concern, handing over a glass of warm water.

Ning Xuechu hurriedly accepted it, nodding shyly as she slowed her chewing.

When dinner ended, a servant brought in a plate of fruit, cleared the dishes, and quietly exited the room.

“Xuechu, take your time eating. I still have some work to handle,” An Jianqing said softly, standing up to leave.

Just as she turned around, her fingers were caught in a tight grip. She turned her head—and met a pair of teary eyes shimmering with silent pleading.

“Sister…” Ning Xuechu called out anxiously, jumping up from the bed.

As if terrified of being abandoned, she clutched An Jianqing’s hand tightly, speaking cautiously:
“Sister, can you stay with me a little longer?”

Hearing this, An Jianqing hesitated for a moment before nodding and sitting back down.

Ning Xuechu followed her lead, not even touching the fruit. She simply stared at An Jianqing, her tear-bright eyes filled with unspoken words.

An Jianqing couldn’t help but smile, her tone gentle.
“I’m here. Eat your fruit. Once you’re done, I’ll go.”

Ning Xuechu widened her eyes, as if not quite believing her. Quickly, she grabbed a piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth.

She chewed while keeping her gaze fixed on An Jianqing—her expression tense, as though afraid she’d be tricked.

An Jianqing sighed softly. After a pause, she spoke playfully,
“Xuechu, what kind of Alpha do you like? Sister can help you find one who will protect you, hmm?”

At those words, Ning Xuechu shook her head in panic, clutching An Jianqing’s wrists.
“Sister, I don’t want to get married…”

If she left this house, the Ning family’s fortune would no longer belong to her.

All her careful planning—all her effort—would vanish into thin air.

“Silly child, an Omega will have to marry someday. Wouldn’t it be nice if Sister helped you find someone you like?” An Jianqing smiled, though a faint trace of sorrow flashed through her warm eyes.

Ning Xuechu continued to shake her head, her nervousness turning into fear.

Seeing An Jianqing’s gentle yet unyielding expression, she lowered her head. After a long silence, she whispered,
“I like gentle Alphas like Sister… Someone who cares for me… who protects me…”

Her tone grew lower and more urgent toward the end.

An Jianqing’s heartbeat faltered, her smile freezing.

Looking down at the slender but firm hand gripping her wrist, a sudden unease flickered through her chest. She forced a smile again.
“So Xuechu likes gentle Alphas. Sister knows quite a few. I’ll introduce you sometime.”

Ning Xuechu shook her head, then lifted her gaze with visible courage. Her bright eyes were steady and serious.
“I only like Sister.”

“…It’s getting late. I should go handle my work now,” An Jianqing interrupted with a soft but unmistakably firm tone.

She gently withdrew her hand and left without a moment’s pause.

With a loud bang, the door closed.

Ning Xuechu stared at her now-empty palm, her eyes slowly cooling.

As expected, An Jianqing still didn’t trust her.
All her tenderness—an illusion.

This woman couldn’t wait to marry her off, to drive her out of this house.

The only reason she was kind to her was because she was an Omega—someone who would eventually marry, and thus pose no threat to the inheritance.

But Ning Xuechu would not let her have her way.

She clenched her fist, her expression turning cold and resolute.

Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, Ning Xuechu had been living in the Ning household for over half a month.

She had almost completely adapted to her new life—and had also gradually figured out where An Jianqing’s bottom line lay.

As long as she didn’t mention anything similar to that night’s confession, An Jianqing treated her with endless patience—a perfect, gentle sister.

But if she ever crossed that line, An Jianqing’s hidden coldness would surface from beneath her warmth.

Ning Xuechu had already witnessed that ruthless, commanding side when she’d first met her at her uncle’s house.

In these past few days, she’d grown used to An Jianqing’s tender care, and for a moment, she had foolishly believed herself to be an exception—that An Jianqing would never be cold to her.

But in the end, she’d been wrong.

In a powerful family, how could there ever be true affection?

Ning Xuechu twirled the pen in her hand, staring blankly at the darkening sky outside the window, paying no attention to the lecture.

As the final class ended, a surprised exclamation came from the hallway:
“It’s snowing! The first snow of the year!”

Soon, a chorus of footsteps followed.

And then more voices—joyful, excited:
“It’s snowing! It’s snowing!”

Those three words spread like sparks of joy, stirring everyone’s hearts.

In moments, the corridor was filled with people chatting and laughing, smiles bright on every face.

Some stretched out their hands to catch the falling snowflakes, watching as they melted quietly against their palms. Others blew gentle breaths, watching the white flakes dance through the air.

Ning Xuechu slung her bag over her shoulder, stood for a few seconds watching in silence, then walked downstairs with an indifferent expression.

She didn’t like snow.

Every time it snowed, she had to brave the freezing cold with a small shovel and broom, scraping away layer after layer of ice.

