CHAPTER 69

Ye Chengxing heard Li Jia's response and smiled again.

However, she hadn't calculated the specific timing of the New Year yet. She had just roughly estimated the date earlier.

The New Year was still a different day for her. Although it might not hold any special significance for Li Jia in this world, Ye Chengxing wanted to make this day special in her own way.

She didn't know when her body would completely weaken, but she was certain that she wouldn't make it to the next spring, let alone special days like Li Jia's birthday.

Although she had prepared birthday gifts and blessings for Li Jia for the next few years due to the misunderstanding that led to her departure, at this moment, she sincerely felt that the misunderstanding had served some purpose. At least, after she truly left, she could leave something behind.

The things she had dealt with because she thought she would leave had unexpectedly become preparations for what would come after.

Ye Chengxing looked at the two snowmen they had built together.

She suddenly realized that she had underestimated Li Jia's boredom. When she was with Li Jia, she rarely immersed herself in other things to the point of neglecting Li Jia's feelings. But...

On this snowy day and with the upcoming New Year, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia, thinking about many past events and wondering if the people she cared about were still well.

But life always presents difficult choices, and it's best to follow one's heart.

Ye Chengxing suppressed these emotions within herself, retrieved her hand, and although Li Jia said it wasn't boring, she thought Li Jia might want to go back but felt hesitant because of her. So Ye Chengxing took the initiative to offer a suggestion, "How about going back to watch a movie?"

Li Jia met her gaze, paused for a moment, and then looked at the two snowmen.

Actually, it wasn't quite accurate to say there were two snowmen. It should be said that there was only one snowman, and the other was just two oddly shaped snow mounds forcefully stuck together.

Especially when placed together, the contrast became more apparent. One was round with a nose and eyes, looking cute and charming, while the other couldn't even be recognized as a snowman.

"Building snowmen is fun, but... I didn't make them look very good."

As if confirming her words, right after she finished speaking, the head of the snowman she built fell off on its own.

Li Jia: "..."

Ye Chengxing couldn't help but curl up her lips, and naturally took over the conversation, "Xiaoli's snowman has a lot of spirit, it's mischievous."

She put her gloves back on and beckoned Li Jia to come over and squat down.

"Snow is formed little by little like this, see, it becomes round," she squatted beside Li Jia, a faint smile in her eyes, and she began to shape the snow together with her hand in hand, "And if there's a connection between the head and the body, it won't necessarily fall off, but there's a high probability it will."

"Moreover, if there's a connection, the boundary between the head and the body will be more distinct. Otherwise, it's easy to see a snowman with the head and body connected together."

She spoke warmly, and soon, two snowballs were formed.

Li Jia followed her instructions and fixed the head of the snowman to its body.

Ye Chengxing immediately praised, "The shape is so well done, Xiaoli did a great job."

After praising her, she picked up the small carrot that was placed aside and handed it to Li Jia, smiling, "Now, let's give the little snowman a nose."

Li Jia took the carrot and attached it carefully, as if afraid of poking the snowman too hard and breaking it.

Ye Chengxing watched her, a quiet smile playing on her lips.

At moments like this, Li Jia seemed to possess a few traces of true youthful vitality.

As Ye Chengxing watched, just as she was about to hand over the button, she noticed that the spot where she had previously placed the button was now empty.

She lowered her gaze and searched for it.

But she couldn't find it.

She didn't know where it had fallen.

Ye Chengxing paused for a moment and said, "Li Jia, let's go back and get a new button. The one we had here is missing."

Li Jia had already finished attaching the carrot nose and responded to her words.

In fact, seeing Li Jia so engrossed, if it weren't for the chain connecting them, Ye Chengxing would have gone back to get it herself.

But obviously, she couldn't go back alone because of the delicate golden chain that bound them, ensuring they wouldn't be too far apart from each other.

They arrived at the villa.

Li Jia followed beside her and suddenly spoke, "Wouldn't it look better with black beads for the eyes?"

Ye Chengxing smiled at her suggestion and said, "Then let's go get those."

They took a few black beads, but in the end, Li Jia decided to use the button.

Not only the button, but they also brought scarves and hats.

"Just... I feel like using these will make it look even better."

As Li Jia spoke, her gaze unconsciously averted, and her tone was unusually uneasy.

Ye Chengxing curved her lips, rarely witnessing a glimpse of Li Jia's childlike nature. Seeing all this, she could almost imagine the thought process Li Jia went through when choosing these items. So she enthusiastically added, "I also feel that using these will make it look very nice. Let's hurry back and decorate those two snowmen."

They returned to the backyard.

It had to be said that with the "equipment," it was truly different. The two snowmen instantly became even cuter after being decorated.

Their round and plump snow-white bodies wore fluffy hats on their heads and red scarves around their necks. In addition to serving as eyes, the obsidian beads were also embedded on their bodies as buttons.

The two snowmen stood close to each other, almost shoulder to shoulder.

Ye Chengxing suddenly felt a strong sense of reluctance, a vivid realization that this scene would never happen again in the future.

She looked at Li Jia and suggested, "Xiaoli, let's take a picture together with these two snowmen. What do you think?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ye Chengxing herself was taken aback. She suddenly realized that she and Li Jia had never taken a proper photo together.

