I carefully found a sheltered spot for the pilot and buried him with snow, then dragged the aircraft far down the mountain so that a sudden gust wouldn't collapse the house we needed to rely on for shelter.

The snow was becoming troublesome, and since I had nothing else to do, I decided to scout further out. Since Zhao Ting could fly over, it meant there must be some habitations nearby; otherwise, this aircraft couldn't have traveled so far.

Fearing I might get lost, I cautiously marked a few landmarks and then set off into the further surroundings across the hard-packed snow underfoot. The highest peak was directly ahead, which I decided to ignore; even if our base were behind it, I couldn't traverse it now. The snow was falling too heavily to go supersonic, and without the ability to fly, climbing a high mountain was exceedingly difficult. The chasm on the other side was bottomless, so I dared not descend there, leaving me to push toward the less imposing mountain ranges on either side.

When I finally managed to climb one peak, I squinted down with effort. It was a uniform grey expanse—nothing but mountains, nothing but white. With a hardened resolve, I climbed the ridge on the opposite side, but the result was the same; not a single unexpected discovery. After all that exertion, lunchtime had long passed. I should return to check on Zhao Ting; by now, even if I had to scrub my skin raw, enough time had passed.

I pushed aside the snow-door, and from inside, an excited voice called out, "He's back."

I backed into the shelter, unable to clearly see Zhao Ting's condition for a moment, only hearing a weak voice whisper, "Godfather."

Liu Xue giggled softly. She had known Zhao Ting before, though not intimately, so this "Godfather" address was new. My young age taking on such a weighty role naturally provoked her suppressed laughter.

I didn't want to get tangled up in the matter of titles with Zhao Ting. After blocking the door, I turned around and finally took in the situation inside the cave. Zhao Ting was lying deepest inside, covered with a pile of clothes. Her complexion was pale, but thankfully, she was conscious. Liu Xue sat just outside her makeshift bed, looking at me with a grin.

I asked Zhao Ting, "How are you? Any major issues?"

Zhao Ting replied, "Much better, Godfather. Thank you for saving me again."

I said, "Stop with the pleasantries. How did you end up on the Zangyuan plateau? Weren't you supposed to go to Nepal to sign some documents? Did Li Qi and the others send you out to look for me?"

Zhao Ting shook her head. "No, Godfather. We finished the signing that day, and the pilot was supposed to fly me back to the Zangnan Base, then take a shuttle back to Poseidon City from there. But halfway, we suddenly lost navigation, and all communication equipment failed. This pilot had never flown over the Roof of the World before, so we quickly got lost. Later, we landed in a Tibetan settlement area to ask for directions and only then realized we had wandered onto the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We planned to rest briefly and then figure out how to contact home. But who knew that a fierce blizzard would follow? We were trapped for a day, then hit by a cold front that night. Many Tibetans froze to death. At dawn, someone must have gotten word from somewhere that there was a massive underground cavern some distance away that was actively recruiting refugees, and they had even sent out many strange-looking robots to search for herders. Such heavy snow at this time was a disaster for them, and the cold front last night killed many people, so the herders, despite the long journey, decided to head to that shelter. Zhao Ting and I discussed it and decided to fly the plane over, because we knew that had to be an entrance to an underground base. As long as we could find it, we would be saved."

I picked up Zhao Ting's thread: "But you got lost in the heavy snow again, and somehow ended up flying here."

Zhao Ting said, "Yes, the plane flew higher and higher. It was nothing but mountains all around, all white, making it impossible to fix our position. When we flew over this area, the pilot suddenly shouted, 'Propulsion system failure!' Then I hit the bulkhead and lost consciousness until I saw Sister Liu Xue later."

So that was what happened. Heaven hasn't been unkind to me; it keeps throwing coincidences my way. If the plane had veered even slightly toward the chasm, I probably wouldn't have heard a thing, and even if I had, falling from that height would have finished me.

I was about to explain how we ended up here when Zhao Ting said, "I didn't realize you were out looking for Sister Liu Xue, and I didn't expect you both to be trapped by the snow. Godfather, what do we do now?"

It seemed Liu Xue had already filled Zhao Ting in on the situation. I sighed in resignation. "What else can we do? We stay here for now and weather the snow and the cold front. I checked around earlier; the chances of escape look slim. Either we wait for the snow to stop, or we wait for the satellite systems overhead to come back online, and then we can be rescued."

