The Thirteenth Snowflake

Shen Qiancheng couldn't understand why that crazy Mother Liao had barged into her room in the dead of night, screaming that she had hidden Liao Xue away.

Who exactly was Liao Xue's real mother?

Shen Qiancheng threw her pillow and glared. "Auntie, if you have a mental problem, go get treatment. I haven't seen Liao Xue all day. Where could I even hide her? You think I've got nothing better to do than stash away a living person? If you're not using your brain, donate it to someone who is."

Mother Liao, furious from the scolding, panted heavily but didn't move, her slanted eyes fixed on Shen Qiancheng as if she might devour her at any second.

Still not leaving, huh?

Shen Qiancheng sat up in anger, her slender brows knit, and called out to the Village Chief, who was outside the door: "Chief! This woman's disturbing my sleep. Get her out of here. And don't let just any stray in from now on."

The Village Chief had seen firsthand how Shen Qiancheng could beat down Wang Zhixuan and Wen Shiyi, so at her voice, he hurried in to pull Mother Liao away, afraid that if he were even a second late, she might get a beating too.

But Mother Liao wasn't about to be dragged out so easily. Liao Xue's disappearance definitely had something to do with Shen Qiancheng.

Ever since that President Shen had shown up in the village, Liao Xue had done everything she said, almost bewitched, eagerly working for her. It must be that Shen Qiancheng had put ideas in Liao Xue's head, making her so disobedient now.

Mother Liao's arms were gripped by the Village Chief's vice-like hands, but she summoned strength from somewhere, squatted down, slipped free, and crawled to the foot of Shen Qiancheng's bed.

Shen Qiancheng, who had just lain back down to sleep, swallowed her fury and slowly sat up. Before Mother Liao could say a word, she threw a punch square into her left eye.

Mother Liao let out a shriek. Shen Qiancheng threatened, "Cause more trouble, and I'll break your leg!"

The Village Chief broke out in a cold sweat. Others might not believe it, but he knew full well that Shen Qiancheng wasn't joking—and she had the means to back it up.

For the sake of Mother Liao's safety, the Village Chief hoisted her up and headed out. "Shen Jun's wife, if Little Xue is missing, you should be looking for her, not picking a fight with President Shen. She's not someone to mess with. Have you forgotten what happened before? Don't ask for trouble. It's a blessing she isn't coming after you. What matters now is finding Little Xue. I'll help you rally everyone for a proper search."

Mother Liao's eye socket throbbed, already bruising purple. She pressed her hand to it, unable to speak through the pain, and let the Village Chief guide her outside.

"When did Little Xue go missing?" The Village Chief, flashlight in hand, followed Mother Liao along the narrow path, his light sweeping the surroundings. Maybe Liao Xue was hiding somewhere nearby.

It was already one in the morning. Shen Qiancheng, roused from sleep, lay down once more and drifted off, dreaming a disjointed, rambling dream.

Liao Xue, in that white long dress, stood amid a misty fog, staring blankly at Shen Qiancheng.

Shen Qiancheng thought: So she's missing, and here she is showing up in my dream.

"What are you doing here? Why haven't you gone home?"

As she spoke, her throat tightened, and her breath grew labored, as if something was blocking her words.

Liao Xue stirred at the sound, and blood inexplicably welled from her eyes. Her voice was hollow and eerie: "That's not my home. That's not my home. Not my home..."

Shen Qiancheng stood frozen. The next second, a tiger appeared out of nowhere, its gleaming fangs lunging at Liao Xue.

"Liao Xue!"

Shen Qiancheng's eyes flew open, panting, a cold sweat on her forehead.

Liao Xue's leg was still injured, and she'd said there were tigers in the back mountain...

Shen Qiancheng glanced out the window. The moon had vanished. Her phone showed three in the morning; outside was pitch black.

By now, Liao Xue was probably found. Why was she worrying over nothing?

Shen Qiancheng let out a long breath, determined to sleep again, but every time she closed her eyes, she saw Liao Xue being devoured by a tiger or mauled by a bear...

There was no way she could sleep now.

The mountain path was as treacherous as ever. Shen Qiancheng used her phone's flashlight, watching her steps, wanting to call out for Liao Xue but also feeling stubborn about it—calling her name would mean caring, which she couldn't admit.

After all, her ID was still in Liao Xue's hands. She just wanted her ID back.

With that perfectly reasonable excuse in mind, Shen Qiancheng's steps grew lighter.

In the darkness, tree branches loomed like ghostly grasping limbs, blocking her path. Above, the moon cast a faint glow, growing brighter...

Was dawn approaching?

Shen Qiancheng followed the light and saw a beam shooting straight up into the sky.

The light came from a flashlight held by a slender but calloused hand, with a pale arm visible where the sleeve was rolled up. Shen Qiancheng recognized that arm.

She looked up. Sure enough, it was Liao Xue.

Liao Xue sat on a rock, legs dangling, her hem rippling in the wind, strands of hair drifting behind her.

Shen Qiancheng's throat tightened. She stared for a long while before managing to speak: "Let's go home, Liao Xue."

Liao Xue's shoulders trembled, and she slowly turned her head.

