He got up from the bed and walked behind Xiaoquan Aonai, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Dubian?" Xiaoquan Aonai tried to catch his descending hand, but her legs were weak, so she had to hold onto the window sill.

"Shh—" Dubian Che blew his breath into her ear.

"It's so quiet, if you make a sound, others will hear." His voice was slightly hoarse from trying to keep it low.

Or perhaps, it was because Xiaoquan Aonai's body was gradually warming and moistening, making his voice hoarse.

Xiaoquan Aonai slightly parted her legs, her shoulders rising and falling.

...

Dubian Che's movements gradually slowed down.

"It's enough, they're going to wake up." Xiaoquan Aonai said between gasps.

"Miss Aonai, when we get back, can you wear the school uniform?"

"No way!" Xiaoquan Aonai put on her underwear and said firmly.

It seems this pleasure is reserved for a bright future.

Xiaoquan Aonai put on her yukata, tidied up the bedding and the room for Dubian Che, and carefully left.

Dubian Che took a shower, changed his clothes, and went out for a morning run.

That morning, the five of them enjoyed a lavish breakfast at the inn.

"Aonai, you're so slow." Akiko said to the last-arriving Xiaoquan Aonai in the dining room.

"Sorry." Xiaoquan Aonai said with a smile.

The simple syllables were like lively and bright music, full of vigor.

Her movement to sit next to Dubian Che was like a refreshing morning breeze blowing in from the window.

"Dubian, orange juice or milk?" her voice was full of energy.

"Orange juice."

Xiaoquan Aonai poured orange juice into the glass deftly and neatly.

"What's up?" Akiko curiously observed her, feeling like she was particularly happy and glowing.

"Hmm?" Xiaoquan Aonai asked confusedly, then said to Mayi Asuka, "Mayi, what about you?"

"Milk."

"Okay."

"Does snow make you this happy?" Akiko asked, puzzled.

"It has nothing to do with snow." Miyazaki Mieko poured herself some milk.

"Then why?" Akiko turned her head to look at Miyazaki Mieko.

"You'll know once you have a boyfriend."

"What do you mean? Are you looking down on me? I have lots of people chasing me, okay? Besides, if I didn't spend all my time eating, living, and sleeping with you, even during work, I wouldn't be single now, I...."

"Milk or orange juice?" Miyazaki Mieko completely ignored what Akiko was saying and asked directly.

"Milk!" Akiko replied.

Miyazaki Mieko poured milk for Akiko.

After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast, before heading back to Tokyo, the five of them pulled their luggage and went to a place called "Romantic Hall" with umbrellas.

Inside, it was like a large hangar used to park airplanes.

Under the bright ceiling lights, each table was piled high with ornaments, music boxes of various colors, glass products, and so on, dazzling to the eye.

The girls were dazzled, and Dubian Che also bought two items—a green frog on a white toilet and a pink pig carrying a green frog.

After leaving the "Romantic Hall," the five headed to the airport, leaving Hokkaido in Hakodate's first snow after three days.

"Back to work again." As soon as the plane took off, Akiko immediately lost her spirit.

"Let's come back in winter." Xiaoquan Aonai said with a gentle smile.

"I want to see the red-faced monkeys bathing in hot springs, go skiing, and visit the northernmost part of Hokkaido again..."

Amid Akiko's plans for the next trip, everyone fell asleep.

◇

Entering November, Tokyo's daily high temperature was still 20 degrees, no need to wear sweaters and hats like in Hakodate.

However, in terms of air quality, it was somewhat inferior compared to the wide and sparsely populated Hokkaido.

These are trivial matters; nothing would matter, even if Godzilla emerged from Tokyo Bay, as Dubian Che was on his way to Shinbashi.

After giving the address to the taxi driver, he remembered to confirm if Jiutiao Meijie was in Shinbashi.

What if she was with Jiutiao Zhenji, or Kiyono Youko, or perhaps with Kiyono Lin?

"Meiji, I'm back." He called.

"Yeah." Jiutiao Meijie's voice was lazy.

"Just woke up? It's almost afternoon."

"Got it, ah—" A yawn.

"I'm coming to Shinbashi now."

"If you have time to call, you should come back earlier."

"I'm already in the car."

At the villa, Dubian Che got out of the car and hurriedly went inside, for the first time not responding to the housekeepers' greetings.

In the courtyard, [roses] were still blooming, [queens] were chirping on the banana tree.

Walking into the living room, Jiutiao Meijie was leisurely descending the stairs from the second floor.

"Meiji!" Dubian Che ran up to her and hugged her tightly.

"What are you doing?" Jiutiao Meijie turned her face away in disdain.

"Missed you."

"It's only been two days apart."

"Missed you."

"Are you a kid who can't be away from mom?"

"Missed you, missed you, missed you."

After a pause, Jiutiao Meijie asked mockingly, "How much did you miss me?"

"When I see something fun, I want you to see it too; when I eat something delicious, I want you to taste it too. I imagine your reaction, if you would like it as much as I do, if you would be as happy."

"Pathetic."

"Yeah." Dubian Che held Jiutiao Meijie's slender body tightly, inhaling her scent, "Right now, I want to share everything with you, I can't be without you anymore."

Jiutiao Meijie's face showed disdain, and she said scornfully:

"Idiot..."

She wrapped her arms around Dubian Che's waist.

"...I miss you too."

Even though it was only two days apart, it felt like ages had passed.

There were several times when she wanted to just fly over to find him, or call him, regardless of anyone else's emotions, commanding him to come back immediately.

Dubian Che sought Jiutiao Meijie's lips.

"Do you want to do it here?" Jiutiao Meijie's nostalgically white fingers blocked his lips.