Amidst a Snowstorm of Love | Chapter 26 | A Night in DC | Novela.app

Chapter 26 - A Night in DC Yin Guo kept her eyes fixed on his waistband, not daring to let her gaze wander any lower. She played dumb, quickly pivoting to a safer topic to distract them both. "It’s so low... how did you even get it tattooed there? How many sessions did a pattern that large take?" "I just had to pull them down to about here," he said, his finger tracing a line just above the denim as a distinct, knowing smirk played on his lips. "The one on my waist was done in a single sitting. The one on my arm took two; the design is much larger and more intricate." She nodded, her face flushing a deep crimson. She was acutely aware of his physical proximity and the heat radiating from him. The mere thought of what lay just beneath that waistband made her feel as though she were burning up from the inside out. Suddenly, a persistent, rhythmic buzzing broke the silence of the room. It was a phone vibrating nearby. Yin Guo’s own ringer was on, so she knew the sound was coming from Lin Yiyang’s device. Yet, the man leaning against her seemed to have no intention of answering it, his focus entirely on her. Seizing the opportunity to break the mounting tension, she asked, "Is that your phone?" Without waiting for his answer, she scrambled up to search for it. She found it tucked behind his waist, where it must have slipped out of his pocket during their earlier scuffle on the bed. She pressed the 'accept' button and handed it to him. Lin Yiyang didn't take the phone immediately. Instead, he pressed his hand firmly against her waist. Her arm gave way under the sudden pressure, and she tumbled directly onto his broad chest. He caught her, holding the phone to his ear with one hand while keeping her pinned against him with the other. "Hello?" he murmured, his voice low and vibrating against her. Yin Guo listened as a voice spoke in rapid Chinese on the other end. She didn't pay much attention to the specifics of the conversation; she was too preoccupied with the fact that she couldn't pull her hand away and was effectively trapped in his embrace. For a long time, Lin Yiyang simply listened as his classmate on the other end asked about his plans to pursue a PhD at Duke University. He remained silent, his expression unreadable. *He’s planning to get a PhD?* Yin Guo looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise. Lin Yiyang met her gaze, his dark eyes reflecting the dim light of the room. Finally, he spoke into the phone, his voice firm: "I don't want to do it anymore." The person on the other end was clearly incredulous, their voice rising as they asked if something had happened at home, insisting it was far too good an opportunity to throw away. "It was never set in stone anyway," he replied casually. "I'll hang up now. My girlfriend is here." With that single, definitive sentence, he dismissed the caller and tossed the phone onto a nearby sofa. Yin Guo had no idea how much effort Lin Yiyang had poured into that PhD application. He had already received the offer. His original plan had been for Wu Wei to return to China first while he stayed behind to finish his doctorate. But everything had been overturned the moment Yin Guo appeared at Union Station. The loss of his parents at a young age had forged a specific, almost fatalistic mindset in him: always live today as if tomorrow were your last. He used to wander aimlessly, doing whatever he pleased, driven by a restless energy. In a way, that hadn't changed. He had fallen for this girl, and he didn't want to waste a single extra day in this country without her, nor did he want to continue a path that would keep them apart. Yin Guo tried to shift her weight to get down, but Lin Yiyang held her tighter, pulling her flush against him. Her head was spinning; she felt that if they kept talking, something irreversible and life-altering would happen right then and there. Yet, as if possessed by a strange curiosity, she whispered, "Have you really never seen... it?" Lin Yiyang had been about to let her go and tuck her into the blankets, but her question made him pause. "Are you asking about real people, or... something else?" Was he implying adult films? Even she had seen those. In the age of the internet, even if schools didn't provide sex education, roommates certainly did. She remembered her first time—eating takeout in her dorm while her three roommates huddled around a laptop, studying a video filled with exaggerated sounds and movements. She had peeked out of curiosity, only to find it utterly lacking in any real aesthetic appeal. "I've stumbled upon the 'live version' a few times," Lin Yiyang continued, his voice dropping an octave. "The first time was in middle school, at a skating rink after hours. It wasn't open for business." Yin Guo looked at