How much longer will it take? One more year or another eight years, can he afford to wait?

  The man looked somewhat dispirited, with a sense of decadence about him. He stood still and let out a snort of laughter.

  Kyoto's snowfall is heavy and thick, and it has already piled up on both sides of the streets. The leaves on the trees are also bent down by the weight of the snow.

  He subconsciously patted his pocket for a cigarette, but didn't find one.

  Just as he turned around, he saw Jiang Yan standing behind him.

  She didn't hold an umbrella and got snowed on a bit.

  On a snowy day, her eyes seemed to have a layer of frost on them, somewhat elusive.

  Ruan Jiang was stunned for a second, then took big strides towards her and wrapped Jiang Yan into his arms.

  There was a faint scent of menthol cigarettes on her body, she must have just smoked one.

  She had originally intended to leave, but then remembered that she would have to walk a long way and turned back, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

  "Don't listen to that idiot, he's got a twisted mouth." He hugged her, his tone somewhat urgent.

  Jiang Yan didn't say a word, letting the man hold her. After a while, she pulled on the man's clothes and made him squat down.

  This scene was somewhat familiar, as she had made him do so before. At that time, he was unwilling, and the two of them were at a stalemate for a long time.

  His shoulders were very wide, and Jiangyan put her face on his shoulder.

  He walked step by step, the snow on the ground was very deep, especially with frost, this weather even made it difficult for cars to move.

  Every step he took, the bone-piercing chill would throb with pain. He didn't say a word, just carried her on his back as he walked.

  Jiang Yan leaned on his back, her hands gently tugging at the man's clothes.

  Her eyes were slightly red, probably frozen red, and she took a light breath.

  He actually drove here, she didn't want to sit in it, so he carried her on his back.

  The snowflakes danced in the sky, and Ruan Jiang was as if placed between two extremes.

  Ginger smoke on his back, warm as spring, but his feet were like being frostbitten, only mechanically moving.

  The snow is too deep, the weather is very cold, and even the air is icy.

  He walked unsteadily, and a single cough would make him stumble, so Jiangyan grasped the man's clothes tightly.

  Her nose was a little red, and she buried her whole face in the man's back. She couldn't help but want to cry, crying silently, with tears falling down unknowingly.

  Halfway through, Jiang Yan couldn't hold it in anymore and pulled on the man's sleeve, her tone trembling, "Ruan Jianglin, let's take a taxi."

  "Good." He responded, and shifted her slightly to a more stable position.

  "Put me down."

  Ruan Jiang was squatting down halfway, his legs were already numb and cold, as if they had lost their sensation, almost unable to stand up.

  It's hard to hail a taxi here, especially since it's in a remote area.

  Ruan Jianglin stood with Jiang Yan by the roadside for a while, and the two of them blew in the cold wind, neither of whom spoke.

  Until she couldn't help but let out a sneeze, Ruan Jiang frowned and pulled the woman's clothes tighter.

  He took out his mobile phone and sent a location to the driver, asking him to come pick him up.

  Before long, Mr. Lu drove over with the car heater on, and Jiangyan warmed up a bit after getting in for a while.

  Ruan Jianglin sat beside her, holding her hand and putting it in his coat pocket.

  In fact, he was even cooler on his body, and there wasn't much warmth in his pocket either. But Jiang Yan didn't refuse, letting him hold her hand.

  After that night, Ruan Jiang often felt a dull ache in his lower legs, especially around his ankles.

  But he never cared about those things and didn't bother with them either.

  It wasn't until he was numb to the point where he couldn't even move his feet that he went to the hospital.

  I invited an old Chinese doctor to give him acupuncture, didn't feel much, but it was a bit more comfortable than before, however, he couldn't stand the smell of that traditional Chinese medicine, which was quite unpleasant.

  "You young people just don't pay attention to these things, and by the time you're old, it will be too late."

  "Uh-huh." He responded.

  *

  After finishing acupuncture, I ran into an acquaintance.

  He was his previous pulmonary department's attending physician and Jiang Shu's friend.

  Since we've met, let him take a photo and check if there's any improvement.

  Originally, Ruan Jiangling was supposed to come back for a check-up in January, but he kept putting it off and the doctor didn't rush him either.

  Ruan Jianglin smiled and didn't go, glossing over it by saying he'd come next time.

  He didn't listen to the doctor's advice and continued to smoke on and off. It wasn't that he didn't have the courage to quit, but rather he just didn't want to add unnecessary trouble.

  Before New Year's Day, Ruan Jiang went to see a friend's show. He didn't want to go at first because he had work originally.

  However, Xiu is the LV spring product of next year. He remembered that he had seen Jiang Yan look at it once, and at that time, he was holding her and laughing, saying: "Kiss me, I'll buy it for you."

  Jiang Yan smiled slightly and didn't respond to him.

  That same afternoon, he sent over the piece Jiang Yan had previously picked out, along with a few more haute couture pieces.

  She didn't wear it until after the spring began, when the team was going to gather for a meal, she finally put on that skirt and wrapped a coat outside.

  That day, her makeup was a bit thick, and her cold face didn't quite suit heavy makeup. But on her face, it blended in exceptionally well, especially those slender eyes that captured people's hearts.

  Ruan Jianglin looked at her after she finished dressing, and wrapped his arms around her from behind, breathing against the nape of her neck: "How can you be so beautiful?"

  Jiang Yan's lips were pursed, her bright eyes and white teeth gleaming, her red lips and white teeth exceptionally radiant.

  Ruan Jianglin had never seen her dress up so seriously before, and couldn't help but ask another question.

  She smiled attractively and intentionally said something to annoy him, "Of course, it's just fishing for a boyfriend."

  He reached down with his big palm, pinched the woman's slender waist, intentionally or unintentionally stroking it, and lightly teased: "Which rich guy is richer than me?"

  Jiang Yan lightly shook her head and pouted, "You really think I'm so superficial, it's not just about this one thing."

  He kept drawing closer, their breaths intertwining, a pair of peach blossom eyes that couldn't see through his gaze.

  "What's inside?"

  Jiang Yan: "Not necessarily, what if someone is exceptionally talented and has a wealth of knowledge?"

  Ruan Jiang lightly chuckled and gently pecked her lips, without smudging her lipstick.

  "Hmph, I'm not inferior to your man in this aspect either."

  He is confident, but he didn't say anything wrong either.

  Jiang Yan leaned back in his arms, giggling and chuckling, with a hint of coquettishness.

  "But you're getting older, I'm afraid it won't work for you later." She tilted her head and whispered softly in the man's ear.

  What she said is wrong. At this age, Ruan Jianglin is at the golden age of a man, he has education, money and status.

  As long as Jiangyan wants something within a certain range, Ruan Jianglin can provide it.

  "Jiang Yan, don't talk too big, I'm afraid you'll be scared."

  She still loves to tease him as before, provoking him until he's furious, then she can't help herself and ends up crying for mercy.

  But time was too long, so Jiang Yan forgot.

  "Jiang Yan, try it?" He pulled her slender hand down continuously.

  Jiang Yan was still a little afraid, struggling free from his grasp, "Don't, I still have something to do."

  Ruan Jiang slowly got up, smiled faintly, and didn't say anything. In this regard, she was still the same coward.

  (End of chapter)