Chapter 131

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

The next day, before dawn had broken, the pre-dawn darkness still shrouded the earth, yet Yan Shuang'er had already risen quietly. Because she had fallen asleep earlier last night, she was now full of energy.

She quickly threw on a thick outer coat and walked to the window with light steps. She extended her slender fingers and carefully lifted a corner of the curtain, wanting to see what time it was outside.

However, when she fixed her gaze, the scene before her filled her with surprise and delight — the entire world seemed to have been covered by a layer of flawless white thick blanket, that dazzling white snow like a fairy tale world wrapped in silver and clad in white.

Yan Shuang'er rejoiced secretly in her heart: "This is great! Qianqian loves building snowmen the most, with such heavy snowfall, she'll definitely be able to build many snowmen of different shapes, extremely cute!" However, thinking that it was still early, so as not to disturb the soundly sleeping Qianqian, Yan Shuang'er decided not to wake her for now. So she turned and left the window, walked slowly to the table and sat down, picked up the water cup on the table and took a light sip of warm water.

After resting a bit, Yan Shuang'er felt bored, her gaze swept casually, and she actually discovered an exquisitely bound book placed on the small couch in the outer room. Curiosity getting the better of her, she walked over leisurely and took that book gently into her hands.

Opening the pages, the wonderful content in the book instantly captured her attention, causing her to become completely immersed, unable to extricate herself. Time quietly slipped away in this tranquil atmosphere; unknowingly, the window had already shown the pale light of dawn, the sky gradually brightening.

Realizing the hour was no longer early, Yan Shuang'er closed the book, stood up and walked toward the inner room. Just as she stepped through the door, she saw Qianqian lying quietly on the bed in deep sleep, that sweet little face like a ripe apple, pitifully lovely.

Recalling the scene of the two falling asleep together last night, Yan Shuang'er couldn't help but feel doubt: Why had she woken up so early, while Qianqian was still sleeping so soundly? Carrying this curiosity and doting affection, she walked softly to the bedside, preparing to wake her.

Yan Shuang'er gently extended her hand, carefully pinching Qianqian's pink, chubby cheeks. The sensation at her fingertips was soft and yielding, carrying a hint of warmth, as if touching a ball of dough fresh from the oven; this wonderful feel made Yan Shuang'er unable to resist gently kneading them again.

She bent down slightly, leaned close to Qianqian's ear, lowered her voice and called softly: "Qianqian, Qianqian, time to get up!" However, the only response was a muffled grunt: "Mm... still early, I want to sleep a bit more..." Having said that, Qianqian turned over, pulled the quilt up higher, preparing to continue her date with the Duke of Zhou.

Seeing this, the corner of Yan Shuang'er's mouth curled into a crafty smile, and she deliberately raised her voice: "Oh my, Qianqian, if you don't get up, the snow outside will melt, and then we won't be able to build snowmen!"

"Let it melt then," Qianqian said and continued sleeping. Yan Shuang'er silently counted in her heart 1, 2, 3 — just as she reached three, Qianqian suddenly opened her eyes wide and asked loudly: "What? Snowman? Is it snowing?" While asking, she swiftly sat up from the bed, her movements so fast,

Qianqian was like an agile little deer, "whoosh" she rushed to the window. She stared with those big watery eyes, gazing infatuatedly at that silver-clad wonderful world outside the window. For a moment, the whole world seemed to be veiled by a layer of flawless white gauze, beautiful enough to take one's breath away.

Qianqian couldn't help but exclaim: "Wow! So beautiful!" Immediately after, she shouted at the top of her lungs: "Mantou— Qianqian is getting up!" And at this moment, Mantou? She had actually prepared everything long ago, just waiting for Qianqian's summons.

Unhurriedly, gracefully and composedly, she carried the washbasin into the room, then skillfully helped Qianqian change into a set of brand new beautiful clothes, carefully wrapped a snow-white soft fluffy scarf around her, and put on an equally cute and warm fluffy hat.