Even when her fingers turned bright red from the cold, she couldn’t stop. If she didn’t clear the snow properly, she’d be beaten—or starved.

People said snow falling on one’s hair was romantic.
But all she could feel was endless chill.

Walking down the street, she could hear laughter everywhere around her.

She looked up. White snow had already begun to settle on many people’s hair, even on their eyelashes and brows…

But the others didn’t seem to care at all. Their cheeks were red from the cold, yet their faces shone with excitement and joy.

Ning Xuechu froze, gazing at the endlessly falling snow.

After a long while, she stretched out her hand and caught a single flake—then clenched her fist tightly.

A faint wetness spread across her palm, seeping in with icy chill. Ning Xuechu frowned, opened her hand, and watched indifferently as the clear droplets trickled down her skin.

She wiped her hand clean, face expressionless, and continued walking forward. But when her eyes fell on a certain spot beneath a tree, her steps came to an abrupt halt.

The tall phoenix tree had shed all its leaves, leaving its bare branches twisting and coiling in plain view, unable to block the descending snowflakes.

Standing beneath it was a tall woman. A red windcoat hugged her slender waist, her figure standing proud and graceful amid the whirling white snow.

She tilted her head slightly upward, raising a hand to catch a snowflake as it drifted down.

The cold wind lifted strands of her hair, but she didn’t seem to notice. A gentle smile curved her beautiful lips.

The romance of “snow falling upon one’s head” seemed to find its most perfect expression in this woman dressed in red.

Ning Xuechu’s heart trembled, a flash of awe flickering through her icy eyes.

She quickened her pace toward the woman, her cheeks tinged with pink as a sweet, obedient smile spread across her face. Clutching her backpack straps, she spoke cheerfully:
“Sister, it’s so cold—there’s no need for you to come pick me up.”

“It’s fine. I happened to have some free time today.” An Jianqing turned, smiling softly as she turned her wrist and let the snowflakes fall from her palm.

Ning Xuechu’s gaze unconsciously followed the motion, watching the tiny white speck vanish into the dirt. An unexplainable sadness welled up in her heart.

Perhaps one day, she too would be tossed aside—just like that melting snowflake.

“Xuechu, what’s wrong? Something on your mind?” An Jianqing asked gently, her tone light.

Ning Xuechu hurriedly shook her head, forcing an innocent smile before asking curiously,
“Sister, do you like snow?”

“I do. If I could walk in the snow with the person I love… even if it lasted only a moment, growing old together for that instant would still be happiness.”

An Jianqing lifted her head slightly, lips curved, her eyes filled with yearning as she looked toward the sky.

Ning Xuechu froze. A dull ache rose in her chest.

From those serene, beautiful eyes, she could clearly see the longing—and attachment—for love.

That phrase, “the person I love,” pierced into her heart like a thorn.

“Sister… do you have someone you like? An Omega?” Ning Xuechu asked softly, hiding the sting in her chest.

An Jianqing shook her head, the sorrow in her eyes fading as she smiled.
“Come on. Dinner should be ready soon.”

With that, she turned and began walking toward the car.

Her tall, slender back looked like an unreachable dream—standing alone in the swirling snow, ethereal and distant.

Ning Xuechu’s eyes flickered. She brushed the snow from her lashes and hurried after her.

When she caught up, she slowed her steps, smiling brightly.
“Sister, if one day you meet an Omega you love, you have to tell me, okay? I’ll sincerely bless you both.”

At those words, a trace of sorrow flashed through An Jianqing’s bright eyes. After a moment’s silence, she shook her head.
“I won’t ever love any Omega.”

The low, firm voice carried through the drifting snow, laced with unspoken helplessness.

Ning Xuechu frowned slightly, the uneasy feeling in her chest growing stronger.

She got into the car and glanced sideways at the woman beside her.
“Sister,” she said softly.

At the sound of her voice—so earnest—An Jianqing turned her head. In her clear eyes, she saw Ning Xuechu’s face leaning closer and closer.

The air inside the car suddenly grew thick, charged with subtle tension.

An Jianqing’s heart gave a jolt. Her body stiffened, about to stop the girl from coming any closer—

But Ning Xuechu spoke first.
“Sister, you have a snowflake on your hair.”

She lifted her hand, and on her pale fingertip rested a perfectly shaped snowflake.

Rubbing her fingers lightly, the snow melted into a tiny drop of water.

“Thank you, I didn’t even notice,” An Jianqing said with a soft smile, starting the engine as her posture gradually relaxed.

Ning Xuechu lowered her gaze, watching the droplet slide down her fingertip. Her lips curved faintly before she said suddenly,
“Sister, you smell really nice. I bet a lot of Omegas must love your pheromone scent.”

At that, An Jianqing’s fingers tightened slightly on the steering wheel. She let out a small, awkward laugh and said nothing.

