The morning after their hot spring soak, Mei Fang awoke feeling miraculously refreshed—his once-tender back now light and painless.

Guess Dad’s technique had merit…

Faint childhood memories surfaced of being his father’s practice dummy. Carefully shifting Xia Yuan’s drooling head from his shoulder, he tried disentangling himself from Lin Youxi’s octopus grip—only for her to cling tighter.

Stubborn…

Leaning close, he whispered a threat in her ear:

“Mom’s coming. Get up.”

Instead of reacting, Lin Youxi sleepily murmured, “YuanYuan…Aunt Xiang’s coming…up…”

“!”

Though still half-asleep, Xia Yuan bolted upright at the mention of Mei Fang’s mother, scanning the room wildly before making a beeline for the wardrobe.

“I’ll hide in—”

“Hide what?” Mei Fang caught her wrist. “Youxi was joking!”

“Ahhh! Youxi you jerk!”

As Xia Yuan raised a fist to pummel Lin Youxi, the latter merely nuzzled deeper into Mei Fang like a contented cat. “Not my fault. Ah Fang started it.”

“Then I’ll hit Ah Fang!”

Her “punches” dissolved into gentle pinches—which, after yesterday’s scrubbing ordeal, registered more as pleasurable massage than punishment.

“Harder. Can barely feel it.”

“Looking down on me?!”

Even at full strength, Mei Fang remained unfazed. “Perfect! Now just a tad more—”

“Pushy much?”

When Xia Yuan escalated to digging into his freshly exfoliated back, Mei Fang finally yelped. “No fair! You saw what Dad did to me!”

“Not stopping until you beg! Call me Mommy!”

“Never! I’ll never surrender to the likes of you!”

“Tsk tsk…Baby Ah Fang needs to learn his place!”

Pinning him down, Xia Yuan prepared her final assault—when the door clicked open. Both froze.

“Having fun, Brother? YuanYuan-jie?”

Mei Ya’s giggling face peeked in. Relief flooded them.

“Out! No barging in!” Mei Fang shooed her.

Mei Ya pocketed her hands smugly. “Just warning you—Mom and Dad are coming to check on you—”

“YaYa! Save us!”

Under dual pleading, she skipped off to intercept their parents. Watching this, Lin Youxi smiled, reminded of childhood mischief.

---

At the resort’s ski slopes that afternoon, Xia Xun’s conspicuous absence drew constant complaints from Xiang Xiaoxia toward Mei Lijun, who bore the scolding like a chastened schoolboy while Teacher Yu mediated.

“Our families are getting along so much better,” Xia Yuan observed happily. “Another step toward our threesome dream.”

“Mm.” Lin Youxi nodded. “When I video-called my parents last night, they were fascinated by our trip. Next time, all three families should vacation together.”

“Yes! Just no more back-scrubbing—poor Dad suffered enough.”

I suffered too! Mei Fang thought miserably as he juggled ski instruction for five people—a burden meant to be shared with the absent Xia Xun.

“Teacher Yu, lean forward—knees bent, poles up—yes!”
“Mei Ya! Falling beats collisions—snow doesn’t hurt!”
“Mom! Don’t drag YuanYuan—she’s barely—see?!”
“Dad! NOT THAT LIFT—IT’S BLACK DIAMOND—ARE YOU INSANE?!”

His crisis management peaked when Teacher Yu, having dropped her poles for a photo, went careening downhill screaming.

“Ah Fang! Rescue mission!”

Launching into pursuit, Mei Fang guided her to a safe stop.

“S-sticks stay in hand! That was dangerous!”

“I just wanted YuanYuan to photograph me for her father…” Teacher Yu pouted. “Got carried away.”

“Never pose mid-slope!”

As Mei Fang lectured, Teacher Yu suddenly giggled.

“How nostalgic—me scolding you about humility in elementary school, now reversed.”

“Lifelong learning applies to teachers too,” he grinned.

Her expression softened. “You’ve remembered my lessons well.”

A weighted pause.

“Though some knowledge…isn’t easily applied,” Mei Fang admitted.

Teacher Yu’s eyes twinkled knowingly. “Even separated, YuanYuan still loves you. That hasn’t changed.”

“I may not guarantee much now…but I’ll always cherish YuanYuan.” His voice steeled. “Please never doubt that.”

“Oh, I trust my star student’s character.” Her smile turned enigmatic. “Maintaining such harmony among you three is…remarkable.”

“After everything we’ve been through, this closeness is hard-won.”

“True friendship—romantic or otherwise—is rare.” She patted his arm. “Treasure every soul who truly understands you.”

As Xia Yuan cautiously skied toward them, Teacher Yu added softly, “YuanYuan mentioned your one-year pact with Youxi. This separation may help you all reevaluate relationships…valuable growth.”

With that, she linked arms with Mei Fang. “Now, Professor Mei, escort this elderly student back up?”

Her playful grin sent his heart skipping—until a distant thud revealed Xia Yuan faceplanted in the snow.

---

Despite chaos, the vacation ended joyously. On New Year’s Eve, three families gathered in the villa watching countdown specials, erupting in cheers as fireworks painted the sky at midnight.

2014 had arrived.

Mei Fang’s 18th birthday approached—marking twelve years since his rebirth.

Have I lived up to a reincarnator’s potential?

No cheat codes, just lottery and Bitcoin windfalls early on. He’d pursued passion over endless wealth, embracing imperfect but fulfilling hustle.

And when he looked at Lin Youxi and Xia Yuan—their eyes reflecting kaleidoscopic fireworks—he saw the answer.

That radiance…must be the color of happiness.

---

Snow fell lightly as they bid farewell to their parents the next morning.

“Look! Big flakes—a blizzard’s coming!” Xia Yuan caught some excitedly.

“Should remind them to drive carefully,” Lin Youxi noted.

“Cold year ahead.”

Mei Fang grinned. “Good thing we’ve got human heaters.”

Lin Youxi smirked. “I’m cuddling YuanYuan. She’s warmer.”

“Sharing is caring! She’s yours but also mine.”

“How shameless…right, YuanYuan?”

But Xia Yuan stood motionless, staring at melting snow in her palm.

“Something wrong?” Mei Fang asked gently.

“It’s just…I wonder how Xiaoxue is doing…”

Mei Fang updated her: “Her cousin’s band is thriving in Chengdu—their folk songs are everywhere. She’s definitely eating well.”

“But she hasn’t contacted me since our ‘breakup.’” Xia Yuan sighed. “We used to share everything…now it’s just ‘I’m fine’ texts. Feels distant.”

“Don’t overthink. You’ll reconnect when she visits.” Mei Fang squeezed her shoulder. “Best friends forever, right?”

Xia Yuan nodded firmly as snowflakes dusted their hair.