snow mark
The snow fell heavily all night, and by the next morning, the world was a blanket of white. Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, shining on the boundless white snow and reflecting a dazzling light. Anping Lane seemed to have been forgotten by time, quiet and still, with only the occasional dull thud of snow sliding off the eaves.
When Lin Zhiyi woke up, Lu Shixu had already gotten up. She walked to the window and looked at the old street outside, covered in snow and looking like a fairy tale world. She remembered the promise to "walk in the snow" last night and her heart was filled with anticipation.
Lu Shixu stood beside her, also gazing out the window. He looked much better than yesterday afternoon, his eyes clear and bright. After a good night's sleep without being disturbed, he seemed to have recovered from the exhaustion that had left him feeling down.
"The snow has stopped," he said softly, his tone devoid of much emotion, but Lin Zhiyi could sense that he was in good spirits.
"Shall we go for a walk?" She turned her head, her eyes sparkling. "Just for a little while."
Lu Shixu looked at her, then at the pure white expanse outside the window, and nodded: "Okay."
The two put on thick down jackets and scarves. Lin Zhiyi carefully tucked the scarf around Lu Shixu's neck to make sure the cold wind wouldn't get in. Lu Shixu took a dark wool hat from the closet and put it on, covering his slightly thin ears.
Pushing open the shop door, a crisp, clean breeze hits you, instantly invigorating you. The snow underfoot crunches crisply, the only clear sound in this tranquil world.
They walked slowly along the snow-covered cobblestone path toward the alley entrance. Their pace was deliberate, more like a ritualistic stroll than a leisurely walk. Lu Shixu walked steadily, with Lin Zhiyi beside him, glancing at him every now and then to make sure he was alright.
The sunlight cast long shadows of them, close together, on the pristine snow. They passed by Chen Bei's café, which was still closed; the windowsills were covered with a thick layer of snow, like a veil of icing sugar. They walked past the bare old locust tree, its branches adorned with snow like jade ornaments.
The whole world seemed to have been muted, all the noise absorbed by the thick whiteness. Only the two of them, and the two clear, side-by-side footprints behind them, announced their presence.
Reaching the alley entrance, the view suddenly opened up. The streets in the distance had been cleared, revealing a black pavement, with cars moving slowly, but this small open space at the alley entrance remained completely white. Here, the snow-covered rooftops could be seen more clearly, shimmering with tiny sparkles in the sunlight.
They stopped and did not continue walking. Lu Shixu tilted his head back slightly, closed his eyes, and felt the faint warmth of the sunlight on his face and the refreshing feeling of breathing in the cool air.
Lin Zhiyi stood beside him, gazing at his serene profile, outlined by the sunlight and snowflakes, and at the tiny specks of light that seemed to cling to his eyelashes. A soft tranquility washed over her. She reached out and gently took his arm.
Lu Shixu opened his eyes, turned his head to look at her, his gaze gentle. He didn't speak, but simply took his hand out of his pocket and placed it over her hand that was linked with his arm.
His fingertips were cool from the outside air, but his palms were warm.
"Are you cold?" he asked.
Lin Zhiyi shook her head, burying her face deeper into her scarf, revealing only her smiling, crescent-shaped eyes: "It's not cold. It's so nice."
Yes, it's wonderful. Lin Zhiyi thought. It wasn't just the beautiful snow scene, but also the fact that she could stand peacefully with him in this pure world, feeling the warmth of each other's hands and sharing this tranquility. It was truly wonderful.
They didn't talk about the future, nor did they reminisce about the past; they were simply and completely immersed in the present moment, enveloped in the snow's glow. The intricate gears, the manuscripts awaiting processing, the past trials and tribulations, and the hopes for the future all seemed to be temporarily covered and settled by this heavy snow.
At this moment, there is only each other, only this solid ground beneath our feet, and this snow-washed sky above our heads.
After a while, a slightly stronger gust of wind blew in, carrying snowflakes, and Lin Zhiyi subconsciously shrank her neck.
"Let's go back," Lu Shixu said softly.
"Um."
The two turned around and slowly walked back along the footprints they had come from. The two rows of footprints, one on the way there and one on the way back, were clearly imprinted on the snow, like a silent vow, recording the short but complete journey they had taken together on this winter morning.
Back at the entrance of "Time Sequence", Lu Shixu raised his hand and gently brushed away the snowflakes that had not yet melted from Lin Zhiyi's hair and shoulders.
The movements were natural, with an unintentional gentleness.
The store was warm and inviting, filled with the familiar scents of aged wood and engine oil.
Outside the door, on the snow, two closely intertwined footprints, bathed in sunlight, quietly recounted the heartwarming journey that had just taken place.
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