Nobody said that teachers at elite academies have to be heartthrobs.

Yu Fuli leaned against the cold wooden wall, pondering: they hadn't returned yet, and sooner or later, the horse farm, especially the anxious Qiaoqi, would notice something was wrong.

Given her personality and level of concern for Yu Fuli, she would likely report it immediately and lead a search party. If the search and rescue team finds the location of the fall, they might be able to locate the cabin by following the tracks.

Right now, it seems that all they can do is conserve their energy and wait.

Perhaps the location was well-hidden, or perhaps the harsh weather and complex terrain hindered the pursuers' progress. Until the sky was completely dark, apart from the howling wind and snow outside the wooden house, no pursuers appeared.

Time slowly passed, and the darkness and cold intensified with the night.

There wasn't much firewood left in the fireplace, and Yu Fuli added it sparingly. The weak flames barely dispelled a small patch of darkness, but couldn't ward off the biting cold that seeped in through the cracks in the wooden planks.

"This won't do. You're losing heat too quickly, especially you two injured."

Looking at Yun Bai's pale face and Xiao Chi's silent, patient expression illuminated by the firelight, Yu Fuli decisively suggested, "We must huddle together and warm each other with our body heat."

His original plan was to place Yunbai, who was the most seriously injured and had lost the most blood, in the middle to receive the best protection.

But Yunbai merely lifted her eyelids, her obsidian-like eyes appearing exceptionally stubborn in the firelight. She shook her head very slightly yet firmly, even shrinking back against the cold wooden wall, expressing her refusal through her actions.

Yu Fuli frowned: "Yunbai, your body temperature is too low right now, it's dangerous..."

"That's it." Yunbai interrupted him, her voice weak but unyielding, and she even closed her eyes, refusing to communicate.

Yu Fuli couldn't do anything about his stubbornness, so she looked at Xiao Chi again. Xiao Chi leaned against the wall, his gaze sweeping between Yu Fuli and Yun Bai, his face expressionless, and simply said, "Whatever."

Helpless, Yu Fuli could only sit in the middle seat by herself.

Xiao Chi moved his body to Yu Fuli's left and carefully positioned his injured leg. Yun Bai paused for a moment, then very slowly moved to Yu Fuli's right, pressing his body tightly against Yu Fuli's, leaving no gap between them.

Smelling the cool, refreshing fragrance emanating from Yu Fuli, Yun Baifa let out a satisfied sigh.

As the three bodies drew closer, separated only by thin clothing, a faint warmth began to transfer between them. Their cold, stiff limbs gradually regained a semblance of warmth through the contact, and their breaths mingled in that small space.

Yu Fuli could feel the slightly higher-than-normal heat emanating from Xiao Chi on her left, and the shivering of Yun Bai on her right due to the cold.

He sighed silently, and finally reached out his arm, gently wrapping it around Yunbai's shoulder, pulling him more steadily towards him. At the same time, he leaned slightly to the left, giving Xiao Chi's injured leg more space and sharing some of the support.

This posture almost completely embraces the two of them.

Yunbai's body tensed instantly, then slowly relaxed, finally resting her forehead gently against Yu Fuli's shoulder, her cold hair brushing against her neck.

Xiao Chi didn't move, but closed his eyes, as if he had fallen asleep from exhaustion. Only his slightly adjusted breathing betrayed a hint of unease.

In the darkness, only the alternating sounds of breathing and the soft crackling of sparks could be heard.

The wait felt exceptionally long.

After a long while, Xiao Chi opened his eyes amidst waves of dull pain in his legs.

The last embers in the fireplace had long since died out, and the only light in the cabin was the white glow reflected from the snow through the cracks.

His gaze unconsciously drifted to his side.

Yu Fuli fell asleep.

The continuous escape and the mentally taxing treatment of his wounds had clearly drained his energy.

He had his eyes closed, his long eyelashes casting soft shadows beneath them, and the weariness on his face had been replaced by the relaxation of sleep. He was slightly curled up because of the cold.

What made Xiao Chi's gaze slightly narrow was Yu Fuli's current posture—he was not leaning against the rough wooden wall, but was being held in Yun Bai's arms.

The young man, who always exuded an aura of unapproachability and was currently severely injured and weak, carefully adjusted his position so that Yu Fuli's head could rest in the crook of his neck. He didn't worry about pressing on the wounds on Yu Fuli's waist and abdomen, just to make Yu Fuli more comfortable.

Yunbai did not sleep.

He lowered his head slightly, his gaze fixed on Yu Fuli's sleeping profile in the pale light.

That look in his eyes was one that Xiao Chi had never seen before. All the coldness, wariness, and aloofness had vanished, leaving only a kind of almost devout tenderness and focus.

The dim light fell on his long eyelashes and straight nose, making him look like a dragon that had sheathed all its claws and fangs, carefully guarding its only treasure.

It's as if just looking at it and feeling its real weight and warmth in my arms is enough to ward off all the cold.