"Tell me the truth! Is this child yours or not?" The homeroom teacher's glare was unusually harsh.
"No, she's not. I found her in the snow," Zhang Xiaofan shook his head firmly.
"I saw him that day, too. He really did pick her up from the snow," the pretty girl confirmed, nodding along.
"In that case, I'll call the orphanage right now and have them take the baby away." The teacher reached for her phone.
"No!"
"Stop!"
Xiaofan grabbed the teacher's arm, while the girl snatched at her phone.
"What's going on with you two? You're both still in high school—you're not even legally allowed to adopt a child! If she's not your baby, the orphanage is the only option." The teacher's anger rose as she looked at them.
"She is mine! She's my daughter! You can't hand her over!" the girl blurted out, her face flushed red as she bit her lip.
Xiaofan froze, staring at her in shock. Did she just admit that? Just like that?
"You gave birth to her? When? I never saw you pregnant," the teacher narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"I… I got pregnant last winter. With all the heavy coats, no one noticed. I… gave birth during winter break." Her voice grew smaller with each word.
"Then who's the father?" the teacher pressed.
"It's… him!" She pointed at Xiaofan.
"Me?" Xiaofan was dumbstruck. He had never even held a girl's hand before—how did he suddenly become a father?
"You?" The teacher looked at him with open disbelief.
"N–" Xiaofan began to deny it, but the girl's foot kicked his shin.
"…Fine. It's me," he muttered. Better this than letting the orphanage take her away.
"Is that true?" the teacher pressed again.
"Yes," Xiaofan nodded, this time with conviction. If the girl had already taken the blame, what did he, a man, have to fear?
"Very well. I'll contact your parents and arrange a DNA test. If the baby isn't yours, she goes to the orphanage. If she is, then under school regulations, both of you could face expulsion." The teacher's tone was ice-cold.
"That's not fair…"
Both Xiaofan and the girl protested in unison.
"You may leave now." The teacher dismissed them with a stony face.
The girl's name was Luo Ye, the wealthy daughter of an influential family, and the school beauty of Yunfeng High. Her dancing was famous; when she had performed a self-choreographed traditional piece, Peach Blossoms Falling, during her freshman year, she instantly became the goddess of every boy in the school.
Xiaofan, on the other hand, was an orphan. He lived alone, supporting himself with tuition and living expenses earned by writing online game novels in his spare time. In more than a year of sharing a class, he and Luo Ye had barely exchanged a few words—two people from completely different worlds.
Until one snowy afternoon changed everything.
Xiaofan was trudging home through the heavy snow when he heard the faint cry of a baby. Following the sound, he discovered an infant girl wrapped in a thin blanket. She was freezing, nearly lifeless, abandoned by cruel parents. The only thing left beside her was a dead Xiaomi phone without a SIM card.
At the same time, Luo Ye happened upon the scene, also drawn by the cries. Shocked by the sight of the baby, she rushed over. It was bitterly cold—the infant would not survive long. Since Xiaofan's home was nearby, he decided to take the baby there to warm her.
Luo Ye bought formula and bottles, and together the two clumsily fed the child, changed her, and bought her clothes and diapers. By the time they were done, it was nearly ten o'clock at night.
The next day was Sunday. They agreed to take the baby to the orphanage, but in the morning Luo Ye saw a news report about the harsh, unhappy lives of orphans. Terrified, she called Xiaofan and begged him not to hand the baby over until they could discuss it.
That day, they cared for the baby together while searching the internet. The reports about orphanages were all grim, making them hesitate. With no name or information, and the phone refusing to power on, Luo Ye finally decided to name her Luo Xue—"Xue," meaning snow, for where she was found.
After spending an entire day with her, Luo Ye found herself unable to let go. Since Xiaofan lived alone, she convinced him to temporarily keep the baby, promising to pay for all her expenses.
Days turned into weeks. The two high schoolers juggled schoolwork while secretly raising baby Xue. To their surprise, the infant seemed to sleep through the day and only wake up when they were home, making their task a little easier.
But as anyone who has cared for a baby knows—after even a short while, attachment grows deep. The more time they spent with her, the harder it became to imagine sending her away.
For three months, they guarded their secret. Not a single classmate knew. Everything went smoothly—until one day.
A rich, handsome boy who was infatuated with Luo Ye grew jealous. A rival girl, considering Luo Ye her enemy, secretly followed her and stumbled across her visits to Xiaofan's home. Seeing an opportunity, she took photos and anonymously posted them to the school forum.
Rumors spread like wildfire: the school beauty and a nobody had secretly had a child. Overnight, Xiaofan, who was nearly invisible before, became infamous.
And when the news reached the faculty, the teacher summoned them to question their relationship with the child. To protect Xue from being sent away, Luo Ye claimed the baby was hers. Xiaofan, as a man, had no choice but to take responsibility too.
At just seventeen, Xiaofan had suddenly become a father.