The snow on the car roads had mostly melted and been cleared to the sides.
On the pedestrian paths, however, the snow was only roughly swept away, making them passable but still covered with a layer of snow.
Qiao Huaiyao opened his palm upward, feeling the coolness of the snowflakes that gently landed in his hand. He softly said, “It’s snowing again.”
In the few days they had been in New York, there seemed to be few sunny days, with only brief clear skies following heavy snowfalls.
Bai Jinyan took his hand and placed it in his pocket, “How come you seem more energetic the later it gets?”
Qiao Huaiyao laughed softly, “Maybe I’m past the point of being tired.”
At this moment, he didn’t feel sleepy at all.
“I’ve already bought the plane tickets for tomorrow.” Qiao Huaiyao said as they slowly walked into the courtyard. Looking at the snow on both sides, he suddenly remembered the unfinished snowman in the back.
Qiao Huaiyao sighed softly, “It’s a pity we don’t have time to finish the snowman.”
Actually, a snowman could just be a small mound of snow with a ball on top, and it would still be a snowman.
But they had been so meticulous and serious about making it. Perhaps when it comes to anything involving details, science students can’t help but strive for perfection.
However, being so busy until now, the snowman was still just a ball.
As they walked in, the cover on the snowball had already been removed.
Perhaps because it was snowing again, the butler was in the glass corridor, directing people. Before he could go out, he saw Qiao Huaiyao walking toward the snowman.
The butler immediately waved his hand, telling the others to disperse for now.
He himself turned and went inside to take care of other matters.
Qiao Huaiyao patted the snowball. It was solid, the kind of snowball that wouldn’t break even if thrown during a snowball fight.
If this snowman were finished, it might not melt even after several days of sunlight.
“Baby.”
“Mm?” Qiao Huaiyao instinctively turned his head, his lips brushing Bai Jinyan’s cheek unexpectedly. The light fragrance of Bai Jinyan’s scent added a hint of coolness to the snowy weather.
Qiao Huaiyao seemed calm, but a faint warmth appeared behind his ears. He asked softly, “What’s up?”
Warmth briefly touched his lips, making Qiao Huaiyao’s eyes widen. He stammered, “Brother,” while glancing around.
“Let’s take a photo of the snowman.” Bai Jinyan adjusted his phone to camera mode. “Next time we come, who knows when that will be.”
They had almost finished their work here, with the remaining tasks scheduled in China and other countries.
Qiao Huaiyao wasn’t tired. Hearing this, he said, “I’ll go get some gloves.”
Working together, the top snowball should be smaller than the base, so they should be able to finish it.
However, Bai Jinyan grabbed his wrist, “No need to bother.”
“Huh?” Qiao Huaiyao found it strange. Before, Bai Jinyan wouldn’t let him touch snow without gloves, so why not now?
Bai Jinyan didn’t explain. He took off his coat, folded it, and placed it on the snowball.
“Brother! Put your down jacket back on.”
Bai Jinyan caught Qiao Huaiyao’s hand reaching for the coat and reassured him, “It’s fine, just a few photos, and I’ll put it back on.”
While making the snowball, the top part was relatively flat.
Bai Jinyan wrapped his arms around Qiao Huaiyao’s waist, saying, “Hold on to me.”
Qiao Huaiyao didn’t quite understand but wanted to finish quickly so Bai Jinyan could wear his jacket again. So he wrapped his arms around Bai Jinyan’s neck. “Like this?”
“Yes.” Bai Jinyan lifted him and took a few steps to the snowball, setting him on top.
Qiao Huaiyao: “?!”
Once Qiao Huaiyao was steady, Bai Jinyan slowly released his hold.
He looked up and kissed Qiao Huaiyao affectionately. Their noses touched as they got close, and Bai Jinyan smiled, “Sit tight.”
A hint of a smile appeared in Qiao Huaiyao’s eyes. He looked down, meeting Bai Jinyan’s gaze, “This is the snowman you wanted to make?”
Bai Jinyan chuckled but didn’t respond. He quickly kissed Qiao Huaiyao when he least expected it.
