A low, amused chuckle rumbled above her, vibrating through his chest and sending a pleasant shiver down her spine.

The sound made her lips curve into a sleepy smile, but when his hand squeezed her waist with just the right amount of playful pressure, a soft moan escaped her lips.

The touch was both tender and teasing, igniting a gentle spark of awareness that finally coaxed her eyes open.

She peeked up from the hide, blinking against the soft morning light filtering into the room, only to meet Rong Ye’s gaze fixed on her with those mischievous eyes...dark, sparkling with affection and a hint of roguish delight that always made her heart skip a beat.

"Good morning, my sleepy one," he murmured, his voice low and warm like a caress, one corner of his mouth lifting in that charming half-smile she could never resist. His fingers traced lazy circles along her waist, keeping her close as snow continued to drift silently beyond the window.

Su Qinglan nestled closer, her hand resting over his heart as she gazed up at him. "You let me sleep through all that noise?" she asked softly, though there was no real complaint in her tone...only fondness.

Rong Ye chuckled again, leaning down to brush a gentle kiss against her forehead.

"They were having too much fun turning the courtyard into a battlefield. I didn’t have the heart to wake you... or perhaps I simply wanted you all to myself for a little while longer."

His hand slipped beneath her gown, his palm warm against the curve of her back, drawing her even nearer until their breaths mingled.

"Besides, seeing you like this makes even the wildest morning worthwhile."

She felt her cheeks warm under his attentive stare, but she didn’t pull away.

Instead, she tilted her head up, her fingers lightly tracing the line of his jaw. "Flatterer," she whispered, though her eyes shone with the same playful affection he showed her.

Rong Ye’s mischievous expression softened into something deeper, more intimate, as he captured her lips in a slow, lingering kiss.

When they parted, he rested his forehead against hers, their bodies perfectly aligned in the cozy nest of furs.

"Stay with me a moment more," he said softly, his voice laced with tenderness. "The world can wait just a little longer while I hold my mate."

Su Qinglan lingered a moment longer in Rong Ye’s warm embrace, savoring the gentle rise and fall of his chest and the lingering taste of his kiss, when a soft movement stirred beside her.

Shi Feng, who had been nestled close on her other side, shifted quietly and buried her face into the crook of Su Qinglan’s neck.

The familiar warmth of his breath and the gentle press of his body brought a soft chuckle from Su Qinglan’s lips.

"Greedy for warmth even in your sleep," Su Qinglan murmured fondly, reaching up to brush a stray lock of hair from Shi Feng’s cheek.

After a few more heartbeats of peaceful closeness, she finally gathered her resolve and pushed herself up from the bed.

The sounds of excited cubs and the soft hush of falling snow had reached her ears earlier, stirring her curiosity. There was real snow outside. She wanted to see it for herself, to step into this magical first winter morning with her family.

The moment she rose, however, the cold air rushed over her like an icy wave. Dressed only in her thin gown meant for sleeping, she froze in place, a violent shiver racing through her body as the chill seeped straight into her skin.

Her teeth nearly chattered, and she wrapped her arms around herself instinctively, suddenly very aware of how unprepared she was for the winter bite that had transformed the world beyond their walls.

Before she could even take another step, Rong Ye was there. He immediately wrapped a thick, warm cloak around Su Qinglan’s shoulders. He pulled it snugly closed in front, his hands lingering to rub gentle warmth into Su Qinglan’s arms as he drew her close once more.

"Better?" Rong Ye asked softly, his voice still husky with sleep but filled with caring concern.

Su Qinglan sighed in relief as the cloak’s heavy fabric chased away the worst of the cold, and she leaned gratefully into Rong Ye’s embrace.

"Much better. Thank you," she whispered, pressing a light kiss to Rong Ye’s temple.

"I heard the little ones causing chaos out there with the snow. I couldn’t stay in bed forever."

While the entire house remained filled with noise and excitement, two figures finally emerged from the inner room.

Su Qinglan had wrapped herself tightly in a thick fur cloak, the soft fur collar almost hiding the lower half of her face. However, Rong Ye was not dressed as warmly as her. The two followed the sounds of shouting cubs and laughing beastmen toward the front room, curiosity growing with every step.

The moment Su Qinglan appeared, every cub immediately spotted her.

"Mommy!"

"Mommy is awake!"

"Mommy, look outside!"

The previously chaotic group instantly surged toward her. Then, as if they had rehearsed it beforehand, the cubs hurriedly moved aside and formed a neat path leading straight to the window.

The sight made Su Qinglan blink in surprise.

For a moment, she could only stare at the little ones. Then, unable to resist their enthusiasm, she walked forward and looked through the window.

The instant her gaze landed outside, she froze. Her expression slowly changed until it became almost identical to the cubs’ expressions from earlier.

For several long seconds, she simply stood there in silence. Snow, There was snow everywhere. The entire world beyond the window had transformed into a vast sea of white.

The courtyard had completely vanished beneath the thick blanket of snow. The familiar rooftops were barely visible. The fences had disappeared entirely. Even the trees looked unfamiliar beneath the enormous piles of snow resting on their branches.

Everything she knew had been buried overnight. But what truly shocked her was the height of the snow.

Their windows were nearly one and a half meters above the ground, yet the snow outside had already piled up to almost the bottom of the window frame.

Looking out no longer felt like looking into a courtyard. It felt as though someone had built a giant white wall directly outside their home.

"So much snow..."