She’s Being Naughty - Chapter 30

The freezing winds of Northern Europe howled across the airport tarmac.

Xu Zhaoyi wrapped her down jacket tightly around her and stepped through the heavy snow toward the car rental point. Jiang Yao followed behind her, her steps light and agile, like a snow fox unafraid of the bitter cold.

“The cold in Norway is different from home,” Jiang Yao noted, her nose tinging a slight red, though her eyes sparkled with excitement. “It’s drier, like an ice blade scraping against your cheeks.”

Xu Zhaoyi glanced back at her, her heart trembling involuntarily. Today, Jiang Yao wore a white down jacket paired with a light blue cashmere scarf and fuzzy earmuffs. She looked like a college student, hardly like a mature woman of thirty.

“Watch where you’re going,” Xu Zhaoyi frowned. “If you fall, I’m not carrying you.”

Jiang Yao’s eyes curved into crescents as she laughed. “Understood, President Xu.”

After finishing the rental paperwork, Xu Zhaoyi slid into the driver’s seat. Jiang Yao naturally took the passenger side and began adjusting the heater.

“Should we see the Northern Lights first, or talk about the project?” Xu Zhaoyi asked, opening the navigation.

Jiang Yao’s fingers swiped through the weather forecast on her tablet. “Tonight happens to be a peak period for aurora activity. If we miss it, we might have to wait three more days.”

Xu Zhaoyi pursed her lips. She remembered Jiang Yao’s anticipation for the aurora, the light in those eyes was brighter than ever.

“Then we go tonight,” she heard herself say. “The project can wait until tomorrow.”

Jiang Yao turned her head sharply, looking at her in surprise. “Really?”

The reaction sent a warm current through Xu Zhaoyi’s chest. “Mm-hmm.”

The car drove into the streets of Tromso. This small city within the Arctic Circle was covered in thick snow, but the colorful wooden houses and warm lights along the streets made it look like a fairy-tale world.

Jiang Yao pressed her face against the window, the scenery flashing by reflected in her eyes. “So beautiful.”

Watching her childish wonder through the rearview mirror, Xu Zhaoyi’s lips curled up unconsciously.

The hotel was a boutique suite in the city center. Opening the door, the warm wood tones and minimalist Nordic design were striking.

“Wow…” Jiang Yao circled the room before stopping at the floor to ceiling window. “You can see the bay from here!”

Xu Zhaoyi set the luggage down and walked to her side. Outside lay the frozen sea and distant snow-capped mountains, glowing with a golden-red hue under the setting sun.

They watched the scenery in silence for a while until Jiang Yao suddenly sneezed.

“I told you to dress warmer,” Xu Zhaoyi frowned. “What if you catch a cold?”

“I won’t,” Jiang Yao rubbed her nose. “My health is great.”

Xu Zhaoyi huffed and pulled out some pre-prepared heat patches from her suitcase. “Put these on.”

Jiang Yao took the patches but didn’t move. “You help me.”

“I can’t reach my back,” Jiang Yao blinked, looking innocent.

The tips of Xu Zhaoyi’s ears began to heat up. “Do it yourself.”

“If I could do it myself, why would I ask you?” Jiang Yao had already started taking off her coat. “Quickly, I’m going to sneeze again from the heater.”

Gritting her teeth, Xu Zhaoyi took the heat patch.

Jiang Yao turned around, facing away as she pulled off her sweater, leaving only a form-fitting thermal layer. The graceful lines of her back were faintly visible through the tight fabric, the curve of her spine like a meticulously carved work of art.

Xu Zhaoyi’s fingers trembled slightly. She carefully lifted a corner of the thermal shirt and pressed the heat patch onto the small of Jiang Yao’s back.

Her fingertips accidentally brushed against Jiang Yao’s skin, the warm, soft sensation made her retract her hand as if she’d been struck by an electric shock.

“Done,” she said, her voice a bit tight.

Jiang Yao put her clothes back on and turned to smile at her. “Thanks.”

The light in those eyes was brighter than the sunset outside.

The aurora observation point was on a hillside in the suburbs. A local guide drove them there in a specialized snow vehicle.

The sky had turned completely dark, and the stars dotting the night were far denser than those seen in the city.

“The aurora index is very high tonight,” the guide said. “You are very lucky.”

Wrapped in heavy Arctic gear, Xu Zhaoyi and Jiang Yao sat inside a glass igloo specifically designed for tourists. The interior was lit with warm lights, and hot chocolate and snacks were provided.

“They say people who see the Northern Lights will find happiness,” Jiang Yao said, holding her hot chocolate and looking out at the dark sky.

Xu Zhaoyi remembered her saying before that this was her mother’s wish.

“They will,” Xu Zhaoyi said softly.

Jiang Yao turned to look at her, her gaze softening. “Xu Zhaoyi, why did you bring me here?”

“Didn’t you want to come yourself?” Xu Zhaoyi avoided her gaze.

“You know what I’m asking,” Jiang Yao set her cup down. “I only mentioned it as a wish; you could have easily pretended not to hear. Why did you take it so much to heart?”

The sound of the wind outside the glass house suddenly seemed very loud.

Xu Zhaoyi’s heartbeat was just as clamorous as the wind.

“I…”

Just as she was searching for the right words, the guide suddenly cried out: “Aurora!”

The two turned to the window simultaneously.

At first, it was just a faint ribbon of green light, hanging in the sky like a gauze curtain. Gradually, the light grew brighter and wider, beginning to dance. It shifted from green to blue-green, joined by a purple halo, leaping and swirling in the night sky like a dream.

Jiang Yao stood up and walked to the window, her eyes shining.

Unconsciously, Xu Zhaoyi stood up as well, standing beside her.

The light of the aurora reflected on Jiang Yao’s face, outlining the perfect silhouette of her profile. Xu Zhaoyi found she couldn’t look away, the sight before her was more mesmerizing than the lights outside.

“So beautiful,” Jiang Yao whispered.

“Yes, very beautiful,” Xu Zhaoyi’s gaze, however, remained on her face.

Jiang Yao turned her head suddenly, and their eyes met.

Those eyes were filled with the colors of the aurora, and something even deeper.

“Why aren’t you looking at the aurora? Why are you looking at me?” The corners of Jiang Yao’s mouth quirked up.

Realizing her slip, Xu Zhaoyi immediately looked away. “Who’s looking at you?”

Jiang Yao gave a soft laugh and suddenly reached out to take Xu Zhaoyi’s hand.

“Thank you for bringing me,” she said softly. “This is the best gift I’ve ever received.”

Xu Zhaoyi’s heart felt as though it had been struck by that gentle voice. She wanted to pull her hand back, yet she couldn’t bear to lose that warm touch.

“You’re welcome,” she finally replied stiffly.

Their fingers had entwined at some point, shimmering slightly under the glow of the aurora.

Jiang Yao didn’t seem to intend to let go, continuing to watch the aurora show outside while holding hands.

Xu Zhaoyi’s fingers trembled slightly in her palm, but she didn’t pull away.

This was the first time, with full awareness, that they had been so intimately hand in hand.

It wasn’t because of an accident, and it wasn’t because of some excuse.

It was simply because they wanted to touch each other.

“Zhaozhao,” Jiang Yao suddenly called her name.

“Hmm?”

“Do you think…” Jiang Yao’s voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible, “we look like we’re on a date?”

Xu Zhaoyi’s breath hitched.

At that moment, the aurora seemed to become even more brilliant, with ten thousand stars flickering overhead, but she could only hear the thunderous sound of her own heartbeat.