him, skeptical. "You're lying, right?" Lin Yiyang laughed, the sound low and rich. Why would he lie? "They were people I knew. I didn't think that guy and his girlfriend would be so wild, doing it right there in the open. I didn't stay long. It was boring—just the same repetitive motions over and over." His description was blunt and raw, typical of his straightforward nature. Yin Guo blinked, momentarily speechless, and let out a small, awkward cough. To her, such an experience was inconceivable; to Lin Yiyang, a kid who had grown up navigating the complexities of the streets, there was little he hadn't witnessed. Lin Yiyang, who never liked the restriction of a belt while resting, reached down and unbuckled it. He pulled the leather strap free and tossed it onto the sofa. The metal buckle hit his phone with a sharp, echoing *clack*. The movement was inherently provocative, a silent signal of his intent. Yin Guo immediately rolled over, turning her back to him in a clear "I'm sleeping" pose. "Done talking?" he asked from behind her. His warm breath hit the shell of her ear in rhythmic, intoxicating pulses. "Mhm," she murmured. It sounded unintentionally like a soft pout. That single sound was like a spark in a powder keg, reigniting the fire he had just tried to douse. It was like throwing dry wood onto dying embers; a new flame leaped up instantly. After a few seconds of heavy silence, Lin Yiyang got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Under the warm yellow light, he scrubbed his face and hands thoroughly with soap, trying to wash away the tension. When he returned to the bed, he said nothing more. He simply pulled Yin Guo into his arms from behind, his chest a solid wall of heat against her back. "Sleep in a bit," he said. She felt her skin grow even hotter. His hands moved toward the hem of her shirt, but she instinctively pressed them down. Lin Yiyang chuckled softly, a sound of pure affection, and gently turned her face toward him. Before she could even process the look in his eyes, he leaned down and kissed her deeply. His tongue delved into her mouth, exploring every corner, sending a jolt of electricity through her entire body. The hotel’s central air conditioning hummed in the background, blowing a steady stream of air. It was set to twenty-five degrees, but she couldn't tell if it was cold or hot. All she knew was that she was starting to sweat. *** When Yin Guo finally woke up, it was seven o'clock in the evening. The world outside the window had surrendered to the darkness. A single lamp in the corner of the room cast a soft, diffused glow. Lin Yiyang was sitting on the sofa, shirtless and clad only in his jeans, his hair still damp from a recent shower. He was leaning back, scrolling through his phone. The lamplight caught the edges of his silhouette, gilding his damp hair with a faint, silvery light. "You're awake?" he asked, his voice still carrying a hint of that post-sleep raspiness. Yin Guo didn't answer immediately. she pushed herself up and realized her phone was missing. Lin Yiyang set his own phone down and helped her search the bed, eventually shaking the duvet until the device tumbled onto the carpet. He leaned over, picked it up, and handed it to her. She immediately clutched the duvet to her chest, shielding herself. Lin Yiyang laughed, a playful glint in his eyes. "I didn't take anything off you. I don't know what you're hiding." Yin Guo's gaze flickered over his jeans. She realized she might have harbored a common misconception—that men were slaves to their impulses. But Lin Yiyang had clearly found his own way to settle his emotions, choosing to prioritize her comfort over his own immediate desires. He took her downstairs to the hotel restaurant for a quick dinner. Afterward, he led her outside into the cool night air, refusing to tell her where they were going. He popped a couple of throat lozenges, trying to ensure his voice would hold out for whatever he had planned. A large tour bus rounded the corner and pulled up in front of them. The driver, a middle-aged man with a friendly face, waved them over. "Hurry up, I've got guests to pick up!" he shouted in English. Lin Yiyang led her onto the bus and settled her into the front row, right by the window. He sat beside her and chatted with the driver for a few moments. It was clear they were old acquaintances. "Where are we going?" she whispered once the bus started moving. "I'm taking you on a night tour." "A night tour?" "It’s a standard DC route—the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, all the major landmarks. They have day tours and night tours," he explained simply. "I used to work as a guide for this driver back when I was doing part-time jobs." While she had been sleeping, he had reached out to his old contact, arranging to take over the guide duties for the