The cold wind howled, freezing everything in its path, pushing people to the brink of survival.

Inside Renault’s warm villa, he and Wanqing Mu enjoyed the comfort of the indoors, sipping their drinks, sheltered from the relentless cold wave that had descended upon them.

Suddenly, the power went out, plunging the villa into darkness. Wanqing, sitting on the bedroom sofa, startled and jumped at the sudden blackness.

She rushed to the window, noticing that the entire villa district had lost power, shrouded in complete darkness.

Fumbling her way through the house, she felt her way along the walls until she found Renault. 

“Did the power just go out?” Wanqing asked, her voice slightly shaken.

“Yeah, don’t worry. I have a backup generator. I’ll fix it right away,” Renault replied calmly.

He hurried to the generator, while Wanqing, feeling the chill start to seep in, searched for more layers to wrap herself in.

She found Renault already bundled up as she approached him. “You should wear something warmer too; it’s getting really cold!”

Wanqing tugged at the collar of Renault's jacket, fussing over the way it fit, making sure everything was snug. “Be careful not to get sick!” she warned.

Renault was caught off guard by the gesture, a strange warmth rising in his chest. When was the last time someone fussed over him like this?

Suddenly, he reached out, grabbing Wanqing’s hand. It was soft and warm.

Wanqing flinched in surprise, her eyes widening, and she quickly pulled her hand away, flustered.

“It’s nothing, really,” Renault reassured, a smile playing on his lips.

They both hurried upstairs, heading toward the generator room, where a blast of cold air greeted them as they opened the door. 

The cold was biting, the wind cutting into their faces like knives.

Renault moved quickly, knowing they couldn’t afford to stay in the cold for long. After a bit of effort, he managed to get the generator running again, feeling a sense of relief as the lights in the villa flickered back on.

He rushed back inside, eager to see if Wanqing was okay, and found her waiting anxiously for him at the entrance.

“Are you okay? You didn’t freeze out there, did you?” Wanqing asked, scanning him for any signs of discomfort.

Renault, wanting to tease her a little, put on a mock serious face. “Actually, I might’ve gotten a little frostbite. Want to check?” he joked.

“What? Really?” Wanqing gasped, rushing over to him and grabbing his hands, inspecting them carefully.

Seeing her reaction, Renault couldn’t hold back his laughter. “I’m fine! You worry too much.”

Realizing she had been tricked, Wanqing gave him a playful shove, her face turning red from embarrassment. “You liar! I really thought you were hurt!” 

Renault laughed even harder, enjoying the moment. “Hey, I was just having a little fun. No need to get all worked up.”

Wanqing tried to stay mad but couldn’t help but smile at his carefree attitude. 

“Okay, okay, enough jokes. How about we watch a movie to relax?” Renault suggested.

Wanqing looked at him, puzzled. “A movie? But the internet is down, isn’t it?”

Renault gave her a mischievous grin and pulled out a hard drive from his pocket. “Ta-da! I’ve got tons of movies saved on this. You pick whatever you like!”

Wanqing paused, surprised but amused at how prepared Renault seemed. After all, it had been a while since they’d had a chance to unwind and watch a movie.

“Alright, let’s do it! We deserve a break after surviving this cold,” she agreed with a smile.

Together, they headed down to the private home theater.

…

Several hours passed. Renault and Wanqing had dozed off after watching a couple of movies. When they woke up, they spent the rest of the day chatting and playing with Crowball, Renault’s pet crow.

Crowball was perched on Renault’s shoulder, happily pecking at his hair. The little bird seemed particularly fond of both Renault and Wanqing, flying between them and chirping happily. 

The crow’s playful antics filled the otherwise quiet villa with laughter and warmth. Renault could tell that Wanqing was slowly letting her guard down, her initial shyness giving way to more relaxed, natural interactions.

As night fell once more, the storm finally subsided. The oppressive cold had retreated, and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds.

The two of them had grown closer during their time spent in isolation. Renault, wealthy and handsome, and Wanqing, beautiful and kind, naturally found themselves drawn to each other in this comfortable, safe space.

Besides, Renault had always been a bit of a drinker, and after sharing several bottles of wine together, the atmosphere became even more intimate. 

However, despite their growing connection, Renault could sense a tinge of sadness in Wanqing’s eyes as the night dragged on. 

They had been living off hotpot, instant noodles, and whatever canned goods they had left. After a while, even their favorite meals had lost their appeal.

Wanqing suddenly sighed, reminiscing, “You know what I miss? That stir-fry dish from the corner restaurant. I haven’t had that in ages!”

Her eyes sparkled as she thought about it, resting her chin in her hand. “Haha, if anyone could get me that dish right now, I’d marry them on the spot!” she said jokingly.

Renault, who had been listening, froze for a moment. Was she just joking? Or was there some truth behind those words?

Had she been hinting at something more? 

Renault knew one thing for sure—he needed to find a way to get her that meal. But in the midst of this frozen wasteland, where everything was shut down, that would be no small task.

As he lay in bed that night, an idea formed in his mind. The next evening, while Wanqing was taking her nightly bath, Renault quietly slipped out of the house.

He had prepared a special surprise for her. 

When Wanqing emerged from the bathroom, the aroma of food hit her immediately. It was so familiar, so warm. 

She rushed to the living room and found Renault standing by the table, which was covered in dishes that looked just like the ones from the corner restaurant.

She rubbed her eyes in disbelief, her mouth hanging open as she approached the table. “Renault! Where... where did you get this?!”

“Fresh and hot! Straight from the corner restaurant, special delivery!” Renault said with a grin.

“Renault, how... how did you even manage this? Where did you get all this food?” Wanqing asked, still shocked, but excitement lighting up her face.

Renault, playing it cool, simply said, “When you put your mind to it, nothing’s impossible. Enjoy!”

The meal was delicious, exactly as she had remembered. Renault had even gone the extra mile to light a few candles, setting the mood perfectly.

Wanqing sat down, still in awe, as Renault poured her a glass of red wine.

With the flickering candlelight illuminating the table, the two of them shared the meal, laughter and conversation flowing easily between them.

It was a perfect evening.

Wanqing couldn't help but feel her heart race. Her feelings for Renault had been growing stronger, though she was scared to admit it.

Renault was handsome, rich, and incredibly caring. He had helped her so much, and she found herself wondering if there was a future for them together.

But, deep down, she worried she wasn’t good enough for him. Could someone like her really deserve someone like Renault?

Renault, sensing her hesitation, decided to leave her with one last thought for the night: “Wanqing, you’re incredible. Never forget that.”

And with that, he turned away, giving her the space to figure out her own feelings.