(BGM: "Tori no Uta," piano and violin version. The following chapters use this too.)
Winter arrived, blanketing the manor grounds in pristine white snow. The trees in the garden were covered in thick snow as well, their slender branches laden with crystalline icicles.
At noon, warm sunlight streamed through the windows, falling on the various New Year decorations arranged throughout the room.
Gu Nian'an slowly stepped outside, and a sea of red greeted him. All kinds of decorative lanterns covered the ground, their vivid red like bright rose petals scattered across the snow.
His gaze was then drawn to the carefully crafted red and silver lanterns hanging high from the branches, swaying gently and giving off a warm glow.
They added a lively, festive touch to the winter scenery, and he could not help slowing his steps to admire the exquisite patterns and details on each lantern.
"An'an."
Fu Xiuyuan approached in a black overcoat and drew him into his arms.
"Do you like it?" Fu Xiuyuan asked softly, his eyes shining with a warm, gentle light like winter sunshine.
Looking at the many exquisite hanging and decorative lanterns, Gu Nian'an nodded. "They're so beautiful. They're just like something out of a fairy tale."
Looking at the soft light seeping through the carved openings and the little sphere glowing gently inside, he suddenly asked, "What's inside this lantern?"
Fu Xiuyuan looked up and explained softly, "It's an everlasting lamp. As long as it receives sunlight, it can keep shining forever. I had an artisan carve the lantern's casing. The patterns are balloon flowers, and they go perfectly with the everlasting lamp inside."
Gu Nian'an was a little dazed. This was the first time he had heard of anything like an everlasting lamp.
Suddenly remembering something, he smiled faintly and could