Zhao Ting looked over the assortment of items inside the cave, her smile a bit strained. "I never expected you and Sister Liu Xue to have built such a cozy shelter here. I'm truly lucky."

Calling it cozy was just self-consolation. No matter how good it was here, it was relative; home was where true coziness was—surrounded by beautiful women, oh, how I missed them.

Judging by Zhao Ting's words, the underground base's forces hadn't been idle; they were rescuing disaster victims. Although they couldn't deploy troops, robotic soldiers and engineering ants, with proper instructions, could handle the heavy lifting of rescue efforts. Even if they couldn't scale heights or search too far, every little bit helped, a small compensation for this war.

Zhao Ting's stomach rumbled loudly, causing Liu Xue to complain of hunger too. I said, "Wait right there, I'll cook something for you both."

Zhao Ting struggled to get up. I glanced at the clothes she was now wearing—ones I'd found from the plane. But on her slender frame, they didn't look as nice as they did on Liu Xue, who had an incredible figure, whereas Zhao Ting was slender, making many clothes unsuitable.

"Godfather, let me do it," Zhao Ting insisted. Wherever she was, she was always a good girl, always looking at me with reverence and gratitude. How could she stand by and watch me busy myself?

Liu Xue shoved Zhao Ting back toward the pile of clothes. "Lie down, little sister Zhao Ting. How could your Godfather bear to let you work?"

With the temperature rising and having baked by the fire all morning, the small stove could now function normally. However, the frozen jet fuel needed complicated processing. I piled most of it into the latrine area; when needed, I could just take a chunk and let it thaw nearby. As for the fire, I dared not use too much wood yet; who knew what tonight would bring? Stocking up on heating materials was essential.

The food salvaged from the plane consisted of small snacks from the Tibetan region that passengers had brought home. The staple was, of course, tsampa. I couldn't cook anything else; I just boiled water, threw in the tsampa, and then added various things like dried jerky, butter, and cheese. The result was neither sweet nor salty, causing Liu Xue to frown, but Zhao Ting ate with gusto.

After eating, Zhao Ting's condition improved significantly. She wasn't lying down anymore but started organizing the somewhat messy den. Given Liu Xue’s former status, she naturally hadn't done such chores before. However, she had managed to tidy the place to a satisfactory level yesterday. But having Zhao Ting clean was a different spectacle. Not only did she make the space feel larger, but she also dug several compartments into the snow wall to sort and store food.

After several rounds of reinforcement, the snow wall was six meters thick, nearly reaching the center of the stone platform. There was even an insulating layer sandwiched in the middle to block much of the cold air. Even digging a half-meter-deep hole in the wall wouldn't compromise its structure.

With Zhao Ting's touch, the three-meter-wide, two-meter-deep cave, plus the remaining exterior space, no longer felt cramped for three people. It seemed we could all sleep on this bedding together.

Thinking about the three of us sharing the sleeping mat tonight made me blush slightly; a strange expectation flickered in my heart for some unexplainable reason. Especially since Liu Xue kept slyly winking at me or pinching me when Zhao Ting wasn't looking, thoroughly confusing my thoughts.

Once everything was tidied, the three of us sat at the edge of the bedding, warming ourselves by the stove. Zhao Ting, still restless, began unraveling the ropes I had snapped yesterday. "I'll tie these clothes together; otherwise, they are too narrow and will let the cold air in easily when we cover ourselves."

Liu Xue laughed, "As long as we don't freeze to death, that's fine."

She was wearing thick thermal underwear and pants, with a sweater and wool trousers over them—she was just short of putting on her mink coat. It would be quite hard to freeze her. Zhao Ting had also layered on many clothes, as the ambient temperature inside was still very low.

Zhao Ting blushed and said nothing. She was a quiet girl, unlike Liu Xue, who was reserved in front of her fans but acted like Fang Yanmeng—lively and energetic—amongst women.

"Little sister Tingting, do you have a boyfriend?" Liu Xue asked, finding the time to pry into personal matters.

Zhao Ting fiddled with a rope, poking holes to tie things together. "No, and no one would like me. I'm so ugly."

