Is not being able to do as you please also called rebirth?

Chapter 203 A Winter Night for Three
In late winter, the capital city was bathed in the light after a fresh snowfall.

Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, shining on the snow-covered pine branches in the Zizhuyuan residential area, refracting into tiny, crystalline sparkles.

The heating in the rented room was on full blast, and a thin layer of condensation formed on the glass windows, gently keeping out the chill from the outside.

The kitchen was bustling with activity.

A bubbling hot pot with two broths occupied the center of the table, its red oil and tomato soup swirling with enticing bubbles, filling the entire space with a rich aroma.

Chen Shixuan was standing on tiptoe, trying to bring a plate of neatly arranged marbled beef to the table. The sleeves of her loose coral fleece loungewear slipped down, revealing a slender, fair wrist.

While carefully maintaining her balance, she yelled at Zhao Ruoyu, who was preparing the dipping sauce next to her, "Ruoyu! My sesame paste! Add more crushed peanuts and sesame oil!"

Zhao Ruoyu, wearing an apron with a little yellow duck printed on it, didn't even look up when she heard this. She continued stirring the food in her bowl with a small spoon and said helplessly:
"Okay, okay, you glutton! We're just missing this plate of meat, hurry up and bring it up!" She complained, but her movements were swift. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Xun taking a chilled plum juice out of the refrigerator, and immediately ordered:

"Bro! A cup! I want the biggest one!"

Jiang Xun responded and took out three large glasses, the ice cubes clinking together with a crisp sound.

He had just poured the plum juice when Chen Shixuan put down the beef plate, hopped over like a light deer, picked up the glass and took a big gulp, sighing contentedly:

"Ah! So comfortable! I was freezing when I got back from rehearsal, it's so much warmer at home!" Her nose still had a slight redness from being outside, which looked even more charming under the warmth of the heating and the steam from the hot pot.

Zhao Ruoyu also prepared three bowls of fragrant dipping sauce and brought them over, casually swatting away Chen Shixuan's hand that was trying to sneak a bite of the freshly cooked shrimp paste:
"Did you wash your hands? And stop walking around in this outfit all the time, or you'll get oil splattered on it and won't be able to wash it off!" She was referring to the fluffy pink cat-ear jumpsuit that Chen Shixuan was wearing, with two soft cat ears on the hood.

Chen Shixuan chuckled and withdrew her hand, deliberately putting on the cat-ear hat and making a face at Zhao Ruoyu:

"Mind your own business! Your brother likes it, right, honey?" she said, deliberately rubbing against Jiang Xun and nudging his arm with her head.

Zhao Ruoyu knew this was a little prank between the two of them. She guessed that Jiang Xun liked to hold the cat ears at night. Thinking of this scene, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she spat.

Jiang Xun chuckled, reaching out to ruffle the cat ears on Chen Shixuan's hat, feeling their soft, fluffy texture: "Hmm, quite cute. But Ruoyu is right, be careful of getting oily."

His gaze swept over the steaming pot and the dazzling array of ingredients on the table, finally settling on the two girls' rosy cheeks flushed from the steam.

Although Zhao Ruoyu was sharp-tongued, she was also wearing warm cartoon-themed loungewear, her long hair casually tied up, revealing her smooth neck, and her brows showed relaxation after letting down her guard.

This noisy, food-scented daily routine is his favorite feeling.

"Let's eat!" With Jiang Xun's command, three pairs of chopsticks reached for the bubbling soup pot almost simultaneously.

The beef rolls quickly change color and curl up in the scalding hot red oil, then are dipped in a rich sauce and put into the mouth, where the fresh, fragrant, spicy and numbing flavors instantly ignite the taste buds.

The shrimp balls, cooked in a tomato broth, are translucent and bouncy, bursting with flavor and juicy goodness.

"Mmm! This shrimp paste is amazing! Did you make the filling, honey?" Chen Shixuan's cheeks were bulging as she ate, like a hamster hoarding food.

