371. Gift

Unable to become Qian Renjue's mother.

Snow Empress felt a little regret but did not dwell on it.

Her attention was quickly drawn to the small pink garment in her hands.

She kept examining the piece of fabric and the few attached strings.

She couldn’t quite figure out how it was supposed to be worn.

Compared to the styles Qian Renjue had previously shown her,

this outfit had far too little fabric.

Not even a hole.

"Huh?"

Out of curiosity,

Snow Empress looped one of the strings around her snow-white neck, her eyes filled with curiosity and doubt.

"Is this how it's supposed to hang?"

After fumbling with it for a while,

she couldn't think of any better way to wear it.

Feeling a small sense of accomplishment, she gently removed it.

A faint milky fragrance wafted by,

causing her beautiful eyes to flicker as she sniffed the pink garment in her hand.

This scent...

It wasn’t from Qian Renjue's sister, nor was it from his mother.

Puzzled, Snow Empress called down,

"Qian Renjue, whose clothing is this? Your father's?"

"Huh?! What nonsense are you talking about?!"

Hearing her words,

Qian Renjue frowned, looked up, and was instantly stunned.

His eyes and mouth twitched uncontrollably.

At this moment, Snow Empress was not just holding a small garment in her hands—

the white clothing she had been wearing had transformed into the pink garment.

However, the fabric of the garment was far too little.

It hung around her snow-white neck,

barely covering anything, leaving much exposed to the icy wind.

If one were to calculate the area it covered,

it would barely obscure small parts of her flawless figure.

Her slender arms, smooth shoulders,

and slim waist were all fully visible.

It was daring attire,

but her pure and innocent eyes reflected nothing but simple curiosity and confusion.

Qian Renjue's scolding words caught in his throat.

Gulp—

He reluctantly swallowed his frustration.

Lowering his head, he exhaled faintly, a mist escaping his lips.

"Did I say something wrong, Qian Renjue?"

Snow Empress sat on a block of ice, her gaze puzzled as she leaned forward,

completely unbothered by the playful bounce of her snow-white peaks.

To her, she was already clothed.

Not being a husband, it didn’t matter if others looked.

Qian Renjue faced forward, trying to keep his mind clear.

He sighed helplessly, saying,

"That’s a girl’s undergarment, my junior sister’s."

"Junior sister?"

Snow Empress raised an eyebrow.

"She’s my mother’s student,"

Qian Renjue explained further, the block of ice he was floating on descending slowly.

His tired voice drifted out:

"Also, undergarments are worn underneath clothing. When outside, you can’t wear just that. Except for sisters or husbands, no one else should see."

"Is that so?"

Snow Empress nodded slightly.

Noticing Qian Renjue’s lips open and close without further words, her snowy cheeks flushed faintly.

The white gown she had been wearing slowly reappeared,

covering the pink garment.

Indeed, wearing it this way felt more comfortable and warmer.

Crack.

The block of ice beneath Snow Empress shook.

Below,

Qian Renjue glanced up at her and reminded her:

"Snow Empress, we’re already at the door. Get down and start carving."

Without speaking, Snow Empress nodded silently.

She descended gracefully along with the snowflakes,

her skirt fluttering freely. Qian Renjue quickly averted his upward gaze.

Watching the Snow Empress before him, he felt increasingly uneasy.

He couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong—Snow Empress was acting like some sort of cosplay idol.

The Snow Empress's pearl-like toes touched the ice.

She folded the new garment Qian Renjue had brought her,

held it carefully in her hands, and handed it to him.



At the same time,
her eyes filled with anticipation, she softly asked:
"Qian Renjue, didn’t you say you’d bring me a gift last time?"

"Yes, I did. I brought it."

Qian Renjue nodded slightly and waved his hand to put away the clothing.

A flicker of light appeared in his hand,
revealing a pair of beautiful crystal shoes.

"This is the gift I brought you,"
Qian Renjue said with a smile, raising the crystal shoes in his hand for Snow Empress to see.

"Shoes?"

Snow Empress's eyes sparkled with delight.


The transparent, gorgeous crystal shoes perfectly matched her taste.

"Yes."

Qian Renjue nodded again and gently asked:
"Do you want me to help you put them on?"

"Mm," Snow Empress softly agreed with a nod.

Learning from his earlier experience,
Qian Renjue didn’t waste words and efficiently knelt down.

He reached out his warm hands toward Snow Empress's delicate feet resting on the snow.

“Ah~”

The moment he touched them,
Snow Empress felt a slight tickle and let out a soft, barely audible sound.

She cooperatively lifted her foot,
steadying herself with one hand resting gently on Qian Renjue’s head.

Her pearly-white teeth lightly bit her soft pink lips as ripples spread through her icy blue eyes.
A hint of blush crept onto her ethereal, peerless face.

The warmth of Qian Renjue's hand transmitted through her foot,
sending a tingling sensation through her body,
as though she might melt under the heat.

Noticing the delicate hand resting on his head,
Qian Renjue paused briefly but then continued helping her into the crystal shoes.

Holding Snow Empress's exquisite foot,
it felt like a soft, sticky glutinous rice cake in his hand.

Slender and delicate, fair and smooth, it wasn’t icy cold but pleasantly cool to the touch.

The skin he touched flushed faintly,
like a soft pink blossom blooming under his fingertips.

Gently and skillfully, Qian Renjue helped her put on the right shoe, then the left.

Just holding her foot was refreshing,
like it could chase away the heat of summer,
carrying the unique, elegant, and pure fragrance of Snow Empress's.

Snow Empress looked down at the boy in front of her,
feeling an unprecedented flutter in her heart.

"All done. Give me your hand—these high heels might take some getting used to."

Qian Renjue kept his head down, raising both hands.

"Mm,"

Snow Empress murmured softly, her delicate fingers brushing into his warm palms,
bringing a slight ticklish sensation.

Holding her slender hand, Qian Renjue smiled and stood up.

"How does it feel? Do they fit?"

"Mm."

Snow Empress looked at Qian Renjue, her eyes soft, her lips curved into a gentle smile as she nodded.
She lightly tightened her grasp on his warm hands.

Qian Renjue, holding her delicate fingers, raised them slightly as if inviting her to dance.
His expression softened with warmth as he gently reminded her:

"If they fit, try walking a few steps."

"Alright."

The Snow Empress's cold voice carried a hint of warmth.

With Qian Renjue supporting her, she carefully lifted her slightly numb, warm feet,
taking slow, measured steps forward.

Gradually, Qian Renjue let go of her hand.

For Snow Empress finding balance wasn’t difficult.

However, the sway of her slender waist and elegant hips was still pronounced.

Facing away from Qian Renjue, Snow Empress looked down at the alternating steps of the crystal shoes.

She continued walking forward, her voice filled with delight.

"Thank you, Qian Renjue. I love them."

"Mm."

Qian Renjue admired her silhouette,
his gaze lingering on her smooth calves as he said with a smile:
"Snow Empress, do you remember the ice silk stockings I showed you last time?
Wearing them with these shoes would look even better."

"Mm? I remember."

Snow Empress nodded slightly, a ripple of gossamer silk appearing on her legs.

In just a moment, her long legs were wrapped in white stockings.

She bent slightly to inspect them, then turned to Qian Renjue and asked:

"Do they look good?"

"Mm, they look beautiful."

Qian Renjue sincerely complimented her.

"Mm."

Snow Empress lowered her gaze, a clear, shy smile blossoming on her face.

"Qian Renjue, I also have a gift for you."