The frontier could only reflect the saying: “Northern scenery, a thousand miles of ice, ten thousand miles of snow drifting.”

The biting cold wind, yet it held a different charm.

He Ju took Si Hua to ski, to skate, to build snowmen, to experience the world gifted to them by nature.

Here, the local customs were simple and honest. While He Ju and Si Hua were out playing, they would sometimes sit in the homes of local residents, savoring the local delicacies and drinking the local butter tea.

They heard that butter tea could invigorate the mind, prevent aging, fight cancer, and more. Plus, they both liked the taste, so they ended up drinking quite a lot of it over the half month.

Life was comfortable and beautiful.

On the day before they decided to return, He Ju took Si Hua to the snowy mountain, hanging prayer flags and scattering Lungta in the manner of the locals, wishing for the safety and happiness of the people around them.

After hanging the prayer flags and looking at the vast snow-covered mountains at their feet, He Ju held Si Hua’s warm little hand, which seemed to anchor his wandering heart.

Si Hua turned to look at him, her smile radiant and bright: “Let’s go, on to the next stop!”

He Ju nodded, gripping his wife’s hand tightly, their fingers interlocked, both palms carrying the heat of their touch.

The two descended the mountain together, having rented an off-road vehicle.

Although the road was slippery and the weather cold, there were still many visitors.

Just as He Ju and Si Hua were about to get into the car to return, a jeep approached, and an old acquaintance stepped out.

The moment He Ju and Si Hua saw Su Ran, both were slightly taken aback.

Not just He Ju and Si Hua, even Su Ran herself couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

Su Ran had come alone, holding a prayer flag with He Ju’s name on it. She instinctively hugged it to her chest, then smiled and said, “Long time no see.”

Though she said it had been a long time, it had only been a few months.

Su Ran wore sunglasses, hiding her eyes’ emotions.

Old friends meeting thousands of miles away, He Ju could only respond with, “Long time no see.”

Si Hua smiled politely at Su Ran, then said to He Ju, “I’ll drive ahead and wait for you.”

He Ju: “I’ll go with you.”

Su Ran stood still, her hair blown messy by the wind and snow. Si Hua couldn’t read her emotions behind the sunglasses, but as a woman, she could feel Su Ran’s desolation.

Whatever the past relationship between He Ju and Su Ran, it didn’t matter now. She was the one who could stand by He Ju’s side.

Because she trusted He Ju, she had no worries.

Si Hua shook her head: “You haven’t seen each other for a long time, have a good talk.”

Without waiting for He Ju to refuse, Si Hua got into the driver’s seat and drove away.

Su Ran was no longer as aggressive as before, her pride, her previous arrogance, seemed like an illusion.

Through the blizzard, He Ju couldn’t see Su Ran’s expression, but he saw the prayer flag in her hand.

A long time ago, he fantasized that the person who would travel the world with him was the person in front of him.

Su Ran pursed her lips, saying, “It’s too cold outside, can we talk in the car?”

He Ju shook his head, pulling out the black umbrella Si Hua had left him and holding it overhead.

He Ju looked at Su Ran: “I don’t know why you’re here, and I don’t want to ask. I just hope that from now on, we can live without interfering with each other. My wife is generous, so…”

He Ju smiled and said, “In City A, you’re welcome to visit anytime, you and your uncle and aunt. Let’s call it even on the past.”

Su Ran gave a bitter smile. She didn’t want He Ju to say these words without any hard feelings, as it meant he had moved on from the past, leaving her alone.

He Ju couldn’t see the redness under Su Ran’s sunglasses.

Su Ran tried to keep her voice steady: “I was immature before, brother He Ju, can we still… be ordinary friends?”

True love cannot revert to mere friendship.

He Ju just smiled: “Forget it, Su Ran, you’re outstanding. You’ll meet someone better than me in the future.”

He Ju looked up at the sky full of snow, reaching out his hand, feeling the coolness as snowflakes landed on his palm. He closed his eyes slightly, his mind filled with images of their childhood, passing by like a fleeting glimpse…

They met when they were just over ten years old, playing in front of the neighborhood, welcoming their first season of snowflakes.

Little Su Ran, at that time, was like a sticky rice ball, cheerfully saying to him, “Brother He Ju, it’s snowing, isn’t it beautiful? Will you watch the snow with me every year?”

With the bustling crowd nearby and the flickering lights behind, little He Ju thought the lights would always shine on, from now until forever.

Little He Ju took Su Ran’s hand, nodding earnestly: “Okay, little sister Su Ran, hold on tight to brother’s hand, don’t get lost.”

Later, as the seasons of the world turned many times, they never ended up together.

Perhaps, what He Ju liked was always the original, pure and kind little girl.

He Ju walked towards Su Ran, seeing the dried tears on her face. In the end, He Ju lowered his gaze and handed the black umbrella to Su Ran.

Then, He Ju stepped back, quickly covered by the snow again.

Su Ran: “Can you watch the last snowfall with me?”

He Ju paused slightly, but in the end, he didn’t turn back, only saying, “Su Ran, goodbye.”

He Ju walked away, braving the wind and snow, disappearing from Su Ran’s sight.

Su Ran didn’t open the umbrella, letting the wind and snow envelop her, tears falling like broken beads, her vision blurred. Perhaps it was the cold weather, but her body trembled violently.

After crying enough, Su Ran wiped away her tears, looked at the prayer flag in her hand, and smiled.

“If we could share the snow today, this life would be considered as having grown old together.”

In the end, Su Ran hung the prayer flag alone, each step representing her apologies and love for He Ju.

Nearly a year later, Su Ran finally understood.

She was like a thief who had stolen a beam of light but returned it to the sun at sunset.

After all…

Missing the noisy summer of cicadas, there was no longer a young man in her heart.

From then on, she might never encounter a love as bright and vibrant as He Ju’s.

The promised forever was just a word to describe the fervor of the moment.

It was she who lost the boy who loved her the most.

Su Ran scattered Lungta, tears streaming down her face again.

She had traveled a long distance to fulfill a winter appointment.

That promise, many years ago, was in her heart.

Of course, there was also a selfish desire to see him one more time, even though it was heart-wrenching.

Su Ran knew clearly that today, unless something unexpected happened, would be their last meeting in this life.

People who meet in the sea of humanity will eventually have to return to it.