Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  Eleven’s pupil shrunk and her gaze darkened. “Waiting for me? Who exactly are you?”


  Anthony approached her slowly with his body covered in snow. Once again, she confirmed that he had been standing in that position for a very long time. But why was he there?

  “Little Seven……” Anthony called out her name faintly and smiled sincerely and kindly. “Aren’t you happy that I was waiting for you?”


  Eleven heart pounded crazily, even the wind and snow could not calm her down. He was saying things that were misleading again. ‘Anthony, what are your intentions?’ She did not believe that he had been separated from his lover in the snowstorm.

  It didn’t make sense for a man who had only lost his lover for a few days to develop ambiguous feelings for another woman in such a short time. The only explanation for this was that the lover did not exist at all, or that he was a playboy who was merciless to women. She was not really fond of men who tend to forget his lover and search for another relationship immediately after one ended.

  Her expression didn’t look well and her eyes were filled with disgust. She calmed her feelings down and said casually, “Mrs. Kurt was afraid that you might lose your way in the heavy snow and she wanted to come out and search for you. How could I let her go outside in this weather? So, I came to look for you instead. You seemed to be distracted when I saw you standing over there, so I didn’t dare to bother you.”


  Eleven was stunned. ‘Did Mrs. Kurt ask him to search for me outside?’


  ‘Is that true?’


  “How did you know that I’m here?” This place was hard to find.

  “I was here yesterday.” Anthony whispered. Eleven was shocked and a little flustered, as if the feelings and embarrassing moments that she had tried her best to hide had been discovered.

  The fact that he had gone there the previous day filled her mind and brain. ‘He was here yesterday?’


  Anthony walked up to her. “This is the only small hut around here. People who were lost in the snow would surely go inside to hide from the snowstorm. I was just trying my luck and didn’t expect you to be there.”


  His explanation was reasonable and logical and Eleven couldn’t find any faults about it. She had gone through many detours that day and indeed, there was no other houses for her to hide from the snowstorm. What Anthony had said wasn’t unreasonable.

  She calmed down. “Thank you.”


  Anthony heaved a sigh of relief, settled down, and had a sexy smile on his beautiful face. “Little Seven, don’t mention it. It’s my honor to fetch a beautiful woman like you. It’s my luck to have found you.”


  Eleven looked down and smiled. This man was really…… She didn’t know how to describe him anymore. Any outsiders would have thought that he was wooing her.

  ‘He must be very popular with women.’ Eleven thought. Men who are good at flirting could get girls easily. Even if it was a girl as cold as her, she felt happy even though she was acting as another person.

  It had been a long time since she laughed happily from the bottom of her heart. Anthony…… She looked at him as if she wanted to find a trace of shame in his face, but only saw his deep eyes and focused gaze.

  His sky blue eyes were as wide as the ocean, and they were more obvious when seen in the snow. His eyes were filled with affection. Men like him could always give off attractive energy unconsciously.

  He communicated with his eyes, which was a pleasant and magical feeling.

  “Have you found your lover?” Eleven asked flatly. If one listened carefully, there was a hint of smile in his tone, as if he was mocking with a kind intention, implying that he was too passionate in love.

  However, being too passionate in love seemed to be a heartless thing to do.

  How could Anthony not understand what she was talking about? He wanted to speak, but words got in the way. He didn’t mind being ridiculed at all. Instead, he said, “Little Seven, sometimes people just have to follow their hearts.”


  “Follow my heart?” With a smile on his face, she teased, “I thought Anthony follows whatever that leads to sex.”


  Anthony laughed out loud. The wind and snow seemed to be affected by his happiness and danced wildly. However, his laughter sounded gloomy, with a hint of pain and…… shame.

  “If I had realized that earlier, I wouldn’t be in this situation right now.” Anthony murmured, as if he was telling that to Eleven. But, it seemed like he was talking to himself too.

  Follow your heart? What a simple thing to say. He had been ignoring his real emotions and thoughts, which resulted in the irreparable damage. What’s worse, he did not even know how to redeem himself and gain forgiveness from the person whom he had hurt.