Liu Xue scoffed, "Tingting, are you kidding me? If you're ugly, then I must be a grotesque monster."

"No, no," Zhao Ting hurriedly explained. "Sister Liu Xue is a big star; you have hundreds of millions of fans. You are very beautiful; I envy you."

Liu Xue replied, "Envy what? Although Boss Zhao takes care of me now so I don't have to worry about other messy things, having so many fans monitoring your every move takes away all freedom. I'm already thinking about retirement."

Zhao Ting blurted out without thinking, "That's great then! You can come help Godfather. He's really short on help right now. Sister Liu Xue is smart and beautiful; you could definitely handle big things."

I hadn't expected Zhao Ting to be so concerned about my work. Liu Xue also looked at me with a hint of ambiguity. "Little Tingting, you care about your Godfather so much. I think you might as well just marry your Godfather."

Both Zhao Ting and I were mortified. How could Liu Xue be like Fang Yanmeng or Zhao Fang, daring to say anything? But Zhao Ting didn't seem angry; she just fumbled nervously with what to do next, rambling about the bedding, "It's too cold. If we had something to insulate the damp and cold underneath, it would be much warmer."

My mind suddenly clicked—how could I have missed that? Unfortunately, I had wedged all the insulation panels into the snow wall. Perhaps I should go back to the crashed 737 before it got too dark and fetch some more.

"I'll be gone a moment; you two chat," I said before slipping out.

The alloy hull of the aircraft was excellent for insulation against heat and cold. I estimated the size needed for the cave and cut a piece. Remembering how Zhao Ting had struggled earlier, I gathered the pile of cosmetics from the plane floor to take with me—having a pair of scissors or a knife might help in an emergency. Most valuable of all, I found a thick cashmere quilt tucked away in a corner of the luggage hold—probably bought by some fellow preparing for a wedding. This was perfect; that was exactly what we lacked. Sleeping under it tonight would be wonderful.

When I returned with a bundle of supplies, it was past four in the afternoon. Although the wind howled outside, my hearing was extraordinary. Through the thick snow-door, I could hear the two women talking inside.

Zhao Ting asked, "Why isn't Godfather back yet?"

Liu Xue replied, "She misses him. I know he must have gone back to the crashed plane. I miss him too. He's been working so hard these past two days to ensure I can survive better here."

Zhao Ting's voice was low and shy. "Sister Liu Xue, do you like my Godfather?"

Liu Xue's voice was somewhat flirtatious. "I can't quite say myself, but he just draws me in. What about you? Don't lie, or I'll make you stand outside for a minute."

Zhao Ting seemed to ponder for a long time before saying, "I like Godfather too, but I don't dare tell him, nor do I dare let the other sisters know. I know my feelings are extravagant; given my status and circumstances, I’m unworthy of Godfather. I only hope that in the future, I can help him more, as a way to repay the kindness he showed my family."

Liu Xue chuckled. "Tingting, if you really like him, you should be braver. Men, especially men at Zhao Qian's standing, will almost never confess their feelings first. So, happiness must be fought for yourself. However, I think the first step should be canceling that 'Godfather' title—it’s so weird. A goddaughter liking her Godfather?"

Zhao Ting blushed deeply. "What are you saying, Sister Liu Xue? That title was set by my father, and Godfather strongly objected to it too. I had already started calling him Brother Zhao, but my father found out later, scolded me severely for being disrespectful, and I haven't dared call him Brother Zhao since."

Liu Xue still chuckled softly, probably making Zhao Ting anxious. She said, "Sister Liu Xue, tell the truth, do you actually like my Godfather? Are you going to pursue him like you said? No lies, or you stand outside for a minute too."

Liu Xue thought for a long time before saying one thing: "I actually forgot I have a boyfriend. Tingting, what do you think I should do?"

When it came to romance, Zhao Ting was even more of a novice than Liu Xue. She paused for a long moment before saying, "Sister Liu Xue, you have a boyfriend? Why does no one outside know? You... you... you actually like two men at once? What should you do?"

Liu Xue sighed deeply. "What can I do? You ask me, and I ask whom? Let's focus on surviving first."

There was silence between them for a moment. Just as I was preparing to open the door and go in, Zhao Ting suddenly said, "I'll go look outside. Why isn't Godfather back yet?"

