Countdown: 5...4...3...2...1...
Ji Xinghe's vision went black. Xiao Xi and Xiao Sha beside her fell into the illusion as well.
She opened her eyes again.
The biting wind cut to the bone. Young Ji Xinghe shivered involuntarily, clutching the bright red padded coat Jiajia had made for her, her face stubborn as she refused to let go. (Jiajia was also known as Grandma.)
"Little jinx, let go! My big sister likes your coat, and that's your good fortune. How dare you fight back!" The boy glared at Ji Xinghe, tugging hard at the collar.
Ji Xinghe was cold and frantic. Her little hands, covered in chilblains, were so stiff they'd gone numb, but she still clung tightly to the coat.
They struggled like that, each pulling from one side, until the coat stretched tighter and tighter.
Then came a sharp rip.
The two of them tore the coat apart. A flurry of snowy white rabbit fur scattered through the air, and Ji Xinghe was thrown backward by the force, landing in the snow.
Seeing the coat ruined, the boy lost interest. He spat and cursed, "Tui! You're a jinx, you killed your parents and brought bad luck to the village. Now you've even jinxed your new coat into tatters."
Snow flecked with yellow dirt clung all over Ji Xinghe. She looked at the ruined cloth in her hands, her eyes reddening.
Jiajia had spent so long collecting rabbit fur to make her this new coat.
Carefully, she gathered up the fur floating in the air and placed it on the highest, cleanest spot on the snowbank.
Then she raised her eyes, red with fury, and stared at the boy. "You tore my coat. Pay me back for it right now!"
The boy didn't look scared. He only sneered. "Ooh, tsk,