The parents from both families paused for a moment upon hearing this, then burst into laughter:
“These two kids are thinking far ahead, already considering the wedding? It can be held either domestically or overseas—you young people decide. Then you can go on a honeymoon later…”
Xie Wenzong nodded: “Wherever you like, Momo. Let Qichen take you there when the time comes.”
Wait, how did the conversation suddenly shift to a honeymoon?!
Tan Mo’s face turned as red as if it would bleed. She glared at the man’s faint smirk, feeling furious.
Does this guy have to act like a dog?!
She was too embarrassed to speak, but fortunately, Xie Qichen changed the topic at the right moment, no longer teasing her: “Dad, I was just joking earlier. Tan Mo is still in university. There’s no rush for the wedding. We can wait until after she graduates.”
“That does make sense…”
Tan Mo thought to herself that there was no need for a wedding after two years of marriage anyway.
She thought Xie Qichen was just trying to ease the tension. Xie Wenzong turned to her and smiled warmly at Tan Mo’s parents: “Actually, I really like Momo. She’s always been such a well-behaved and thoughtful girl. I heard she’s now majoring in computer science at F University?”
“Yes, and she really enjoys it.”
“It’s quite rare for a girl to study science. You’ve raised her well.”
Tan Mo’s father chuckled: “Not really. It’s mostly because Momo is smart and diligent.”
Xie Wenzong continued: “Momom, when you marry Qichen, if you ever feel wronged, come tell me. Uncle will always support you.”
Tan Mo nodded with a flushed face. Seizing the moment while the elders continued chatting, she quietly asked Xie Qichen: “You said your dad was strict, but I find him quite amiable.”
Leaning back in his chair and sipping tea, the man raised his eyebrow leisurely: “Because he’s taking your side, so he seems amiable to you?”
“Why?” she replied with feigned arrogance. “What Uncle said made sense. Even though we’re in a business marriage, if you mistreat me, just wait and see.”
A flicker of amusement passed through his eyes. He placed the tea he had brewed in front of her, leaned sideways to look at her, and his voice brushed past her ear:
“Mm, tell me, what exactly counts as mistreatment?”
Tan Mo’s heart quivered slightly at his deep voice.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she quickly picked up the tea and brought it to her lips: “Anyway, I want to review the prenuptial agreement again.”
Xie Qichen’s eyes crinkled slightly at the corners. “Alright, you decide.”
—
That evening, dinner was filled with a warm and harmonious atmosphere. Both families discussed future cooperation between their companies and reached a consensus.
As they exited the private dining room, Tan Mo and her mother were walking at the back. Her mother sighed: “Time flies so fast. I still remember when you were little, always following me around. Now you’re getting married.”
Tan Mo smiled faintly, her hand held tightly by her mother’s: “Momo, I know that at home, Wanyan often gives you a hard time and makes you feel wronged. Now that you’re entering an arranged marriage, I’m worried you might not be happy in the future…”
A slight bitterness rose in Tan Mo’s throat, but she forced a smile:
“Mom, it’s okay. Actually, Xie Qichen treats me quite well.”
She didn’t expect to gain love from this marriage, but she knew that Xie Qichen would at least provide for her materially. Perhaps they could maintain a respectful and peaceful relationship.
Her mother nodded: “Xie Qichen does seem to care for you, and he’s mature and steady. I feel a bit more reassured. Remember, if you ever feel mistreated in the future, come tell me. Mom will always protect you.”
From the moment she decided to bring Tan Mo home, she had resolved to love her as her own flesh and blood.
Tan Mo smiled and nodded.
After leaving Qianshan Shui, Xie Qichen drove her back to her apartment. When they arrived downstairs, he said: “Tomorrow I have to go to the Aochuang branch office in another city for an inspection, and I’ll be away for a week. If you need anything during these days, feel free to call me.”
Tan Mo nodded casually: “Okay, I’m fine. You go ahead and focus on work.”
After getting out of the car and going upstairs, she entered her apartment. Just then, Ji Shu called. She had just finished work and was heading home.
