Oh My, How Extra!

Little Angels in the Snow (3): The Snow Was Still The Same

Jinde stood under the eaves of the curved roof, looking up at the sky and the fluffy white snowflakes that quietly tumbled toward the ground. The breeze picked them up and pulled them higher again when they were halfway down, sometimes making them land on the roof of the small gazebo or on one of the plants he had grown in the garden.

As a snowflake, you really couldn't be sure you'd reach your destination. But then, even as a dragon, the goal you set for yourself might be impossible to achieve. Wasn't life just like that?

Before he could follow that thought any further, a small figure rushed toward him from behind, running into his leg at full speed, and hurriedly hugging him. "Dad!"

Jinde lowered his gaze and raised his golden brows. "What's the matter, little angel?" He reached down, his fingers brushing through Jin Ling's copper-colored hair. The child looked especially excited today, his eyes glimmering with joy or maybe expectation.

"It's snowing!" Jin Ling pointed outside as if to make sure that his father didn't mistakenly believe that this miraculous event might be happening inside.

Jinde laughed and stooped down, picking the little dumpling up and holding him in his arms. "Mn, it does!" Come to think of it, it hadn't snowed the last few years so this was the first time after a long absence that Jin Ling got to witness this. No wonder he was excited. "You like it?"

Jin Ling nodded and happily hugged Jinde's neck. He wasn't very old, barely fifty years which was nothing for any of the immortal races. Still, he had seen snow fall several times throughout his life and he very vividly remembered every one of them. Why was that? Of course, it was because Jinde would always take a few days off from the tiresome work of being king and play with him when the first snow fell. During those days, he had his father all to himself. How could he not be excited to finally see snow again?

Jinde looked at the snow-covered courtyard and his lips finally curved up. The low mood from before was swept away after seeing his little dumpling and he instead thought of the happier times of his life. Winter, that was definitely a time that was very exciting for young dragons. He had been that way and Qiu Ling had been the same. Now, Jin Ling showed exactly the same excitement. How could he not fulfill his son's wishes?

"Well ... since there is snow, what do you want to do first? Build a little snow dragon? Or maybe a snow palace? We could also go sledding." Honestly, there were a lot of things to do after the first snow fell. It had even snowed a lot today, so they had even more options.

Jin Ling had no idea what he wanted to do. Or maybe it was better to say that he didn't care. It was alright as long as they spent time together. The more time was spent, the better! In that case ... "Can we build a snow palace with a snow dragon? Or ... or maybe two snow dragons?"

Jinde raised his brows again. "Two of them? Well, that would be for the best. One snow dragon would be sad if he had to be alone, wouldn't he?"

Jin Ling nodded. He would definitely be sad if he couldn't spend time with his father so the same had to be true for snow dragons.

Jinde laughed and carried the little one into the courtyard. "Let's build them here? That way, you can see them every day as soon as you wake up."

Jin Ling happily nodded again. This meant that if it snowed more, the two of them could add more dragons and palaces if they wanted!

Jinde had no idea that his son was already planning future adventures and carefully put him down on the ground. "Alright, where exactly do you want to build them?" He didn't want to decide everything for Jin Ling. It was much more meaningful to let the child choose for himself.

Jin Ling looked around and then motioned to the right side of the courtyard.

"There?"

"Mn! Then you can see them if you open the window." Jin Ling excitedly grabbed Jinde's hand and tugged to pull him over.