When Chen Mo and Xi Siyan walked out of the beverage store together,
He was surprised to hear the complaints behind him.
After all—
It was hard to imagine what kind of “senior brother” Xi Siyan was.
But soon enough,
Someone gave him the answer.
The group of onlookers from outside the window
Immediately swarmed over.
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow and asked,
“Why didn’t you guys come in earlier?”
Qi Lin was the first to speak.
He jerked his chin toward Xi Siyan and said,
“Who would dare?”
“Don’t be fooled by how Old Xi is treated like a campus celebrity at school.”
“Out here? He’s a complete demon.”
“You see those girls?”
“The moment they spot him, they run the other way.”
“No way were we gonna follow him in and ruin the mood.”
Chen Mo chuckled.
“Is it really that exaggerated?”
Qi Lin shrugged dramatically.
“Can’t help it.”
“The guy was just born without a ‘gentle mode’ when it comes to women.”
“Think about all the girls who’ve approached him under the excuse of being ‘newbies’—”
“Not a single one didn’t end up crying their eyes out on the ski track.”
Chen Mo was amused by Qi Lin’s dramatic storytelling.
Strict?
Well, Xi Siyan had tutored him before,
So he already had some experience with that.
Just then, Xi Siyan finished dealing with a few people and walked over.
He glanced at Chen Mo and asked,
“Why were you with them?”
Chen Mo looked back at the store
And happened to meet the eyes of the two girls inside.
He gave them a brief nod,
Then turned back to answer.
“They said they were beginners and wanted a guide.”
“I guess they just thought it’d be fun.”
Xi Siyan frowned.
“Don’t waste your time with them.”
Chen Mo raised an eyebrow.
“You sure are strict with your junior sisters.”
He turned his head slightly and teased,
“You do know I’m not actually gonna do anything to them, right?”
Xi Siyan walked alongside him,
His gaze lowering slightly.
“Have you considered that you’re the one getting teased?”
Chen Mo laughed.
“Joke’s on them.”
“It’s useless on me—I don’t like girls.”
Xi Siyan’s eyes lingered on him for a moment.
His expression was hard to read—
A mix of mild surprise and some kind of quiet indulgence.
Back at the Villa.
At noon, the group headed back down the mountain.
Because of Chen Mo’s leg injury,
They skipped most ice sports for the next two days.
Chen Mo felt a little guilty about holding everyone back.
But since no one really minded,
He quickly stopped worrying.
Besides,
The hotpot in the ice sculpture hall and the hot spring trips
That Xi Siyan arranged
Were more than enough to keep everyone entertained.
New Year’s Eve.
The town was hosting a festival the night before New Year’s Day.
It wasn’t much different from other places—
Held in the largest town square,
With a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere.
Elderly folks brought their own low tables and stools,
Snacking on melon seeds and chatting under the night sky.
Kids, bundled up in round puffy coats,
Ran wildly in groups,
Laughter echoing through the square.
Because of the young tourists,
The town had set up festival lights and decorations,
Creating an incredibly warm and festive vibe.
When the group wandered into the square,
Jiang Xu suggested—
“Why don’t we celebrate the New Year right here?”
“Sounds good!”
“We’re leaving early tomorrow—so let’s party all night!”
“Sing at the top of our lungs!”
“Shout out all our frustrations!”
Amidst the cheers,
Chen Mo stated the obvious—
“You guys do realize the townspeople usually go to sleep after midnight, right?”
“If we start screaming in the middle of the night…”
“We’ll just look insane.”
“Tsk, Mr. Mo, you sound like an old man.”
“You just don’t get the joy of being young!”
“The point isn’t logic—it’s the atmosphere!”
“Come on, Brother Mo! Let’s welcome a bright tomorrow!”
Chen Mo felt a dozen pairs of eyes staring at him.
He rubbed his forehead,
Then turned to the guy leaning lazily against the steps.
“Think you can kick these idiots out?”
“Doubt it,” Xi Siyan said calmly.
“It’s a public space.”
“They’re disturbing the peace.”
“Still a public space.”
Lao Gou suddenly jumped over,
One arm slung over Chen Mo’s shoulder.
He squinted at them.
“What are you two whispering about?”
“I’ve noticed you two have been secretly gossiping all day.”
Chen Mo let him be and casually asked,
“You wanna know?”
“Yeah.”
“Say ‘you two.’”
“…”
“CHEN MO, YOU’RE DEAD!”
Lao Gou lunged for him immediately,
Digging fingers into his waist.
Not only that—
He called for backup.
And just like that,
Chen Mo was dragged into the chaos.
They spent New Year’s Eve in the square,
Pelting each other with snowballs,
Tackling each other into the snow,
And laughing until their stomachs hurt.
For a brief moment,
Chen Mo forgot everything.
Forgot that he had lived two lives.
Forgot that he wasn’t truly a seventeen-year-old.
