When fate plays its hand

Chapter 0810

“Let’s roll a big snowball,” Paul said as he eagerly rolled up his sleeves, ready to start.

Miranda tilted her head and grinned. “Dr. Jefferson, let’s skip the snowball. How about we build a snowman instead? Wouldn’t that be better?”

Paul paused, clearly caught off guard.

“You said you can do everything, right? Let’s make a snowman even bigger than the kids‘!” Miranda was already scooping up snow, recalling the steps the children had taken earlier.

Not hearing any response, she glanced up. “Dr. Jefferson?”

“Build… a snowman?” he asked hesitantly.

“Yes!” Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

“Alright,” Paul agreed, crouching down to help.

Though this wasn’t what he had envisioned, he figured it couldn’t hurt to try. The results, however, were… less than stellar.

Miranda looked at the uneven lumps of snow before her. The two clumps, precariously stacked, were neither round nor symmetrical.

It had a narrow base and a wider top. They didn’t resemble a snowman–or anything recognizable, really. If one were forced to describe it, “two heaps of snow” would have to suffice.

She turned to Paul, her expression a mix of disbelief and suppressed amusement.

Paul awkwardly rubbed his nose. “I think… I wasn’t at my best again.”

Miranda tried to reassure him, “It’s fine…”

The more she tried to smooth things over, the more embarrassed Paul felt.

“It’s getting late… and it’s cold out. Maybe we should head back?” Miranda suggested kindly.

Paul nodded, “Alright.”

He had only bragged once, and now, he had to face a lifetime of humility.

The two returned upstairs and went their separate ways. The moment Miranda stepped into her living room, she paused for two seconds before bursting into uncontrollable laughter. She just couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Meanwhile, Paul closed his door and sat on the couch. He immediately pulled out his phone. Opening his chat with Silas, he typed, “Why didn’t you teach me how to build a

+25 BONUS

snowman? Didn’t you say you could do everything?”

silas replied with a confused emoji.

Paul sent another message, “Teach me how to build a snowman tomorrow.”

Silas replied, “What the heck! What if I don’t want the holiday leave anymore? Please?”

Paul then shot back, “Sure. I assume you’re also giving up your doubled year–end bonus?”

Silas sent him a shocked emoji, and Paul replied, “Alright. It’s canceled.”

Silas’s message immediately came, “Wait, don’t cancel it! Forget snowmen! If you want, I’ll teach you how to sculpt elephants out of snow!”

Putting his phone down, Silas leaped onto his bed, rolling around joyfully. “Double the bonus! Haha, double the bonus!”

The next morning, Silas woke up early, eager to get to the lab and prepare for their impromptu snowman lesson. But when he got there, he realized that the snow had melted.

They were all gone!

Paul had also arrived early, and they exchanged a glance. “Paul, you see this… You know it’s not that I don’t want to teach you, right?” Silas gestured to the slushy remains outside.

Paul remained silent.

“So, about that doubled year–end bonus…”

“Forget about it,” Paul said flatly.

What?

Meanwhile, on her way to the lab, Miranda noticed the patches of melting snow on the roadside and muttered, “How did it melt so quickly?”

Her phone rang just then, the screen showing a landline number.

“Hello?” she answered.

“It’s me, Mimi,” Sam’s voice came through.

“Yeah, I know,” she replied, recognizing him immediately.

Sam’s tone suddenly brightened. “Grandma’s making something delicious today. Come over for lunch? I’ll fetch you.”

“I’m already on my way to the lab. How about dinner? Let Grandma and Grandpa know I’l join you all tonight.”

Chapter 0810

“What about lunch?”

“I’ll order takeout,” Miranda said. She’d overslept that morning and hadn’t had time prepare lunch.

to

Sam hesitated briefly before deciding, “How about I bring lunch to you, and you come to the house for dinner?”

“There’s no need–it’s too much trouble!”

“It’s no trouble at all. That’s settled then.”