Night of December 31st. Gao Sijin sat alone at home, typing away. Snow, pure and silver-white, drifted outside the window, as if the entire world had been replaced by pure white.
Gao Sijin’s favorite season was winter. Though cold, the snow was truly beautiful, as if it could purify one’s soul.
Keep writing.
All day long, Yu Qingxue hadn’t sent a single message. Maybe she had gone abroad, or perhaps she had simply grown tired of the game.
Gao Sijin opened his phone and gently touched Yu Qingxue’s avatar, revealing her confident smile. Then he opened his photo gallery, which now contained a new subfolder labeled Gao Rio.
Opening that folder, he found countless selfies of Gao Rio—some in cosplay, some in seductive outfits, and others in simple casual wear. But no matter what she wore, Gao Sijin’s heart raced. Gao Rio was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life, especially her aura, which was so breathtaking it made his heart tremble. It was as if her eyes could speak.
By now, their nightly private chats had become a daily routine.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: How was your day, Gao-kun?
Ai: It was great. Especially now—probably the happiest moment of my day.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: Why?
Ai: Because I’m talking to you.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: ⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄
Little Ai’s Fiancée: You have such a sweet tongue, Gao-kun.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: That mouth must have sweet-talked many girls, right?
Ai: Actually, I’m a shy person.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: I know. Because I’m Gao-kun’s fiancée, I know how shy you are.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: I also know that Gao-kun loves snow the most. I love snow too. The science teacher said snow has a natural inorganic crystalline structure, so it was once classified as a mineral, like gold, silver, diamonds—but it isn’t a mineral. That feeling is really illusory and ethereal.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: Oh, and I still vividly remember building snowmen with Gao-kun. At the time, you built a big snowman, and I built a small one. Then Gao-kun looked at them, and with a surge of emotion built a baby snowman, and earnestly blessed the family of three. It was just like something an adorable child would do.
Ai: Stop scolding me, stop scolding me.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: I’m not scolding you. I just think you’re cute (╹▽╹).
She sent another selfie, today wearing a JK uniform. Her dark red eyes remained stunningly beautiful, like expensive rubies set into the exquisitely delicate features of a doll. Even through a photo, her noble and elegant aura was clearly palpable. But unlike her online persona, the real her seemed to be not much of a talker.
Ai: You’re beautiful today too.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: Hehe, consider it a birthday present for Gao-kun.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: Happy birthday, Gao-kun! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
Ai: My birthday is January 1st.
Little Ai’s Fiancée: I forgot. I’m an hour ahead of your time zone.
Ai: Wait, oh shit, it’s almost midnight. I need to write. If I don’t, I’ll lose my full attendance!
Ai: Gotta go, gotta go…
Little Ai’s Fiancée: Good luck, Gao-kun! I’ll always support you!
After ending the chat, Gao Sijin immediately opened his writing software. To earn the full attendance award, he used up nearly all his life’s speed, typing with the keystroke fury of a Zaun pianist.
He finally finished at 11:49. Gao Sijin reviewed what he’d just written and immediately frowned. Reading through, the sentences were disjointed, typos abounded, and there were even glaring logical errors. He felt an elementary school essay would be more interesting to read.
Damn it!
He wanted to edit, but there was no time left. The thought of not receiving full attendance next month filled Gao Sijin with immense heartache. He should have saved up more drafts earlier.
He could have submitted that chaotic text, but at the thought of his already few readers leaving in disappointment, he suppressed the urge and did not click the submit button.
It was now midnight. Gao Sijin sat in his chair with a worried face, having just missed the full attendance award by a hair’s breadth.
January 1st was Gao Sijin’s birthday, yet he couldn’t manage any joy.
“Happy birthday to me…”
He murmured softly.
In past years, his parents never celebrated his birthday. Instead, he had to celebrate theirs. It was like how books always taught children to be filial to their parents, yet no book ever talked about parents respecting their children.
Thankfully, Gao Sijin’s aunt would definitely call him the next morning and remind him to eat two eggs for his birthday. Every year, only his aunt and cousin remembered his birthday.
As for what Gao Sijin would do on the day itself, it was nothing more than staying cooped up in his room writing. He couldn’t think of any other plans; that was how it had always been.
Gao Sijin took out a notebook. The contents had been written on his last birthday, listing his disappointments and hopes.
Disappointments: poverty, loneliness, unsatisfactory grades, strained relations with parents, being insulted by colleagues in roundabout ways…
Hope: to finally have a book of his own.
But now, that hope had been fulfilled this year. Although it was a flop of a work, at least Gao Sijin had left his mark on the world.
He smiled.
He wrote in the hope column: To have a book recognized by everyone.
—Knock, knock, knock.
Just then, a knock came from outside the door, startling Gao Sijin. He slowly stood up. Who would knock on his door at midnight? Could it be a thief?
“Who is it?”
“Sijin, happy birthday!” It was Yu Qingxue’s voice.
“What the hell? It’s midnight!” Gao Sijin grimaced.
“I know. But I told you before, when your birthday came, I’d spoil you like a treasure. So here I am.”
Even on his birthday, this madwoman wouldn’t let him have peace. Yet, surprisingly, it didn’t feel too bad.
Gao Sijin opened the door and saw not only Yu Qingxue but also Feng Xiaohe outside.
“Happy birthday!”
They said in unison.
What a heartwarming scene—if only they hadn’t been holding a burlap sack and handcuffs. Otherwise, Gao Sijin would surely have been moved to tears.
“What are you trying to do?” Gao Sijin asked warily.
“Celebrate your birthday.” Yu Qingxue approached with ill intent, grabbed his wrist, clamped on the handcuffs, and pulled the sack over his head.
Feng Xiaohe didn’t stop her but instead helped.
Gao Sijin tried to struggle, but his body was held tight and couldn’t move.
“This isn’t celebrating my birthday! This is kidnapping! I’m calling the police!”
“Hug tight? Okay, I’ll hug you even tighter!” Yu Qingxue wrapped her arms around Gao Sijin’s body so fiercely it felt as if his bones might snap. Feng Xiaohe helped tie the mouth of the sack, sealing Gao Sijin inside.
On his birthday, Gao Sijin was thus stuffed into a sack and kidnapped by them.
