After nearly a day of flying and transfers, when the majestic and magnificent Alps finally unfolded before her eyes without reservation, Tong Hua felt her breath catch.
No longer just cold images on a screen, but a real, tangible world of ice and snow! Endless snow-capped peaks shimmered with a holy glow under the azure sky, and the crisp, fresh air filled her lungs, instantly washing away all the fatigue of the journey.
On the slopes, many agile figures were already speeding down the runs, carving graceful arcs.
“Wow! Wow!!” Tong Hua, dressed in the pink ski suit she had prepared in advance, wore a fluffy white kitten hat on her head, its two small ears adding a lively and adorable touch.
Standing in the snow, her face flushed with excitement, her cat-like eyes wide and round, she could hardly wait to dive into the pure white snow and roll around a few times, expressing her passionate love for the ice and snow through action.
“Alright, alright, stop staring. Come over here and put on your gear!” Jiang Mo held back a laugh, pulling Tong Hua—who was nearly lost in the snowy scenery—over to a flat area nearby, as if guiding a kindergarten child.
She deftly took out the skis, poles, and bindings, skillfully helping Tong Hua get suited up.
Tong Hua was petite, standing at just 160 cm. Surrounded by her three long-legged friends—Su Qingyu at 172 cm, Jiang Mo at 174 cm, and Xia Lingxi at 170 cm—she looked especially tiny.
As Jiang Mo helped her into her gear, she muttered softly, “I feel like I’m in kindergarten…”
“Aren’t you?” Su Qingyu, already fully geared up in a professional ski suit that accentuated her slender figure, held a cool pair of goggles in one hand. Raising an eyebrow at Tong Hua’s comment, she retorted with undisguised amusement and affection.
Indeed, in the vast sea of university students, an eighteen-year-old junior was undeniably a “little kid” who needed looking after.
“…Hmph, since you brought me skiing, I’ll let it slide.” Tong Hua pouted haughtily, trying to maintain the last shred of her dignity as an adult.
Once Jiang Mo helped her into her skis, she immediately began shuffling clumsily toward the practice area, dragging the heavy skis like a penguin learning to walk. Her determined yet slightly comical figure from behind drew identical “affectionate” smiles from the three behind her.
“Take it slow~ Don’t fall before you even start skiing!” Jiang Mo called out with a laugh from behind.
Sure enough, among the crowd of tall European skiers, Tong Hua—a petite Eastern face in a cute pink ski suit and a kitten hat—stood out even more.
Many friendly Europeans, seeing her struggle to move, approached her with accented English and asked, “Little girl, need help?”
At first, Tong Hua was secretly pleased: Wow, people here are so friendly to kids! But after being called “Little girl” by five or six people in a row, she finally realized—wait! I’m not a child! I’m an eighteen-year-old college student! This subtle feeling of being treated like a kid left her both amused and exasperated.
Her adorably cute yet slightly aggrieved demeanor not only attracted helpful passersby but also caught the attention of a group of people on the nearby advanced ski slope.
At the top of the advanced slope, a figure came to a stop with a sharp, clean snowplow turn, sending a spray of snow directly onto Xiao Yu, who stood nearby with his mouth agape in a daze.
“Pfft, pfft, pfft! He Sui! What the hell are you doing?!” Xiao Yu shivered from the icy snowflakes, frantically brushing them off his face and head.
The instigator, He Sui, wore a sleek, well-tailored black ski suit. His goggles were pushed up to his forehead, revealing a handsome yet roguish face with a hint of wildness.
A careless smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he said in a teasing tone, “Saw your mouth hanging open and thought you were hungry. Just offering you some snow to tide you over—no need to thank me.”
“Get lost! I was gaping in amazement!” Xiao Yu stomped his feet in frustration.
“Spotted another beauty? Your eyes were practically falling out of your head.” He Sui glanced briefly in the direction Xiao Yu had been staring, looking utterly uninterested.
“Not a beauty—more like a cute little creature.” Xiao Yu pointed toward the beginner slope, his eyes filled with the kind of doting affection a grandfather might have for a cute child, with no hint of romantic appreciation. “Look over there, the shortest one wearing the little white cat hat. That pink little bundle, struggling to learn how to ski—it’s hilarious, hahaha!”
