As the coat was lifted, light poured in, and Jiang Xiaosi felt as if she had just stepped out of an elevator into paradise. She curled up on her favorite corner of the sofa while Shen Mo went into the kitchen to make her a cup of red tea.
At this point, Jiang Xiaosi had already brushed off the sting of her recent heartbreak. She sat contentedly, gazing at the falling snow outside the window. Shen Mo, upon returning, immediately went outside to check on his plants. Those that couldn’t withstand the cold had already been moved into the greenhouse, but Shen Mo wasn’t the type to pamper them—most of the hardier ones were left to endure the wind and snow on their own.
“Have you eaten, Professor?” Jiang Xiaosi asked.
Shen Mo, of course, knew that this was just her way of saying, “Professor, I’m hungry. Can you make me something to eat?”
With a cold expression, he headed back into the kitchen, asking as he walked, “Didn’t you have dinner?”
Jiang Xiaosi sighed dramatically. “I was supposed to have a Christmas feast during my date.”
A short while later, Shen Mo emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of fried rice.
The delicious aroma made Jiang Xiaosi’s mouth water instantly. As she looked at the golden fried egg and perfectly cooked rice grains, her heart suddenly felt a little heavy. She quickly buried her head in the bowl and devoured the food as if she hadn’t eaten in days.
“Eat slower,” Shen Mo warned, concerned that she might accidentally choke in her usual clumsy way.
Jiang Xiaosi felt that this was the best meal she had ever had—better than any RH sundae. She was almost moved to tears by how good it tasted.
She cleaned her plate, not leaving a single grain of rice behind.
“Thank you…” she whispered softly.
It was the first time Shen Mo had ever heard her say thank you, and it felt strangely awkward to him. He snorted coldly. “Go wash the dishes yourself.”
So Jiang Xiaosi eagerly headed to the kitchen, wiping down everything until it sparkled. Though Shen Mo hadn’t given her a Christmas present, the meal he had prepared was better than any gift—it was, after all, food delivered in a moment of need!
“Professor, did you get the Christmas gift I sent you?”
“I did. It’s too valuable. You can take it back when you leave.”
She had sent him a *four-eared gui* worth nearly a million yuan, casually wrapped in newspaper, packed in a cardboard box, and sent via regular mail. The thought of it had given Shen Mo cold sweats.
“I thought you’d like it.” Jiang Xiaosi felt wronged. Why was she facing rejection after rejection today?
Shen Mo shook his head. It wasn’t about liking it or not. Who casually gives away an artifact worth hundreds of thousands of yuan as a Christmas gift? He felt guilty accepting something so valuable.
“Don’t think of it in terms of money. I gave it to you for research purposes. You can treat it like any regular pot or bowl. It’s just an ordinary object—you can’t measure it by its price.”
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. If artifacts weren’t to be valued by money, then what was the point of her family’s shop? They might as well turn it into an archaeological research center.
At that moment, the faint sound of bells and festive noise came from outside. Jiang Xiaosi glanced at the clock and realized it was past midnight.
“Merry Christmas, Professor!”
“Merry Christmas.” Shen Mo stood up. “Call your dad. Whether you go home tonight or not, you should at least let him know.”
“Professor, am I really that annoying?”
“It’s rare for you to be so self-aware,” Shen Mo nodded, seeing her downcast expression. She seemed to still be hung up on her heartbreak. After a moment of hesitation, he added, “Sometimes, instead of guessing and worrying on your own, it’s better to go and find out the truth yourself. Don’t make hasty decisions. Once you decide to face something, don’t back down just because things get tough.”
Jiang Xiaosi’s eyes lit up as she looked at him and nodded enthusiastically.
“Professor, you’re right! I won’t be able to sleep tonight unless I find out why he didn’t show up!”
With renewed energy, Jiang Xiaosi quickly said goodbye and dashed up the hill. Shen Mo watched her go, suddenly feeling like he might have said the wrong thing. What was he doing, exactly?
Zhang Qi lay in bed, reading under the lamp, but his thoughts were too scattered to focus. All he could think about was the little girl from the library, her face flushed when he had caught her leaving a note for him.