Liu Xue grabbed her. "Don't just wander out! Our bodies aren't like Zhao Qian's; you could freeze to death instantly!"

Having experienced the cold wave last night, Zhao Ting was terrified and dared not move rashly. I stomped my feet outside a few times, deliberately making some noise, then pushed open the snow-door. The two women cheered and rushed to the entrance to greet me—one brushing the snow off my shoulders, the other handing me hot water to drink. The welcome committee had suddenly gained another member, making it slightly hard for me to adjust.

The three of us worked together and finally spread a layer of alloy casing inside the den to block the cold rock surface. With tools, Zhao Ting neatly tied the pile of clothes together and relaid them inside, making a thick double layer. Then, covering that with the cashmere blanket I brought back, and topping it with the makeshift quilt made of clothes—heh, it looked just like a bridal chamber.

Having worked so hard, Zhao Ting was exhausted and fell asleep instantly on the innermost spot. Liu Xue seized the opportunity, swiftly slipping into my embrace. "It's strange, Zhao Qian. I haven't felt settled all day. Only when you hold me can I relax."

I felt a little awkward. After all, Huang Andi was her established partner, and I was the interloper, yet it seemed I had taken the lead in everything. If Liu Xue didn't like Huang Andi, that would be one thing, but if she still held feelings for him, how could I face this messy relationship?

Liu Xue didn't mind my silence and continued, "Did you miss me? By the way, how are we sleeping tonight? I was planning on you holding me again, but now your goddaughter is here. Do you have to switch to holding her?"

I pinched Liu Xue’s nose. "Stop talking nonsense. I've set up so much protection; I trust it will withstand tonight's cold front. Sleep soundly."

Liu Xue sniffed. "Eat, sleep, sleep, eat. I’m afraid that when we are rescued, I’ll have turned into a pig—a fat pig at that."

I deliberately glanced at Liu Xue’s chest and teased, "Yes, a fat sow."

"Naughty," Liu Xue laughed. "Andy isn't as bold as you. You're so rude! As soon as you mention my secret boyfriend, Andy, I lose all spirit." She burrowed into the bedding. "Let's sleep first and eat later."

I was certainly happy to have rescued Zhao Ting, and thankful for fate allowing me to settle both women without effort; we just needed to wait a few days for rescue. However, Zhao Ting's arrival had clearly disrupted Liu Xue's and my routine. Liu Xue had been restless all day. Even though Zhao Ting was asleep right beside us now, she boldly wrapped her arms around me from behind, and the three of us drifted into a hazy sleep.

In my drowsy state, I felt a hand groping small Zhao. I immediately grabbed that hand, but another hand reached over and pulled my hand, guiding it under her thick thermal sweater. Through a thin bra, I felt a mound of fullness.

Once girls break a taboo and pierce the veil, they often become bolder than men, especially types like Liu Xue who had been overly repressed before. She dared to do this even knowing Zhao Ting was sleeping behind her. I was truly impressed.

But Liu Xue was Huang Andi's girlfriend. What right did I have to take advantage of her like this? I, Zhao Qian, have always been straightforward; perhaps I'd have to go bother Huang Andi again. If Liu Xue truly liked me and was willing to marry me, I'd already stolen another man's wife—what was taking one more girlfriend?

Liu Xue whispered into my ear, "If it were just the two of us, do you believe I wouldn't try to seduce you into bed? I never imagined I could be this bold. It feels so thrilling, so much fun."

I whispered back quietly, "How would you explain that to Huang Andi then?"

Liu Xue seemed displeased. "Zhao Qian, please don't mention him until we're rescued, okay? My mind is a mess. I like you, I love you, but for some reason, I can't bring myself to forget Andy right now. I don't know how to face this. Don't make me unhappy. Since childhood, the happiest days I've had were these days when you were around, and this time in the stone cave has been the happiest and most unforgettable period."

I decided to put Huang Andi aside for now. To hell with it—wasn't there a saying? Seize the day; don't worry about tomorrow's right or wrong. I quietly bit Liu Xue's ear and whispered, "Want to try something even more exciting?"

Liu Xue started, using her eyes to gesture to Zhao Ting behind us. I said, "If you can hold back, I'll let you try to feel what flying is like."

