The lake surface of the wetland was indeed not frozen. They stood by the road, but when they saw the rising fog on the lake, and the camphor trees by the lake were hung with icicles, Ji Yinbing reached out and asked the guide, “Can I get an icicle?” This was the first time Ji Yinbing spoke to the local guide.

  This was the first time Yan Nuo heard Ji Yinbing speak English. Her English was especially accurate.

  The tour guide nodded. “Sure.”


  Ji Yinbing tiptoed and took down an ice cone. She played with the ice cone and suddenly asked the tour guide, “Uncle, what does ‘Yin Bing’ mean?”


  The uncle said, “According to ancient texts, ‘Yin Bing’ in Chinese means fear and anxiety. However, Mr. Liang Qichao once said a very famous saying, ‘Ten years of drinking ice cannot cool your hot blood’.” The tour guide said the last eight words in Chinese.

  Yan Nuo and Ji Yinbing understood Chinese and could speak it.

  The tour guide did not know that they could understand Chinese, so he enthusiastically explained the meaning of this in English. “It literally means that even after decades of drinking ice, you can’t lose your hot blood.”


  Ji Yinbing remained silent for a long time.

  She did not know why her mother had chosen this name for her.

  Even decades of drinking ice could not cool her blood. Was she referring to her ideals or her love for someone?

  Ji Yinbing subconsciously looked at the safety rope on her wrist. She handed the rope to the guide and asked, “Uncle, do you know the words on this?”


  The guide looked at it and nodded. He said, “The word on the left is ice, and the word on the right is Yue.”


  “My mother’s name is Ji Yue.”


  Ji Yinbing suddenly realized that this Chinese word “Bing” was probably referring to a man.

  So Mom had always loved someone in her heart. There was a “Bing” word in that person’s name.

  “Life is fleeting, and you won’t forget your original love.” Ji Yinbing suddenly said.

  When the tour guide heard this, he clapped his hands and praised, “That’s true!” He asked Ji Yinbing, “Miss, are you Chinese?”


  “My mother is.”


  “So you’re half Chinese. This is your maternal grandmother’s house.”


  Ji Yinbing did not understand what the word ‘grandmother’ meant. The tour guide explained with a smile, “It’s grandmother.”


  Only then did she understand. “Well, yes.” She looked at the mist that curled around the lake in front of her. The great river and mountains seemed even more beautiful because of her mother. “I love this country.” Just as she loved her mother.

  Yan Nuo remained silent.

  He had been savoring the saying that it was hard to cool his blood after drinking ice for ten years.

  Did it mean that as long as a person had determination and perseverance, no matter how difficult it was, it could not stop his determination to do something?

  Ji Yinbing, who was bent on taking the Harvard exam, managed to do so.

  Then… What about him?

  They could watch the sunset from the top of the mountain. They had returned from the wetlands just as the sun was about to set. The three of them climbed to the top of the mountain together. Ji Yinbing stood behind Yan Nuo. Yan Nuo looked at the distant sunset shining on the continuous white birch trees. All the trees with icicles hanging from them were dyed orange with the sea of snow.

  At this moment, Yan Nuo heard Ji Yinbing say something behind him. She said something strange in Chinese, but it was filled with poetic emotion. She said, “The moon on the sea is the moon in the sky.”


  Yan Nuo turned around and looked at her. “What did you say just now?”


  Ji Yinbing shook her head and said with a smile, “I’m just wondering how beautiful this place would be if the moon was out.”


  “It will look even better.” The person who spoke was the tour guide. He took out his phone and handed it to Yan Nuo and Ji Yinbing. He opened the photo album and said as he searched, “I took this before. Here, look.”


  He clicked on the photo and Ji Yinbing and Yan Nuo came over to take a look at the same time.

  The cold moonlight shone on the snow, making the night here even colder.

  It was indeed beautiful, but it would also be very cold.

  Ji Yinbing said, “Beautiful.”


  Yan Nuo remained silent.

  They returned to the hotel and their respective rooms. Ji Yinbing carried her bathrobe to take a shower. She turned on the hot water, which drenched her body and caressed her hair, pores, and fingers. She suddenly threw back her fluffy hair, hugged her knees, and squatted in the bathroom.

  The suppressed sobs circled the small bathroom.

  Next door, Yan Nuo sat by the window and looked at the people cooking barbecue downstairs.

  He looked deep in thought.

  They only stayed here for a day before going to Lake Hulunbelle. When they arrived, Ji Yinbing realized that Lake Hulunbelle was actually two lakes. Lake Hulun was very big and Lake Belle was very small, but they were both very beautiful. They stayed here for a day and returned to Binjiang City the next day.

  When they arrived at Binjiang City, Ji Yinbing felt as if she had returned to the embrace of the sun. Compared to River City, the weather in Binjiang City was simply a breeze.

  On the flight back to the country, Yan Nuo and Ji Yinbing sat side by side, but neither of them spoke.

  After getting off the plane, they resumed their status as master and servant.

  Yan Nuo sent Ji Yinbing to school.

  She got out of Yan Nuo’s car and walked into the school gate. She saw Vera standing in front of her with a small bag and a rose-red short skirt. Vera looked at her expressionlessly with disdain.

  She stared at Ji Yinbing as if she was looking at a piece of smelly meat.

  Ji Yinbing was still carrying the things she had brought back from China. There were clothes and local specialties.

  Vera looked at the things in her hands and her eyes turned cold.

  Ji Yinbing paused for a moment before walking forward and greeting her respectfully, “Miss Vera.”


  Vera suddenly reached out and grabbed the two bags in Ji Yinbing’s hand.

  She threw all of the items on the ground and stomped on them with her foot. However, Vera still wasn’t appeased. She even spat on them.

  Ji Yinbing looked at the pink coat that was covered in mud.

  She clenched her fists tightly and kept reminding herself that this person was the person her master liked. She could not do anything to embarrass her master.

  Seeing that Ji Yinbing could only be anxious but did not dare to refute, Vera felt better. She looked at Ji Yinbing and her foot landed on a scarf. She mocked Ji Yinbing, “You’re like the clothes I’m stepping on. You only have the right to be trampled on by me.”


  Ji Yinbing’s lips quivered.

  Vera continued, “Brother Yan Nuo is not a man you can dream of. You should take your identity seriously. You’re his slave, and you’re destined to clean his shoes. Don’t try to warm his bed.” Seeing Ji Yinbing’s face turn pale, Vera’s mood improved.

  “A commoner is a commoner. Do you really think you’re different from the rest if Brother Yan Nuo treats you kindly? In your life, you’ve been stained with the blood of a commoner. Let’s not talk about the fact that Brother Yan Nuo doesn’t like you at all. Even if he does, he won’t openly go against the entire upper-class society for you……”