295 Calm Before the Storm

Lu Xinyi's jaws dropped in amazement. The whole island itself was covered with a thick layer of snow. She could see a house set into the trees at the base of the ridge. It seemed like a rest house to her. 

The private jet descended smoothly without encountering a problem. The couple left the cabin and was welcomed by a chilling wind. So this was the reason why her husband asked her to change into a thick sweater and pants earlier. 

She tightened the coat around her form when she stepped outside. Her eyes landed on the trail leading to the rest house. Shen Yi talked to the two pilots, reminding them to pick him and Lu Xinyi at the specific time he requested. 

Once everything was settled, Shen Yi walked beside Lu Xinyi and brushed the snow that landed on her head before taking her hand to his. She couldn't stop the blush that immediately formed on her cheeks at their close proximity. 

"You want snow, I'm giving you snow." He grinned.

"This is ridiculous, Shen Yi. You don't have to bring me to an island two hours away from the resort."

While the town they came from just celebrated the end of the autumn harvest, she forgot that the other parts of the country didn't share the same season. Up on the northern part of the country, some places were covered in thick snow throughout the year.

Shen Yi shrugged his shoulders as if taking her away from anyone never bothered him. This private island was owned by the Shen family. They had caretakers that occasionally check on this property. He only had to make a few phone calls to prepare what Lu Xinyi would need for their short stay overnight.

"What do you want to do now?" 

Lu Xinyi hummed but didn't answer immediately. She enjoyed their slow walk with his warm hand holding hers tightly. 

"I don't know… maybe we could play in the snow?" 

"Play in the snow?" He repeated, not sure if he heard her right. 

If there was one thing Shen Yi had forgotten, it was to play. When he and Shen Xue were younger, they used to spend their holidays on this island, playing with the snow throughout the day. 

Everything changed when their parents divorced, with him focusing on his studies and leaving the young Shen Xue with no brother to bully and play with, causing him to turn his attention to online games instead. 

"Yes, let's make a snowman under five minutes. Whoever loses will make the dinner tonight!" She released her hand from his grasp and started making her own snowman without waiting for him. 

Shen Yi was pleased to see her spirit returning. He hadn't made a snowman for a long time and wasn't planning to make one. However, with the way she was smiling at him—clearly excited to make a snowman together, he couldn't say no. 

He reached down, grabbed a handful of snow, and made his snowman, bigger than what his wife had built. 

After five minutes, he smirked as he saw Lu Xinyi try to keep her snowman standing. 

"There's no mistaking I won this round again," he declared triumphantly. 

"No fair!" 

"Xinxin, you know that's not true." 

Lu Xinyi gritted her teeth and glared at her arrogant jerk of a husband. His earlier betrayal coming back to remind her. 

She once again grabbed a handful of snow, quickly making a snowball. Instead of adding it on the snowman that fell right on her feet, she threw it right on Shen Yi's face. 

Shen Yi, who was checking his phone for new messages, had not even seen the flying snowball coming towards him and had been caught off-guard when cold wetness smashed right onto his face.

He could only stare blankly at his wife, slightly shocked by Lu Xinyi's sudden attack. It wasn't until he heard the eruption of laughter coming from Lu Xinyi that he realized what she'd done. He looked at her only to notice the triumphant gleam in her eyes as she held her side while laughing. 

Once again, he was reminded of how beautiful she was as she laughed at him. The feelings she brought to him were strange but not unwelcome. 

The look on Shen Yi's face was so priceless that Lu Xinyi felt tears began to fill her sight. The way his eyes widened and his mouth opening in disbelief had made her laugh harder. Wiping the tears from her, she glanced at him… only to find him glaring at her. 

"Sorry," she chuckled, "It slipped my hand." 

Her smile faltered when he took a step forward. She instinctively stepped back before dashing for a run. She could hear Shen Yi running after her. 

"Just wait until I have my hands on you, Xinxin!" 

She shrieked at his words and then slowed down. She twirled around as she watched the snowflakes fall from the dark sky. 

Shen Yi also stopped. His eyes refused to drift his gaze away from her. He stood silently, staring at her as she looked heavenward. She looked so peaceful and relaxed standing there, although he noticed her brown eyes seemed to be lost in a different world and wondered what she was thinking of. 

He couldn't find the will to speak or to disturb her, so mesmerized by her beauty that she would never admit she had. Her cheeks slightly pink from the coldness of the night, her lips puffing out a cloud of air as she breathed, her hair free from any restraints. 

Shen Yi felt that if he dared to speak even a single word to her, he'd ruin this perfect scenery before him. He kept his silence and watched a snowflake touch her cheeks, making her eyes close, and silently thanked whoever deity or fate brought Lu Xinyi to his life. 

As he stood there, he realized this must be the calm before the storm.