I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

"The one I'm talking about is this Dragon Lord's subordinate, Kal'tsit."

They both took a sip of tea, then smiled slightly at each other during the day.

"Elder brother, there's no need to hide it from me. I know everything."

"So what exactly do you know?"

If my nephew weren't still alive, he would have been hanged up and whipped in broad daylight for saying such things.

"I know I know!"

The younger brother didn't say anything, but the little nephew in his arms raised his little hand.

"What does Ah Yin know? Tell your uncle."

The little guy chuckled, then said something surprising:

"Father is referring to that Kelseybe mother!"

"Auntie?"

"Brother."

They all interrupted him, and when Bai Zhou looked up, he only saw his younger brother looking "heartbroken".

"Although we are of high status, that is precisely why we cannot act like bullies who oppress our neighbors. Since we have taken a liking to this girl, we must take responsibility for her and marry her."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

During the day, he stuffed a piece of candy into his nephew's mouth, then looked at his younger brother and asked him:

"Explain yourself clearly, what 'aunt' and what 'responsibility' mean?"

"Brother, don't try to fool me. Are you really not clear-headed or just pretending? It's just that I've fallen for that girl. It's not like it's something that can't be said."

They all acted as if I had already seen through them.

Hmph, now you're shy with me? Have you forgotten how you forced him to tell you who he liked?

"Why would I lie to you? Tell me clearly what's going on!"

Seeing how stubborn Bai Zhou was, they all began to speak:

"These days, the news has spread throughout the palace that my elder brother and that Miss Feilin eat at the same table, sleep in the same room, are inseparable, and take her everywhere they go. They are very close."

"Many people in the palace have already privately started calling that young lady Lady Dragon."

"...Nonsense. Kal'tsit and I are just close friends, and there has never been anything messy between us."

"Hmm? But..."

He didn't believe it, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by the plums that Bai Zhou had thrown at him.

"Don't believe every rumor you hear. Kal'tsit is a wise and talented person I specially invited, and my relationship with Kal'tsit is completely innocent."

"Is that really all there is to it?"

"nature."

Seeing Bai Zhou's serious expression, they all sighed regretfully.

What a disappointment! He thought he had it all figured out this time. After all, it was the first time he had ever seen his brother so close to someone of a different surname. If he didn't like her, why would he go to such lengths to get an official position and keep her by his side all the time?

He thought his elder brother was like a hundred-year-old stone pressing down on sauerkraut, breaking the jar, or an iron tree blooming, but he was told that it was like the Duke of Zhou spitting out his food.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore."

Although I know that lynxes won't take these words seriously even if they hear them, no one would be happy to suddenly find out that they've been forced into a romantic pairing.

"..."

She placed the vermilion brush on the inkstone, looked at the neat stack of files in front of her, and let out a long sigh of relief, relaxing from her intense work.

"Thank you for your hard work, Kal'tsit."

During the day, he stepped forward to serve her tea and snacks, then thanked her while massaging her shoulders and back.

"Your Highness is too kind. I was merely fulfilling my duty; there is no hardship involved."

Despite saying that, judging from the lynx's sip of tea and bite of snacks, with soft gurgling sounds coming from its throat, Bai Zhou knew that she was extremely satisfied at that moment.

"Kal'tsit, you've worked hard these past few days. With the end of the year approaching, the palace has already begun preparing for the New Year. Kal'tsit, please tell me if you want anything."

Not only that, Bai Zhou is currently considering whether to make pork rib soup or chicken soup for the lynx tonight to nourish its body.

"As for New Year's goods... Your Majesty has prepared all kinds of items and lacks nothing."

“Then we can change it. Kal'tsit can tell me whatever she wants, and I will do my best to fulfill her needs as long as it is within my power.”

"Um……"

The lynx pondered for a moment, then asked softly:

"Your Highness does have a request for my permission."

"What is it? Please speak freely."

"I wish to go to the Heavenly Book Palace to find some books to read."

In addition to photocopies of various Originium Arts, the Heavenly Book Mansion also contains books from all walks of life in Yan Kingdom, as well as some books and secret manuals from other countries. If you want to enrich your knowledge, you can't go wrong there.

However, the Heavenly Book Palace is not open to just anyone; those who wish to enter must possess a royal decree or imperial edict from the True Dragon. Therefore, the lynx sought help from Bai Zhou.

"Naturally."

"But we'll have to wait until after the New Year. In the meantime, Kal'tsit should get some rest."

It would be fine for her to just read books, but Lynx has been working too hard these days, and with the New Year approaching, I can't bear to let her spend the day reading books without eating or sleeping.

"Then I'll leave it to Your Highness."

Imagining himself swimming in an ocean of knowledge, the lynx rarely showed a smile.

If we share the snow today, we can consider ourselves to have grown old together.

The wind swirled, carrying a few snowflakes that bounced through the window and into the room. A snowflake drifted gently down and landed on the back of her hand, which was embroidered with emerald patterns. In a short moment, it melted into her warmth. Another snowflake landed on a black scale and turned into a drop of water.

"It's snowing..."

The slight chill brought by the snowflakes roused her from her reverie.

The artist walked slowly to the door, leaned against it, and gazed at the swirling snowflakes under the warm orange light of the lamp.

Suddenly, the night sky in the distance lit up, and large swaths of colorful fireworks formed a beautiful floral display.

"Tonight... is New Year's Eve... New Year's Eve... Ah."

Walking on the snow, the sound of the wind whistling and the crunching of the snow echoed in my ears. Pure white snow covered my dark hair, and when I cupped it in my emerald palms, a layer of snow fell on it in just a few breaths.

"call!"

With a gentle breath, snowflakes rise up and vanish in the blink of an eye amidst the swirling snow.

"gentlemen……"

A wisp of wind lingers around my fingertips, capturing the falling snowflakes and forming a beautiful snow ring.

The deafening sound of firecrackers filled my ears, and before my eyes lay the brightly lit capital city.

Bustling, noisy, and bustling with activity.

Walking alone on the street, seeing countless faces, watching them smile happily, the more satisfied I felt, the emptier I felt.

"gentlemen……"

The emptier I feel, the more I miss you.

The more you miss someone, the more you hate yourself.

Isn't that also a betrayal?

Even so, he still greedily wanted to see her one more time.

Just as the dragon was about to leave, it suddenly raised its head and looked into the distance, where the light formed from its scales shimmered.

"..."

The sighs dissipated in the wind, and the artist, having gathered his scattered emotions, turned and walked towards the safe house he had used to escape the intrusions of the mundane world.

She stopped again after taking only a few steps.

"..."

Was it a chance encounter, or an inevitable reunion?

The artist put his left hand behind his back and continued walking forward as if he hadn't seen anything.

An umbrella sheltered her, keeping the falling snow out.

"Sir, it's cold and snowing heavily tonight. You should wear more warm clothes before you come out."

The words that drifted into my ears lasted only a few seconds, yet they easily dispelled the chill of the night.

"It has nothing to do with you!"

She was clearly happy, but she was putting on a brave face and pretending to be reserved.

Such an artist would only elicit a silly grin from him.

"How could it be unrelated to me? If you catch a cold, you will feel unwell."

“When you are in pain, I feel the same way.”

"You're just spouting nonsense."

"I only tell it to my teacher."

His words sounded like he was deliberately trying to anger the artist.

"No, I'm ignoring you. Go back to where you came from."

He acted as if he hadn't heard her and continued following behind her.

Finally, the painter stopped at the doorway, and the people behind him also stopped.

"Sir, it's cold outside, please come inside."