During The Blizzard (Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love)

Canto 9: Connection

"In the quiet spaces between hearts, a connection takes root, growing silently like the gentlest of whispers, weaving the threads of understanding and vulnerability into a tapestry of shared moments and untold emotions."

Translator: Wuxia Studio, Editor (s): J.C Forester, M.H Lovecraft.

Canto 9: Connection

The subway hummed, its rhythmic pulse echoing the tap-tap-tap of Lin Yiyang's fingers against his phone screen. He scanned his feed, searching for updates, his brow furrowed in concentration. He was looking for Wu Wei's post, a knot of tension tightening in his stomach. He needed to remind the kid to keep his mouth shut.

He glanced up, catching the movement of two teenagers across the aisle. Their laughter danced in the air, their animated gestures speaking volumes without needing words. Their bodies moved with an effortless grace that Lin Yiyang found captivating.

A chime broke the silence, announcing the next stop. The teenagers hopped out, their laughter trailing behind like a fading melody. Lin Yiyang's fingers stilled, the phone screen reflecting in his dark eyes. He raised his wrist, checking the time on the familiar watch strapped to his right hand. A ghost of memory flickered Yin Guo's surprised yelp, the glint of metal against the skin. Had it scratched her? He grimaced, the watch, felt heavy.  Maybe it had scratched her ear after all.

As the train doors hissed shut, he tapped open Yin Guo's chat, fingers hovering over the keyboard. What could he say? His usual repertoire of jokes felt clumsy and forced. He typed, erased, and typed again, a frustrated sigh escaping his lips. And in the end, he sends a message;

'Is your ear okay? Did it hurt?'

Redfish: No, No

Redfish is the nickname of Yin Guo in Lin Yiyang WeChat.

Redfish: Just bumped into it!

Lin Yiyang sends a coffee emoji while Yin Guo replies with her signature smile emoji.
He watched the conversation between them, but could not see if there was a problem. However, it seems that he is not very good at chatting with girls, and after a few words, it turns into an expression of farewell.

Back at Wu Wei's apartment.

When Lin Yiyang arrived at Wu Wei's apartment he witnessed a chaotic scene.

Across the aisle, Wu Wei's apartment became a beacon of chaotic energy. Sweating as he'd just emerged from a sauna, Wu Wei greeted Lin Yiyang with a manic grin, bouncing on his yoga mat mid-workout. Lin Yiyang, relieved the conversation would take the focus off his social media blunder, shed his winter coat, tossing it at Wu Wei like a crumpled flag of surrender.

"Just in time, bro!" Wu Wei wheezed, collapsing onto the mat. "I was about to turn into a puddle."

As Lin Yiyang picked up the discarded clothes, his eyes darted back to his phone, Yin Guo's unanswered message a silent accusation. He lingered, unsure how to bridge the gap. Finally, assuming everyone should be winding down, he pocketed the phone, a sense of unease settling in his stomach.

The apartment door swung open, revealing Wu Wei's roommate, a vision of sunshine and carefree laughter. Her greeting was brief, filled with promises of fresh starts and new beginnings. As she waved goodbye, Lin Yiyang smiled politely, the echo of her laughter lingering in the air longer than her departing figure.

Suddenly, Wu Wei's voice broke the silence. "I did that on purpose, you know."

Lin Yiyang shot him a warning glance, the unease morphing into irritation.