A Hound in the Snow

One winter morning, a handsome new hire with a mysterious background showed up at the shop where Bai Qing worked. He had striking features and a restrained air, but his words were sharp. He liked to look people up and down with the sharp corners of his eyes, cold and disdainful, as if they were garbage.

Bai Qing thought she liked cute little dogs. A snarling wolfdog like him wasn't her type at all, so she'd better stay out of his way.

But when she rose onto her tiptoes to reach something and accidentally brushed Ji Li's arm, he frowned and blushed as he moved away. When she lost her balance and he caught her, he let go in a rush, blushing again. He took a sip from a cup she'd touched, then realized what he'd done and turned bright red, all the way to his ears.

Bai Qing comforted him. "Don't worry about it. I'll wash it."

Ji Li got up without a word and bolted out the door. Bai Qing thought he really wasn't cute at all, but the next day, an unopened new cup was waiting on her desk.

The note beside it said something completely at odds with his disgusted attitude the day before: ...I'm sorry.

Bai Qing: So cute. I'm totally into him.

Brilliant science-and-engineering student x purehearted big dog who keeps everyone at arm's length

Pure sweetness. If it's not sweet, come hit me.

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