"Bang!"

    The sturdy glass enclosure shook violently, emitting a cracking sound, followed by a woman's boisterous, otome game enthusiasts aggressive voice.　

    "I have money to burn! What’s wrong with touching you? Standing here, aren’t you just here to be touched? What are you even acting like? Think you’re someone important, huh? Complain, go ahead, complain! I’ll lodge a complaint against you!"

    A staff member promptly intervened, trying to calm her down. "Ma’am, please compose yourself. Our models are here for interaction only, not anything beyond that."

    Unrelenting, the woman retorted, "I’ll pay for a night with him! Is ten thousand enough? A hundred thousand? I want this man tonight, and I—"

    Before she could finish, the staff had already escorted her out of the venue.

    Si Shen adjusted his sleeves and resumed his stance behind the glass.

    At the outdoor scenic spot of Baiyun Mountain, the howling northern winds made it nearly impossible to move, yet even in such weather, a throng of otome game enthusiasts had gathered. Their faces glowed with excitement as they braved the cold, eager to participate.

    A curious local passed by, puzzled by the crowd. "What’s going on? Why are so many people here?"Someone in the queue responded with feverish enthusiasm, "We’re waiting for an interaction! We’re about to meet the actor playing Brother Fox Spirit, Tu Shanli. It’s a dream come true!"

    "What on earth is that?"

    "It’s a large-scale otome game Love Descends's offline event. The organizers invited several handsome men to portray the real-life versions of the characters for fan interactions!"

    "I heard Shanli Tu’s actor is the only one not wearing a mask because his looks are just too stunning, perfectly capturing the character. Look, over there!"

    Following the girl’s excited pointing, the crowd turned to look.

    Standing amidst the wind and snow were three large glass enclosures, each housing a man.

    The central figure, a strikingly handsome man dressed in white, adorned with a snow-furred cloak and white furry ears atop his head, resembled an ethereal fox spirit from centuries past. This was Si Shen, embodying his character.

    A girl standing before him blushed deeply as she extended her hand through a narrow glass partition, reaching for Si Shen’s face.

    Si Shen bent down compliantly, allowing his cheek to press against her hand. His deep, soulful eyes locked onto hers, leaving her face flushed with even more intensity.

    From inside the glass came Si Shen’s cool, gentle voice."A thousand years I’ve waited, just to meet you."

    The girl’s ecstatic screams filled the air. Si Shen, meanwhile, had repeated this line countless times, heard countless shrieks, and posed for countless photos.

    The cold wind and snow painted his nose a rosy red, adding a touch of brilliance to his allure.

    As the current batch of visitors departed, the interaction session was nearing its end. Si Shen turned to his assistant, Qiaoyue Song, who had come to bring him water.

    "Qiaoyue Song, what’s today’s date?"

    "The sixteenth. Why?"

    "Nothing. Any news of Qi Xiao?"

    Qiaoyue Song glanced at Shen Si’s reddened nose, her heart aching as she scolded him.

    "Why do you even care about him? He’s probably cozying up in some warm, tender embrace right now!"

    "Do you believe everything Qi Xiao says? He claims he’s in trouble, and you actually think he is? When has he ever not caused a mess, only for you to clean it up? You really trust him?"

    The more she spoke, the angrier she got. Qi Xiao had always taken advantage of Si Shen’s tolerance, constantly pushing his limits.

　If not for Qi Xiao’s media company needing urgent funds and a connection to the cultural tourism industry, Si Shen wouldn’t have spent days freezing in such thin clothing, enduring the bitter cold for this promotional event.　

    "Ah-choo!" Si Shen’s coughing snapped Qiaoyue Song out of her thoughts. She hurriedly urged him, "Si Shen, put on your coat and go back to the inn at the foot of the mountain to warm up! You’re going to make yourself seriously ill at this rate."

    "It’s nothing, just a bit of a chill."

    Obediently, Si Shen took the coat. Just as he sat down to take a sip of water, his phone suddenly rang.

    "Si Shen! Come to the Imperial Hall now! If you still want to see me alive!"

    Si Shen’s expression changed instantly. Tossing the coat over his shoulders, he hurried down the mountain without  hesitation.

    It was always like this. Whenever Qi Xiao called, no matter the weather, Si Shen would rush to him in record time.

    Watching his retreating figure, Qiaoyue Song shouted indignantly, "Si Shen! You’re sick and freezing out here, and has Qi Xiao ever cared for you?!"

    Shen Si paused for a moment but didn’t turn back. Instead, he replied, "Please inform the organizers—I’m not renewing my participation in this event."

    "Hey, Brother Gu! Are you in Baiyun Mountain?"

    Wang Gu had just landed and, seeing the snowy scenery outside the airport, snapped a photo to share on his social media.

    "Just arrived at Baiyun Mountain!"

    [Photo attached]

    Moments later, his old friend Zhe Fang, who worked in media, called him.

    Leisurely, Wang Gu answered the phone, slinging his only piece of luggage—a black backpack—over his shoulder.　

    "Yeah, I’m here. What’s up?"

    "If you’ve got time, could you check out that viral Snow Fox guy? Is he really as stunning as people say? We’re wondering if he’s signed with any agency. The higher-ups think he has too much potential and want to sign him!"

    Wang Gu raised an eyebrow, then deliberately stretched his words, pretending to hesitate.

    "It’s not that I don’t want to help, but Baiyun Mountain is steep, and I might—"

    Before he could finish, Zhe Fang interjected, "I’ll let you borrow my new Aston Martin for a month!"

    "Deal!"