Rewind to a few hours earlier,

...

Night had fallen, and snow was falling heavily outside.

In the still of the night, all was quiet except for the soft sound of snowflakes falling to the ground.

Inside the house, the warm fire in the fireplace flickered.

The whole room was warm and soft, with a yellowish hue.

Chu Wuyang and Yang Jin sat around the fireplace.

The teapot on the table was bubbling away, releasing a fragrant aroma of tea.

The faint smell of cooking fire inside the house made people feel warm and cozy.

"Brother Jinchu, didn't you resign from your job at the school?"

"Whose project design drawings are these?"

"Is it a very important, large project? Why would it require your personal design?"

Chu Wuyang picked up several design sketches scattered on the table and asked curiously,

Yang Jinchu stared intently at the tablet, her slender fingers lightly swiping across the screen.

The screen displays an architectural design drawing.

Upon hearing this, he slightly raised his head, a gentle smile appearing on his lips as he explained,

"It's not a big project; it's something I wanted to do myself, so I had to do it myself."

Chu Wuyang nodded thoughtfully.

She picked up the hot water and brewed a cup of tea for Yang Jinchu.

Yang Jinchu accepted it with a gentle expression.

"I heard you're already working. Let's see how your studies are going. Can you guess what kind of buildings these prototype models resemble?"

Chu Wuyang picked up a sketch with great interest and examined it carefully.

In the glow of the fire,

Although the sketch only has a few strokes, the structure and space are already there.

She tilted her head and pondered for a moment, then said with certainty:

"The library's bookshelves and reading areas are very clearly defined."

She looked at Yang Jinchu, her eyes full of expectation.

Yang Jinchu's lips curled up slightly, revealing a smile of approval.

However, no direct result was given.

He gently swirled the teacup in his hand.

The steam rises gently.

His usually cold and aloof features were blurred, and he gained a touch of his former gentleness.

"That's right, now take a look at this."

He turned his tablet over to show her, his voice carrying a hint of persuasion.

Chu Wuyang put down the manuscript in her hand and craned her neck to look at the more detailed model on the tablet in his hand.

He muttered to himself as he analyzed:

"The floor plan shows so many small rooms, plus a yard and an activity area..."

"Could this small room be a dormitory, or a school?"

"But it doesn't seem like it either. The rich and varied lifestyle and activities here suggest they've been living here for a long time,"

"Could it be an orphanage?"

The smile in Yang Jinchu's eyes deepened.

He gently set down his teacup, took the tablet computer, his eyes full of doting affection.

"You clever little devil, you guessed right!"

Chu Wuyang looked at him with a happy expression.

"Why are you interested in doing this?"

"Design and invest in the construction themselves?"

Yang Jin paused, looked out at the swirling snowflakes, and said softly:

"Yes, wouldn't it be a wonderful thing to design a warm orphanage, to give homeless children a safe haven, and to let them grow up in love and warmth?"

"Wasn't your father and uncle's original intention in founding KOALA Park to give every child a happy childhood?"

"I just wanted to do my part, even if it's insignificant, but at least it can bring them some warmth."

Chu Wuyang looked at him, her eyes filled with admiration and recognition.

"How can it be insignificant? You've already done a great job by doing so."

After saying that, the matter of KOALA being "tainted" that Jing Min had mentioned flashed through her mind again.

My heart sank.

However, she naturally wouldn't mention this matter to Yang Jinchu.

Jingmin told her to trust him, although she knew she couldn't completely rely on others for everything.

However, given his vast asset portfolio, KOALA is merely a drop in the ocean, and he has no reason to seize it.

Moreover, now that she has started working, she will inevitably be involved in the company's core affairs sooner or later.

The truth will eventually come to light.

Yang Jinchu was organizing the manuscript when he saw her lost in thought and smiled.

What are you thinking about?

What do you think? Feel free to share any suggestions or ideas you may have.

...

Their heads were very close together, their shadows cast by the firelight.

They overlapped intimately...

——

At that moment, the door was pushed open.

A chilly wind, carrying rain and snow, crept in.

Flames leaped,

The air was filled with a warm fragrance, a stark contrast to the cold outside.

What are you doing?

The newcomer's voice was low and hoarse, yet chillingly cold.

Both of them looked up at the person who had come from behind the sound.

Jing Min was covered in snow, his dark trench coat soaked and clinging to his body.

Unmelted ice shards remained on her shoulders, and water dripped from her temples, sliding down her pale cheeks and seeping into her collar.

His eyes were bloodshot.

Exhaustion and chill intertwined, and I felt as if half of myself had been swallowed by the night.

Only those dark eyes remained fixed on the two people in front of the fire.

Chu Wuyang stood up a beat late, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"You, what brings you here?"

She reached for her phone and realized she'd left it in her bedroom; she'd forgotten to text him.

"Sorry, I forgot..."

Jing Min scoffed at her unnecessary actions.

He slowly walked into the house, flicking the remaining snow water off his overcoat. His tone was unhurried, yet carried a hint of gritted teeth:

"I thought you were delayed and got into trouble, but I didn't expect you to be so captivated by the warmth... lingering there!"

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!