Ji Yu still wasn't sure if agreeing to this date had been the right choice. She didn't know if Qin Xiao's plan—"reject his confession with the same resolve and effort as if you were going on a lover's date"—would really let things end with dignity, the way she hoped.
At least for now, in the eyes of passersby, they looked no different from any other young couple spending Christmas Eve together beneath the silver snowfall.
Their hands were linked—not tightly, just loosely held—but even that made Qin Xiao, trailing behind, arch her brows.
This little girl actually took the initiative to hold hands? Is this really the attitude of someone about to reject a confession?
But she didn't have time to puzzle over Ji Yu's intentions, because an unexpected voice broke in.
"You… know her?"
It was Yu Yuan. His dark eyes carried the reflection of snow drifting past Qin Xiao's hair.
Snapping out of her daze, Qin Xiao met his stare, refusing to back down. She tilted her chin and smiled. "So, you're the stand-in tonight? The 'supporting cast' for our little gentleman?"
Yu Yuan's face darkened. His gaze swept over Qin Xiao, then turned away, as if to leave the "couple" ahead to themselves. But Qin Xiao tugged his sleeve, keeping pace without the slightest care for the confusion flickering in his eyes.
"You… stand-in? You mean…"
"Mhm?"
"… I see. I even offended her friend for his sake."
Inside the restaurant, Mo Yachen pulled out a chair with practiced grace, seating Ji Yu like a gentleman. A sidelong glance at the two inconvenient tagalongs revealed a flicker of irritation, but mostly helplessness.
Ji Yu had never been treated this way before. From seating her to ordering, Mo Yachen was attentive to every detail. If she looked thirsty, he called a waiter for sweetened water; if she looked peckish, he fetched her a plate of macarons.
Gentle, meticulous—yet their conversation never strayed far from student council duties, music, or painting.
When instruments came up, Yu Yuan occasionally inserted a comment, earning himself another eye-roll from Mo Yachen.
The table fell quiet.
From the grand chandelier above, light cascaded through ornate rails, falling across the patterned tablecloth. The air hummed with brisk blues music, out of place amid the Christmas décor. Waiters moved quickly and efficiently, but Ji Yu's eyes kept darting after them.
When… is he going to confess?
She ate with careful grace, her gaze flickering restlessly.
Noticing, Qin Xiao exchanged a look with Yu Yuan. They'd agreed not to interfere tonight. So, with a stretch and a grin, Qin Xiao excused herself.
"Ji Yu, Yachen, I'll head to the restroom. You two enjoy."
"Qin-jie! You're leaving already?!" Ji Yu grabbed her hand in alarm, eyes wide.
Her "shield" was slipping away—of course she panicked. Mo Yachen, however, merely tapped a finger on the table, the faintest smile tugging his lips, like someone waiting for the right moment.
Across the table, Qin Xiao leaned close to whisper, her smile mischievous.
"Silly girl, didn't you already say it yourself? You can't expect me to follow you two all night. He'll pick the right moment. Somewhere quiet."
Ji Yu's lips pressed tight. She knew Qin Xiao was right, but her chest still fluttered in unease.
Yu Yuan, meanwhile, busied himself shoveling food, out of place amid the elegant setting, while Mo Yachen barely spared him a glance.
It was strange. Despite Ji Yu and Mo Yachen's comfortable small talk, the other two hadn't exchanged a single word since sitting down.
Looking around, Ji Yu realized that at every other table, couples sat close, leaning together, whispering. Only at theirs did the supposed "couple" sit politely opposite each other. Respectful distance—because they weren't lovers. Not yet.
When they finally left the restaurant, neon lights cast fractured colors across Mo Yachen's face, painting him with shifting hues. He walked beside Ji Yu, leading her gradually away from the bustle, toward a quieter path.
Snow whispered beneath their boots. The street stretched ahead, a pure white canvas awaiting the footprints of two people.
But Ji Yu frowned slightly. The lamps along the path glared too brightly, breaking the mood. If this were a real date, she thought, this wouldn't be the place. It lacked the atmosphere.
And then—almost as if Heaven had heard her complaint—the lights along the street dimmed, one by one.
A blackout?
Mo Yachen didn't falter. He held her hand and guided her toward the park. Ji Yu glanced back in alarm—only to realize the other two had vanished.
When had Qin Xiao and Yu Yuan slipped away?
Her mind spun, but one truth pressed against her chest.
He's going to confess.
Her face flushed scarlet, ears burning. She couldn't even hear her own breathing anymore—only the pounding of her heart, louder and louder.
Thump. Thump. Thump…
The lamps along the path winked out completely, until only a faint glow remained at the park's edge.
Crunch. Crunch.
Hand in hand, they stepped into the quiet woods. Overhead, clouds shifted violently, and snow fell in thick, feathery drifts.
Tonight—was it Mo Yachen's lucky night?
The moon broke through at last, climbing into the sky as snow swirled like a stage set for romance.
He didn't know if his feelings would be accepted. But under this snowfall, with the world transformed into a dreamlike stage, he drew a deep breath, turned to face her, and for the first time, let his gaze linger—tender and unguarded—on the girl who seemed carved from jade.