"Hmm, I added some chopped water chestnuts." Jiang Xun picked up a piece of tripe, skillfully dipped it in the sesame oil and minced garlic sauce.

"No wonder it's so crispy!" Zhao Ruoyu exclaimed, tossing a few more baby bok choy leaves into the tomato broth. "Shixuan, slow down, no one's going to take it from you."

"I'm hungry! The training class this afternoon is super intense!" Chen Shixuan argued, while quickly snatching a beef ball that had just floated to the surface from Jiang Xun's chopsticks, and wrinkling her nose at him triumphantly.

In the small restaurant, the sounds of bowls and chopsticks clattering, slurping food, girls hissing from the spiciness, and the occasional bursts of laughter from successful or unsuccessful food grabs all blended together to create a warm and lively winter melody.

The icy world outside the window was completely shut out, leaving only the rising smoke and the shadows of people huddled together inside.

The rising steam from the hot pot blurred the frost patterns on the glass and softened the outlines of the three young figures, keeping the winter chill outside and leaving only a warm and cozy cocoon woven from the aroma of food and the lively laughter.

……

As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun draped a soft golden veil over the ancient buildings of Kyoto University.

The air after the snow was crisp and clean; a breath carried the cool scent of pine needles and snow. On the third floor of the student activity center, the lights were on in the counselor's office at the end of the corridor.

After seeing off the last student who came to inquire about getting their winter break social practice stamp, Song Ziyan gently closed the door, shutting out the fading footsteps in the corridor.

The office fell silent, with only the soft hissing of the radiators remaining.

She sat back in her office chair, let out a soft sigh, and rubbed her slightly sore temples.

On the table were a thermos, several documents to be processed, and a small pot of lush green asparagus fern.

Today she wore a light apricot chunky knit sweater, soft and fluffy, which made her look gentle and graceful. She wore a matching wool long skirt, and her long hair was loosely pinned behind her ear with a simple pearl hair clip, revealing a section of her fair neck.

She had just picked up her thermos and taken a sip of water when there was a gentle knock on the office door.

"Please come in." Song Ziyan put down her water glass, her face displaying a gentle yet slightly distant professional smile as usual.

The door was pushed open, and Jiang Xun walked in, bringing with her the crisp, cold air from outside.

He closed the door behind him, and when his gaze fell on Song Ziyan's face, that formulaic smile melted away like ice melting in spring, and a genuine, gentle smile bloomed in his eyes, blooming only for him, like the surface of a lake with pebbles thrown in, layer upon layer of warmth.

"Finished with work?" Jiang Xun walked to the desk, naturally picked up her thermos, and took a sip of warm water from where she had drunk from, the action intimate and natural.

"Yes, I just saw the last student off." Song Ziyan nodded, stood up, walked around the table, and went to his side.

The office was nicely heated, and she was only wearing a sweater, which made her figure appear even more slender. "It must be cold outside, right?" She raised her hand and naturally brushed away a few unmelted snowflakes from his shoulder.

"Thank goodness, the snow has stopped." Jiang Xun took her hand that was brushing away the snow, feeling its soft and delicate texture. He gently pulled her into his arms, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and resting his chin on her neck, which smelled faintly of shampoo.

"Yan Yan..." he called her softly, his warm breath brushing against the sensitive skin behind her ear.

Song Ziyan's body went limp instantly, her fair cheeks flushing crimson. She glanced instinctively at the closed office door, her hands gently resting on his firm chest, her voice low and sweet, tinged with shyness and nervousness:
"No... the door isn't locked properly..." Even so, her body felt as if it had found the most suitable home, and she obediently snuggled into his warm and broad embrace, even pressing her cheek closer to his neck, feeling the soothing warmth of his skin and his strong pulse.

"There's no one here." Jiang Xun whispered in her ear, tightening his arms around her and pulling her closer to him.

He could clearly feel her heart pounding faster in her chest, each beat striking his senses through the soft sweater. Her unique scent, a blend of faint bookish fragrance and delicate aroma, was especially alluring in this quiet, private space.

