The snow was falling heavily, and a thick layer of snow had accumulated in the flower beds on both sides of the school gate.
Wei Xu stood motionless on the steps outside the shop, staring at his familiar classmates being picked up by their parents.
Suddenly a cold wind blew, bringing fine snowflakes onto the boy's face. The boy squinted his eyes, took two steps back and hid under the eaves of the shop.
"Wei Xu, your brother hasn't come to pick you up yet?"
Wei Xu turned his head and saw Du Shao, wrapped up like a ball, standing under his mother's umbrella and greeting him.
"Coming soon," he replied.
"What?" Du Shao couldn't hear clearly.
"I said? He's coming soon!"
"ah?"
"It's none of your business!" Wei Xu raised his voice somewhat depressed.
"Oh." This time Du Shao heard it clearly.
The little fat boy waved at him in a good-tempered manner: "Then I'll go back first, bye!"
Wei Xu pursed his lips, lowered his head to look at his red fingers from the cold, rubbed his hands to no avail, then blew two breaths of hot air onto his cold fingers, then quickly put his hands into the hot water bottle that no longer had any heat.
It’s all because of the heavy snow today. The old man who usually comes to sell roasted sweet potatoes and fried dough sticks didn’t come anymore - Wei Xu thought a little frustrated.
Thinking of the steaming roasted sweet potatoes, the boy felt the severe coldness of winter more deeply.
"Idiot!"
Wei Xu suddenly raised his head and looked around but couldn't find his brother. After a while, he saw Wei You, wrapped in a cotton coat and wearing a cotton mask, riding an electric bike through the white snow fog.
"Brother!" His eyes lit up and he immediately jumped down the stairs and ran over.
Wei You parked the electric bike next to the boy, took off his schoolbag and the hot water bottle hanging around his neck and put them on his shoulders. Then he patted the snowflakes on the child's body and explained, "I went to the supermarket to buy some things. I came late. Have you been waiting for a long time?"
Wei Xu shook his head, stared at his electric bike and asked, "Brother, did you buy an electric bike?"
"Of course not. Ah, I borrowed this from the uncle at the fruit shop. I bought too many things and was afraid I wouldn't be able to come pick you up in time."
As Wei You spoke, he carried him to the seat in front of him, opened his cotton coat and wrapped the child in it, leaving only half of his little head exposed.
“Is it cold now?”
The child shook his head, turned around and said, "It's not cold, it's warm."
"It's good that you're not cold. Sit tight, kid. We're going home!"
"Um!"
Wei You started the electric bike. He rode very slowly because he was worried that the road was too slippery. Despite this, the wind and snow blowing in his face still made it difficult for him to tell the direction.
Wei Xu was wrapped in Wei You's coat, feeling warm all over, and his breath was filled with the familiar and reassuring smell.
He stuck his head out from his collar, stared at the streets dyed white by the winter snow with wide eyes, and felt that the heavy snow flying all over the sky seemed unreal like a dream.
After returning home, Wei You filled Wei Xu's hot water bottle with water and asked him to sit on the sofa to watch TV. He then went into the kitchen with the oil and rice he had just bought from the supermarket to cook.
The TV screen had a gray tone that was unique to old TVs, but Wei Xu didn't care. He curled up on the sofa with a hot water bottle in his arms, watching cartoons intently.
Time seemed to have passed for a long time. After an episode of animation was over, Wei Xu came to his senses and found that there was no movement in the kitchen.
He called out "Brother", but when there was no response, he immediately put down the hot water bottle and walked towards the kitchen in his cotton shoes.
When I opened the kitchen door, not only was there no one inside, there was not even a trace of heat or smoke.
Wei Xu suddenly panicked. While shouting "Brother", he searched the entire house, but still couldn't find anyone. Finally, he had to go back to the kitchen.
He looked at the glass window behind the cupboard. The snow outside had stopped and the sun was shining in the sky. The bright light reflected on the glass, like a thick fog.
Suddenly, an ominous premonition came over him. The boy took off his cotton shoes, climbed up the cupboard using his hands and feet, put his forehead against the glass window and looked down. Sure enough, he saw the familiar white figure walking in the narrow and dark alley.
"elder brother!"
He shouted with all his might.
Wei You seemed to have realized something and turned around and looked up. Half of his face was reflected in the bright sunlight, making his facial features blurry and unclear.
Wei Xu hurriedly opened the window and asked loudly, "Where are you going? Don't you want melon anymore?"
A smile spread across the young man's face. He raised his hand and waved as if saying goodbye. Then he turned around and walked resolutely towards the entrance of the alley.
"elder brother!"
"Wait for me..."
"elder brother!"
"elder brother!"
Wei Xu suddenly woke up and when he opened his eyes he saw a snow-white ceiling.
A layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and when he heard the whirring sound of the air conditioner, he realized that he had dreamed about his childhood again.
I turned my head to look at the window. Half of the curtains on the floor-to-ceiling window were open. There was sparse sleet falling outside, and the cold wind was blowing against the glass, making a harsh whistling sound.
