Chapter 15: Snow Scenery

Chapter 15: Snow Scenery

Heavy snow silently decorated the world for several days.

When this pure and light drifting snow gradually fades away like a curtain, against the backdrop of a few sparse plum branches in the desolate corner of the wall, it actually has a bit of the artistic conception of "white snow and red plum blossoms in the glass world".

In such an elegant and beautiful scenery, the "Fuguang Literary Study Society" established and directly managed by the School of Literature also received good news.

The application for planning an outing activity submitted by Bai Yiqing, the president of the study group, was approved not long ago.

This means that everyone can go out for a free study activity and create literature in the "glass world" of red plum blossoms covered with snow.

President Bai Yiqing stood on the podium of the literature activity classroom and spoke to the members below:

"Ancient scholars had countless elegant hobbies. Now in the depths of winter, such pursuits as composing poems while appreciating the snow, visiting friends on snowy nights, boiling snow to make tea, and searching for plum blossoms in the snow are all fascinating.

"I am a humble person, and my knowledge is limited, but if I could imagine what the book says, 'Hydrates thickly, and the sky, clouds, mountains, and water are all white. On the lake, the only shadows are the trace of the long causeway, the dot of the pavilion in the middle of the lake, the tiny boat, and the two or three people in it,' it would be a pity if I could not experience such a beautiful winter landscape.

"So we can also go to the Lake Center Pavilion to watch the snow. Although the scene may be different, the artistic conception should be the same."

When he said this, President Bai Yiqing paused and thought for a moment, not knowing what he had thought of. After a moment, he said:

"At that time, Mr. Zhang Dai wrote, 'There is no sound of people or birds in the lake,' but today it is completely different for us, and everyone can give full play to their talents.

"As the saying goes, 'music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, and tea,' brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone are essential for this event. As for other talents or hobbies, those with these skills are welcome to bring their own props."

"There should be at least some ancient elements in the clothing, so that we can gain a better experience of the ancient elegance and more creative inspiration. What do you think?"

Such a good suggestion naturally attracted everyone in the literature club.

President Bai Yiqing said again:

“Of course, considering that our club members come from different colleges and the arrangements are more complicated, we will also draw up two lists.

"One list is those who can participate and may bring corresponding items; the other list is those who want to participate but may be delayed by other things.

"This will help us prepare the necessary tools and conduct subsequent statistical confirmation. Now, please register."

Chi Shu was very interested in this activity, and the artistic conception described in it made her yearn for it.

She turned around and saw Feng Yichen looking down, thinking about something, so she asked softly:

"Are you free that day? Do you want to sign up together?"

Feng Yichen was still immersed in sorting out his time plan. Upon hearing this, he raised his eyelids and looked at Chi Shu seriously and said, "It's not certain yet..." Before he finished speaking, he caught a flash of disappointment in Chi Shu's eyes.

He then added, "But if I can go that day, I will definitely tell you."

So, they both registered their names for the event. The only difference was that Chi Shu's name was on the first list, while Feng Yichen's name was temporarily on the second list.

The "Snow Scenery Field Trip" activity of the Study Club was held as scheduled, but Feng Yichen really didn't have time to go.

Everyone brought their own equipment, props and work materials, wore carefully matched clothes and accessories, and excitedly set off for their destination on the school bus.

Under the instructions of President Bai Yiqing, everyone in the Study Society set up their own activities.

Or you can enjoy a cup of tea with a long-lasting fragrance while brewing and sipping tea in the snowy scenery.

Or you can drink a glass of sake to wash away the worldly dust and sip it gently in the snowy scene to warm your heart.

Or it could be a wisp of smoke and a clear spiritual platform, where one burns incense and meditates in the snowy scene.

Or it could be a flower event with memories, picking plum blossoms and arranging flowers in the snowy scene.

Or you can listen to the lingering sound of a mysterious song while playing the piano in the snowy scene.

Or maybe one move decides the outcome, and they play chess in the snow.

Or you can pick up a flower with one finger and appreciate its beauty, or sit quietly in the snow and compose poetry.

Or it could be a painting that follows the rhythm, with brushstrokes splashing across the snowy landscape.

…

Everyone is immersed in their own little world, which is quite interesting.

And on the other side at this time.

After Feng Yichen finished his work at the academy, he couldn't help but think of the person who was enjoying the scenery in the snow.

I thought she must be extremely relaxed and at ease at this moment. Without all those trivial matters disturbing her mind, she must be happy.

Those literary and elegant things were indeed something that fascinated her.

Therefore, when Feng Yichen arrived at the activity site outside the Lake Center Pavilion with this concern in his heart, the first thing that caught his eye was this picture -

In the light snow and cold wind, Chi Shu was wearing a sky-blue long jacket with a closed collar, a double-breasted front and straight sleeves, and a moon-white pleated skirt underneath.