"Flying? I've done that before," Liu Xue thought I meant the accidental mid-air flight during that commercial shoot.

I knew Liu Xue wouldn't resist me now, nor did she have a reason to. She had let me scrub her body twice yesterday, and she'd even danced for me last night. The relationship had advanced this far; it wasn't too much to offer up the upper part of my body. So, I pulled Liu Xue's body toward me, casually lifting her clothes to her shoulders, including the thin bra pulled up with them. Freed from restraint, her two large white globes trembled, dazzling my eyes. Liu Xue shyly closed her eyes, her hands clutching the cashmere quilt tightly, her lips bitten white by her silver teeth.

I gathered the twin peaks together with both hands, opened my mouth, and sucked on a taut peak. "Ah!" Liu Xue let out a muffled cry and immediately clamped a hand over her mouth. This sensation was too strange for her. She hadn't refrained from touching her own breasts while bathing, and just last night, these two little sisters had fallen into the palm of this man's hand to be played with. But none of those sensations compared to what she was feeling now. 'Flying'? Was this flying? This metaphor was surprisingly apt.

Liu Xue’s eyes were vacant, as if her soul had wandered beyond the firmament. The sensation emanating from the tip of her breast sent a shock through her body, a tingle that was both electric and exquisitely itchy. The playful tongue darted and swept across the sensitive peak, delivering a pleasure utterly unattainable by mere touch. A gentle nip from teeth followed, a momentary spike of pain laced with sweetness that made her arch her back, striving to push away that mouth, that tongue, those pearly white teeth. Yet, her hands disobeyed, instead clutching the back of his head and forcefully drawing him down onto her chest. If only he could swallow me whole, she thought with giddy abandon.

“Mmm…” Liu Xue let out a drawn-out, honeyed moan. She paid no mind to Zhao Ting behind her. In that moment, even if Zhao Ting were glaring at her, she wanted nothing more than to be deliciously ruined by the man she adored pressing against her chest. To be sucked like this—it was overwhelmingly wonderful. If she had known this sooner, she would have seduced him when he was merely her bodyguard. She had harbored feelings for him back then, growing envious watching her close friends cluster around him. Now, her wish was granted. She felt utterly blessed.

I lightly pressed my mouth against the plump swell of Liu Xue’s E-cups twice. She responded to my exertion with two soft ‘Mmm-mmms.’ I pressed again, and she cried out again. With a final, forceful surge, Liu Xue quickly clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, you’ll burst me! You treat them like balloons! Hee-hee. I remember watching a documentary; little calves nudge like that when they nurse.”

I lifted my head and captured Liu Xue’s crimson lips. “Comfortable? Your little moans just now must have carried to Zhao Ting. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

Liu Xue parted her lips and nipped my tongue. “Mmm, wonderfully comfortable. I’ve never experienced anything like this. So this is the pleasure they talk about. I truly regret not contacting you after the first time I saw you; maybe I would be one of your wives by now. Little Ting Ting will pretend she didn’t hear; she’s your goddaughter, she won’t meddle in your private affairs. Besides, I’m not afraid to look foolish in front of her. ** is nothing to hide.”

I released her. “I’m stepping out for some air and to check the weather. You get dressed and prepare dinner.”

Liu Xue was deeply reluctant, her voice tinged with shyness and a hesitant plea. “Don’t go. Why weren’t you like this last night? I hate you. W-why didn’t you let me fly… fly… up to heaven sooner?”

I laughed and patted her snow-white peaks, then whispered near her ear, my voice low: “From this moment on, I declare Huang Andi my rival. If I succeed, we’ll have plenty of chances later.”

Hearing this, Liu Xue was momentarily stunned into disbelief, which quickly gave way to a flush of the heart and a flicker of fear. She didn't know how to process the situation. Having girlish infatuation and deep feeling wasn't shameful, but whether she truly loved Huang Andi was something she couldn't define right now. However, her intense ** for this man was something she hadn't anticipated. She wondered if the brutal external circumstances allowed her to drop her inhibitions, or if she had truly loved him from the bottom of her heart. A flurry of questions gave Liu Xue a headache.

The snow continued to fall, and the wind still howled. I just didn’t know if another cold front would sweep in tonight. After clearing the accumulated snow from the rock ledge, I crawled back into the cavern. My roughhousing with Liu Xue had likely woken Zhao Ting, but out of propriety, she surely wouldn’t get up while I was watching. This brief excursion outside should have given her the chance she needed to rise.