She knew that voice all too well. But why had she come? Had she come back for her?

"President Shen?"

Her voice was broken by the wind, laced with a faint sob. Liao Xue didn't realize how forlorn she sounded, but Shen Qiancheng did.

It was as if her heart was being squeezed. Shen Qiancheng wished she could pluck the moon from the sky and give it to Liao Xue, just to ease her sorrow.

"Liao Xue, actually... it was me who got your readmission notice..." Shen Qiancheng kicked a pebble, clasping her hands behind her back.

She wasn't seeking credit. She was reminding Liao Xue: you can still go to school; you have endless possibilities. You've always wanted to study, and now the chance is right in front of you. Why are you giving up?

Liao Xue hesitated briefly, then, as if already knowing, said, "I know. Thank you, President Shen."

But Shen Qiancheng wanted more than thanks. She stepped forward.

Liao Xue turned aside, aiming her flashlight at the empty ground beside her.

Only then did Shen Qiancheng realize Liao Xue wasn't sitting on a rock—she was perched on the edge of a sheer cliff.

Her mind went blank. Instinctively, she lunged forward and pulled Liao Xue down.

"Have you lost your mind, Liao Xue?!"

Liao Xue gave a faint smile. "She tore up my readmission notice."

Slap.

Shen Qiancheng stared in disbelief at her own palm. She had just slapped Liao Xue.

"You're insane too! I can get you as many notices as you want, and you choose to come up here and throw your life away?!"

Every time she thought about how she'd had to promise the principal a building donation to get that notice, it stung—and Liao Xue was acting like the world was ending just because it was torn. What a waste!

Liao Xue waited patiently for Shen Qiancheng to finish, then glanced at the cliff's edge. The wind below was fierce, strong enough to knock her off her feet if she wasn't careful.

Liao Xue shook her head. "It's no use. No matter how many I get, she'll tear them all."

Her round, full eyes brimmed with sorrow.

Liao Xue looked at Shen Qiancheng. She was grateful—Shen Qiancheng had been the first to stand up for her—but Liao Xue was already stuck in the mud. How could she drag Shen Qiancheng down with her?

That would be repaying kindness with enmity, and it would be wrong. If she died, everything would be fine, wouldn't it?

Mother Liao would stop coveting the bride price, and Shen Qiancheng would stop making enemies on her behalf.

But... she really didn't want to die.

Liao Xue sighed. "I don't want to marry. Not at all. I want to study. I want to go to school. President Shen, President Shen."

For some reason, Shen Qiancheng felt like crying too. Even though she'd been the Shen family's young lady for eighteen years, wasn't she also being forced into marriage, just like Liao Xue?

Shen Qiancheng had saved herself before. She could save Liao Xue too!

Shen Qiancheng took a big step forward, standing beside Liao Xue, gripping her shoulders and forcing her to face the cliff.

"So, what's your plan? Hiding up here like a coward? Your mouth is for cursing, your hands for slapping. You've got legs, but you only run and hide. No spine. If they bully you, fight back! Let yourself be a pushover, and they'll only squeeze harder. And even if you can't take them on yet, at least you can jump them with a sack and beat them up."

Shen Qiancheng's eyes were striking, her brilliant pupils reflecting only Liao Xue. The wind still roared in Liao Xue's ears, but she caught every word Shen Qiancheng said.

"My mother died when I was three, so I grew up with my father. You think he was good to me? Hah. If I displeased him even slightly, he would take it out on me. He had this long whip soaked in some drug, studded with barbs. I remember the first time he used it, the skin split open and the powder got into the wound—burning and itching at once. I ran a high fever for three days after. I was only seven or so..."

Shen Qiancheng hadn't wanted to dredge up these memories. But as she spoke, she found herself pulled into a warm embrace that smelled faintly of fresh grass.

It was like hugging an entire prairie.

She had torn open her bloody wounds, and someone was now whispering in her ear, "Don't use your pain to comfort me."

The embrace was pure empathy, without a hint of desire. Their breath mingled in the space between their ears.

Stars twinkled brilliantly, and the moon cast a gentle glow. The clouds between them parted.

Shen Qiancheng's hand rested on Liao Xue's back. At some point, tears were streaming down her own face.

"Liao Xue, look—that's the morning star. Only when we wake does the dawn break. The day is long, and the sun is just a morning star. Liao Xue, be the morning star of your own life."

Liao Xue's eyes were round and moist, her expression calm as she echoed, "Be the morning star of my own life."

The morning star brightened. The sun rose as usual, ushering in a brand new day.

Liao Xue followed Shen Qiancheng down the mountain. Before they even reached the village, they saw Mother Liao standing at the entrance with a crowd of villagers. The old men smoked, and the children ate candy.

Few among them had truly worried about Liao Xue's disappearance.

Mother Liao caught sight of them and shouted, "So you're the one who kidnapped my daughter!"

Remembering the punch she'd taken hours earlier, she halted at a safe distance and called to Liao Xue behind Shen Qiancheng, "Get back home right now! Everyone stayed up all night looking for you!"

Shen Qiancheng stepped forward, tilting her head with a raised brow. "Try touching her, and see what happens."