Chapter 199: Do You Like Snow?
I got up to pee in the middle of the night.
Returning to bed, Lena, still half-asleep, climbed over Snow and collapsed onto a soft spot, falling back asleep.
In the pitch-black darkness, Snow’s eyes fluttered open.
Her eyes sparkled in the faint light.
“Lena.”
She gently pushed Lena, then, remembering something, softened her touch.
The two of them, lying on the small makeshift bed, huddled together for warmth. The wind howled outside, the glass rattling, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Lena’s heart beat so fast…
Snow looked at the sleeping gray-haired beauty, her heart, unusually strong, pounded against Snow’s chest.
Compared to the cold room, the warmth under the covers was undeniable.
Ignoring the soft, comfortable bed, they squeezed together in this small space, Snow listening to Lena’s breathing, drowsiness washing over her…
…
The next day, Lena woke up first.
She ran a hand through her disheveled hair, sitting up, then paused, seeing Snow still asleep beside her.
Hiss—
A slight headache.
But Lena finally understood the situation.
After returning to the Falmouth mansion yesterday morning, she had gone straight to work, then rushed to the academy.
She had thought Snow would be asleep, but to her surprise, Snow had left the door unlocked.
“She’s so persistent.”
But Lena was glad she had come to check, otherwise, this naive girl would have waited all night.
“Good morning…”
Snow rubbed her eyes, her silver eyelashes damp, looking pitiful.
She blinked, taking a moment to register Lena’s presence.
“Sorry, I fell asleep on you.”
Lena couldn’t help but pat Snow’s head.
The soft texture was like a field of dandelions, a few strands of white hair sticking up playfully. Lena tried to smooth them down, but they slipped through her fingers, like defiant soldiers.
“It’s okay.”
Snow adjusted her sleepwear, her creamy white skin peeking through.
She said seriously, “I don’t mind you being on top of me.”
“That sounds a bit ambiguous…”
Lena chuckled awkwardly.
“Hmm?” Snow blinked, confused.
“Nothing, want to have breakfast together…? My treat.”
Lena quickly changed the subject, steering the conversation towards Snow’s academy life.
“And let’s buy some necessities, you haven’t bought any yet, have you?”
Lena had noticed Snow’s cheap toothbrush and cup, she couldn’t believe Snow had been using them for so long.
“Mm.”
Snow agreed.
Sitting on the bed, she looked dazed.
Lena wondered if this naive hero would be taken advantage of by some bad woman, she was too trusting, letting strangers into her room…
Oh wait, she was that bad woman.
“Ahem, let’s wash up first, I’ll just splash some water on my face.”
After all, she hadn’t brought any toiletries.
“Use mine.”
Snow emerged from the bathroom, holding her toothbrush and cup, offering them to Lena. “You first?”
“Huh?”
“Do you mind?”
“No, no, but… I…” Lena didn’t know what to say, seeing Snow’s serious expression, she couldn’t refuse.
She took the toothbrush with a trembling hand, the white bristles like new, a pleasant scent emanating from them.
This was Snow’s toothbrush…
There was even a faint lipstick stain on the cup…
Lena admitted this was a bit lewd, she had almost lost control. “Thank you, then I won’t be polite.”
Closing her eyes, she told herself she couldn’t refuse such kindness, and she quickly washed up.
Lena returned the thoroughly cleaned toothbrush, then watched as Snow entered the bathroom.
Snow picked up the toothbrush, squeezed some toothpaste on it, and began brushing her teeth in front of the mirror.
Through the mirror, she saw Lena hesitating behind her, and she tilted her head, making a soft, cute sound.
“Don’t look, don’t look…”
Lena turned away, trying not to imagine her used toothbrush in another woman’s mouth.
Indirect kiss, it seemed only she cared about the significance of such an act, while Snow remained oblivious.
A true straight girl…
They finished their morning routine and left the dormitory, locking the door.
“Let’s go to the cafeteria, I’m starving.”
