During The Blizzard (Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love)

Canto 83: For Life

“Love is not finding someone to live with; it is finding someone you can’t live without.” - Rafael Ortiz

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

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The oppressive May heat clung to Lin Yiyang like a second skin, yet he remained bundled in the long-sleeved shirt and trousers he'd chosen the night before. A stark contrast to his usual laid-back style, it was a silent plea for approval, a shield against the first impression he'd make on Yin Guo's family.

Lin Yiyang gripped the steering wheel, navigating the car into the familiar underground parking of Yin Guo's apartment complex. Pulling into his designated spot, a wave of self-consciousness washed over him.

Exposed.

The neighbor in the adjacent space, a man whose name escaped him, peered at them with an intensity that felt intrusive.

Stepping out of the car, the heat intensified, a physical manifestation of his anxiety. Unconsciously, his fingers grazed the stiff collar of his shirt, the fabric a barrier between him and scrutiny. He hoisted a stack of shopping bags from the trunk, their weight grounding him. With a practiced smile, he offered a hesitant nod to the neighbor who greeted Yin Guo, a gesture that betrayed the nervous storm within.

"Boyfriend?" the neighbor's voice boomed, laced with a hint of amusement.

"Yeah," Yin Guo answered.

Yin Guo swiped the card, her hand trembling slightly as the elevator doors slid shut. Lin Yiyang stood beside her, his gaze fixed on a point above her head. The silence in the confined space was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the elevator.

Yin Guo stole a glance at him, his brow furrowed, and a pang of guilt shot through her. "I forgot to tell you," she blurted out, her voice barely a whisper, "Mom has a late meeting tonight. Dinner's going to be delayed."

Lin Yiyang jumped slightly, his eyes finally meeting hers. Relief flickered across his face before he managed a small nod. "Okay," he mumbled, his voice tight.

The elevator doors whooshed open, revealing a brightly lit hallway adorned with a community notice board. They both fixated on the printed text, anything to avoid eye contact. Yin Guo could feel her heart hammering against her ribs. This was a disaster. Bringing him home for the first time, and she couldn't even provide a proper meal together.

Just then, a booming voice filled the hallway, "Yin Guo! You're back! And who might this fine young man be?"

Yin Guo whipped around to see her father standing in the doorway, a wide grin splitting his face. Beside him stood Meng Xiaodong, a knowing smile playing on his lips. A wave of gratitude washed over Yin Guo. Meng Xiaodong, as always, knew exactly what to do.

Yin Guo's father hadn't watched the game that year, and the memory of Lin Yiyang's suspension and the club-throwing incident still lingered. But today, as Lin Yiyang entered, his posture and steady gaze conveyed a different impression. Yin Guo's father, a man who valued discipline, saw a young man shaped by years of dedication, likely honed through academic pursuits.

"Your teacher often mentions you favorably," Yin Guo's father began, a hint of his past gruffness softened. "Even when he spoke with Yin Guo's mother, I was nearby. Life throws its curve balls, remember, but you have to adapt and swing through them." He gestured towards the sofa. "Sit down, son."

Meng Xiaodong, ever the social lubricant, poured Lin Yiyang a cup of tea, silently welcoming him into the fold. The conversation flowed easily between the elder and the two younger men.