Maybe it was because of this sound that I had such a terrible nightmare.
As if the phantom from the dream was still lingering on his eyes, Wei Xu closed his eyes, and it took him a while to break free from the nervous and anxious mood.
He sat up, hurriedly put on a loose sweater, put on slippers and walked towards the stairs.
In the open kitchen downstairs, Wei You was standing by the sink washing vegetables. Lyrical music was playing on the speakers, and the room was filled with a quiet and gentle atmosphere.
Hearing his footsteps coming down the stairs, Wei You looked up in surprise: "Why did you get up so soon?"
Wei Xu walked silently behind him, put his hands around his waist and hugged him.
Wei You asked in confusion: "What's wrong?"
"I had a nightmare." Wei Xu leaned his head on his shoulder and whispered back, his voice carrying a lazy and sleepy feeling, seeming a little listless.
"What did you dream about?"
Wei Xu rubbed his neck with his head but did not answer.
After a while, he changed the subject naturally: "Cooking so early today?"
"My mother called me just now and asked me to come over for dinner tonight. I thought I'd make two cold dishes and put them in the refrigerator."
"oh……"
"Go get some sleep before they arrive," Wei You advised, "We finally finished this project, so take advantage of these two days to rest more."
Years ago, Wei Xu and two senior colleagues he knew jointly opened an architectural firm. The early days of the business were difficult, and he was often busy with less than two hours of sleep a day. Wei You felt really bad for him when he saw this, and now he urges him to rest and sleep whenever he has nothing to do.
Wei Xu responded but did not let go. He still held him in his arms. Wherever Wei You went, he followed like a big koala.
Wei You was so annoyed that he had no choice but to stop and ask, "Aren't you sleepy?"
"Sleepy."
"Why don't you go to bed?"
Wei Xu rubbed his neck and fell silent again.
"You don't really have to work so hard. What if you ruin your health? Our family is not short of money," Wei You sighed, expressing his concerns. "Besides, you are only 28 years old. It's already impressive that you have opened your own studio at such a young age."
Wei Xu shook his head: "Not enough, I want to make a lot of money."
“What do you do with all that money?”
"Didn't I say this before?" Wei Xu raised his head and put his chin on his shoulder. "I want to build a big villa on a sparsely populated island, with a courtyard and a spacious terrace. On sunny days, we can sit on the bench on the terrace to drink tea and bask in the sun. On rainy days, we can lie on the rocking chair under the corridor to listen to the wind and watch the rain, or hide in the room to read a book and sleep."
"What about the big terrace, by the sea? The house is too humid, the wood will rot in a few years."
"Have you forgotten what your husband does for a living? I'm a first-class architect now. Can't I trust your husband a little more?"
Every time Wei You heard his arrogant remarks, he couldn't help laughing and said, "Stop talking nonsense and go to bed."
Wei Xu buried his head in his neck again: "Sleep with me, I can't sleep well without you. I just had a nightmare."
"Wait a minute? Mom and Dad are coming over..."
"If you still have time, just sleep for half an hour, okay?"
Wei You couldn't resist him. He asked softly, but finally gave in: "Okay, then half an hour."
Wei Xu immediately let go of his hand, kissed him on the ear and said, "Thank you, brother."
Putting the ingredients aside, Wei You wiped his hands and went upstairs with him.
He didn't feel it when he was downstairs, but when he walked into the room and looked at the gloomy snow scene outside through the misty glass, Wei You felt a little bit of winter chill.
"It would be great if Jinyang could have a heavy snowfall someday." He couldn't help but sigh, and then added: "Forget it, with the weather in Jinyang, it's already a great honor to have some sleet."
"If you want to see the snow, we can go to Chuanlin." Wei Xu continued.
His words brought back Wei You's memories: "I remember when you were very young, there seemed to be a heavy snowfall in Xiangfang."
"Yeah, in second grade."
"You have a really good memory. I can't even remember it."
Wei Xu sat on the bed, pursed his lips and smiled quietly.
Wei You set an alarm on his phone for half an hour and then lay down in bed.
As soon as he lay down, Wei Xu turned over and hugged him.
Wei You felt his bony fingers touching his lips, then his Adam's apple, and finally stopping at his chest, as if feeling his heartbeat.
Wei You had long been accustomed to his habit of sleeping with someone in his arms. Without Wei Xu's arm pressing on him, he might not have slept well.
Perhaps it was because of the light snow and the environment was perfect for a nap. After closing his eyes and lying down for a while, Wei You also began to feel a little sleepy.
In his blurred consciousness, he heard Wei Xu whispered "Brother" in his ear.
"Um?"
After a moment of silence, the young man whispered, "I love you so much."
Wei You raised the corner of his mouth and responded lazily: "I know, I love you too."
"no the same."
"Um?"
After waiting for a while, Wei You fell asleep before the young man spoke again.
The person who was very sleepy just now now has his eyes open, staring quietly at the sleeping face of the person next to him as if he couldn't see enough.
After it lasted for a long time, Wei Xu stood up and secretly kissed his eyes.
You can't imagine how much I love you.
--End of extra chapter--
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