Landlord in the Arctic

Just as Natasha secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The next moment, a long, thin wooden stick holding a kerosene lamp was carefully extended back into the bedroom.

Feng Shan’s resigned voice then filled the air.

"Take the lamp. There’s a spare animal-hide coat in the cabinet, along with some thermal clothes I bought. They’ve never been worn."

Natasha quickly wrapped the blanket tightly around herself and tiptoed off the bed.

She reached out, took the kerosene lamp, then scurried back to the bed like a startled rabbit.

"Come out for a meal once you’re changed." Feng Shan pursed his lips in the direction of the bedroom before turning and walking back to the kitchen.

The dim, yellow light of the kerosene lamp flickered in the darkness of the bedroom.

「A short while later.」

Natasha emerged from the bedroom, carrying the kerosene lamp, a hint of shyness in her expression.

The magnificent evening gown she had worn last night was gone, replaced by a practical set of thermal clothes and animal-hide pants.

Coincidentally, Natasha was about the same height as Feng Shan. The clothes, which had originally been his, didn’t look loose or baggy on her at all. Instead, they seemed almost custom-tailored, subtly outlining the graceful curves of her figure.

In the small living area, the wood-burning stove continued to burn, releasing waves of warmth into the vehicle.

Natasha gazed toward the kitchen, listening to the clattering sounds from within.

At that moment, her heart was a whirlwind of emotions.

Last night was the first time in her life she had spent the entire night alone in the same room with a man.

Although the night had been uneventful and nothing untoward had happened, the subtle atmosphere was like the first gentle rain of spring. It had silently softened a place in her heart that had never been touched, leaving her with a strange, wonderful feeling she’d never experienced before.

Just then, Feng Shan strolled out from the kitchen, holding two steaming plates.

He happened to look up, and his eyes met Natasha’s. He couldn’t help but freeze for a second when he saw what she was wearing.

As he remembered it, Natasha had spent the past few days dressed in either a mink coat or other high-end, elegant attire that screamed of wealth. But now, this simple outfit had a charm all its own.

’Hmm, she looks quite down-to-earth.’

The moment their eyes met, they both looked away as if they’d been burned, their gazes darting elsewhere.

For a moment, a brief, slightly awkward silence descended upon the cabin.

Yet the spark that flew between them during that accidental glance was like a small pebble tossed into the lake of their hearts, sending out ripples of an indescribable feeling.

"What are you looking at?" Natasha snapped, as if he’d touched a raw nerve. She had felt Feng Shan’s gaze sweep over her, and her brows furrowed in a glare.

But without the support of her usual gorgeous clothes and jewelry, her attempt to look fierce lacked its usual high-and-mighty arrogance. Instead, it was more like the playful pouting of an ordinary girl in front of her boyfriend, which had a unique charm of its own.

Feng Shan froze for a second, then collected himself. He calmly averted his gaze, acting as if nothing had happened.

He turned, walked to the stove, and placed the plates on its already-warm surface.

"Let’s eat," he said lightly. "We only have canned beef and noodles."

Outside, the wind that had howled all night gradually died down, as if it had finally tired itself out and settled into silence.

As time quietly passed, the Far North was undergoing a wondrous transformation of light and shadow. The mysterious polar night was slowly beginning its journey toward the endless daylight of the polar day.

Now, the sun would linger near the horizon every day around 1:00 PM.

For a brief 40-minute period, the sky would take on a hazy brightness, similar to the twilight before sunrise or after sunset.

The sun would then rise gradually higher above the horizon, appearing for longer and longer stretches, slowly breaking the darkness of the polar night.

This would continue until, one day, the sun would not set at all, and the polar day would officially begin.

After the two of them finished breakfast in the cabin, the world outside the window was still pitch-black, like an endless bolt of black silk.

Feng Shan stood up, retrieved his own animal-hide coat and boots, and got dressed, ready to face the new day.

Natasha, for her part, also received a brand-new pair of boots.

Feng Shan had made this pair of reindeer-hide boots when he first arrived in the Crown Territory. To pass the time, he had followed the instructions in his grand-uncle’s diary, using the ancient Inuit method to create them in the most traditional, authentic way possible.

Although they weren’t much to look at, they were made from the finest materials.

The reindeer hide had been specially treated, making it both soft and tough. With just a light press, you could feel its substantial quality.

Their warmth was beyond question; they could protect one’s feet from freezing no matter how icy the landscape or how bitterly the wind howled.

Feng Shan had originally intended to give the boots to Xiaohua. He figured the little rascal was always running around and couldn’t sit still, so a pair of warm boots would do her good.

But as it turned out, Xiaohua had a vain streak. The moment she saw the boots, she pouted, turned up her nose in disgust, and declared they were too ugly to wear.

Thoroughly rebuffed, Feng Shan had no choice but to put the boots away.

Who would have thought they’d come in so handy now? So, he simply gave them to Natasha.

"You really made these yourself?" A hint of surprise blossomed on Natasha’s stunningly beautiful face when she learned the boots’ origin.

She bent down gently and carefully slipped the boots on. A fine, soft texture spread up from the soles of her feet.

A moment later, a pleasant warmth began to seep in, snugly enveloping her feet.