“Mm.”
Snow’s stomach rumbled.
…
Each department had its own cafeteria, students free to come and go, ordering whatever they wanted.
Lena and Snow chose to dine in, sitting quietly, waiting for their food.
“I haven’t eaten in the cafeteria in a long time, it’s changed so much.”
The Martial Arts Department cafeteria, due to the nature of the profession, was more spacious than others, the portions larger, filled with protein and fat.
As for the taste…
As long as it was filling, who cared about the taste? The main thing was that it was cheap and filling!
“Eat up, my treat.”
A variety of dishes were served.
Crispy roasted chicken, honey-roasted meat, and Snow’s favorite, lotus seed soup.
Although it was breakfast, it was quite a feast.
“Can you finish it?”
Seeing Snow nod, Lena relaxed, focusing on her food.
A whole chicken leg in one bite.
Snow ate gracefully, but her speed was no slower than the burly men in the tavern. Soon, a pile of bones formed in front of her.
She was a little glutton.
“Slow down,” Lena said, amused. “Are you a starving ghost? I’ll order more if you’re not full, don’t choke.”
“Mmm…”
Snow’s mouth was full, unable to speak.
But she still offered a greasy chicken leg to Lena, her big eyes blinking, a sign of goodwill.
“Thank you, I’m not hungry…”
Lena had little appetite in the morning, these dishes were mostly for Snow.
“Mmm… mm… you eat.”
Snow forced herself to swallow, her expression unchanged. “Ahh—”
“I’m really not hungry, it’s too greasy…” Lena pointed at her bowl of porridge. “I’ll be full after this.”
The hero’s appetite was truly remarkable.
An extraordinary person had extraordinary traits, and Snow’s appetite was one of them.
“Just one bite.”
Snow’s eyes filled with a hint of sadness.
Lena’s heart softened, and she relented. “Fine, just one bite, I can’t eat any more.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear, taking a small bite of the chicken, the tender meat falling off the bone.
“Delicious?”
Snow withdrew her hand, her cold demeanor a stark contrast to the greasy chicken leg, her expression still icy.
“It’s quite good, especially since it’s from you.”
Lena’s witty reply made Snow’s eyebrows relax, a flicker of pleasure in her eyes. “With you, the food tastes better.”
She quickly looked down, continuing to eat…
Silence, with occasional small talk.
A faint blush on her earlobes, unnoticed by anyone.
“So small…”
Lena sipped her tea, looking at Snow’s shoulders, her slender figure.
Barely over 1.6 meters, but so petite… almost like her own.
She wondered where all that food went.
Lena’s gaze drifted downwards, over her delicate chin, her white collarbone, settling on her slightly protruding chest.
Although Snow wore a slimming black sailor uniform, the butterfly bow couldn’t hide her beautiful figure.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Lena thought to herself.
Mental nourishment was more important than physical nourishment, especially with a beautiful, silver-haired girl sitting across from her.
Truly a feast for the eyes!
“Lena. Lena.”
Snow finished eating, her posture straight.
“Later, can you accompany me…”
She wanted to ask Lena to accompany her to the library, her first day of work, she was a little nervous…
What if she made a mistake? She would disappoint Lena.
She was representing Lena’s reputation now, she couldn’t shame her.
“No problem, getting familiar with the work environment is important, don’t worry, the job is simple.”
Lena reassured Snow.
“There are a few colleagues, but not many, you won’t see them much with the shift system.”
So workplace bullying wouldn’t be an issue.
And who would dare bully Snow? Although she was a bit naive, her strength as the hero couldn’t be underestimated, she could definitely protect herself, her name alone was enough to make people think twice.
“Let’s go.”
Lena extended her hand to Snow.
Snow took her hand without hesitation.
Her cool fingers were enveloped in Lena’s warm hand.
Cold hands, even colder person.
But now, this surprisingly cold girl was willing to let her hold her hand, strolling through the campus, Lena felt a sense of privilege.