Then, he took a few steps back, circling around to take photos from various angles.
When it seemed to be done, Qiao Huaiyao jumped down, unfolded the down jacket, patted off the snow, and draped it over Bai Jinyan. “Reach out, I’ll button up your jacket.”
Bai Jinyan, holding his phone, hadn’t found a place to put it down before he was wrapped snugly in Qiao Huaiyao’s jacket.
“No need to button it up.” Bai Jinyan put on the jacket, holding Qiao Huaiyao’s hand. His fingertips were a bit cold from being out of the pocket for just a moment.
Disregarding the snowman photos, Bai Jinyan said, “Let’s go upstairs.”
Qiao Huaiyao agreed, “Okay, let’s go.”
The hallway was empty, and the glass bridge was completely clear.
As they walked back upstairs, Qiao Huaiyao gently pushed Bai Jinyan into the bathroom. “Take a hot shower. I’ll get you a bathrobe.”
Bai Jinyan, looking at the down jacket on him, helplessly took it off and set it aside. “Alright.”
Steam filled the bathroom.
Bai Jinyan didn’t take long, just enough time to snap a few photos before Qiao Huaiyao embraced him.
Knowing Qiao Huaiyao was worried he’d get sick, Bai Jinyan carefully took a hot shower before coming out.
The hotel had some cold-prevention medicine on hand. Qiao Huaiyao made him a cup. “When you’re really tired, your immunity drops. You’ve been working non-stop these past few days. If you catch a cold, you’ll definitely get sick.”
Hearing Qiao Huaiyao’s gentle nagging, Bai Jinyan couldn’t help but chuckle. He obediently took the medicine and handed the empty cup back to Qiao Huaiyao, ruffling his hair, “I finished it.”
Qiao Huaiyao handed him another cup of warm water. “Sit down and drink it.”
Bai Jinyan sat on the bed, following every instruction, looking very obedient.
He flipped through the photos on his phone. In the pictures, even the snowball was captured.
Due to the angle, the snowball looked even bigger than Qiao Huaiyao.
Though it was more like a large drum because it was flattened on top and bottom, it wasn’t as flat as a drum.
The courtyard lights made the photos unexpectedly beautiful.
His delicate cheeks were half-surrounded by the fur of the down jacket, his fair skin tinged with a slight blush, his beautiful eyes, and the slight lift of his eyes’ corners with a hint of red.
These photos…
Every single one looked great.
Bai Jinyan thought for a moment and chose a picture taken from behind, where the front couldn’t be seen, to post on Weibo.
Bai Jinyan V: [It’s snowing in New York. Made a snowman.]
The location was set at a seven-star hotel in New York.
The Weibo post was made, but he didn’t directly send the photos with it.
Comments section: [I’ve seen it. You may leave.]
[That’s it? It’s night in New York, right? Posting on Weibo at midnight just to say it’s been snowing for days?]
[This Weibo post is too bland. I’m not satisfied. Delete it and post again.]
[How old are you, still building snowmen? My five-year-old nephew would call it childish… What does the snowman look like? Show me.]
…
Bai Jinyan singled out this comment and replied with the photo of the back view of Qiao Huaiyao sitting on the snowball.
Fans: [???]
[What the heck— I feel like that sleeping dog that got kicked. I seriously wanted to see the snowman photo. Seriously, thank you]
[Oh my, Bai Jinyan just grabbed me by the scruff and fed me dog food.]
[Let’s just say, is there any chance that Bai Jinyan posted on Weibo just to share the snowman and not to show off his relationship?]
[Impossible, absolutely impossible!]
[If you’re bold enough to show off, then post a photo of the front! The back view is wearing a down jacket with a hat covering most of the head. This clearly isn’t Qiao Huaiyao. Unless you show me a frontal photo, I won’t believe it.]
[Who doesn’t have a significant other, seriously! When it snows here, I’ll bury my dog in the snow!]
[Dog: ‘Thank you for listening, because of you…’]
[You sneaky devil, even the dog admits defeat. You’re worse than the dog; the dog is just bewildered.]