"What if someone comes back to collect something..." Song Ziyan muttered softly, her breathing already a little unsteady.

She raised her head and pressed her lips to his slightly cool lips, like a dragonfly skimming the water, then pulled away a little, gazing at him with eyes full of tenderness, a silent invitation and shyness.

This subtle movement instantly ignited a flame in Jiang Xun's eyes.

He lowered his head, precisely capturing the two soft petals, and a gentle yet deep kiss landed, carrying both soothing comfort and an undeniable possessiveness. Unlike the indulgence of private spaces, this intimacy, tinged with a sense of taboo, added a touch of heart-pounding excitement to the quiet office.

The subtle sound of lips touching was amplified, and the air seemed to become thick and scalding.

Song Ziyan let out a soft moan, tightened her arms around his neck, closed her eyes, and responded wholeheartedly.

The kiss was long and deep, exchanging breaths and whispers of unspoken longing and affection.

After a long while, Jiang Xun pulled back slightly, his forehead touching hers, his nose lightly brushing against hers. Both of them were breathing rapidly, their breaths mingling.

Song Ziyan's cheeks were flushed, and her eyelashes were slightly damp, like flower petals covered in morning dew.

She raised her hand, slightly flustered, to tidy her hair and sweater collar, which he had ruffled a bit. She glared at him reproachfully, but her gaze held no intimidation; instead, it was alluring and seductive.

"You rascal...a student might actually come back later..."

“I’m checking the time.” Jiang Xun chuckled softly, his fingers lingering on her smooth, delicate cheek. “What do you want to eat tonight? Shall we go to ‘Little Pear Soup’ for some warm soup? Or…”

He paused, lowered his voice even further, and said enticingly, "Go 'home' and I'll make you ginger cola?" The "home" he referred to was the small apartment Song Ziyan rented off-campus, filled with sweet and private memories of the two of them.

"Mmm..." Song Ziyan leaned against him, her fingers unconsciously playing with the zipper of his coat, her voice nasal, like she was being coquettish.
"I want to eat your glutinous rice balls...with black sesame filling..." She looked up at him expectantly, her watery eyes filled with anticipation.
Jiang Xun lowered his head, nuzzled her nose with his own, looked at his reflection in her eyes, and said with a smile, "Then let's go home." Before he finished speaking, he lowered his head again and sealed her unfinished words and sweet anticipation with a tender and lingering kiss.

The office lights shone softly.

The asparagus fern by the window stretched its emerald green leaves in the warm air.

On the coat rack against the wall, a woman's beige long down jacket and a man's dark windbreaker hung side by side, their hems gently touching, silently telling the story of the secret warmth that belonged to the two of them that evening.

……

Jiang Xun stayed at Song Ziyan's place all afternoon, but she had other things to do in the evening, so she returned to Zizhu Garden.

As night falls, the living room of the rented apartment in Zizhuyuan is brightly lit and filled with the sweet aroma of fermented rice wine.

In the kitchen, Jiang Xun stood in front of the stove, watching the round glutinous rice balls bobbing up and down in the boiling fermented rice soup.

Chen Shixuan and Zhao Ruoyu squeezed together at the small kitchen doorway, like two little birds waiting to be fed.

"Is it ready yet? I can smell the sesame!" Chen Shixuan, wearing her cat-ear pajamas, peeked out from behind the door frame, impatiently.

"Haste makes waste!" Zhao Ruoyu said, but she couldn't help sniffing, her eyes fixed on the pot. "Brother, give me more fermented rice!"

"Everyone gets a share," Jiang Xun replied with a smile, picking up a large soup ladle and ladling the translucent, thin-skinned, and generously filled glutinous rice balls, along with the sweet fermented rice soup, into three bowls.

The white porcelain bowl holds a black sesame filling that gleams invitingly, while golden osmanthus petals float on the surface of the soup, releasing an intoxicating sweet aroma.

