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The snowflakes are dancing in the sky, the cold wind is piercing, outside the gale is roaring, near the Korea border in the Northeast Forest Sea, it’s a vast expanse of snow, the heavy snowfall covering the entire forest.

Yet, at this moment, wisps of cooking smoke rise from the chimney of a large house outside, compared to the stormy weather outside, the inside of the house is steaming with warmth, and the aroma of food fills the air.

A group of people surround a big iron pot, inside is freshly cooked chicken stew with mushrooms, cornmeal cakes stick to the pot walls one by one, a man picks one up, dips it in the broth while eating, and the fragrance immediately spreads between his lips and teeth.

On the wooden table, there are also plates of cold dishes, such as cold shredded potatoes, garlic-smacked cucumbers, and other small dishes.

And at this moment, the people here are none other than a group of geological surveyors.

Among them is a geology professor from the Science Academy, apart from him, others are mostly field technicians checking equipment.

Some are locals, and some came from Beijing with the professor.

At this point, someone says:

"You say, spending the New Year like this, there’s only two days until New Year’s Eve, looks like we won’t be able to return before then."

For the past week, it’s been stormy and snowy, completely unsuitable for travel, to ensure safety, they paused work, a group of people waiting here.

As these words fell, a cold voice calmly spoke:

"There’s not much work left, you can rush back to accompany your families, I’ll stay here by myself."

"Professor Xiao, how can that be!? How can we leave you here alone, you also have to go back to spend the New Year with your family."

A team member immediately said.

Xiao Yixing glanced at the speaking team member, put down his chopsticks, and said lightly:

"I said you can go, you can go, I’m not married, no children, it doesn’t matter, the remaining work isn’t much anyway."

As he said these words, everyone suddenly hesitated.

After all, it’s the New Year’s Eve, their wives and children are waiting at home, but leaving only the professor here might seem... too much.

"Alright, don’t hesitate anymore, if you don’t disturb me, I can enjoy some peace these days."

After saying this, Xiao Yixing stood up and left, leaving them no chance to refuse.

The others looked at each other, suddenly feeling helpless and wordless.

In the end, they compromised, listened to Xiao Yixing’s words, and decided to leave before New Year’s, leaving the remaining work for him to complete.

Just before leaving, an old companion playfully said to him:

"Professor, you’re not getting any younger, hurry and find a wife, have a kid, once you do, you’ll understand the feeling of having someone to think of you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yixing just smiled indifferently and sent him off.

Actually, there are many ways to choose in life, it doesn’t necessarily need to follow the conventional, "normal" way that most people think to live one’s life.

No matter what kind of life it is, as long as it’s what you want, then it’s enough.

Life is short, live for yourself.

New Year’s Eve still came.

At the foot of Snow Forest, at the door of each house, or on the streets, the sound of firecrackers crackling rang continuously.

Even though where he lived was relatively far from places where people gathered, he could still hear clearly.

Outside was bustling, families reunited, while he himself was in a house at the foot of a mountain, alone, independently at peace.

Although he wasn’t afraid of solitude, not afraid to be alone, when the atmosphere comes, it inevitably causes myriad thoughts, thinking of someone far away.