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

Xiao Chi felt that if he continued to remain silent like this, he might be driven crazy by this absurd and suffocating feeling.

He finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke in a very low voice in the darkness, his voice so low it was almost a whisper:

"You...know Yu Fuli?"

As soon as he said it, he paused for a moment, then cursed himself inwardly as stupid.

How could Yunbai not know Yu Fuli?

Yunbai is now a student in his F class. They see each other every day, so isn't it perfectly normal for him to know his teacher?

This question is utterly meaningless, and even seems like a probing question designed to cover something up.

Sure enough, a very brief and emotionless reply came from the darkness, her voice also very low, as if she did not want to disturb the peaceful sleep of the person in her arms:

"know."

Then, that was it. There was no question of "Why did you ask that?" or any further explanation; it was as if it were just a simple statement of fact, not worth any further elaboration.

This extremely calm reaction only made the nameless fire in Xiao Chi's chest burn even brighter.

He felt like a fool trying to pry open a metal plate, but the other party wouldn't even give him a crack.

Silence returned, even more unbearable than before.

Xiao Chi could even imagine that when Yun Bai answered, her gaze probably never left Yu Fuli's face for even a moment.

He gritted his teeth, swallowing back the many more questions that churned within him, such as "Why are you looking at him like that?" and "Have you met before?"

If I continue to ask, I will not only appear more eccentric and aggressive, but I might also actually wake Yu Fuli up.

However, the current situation made one conclusion crystal clear in Xiao Chi's mind—

Yunbai likes Yu Fuli.

It was far more than the ordinary respect or gratitude a student feels for their teacher, and it went far beyond dependence on a savior. It was a more personal, more focused, and possessive emotion.

Yun Bai's gaze, his careful embracing posture, and his complete disregard for others revealed everything.

This realization stirred a complex mix of emotions within Xiao Chi.

Immediately, an absurd thought popped into my head: one should not covet a friend's wife.

...Uh, that's not right either.

What kind of relationship is he with Yu Fuli?

The metaphor itself is utterly absurd.

He and Yu Fuli were teacher and student. The accident during the day was nothing more than a loss of control under the influence of adrenaline, an embarrassing interlude.

He's straight, with a clear sexual orientation, so how could he possibly have any inappropriate thoughts about Yu Fuli?

He stressed to himself, trying to attribute the strange feeling and the tightness in his chest to the pain in his leg, the harsh environment, and the unusual, uncomfortable intimacy before him.

He simply couldn't stand Yunbai's attitude, as if he regarded Yu Fuli as his private property.

That's it.

Xiao Chi closed his eyes again, turning his face towards the cold wooden wall, trying to isolate himself from the silent yet intensely present scene and atmosphere behind him.

The cold wind seeped in through the cracks, stinging the skin, but it couldn't dispel the tangled unease in my heart.

The night was deep, and the snow fell silently.

Inside the wooden cabin, both were lost in their own thoughts, and neither could fall asleep.

Yu Fuli was fast asleep and completely unaware of this.

After a long and agonizing wait, the sky finally began to brighten little by little.

As the first ray of pale, gray light struggled to squeeze through the cracks in the wooden house window, Yu Fuli stirred her eyelashes, the first to awaken from her exhaustion.

The moment his consciousness returned, the aches and coldness throughout his body made him gasp for breath.

He found himself almost completely curled up in Yunbai's arms, his head resting on the crook of her neck, and his waist loosely encircled by an arm.

The intimate gesture far exceeded the boundaries between teacher and student, causing him to freeze instantly.

He carefully, trying not to disturb the other person, raised his head to meet Yun Bai's face, which was so close to his own.

The young man kept his eyes closed, his long eyelashes casting faint shadows in the dim light. His face was whiter than snow, his lips were bloodless, and only his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he was enduring pain even in his sleep.

The arms wrapped around his waist, even unconsciously, carried a force that was impossible to break free from.

Yu Fuli's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately reached out to touch Yun Bai's forehead—it was burning hot! A high fever caused by a wound infection!

"Yunbai? Yunbai!" Yu Fuli called to him in a low voice, gently patting his uninjured cheek.

Yun Bai's eyelids trembled a few times, and she opened them with difficulty, her black eyes covered with a layer of misty fog. It took her a while to focus on Yu Fuli's face.

He leaned in and nuzzled Yu Fuli's face naturally, like a puppy.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but only a faint breath escaped. His arms tightened unconsciously, as if to confirm the presence of the person in his arms, and then relaxed weakly. His consciousness was obviously fading.

Yu Fuli's heart sank.

You must seek medical attention immediately!

He turned his head to look in the other direction.

Xiao Chi sat against the wall, it was unclear whether he was awake or asleep, his complexion was also not good, and his eyes showed obvious fatigue and gloom.

Hearing the noise, he opened his eyes and first looked at Yu Fuli and Yun Bai's overly close posture. After a moment's pause, he turned to Yu Fuli's anxious face.

"He has a high fever," Yu Fuli said quickly, gently pulling away from Yun Bai's arm and getting up to check his wounds.

The bandage was soaked with blood and exudate in a small area, and the surrounding skin was red, swollen, and hot; the condition was deteriorating rapidly.

"It's dawn. We have to find a way out, or send a signal." Yu Fuli looked out the window. The wind and snow seemed to have lessened a bit, but the world was still a vast expanse of white.

He got up and walked to the door, listening intently.

Besides the sound of the wind, there seemed to be other sounds as well?

Is it the roar of an engine? Or...?

He suddenly pulled off the latch and pushed the wooden door open a crack.

A biting, icy wind immediately rushed in, followed by intermittent shouts, like those from a loudspeaker, coming from afar!

"...Teacher Yu...please respond if you hear me..."

It's George's voice! And there are other people too!

Rescue has arrived!

Yu Fuli perked up and immediately turned around: "It's the search and rescue team! They're calling for us!"

"Here!! The cabin!!" Yu Fuli shouted with all her might in the direction of the sound, pounding on the wooden door as she shouted, making muffled thuds.

Xiao Chi immediately grabbed a thick piece of firewood and banged it heavily against the wall.

The shouts outside paused for a moment, then became clearer and more urgent: "Down below! The sound is coming from down below! It sounds like there's a wooden house!"

"Teachers! Is that you?! Hang in there! We're here!"

The sounds of hurried footsteps, voices, and clashing machinery rapidly approached the wooden house from afar.

A few minutes later, the flimsy door of the cabin was carefully pushed open from the outside, and blinding sunlight and cold wind rushed in, illuminating the disheveled scene inside and the three people's pale and haggard faces.