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The next day, the snow continued to fall.

Song Chi braved the heavy snow and flew to the Qingxue Academy. Upon entering the Guihai Class, she felt that something was inexplicably strange today. She could not pinpoint exactly what it was, but she felt that Ye Qingyu’s gaze upon her was haunting, lacking its usual air of pride.

She didn't pay it much mind. The issue at hand was that the morning curriculum was quite packed, but the afternoon session had been unexpectedly canceled. The sect, in a rare display of human kindness, had granted the disciples a half-day off for the Lantern Festival to relax.

When Master Mo Shubai entered the classroom and announced this, the disciples gave a small cheer. After all, the recent days of cultivation had been exhausting, and many couples had already made plans to head down the mountain to enjoy the lantern festival. There was nothing better than having an extra afternoon for an intimate date.

But then, how was she supposed to "happen upon" Mo Feiyun in the plum forest west of the academy?

In the original book, this scene took place on the morning of the Lantern Festival amidst the swirling snow. The original owner had sought out Mo Feiyun, who was wandering the snow to admire the plum blossoms, and mustered the courage to extend a once-in-a-lifetime invitation.

If there were classes all morning, how could that happen? Had the plot been altered?

Song Chi, eager to seize the opportunities within the secret realm, was the person least willing to see any changes to the plot. Consequently, she cast worried glances toward the plum forest, unable to focus on Mo Shubai’s lecture.

Looking out the window meant inevitably seeing Mo Feiyun. Every time, their gazes met. The young man still maintained his elegant, handsome appearance, though his eyes seemed less icy than usual today. Yet, he remained as calm as still water, showing no reaction to her gaze.

Song Chi couldn't help but want to laugh internally. She suspected that the "chance encounter" for the sake of admiring plum blossoms in the snow would likely fail. After all, she was not the original owner. The thought that she was about to face failure in her first date in two lifetimes made her feel inexplicably amused.

It was, perhaps, a decent life experience.

Thinking of the inevitable outcome, Song Chi felt even more inclined to ask Mo Feiyun out. How would she feel if she were rejected? If it made her sad and stirred up her emotions, that would be a good thing. She could then immediately retreat to a corner of the sect and play those few musical pieces a hundred times over.

With that thought, she smiled at Mo Feiyun before turning back. He remained calm, his starry eyes as dark as ink. The result was indeed foreseeable, she thought as she turned away.

For some reason, Ye Qingyu suddenly radiated killing intent toward her—a kind of killing intent that gave her goosebumps across half her body. She was certain it wasn't unintentional. She had no idea what had gotten into him. In the front rows, Jiang Linyue and Su Qiwu also turned slightly to look at her; if she wasn't mistaken, their expressions held a hint of injury. Perhaps… it was just her imagination.

Furthermore, Master Mo Shubai, who was on the podium, slipped away quickly before she could meet his gaze. Song Chi felt that her initial impression upon entering the classroom had been correct. She had no idea what was wrong with these people today.

Qi Zhenmo, lost in some thought, suddenly buried his head in his arms, shaking with silent laughter. Song Chi spread her hands in silence, unsure of what had possessed him.

Soon, the hour-long class passed, followed by a short half-quarter-hour break. Song Chi noticed that Mo Feiyun remained seated. She reasoned that the plot in the book must take place after the next class, when Mo Feiyun would forgo lunch to elegantly wander the plum forest.

She would just wait until then. However, the book was still embedded in her mind, and it clearly stated "morning." Had her small butterfly wings altered the plot? Song Chi frowned.

Unexpectedly, when the second class began, Mo Shubai announced, "Today, the snow is heavy, the plum blossoms are in bloom, and it is a festive day. There will be no sparring practice today. You may go to the plum forest to admire the snow and feel the austere energy of metal and water from the heavens. It may be beneficial for your understanding of musical rhythm."

Hearing this, the disciples were overjoyed and began to head out. Naturally, there were those "grind-lords" who went straight to the training hall to continue their combat drills.

Song Chi felt this was a heaven-sent opportunity, and the plot was still progressing steadily without being disturbed by her butterfly wings. It was a good thing.

She left the classroom immediately. She had to go "admire the plum blossoms in the snow" and wait for the right moment to orchestrate an encounter. Following Mo Feiyun around right now would make her look like a stalker, which wouldn't do.

As soon as Song Chi left, the young men in the classroom suddenly became shy. Su Yu, with his thin lips pressed together, was the first to leave with his hands behind his back. Then came Ji Minghuang, clutching his fan and suppressing a laugh. Those two were clearly just there to watch the drama; the amusement in their eyes was impossible to hide.

Even the innocent-looking Cui Xueruo seemed to notice something. With a subtle shift of her gaze, she covered her lips with a smile and drifted out.

Then, Ye Qingyu and the other two fixed their dark, heavy gazes on Mo Feiyun. The boy remained oblivious to their hostility. His jade-like face was now flushed with a faint red, and while his eyes remained cold, a subtle tenderness lay hidden within.