Ning Xuechu’s eyes filled with puzzlement. Turning her head, her pale face looked tense as she murmured,
“Sister, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

“It’s all right.” An Jianqing smiled faintly, eyes fixed ahead.

Ning Xuechu’s confusion deepened.

An Alpha’s pheromones naturally attracted Omegas—especially an S-ranked Alpha like An Jianqing. Their pheromone scent was something other Alphas took pride in flaunting.

Most Alphas would deliberately release a trace of their scent before Omegas, just to draw attention.

But in front of her, An Jianqing had never released even the faintest hint of pheromones.

Maybe… S-class Alphas simply didn’t care about an ordinary Omega like her.

A wave of frustration rippled through Ning Xuechu’s heart.

If she wanted An Jianqing to notice her—to be interested—she’d have to create more opportunities herself.

Dinner was already ready, rich and delicious.

But Ning Xuechu had no appetite. She only ate a little before heading upstairs to wash up.

Sensing her gloomy mood, An Jianqing hesitated, wanting to speak but choosing silence instead.

Outside, the snow grew heavier, blanketing the ground in white.

After her shower, Ning Xuechu stood on the balcony in her pajamas.

A gust of cold wind brushed past her, making her shiver violently as goosebumps covered her skin.

“Xuechu, don’t stand on the balcony—you’ll catch a cold!” came An Jianqing’s concerned voice from the next window.

“Okay, Sister!” Ning Xuechu rubbed her hands together and smiled sweetly before running back inside.

She sat on her bed, thinking quietly for a while, then her gaze drifted back to the window.

With snow falling this heavily, she thought—
perhaps she could make a tiny snowman.

Ning Xuechu slipped on her sweater and cotton slippers, then opened the door and stepped outside.

The snow was still falling thick and fast, as if it would never tire.

Crouching down, Ning Xuechu exhaled a warm breath into her hands.

She scooped up a handful of snow, molded it into a ball, and then carefully added more snow around it, layer by layer.

She repeated this motion over and over until the snowball grew larger than her fist.

After just five minutes, her hands were frozen stiff. She couldn’t help but shake them out, blowing warm air onto her palms in an attempt to drive away the biting cold.

But it didn’t seem to help much.

Clenching her teeth, she lowered her eyes with determination and began shaping another snowball.

The snowman’s head was smaller, so she worked faster this time.

Soon, both snowballs were ready. She stacked them together, forming the shape of a small snowman.

“Xuechu, it’s freezing out here. What are you doing squatting on the ground?”
A gentle voice came from behind, carried by the cold wind.

Startled, Ning Xuechu hurriedly hid the snowman in her arms, stood up, and lowered her head nervously, not daring to meet the woman’s gaze.

An Jianqing glanced at the uneven snow on the ground and immediately understood. Smiling softly, she said,
“Xuechu, if you like snowmen, I can ask Aunt Lian and the others to help you build one. It’s so late, and you’re out here in just a sweater — you’ll catch a cold.”

As she spoke, An Jianqing draped the coat she was holding over Ning Xuechu’s shoulders and gently adjusted the sleeves.
“Next time, don’t be so mischievous.”

A wave of warmth and a pleasant fragrance enveloped Ning Xuechu. She blinked, then timidly raised her head. Holding out the small snowman in her arms, she said softly,
“Big sister… I made this for you… I haven’t finished the nose and eyes yet, but I hope you’ll like it.”

Her voice trembled slightly, every word escaping in a puff of cold air — yet it carried a warmth that could melt snow.

An Jianqing froze for a moment, looking carefully at the girl’s face reddened by the cold.

After a pause, she smiled gently and accepted the snowman, her eyes glimmering with delight.
“Thank you, Xuechu. I really like it. But don’t ignore your health like this again, alright? If you get sick, your sister will worry.”

“I’m really healthy, I won’t get sick— ah-choo!”
Before she could finish, Ning Xuechu sneezed loudly, her face lighting up with joy despite it — as if she’d just received the greatest praise in the world.

“Come inside, quickly,” An Jianqing said urgently. She held the snowman in one hand and took Ning Xuechu’s hand with the other.

Warmth and softness spread through Ning Xuechu’s palm. She froze for a second, suddenly wanting to hold on tightly — but in the end, she restrained herself and let An Jianqing lead her inside.

The snow kept falling — on the roof, on the tree branches, and on their shoulders.

Ning Xuechu looked at the woman in front of her. Snow had dusted her black hair white. Smiling brightly, she said with innocent delight,
“Sister, it looks like we’ve both grown old together!”

At that, An Jianqing turned her head slightly. Meeting those radiant eyes, she quickly looked away and said softly,
“With snow this heavy, don’t sneak out alone again — especially not dressed like that.”

“Okay, sister,” Ning Xuechu replied obediently with a smile, but her lowered eyes glimmered with a faint chill.

Her small attempts — every test, every hint — had all been gently deflected by An Jianqing.

But that was fine.
She had all the time and patience in the world.