Indeed, Zhao Ting was cooking by the small stove. Her face was flushed, though I couldn’t tell if it was from the heat or from thoughts swirling within her. Ah, what I did just now was perhaps too much. But why do I feel a sliver of dark pleasure? Teasing Liu Xue right in front of my own daughter—no, my goddaughter—it made me feel strangely smug. Damn! Did Li Qi corrupt me? Oh, I hope she doesn't corrupt my son. I need to watch that one carefully.

Zhao Ting’s health had recovered substantially, and she certainly refused to let me cook. Her family has long kept a memorial tablet for me; allowing her great benefactor to cook while she stood idly by was out of the question.

But I had to admire Zhao Ting; she was truly a nimble-fingered girl. A pile of ordinary rations, yet she made them smell and taste magnificent, presenting a variety of dishes that left Liu Xue praising her incessantly—as if I had been force-feeding her slop before!

After dinner, the three of us discussed the cause of this massive blizzard. Zhao Ting was completely unaware of the satellite destruction. The conversation then shifted to the battles preceding the event. The Pacific and Indian Oceans were largely stripped of resistance, though the US, Russia, and their allies were still holding on grimly. However, a significant portion of Russia’s territory had fallen, finally giving them a taste of losing their homeland.

Zhao Ting remarked, “I never imagined those sanctimonious nations would initiate space warfare, and using such despicable methods. Now look—the entire global populace suffers for it.”

My mood darkened somewhat. “Indeed. I regret starting this war now. I am a sinner in this regard. Who knows how many innocents will perish this time? Just looking at the conditions on the Tibetan Plateau tells you how dire it is.”

The space here was low and cramped. After eating, we had no choice but to lie down. Liu Xue nestled between us, secretly grasping my hand, seemingly trying to comfort me not to dwell on it.

Aunt Zhao, positioned at the very back, said, “Godfather, you are not wrong; in fact, you were right. Only those hypocritical nations are to blame. They constantly preach world peace, but which war wasn't instigated by them? For their own self-interest, they do whatever they please. While we certainly have our own interests, I know Taihao is not greedy for wealth or power, but genuinely wishes to unify the world, then concentrate global strength to advance into the cosmos. This is the inevitable trend of human development and what the common people truly desire. It’s unlike the technologically advanced nations like the US and Russia, who always restrict technology outflow and scheme against each other, terrified that another country might surpass them. At this rate, when will Earth ever leave the solar system?”

Liu Xue praised her enthusiastically. “Tingting, you know so much! Unlike me, who understands nothing outside of singing and acting. But can humanity really break past the constraints of the Sol system? It seems the current technology is still far behind. Even if Zhao Qian has the will, wouldn’t it take decades of development?”

I laughed heartily. Although Liu Xue was on good terms with the other women, she remained ignorant of the affairs involving Xiaoyudi and Longnü. Not only she, but even Zhao Hui was completely in the dark. However, because Zhao Ting had recently become involved in many of Taihao’s operations, she had encountered more complex matters and naturally knew about Taihao’s many advanced capabilities.

I said, “Liu Xue, if it were as you say, we wouldn't need to do anything. Taihao is already implementing the Mars colonization plan, and we currently possess the capability for interstellar travel. But look at Earth now—it’s a mess. Without a stable home base, what good is flying out of the galaxy? If humanity remains disunited and constantly squabbling like loose sand, nothing will ever be accomplished!”

Liu Xue’s hand gently stroked my chest. “Heh heh, you understand what you’re doing quite well. Then why the self-reproach just now? This disaster might not be a bad thing after all?”

Even Zhao Ting looked puzzled. “How so?”

Liu Xue continued, “The old must pass for the new to arrive. Without breaking, there can be no building. Though I don't understand state affairs, I've starred in many dramas about emperors—a general's fame is built on ten thousand bleached bones. Even if you weren't aiming for fame but for global unification, it wouldn't have been smooth sailing. Now, this catastrophe has swept away all your immediate obstacles. These nations will likely lack the strength to sustain themselves against this natural disaster. And as far as I know, Taihao definitely has the ability to survive it. Then, won’t the world be yours for the taking?”

