The Fifth Snowflake

Liao Xue had never imagined she'd be allowed, encouraged, or even forced into a snow-white, elegant gown—not even in her wildest dreams.

Instinctively, she shook her head and backed away, as if Shen Qiancheng were a devil from Pandora's box, tempting her with the most beautiful thing in the world.

Shen Qiancheng had expected this. "Three rules—how many times have I said them? If you can't handle it, I can fire you anytime," she said impatiently.

At the word "fire," Liao Xue's head shot up. Here, she could eat at the table, take a bath, and not be scolded or beaten. And there was the ten thousand yuan.

Liao Xue wiped her fingers on her clothes, took the dress with trembling hands, and looked at Shen Qiancheng, her face flushing as if it might bleed.

Shen Qiancheng clicked her tongue. "Troublesome." They were both girls; what was there to be shy about?

Watching Shen Qiancheng leave, Liao Xue's heart still floated in the clouds. She'd never seen such a beautiful white dress—even prettier than Sun Feifei's. Holding it, she felt its softness against her skin and caught a scent of sunshine and lavender. Her eyes stung, and for the first time, facing this belated girlish vanity, a wave of long-overdue grievance washed over her.

Outside the door, Shen Qiancheng looked at the sky, then at the ground. Country life was too dull—there was nothing here. Only the aunties at the village entrance were somewhat lively, but they rehashed the same old stories, going on and on without much meaning.

Shen Qiancheng hadn't brought her phone, so she had no idea of the time. She picked up a stone from the windowsill, tossed it, caught it—utterly bored. Finally, she called out, "Are you done yet? How much longer? I'm coming in."

A timid, weak voice came from inside: "Done."

Shen Qiancheng turned, tossed the stone aside, and stepped into the room.

The figure in white shrank her shoulders and lowered her head. Her hair, uneven in length, was yellow and dry.

Liao Xue wasn't short—she stood at least 1.6 meters—but she was so thin that she looked even taller. The white dress barely covered her ankles. The tailored cut was made for Shen Qiancheng, so it was a bit loose on Liao Xue.

Liao Xue suited white very well; it matched her pure, harmless, delicate temperament.

Shen Qiancheng was displeased. Liao Xue looked even better in it than she did, with an added air of fragile grace.

Liao Xue stood there, uneasy, letting Shen Qiancheng scrutinize her. Her palms were about to sweat from nervousness. There was no mirror in the room, so she knew she must look awful. All she wanted was for Shen Qiancheng to speak quickly so she could take off this white dress that was never meant for her.

"It's a bit plain," Shen Qiancheng finally offered her opinion.

Something in Liao Xue's heart—a fragile hope—shattered. She hurried to agree: "Right, it doesn't suit me. I don't like white clothes..."

Shen Qiancheng frowned and cut her off. "The dress is plain—it can't match you. Wear it for now. I'm a bit tired; I want to sleep."

Liao Xue nodded solemnly, and the hem she had been clutching slowly loosened. The flicker of admiration in Shen Qiancheng's eyes when she first entered had not been a mistake.

Without Shi Jianren and all the troublesome people and affairs from Tang City, Shen Qiancheng's sleep quality soared. Before she knew it, she slept through the whole morning. When she woke, the sun was setting, and the evening glow was at its most brilliant.

Shen Qiancheng pulled out her phone and snapped a few photos.

The upturned eaves of the flat-roofed houses, the tangled electric wires crossing the sky, and the occasional bird darting past all clustered around a sun like a salted egg yolk, orange tinged with red. The sun hung against the deep blue-gray sky, surrounded by clouds painted in broad strokes of sunset hues.

Blue, gray, pink, orange, purple... It was as if every color in the world had gathered here, freezing into the frame captured by Shen Qiancheng's camera.

When Liao Xue came to call Shen Qiancheng for dinner, she saw her staring at the sky with a smile.

"Miss Shen, dinner is ready."

