Shu Jia Er felt a tinge of guilt for playing such a ruthless role in Shu Er’s downfall, and for the next few days, a subtle sadness lingered over her. In her previous life, she had simply been an ordinary girl from a well-off family who had never done anything harmful. This push she gave Shu Er down the path of no return was the most drastic act she had ever committed.
From that moment on, she resolved not to concern herself with Shu Er’s fate—whether it turned out well or badly is no longer her business.
Just as Shu Jia Er was adjusting her emotions, she received wonderful news. Shu Ya had performed exceptionally well in her high school entrance exams and earned the top score in her grade, securing a spot at the best high school in Jiangcheng. This was the second piece of good news she received recently, and it began to lift her spirits.
She rewarded Shu Ya with a generous red envelope, encouraging her to buy herself extra treats, clothing, and other essentials.
When Shu Jia Er entered her final year of high school, summer vacation barely lasted half a month before mid-July classes began to make up for lost time. She was focused on her studies, but Huo Chao was equally occupied.
Now an adult, Huo Chao had access to the assets his mother had left him. After setting aside some money for essentials, he sold the sports car he usually drove, amassing a total of 30 million yuan, all of which he invested as startup capital for his business. He only kept his bicycle—the same one he often used to take Shu Jia Er out during high school.
Together with Zhao Zhifeng, he co-founded a company, gathering a team of like-minded individuals with plans to develop games as a stepping stone. Game development was just the beginning, though; in time, when the business thrived and funding was sufficient, he planned to expand into more lucrative industries.
When Zhao Zhifeng learned of Huo Chao’s plans, especially Huo Chao’s aspiration to create his own sanitary napkin brand, he was speechless.
Zhao Zhifeng pointed at Huo Chao, at a loss for words.
“You, a handsome guy, are this eager to start a business in… sanitary napkins? Are you serious?”
Huo Chao remained calm. “Shu Jia Er once complained about sanitary napkins made from poor-quality cotton. She tried many major brands, yet some still had black spots. We can’t control other brands, but I want her to have the safest products. Sanitary napkins, tissues, paper towels—things she uses regularly should be of the highest quality.”
Zhao Zhifeng sighed, amused. “So it’s all for Shu Jia Er, huh? I don’t even recognize you anymore.”
Huo Chao just gave him a light look.
After a long pause, Zhao Zhifeng finally muttered, “Well, on behalf of women across China, I have to thank you and Shu Jia Er!”
Whether Huo Chao’s motivation was personal or not, if he succeeded in creating safe sanitary products, it would indeed be a gift to the public.
Shu Jia Er, however, knew little of Huo Chao’s ambitions. She was aware he had started a business, but she didn’t ask much, thinking her lack of experience wouldn’t offer any useful insights.
When Shu Qiang entered college, he assumed that his brother-in-law would have ample free time to be surrounded by admirers. Yet, the expected “green tea encounters” they had jokingly rehearsed never materialized.
Huo Chao was constantly busy—balancing classes, game development, business meetings, and, of course, nurturing his relationship with Shu Jia Er. He was so occupied that he barely had time for basic things, like a glass of water, often wishing he could stretch each minute to two.
Girls in his class were initially thrilled to be his classmates, each one dressing up and hoping to catch his eye. After all, Huo Chao was not only the son of a wealthy family but also the top scorer in Beijing’s college entrance exams, with the added appeal of good looks.
Yet, their efforts were in vain. They rarely caught even a glimpse of him. Huo Chao was elusive—sometimes absent even from key classes, and his professors seemed to ignore his irregular attendance.
Even when he did attend, he would sit quietly in the back and would rarely interact with others. People were vaguely aware he had started a company, but no one really knew the details.
After three months of school, many girls in the class had stopped trying to engage with Huo Chao. What was the point of trying to flirt with someone they hardly ever saw? His looks lost their appeal when there was no opportunity to connect. Besides, everyone knew he was already taken—he was with someone else.
As time flew by, Christmas Eve arrived on a Thursday, and Shu Jia Er was still hard at work studying in the classroom that night. Now in her final year of high school, she was determined to study diligently every day, driven by her goal to be recommended for admission to Q University rather than relying solely on the entrance exam.
After the evening self-study session, Shu Jia Er gathered her exercise books and test papers, then left the classroom with Ning Meng, both of them carrying their schoolbags. A few classmates lingered in their seats, reluctant to head back to the dormitory, but Shu Jia Er and Ning Meng were among the first to leave.
As they stepped outside, Shu Jia Er was surprised to see that it’s snowing lightly. Though the weather forecast had predicted snow, witnessing the delicate flakes falling from the sky took her breath away. Ning Meng stretched out her hand excitedly, tilting her head back to catch some snowflakes in her palm. “This is the first snow of the year!” she exclaimed.
Shu Jia Er smiled at the sight, recalling the saying that if you were with someone you liked on the first snowfall, your relationship would last forever. She couldn’t help but think of Huo Chao. What was he busy with right now? Did he even know it was snowing?
As the snow continued to fall, a thin layer began to cover the ground, adding a romantic ambiance to the campus at night. The temperature dropped further, and a gust of cold wind made Shu Jia Er shiver. She blew warm air into her palms, trying to stave off the chill.
Just as she was about to tell Ning Meng they should head home quickly, she suddenly felt a familiar cold embrace wrap around her.
A minty scent filled her senses.
“Huo Chao?”
The low, playful voice that followed was unmistakable. “Little princess, Merry Christmas Eve.”
He is here.
Overwhelmed with joy, Shu Jia Er buried her face into Huo Chao’s chest and replied cheerfully, “Brother, Merry Christmas Eve!”
As the snow continued to fall around them, the young couple embraced tightly, lost in each other’s warmth amid the pure white snowfall, inseparable in that magical moment.
End
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