"What's inside this?"
Xu Musen's smile was indulgent and proud.
An Nuannuan looked at the button in the middle of the box, and she slowly stretched out her finger to press it down.
A crisp mechanical sound rang out, followed by a flow of gentle music, similar to that of a music box.
Lights lined up inside the box, colorful and pretty. This little box was actually a mini fridge.
In the center of the box, a delicate little snowman stood quietly in place, resembling a little white rabbit waiting for its owner.
The moment she saw the snowman, An Nuannuan recognized it as the one Xu Musen had shown her in a photo a few days earlier.
She looked up at Xu Musen, truly surprised by the gift she had not expected.
"You better not think my gift is too modest, after all, I made it with my own hands."
Xu Musen said with a smile as he tapped her nose gently.
This gift, if given to some other girls, might have ended up being shown off on some Red Book-like platform.
"Who gets it, ladies? For the New Year, my lousy boyfriend got me just a broken snowman..."
But at this moment, An Nuannuan's eyes were like the melting snow, shining with a crystalline luster that seemed to melt others as well.
She looked at the delicate and adorable little snowman, and at Xu Musen's tender gaze.
In her heart, this was not just any gift, but a token of his intent to meticulously preserve the fragile snowman she whimsically wished to play with and send it across miles into her hands.
An Nuannuan was not articulate; she couldn't speak sweet words like other girls. Instead, she hugged Xu Musen tightly.
"Thank you... I'm so happy, this is the best gift I've received this year."
Her voice seemed to tremble slightly as Xu Musen quietly stroked her head.
For a young man, to have a handmade gift, regardless of its monetary value, cherished like a treasure by the person he likes, brought an indescribable sense of achievement and reward!
An Nuannuan carefully touched the snowman, not daring to really take it out. Her fingertips felt cold, but her heart was filled with warmth.
This was her snowman; she looked at it, then closed the door of the fridge again.
"Why don't you take it out to look?"
"I'm afraid it'll melt..."
"If it melts, I'll make you another, a big one!"
Xu Musen gestured to indicate a snowman as big as her.
An Nuannuan treasured the little box: "I want this one, and I want the big one too."
As she said this, her other hand gently tugged at the corner of Xu Musen's clothes, her voice soft yet sweet: "And I want you too."
The tone of her remark reminded Xu Musen of Xiao Sickly Cutie.
One felt inescapable, while the other felt like there was no desire to escape.
Xu Musen smiled and pinched her cheek: "You're quite greedy, but I promise."
An Nuannuan threw herself into his arms, stood on her tiptoes, and the distance between them—once only reachable when she was in a wheelchair and he had to bend down—could finally be bridged with just a tip-toe's reach.
The happiness of tiptoeing.
The two kissed gently.
It was still a shallow taste, but An Nuannuan's face turned a crimson that was quite unmistakable. She moved her legs slightly and looked down.
Xu Musen too felt a flush on his face. Having been apart for so long, it was normal for a young man to have some small reactions.
"It's late, we should get some rest. Otherwise, if I don't leave your room, I guess the whole family won't be able to sleep."
Xu Musen gently patted her head.
After all, at Nuannuan's house, with the old man outside the room drunk, if he knew Xu Musen had taken advantage of his granddaughter,
he probably would have come at him with Guan Blade in hand, ready to chop Xu Dog with some warm wine.
An Nuannuan was aware; she nodded but kept looking at Xu Musen. She pursed her lips, but in the end, said nothing.
Indeed, the old man was leaning against the staircase, ready to rush up at the slightest rustle of leaves.
An Shanhai was also sipping tea. Seeing Xu Musen come out, he smiled and gestured to him to come over.
Xu Musen descended the stairs and took a seat with a greeting.
"Xiao Sen, you're still staying in the room from last time; it's all prepared for you." Grandma said with a smile, implying that the room was essentially reserved for Xu Musen from now on.
"Okay, thank you, Grandma."
Xu Musen nodded, complying with the arrangements.
Xu Musen and An Shanhai drank tea together.
An Shanhai personally poured a cup of tea for his future son-in-law.
"It's a long way from Zheng City to here, are you tired?"
"Not really, an occasional long drive is not a bother."
"Uncle An, you are also in good health. To be in your condition at your age is not easy."
Xu Musen responded with a smile, knowing that flattery of his future father-in-law was still necessary.
"Ah, but I'm old, especially this leg of mine... Nuannuan's mother passed away early, and over the years, I feel I haven't done what a father should have, always feeling I've let Nuannuan down."
An Shanhai sighed; his leg had been broken in an earthquake years ago, or he wouldn't have had to watch Nuannuan's mother leave this world right before his eyes.
Listening, Xu Musen said softly, "You're much like my father. He injured his leg in a car accident as well and always feels like he's been a burden to me. But he has done his best, and no one is perfect in this world. I believe Nuannuan and Nannan feel the same."