Rebirth at the Start: This Fate is Too Explosive!

Although it hasn't snowed yet, in Nanjing in December, the wind is so strong that the temperature drops sharply, and the air is so damp and cold that it can freeze you to the bone.

In the classroom, a student from the north, his neck hunched, hands tightly tucked into his down jacket pockets, couldn't help but shiver, and he shouted a complaint:

"Damn it, it's freezing! When is the school going to turn on the underfloor heating? It's so cold today, why hasn't the maintenance department turned it on yet?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a local classmate next to him glanced at him sideways and burst out laughing:

"Burn underfloor heating?! Dude, are you dreaming? There's no such thing as underfloor heating in the South! After class, hurry back to your dorm and wrap yourself in your blankets. We here rely on sheer willpower to get through this!"

As evening progressed, the weather grew colder. By the last class, the classroom was like an ice cave, and many students' toes were numb with cold, so they kept stamping their feet in their seats.

Xian Zuling sat in her seat, taking notes diligently while occasionally exhaling a breath of air and gently rubbing her slightly reddened fingers with her little hands.

During the ten-minute break between classes, Ye Fan and Li Yifeng dashed to the coffee shop at the school gate and bought five steaming cups of coffee.

There's no way around it, this awful weather is just too much, I can't stand it without something hot to drink.

Ye Fan kept three of the five cups of coffee for his three roommates. He handed one cup to Su Luming, who was not far ahead, and casually slipped the other cup into Xian Zuling's cold hand.

"Are you freezing? Warm your hands with this and drink it while it's hot," Ye Fan asked softly, looking at Xian Zuling's slightly flushed face.

Xian Zuling paused for a moment, then quickly held the warm coffee cup tightly in her two small hands, feeling the scalding heat from her palms. A faint smile appeared on her little face:

"I'm not cold... Thank you, Ye Fan."

In fact, although Xian Zuling's hometown is in Hunan Province, it is also in the south without heating. Winters are not only damp and cold, but it also snows frequently.

She had grown up accustomed to this kind of freezing weather.

Moreover, the thick down jacket and thermal underwear she was wearing were new clothes that Ye Fan had taken her to buy a while ago; they were both warm and lightweight.

Compared to the days when she was in high school, shivering in the cold wearing a thin old coat, she now feels incredibly happy and content.

Finally, the school bell rang, and most of the students, who had been hungry all afternoon and were quite cold, rushed to the cafeteria, shouting and yelling, wanting to quickly eat some hot food to warm themselves up.

Ye Fan, with his arms around Li Yifeng and Shi Kai's necks, suggested with a smile, "Come on, let's take you two rascals to the Bamboo Grove Courtyard for a good meal tonight!"

As for that kid Xiao Ji, forget about him. He's too lazy to even come to class, and right now he's probably holed up in his dorm eating instant noodles and playing games. There's no need to disturb his "heavenly life."

The four of them strolled back to the bamboo grove courtyard. As soon as they entered, Ye Fan changed out of his thick coat, which was covered in cold air. He immediately picked up the remote control and turned the central air conditioning in the living room up to 28 degrees Celsius. The cold room quickly became warm and comfortable.

Xian Zuling took off her little boots and put on soft slippers. She obediently went back to her room first, changed into a neat and comfortable set of home clothes, and then ran out to prepare to help.

Looking at the cold wind outside the window, Ye Fan rubbed his hands together and said, "Let's have hot pot tonight! It's so cold, it'll be great to have a group of us all gathered around and cooking meat!"

Li Yifeng's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he slapped his thigh and exclaimed:

"No problem! This awful weather is perfect for a hot pot with chili oil! How about I cook an authentic beef tallow broth myself? To be honest, this is a family recipe passed down through generations in Sichuan!"

Ye Fan chuckled and patted him on the shoulder, then turned to ask, "How about we have a yin-yang hot pot tonight? One side with a spicy and fragrant beef tallow broth, and the other with a delicious and nourishing mushroom broth. What do you all think?"

