Dinner lasted until ten in the evening.

By then, the restaurant was nearly empty, with most dishes no longer being replenished. Many of the servers, now idle, had begun chatting among themselves.

Song Mian finally stood up, rubbing her stomach in satisfaction. “I’m stuffed. Let’s head back.”

Before leaving, Chu Jiangmin picked up his teacup for one last sip. “Why did you eat so much? It’s not even that good.”

Song Mian muttered, “I wasn’t paying attention while chatting.”

Chu Tao and Chu Xingning also stood up and followed their parents out.

Remembering what Jiang She had said, Chu Tao barely ate anything after his initial slice of cake. Similarly, Chu Xingning, who had a small appetite to begin with, didn’t eat much either.

On the way out, Chu Jiangmin asked Song Mian, “After eating this much, can you still go for a massage?”

Song Mian glanced out the window. There were no stars visible, and the neon lights from the garden and hot spring area dominated the view. The various lights shimmered and shifted through the glass, glowing vibrantly in the cool night.

She yawned. “I feel a bit sleepy now. Let’s skip the massage.”

Chu Jiangmin, wanting Song Mian to enjoy the outing, encouraged her. “You can relax during the massage—you’ll just be lying there, and someone will do all the work.”

Song Mian waved her hand. “It’s not free, you know, and I’m not that eager for it anyway.”

Unhappy with her frugality, Chu Jiangmin reminded her, “I told you not to worry about the cost. I’ll treat you.”

Song Mian leaned against his shoulder with a smile, sighing lightly. “No, I’ve got two sons to think about. I need to save money for them.”

Chu Xingning frowned slightly. “Mom… We don’t need you to save money for us. You should do what makes you happy.”

Song Mian turned and gently patted Chu Xingning’s head. Both Chu Xingning and Chu Tao were taller than her now. Time had flown by, and she realized she now had to stand on tiptoe to ruffle her sons’ hair.

“I was just joking with you two. I’m genuinely tired. Getting older means I can’t stay up as late. You two go have fun; your dad and I will rest.”

Chu Tao swallowed nervously and tried to keep his tone casual. “Do I really have to go see Jiang She?”

Song Mian paused, seemingly having forgotten she’d brought it up earlier. But she quickly remembered and replied, “You’ve already run into him, so it’d be polite to see him. If you really don’t want to, at least send him a message to explain. Otherwise, it might seem like your dad and I didn’t pass along the word.”

“Then I’ll go hang out with him for a bit,” Chu Tao said quickly, worried Song Mian might change her mind.

Song Mian didn’t give it much thought. “Don’t stay out too late. We still have to get up early for breakfast tomorrow.”

Chu Tao nodded.

After leaving the restaurant, Song Mian and Chu Jiangmin took the elevator upstairs, while Chu Tao and Chu Xingning lingered in the hallway.

Chu Xingning turned to Chu Tao. “Go find Jiang She. Don’t worry about me—I’ll just wander around.”

Chu Tao hesitated for a moment before saying softly, “Be careful, though. There are a lot of people here.”

Chu Xingning, being an Omega and quite good-looking, could potentially attract trouble. With the outdoor hot spring area full of dark, secluded spots, Chu Tao worried about him roaming alone at night.

Chu Xingning patted his younger brother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll just stay in the main building.”

Only then did Chu Tao feel reassured enough to step into the elevator.

He expertly pressed the button for Jiang She’s floor. Arriving at the door, he knocked lightly.

The door was quickly opened from the inside, and Jiang She pulled him into a tight embrace.

Jiang She had already returned from soaking in the hot spring, taken a shower, and changed into fresh clothes. However, Chu Tao hadn’t yet cleaned up and worried about dirtying Jiang She, so he quickly pushed him away. “Don’t. I haven’t showered yet.”

Jiang She’s hands roamed playfully at Chu Tao’s collar, his voice husky. “I don’t mind.”

Chu Tao grabbed Jiang She’s wandering fingers, firmly saying, “Let’s go eat something first. We’ll talk when we get back.”

Jiang She was indeed hungry. From the afternoon until ten at night, he’d only had a cup of tea with Pei Jiang. Reluctantly, he let go and rubbed his empty stomach.

“What did you tell your mom?”

Chu Tao glanced at him and pulled the room card from its slot near the door. “Tell her what?”

Jiang She followed him out. As they exited, he closed the door behind them. “What excuse did you use to sneak out?”

Chu Tao smirked, tightening his collar. “No excuse. My mom suggested I come find you.”

Jiang She raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. “She said that? What kind of good fortune is this?”

“She probably believed all that nonsense you said,” Chu Tao teased as he accompanied Jiang She to the first-floor lobby.

By evening, there were fewer people at the outdoor hot springs. The corridor leading to the back was deserted, though the indoor pools still had plenty of visitors.

In the lobby, the café and bar were still open, but due to their high prices, not many people were there.

Chu Tao and Jiang She went into the bar and ordered some food: a small burger, a large portion of fries, and two cocktails. Taking advantage of Song Mian being back in her room, Chu Tao decided to indulge a little.

The cocktails arrived first. A thin layer of condensation formed on the clear glass, with fizzy bubbles rising amidst the ice cubes. A sprig of mint rested on the ice, and a plastic straw, twisted into a heart shape, was angled inside the glass.

Leaning forward, Chu Tao took the straw between his lips and sipped.

The drink’s initial sharpness hit his tongue, causing him to immediately frown and squint as he reluctantly swallowed.

The icy cocktail slid down his throat and was quickly warmed by his body heat, leaving a subtle warmth. The spicy tang gradually mellowed into a sweet aftertaste. A faint minty aroma lingered, but the initial discomfort disappeared.