Upon hearing Ye Chengxing's suggestion, Li Jia's relaxed and cheerful expression faltered for a moment, and a faint evasive look appeared on her face. "Taking a photo... let's do it later." In any case, she would let her go home after a while. Before she returned home, they could take some formal photos. If they took a photo now, Li Jia would be reminded of the fact that Ye Chengxing would leave after a while.

She was afraid that she wouldn't be able to restrain herself from stopping her.

So... it's better to take the photos some time later.

After all, there was still time.

Ye Chengxing wasn't particularly surprised by Li Jia's response. Ever since the day their relationship had completely changed, ever since the moment Li Jia didn't want her to leave, she hadn't seen her phone. Everything here was prepared perfectly, and Ye Chengxing wasn't too attached to her phone. She had taken care of everything that needed to be done, so she let Li Jia take the lead.

Compared to herself, Ye Chengxing felt that Li Jia must have many things to attend to, but during this period, Li Jia had been fully with her, looking as if she had made up her mind to live here with her.

But if more time passed...

Would she still have that chance?

Ye Chengxing looked at Li Jia's expression, and in fact, she wanted to suggest using a simple camera if Li Jia was worried about her getting her phone. However, she noticed that Li Jia's reaction wasn't right. Her face even turned a bit pale.

She didn't know what Li Jia was thinking, but if it was causing her such difficulty, she wouldn't insist. "It's okay, it's up to you. We'll take the photo when you feel like it."

Ye Chengxing looked at the two snowmen again, feeling a bit regretful in her heart.

But despite the regret, she didn't let that feeling show too much. She casually mentioned, as if it was just a passing thought, "Then let's go back for now. It's quite cold outside. How about making two cups of hot milk tea..."

As she spoke, she prepared to take Li Jia's hand, but as soon as she moved, she felt dizzy and her body swayed involuntarily.

Li Jia was right beside her and instantly reached out to catch her, preventing her from falling.

Ye Chengxing heard Li Jia seemingly saying something.

She took a moment to recover, her ears buzzing slightly. She tried to respond, but she still couldn't hear clearly what Li Jia was saying. However, she didn't need to guess. She knew for sure that Li Jia was worried about her.

Ye Chengxing broke free from the sudden discomfort she had just experienced. She wanted to pat Li Jia to assure her that she was fine, but her body didn't cooperate, and her arms couldn't lift properly. She had to turn her head and lightly kissed Li Jia's face.

"I'm fine," Ye Chengxing slowed down her pace, making her tone sound relaxed. "I guess it's just the delayed effect of squatting for too long earlier."

She met Li Jia's shining eyes and chuckled, blinking her eyes. "Actually, it was just a little joke to see your reaction."

In just a few words, the previous sensation completely dissipated. Ye Chengxing was ready to get up from Li Jia's embrace.

Li Jia held her tighter, paused for a moment, and softly responded.

Ye Chengxing felt the sweet scent of white peaches radiating from her.

Although it was a known fact that she was gradually weakening, the weight of death involved was much heavier than she had imagined at this moment.Their time together was already limited, and if this issue cast a shadow over them... it would be better to keep things light, enjoy the happiness of this final period, and address it again when she truly couldn't get up anymore.

With this thought in mind, Ye Chengxing couldn't help but rub against Li Jia and teased, "I know you like holding me, but let's hug in our room. It's too cold out here."

Li Jia, upon hearing her words, indeed let go. "Then let's go to the room and hug."

When Ye Chengxing said that, she only wanted to go back to the room first. Unexpectedly, as soon as she put away her coat, gloves, and scarf, they were immediately engulfed in each other's arms upon entering the room, and they fell onto the bed together.

She propped herself up and called out to her in a prolonged tone, "Xiaoli."

Li Jia lifted her eyes from Ye Chengxing's embrace, the Omega's hands still around her waist. When she heard her calling, she brushed her hair against Ye Chengxing's skin and said, "...I want a kiss."

The sensation of her hair brushing against her skin felt slightly ticklish.

Upon hearing that, Ye Chengxing tilted her head and lightly kissed Li Jia's forehead, then gradually moved down, until their soft lips met.

The surroundings became quiet, and there seemed to be only the sound of their kiss and the faint rustling of fabric rubbing.

After the kiss, Ye Chengxing met Li Jia's gaze, leaned in, and kissed her eyes.

Then she heard Li Jia suddenly whisper, "Sister, please don't make such jokes anymore."

Ye Chengxing realized that Li Jia was referring to the incident in the backyard just now.

She smiled and ruffled Li Jia's head. "Okay, I promise you, I won't make jokes like that anymore."

After all, it wasn't really a joke to begin with. She just didn't want the atmosphere at that time to become suppressed because of it.

But mentioning it again, Ye Chengxing paused for two seconds before speaking, "But if the day comes when I die, you..."

She hesitated, unsure of how to continue.

However, she had an inexplicable intuition in her heart, a feeling that if she were to truly die, Li Jia would follow her in the next second.

The hand that held onto her waist tightened slightly after the words fell into silence.

After a long pause, Ye Chengxing heard Li Jia's somewhat hoarse voice answering, "I can't live without you, I will die with you."

Although she had a faint sense of this, hearing Li Jia actually express her thoughts in this way, Ye Chengxing couldn't help but sigh with complicated emotions.

The Alpha's voice was soft, almost like a whisper.

"It sounds a bit cruel to say this, but my hope all along has been for you to live well..."

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