They chatted casually, and Tan Mo told her about the arranged marriage. To her surprise, Ji Shu’s reaction was calm:
“I kind of guessed it already. I know you too well.”
“…What do you mean?”
Tan Mo heard her meaningful laugh and immediately understood, rolling her eyes: “Don’t make up things. My decision to marry him has nothing to do with personal feelings. I don’t like him anymore. We’re purely entering a business partnership.”
“Hey, I didn’t even say anything yet. Are you feeling guilty?”
“Who feels guilty!”
Ji Shu grinned: “Actually, marrying Xie Qichen isn’t bad. Just the fact that so many women desire him means you’ve already hit the jackpot.”
She lowered her voice: “And while you’re at it during this arranged marriage, remember to do the important things.”
Tan Mo walked to the water dispenser to pour herself a glass, puzzled: “What things?”
Ji Shu smirked: “Obviously, you should sleep with this austere CEO.”
Tan Mo spat out the water she was drinking, her face turning bright red:
“Ji Shu! Can’t you think of something normal!”
“Why not? After you get married, you two might naturally end up doing it. You should test whether Xie Qichen is really as cold and emotionless as people say. I don’t believe a thirty-year-old man wouldn’t have any desire.”
Ji Shu, more experienced in this area than the naive Tan Mo, grinned mischievously: “Maybe Xie Qichen’s austere demeanor is just an act. Deep down, he might be extremely passionate. What if you can’t handle it later?”
As Ji Shu spoke, images involuntarily surfaced in Tan Mo’s mind.
That night when she was eighteen, he had pinned her against the door after getting drunk. He held her slim waist, leaned down, and kissed her. His breath was scorching hot, filled with intense desire from a man, threatening to consume her completely.
Tan Mo’s face burned with heat: “You’re sick. I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to edit some videos.”
She hung up the phone, drank several gulps of water to cool down her blushing face, and then walked to her bedroom.
—
December arrived, and the temperature in Licheng approached freezing.
The cold was so intense it felt like the entire world had been locked inside an ice chamber.
After Xie Qichen left on his business trip, Tan Mo didn’t reach out to him again. The two temporarily lost contact. Her life continued as usual, without much change.
A week passed in a flash.
On another Tuesday evening, the school anniversary planning team held a meeting to report the preliminary progress of the upcoming semester’s celebration plans.
The flight paths for the drones had already been fully designed. The next step was practical field testing. Other programs were also steadily progressing in an organized manner amidst the busyness.
After the meeting, Tan Mo walked out with several classmates from the planning team, chatting casually. Someone suggested that since the weather was so cold, they should go to a hot spring together the next day.
“I know the hot spring on Tong Mountain is really good. It’s not far from our school. Since none of us have classes tomorrow, let’s go together?!”
“Sure, it’s the perfect weather for a hot spring.”
Someone asked if Tan Mo would join. She politely declined: “No thanks. You guys go ahead. I have an early class on Thursday.”
“What about Ye Yao?”
Ye Yao glanced at Tan Mo: “Nah, I need to code tomorrow. I won’t go either.”
Others mentioned having classes on Thursday morning. After discussing, they decided to go early the next morning and return to campus in the evening, without staying overnight—just a small outing.
“Tan Senior, why don’t you come? It’s been a while since we all went out together…”
Under everyone’s enthusiastic invitation, Tan Mo thought it had indeed been a long time since she had soaked in a hot spring, so she agreed. Everyone smiled and turned to the handsome guy beside her: “Then will Ye Yao come too?”
Ye Yao smiled lightly: “Alright, I’ll come then.”
“Awwww…”
Though addressing everyone, Ye Yao’s gaze was fixed on Tan Mo: “Then we’ll meet at the school gate tomorrow? I’ll prepare breakfast for everyone.”
“Senior, you’re so thoughtful!”
“We’re so lucky, hahaha…”
Tan Mo didn’t react much and continued walking forward.
