Early the next morning, the mist had not yet cleared, and the Birch Forest of Snow Wolf Castle was already wrapped in silver frost.
Gugela leaned against the carved wooden door, watching Shi Feiyang fasten his dark cloak tightly. Ba Qianqiu suddenly pounced out from behind her, clinging tightly to Shi Feiyang's pant leg with his chubby little hands, "Daddy, don't go!" His childish cries frightened the crows from the branches.
Shi Feiyang knelt halfway, warming the frost on the child's eyelashes with the warmth of his palm. "Be good, Qianqiu. Wait until you can sculpt a complete wolf head from snow, and Daddy will come back." As he spoke, he pulled out a little wooden horse from his bosom, its mane intricately carved — a piece he had hurriedly completed last night by candlelight.
The child broke into a smile through tears, yet still refused to let go, drool wetting his pant leg.
Gugela turned her face away, not wanting her husband to see her reddening eyes.
