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Appears dark and ruthless but loves deeply gong (Ji Xiao) x Appears carefree and easygoing but is actually devoted as a loyal dog shou (Cheng Di)
How did the gentle, reserved top student from high school become a hard-handed city lord? And how did the school bully, always first to get in fights and receive disciplinary notices, become a blade in the city lord's hands, to be wielded at will?
How did things change so dramatically? Did close friends turn against each other, or did lovers become locked in a deadly struggle?
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Back in school, everyone knew Cheng Di was afraid of the cold. What they didn't know was that he especially loved snow.
Now, only Ji Xiao knows that Cheng Di is afraid of pain. And yet Ji Xiao still inflicted the deepest wound on him. Though he fears pain, Cheng Di still loves Ji Xiao so deeply.
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They went from being inseparable at school to cold and distant now. In truth, both wanted to protect the other amid a filthy struggle for power. But the misunderstandings ran too deep, and neither would speak of their love. All that remained was the deep hurt they inflicted on each other.
The long years of coldness wore away the clear, youthful love they once shared. But can they really let go?
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When you caught a chill and thought he didn't care about you at all, did you notice that the cafeteria served everyone an extra bowl of ginger soup at lunch? When you were heartbroken, thinking he'd forgotten your birthday, did you know that on your birthday night, you sat at the stone table in the courtyard making snowballs until dawn, while a window upstairs stayed lit until dawn, too?
Years later, when he finally won you back, did you notice those few snowballs from years ago still in the fridge, now no longer quite intact?...
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Falling in love with someone in the snowy days of youth can make you love them for a very, very long time.
Even as the world changes beyond recognition, love remains the same.
One-on-one; both pure; happy ending.
For details on how to enjoy this story, see the author's note in the "Aged Wine 2" chapter.
Important content warnings:
* Emotional angst and physical abuse.
* Flashbacks and the present are narrated in alternating order (take note).
* Modern alternate universe, so please don't scrutinize the details.
Hope you enjoy the story!
Theme: Lovers will be together in the end.