Seeing this, a male classmate patted Ye Yao’s shoulder and raised an eyebrow: “Bro, looks like the goddess isn’t that easy to chase.”
A faint smile bloomed in Ye Yao’s eyes, but he didn’t respond.
It’s just a matter of time.
…
That night, after returning to her dormitory, Tan Mo packed her clothes in advance.
The next morning, she found the temperature even lower, as if nature was preparing for their hot spring outing.
At nine in the morning, a group of eight gathered at the school gate and set off toward Tong Mountain.
After getting on the bus, Ye Yao naturally sat next to Tan Mo. The driver reminded everyone to fasten their seatbelts. As Tan Mo was fumbling with hers, Ye Yao’s voice came from the side:
“Need help? Let me do it for you.”
Ye Yao leaned slightly toward her, but Tan Mo’s hands reacted faster than her mind, blocking the proximity between them: “No thanks, I can do it myself.”
“…Alright.”
Tan Mo’s mind involuntarily recalled scenes from TV dramas where the male lead helps the female lead fasten her seatbelt, making her heart race. But why did she feel so calm, as if her heart were a dead chicken?
Half an hour later, the car reached the top of Tong Mountain.
After getting off, Tan Mo took a few scenic photos. A girl came up beside her, making a cute pose for the camera. Tan Mo smiled and pressed the shutter. Soon, a few more people joined in: “Come on, let’s take a group photo!”
After finishing the photos, Tan Mo randomly selected a few group pictures and posted them on her social media.
“Let’s go inside!”
Someone shouted from the front. Tan Mo put her phone away and followed them toward the hot spring resort.
Meanwhile, 560 kilometers away in Qishi City.
In the top-floor conference room of the Aochuang Group branch, the meeting had paused for a break.
This was the final meeting of this inspection trip.
Once the meeting concluded, Xie Qichen could return to Licheng.
Below, the man sitting in the center of the room wore an exquisitely tailored suit, his white dress shirt buttons fastened neatly. At this moment, his long eyelashes lowered slightly as he casually flipped through his phone.
A red notification dot appeared in the social media section, showing Tan Mo’s profile picture.
Xie Qichen clicked it open and saw Tan Mo had posted a group photo with the caption:
[Soaking in the hot springs at Tong Mountain, let’s go~]
He opened the photo. His eyes first landed on the girl in a beige coat and short skirt, smiling brightly.
A softness unconsciously surfaced in his gaze.
Then his eyes shifted slightly, and he noticed the person standing beside her—
The boy was smiling too.
Leaning slightly toward Tan Mo.
And secretly giving a peace sign behind her head.
The face matched exactly with the one he had seen in the elevator, the one who had stood protectively in front of Tan Mo.
Xie Qichen’s expression darkened slightly.
His gaze lingered on the image, his eyes devoid of warmth.
After a while, the branch manager sitting beside him cautiously asked: “President Xie, shall we continue the meeting?”
Xie Qichen placed his phone on the table, crossed his legs, his expression unreadable:
“Proceed.”
—
In the frozen world, the hot spring became the warmest comfort zone.
Tan Mo shared a pool with two other girls. Amid the swirling mist on the mountaintop, soaking in the hot water, sipping rose-infused wine, chatting and laughing—it was the most pleasant experience.
After soaking, everyone wandered around the hot spring resort and spent the afternoon indoors drinking tea and playing cards.
Tan Mo didn’t feel like playing cards, so she curled up in a corner scrolling through her phone. After a while, Ye Yao approached with a warm drink in hand, smiling at her:
“Tan Mo, have some ginger tea. It’s too cold today—I’m worried you might catch a cold.”
Tan Mo accepted it: “Thanks.”
“Tan Mo, New Year’s Eve is coming up soon. Do you have any plans for that night? Want to spend it together? Just us a few people, going out to play.”
Ye Yao stared at her intently.
Tan Mo replied casually: “Not sure yet. I’ll see how things go.”
“Alright, I’ll reach out to you again then.”
Ye Yao joined the others to play cards. A few girls sat beside Tan Mo, giggling: “Senior Tan, Ye Yao is really nice to you. You two would make such a cute couple.”
