Little Pink Starfish

The Couple Playing in the Snow

“Let’s wait for Jiang Zhuojun to return,” Gu Xinglang said, wrapping his arm around Yu Xiaoxiao’s shoulders. Standing upwind, Young Master Gu shielded Yu Xiaoxiao from the snow and wind.

Tian Xingzi coughed lightly behind his hand and said, “Allow this poor Taoist to say one more thing.”

Gu Xinglang and Yu Xiaoxiao both looked at the old Taoist.

Tian Xingzi said, “Prince Consort, since we’ve decided to go to Chiyang City to attend Li Xiaoyuan’s birthday banquet, we mustn’t delay any longer.” If they showed up after the birthday was already over, it would be a grave breach of etiquette.

Gu Xinglang nodded. “I understand.”

Tian Xingzi headed back into the cave—better to leave than risk going blind watching those two.

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Xiao Gu, what do you think of Jiang Zhuojun?”

Gu Xinglang replied, “He’s not a bad person.”

“Then that’s fine,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “As long as he’s not bad.”

Gu Xinglang pinched Yu Xiaoxiao’s cheek and said softly, “You rescued him and then thought to ask if he’s a bad person?”

Yu Xiaoxiao reached out and pinched Gu Xinglang’s cheek back. A teenager’s face wasn’t as soft as a child’s—firm and **.

Gu Xinglang grabbed her mischievous hand, pulled her into a hug, and whispered, “Next time you want to rescue someone, ask me first, okay?” As he spoke, he lowered his head and gently touched his nose to hers.

Yu Xiaoxiao didn’t even notice her Xiao Gu was trying to seduce her. Without thinking, she said, “Okay.”

Gu Xinglang lowered his head further and kissed her on the cheek and lips. “Do you want to bring Jiang Zhuojun back to Fengtian? If he’s loyal to His Majesty, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for us.”

Yu Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “No. How can a traitor be trusted? What if one day he betrays my dad?”

Only then did Gu Xinglang feel relieved. He hugged her tighter and kissed her lips before setting her down again.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at the height difference between her and Gu Xinglang and felt a bit down. When was her body going to grow properly? Look at Miss Zhao San—not much older than her, but so well developed! Big chest, big hips, got her period at twelve. She was thirteen and still had no sign at all.

Gu Xinglang, of course, had no idea his wife was having such thoughts. He reached out to catch some snow and said, “If it keeps snowing like this, we can only stay in the mountains for another three days.”

Yu Xiaoxiao bent down, grabbed a handful of snow, and said, “Mm, after three days the mountain roads will probably be completely sealed by the snow.”

Xiong Da and Xiong Er came tumbling out of the cave, rolling around in the snow like crazy.

Looking at these two bear cubs who apparently didn’t hibernate, Yu Xiaoxiao swallowed hard—they looked even fatter than before. More emergency rations.

“Zhuang,” Gu Xinglang turned back to call Little Zhuang to come catch their “sons.”

Yu Xiaoxiao squatted down and started throwing snowballs at Xiong Da and Xiong Er. She was strong, and her snowballs were practically like solid cannonballs, making the cubs cry out in pain.

Little Zhuang dashed out of the cave and scooped the two bear cubs into his arms, shooting a reproachful look at Yu Xiaoxiao. His princess really didn’t have any sympathy for small animals—none of that special softness women were supposed to have.

Yu Xiaoxiao, seeing that the bear cubs had been caught, stopped throwing. She looked out at the vast snowy landscape and said to Gu Xinglang, “Xiao Gu, do you think if I throw a snowball down there, it’ll roll into a giant snowball by the time it reaches the bottom?”

Gu Xinglang could tell she wanted to play in the snow, so he cooperated. “I don’t believe it.”

“Then I’ll prove it to you.” As she spoke, Yu Xiaoxiao rolled up a snowball and started pushing it around. After several laps, the tiny snowball grew to the height of a person.

Little Zhuang looked at the huge snowball, then at Gu Xinglang helping her roll it, and muttered, “So carefree.” They were about to clash with Yongsheng Temple again, and these two were still in the mood to play?

Yu Xiaoxiao looked down the mountain and asked, “Xiao Gu, where should I push the snowball?”

Choosing the route was key—no trees or bushes in the way, so the snowball could keep rolling and get as big as possible without falling apart.

Gu Xinglang looked down from the slope and pointed to a path heading slightly north. “Just push it down that mountain road.” In this weather, no one else would be climbing the mountain anyway—he wasn’t worried about hitting anyone.

Yu Xiaoxiao looked where he pointed and said, “Watch carefully.”

“I’m watching. Go ahead.”

Yu Xiaoxiao gave the giant snowball a mighty shove.

They were standing on a steep slope, and with her strength, the snowball—taller than she was—launched off like a cannonball.

Little Zhuang felt the ground tremble.

“Whoa,” Yu Xiaoxiao said. “Guess I overdid it.”

Gu Xinglang said, “It’s fine. No one else is on the mountain—it won’t hurt anyone.”

Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Let’s roll another one?”

Little Zhuang carried the bear cubs back into the cave—he couldn’t take it anymore.

Mount Taichang was high and densely forested, with only two mountain roads. At that moment, a messenger carrying an urgent report from the governor of Taichang was leading his horse slowly up the path. Feeling the ground rumble beneath him, he looked up—only to see a snowball the size of half a house thundering down at him.

The messenger dropped his reins and dove into the forest, scrambling to escape the snowball’s path.

One snowball rolled past, then another, and another…

The messenger tumbled down the mountain in panic. Looking at the snow-blocked road, he felt immensely grateful that he had just entered the mountain. If he’d been deeper in, he might’ve died. Seeing that his horse had followed him down safely, he decided to take the narrow trail instead.

Halfway up the mountain, Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Xiao Gu, it’s boring to keep rolling snowballs in the same direction.”

The doting Gu Xinglang immediately pointed out a new path. “Try that one.”

“Alrighty!” Yu Xiaoxiao shoved another giant snowball down in the new direction.

Xiao Wei stood at the cave entrance and asked Xiao Zhuang, “Is this really fun?”

The boss, picking his teeth with a bamboo skewer, said, “It’s called romance. You two bachelors wouldn’t understand.”

Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei rolled their eyes at him in unison.

Down below, the messenger had just taken a few steps on the narrow trail when another massive snowball came barreling down. He scrambled down the mountain again.

“What the hell?!” the messenger gasped, standing at the mountain base, stunned.