Ice sculpture love story
Xinru, a beautiful third-year university student, was captivated by a dazzling mermaid ice sculpture at the school’s ice sculpture competition just before the winter break. While admiring it, she noticed her classmates smiling knowingly at her. Only then did she realize that the mermaid’s face was sculpted in her likeness! Xinru felt her ears burning with embarrassment, yet she was also curious and delighted: Who could have played such a big prank on her?
The name of the contestant was engraved on the base of the sculpture: Li Zhenxuan. Wasn’t he the talented artist from the arts department? Filled with indignation, Xinru rushed to the arts department to confront him. Before she could say anything, Li Zhenxuan raised his hands in surrender and confessed, “I admit it…” Seeing his radiant smile, Xinru’s anger inexplicably vanished.
Before long, Xinru became Li Zhenxuan’s girlfriend.
After graduation, Li Zhenxuan devoted himself to ice sculpting, while Xinru turned down job offers from several southern companies to stay in the cold north with him, leading a modest life.
Two years passed quickly, but their situation did not improve. Instead, a crisis loomed over their relationship. Ice sculpting, being a seasonal and region-specific art, had high artistic value but little economic value. Despite his passion, Li Zhenxuan’s work received little recognition, and apart from the occasional competition, he had no platform to showcase his talent.
Frustration grew, and he often shattered his works in anger. Xinru suggested he try stone sculpting if ice sculpting lacked prospects, but Li Zhenxuan angrily retorted, “What do you know? This is art. You can’t just change materials as if you were selling vegetables.”
Their arguments became frequent, and Xinru, unable to bear it any longer, proposed a breakup. Shocked, Li Zhenxuan asked, “Why?”
Furious, Xinru yelled, “Why? Why don’t you ask yourself? What can you give me? Can you abandon ice sculpting and move south with me? Can you give me a secure home? Can you promise me a lifetime of happiness?” Li Zhenxuan, unable to respond, sat dejectedly in his chair.
They ultimately decided to part ways amicably, but Li Zhenxuan requested that Xinru accompany him on one last trip to Mount Sumell, a dream they had shared but never fulfilled due to financial constraints. Moved by his pleading eyes, Xinru agreed.
The snowy mountain was magnificent, but their hearts were heavy. They climbed in silence, and by the time they reached Feihu Peak, the sky was darkening, and the wind picked up. Just as they were about to descend, the ground trembled beneath them, accompanied by a rumbling sound.
“Avalanche!” The thought flashed in both their minds. Within seconds, the snow on Feihu Peak roared downwards. Grabbing the trembling Xinru, Li Zhenxuan ran, but they were quickly swept into the depths by the cascading snow.
After several minutes, the avalanche subsided, and they found themselves miraculously uninjured but stranded in a snow valley. Soon, it began to snow heavily, and night fell. Shivering in the cold, they realized their backpacks and climbing gear were lost, leaving them to await rescue in the valley.
Li Zhenxuan surveyed their surroundings and suddenly grabbed Xinru’s hand. “What are you doing?” Xinru snapped, pulling her hand away. “If you don’t want to freeze to death, follow me,” Li Zhenxuan said coldly, striding ahead. After hesitating, Xinru followed closely behind.
After a long search, they found a cave for shelter. Warmer inside, they contemplated how to call for help. With their phones lost in the avalanche and flares in the missing backpacks, they had no food or extra clothing. If the rescue team didn’t arrive soon, they were doomed. The first night passed painfully.
The next day, the snow was heavier, and attempts to climb out of the valley were futile, forcing them back into the cave. For two days, there was no sign of rescue. The vastness of Mount Sumell and their concealed location made their discovery unlikely.
Desperate and freezing, Xinru began to cry. Li Zhenxuan, however, was unfazed. He inspected his torn down jacket, his eyes gleaming strangely. He approached Xinru and commanded, “Take off your down jacket.”
“What?” Xinru gaped. Li Zhenxuan impatiently repeated, “Give me your down jacket. I’m freezing to death.”
Stunned, Xinru couldn’t believe her ears. The man who once swore to protect her was now demanding her only means of warmth!
“Why should I give it to you? If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here,” she retorted angrily. Li Zhenxuan forcibly stripped her of the jacket. Xinru’s heart broke as she recalled forsaking a promising career to stay in the north with him. The bright red down jacket was a New Year’s gift from Li Zhenxuan, bought with months of savings.
Now… with tears streaming, she watched as he donned the jacket, looking absurd in the too-small garment. Li Zhenxuan nonchalantly tossed his torn white jacket to Xinru, saying, “Stay here if you want to live.” He left, and Xinru sobbed, feeling betrayed. In the face of crisis, love and promises seemed hollow, leaving only naked selfishness.
Hating Li Zhenxuan, Xinru resisted wearing his jacket but eventually succumbed to the cold, putting it on. Hours passed, and she drifted into a cold-induced sleep.
When Xinru awoke, she saw white walls, not snow. She was in a hospital. The doctor told her she had been trapped for days and barely survived. Not wanting to know about Li Zhenxuan, she soon left the hospital, changed her phone number, and moved south alone.
Years later, she met a good man, married, and had a lovely child. Her life was now full of happiness, love, and professional success. Reflecting on the past, she often scolded herself for ever loving someone like Li Zhenxuan.
On a holiday, while strolling with her husband and child, they visited a photo exhibition at an exhibition hall. While her husband went to the smoking area, Xinru wandered into a section showcasing photos of natural disasters.
One photo caught her eye: a grotesque human-shaped ice sculpture holding a red garment in a vast snowfield. Intrigued, she stayed to hear the guide’s explanation, but her husband signaled it was time to go.
As she left, the guide began explaining the photo’s story: “During a massive avalanche on Mount Sumell, a couple was trapped in a snow valley. After days of snowfall, rescuers found no trace of them until they spotted a red spot in the snow. It was a man waving a red down jacket to signal for help, leading the rescue team to them.”
Someone asked, “Were they saved?”
The guide smiled, “The girl was rescued, but the boy had stood in the snow for five days and nights, becoming an ice sculpture. This photo was taken by the rescuers. Now, let’s move on to the next picture…”
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