Chapter 395: An Siyao: Snow

After Xia Yu and his group arrived at An Siyao’s house, Yu Ningmeng also returned to the villa.

Finding Xia Yu, Yu Ningmeng first mentioned Zh Mei.

“It’s arranged. The farthest community from here,” she said, looking at Xia Yu.

“As long as there’s no problem with safety,” Xia Yu had no objection. He leaned on the windowsill, thinking about the song he was going to compose for Liu Manman.

“Don’t you want to know where exactly it is?” Yu Ningmeng tested Xia Yu.

Xia Yu changed the subject: “When are we going to start with the ALS treatment?”

It was already January 23rd, and the 24th would be Chinese New Year’s Eve.

“It definitely has to be after the New Year. I previously spoke with Xu Youxiang, and she asked me to find you,” Yu Ningmeng observed Xia Yu, puzzled about how he managed to captivate both An Siyao and Xu Youxiang, who still sought him out for such matters.

What she didn’t know was that Xia Yu was the one actually conducting the pharmaceutical research, while Xu Youxiang was merely a front.

This façade had to continue, and Xia Yu could do nothing about it. Xu Youxiang suddenly displaying medical skills could be passed off as plausible, but if Xia Yu also suddenly exhibited such skills, it would seem suspicious.

“Then after the New Year it is. What about the lab?” Xia Yu asked further.

“Seeing you like this, I suggest you use our Yu family’s lab. The researchers can also be from our family, but if needed, you can use outsiders too. This drug research is quite important, so as long as you don’t ask for key positions, anything can be discussed,” Yu Ningmeng said.

Xia Yu nodded. It seemed the person demanding the drug was quite formidable.

That was none of his concern; he just wanted a quiet life.

“No need for others. Just transfer the researchers we worked with last time,” Xia Yu said. He was the one doing the real work on the drug, while others were just assistants—competent enough for the tasks at hand.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll share with you when the drug is ready… No, forget that. Once the drug is developed, you can move on to life research,” Yu Ningmeng said with a mysterious smile.

Xia Yu felt that his progress with An Siyao wouldn’t be that fast, but there was no need to explain this to Yu Ningmeng.

After a brief discussion, Xia Yu returned to his room and called Xu Youxiang, finalizing with her the arrangement to use her body for the research.

“When will you be available after the New Year?” Xu Youxiang asked Xia Yu.

Thinking for a moment, Xia Yu replied, “Probably free in two or three days after the New Year.”

Tomorrow, after meeting An Tiansheng, he would return to the countryside to spend the New Year with his grandparents.

“I’m at home now. Come see me on the fifth day of the New Year,” she paused, then added, “I’ll show you something good.”

Before Xia Yu could ask what it was, Xu Youxiang hung up.

Putting down his phone, Xia Yu picked up the guzheng nearby and continued thinking about the song for Liu Manman.

Time passed slowly, and outside, the sky gradually darkened.

A maid knocked on Xia Yu’s door, signaling that dinner was ready.

Putting aside the half-written song, Xia Yu opened the door.

The corridor was a bit colder than the room, so the maid helped him put on a coat.

Walking down the corridor, he looked out the window, where snowflakes danced gently in the night.

From Haiming City to Yaoguang City, it was like moving entirely from summer to winter.

Fortunately, the villa had air conditioning.

Arriving at the dining room, Xia Yu saw Kong Hanyue with Liu Manman, both excitedly watching the snow outside.

“Shall we go out and play in the snow after dinner?” Kong Hanyue looked at Xia Yu.

“As long as you’re happy,” Xia Yu neither agreed nor disagreed.

“Then it’s decided! I’m going to build a huge snowman!” Liu Manman declared boldly.

Xia Yu looked at the other two by the window—An Siyao and You Xue—more composed than Kong Hanyue and Liu Manman, simply watching the snow.

However, at the dinner table, An Siyao and You Xue ate significantly faster than usual, letting Xia Yu know that they also wanted to play in the snow.

Seeing An Siyao speed up, Hu Lianglu also picked up her pace, and the remaining two, Kong Hanyue and Liu Manman, naturally followed suit.

To avoid being left alone, Xia Yu could only keep up with their speed.

“I’m going first!” Kong Hanyue finished her meal first, quickly returning to her room to change into thick clothing.

You Xue and the others followed closely behind.

Xia Yu also returned to his room and changed into a down jacket.

When he came downstairs, the girls, including An Siyao, were already in the courtyard.

Although usually very slow at changing clothes, they were faster than him this time.

Stepping outside, the cold air hit him immediately, making Xia Yu pause.

He mentally prepared himself before stepping out of the warm house.

It was colder than he had imagined, mainly because he had just returned from the summer heat of Haiming City, and his body hadn’t adjusted yet.

He touched his ears; compared to his well-covered body, his ears had no protection at all.

As he was thinking whether to go back to find a hat, An Siyao came to him and covered his ears with her gloved hands.

Xia Yu temporarily abandoned the idea of getting a hat. Taking advantage of this posture, he hugged An Siyao.

Facing him, An Siyao raised her hands to cover his ears, her face naturally lifting to look into Xia Yu’s eyes.

Xia Yu looked at An Siyao’s face, so close.

The courtyard was dimly lit, the girl’s face half-hidden in the darkness. She wore a snow-white hat with a pair of bunny ears; she looked like a rabbit in the snowy night.

She didn’t have a rabbit’s red eyes, but she did have two red lips.

Lowering his head, Xia Yu kissed those red lips.

An Siyao’s expression shifted from surprise to daze, her face blushing.

Resting his forehead against hers, Xia Yu looked at An Siyao’s face, feeling very pleased.

After asking An Siyao to lower her hands, Xia Yu returned to the villa to get a pair of ear muffs to cover his ears.

Although Xia Yu wished to remain in that posture with An Siyao a little longer, holding her arms up for so long would make An Siyao’s arms sore.

Coming back out, Xia Yu joined An Siyao, automatically ignoring Hu Lianglu’s hostile gaze, and looked toward Kong Hanyue, Liu Manman, and You Xue.

The three were rolling snowballs. The snow had started falling in the evening and, although heavy, had not accumulated much yet. They rolled snowballs across half the courtyard before managing to create a large one.

They needed to roll a small snowball next to complete the basic structure of the snowman, but the three were already getting bored.

After Kong Hanyue stuffed snow into You Xue’s clothes, the three started playing around, and the large snowball they had rolled was lifted and thrown at each other, breaking into several pieces.

Watching the three girls chase and play, Xia Yu turned to An Siyao: “Don’t you want to join them?”

An Siyao shook her head: “I’ve never played before.”

“What does that matter? It’s not difficult,” Xia Yu said. He picked up a handful of snow from the ground, imitating Kong Hanyue, and was about to stuff it into An Siyao’s clothes.