It snowed heavily that New Year's Day when the first semester of senior year was about to end. The streetlights were capped with a thick layer of snow.
After evening self-study ended, I didn't return to the dormitory. I went home with Jiang Linyuan instead.
Snowflakes drifted down one by one, like glittering specks dancing beneath the warm orange streetlights.
Jiang Linyuan: "Doesn't your dorm supervisor do room checks?"
Me: "I asked for leave ages ago."
Jiang Linyuan: "How's boarding school been after a semester?"
Me: "I wasn't used to it at first, but it got better later."
Jiang Linyuan: "That's good."
Neither of us had an umbrella. We only wore knit hats as we strolled through the heavy snow, one behind the other.
I tilted my head up and watched white snowflakes emerge from the black sky, land on Jiang Linyuan's shoulders, and melt into patches of snowmelt.
If we kept walking like this, would he turn into a snowman?
I imagined the scene and couldn't help laughing.
Hearing me, he turned around.
"What are you laughing at?"
Me: "With snow this heavy, only an idiot would go without an umbrella."
He rolled his eyes and shook the knit hat on my head, sending snowflakes cascading down.
"You're the bigger idiot."
Unconvinced, I punched him lightly in the chest.
"I didn't bring an umbrella!"
He burst out laughing.
"Neither did I."
I glanced at him without saying anything.
After walking for a while, we passed a milk tea shop. I said, "Let's go inside and sit for a bit. The snow's too heavy."
He felt around in his pockets, then spread his hands with complete nonchalance.
"I don't have any money."
I said, "I'll pay."
Looking deeply gratified, he headed straight for the milk tea shop. "Sis, you've grown