“Jiang Xiaosi…”
He looked at the letter in his hand, feeling more and more conflicted. Maybe he should just go to sleep. As he turned off the light, he suddenly heard a soft tapping at the window, and goosebumps spread across his skin. After all, this was the fourth floor!
His dorm mates were either out partying all night or sleeping like logs. He got up and turned the light back on, only to see Jiang Xiaosi clinging to the window, smiling and waving at him. His face turned pale, and he nearly stumbled. Hurriedly, he opened the window, careful not to push her off the ledge.
Jiang Xiaosi, who still hadn’t mastered the ability to fly, had to work hard to climb up from the first floor.
Zhang Qi saw her small figure, perched in high heels on the narrow, snow-covered ledge. The wind was blowing, and it looked like she could fall off at any moment.
“You…you…this is way too dangerous!”
Jiang Xiaosi clung to the windowsill, stretching her neck into the room. “I’m fine. I waited for you for so long. Why didn’t you come? Did you see the letter I left you?”
Zhang Qi scratched his head awkwardly. “Sorry, I thought it was a prank. I’ve been tricked so many times before that I didn’t believe it. I couldn’t imagine someone actually liking me.”
Jiang Xiaosi shook her head vigorously. “I wasn’t pranking you! You’re so great—how could no one like you?”
“I get it now! Please, just get down from there!”
Jiang Xiaosi kept shaking her head and stubbornly held onto the windowsill.
“Does that mean you agree to date me?”
“You’re still young…”
“I’m very mature. I know everything I need to know, and I can do everything I need to do. Whatever I’m missing…I’ll have soon enough…”
“Alright, alright, I agree. Now, please come inside.”
“No thanks, I’m leaving now. I won’t disturb your sleep. My name is Jiang Xiaosi—don’t forget! My number’s in the letter. From now on, I’m your girlfriend. I’ll make you lunch tomorrow, and I’ll see you at the library after class!”
Zhang Qi nodded repeatedly. Jiang Xiaosi even let go of one hand to wave goodbye, scaring him so much that he grabbed onto her collar with one hand and the pom-pom on her hat with the other.
“I’m going now! Goodnight! Merry Christmas!” Jiang Xiaosi said cheerfully.
Zhang Qi couldn’t help but wonder if he was dreaming. “Goodnight. Be careful on your way back. Uh…are you sure you don’t want to come inside?”
“Nope, bye-bye!” Jiang Xiaosi climbed back down the wall the way she came. Someone on the second floor saw a shadow pass by their window and screamed, “Thief!” causing all the lights in the building to turn on.
Jiang Xiaosi simply jumped to the ground, landing steadily. Zhang Qi’s heart nearly stopped in his throat. Seeing her turn around, waving happily before running off, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a long breath.
The next day at noon, instead of heading straight to the library after class, Jiang Xiaosi made a beeline for Shen Mo’s office.
“Professor!”
Shen Mo looked up from a pile of excavation photos, and Jiang Xiaosi was instantly stunned. Today, he was actually wearing glasses!
The cold aura around him seemed slightly softened, giving him an air of elegance and refinement.
“What do you want?” he asked, his voice still icy.
It took Jiang Xiaosi a moment to close her gaping mouth and force herself to look away. “Professor, have you had lunch yet?”
“Not yet.” Shen Mo ignored her and continued examining the photos in his hands.
“I made a bento. Want to try it?” Jiang Xiaosi eagerly placed the lunchbox on his desk and opened the lid.
Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. She was already expressing her gratitude for a simple bowl of fried rice from the night before?
Seeing her hopeful expression, Shen Mo reluctantly picked up the chopsticks and took a couple of bites. Inside the bento was a heart-shaped, slightly burnt egg. If it weren’t for the glasses, he might not have even recognized it as an egg.
“How is it?”
“It’s okay.”
“Better than last time?”
Shen Mo nodded begrudgingly.
Jiang Xiaosi beamed with joy. “That’s great! I’ve never made a bento before, so I know my cooking skills are terrible. Since you, a gourmet, think it’s good, I’ll feel confident giving the other one to him! Thanks, Professor! Bye!”
Jiang Xiaosi grabbed the other two bento boxes and dashed out of the office, bubbling with happiness.
Shen Mo’s face twitched. So all this time, he had been the taste-tester?
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