After listening to Zhang Yurong's long talk, Qiao Huanxuan didn't know what to say.

Just yesterday morning, she suddenly learned that Li Yan was already married, and the bride was Zhang Yurong. This news gave her quite a shock and a deep sense of disappointment. Inviting them and coming skiing with them today, she was somewhat forcing herself to put on a brave face.

Because she vaguely felt that once she knew about Li Yan and Zhang Yurong's relationship, her relationship with Li Yan was essentially at an end. After this holiday, he wouldn't have any more contact with her. In the future, it might only be at class reunions or when they met by chance during holidays and exchanged greetings. So, even though she felt downhearted and it was painful to watch them show affection, she persisted in inviting them to ski. It was a form of farewell, an attempt to create more memories for herself.

But she didn't expect to encounter such an event today, and even more so, she didn't expect to hear the truth about their marriage and their emotional journey from Zhang Yurong's mouth.

After a moment of silence, Qiao Huanxuan felt that after hearing someone else's story, she should say something. "Well... I don't know how to comment on you. In any case, although it started because of your parents, you two are sincerely in love now. Don't let your parents' orders become a thorn of separation. Live well... I... I won't bother Li Yan anymore."

Zhang Yurong shook her head and sighed softly, "I didn't tell you all this to feign closeness, or to use sincerity to make you leave voluntarily. I just... wanted to talk to someone. You know? For a whole year, I couldn't tell anyone, and it was very hard for me. As for you, be who you were, don't change because of me.

As a woman, I should keep hostility towards a competitor like you because you might take my husband away. But as a woman, I should also respect a devoted person like you; you're a true advocate of wholehearted dedication, which is something worth learning and respecting. This makes me feel conflicted. Right now, when there's no one else, we can be considered as depending on each other for warmth. Ha, perhaps I'm being irrational too."

As she spoke later, Zhang Yurong didn't quite know what she was saying. Maybe there was some emotion, maybe some admiration, but there should also have been worries about Li Yan! No matter what their relationship was, she still decided to leave the decision to Li Yan. If she pushed Qiao Huanxuan out without his knowledge, and Li Yan found out, it would surely become a thorn between them. Since he still had Yu Xiaodi, an unresolved third party, having one more fourth party or at least the first love would be just the same.

In terms of opportunities, the more competition there was, the slimmer the chances. But in terms of pressure, adding one more wouldn't double it. If he would ultimately choose her, adding one more wouldn't change that. If he wouldn't choose her, even if Qiao Huanxuan and Yu Xiaodi were pushed away, he might go back to them. By now, Zhang Yurong had come to terms with a lot.

Qiao Huanxuan gave a bitter smile, "Honestly, to me now... he's become a habit. It's something formed over many years; even if I don't see him, I'm habitually thinking of him. If I could stop myself, I wouldn't have waited till now. But, you don't have to think too much. Back in high school, it was a long time ago, over ten years, and it was very pure. He should have told you, right? We reunited not long ago and have only met a few times since. It's not the same as living with you every day..."

Zhang Yurong knew that she only saw Li Yan after he returned from Beihai Country, and would only occasionally see him because of work trips to City S. Although she sympathized with the situation, she couldn't possibly encourage her to have dates with her husband, right? But when they were having an engaging conversation, shouldn't she say something polite?

At this moment, although she was in control and at ease in the business world, she found herself somewhat at a loss in the competition among women. She had dealt with Yu Xiaodi before, and now there was Qiao Huanxuan, on top of Li Yan. Trying to handle all aspects was very difficult, not like business where there could be double or multiple wins, and she lacked the experience and energy to handle it.

Never very adept in socializing, Yurong decided not to overthink, to lower expectations, and to let things happen naturally. With this in mind, she relaxed and issued an invitation: "Anyway, since you know about our situation, Li Yan doesn't have to deliberately avoid you discovering anything. When you go on business trips to City S in the future, you're welcome to visit us!"

Qiao Huanxuan was somewhat surprised. The two were so close that she could feel it wasn't just politeness or deliberate falsehood, but a heartfelt invitation, just like to a friend.

"Thank you..." Although it might be related to the current special environment and shared hardship, Qiao Huanxuan felt very grateful that she could do this.

"Sigh... The snowstorm has arrived, I wonder if Li Yan has made it safely."

"Yeah. This damn weather..." Qiao Huanxuan finished with a bitter smile—wasn't this weather common for this season? It just seemed today was particularly unlucky!