Fully equipped, Qianqian was excited to the extreme, simply unable to suppress her inner excitement. At this moment, she was planning in her heart to go wake Yan Jie later, then drag him out to build snowmen together! Hearing Qianqian's plan, Mantou very thoughtfully hurried to prepare a few more pairs of thick gloves.

Finally, when Qianqian had tidied up properly and happily opened the door, she discovered that the snow outside had stopped falling at some unknown time. However, even so, a breeze still blew gently, mischievously lifting some fine snowflakes, drifting them down onto Qianqian's red cheeks, bringing a touch of icy coolness.

But this little interlude did not affect Qianqian's interest in the slightest; she flew toward the courtyard where Yan Jie was like a happy little bird, running joyfully. Yan Shuang'er, who had just finished tidying the room, saw this scene, smiled helplessly and shook her head, then quickened her pace and followed closely behind Qianqian.

Because she ran too fast, Qianqian arrived first at the entrance to Yan Jie's courtyard. The servants guarding there saw this and hurriedly called out: "Oh my, Little Princess, run slower, don't accidentally fall!" Qianqian politely turned her head and replied: "I know! Thank you, Uncle!"

Having said that, she rushed into the courtyard without looking back. Once inside the house, she saw Yan Jie sitting by the bed, wearing clothes with sleepy eyes, looking like he hadn't fully woken up. He looked up and saw Qianqian walk in, and couldn't help asking curiously: "Elder Sister, so early, why have you come?"

Qianqian said excitedly: "Quick quick quick, tidy up, it's snowing outside! Let's go out and build snowmen together!"

Hearing this, Yan Jie immediately perked up and hurriedly agreed: "Alright! I'll be ready right away!" Saying this, he quickly sped up his dressing. The maidservant beside him, hearing these words, unconsciously sped up her movements helping Yan Jie dress as well.

Before long, the maidservant had put a thick scarf and a fluffy hat on Yan Jie. At this moment, the two of them looked exactly like two cute little bears.

Just as the two were happily preparing to go out, Mantou and Yan Shuang'er happened to walk over. Mantou took out two pairs of brand new gloves from her bosom, carefully put them on Qianqian and Yan Jie, muttering: "Mustn't let your little hands freeze!" Yan Shuang'er stood to the side, smiling as she watched the two children before her, her eyes full of relief and benevolent love.

After putting on the gloves, the two impatiently each rolled a small snowball. Qianqian gently kneaded the snowball in her hand while turning her lively big eyes, suddenly as if thinking of some fun idea, said excitedly to Yan Jie: "Little Brother, how about we go wake Second Brother? Let him come play in the snow with us too!"

Yan Jie heard this, clapped his hands and cheered: "Good good! Then let's go quick!" So the sister and brother held hands and walked joyfully toward Yan Si's courtyard.

At this moment, the courtyard was deathly quiet, not a sound, because Yan Si did not often return home to stay. On the rare occasions he came back, Yan Si would always take the chance to catch up on sleep, sleeping in comfortably. Therefore, the servants in the manor understood tacitly, and when doing things would deliberately lower their voices, trying as much as possible to avoid making any noise to disturb this master.

This morning, sunlight passed through the window and fell on the ground, forming patches of mottled light and shadow. Qianqian and Yan Jie walked into the courtyard on tiptoe, like two cautious kittens. They each rolled a small exquisite snowball, cupped in their palms; the snowballs sparkled with crystalline brilliance under the winter warm sun.

Pushing the door open quietly, the two stood on tiptoe, advancing slowly like ghosts. The room was silent, only Yan Si's steady and even breathing could be heard. Step by step they approached the inner room, finally seeing Yan Si asleep on the bed. Yan Si's two arms were casually exposed outside, looking as if he wasn't even wearing an upper garment.

Reaching the bedside, because the bed was placed tight against the wall, only one side was accessible to stand. So Qianqian and Yan Jie quickly divided tasks: one stood at the head of the bed, the other at the foot. Qianqian gave Yan Jie a look, signaling him to hold steady and wait for her command. Yan Jie nodded in tacit understanding, eyes fixed on Qianqian, while extending his fingers to count: one... two... when he reached three, the two moved simultaneously like arrows released from a bow.