Forgot about the Yang family.
Forgot about the Chen family.
Forgot how he had once fought tooth and nail
Just to climb his way up.
For the first time,
He was simply—
A teenager.
Spending New Year’s Eve with friends.
Laughing.
Living in the moment.
By the time they finally settled down,
Chen Mo was covered in sweat.
Breath rising in the cold air,
He leaned against the stone steps,
Gazing at the stage ahead.
Right on time,
The host walked onstage, microphone in hand.
From beside him,
Someone suddenly asked,
“What do you want to do in the future?”
“I want to be a doctor.”
Lao Gou answered first.
“My dad wants me to study law.”
Jiang Xu added.
One by one,
They shared their plans—
Some clear, some uncertain.
Only Chen Mo and Xi Siyan
Remained silent.
Finally, someone asked,
“What about you, Old Xi?”
“Me?”
“Probably finance or management.”
Chen Mo turned to look at him—
Expression unreadable.
For some reason,
He felt like Xi Siyan already knew his path.
“And you?”
Xi Siyan asked.
Chen Mo smiled lazily.
“I prefer to enjoy the moment.”
As soon as Chen Mo’s words left his mouth,
He was met with unanimous outrage.
To everyone else,
It was completely unfair
For someone who had been dominating the monthly exams
To call himself a “poor student.”
Chen Mo chuckled,
Listening to their complaints and mockery,
Then turned his attention back to the stage ahead.
New Year’s Eve Party
The New Year’s Eve festival in Bingyuan Town
Was a blend of rural charm and modern entertainment.
It wasn’t extravagant,
But it was lively—
And it had its own unique flair.
Some of the local performances
Were particularly refreshing to watch.
The party continued until midnight.
As the final countdown began,
The entire audience joined in together.
Then—
Right on time—
Fireworks exploded across the night sky.
Under the dazzling colors,
For the first time,
Chen Mo felt a sense of devotion—
A silent wish
That the passion of youth would never fade.
After Midnight.
As the fireworks died down,
The lively atmosphere slowly settled.
A group of rowdy teenagers,
Who had boldly declared
That they were going to party all night long,
Began yawning one after another.
Without saying it outright,
Everyone agreed silently—
Maybe it was time to sleep after all.
But—
When they returned to the villa—
Instead of soft beds,
They were met with—
Another New Year’s Eve party.
Unexpected Guests.
The group from the UI Club,
Including Na Xixi,
Had heard that they were leaving Suicheng tomorrow.
So, in true New Year’s fashion,
They had gathered a whole bunch of people
And thrown together a last-minute party.
“Let’s make the most of it!” They had said.
And just like that—
It was suddenly 3 AM.
Chaos in the Room.
The room shared by Chen Mo and Xi Siyan
Was packed with young men and women.
Empty beer bottles littered the floor,
People sat on the sofa playing games,
Some gathered around the bed playing poker,
And others were playing drinking games.
Though professional skiers didn’t drink,
Not everyone here was a real competitor,
And now that they were outside the school environment,
Even Lao Gou and the others were cutting loose.
The room’s heater was on full blast.
Chen Mo—
Dressed in a thin sweater he had just bought in town—
Sat on the corner of the sofa.
Before he knew it,
He was surrounded by a group of girls,
Dragged into a dice game
Where the loser had to complete a challenge.
“Can I sit this one out?”
Chen Mo raised his hands in surrender,
Smiling helplessly.
But the girl from earlier that day—
The one who had invited him for a drink—
Immediately objected.
“Nope! You have to play!”
Meanwhile, on the Balcony.
Na Xixi stood by the railing,
Peeking inside at the chaos.
She nudged the person next to her.
“Hey, Xi Siyan,”
“Your classmate seems super popular with the girls.”
Xi Siyan followed her gaze,
Glancing into the room.
At that moment,
Chen Mo had just won a round,
But instead of picking a tough challenge,
He pointed to a glass of water
And told the loser to drink it.
The girls immediately protested—
“That’s so boring!”
Chen Mo just smiled good-naturedly
And let them continue playing.
Xi Siyan looked away and said calmly,
“What’s strange about liking him?”
“He looks good, and he has a nice personality.”
Xixi’s Observation.
Xixi stared at him in disbelief.
“Wow.”
“It’s rare to hear you compliment someone.”
She leaned in slightly,
Lowering her voice.
“But are you sure you’re not misunderstanding something?”
“From what I can see,”
“he’s just humoring them—like an adult playing along with kids.”
She sighed dramatically.
“To be honest,”
“the only other person I’ve seen act like that is my brother.”
“And my brother is a complete control freak.”
Xi Siyan’s Thoughts.
Xi Siyan glanced at her.
Xixi immediately surrendered.
“Okay, okay—bad example.”
“What I mean is…”
She paused,
Then said thoughtfully,
“Your classmate has way more depth than he lets on.”