Tan Mo’s expression remained neutral: “Don’t say such things. We’re just ordinary friends.”
“Hey, but he definitely doesn’t see you that way…”
Tan Mo sighed inwardly and chose to ignore it.
In the evening, when everyone felt it was about time to leave, they decided to head back.
As they walked out of the hot spring resort, someone in front shouted excitedly: “Wow, it’s snowing!!”
Tan Mo walked to the entrance and saw snowflakes drifting down from the orange-red sky.
The entire world was blanketed in snow and ice, adding a layer of romantic beauty.
This was Licheng’s first snowfall of the season.
Someone exclaimed: “I heard that if you’re with the person you love during the first snowfall, you’ll be forever happy and never part!”
“You’re so cheesy, hahaha!”
“Get out of here, hahaha…”
Tan Mo stretched out her hand, and soft white snowflakes landed on her fingertips. Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at the breathtaking view.
Amidst the snowfall, everyone walked toward the mountain’s parking lot, discussing plans to eat hotpot in the city later. As Tan Mo walked, suddenly a bouquet of flowers appeared in front of her:
“Tan Mo, this is for you. Happy first snow.”
She froze, looking up to see Ye Yao standing before her, holding the bouquet, his eyebrows raised.
“Woah, Senior Ye, where did you pull these flowers from? You planned this all along!”
Everyone around them started teasing them. Tan Mo was too embarrassed to react. Ye Yao smiled at her:
“Tan Mo, would you accept these flowers from me?”
Before she could answer, a deep, calm male voice suddenly came from behind:
“Tan Mo—”
She turned her head abruptly.
About ten meters ahead, under a plane tree, the familiar Rolls-Royce came into view.
In front of the car stood a tall, upright figure.
Standing amidst the snowfall.
Dressed in a long coat, one hand in the pocket of his suit, a silver watch glinting from the sleeve, a few snowflakes lightly dusting his shoulders.
Xie Qichen’s gaze fell on her, deep and calm, as if holding frost.
Their eyes met in midair.
She froze instantly.
Everyone turned to look, realizing the man was none other than the CEO of Aochuang Group, and they were all stunned.
Ye Yao still tried to hand the flowers to Tan Mo, but she didn’t take them. She turned to the group:
“Sorry, I have something to attend to. You guys go ahead and enjoy the hotpot.”
Ye Yao’s eyebrows furrowed tightly as he gripped the bouquet.
Tan Mo turned and walked toward Xie Qichen. When she reached him, she looked up in slight surprise: “When did you come back…”
Dressed in a yellow coat, her hair in a bun, her face half-hidden in a white scarf, her skin as smooth as jade, her eyes sparkling like crystal-clear springs, each blink sending ripples through them.
Xie Qichen looked down at her, took off his coat, and his voice carried a chill like falling snow:
“I landed half an hour ago.”
Wrapped in the coat filled with his sandalwood scent, her heart fluttered slightly:
“How did you know I was at Tong Mountain…”
He lifted his gaze to her, his thin lips uttering a few words: “You looked so happy in your social media photos. Forgot already?”
Tan Mo’s cheeks flushed slightly.
“Do you have any other plans now?”
“No.”
Xie Qichen glanced at his watch: “Good, I have time today. There’s still forty minutes left. That should be enough.”
“What do you mean…”
“You said you wanted to marry me, didn’t you?”
The man lifted his eyes toward Ye Yao, who had been staring at Tan Mo the entire time. Then he stepped slightly sideways, positioning himself in front of Tan Mo, blocking her view.
The streetlights behind them flickered on. Snowflakes fell like willow fluff, glowing golden under the lights, swirling through the sky.
He leaned in, trapping her within his arms, gazing at her intently. His snow-dusted brows carried a tender, lingering look, mixed with a long-suppressed but hard-to-control sense of possession:
“Then let’s go to the civil affairs bureau and complete the final step—”
“Get married.”
“Get the marriage certificate.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage