During The Blizzard (Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love)

Canto 85: Our Tale

“Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite.” - Unknown

Translator: Wuxia Studio, Editor: M.H Lovecraft (Enochian_)

- - - -

The cool night air swirled around Lin Yiyang and Meng Xiaodong as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside Yin Guo's house.

Lin Yiyang extended a cigarette, its white cylinder a beacon in the darkness. Meng Xiaodong, a man who hadn't touched tobacco in ages, surprised Lin Yiyang by accepting it with a grin that stretched across his face. It was a rare sight, hinting at the unusual joy coursing through him.

Yin Guo slammed the door shut, the loud click echoing in the night. A burst of giddy energy propelled her forward, and she threw her arms around Lin Yiyang in a back-breaking hug. She felt like she could fly, her heart soaring with relief.

"Thank you, brother," she gushed, not forgetting Meng Xiaodong's role. "You even called Tian Tian back."

Meng Xiaodong chuckled, a hint of rasp in his voice. "Daily thanks are due to him," he said, gesturing towards Lin Yiyang with his cigarette bobbing precariously. "He's the real hero, Yin Guo. You can thank him for convincing my brother to drop everything and come running."

Meng Xiaotian hadn't needed convincing. He'd practically sprinted back the moment he heard his brother needed help, likely enduring a week of relentless (and probably futile) attempts to appease their grandmother.

Meng Xiaodong finished his cigarette, the ember glowing a dying red in the darkness. With a final puff, he turned and walked away, his car disappearing into the night like a swallowed sigh.

Yin Guo watched him go, the silence deepening. When she finally turned back to Lin Yiyang, a flicker of doubt replaced the earlier joy in her eyes.

"My brother..." she began, her voice barely a whisper. "He never smokes."

Lin Yiyang reached out, his hand landing on her head in a pat that felt patronizing in the charged atmosphere. "Naive, little girl," he murmured, his voice devoid of warmth. "Of course your brother has secrets. We all do."

He gestured towards a path hidden behind the community fountain, a narrow opening leading to the unknown. "Come," he beckoned, his voice laced with an undercurrent of authority. "Let me show you something."

- -

The cool night wind whipped around Yin Guo's ankles as she trailed behind Lin Yiyang. He strode purposefully half a step ahead, his form bathed in the combined glow of moonlight and flickering street lamps. A question bloomed in her mind how had she snagged such a prize? He embodied everything she'd ever hoped for in a man, exceeding even her wildest imaginings.

The silence stretched, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the city. Suddenly, Lin Yiyang stopped, throwing her a glance over his shoulder. Perhaps mistaking her slow pace for a sprain, he furrowed his brow.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

Yin Guo turned, her smile blooming under the soft light. "Just admiring the scenery," she teased, the playful glint in her eyes reflecting the moonlight.