  The snowstorm was so heavy that Eleven couldn’t hear what he said clearly. She only thought that he looked sad.

  A gust of wind blew towards her and she coughed and choked. Anthony came back to his senses. How careless could he get? Her body was weak and yet he had made her stand in the cold for such a long time.

  “It’s too cold. Let’s go back.”


  “Sure!”


  Eleven had barely moved when she suddenly lost strength in her legs and fell. Anthony had a quick reflex and put his hand around her immediately. He could have picked her up swiftly, but Anthony held onto her waist and hugged her in his arms, with his body slanted thoughtfully to block her from the wind and snow.

  He wanted to pretend that he didn’t care too much, catch her casually and then lift her up as if nothing had happened. However, he couldn’t control his hands and kept her in his arms forcefully. God knows how much he wanted to touch her and hold her like that.

  It was what he had wanted to do right from the start.

  Anthony was tall while Eleven was petite. He looked like he could shelter Eleven entirely. Even though Eleven was not feeling cold anymore, her legs were still numb.

  Her legs were numb from standing for too long in the cold.

  At that moment, Eleven didn’t realize that they were in a very ambiguous position. She could only rely on him then and didn’t know what to do.

  “Can you walk?” Anthony lowered his head and asked anxiously. His hot breath that he breathed into her ears soon turned into a thin layer of ice. The smell of his cologne was unique and it filled her nostrils.

  Eleven nodded, with her face slightly hot.

  Her body was not completely recovered yet. The virus had damaged her body structure, and caused her immunity to be low. It was easy for her to get sick and tired, which was the price she had to pay for boosting her strength.

  The weather there was so cold that anyone who stood in the snow for a long time would be frozen stiff.

  Anthony took off his coat and put it on her. She felt his warm body temperature from the coat. Eleven exclaimed, “What are you doing?”


  He was only wearing a V-Neck Sweater, which was not considered thick. In such weather, he would freeze to death.

  “Wear it. Don’t take it off.” Anthony stopped her from giving him the coat back and his gaze was gentle. “You wear it. I’m a man. This snowstorm is nothing. Come on, I’ll carry you on my back.”


  Eleven was shocked. Carry her on his back?

  She had never been so down-and-out that she needed someone to piggy-back her. However, she shook her numb legs and felt that she should not overextend herself. ‘It is only a piggy-back……’


  Although she was a little resistant.

  “What’s the matter?”


  “Give me some time. I can walk.” Eleven said.

  “Little Seven, are you shy?” Anthony smiled beautifully. His gaze was gentle, focused and a little passionate. “Little Seven, do you want me to freeze to death?”


  Eleven was stunned. She looked at his thin clothes and hesitated for a while before putting her arms around his neck.

  Then, Anthony carried her on his back.

  The winter clothes on Eleven were already very thick, and she seemed even fatter with Anthony’s. Thanks to Anthony’s long hands, he could hold on to her properly.

  It was the first time that she was being carried on a man’s back. It felt very strange. The wind and snow blew wildly and the cold wind roared, numbing their faces. Eleven covered Anthony’s ears with a scarf.

  Anthony laughed faintly. Eleven was a little embarrassed, “What are you laughing at?”


  “Little Seven is behaving well……”


  Eleven was taken aback. ‘Behaving well? Since when could she be associated with good behaviors? This man is really weird.’


  “I’m heavy. Please let me down if you are struggling.”


  Books have always described a girl as being as light as a feather, and a man could carry them without any effort. A feather can’t possibly weigh less than a person who was more than a dozen kilograms.

  Anthony was silent and carried her on his back silently. After a while, she heard his voice saying, “Little Seven, you should gain more weight. I would still be able to……”


  She heard the first half of the sentence, but the second half was muffled due to the wind and snow. Eleven wanted to hear him clearly, but felt that they were too close to each other, so she gave up the idea.

  “Little Seven, do you have anyone you like?” Anthony suddenly asked.

  Eleven knew what he was asking as it was the same question that Cheng Anya asked. “No!”