Li Yifeng chuckled and said, "Sure! No problem!"

Shi Kai nodded repeatedly, "I agree, mushroom soup with meat is absolutely amazing!"

As for Xian Zuling, there's no need to ask. She's from Hunan Province and loves spicy food; Lao Li is a gourmet from Sichuan Province, and both of them are hardcore spice eaters.

Ye Fan and Shi Kai have a milder palate and aren't used to spicy food, so a half-and-half hot pot is perfect for them. They can add the spicy broth if they want a spicier option, or add the mushroom broth if they want soup or vegetables—the best of both worlds.

"Alright, let's divide the work like this!" Ye Fan made the decision. "Old Li will be in charge of cooking the beef tallow base, Zu Ling will go to the kitchen to pick and wash the vegetables, and Old Shi and I will be responsible for cleaning the seafood."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately set off in a lively and enthusiastic manner.

Ye Fan and Shi Kai worked quickly and efficiently, and in no time they had cleaned and prepared the prawns, tuna, and various shellfish.

After preparing the ingredients, the two jogged to the convenience store at the school gate and carried back a whole case of ice-cold beer and a bottle of good liquor.

When they returned to the courtyard with the wine, the large dining table in the living room was already laden with a dazzling array of ingredients.

Tripe, duck intestines, beef rolls, lamb skewers, and various fresh vegetables were piled high, while the hot pot in the middle was bubbling away, releasing steam. The rich aroma of butter and the fresh scent of mushrooms filled the entire room, making it incredibly tempting.

Several people skillfully prepared their dipping sauces according to their own preferences, sat down around the large table, and smiled at each other.

Amidst the rising steam, tonight's heartwarming and comforting winter hot pot meal has officially begun...

Li Yifeng picked up a piece of tripe with his chopsticks, dipped it in the spicy broth a few times, and then popped it into his mouth. Even though it was so hot he was panting, he still gave a thumbs up: "Amazing! This broth is really authentic! Old Ye, you try this spiciness, is it hot enough?"

Ye Fan picked up a slice of fatty beef, dipped it in the mushroom broth, swished it around, then put it in his mouth with some sesame sauce. He nodded with satisfaction: "The broth is incredibly flavorful. Old Li's cooking skills are truly exceptional."

Xian Zuling sat quietly next to Ye Fan, taking small bites of the food in her bowl. The duck blood and tripe in the spicy hot pot made her nose slightly sweaty, and her face was flushed from the steam. Her eyes were bright and sparkling, and she was clearly very satisfied with her meal.

Ye Fan caught a glimpse of her gasping for breath from the spiciness and casually pushed the warm plum juice in front of him towards her: "Drink some of this to relieve the spiciness."

Xian Zuling paused for a moment, whispered "thank you," picked up the cup, took a small sip, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Outside the window, the cold wind howled, but inside the room, it was warm and cozy. Several people sat around the table, enjoying hot pot, clinking glasses, chatting about this and that, and laughing all the while.

This is probably the most comfortable time of winter.

......

The four of them ate around the hot pot for almost an hour without realizing it.

The scalding hot chili oil, combined with the ample warmth of the room, quickly turned Xian Zuling's delicate face rosy, like a ripe red apple.

Ye Fan was sweating profusely from eating, so he simply took off his thick sweater, leaving him only in a simple beige sports jersey.

He exercises regularly, so he has broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He's a walking clothes hanger, and his strong physique is perfectly showcased in this basic jersey. He looks stylish no matter what he wears.

As for Li Yifeng and Shi Kai, after downing half a case of beer and a bottle of strong liquor, they were already completely drunk and disoriented.

The two of them stripped off their coats without any regard for their image, leaving them each wearing only an old man's vest. They sprawled on the sofa in the living room like two dead pigs, snoring loudly.

Ye Fan and Xian Zuling exchanged a wry smile, quickly tidied up the mess on the table, and then went back to their rooms to shower and change clothes.