Shen Qiancheng snapped out of her immense joy. Yes, she was Miss Shen.

"Mm."

That evening, a flat, noodle-like dish was boiled into soup and served in a bowl. Shen Qiancheng didn't care what it was—anything Liao Xue made tasted delicious to her.

After Shen Qiancheng sat down, Liao Xue untied her apron and took a seat.

"Why did you change out of that dress?"

Liao Xue had just picked up her bowl when she heard Shen Qiancheng's accusation, spoken in the same tone as when they first met.

For no reason, Liao Xue felt guilty. She was about to explain, but she saw Shen Qiancheng slam her chopsticks on the table, stand up, and walk over to the bed.

"Cooking is dirty; I was afraid of getting it dirty."

Liao Xue's explanation was perfectly reasonable, but in Shen Qiancheng's eyes, it was weak.

Everything Shen Qiancheng gave away, everyone else would hold up with both hands. Only Liao Xue refused it—and even after wearing it, she took it off when Shen Qiancheng wasn't looking. Liao Xue was as annoying as Shi Jianren.

Shen Qiancheng kept one ear on the sounds behind her. After Liao Xue spoke, she heard the door creak.

Ha, you think you're in the right, slamming the door as you leave? I've been too nice to Liao Xue. Am I pathetic? Why did I have to offer it, make her wear it, when she doesn't even appreciate it?

How dare someone not accept her generosity?

Shen Qiancheng lay on the pillow, stewing in anger. Then, suddenly, she sat up and, fuming, locked the door from the inside.

She wanted to go out and run? She could just never come back.

Tomorrow, she would go tell Mother Liao that she didn't want Liao Xue anymore and demand her ten thousand yuan back!!!

Shen Qiancheng grabbed her phone and immediately searched for the earliest flight that wasn't to Switzerland.

She was leaving right now; tomorrow she would stand on Swiss soil.

Shen Qiancheng booked a flight that departed in just one hour, grabbed her backpack from the room, and headed out.

Liao Xue came out of the bathroom, still wearing the white dress, which was dripping wet. She pushed the door open—inside was pitch black, no lights on—and called out, "Miss Shen?"

Snap—

The light cord was pulled, and the room flooded with light.

But Shen Qiancheng was gone. Liao Xue called her name a few times in the courtyard, but no one answered. The Village Chief and his wife had stepped out. Liao Xue searched the entire yard but found no trace of Shen Qiancheng.

She must have gone out. Liao Xue hurried through the village gate, where she ran into some elderly women who were taking their evening stroll after dinner.

The old women had poor eyesight and slurred speech: "Shen Zong? What kind of zongzi is that? You mean the leader who came to our village?"

Liao Xue asked anxiously, "Did you see her?"

"Ah," one old woman slapped her thigh. "I saw her. I even asked where she was heading. The leader scolded me, said it was none of my business."

Liao Xue: "Which way did she go?"

"Down the mountain."

Liao Xue's heart lurched. She was leaving? If she left, what would happen to the village? Who would invest? What about building the school?

Liao Xue didn't even grab a flashlight; she stumbled down the mountain in the dark. The cool night wind blew against her, cutting through the half-dry white dress, making her shiver. Even her voice trembled.

"Miss Shen! Miss Shen!"

The calls echoed faintly through the mountains, but no answer came back.

She was almost at the foot of the mountain now, walking unsteadily, uncertain if Shen Qiancheng had brought a flashlight. What if she had fallen...

No, no. Liao Xue shook her head to banish those malicious thoughts and kept her eyes peeled for any trace of Shen Qiancheng, afraid to miss even the smallest clue.

In the distance, at the foot of the mountain, Liao Xue thought she spotted a shadowy figure leaning against a large tree. The figure braced one hand on the trunk and kicked the tree with swift, precise force.

In that instant, Liao Xue was absolutely certain—it was Shen Qiancheng.