  “Our Little Seven is so pure. Have you ever been in love?” Anthony’s laughter could not really be heard clearly in the snow. It didn’t seem like a laughter either.

  “Is it weird that I have not been in a relationship before?”


  “Of course not.” Anthony smiled. He adjusted her position and asked if she was comfortable. Eleven didn’t care about it though. Anthony continued, “You have stood there for a long time. Your back view looked lonely. I thought you were missing your lover.”


  “.……” Eleven remained silent. ‘Was I missing him?’


  Might be. But lover? He wasn’t considered as her lover. Five years ago, even if they liked each other, Mo Ye had an overbearing possessiveness over her, and sometimes planned their future jokingly. However, neither of them confessed their feelings.

  They couldn’t be considered as a couple. Even more so after five years.

  Lovers…… It was a sarcastic term for her.

  “Not really.” Maybe it was time to find someone to talk to. Eleven accidentally confided, “I used to love someone a lot, but I hate him now.”


  Anthony clasped his hands tightly and released them, as if he had realized something.

  Eleven laid on his back and did not feel his mood swings. Instead, she felt very reassured. Anthony’s back was very wide and comfortable to lay on.

  “Did he hurt you?”


  “Yes, and no.” Eleven said softly. It was a new experience for her to confide in others in such weather. He had the ability to let people put their guards down. Eleven said, “He had hurt me for me.”


  “I don’t understand……”


  “In fact, I didn’t understand too. Anyway, it doesn’t matter.” Eleven chuckled. “I do not have much time left to live. I don’t want to live miserably. I’m here this time to hope that I can let go of it and live comfortably from now on.”


  “Nonsense!” Antony suddenly snapped and stopped. Eleven was startled. For no reason, he lost his temper, and his tone was sharp. She was puzzled. It seemed that Anthony realized that he had behaved inappropriately. He paused for a while before continuing, “You will not die.”


  She wouldn’t die. He didn’t approve of it!

  “Everyone will eventually die.” Eleven laughed. She had long regarded life and death as unimportant. She asked jokingly, “Are you reluctant to let me die?”


  “Yes, I don’t approve!” Anthony murmured. “You are not allowed to die!”


  “You aren’t even Yama!”


  “Little Seven…… Did that man hurt you badly? ”


  “.……” Eleven didn’t reply to him.

  Anthony did not care and probed further, “What if he regrets his mistake and pleads for your forgiveness? Will you give him a chance?”


  Eleven went silent again. She didn’t know how to answer his question. It ought to be a question that was easy to answer, but she hesitated. “Anthony, why are you so interested in me, especially my opinions on relationships?”


  “Of course, anybody would be interested in such a wonderful girl like you.” Anthony replied.

  “You are the first to say that I am wonderful.” Eleven chuckled. “Mr. Anthony, you sure know how to make girls happy.”


  “It means that the others have no taste.” Anthony smiled. “Are you happy?”


  “Yes.”


  “That’s good.” Anthony said calmly. “You haven’t answered my question yet,” he reminded her.

  “I don’t know. No one can predict the future. Furthermore…… I don’t want to have anything to do with him.” Eleven said with a heavy heart. Suddenly, she felt that Anthony was in pain and sorrow.

  Eleven chose to stay silent. They have reached the house of the Kurts.

  “Little Seven, have you ever thought that your deep hatred was caused by the tremendous love you had? You are holding too much in your heart. If you can let them go…… Maybe you would feel better.” Anthony said softly.

  Eleven shook her head. “It’s impossible!”


  Anthony went silent again. ‘Is it really impossible? No, I won’t give up like that.’


  “Anthony, if your lover fell in love with someone else and then come back to you again, will you forgive her?” Eleven questioned.

  Anthony thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know, is your lover in love with someone else?”


  “Yes and no.”


  Anyone would be disheartened by the separation of heart and soul.

  “Little Seven, if my lover had fallen in love with someone else, I don’t know if I will forgive her. But if she finally gives me her heart again, I think I will forgive her.”