It was completely dark now, and the ski resort didn't open at night, with no lights along the cable, making their hearts quite gloomy. The howling blizzard was making them feel colder even as they huddled together. The convenience problem was even more pressing for them, but with Li Yan gone, they both couldn't relieve themselves inside and were holding it.

...

At the mountain's base cable car control room.

Though it should have been closed by now, the place was still lit with two people drinking inside.

Running, skiing, and even stumbling and rolling, Li Yan finally made it down the mountain, disregarding the snow covering him and rushing to the cable car control room's exterior. Seeing the situation inside filled him with anger. He thought they had left without ensuring everything was in order, but he saw that people were on duty and didn't realize the cable car had stopped with people in it, nor had they verified anything before shutting down.

Just as Li Yan was about to kick the door open when he took a second look and noticed that aside from one unfamiliar man, the other one inside was unexpectedly Qiao Huanxuan's classmate, Zhao Yipeng!

This made him pause. Zhao Yipeng claimed to be a director or something, no matter what department he's from, he shouldn't need to be on duty in a cable car room, right? Why is he here at this time?

Despite worrying about the two people on the cable car, he decided to wait for a bit, resolving to patiently listen to what the two of them were saying inside.

He moved to the window, taking a moment to regulate his breathing and rest, listening intently to the voices inside. He had made up his mind that no matter what was being said inside, he would only listen for two minutes. If he gained nothing in that time, he would stop caring.

Outside, the blizzard was raging; besides the howling wind and his breathing, with his ears perked to listen closely, he could hear voices inside. However, after listening for a few sentences, he was disappointed, not hearing anything unusual—the two were just talking about the weather and the strengthening blizzard.

After waiting a bit longer, likely just over a minute, Li Yan decided to stop listening. Regardless of why Zhao Yipeng was there, he had to prioritize getting Yurong and Huanxuan down safely! Just as he was about to move towards the door, the person on duty inside reached out to open the window a little and extended an ungloved hand, seemingly to feel the outside temperature.

Soon after, Li Yan heard a clearer voice from inside, "Director Zhao, it's freezing, those three are still up in the air. If we don't bring them down soon, they might get frostbite!"

Li Yan, ready to knock, felt a jolt in his heart. What does that mean? Three people? Not coming down soon? Are they deliberately trapping them?

This filled him with rage, but he struggled to stay calm, determined to hear them out first for a real conclusion.

"Xiao Fang, you've said that eight times!" Zhao Yipeng lazily chuckled, "It's fine, they're all healthy adults, not kids; they're not going to freeze that easily."

"But... it's been a long time now; the man might withstand it, but I'm worried the women won't. It's completely dark outside, and the temperature's dropping." Xiao Fang sounded anxious.

"Hey, we're here drinking and getting warmer, so naturally putting your hand out seems colder, but it's not that exaggerated. Out there, numbness and habituation will set in after a while; they'll be fine!"

"Director Zhao, what grudge do you have with that person to go so far?"

Zhao Yipeng, perhaps having drunk a bit much, was more talkative: "Xiao Fang, I think of you as one of us, so I'm not afraid of you laughing at me! The woman I like most likes that man more! Normally, they avoid me; there's rarely a chance to trouble him. Damn, today they must have bad luck; not only did they come to my territory, but they ended up trailing behind, everyone else got down, leaving only their last three. Isn't that a golden chance from above?"

"Yes, yes, he deserves to be given a hard time!" Xiao Fang, also a bit drunk, echoed with some bravado. Hearing Zhao Yipeng share such things made him feel treated as a confidant and close friend, determined to help him to the end. "Don't worry, I asked eight times before, I won't ask a ninth. Whenever you say to bring them down, I'll do it!"

Zhao Yipeng gave a sinister smile, "I don't have to kill them, but giving them a little frostbite is okay... Hehe, when we get them down, I'll say I've been calling her with no answer, waited here without seeing them, worried she might still be up the mountain, bravely drove up to check once more, just got down, finally guessing they might be stuck on the cable."

"With this rescue, Director Zhao, you'll be the hero saving the beauty!" Xiao Fang understood and chuckled knowingly.

"Trapped on a cable might begin with mutual encouragement and comfort, but as impatience and fear set in, they'll start blaming and arguing. Let's see if they'll still be together! If they all end up hospitalized from the cold, that'll be my chance..."

(Only one chapter today, tomorrow the author will strive for three!)(To be continued. To know what happens next, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters, support the author, support original reading!)