“Not used to it,” Chu Tao muttered.

He had barely drunk alcohol before, still unused to beer, and now he was trying cocktails.

Jiang She, far more accustomed, stirred his drink casually with the straw before taking a big sip, his expression unchanged.

“It’s nothing special. Someday, I’ll take you to try something better.”

Chu Tao’s lips, wet from the drink, glistened as he murmured, “I still prefer juice.”

Soon, their food arrived. Four mini burgers skewered with toothpicks released a mouthwatering aroma. The orange-yellow cheese was just beginning to solidify, glistening with a honey-like sheen that made them irresistible.

Jiang She ate three of the mini burgers, and Chu Tao shared one with him. Together, they also finished most of the fries, leaving both of them stuffed.

To combat the dryness of the burgers and fries, Chu Tao took frequent sips of his cocktail. Without realizing it, he ended up finishing the entire drink.

The alcohol spread warmth through his stomach and soon into his bloodstream. Sweat began to form on his skin, and even his breathing grew heated.

Cocktails had a stronger kick than beer, and it wasn’t long before Chu Tao felt the effects—his nerves tingling with excitement. He rubbed his eyes and, holding a fry between his lips, half-chewed, half-mumbled to Jiang She, “Let’s go outside for some air. I’m feeling hot.”

Jiang She, with a much higher tolerance, only showed a faint redness on his neck.

“You still want to go to the hot spring?” he asked.

Chu Tao shook his head. “No hot springs, just a walk outside. It’s too stuffy in here.”

The indoor hot springs were close by, filling the lobby with a humid warmth that became stifling after a while, especially with the heating turned up.

“You’re not wearing enough,” Jiang She said, concerned.

Chu Tao stood up first, swallowing the last of his fries. “It’s fine. We’ll be back soon.”

Jiang She couldn’t argue, so he wrapped up the remaining fries and followed Chu Tao out.

They walked down the corridor, inching forward bit by bit, no longer as cautious as they had been under the watchful eyes of their parents. This time, they could move freely.

Exiting the corridor brought them to the outdoor hot spring area. Only a few pools were still occupied, leaving the space tranquil, with no splashing sounds or loud chatter.

The stars shone brightly in the mountain sky, pressing low as if every star could be seen without obstruction.

Neon lights, cold and slow-changing, illuminated the snowy ground in soft, shifting hues.

The snow along the cobblestone paths had been trampled into messy footprints, but near the bamboo forest and the moon gate, the snow remained untouched—pristine and pure.

Chu Tao took a deep breath, letting the icy night air fill his lungs and ease the lingering heat within him.

He lifted his gaze, his eyes damp from the alcohol, catching the shimmering neon lights that blurred and scattered before him.

“So quiet,” he murmured.

The outdoor temperature was well below freezing. Wearing only a bathrobe, Chu Tao quickly felt the chill of the wind and snow. Fortunately, the alcohol coursing through him provided enough warmth to keep him from freezing immediately.

Instinctively, he moved closer to Jiang She for warmth.

Jiang She tapped him lightly on the head. “Alright, you’ve had some fresh air. Let’s head back before you catch a cold.”

But Chu Tao, slightly tipsy and exhilarated, wasn’t ready to leave. During the day, the crowds had prevented him from fully enjoying himself, but now, it felt like the world belonged to him.

Kicking off his slippers, he wandered further into the area, passing the rose pool, the herbal bath, and the mud pool until he reached the edge of the moon gate.

Through the circular opening, a small, framed view of the world appeared: the vast, glittering sky, the deep, dark forest, and the rolling mountains in the distance.

At his feet lay an untouched patch of smooth, clean snow.

The cold had hardened the once-soft snow into a grainier texture.

Suddenly, Chu Tao crouched down, wrapping his robe tighter around himself. He stretched out a finger and began to draw serious little shapes in the snow.

“Are you cold…” Jiang She’s voice trailed off as he watched him.

Jiang She immediately realized that Chu Tao had drunk a little too much. Like a child, he was crouching on the ground playing with snow, his neck exposed, his ankles uncovered, frozen to the point where he seemed to have lost all warmth.

Yet Jiang She didn’t want to interrupt him. No matter what Chu Tao did, he never wanted to be the one to stop him.

Helpless, Jiang She crouched down and hugged Chu Tao from behind, trying to cover his back to provide some warmth.

As he lowered his gaze, he finally caught a glimpse of what Chu Tao had been drawing in the snow.

The coarse-grained snow made Chu Tao’s “artwork” more difficult, but through the wobbly lines, Jiang She could still make out what he had written.

It was their names, encircled by a large, uneven circle.

Perhaps Chu Tao had intended to draw something else, but in the end, it just looked like a big circle.

Chu Tao frowned and studied it for a while, seemingly dissatisfied, but unable to change it now.

Jiang She knelt on one knee, resting his chin on Chu Tao’s shoulder, and said softly, “You must really like me—writing your husband’s name even when you’re drunk.”

Chu Tao blinked, his cold cheek brushing against Jiang She’s face.

“How’s the view outside?” he asked, gesturing toward everything beyond the moon gate.

The wind, the stars, the moonlight, the forest, the road.

Jiang She took a serious look.

If there were a high-quality camera capturing the view from this angle, it would surely make for a stunning photograph. The lines, the curves, the composition, and the elements all came together perfectly.

“It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” Jiang She whispered against Chu Tao’s ear.

Chu Tao let out a relieved breath and finally smiled with satisfaction.

Gripping Jiang She’s hand with his icy fingers, he crouched on the ground like a frosty little mushroom and said earnestly, “Then our love is part of the scenery too.”