Passing through the snow-needle forest, the Priest Department’s spire reached for the sky.
Behind it was the Holy Inquisition Monastery, but with the holidays approaching, it was much quieter.
Lena held Snow’s hand tightly, as if afraid she would run away.
“This is the Saint Lorenzo Library, one of the world’s most famous libraries, with a vast collection of books. You’ll be working here, a three-month probationary period, with a full attendance bonus.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Snow nodded vigorously.
Lena smiled. “Let’s go inside.”
…
The handover was near the entrance, a graduating senior patiently explaining the library’s rules to Snow.
Snow listened attentively, and the senior then gave her an old work notebook.
It contained notes from previous librarians, including some time-saving tips.
“I’m glad the hero is taking over, I can finally graduate in peace.”
“Mm, you should focus on your graduation thesis…”
Lena chatted with the senior.
Snow emerged from the changing room in her new uniform, a pure white dress, a gold-trimmed belt around her waist, two thin braids hanging down like flowing light—the librarian’s uniform.
“You look quite professional~”
Lena whistled.
“Turn around, let me see.”
Snow obeyed, turning around.
Her skin was translucent, like jade.
Her silver hair was tied up in a ponytail, revealing her graceful neck and collarbone, her features beautiful and aloof, like a snow lotus on a mountain peak.
Her silver-gray boots tapped against the soft carpet, her bangs swaying with her movements.
Lena’s gaze swept over Snow’s figure.
Snow, sensing Lena’s gaze, lowered her head slightly. “Don’t look.”
“It suits you, but you’re missing a smile.”
“I don’t know how to smile…”
“I know, expressing emotions is difficult for you, but think about the happy things that have happened to you recently, it might help.”
“Happy things…”
Snow looked down at her toes.
The past month had been a disaster, there were no happy things…
Oh, Lena!
She suddenly looked up.
Lena was sitting in a quiet corner, reading a book, her long gray hair like a flowing waterfall.
A strand fell onto the table, another curled around her finger, her lips slightly curved, her profile serene and focused.
Perhaps, this wasn’t so bad after all.
Snow realized that being with Lena was happiness, that even the most mundane moments became vibrant and exciting…
Snow bit her lip.
She slowly walked over, sitting beside Lena, resting her head on her shoulder, her hands on her knees.
“Lena…”
Snow whispered.
“Hmm? What’s wrong?”
Lena closed her book, her eyes smiling.
She had noticed Snow’s change in mood, her deliberate distance a ploy to melt the ice, to confirm her feelings.
Snow was silent for a moment, then exhaled slowly. “Do you like snow…?”
Lena blinked, not understanding. “You mean, snowfall?”
“…”
Snow didn’t answer, then asked again, “…You don’t like snow?”
“I do. The coolness of snow, its coldness, its solitude, its purity. Even the feeling of it melting in my hand, I love it…”
Lena sighed. “The scent of snow is so refreshing, don’t you like it?”
Every word about snow, yet every word about her.
Snow was confused, what was Lena talking about?
“Alright, time for work, my lovely librarian.”
Lena playfully tapped Snow’s forehead, gesturing towards the clock on the wall, indicating it was time for her to start.
Snow stood up silently, the spot where she had been sitting slightly indented, a faint fragrance lingering.
The library was quiet today.
With the holidays approaching, only a few students were returning books, some chatting quietly about new novels, others gossiping, then pretending to be engrossed in their books when Snow approached…
“Such a pretty junior, her silver hair is beautiful.”
“Indeed, such a rare hair color, hey, I heard the hero arrived in the Imperial City recently, and enrolled here, could it be…”
“Damn! It’s the… mmm!”
His companion covered his mouth, frantically gesturing.
But Snow didn’t notice their strange behavior, walking past them, her long, stocking-clad legs moving gracefully.
Sitting at the front desk, the silver-haired beauty’s expression was blank, as if still pondering Lena’s words.
Until a girl in a mage robe arrived, breaking the library’s tranquility…