night just so he could show her the city. Yin Guo had mentioned her previous visits were rushed; he wanted this third time to be different. He wanted her to see the city through his eyes and understand a piece of the life he had built here. When the bus reached the pickup point, a crowd of tourists was already waiting. Lin Yiyang stepped off the bus, and in an instant, he transformed. He became a professional, charismatic guide, checking names against his list and greeting the passengers in fluent, effortless English. Yin Guo leaned her forehead against the cool glass of the window, watching him. He looked incredibly handsome in his element, and she found she couldn't look away for even a second. The man was a master of disguise—the rogue from the hotel room had vanished, replaced by this polished, charming professional. She even overheard a group of girls at the back of the line whispering about how attractive their guide was. Throughout the night, she remained in the front row, watching as Lin Yiyang effortlessly navigated his old role. He described the history of the illuminated buildings with a practiced ease, his voice carrying clearly through the bus. When they reached the stops, she followed him at a slight distance, watching his silhouette against the grand monuments. It felt as though she were catching a glimpse of the younger Lin Yiyang, the one who had struggled and thrived in this foreign city long before she arrived. The final stop was the Lincoln Memorial. Her feet were beginning to ache, so she decided to stay on the bus while the rest of the group explored. Lin Yiyang, ever the professional, led the tourists out, ensuring everyone was accounted for. As she sat alone in the darkened bus, she messaged her friend Zheng Yi. When she mentioned that Lin Yiyang had specifically gone to wash his hands before they got intimate earlier, Zheng Yi immediately gave him a "ten-star" rating for his thoughtfulness. A sharp tap on the window interrupted her thoughts. She looked out to see Lin Yiyang standing there, hands in his pockets, gesturing for her to come out. She hopped down the steps to join him. "Ever seen *Forrest Gump*?" he asked. "Yeah, when I was a kid." "There's a famous scene at the Reflecting Pool," he said, pointing toward the long stretch of water. "I'll take you to see it. It's right in front of the memorial." He had doubled back to get her during the group's free time. As they walked along the stone path cutting through the grass, Yin Guo followed him closely. She realized the pool and the movie were just excuses; he simply hadn't wanted to be away from her for even those few minutes. She found herself wondering if any of the girls on the tour had tried to flirt with him. She hadn't expected to be this possessive, but the mere thought of him drawing someone else's attention made her feel a sharp pang of jealousy. They stood before the Reflecting Pool. In the stillness of the night, the water was like a dark mirror, perfectly still. Tourists milled about behind them, their voices muffled by the distance. A cool breeze ruffled her hair, and she felt a piece of dark chocolate being pressed against her lips. She took a bite, and Lin Yiyang finished the rest. Behind them, the returning tourists witnessed the scene. Many were stunned by how quickly their handsome guide had seemingly "wooed" a beautiful girl in the span of a two-hour tour. "Where to next?" she asked, her voice muffled by the chocolate. "Where do you want to go?" "My feet hurt. Let's go back. We've seen all the big spots anyway." "Alright." "And when we get back, I'm actually going to sleep," she added firmly. He laughed. "Alright." "I'm seriously sleep-deprived," she protested softly. "I didn't sleep well last night, and this afternoon... well, that took a lot out of me." He nodded understandingly. "I'll let you sleep." Despite his promise, Yin Guo couldn't help but feel that returning to the hotel would lead to a repeat of the afternoon's events. As she was lost in thought, Lin Yiyang held up his phone to show her the screen. It was a screenshot of two train tickets for the next morning. "You won't be able to focus if you stay here," he said, his voice softening. "It doesn't matter to me, but you have a competition to win. I'll take you back to New York tomorrow morning, and then I'll head back here." Yin Guo went quiet, a wave of sadness washing over her. He was cutting their weekend short for her sake. "Don't go all the way to New York," she whispered. "Just drop me at the station. It's too much trouble for you to go back and forth." "Listen to me," he said, leaning down to look her directly in the eyes. "I want to take you." It was an irrational plan—spending hours on a train just to turn around and come back—but it was the only way he could steal a few more precious hours in her company.