Mo Shubai knew that after Song Chi had looked back toward the plum forest three times and stolen glances at Mo Feiyun, the boy had spent the rest of the class with a corner of an invitation letter peeking out from his fingers, only to quickly tuck it away again. The invitation bore the unique ink-plum mark of the Mo family and was quite formal. But Mo Feiyun was likely too shy and unsure of Song Chi's feelings. Thus, Mo Shubai suspected that if he didn't give a little push, that invitation might stay in the boy's hand until the end of time.

Mo Shubai had not expected that the boy Song Chi would choose was Mo Feiyun. He had originally thought it would be Ye Qingyu, as he knew Ye Qingyu had visited Song Chi's hometown of Baihua Creek years ago and lived next door to her. He had also paid some attention to the secret realm of Baihua Creek back then.

This pair could barely be considered childhood sweethearts. Moreover, Song Chi often exchanged glances with Ye Qingyu, though most were her sidelong glares. If not for Ye Qingyu’s wealthy background, which she couldn't afford to offend, those glances would likely have been full of disdain rather than just cold indifference. In any case, he had viewed them as a bickering pair.

Clearly, he had been dead wrong. He never expected that Song Chi would fancy this cold boy from the Mo family. As for her cousin Jiang Linyue, Mo Shubai knew from the start that he would fail, as would the boy from the Su family, because Song Chi treated them like total strangers—with absolute, heartless indifference.

Soon, as if having made up his mind, Mo Feiyun stood up and vanished in an instant. Ye Qingyu let out a cold, savage snort and also vanished, flying toward the plum forest. Jiang Linyue tapped his palm with his fan, and Su Qiwu left with his hands behind his back. Although they said nothing, Mo Shubai knew they were not to be trifled with. None of these gifted disciples from great families were simple.

*I should go and intervene,* Mo Shubai thought. *Otherwise, those two might not be able to get their date if these others interfere.* Of course, his main purpose was simply to admire the plum blossoms. With the ten miles of plum forest in the Qingxue Academy in such full bloom, it would be a shame not to appreciate them.

Song Chi had been wandering the plum forest for a while, wondering when Mo Feiyun would arrive and how she could approach him naturally without seeming forced.

Suddenly, as she turned a corner through a cluster of plum trees, a figure in green emerged from a path where the snow lay deep, pushing aside a plum branch. The man with the jade crown, embroidered sash, and cold expression was none other than Mo Feiyun.

It was quite a coincidence. This area was remote, and the plum trees ahead were still budding, unlike the ones that were in full, vibrant bloom. Consequently, even if other disciples came this way, they would take one look and turn back.

With no witnesses, Song Chi relaxed slightly. She strolled toward him, and just as she approached, Mo Feiyun finished brushing the snow from his clothes and looked up.

"What a coincidence," Song Chi said.

Mo Feiyun gave a soft "hmm" and nodded. He continued to walk at a steady pace. When he encountered a low-hanging plum branch across their path, he politely lifted it for her to pass first before following.

The two walked in silence for a while; after all, this was Song Chi's first time asking someone on a date, and she was still organizing her words.

Soon, the winding path turned to reveal a small bridge nestled among the plum trees, and the faint sound of flowing water could be heard. The snow, which had stopped, began to fall again in a cold, gusting wind.

Song Chi was struck dumb. This was exactly the spot mentioned in the book where the original owner invited Mo Feiyun!

She couldn't miss the plot point now. Song Chi glanced at Mo Feiyun. The boy was sharp; his ink-black eyes immediately dropped to meet hers.

Song Chi cleared her throat silently in her heart, then spoke. "It's the Lantern Festival today, you know!"

"Hmm." Mo Feiyun glanced at her, his gaze quickly sweeping past the surrounding plum branches before returning to her, dark as ink.

"Brother Mo, do you have any plans?"

Mo Feiyun looked at her, his Adam's apple bobbing against his snow-white collar. He shook his head. "No." He looked at her again, his lips moving as if to speak, but he ultimately pressed them together.

"Well then..." Song Chi lightly brushed her index finger against her nose, then glanced at Mo Feiyun with a smile. "I don't have any plans either. If it's convenient for you, Brother Mo, would you like to go down the mountain to see the lanterns with me tonight?"

In the book, the original owner would have been blushing furiously and lowering her head in intense nervousness after saying this. Song Chi, however, didn't feel particularly shy. She looked at Mo Feiyun, expecting a rejection. After all, he was already deeply infatuated with Cui Xueruo—a secret, unrequited love. In the past two years, she had been too busy working on her career to pay attention to these youths' romances, so she didn't know how deep his feelings for the heroine ran.

But surely, he liked her. The plot hadn't changed at all! The only thing that had changed was that she had never had any luck with romance in two lifetimes. She couldn't imagine how Mo Feiyun could develop any affection for her.

To her surprise, Mo Feiyun was even shyer than expected. As she finished speaking, his fair cheeks flushed with a faint red amidst the falling snowflakes. Against his handsome, fair-skinned face, he looked even more charming than the red plum blossoms covered in snow.

Then, the corners of his mouth seemed to twitch, and he gave her a quick glance before lowering his gaze and responding.

"Hmm." The sound was exceptionally low and magnetic.

He quickly added, "At the second quarter of the You hour, I will wait for you at the mountain gate."

Before she could speak, he flashed away and disappeared. She soon saw the plum branches trembling in the distance; he must have brushed against them while flying away in stealth.