During the Snowstorm by Mo Bao Fei Bao

Chapter 5.1 The Tide of Time

At first, Yin Guo was puzzled, her mind racing to figure out what Lin Yi Yang meant. It took her a few seconds to grasp his subtle hint.

Stretching out his right hand, Lin Yi Yang gestured for the bag of coffee beans. Yin Guo handed him the paper bag, their hands briefly touching. He placed the bag in the drawer but didn't release her hand.

Before Yin Guo could react, Lin Yi Yang pulled her towards him; their bodies were now inches apart. She could feel his breath on her face, and she couldn't help but think, "No, I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

"It looks like you can turn off the heat on your coffee," Yin Guo said, trying to find an excuse to avoid him.

"This batch didn't turn out quite right," he replied in a low voice. "I'll pour it out and start over."

Yin Guo was still hesitant. She knew she needed to brush her teeth first. She shook her head and dodged away again.

At first, they were both shy and unsure of how to communicate their thoughts. Yin Guo didn't feel comfortable directly telling him she needed to brush her teeth before getting closer. But Lin Yi Yang could see the troubled expression on her face.

He turned his head and looked into her eyes. "Changed your mind?" he asked, his tone soft and inviting.

The door to the restroom creaked open, breaking the tense silence in the room. Wu Wei stumbled out, his eyes darting from Lin Yi Yang to Yin Guo, taking in the scene before him. Lin Yi Yang shot him an annoyed glance as he turned off the heat and waited for the coffee to cool. Yin Guo stood at the counter, her eyes fixed on the empty bar top, lost in thought.

Wu Wei couldn't help but wonder if they had been up to something under the counter. He also couldn't shake off the memory of where Lin Yi Yang had gone the previous night before making the phone call.

Lin Yi Yang kicked the drawer shut and cleared his throat, his voice sharp as he warned Wu Wei to mind his own business. Wu Wei coughed nervously and rubbed his neck. "Good morning," he muttered.

Yin Guo looked up from the empty bar top, her eyes still a little dazed. But as soon as she saw Wu Wei, she managed a polite smile.

"Did we disturb you yesterday? My sister called," said Wu Wei.

"Not at all. I didn't hear a thing," she replied, her voice still a little husky from sleep.

Wu Wei seemed relieved at her response. "Oh, that's good. It was Lin Lin who called. She's also a nine-ball player," he explained.

Yin Guo nodded, her interest piqued. "Yes, I've heard of her. Maybe we'll cross paths at the competition in Hangzhou at the end of April. She'll be there as a referee," she said with a smile.

Lin Lin was a legendary player in women's nine-ball, consistently ranking among the top few in the world. She had won three major competitions in a row before retiring and becoming a referee behind the scenes due to poor health.

As Yin Guo listened to Wu Wei's mention of Lin Lin, her mind began to wander. Could Lin Lin and Lin Yi Yang have an unusual relationship? The thought lingered in her mind as she glanced at Lin Yi Yang.

"Has your brother mentioned her in recent years?" Lin Yi Yang suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

Yin Guo's mind scrambled for a moment, confused by the sudden question. "Is my brother close to her?" she finally managed to ask, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Not just close," Wu Wei spoke up, now that Lin Yi Yang had opened up about the topic. "Lin Lin has been pursuing your brother for many years," he added, his tone suggesting that this was common knowledge.