"Hoo..." He let out a soft breath. Wisps of white steam drifted in the breeze above the hot tea clasped in his hand, carrying away its warmth as he brought his lips close and took a sip. The warm liquid flowed through his body and settled in his stomach, a rare comfort beneath the stars on this autumn night.
Zeng Mu and Kanni each held a cup of hot tea as well. Sitting on the courtyard steps to either side of Zhao Xinning, they turned to watch him, quietly waiting for the words he had kept buried in his heart for so long and now had no choice but to share.
"It happened many years ago..." he began.
"Back then, I remember being strong and sturdy. Friends I dealt with often jokingly called me a beast in human form, and someone even nicknamed me 'White Tiger.' Those were interesting times. Once I start talking about them, it's hard to stop.
"I was easygoing back then. I traded cloth, so I made plenty of friends, and my frequent deliveries took me between several commandery cities.
"I can no longer remember how I met her. The details really escape me. It feels like a dream, something you can understand but never put into words. All I remember is that it was a night of wind and snow, and I happened to meet her after entering Maiya County.
"In the firelight that night, she was as beautiful as ice and snow. Her face was unforgettable. Afterward, whenever it snowed, I would lift my head and let the cold flakes fall against my face, like the gentle touch of her fingertips.
"We grew close very quickly and became lovers. Laugh if you like, but that was the happiest and most innocent time of my