Her simply tied bun was adorned with a white magnolia hairpin inlaid with pearls. A few strands of smooth, dark hair tumbled down her shoulders as the wind blew and she moved, only then did she notice the delicate, elegant velvet flowers pinned in her hair, adding a touch of softness and gentleness to her otherwise cool look.

However, the ears that were not wearing earrings were slightly red in the cold wind.

At the moment, she was sitting at the long table under the pavilion, writing quietly, without stopping for a moment.

It was not until a string sound broke through the tranquil ink painting that she stopped writing and looked up. Then the calm smile between her eyebrows suddenly spread and looked towards him from afar.

In an instant, it turned into the most moving clouds rolling and stretching in his eyes in this world covered in silver.

Feng Yichen did not go over to disturb this quiet and elegant picture at this time.

Because he decided to come at the last minute, his clothing probably did not match the elegance of an ancient scholar.

So after reporting to President Bai Yiqing, he went out alone to explore the beautiful scenery in the snow within a safe range.

However, what Feng Yichen didn't know was—

Chi Shu had just put down his pen and looked up when he saw him standing quietly in the white snow in a dark fur-collared coat. He was just "standing like a delicate orchid and a jade tree, smiling like the bright moon in one's arms", but after a while, his figure gradually disappeared in the snowy scene.

For a moment, it actually had a sense of "just like a stunning guest on earth, ink-stained among the stars, clouds and water".

As it was getting dark, everyone in the study group prepared to return.

Feng Yichen also happened to come back and meet them. He walked into the club to help everyone move heavy objects, and then went straight to Chi Shu to help her organize the scrolls.

Chi Shu looked at Feng Yichen, smiled sweetly and said, "You're here."

The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously.

Feng Yichen paused for a moment, as if he had been waiting for these words for a long time.

And so, the piercing string music just now seemed to be written on his heart along with her final stroke of the pen. The tip of his heart seemed to tremble slightly at the delicate brushstroke, making him feel an unprecedented tingling sensation.

When their eyes met, a silent warmth intertwined, as if melting away the chill of the entire winter.

Feng Yichen's smile deepened, and he nodded and smiled gently at Chi Shu.

The snow had stopped by then.

Although the road slope was relatively gentle, it was still somewhat slippery. Everyone carefully carried their belongings across the narrow mountain road to catch the school bus.

The back of Chi Shu's skirt almost dragged on the ground, but since it was downhill and it was inconvenient to hold up the skirt, she walked more cautiously and slowly. Fortunately, she was at the end of the group and would not delay others.

Feng Yichen walked behind Chi Shu and looked at her, but it seemed as if he was protecting her.

After a while, he stretched out his other hand that was not holding the scroll and gently grasped Chi Shu's wrist steadily, forcing Chi Shu to stop his slightly unsteady steps and look back at him.

He just stared at the person in front of him silently, as if he was thinking about something. After a long while, he opened his mouth and asked softly and gently: "Chi Shu, have you been waiting for me just now?"

Then he saw Chi Shu's eyes evading as if he suddenly realized something.

This unexpected surprise made Feng Yichen feel lighthearted, and he smiled happily: "Then let's go together, in every sense of the word, okay?"

Unexpectedly, just this one sentence suddenly made Chi Shu slip.

Before setting off today, Chi Shu had anticipated that the ground would be slippery and difficult to walk on after the snow. She even specially picked out a pair of ancient-style leather boots that were non-slip in the snow. However, perhaps they were not special outdoor hiking shoes after all, so in such an emergency moment, they did not play their original role.

This sudden situation frightened her so much that she involuntarily squeezed Feng Yichen's hand tightly.

The two were forced to close the distance between them in an instant, but because of the deviation in their positions and the sudden increase in pressure, they had nowhere to gain support and slid uncontrollably down a short section of the mountain path covered with thin snow.

At this critical moment, Feng Yichen was able to free up one hand, and then suddenly grasped Chi Shu's arm with his knuckles. But at the same time, along with the sound of the wind, a gentle comforting voice fell into Chi Shu's ears: "Don't be afraid, it's okay... I'm here."

Chi Shu had no idea whether this was to appease the reaction to the previous sentence or to appease the current situation.

The two of them stopped before continuing forward.

Perhaps because the situation just now happened too suddenly, Feng Yichen's hand now held Chi Shu's, and their standing positions changed from one in front and one behind to walking side by side.

He hadn't noticed it when he came here, but now as he was walking on the same road back, Chi Shu inexplicably felt that this road was so short yet so long.

It was so short that she was reluctant to let go.

It was so long that she suddenly realized that she was not ready yet.

So after returning to school, everything seemed to calm down again, as if everything that had just happened was just a dream.

If it weren't for the long scroll with its perfect balance of light and dark colors that truly appeared before her, proclaiming that everything had truly happened, she would have truly doubted her life. Although she couldn't help but feel confused at this moment, it was simply because she didn't know how to make the right choice.