The three of them carried their bowls back to the living room, sat cross-legged on the carpet, and sat around the low table.

Outside the window, the city lights twinkled brightly in the winter night; inside, there was a warm, cozy atmosphere and a satisfied sigh.

"Ugh! It's so hot! It's so delicious!" Chen Shixuan was panting from the heat, but she couldn't bear to put down the spoon, her eyes squinting with happiness.

Zhao Ruoyu blew on the filling and delicately bit into the glutinous rice ball, letting out a rich black sesame filling. She sighed contentedly, "This filling is still the most classic."

Song Ziyan smiled and nodded, taking small bites. The warmth spread from her stomach to her limbs, dispelling the chill of the winter night and soothing the fatigue of the day's work.

After eating the sweet soup, Chen Shixuan and Zhao Ruoyu squeezed onto the sofa to watch a comedy variety show, their laughter ringing out continuously.

Jiang Xun finished cleaning up the dishes and came out. Zhao Ruoyu got up and went back to the bedroom, taking out a beautifully packaged rectangular box.

"Brother, Happy New Year!" Zhao Ruoyu handed him the box, a slightly shy smile on her face.

Jiang Xun accepted the package with some surprise, sat down next to her, and unpacked it. Inside was a high-quality dark gray cashmere scarf, with fine stitches and a soft, warm feel.

"Thank you, Xiaoyu, I really like it." Jiang Xun felt a warmth in his heart and took her hand. This thoughtful care was more precious than any gift.

At this moment, Chen Shixuan jumped up from the sofa: "Ah! I also prepared a New Year's gift for you! I almost forgot!"

She rushed back to her room and quickly came out carrying a small, similarly packaged box. She shoved it into Jiang Xun's hands, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Open it quickly!"

Jiang Xun opened it, and inside was an exquisite black leather card holder, simple and elegant, but upon closer inspection, a very small, abstract cat outline was embroidered in the corner with extremely fine gold thread.

“Hehe, it’s custom-made! Look, doesn’t it look like me?” Chen Shixuan pointed at the cat pattern and proudly raised her chin.

"Yes, it looks like her, and it's very cute." Jiang Xun smiled and ruffled her hair.

He put the gift back in the bedroom, then went back to the living room sofa to watch TV with the two girls.

Chen Shixuan immediately snuggled comfortably into his arms like a kitten. Although Zhao Ruoyu leaned shyly against his other side, her little hand intentionally or unintentionally landed near Jiang Xun's palm, and was eventually grasped by Jiang Xun.

The lingering aroma of sweet soup still lingered on the coffee table, while the cheerful laughter from a variety show on TV provided a warm background sound. Outside the window, a quiet snowy night stretched out before them, illuminated by a dazzling river of lights; inside, a cozy atmosphere filled the room, with figures nestled together.

Jiang Xun felt the soft, fragrant warmth in his arms, his gaze sweeping over two faces that were very different in style but equally captivating to him.

Chen Shixuan was already half asleep, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, and a satisfied smile on her lips.

Zhao Ruoyu quietly held one of his hands, her fingertips unconsciously tracing circles in his palm, her eyes gentle and tender.

This noisy, quiet, warm winter night, filled with sweet fragrance and the aroma of cooking, is like a slowly unfolding scroll painting.

The painting depicts no thrilling business battles, no fierce competition, only the most ordinary daily life and the most comforting companionship.

Reborn and reborn, the climb continues. What is the purpose of this journey? Is it not to protect the warmth and humanity that is within reach, formed by countless small acts of kindness?

Outside the window, New Year's fireworks suddenly rose into the sky from some corner of the city, bursting into brilliant light against the deep blue night sky, illuminating the window frame for a moment before quickly fading into silence.

The warm yellow light in the living room still gently enveloped the three figures nestled together, casting their long shadows across the floor, intertwined and inseparable.

The winter nights are long, but the warmth of their embrace is enough to ward off the chill of the entire world.

(End of this chapter)