He Sui followed his gaze.
The “pink little bundle” was surrounded by two tall girls and another who looked rather androgynous, carefully practicing the most basic snowplow stop.
She was learning with intense focus, her small face tense with concentration. Finally, under guidance, she managed to stop successfully once, but in her excitement, she lost her balance. Her round little bottom plopped right onto the snowboard, and she slid a long way down a small slope, like a pink mochi ball being launched.
“Hahahaha! That’s too funny! Is this girl here for comedy?” Xiao Yu slapped his thigh, roaring with laughter at the adorably clumsy scene.
He Sui withdrew his gaze and commented flatly, “Yeah, just like you back in the day. I remember someone’s first time skiing—brakes failed, nearly charged headfirst into the public restroom for an all-you-can-eat buffet.”
“Damn it! He Sui! Can’t you shut your trap for once without getting hemorrhoids?” Xiao Yu instantly bristled.
He Sui lazily adjusted his gloves, his smile growing even more infuriating. “Well, to prevent hemorrhoids, I’d better keep teasing you—keeps the mind and body flowing smoothly~”
Without waiting for Xiao Yu’s reaction, he pushed off with his ski poles and glided away with agile, fluid movements, exuding a casual coolness.
“Damn it! He Sui! Just you wait!” Xiao Yu could only rage helplessly at his retreating figure, throwing a few harmless, flailing punches at the air.
Just then, their two other friends, Nan Chao and Si Jin, skied over with grins. “What’s up, Xiao Yu? Getting another dose of Sui’s verbal artistry?” Si Jin chimed in, clearly enjoying the drama.
“That mouth of his really needs insurance—the kind that covers against being a jerk!” Xiao Yu grumbled, turning back to continue watching his live broadcast of the little cat learning to ski.
Just then, they saw Tong Hua, frustrated by her inability to control her strength once again, angrily grab a handful of snow and throw it at the nearby protective net. The snowball hit the net, scattered, and bounced back, splattering all over her face. This made her stomp her feet on the spot, seething with helpless rage.
“Who’s that over there? You’re watching so intently. Judging by her figure, she should be Chinese. It’s rare to see someone so… petite around here in Europe.” Si Jin smiled as she looked over.
“Hey? Now that you mention it, she does look a bit familiar!” Nan Chao stroked his chin, carefully examining the small figure who was patting the snow off her face.
Coincidentally, at that moment, Tong Hua turned around, facing their direction.
Her doll-like face, made even more pale and delicate by the snow and ice, along with that iconic cat-eared hat, instantly jogged Nan Chao’s memory: “Holy crap! Isn’t that Tong Hua, the key protected asset in our department?!”
“Tong Hua? Who?” Xiao Yu looked utterly confused.
“Tsk! She’s the little genius who passed the insanely difficult independent admissions exam to get into Hai University at fifteen! She just turned eighteen this year! She’s a full three years younger than us!” Nan Chao explained excitedly.
“Oh my god! You mean that ‘flower of the motherland’ the dean solemnly declared at the opening ceremony, saying anyone who dares to mess with this promising seedling in our department will be packing their bags and getting out?” Si Jin looked horrified, as if recalling some terrifying scene.
“Probably not anymore. She’s an adult now, and she’s a junior!” Nan Chao added.
“Wait, where’s that dog He Sui?” Xiao Yu, sharp-eyed, noticed that He Sui, who had been wandering nearby just moments ago, had somehow already slid down the advanced slope. His figure, handsome with a touch of laziness yet undeniably skilled, was heading—toward the beginner slope. Along the way, he casually executed a few difficult turns and small jumps, drawing low exclamations from those around him, the epitome of showing off.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. He just wants to go to the beginner slope to show off his moves and be the center of attention.” Si Jin shook her head with a series of tuts, expressing disdain for He Sui’s behavior.
Nan Chao looked disgusted. “Let’s go find him. Better not let this ‘great Buddha’ on the beginner slope accidentally injure some innocent bystander.”
Meanwhile, on the beginner slope, under Jiang Mo’s patient guidance, Tong Hua finally managed to barely control her snowboard, shakily sliding a short distance on the gentle slope.
She had no idea that her arduous learning process had become an amusing short drama in someone else’s eyes.