Xi Siyan didn’t deny it.
After all,
This was the same guy
Who had fought an entire dormitory alone,
Leaped across basketball courts,
And had a ridiculously high pain tolerance.
Beneath his gentle demeanor,
Chen Mo was—
Fierce.
Passionate.
Enduring.
Even so,
There were moments
When Xi Siyan felt
That Chen Mo was almost too innocent for a seventeen-year-old.
For instance—
The way he patiently tolerated all the noise around him.
The way he remained polite and gentle with girls.
The way he had looked at the fireworks earlier
With a gaze almost religious in its sincerity.
Back to the Conversation.
Xixi suddenly changed topics.
“Are you really not a professional skier?”
Xi Siyan nodded absentmindedly.
“Yeah.”
Xixi rolled her eyes.
“Rich kids like you are so good at wasting talent.”
Then she turned back to the party,
And her eyes lit up.
“How’s your classmate at skiing?”
Xi Siyan’s expression darkened slightly.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“He has a leg injury.”
Xixi blinked in surprise.
“Huh? He’s injured?”
“Is it a fracture?”
Xi Siyan didn’t answer.
Because at that moment—
The balcony door slid open.
And the subject of their conversation stepped out.
Chen Mo’s Brilliant Entrance.
Chen Mo was wearing a down jacket,
Looking slightly confused when he saw them.
He adjusted his coat slightly and asked,
“Have you seen Lao Gou?”
“Looking for him?”
Xi Siyan asked.
Chen Mo glanced into the room,
Then turned back toward them.
Then—
In full view of everyone inside—
He walked straight up to Xi Siyan.
And stood right next to him.
Xixi’s Instant Reaction.
Xixi’s eyes widened instantly.
From her angle—
They looked way too close.
She threw her arm around Xi Siyan’s neck,
Leaning in with a wicked grin.
Then she whispered—
“I’m pregnant with your child.”
The Aftermath.
Chen Mo: “…”
Xi Siyan: “…”
Lao Gou: (choking on air in the background)
Xixi: (spitting out her iced tea in shock)
And just like that—
Silence fell over the entire room.
Xi Siyan calmly glanced at Chen Mo’s stomach.
Then asked,
“Are you sure?”
Chen Mo: “…Fuck.”
At that moment—
The real culprits behind this whole mess
Poked their heads out from behind the balcony door.
Unfortunately for them—
They were met with the death glare of their senior brothers.
Then came the verdict:
“Whoever loses the next game—”
“Why don’t you come with me to the snow track for some extra practice?”
That one sentence was all it took.
The heads immediately disappeared.
Like whack-a-mole in reverse.
And just like that—
Chen Mo was finally freed.
He pressed a hand to his forehead,
Letting out a long, exhausted sigh.
A Close Call.
Chen Mo had only come to find Lao Gou.
He had nothing to do with the ridiculous game—
He just needed Lao Gou to cooperate with the punishment.
But before he could even explain—
Xi Siyan grabbed his wrist.
Then—
Face-to-face,
He tugged at the hem of Chen Mo’s coat.
“It’s cold.”
“If you’re going to wear it, wear it properly.”
Chen Mo: “Oh.”
He straightened out his coat,
Then glanced at Xi Siyan and said,
“Sorry for dragging you into that just now.”
Xi Siyan stared at him.
Then asked—
“Are you talking about the part where you got me pregnant?”
Chen Mo: “Tsk—”
“That’s not the point.”
“The point is that I can’t even get pregnant.”
Xi Siyan: “And that makes you feel… pitiful?”
Chen Mo: “Not really.”
“But I did just blow air into your ear, and you didn’t even flinch.”
“Aren’t ears supposed to be sensitive?”
Silence.
Lao Gou + Xixi: “…”
Lao Gou: (Internally screaming for help.)
At this point,
Lao Gou couldn’t help but wonder—
Does Chen Mo even realize
That he’s straight-up teasing the squad leader right now?!
A Question Out of Nowhere.
Xi Siyan suddenly said—
“Chen Mo.”
Chen Mo: “Hm?”
“Have you ever been in love?”
Chen Mo blinked,
Looking genuinely confused.
Then said, matter-of-factly—
“I don’t think we should date too early.”
Lao Gou Was Heartbroken.
At that moment—
Lao Gou had an epiphany.
His dear brother
Wasn’t playing hard to get.
He was just actually this dense.
Is a Straight Gay Scary?
Lao Gou didn’t think so.
But right now—
Standing in the half-lit shadows,
Looking calm yet unreadable—
Xi Siyan was the one who looked a little scary.
Even though Chen Mo had said before
That Xi Siyan wasn’t into men,
Lao Gou suddenly felt the urge to pray for him.
Because for some reason—
He had a premonition.
One day, sooner or later—
Chen Mo was going to fall.
And the funniest part?
It would be because of his own certainty.