Liu Xue’s words were general, yet they sparked significant insight in me. Yes, the old must yield to the new. Russia, near the far north, would likely suffer even worse devastation. America, despite defending its mainland, bordered oceans on both sides and couldn't fare much better. As for the smaller nations, there’s no need to mention them. The strength they can preserve against this natural calamity won't be great. Meanwhile, Taihao’s personnel and forces had already evacuated to underground bases for refuge. At that point, would this war even need to continue? Once the disaster passed, if Taihao made a commanding call, how many nations could stand against them? Didn’t they need the people’s support? Taihao, apart from the massacre in Japan, had been relatively merciful on other battlefields. If they offered aid to global disaster victims afterward, who would oppose them?

I remained silent, considering this internally. Zhao Ting turned to Liu Xue. “Sister Xue, and you say you know nothing? Your insight is further-reaching than mine.”

Liu Xue secretly guided her hand down toward my lower abdomen. Well, why should I chase her? Now that she’s this passionate, will she ever leave me? Liu Xue had finally gotten what she wanted. “Tingting, I was just spouting nonsense to amuse this man. Your godfather has so many godmothers, all of them extraordinary. I… I’m afraid I lag far behind them.”

Squeak! Crack! Creak! Several harsh sounds came from beyond the snow wall. Liu Xue recognized the sound instantly. She dove into my arms, not caring in the least if Zhao Qian was watching. “The cold front is back!”

My heart hammered—not because Liu Xue was in my embrace. Once I cared for a girl, I wouldn't hesitate to be unrestrained in front of others. I feared this cold snap was even more severe than last night’s. Even though I had taken sufficient precautions today, the cold air seeping through the snow barrier swiftly extinguished the stove!

Suddenly, the cavern became an ice cellar. All the warmth they had managed to build up vanished. Zhao Ting, lying farthest inside, was instantly rendered speechless, only able to produce shivers.

I looked up at the rock cavern wall and saw a layer of white frost rapidly congealing. The clothing we wore was no longer enough to withstand the onslaught of the cold front. My heart beat faster and faster, thump! thump! thump! like a war drum, sending blood rich with heat racing throughout my body to fend off the cold wave, instantly raising my core temperature.

Liu Xue trembled in my arms, but with my protection, she was temporarily alright. “Zhao… Zhao Qian, Ting… Ting.”

I understood Liu Xue’s meaning: Zhao Ting alone could not possibly survive this ordeal. I gently placed Liu Xue down and reached in to pull Zhao Ting into my embrace. In this short time, her body had grown cold as ice. The moment I held her, the chill made me involuntarily shudder.

Even adding layers of firewood to the fire was useless; the body temperatures of the two women in my arms were rapidly dropping. Liu Xue burrowed under my neck. “Zhao Qian, th-this isn't working. T-take off your clothes, o-otherwise we’ll freeze to death!”

Take off more clothes? Hadn’t one session last night been enough? I hesitated, but Liu Xue wouldn't allow for deliberation. “Don’t… don’t hesitate. Clothes insulate too much. Only y-you can save us both. I… I love you. Tingting loves you too. Take them off! Take them off!”

Zhao Ting had been frozen to the point of losing consciousness. Just moments ago, she had been chatting easily with us; now she was simply… I dared not hesitate any longer. With a few swift motions, I tore off Liu Xue’s clothes, then my own, and then Zhao Ting’s. Fortunately, both women were wearing underwear, which spared me the deepest embarrassment.

Liu Xue pressed against me, while I held Zhao Ting tightly cradled. I angled my back to resist the cold wave outside, feeling as if someone were slicing my back with a knife. For a moment, I paid no mind to the two soft masses held close.

However, as the heat from my body gradually transferred to Zhao Ting, she slowly regained consciousness. In a daze, she felt like she was hugging a massive furnace. The primal urge for survival made her cling to my body with hands and feet, just as Liu Xue had done last night. The yielding softness of her small curves actually caused a pang in my chest.

Liu Xue was not as incapacitated as Zhao Ting. Although she was desperately cold, her mind remained clear. This intense intimacy in a life-or-death situation aroused her excitement. She managed to kiss me: “Zhao Qian, if we survive this, I swear I will ** with you!”