Amidst a Snowstorm of Love | Chapter 53 | A Sudden Revelation | Novela.app

Chapter 53 - A Sudden Revelation The situation was profoundly awkward. Yin Guo had intended to give him a surprise, but through a series of missed connections and poor timing, she discovered upon arrival that he wasn’t even at Dongxincheng. Now, she found herself perched on a sofa in the lobby of the main building, her suitcase tucked against her right side and a cup of chrysanthemum tea steaming on the table before her. She was being "observed"—upstairs, downstairs, from every conceivable angle—as the unofficial "Lady of the House." Most of the club members had seen her at the recent memorial service, but the sheer number of guests and the somber atmosphere then had kept their curiosity at bay. Now, however, the several hundred members of Dongxincheng, spanning all ages, were present and very much interested. People bustled past, some heading to practice, others returning from tournaments. Those who knew who she was offered bright, knowing smiles and greetings. Those who didn't would inevitably pull the receptionist aside to whisper, "Who’s the little beauty everyone’s staring at?" Even the few who weren't naturally nosy were quickly dragged into the loop by their more gossipy peers. The professional players maintained a modicum of restraint, offering polite nods or a few words as they passed. The younger boys, however, were a different story. Yin Guo was currently surrounded by a pack of fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds, a forest of long-legged teenagers who all seemed to have hit a growth spurt that put them well over six feet. *Kids these days really do grow up fast,* she thought, feeling almost buried by their towering presence. "Calling her 'Sixth Aunt' sounds a bit too formal, doesn't it?" a boy with deep dimples suggested with a cheeky grin. "Let's just go with Sister Guo." The boy next to him immediately delivered a playful kick to his shin. "She’s Sixth Uncle’s woman, and you want to call her 'Sister'?" "Can you blame me? Sixth Uncle is the one 'robbing the cradle' here. Right, Sister?" "What are you lot babbling about?" A voice cut through the chatter from the entrance. A man strode up the steps, having just parked his car in a hurry. "Where are your manners?" As he spoke, he reached into his pocket and flicked something through the air. The dimpled boy’s reflexes were a split second too slow, but the quick-handed kid behind him snatched it out of the air—a sealed bar of dark chocolate. "Thanks, Sixth Uncle!" the boy shouted, grinning. With a collective burst of laughter, the crowd of teenagers scattered instantly. Lin Yiyang had gone to get his hair trimmed that morning, realizing his buzz cut had grown a bit shaggy. It was only after the barber finished that he looked in the mirror and remembered he was supposed to meet her parents that evening. The sharp, clean-cut look felt a bit too bold, perhaps even aggressive. Fortunately, he had ironed a dress shirt and slacks the night before; they were still in his dorm, so he wouldn't look like a total mess. He had originally planned to pick her up from the airport, but her call had saved him the round trip. Under the watchful eyes of the entire club, he couldn't be too overtly affectionate. He leaned down, his voice a low tease near her ear. "Maybe you should just sign with Dongxincheng. You seem popular enough." Yin Guo reached out to take his hand. He smiled, his fingers lacing firmly through hers. She stared at the star map tattoo on his arm, and the moment she saw it, her heart finally settled. The restlessness of the journey vanished; he was here. "If you're looking to sign someone, you'd be better off with her," she said, gesturing with her eyes toward Liu Xiran, who was standing not far away. Truthfully, Yin Guo felt a deep sense of admiration for the veteran. Liu Xiran had just returned as a World Champion, yet she had already tucked her gold medal away and was back to acting as a sparring partner. Meanwhile, Yin Guo, who had only taken third place, was sitting here drinking tea and enjoying the early summer breeze. Reminded by Yin Guo’s comment, Lin Yiyang straightened up and called out, "Liu Xiran." The veteran player looked over. "There’s a celebration banquet in the cafeteria tomorrow night," Lin Yiyang announced. "It’s for the World Championship gold." Liu Xiran froze, looking stunned. "Forget it... I’m not a member of Dongxincheng. It’s against your rules." "Be there on time," he said, leaving no room for further argument. To hold a celebration for a girl who was technically an outsider, drifting on the fringes of the club but desperate for a sense of belonging, was the greatest gift he could give her. Even if it was just in the club’s cafeteria, it was a public acknowledgment of her worth. Liu Xiran remained silent for a long moment before finally uttering two words: "Thank you." Lin Yiyang gave a small, casual smile. "Don't mention it." He reached down, pulled out the handle of Yin Guo’s suitcase, and asked, "Ready to go?" He began leading the way out, carrying her luggage. Yin Guo quickly threw her bag over her shoulder and hurried after him. Lin Yiyang’s dormitory was on the first floor of the adjacent building, tucked away at the very end of the hall. The men of Dongxincheng lived on the first floor, while the women were on the south side of the second floor. Because there were so few female players, the north side of the second floor was dedicated to various lounges and public showers. As they passed the stairwell, they ran into a few guys coming down from the showers. They greeted Lin Yiyang, and he nodded back before unlocking his door. He had left in a rush that morning, so the curtains were still drawn tight. Only a single sliver of sunlight pierced through the gap on the right, casting a bright line across the floorboards. As soon as Yin Guo stepped inside, she caught the scent of the room. It smelled entirely of him. Noticing her eyes fixed intently on him, Lin Yiyang wrapped one arm around her and set the suitcase against the wall. "What time is the dinner?" Yin Guo knew he was referring to the meeting with her parents. A few days ago, her grandmother had insisted on inviting Lin Yiyang to dinner. Her mother had tacitly agreed, but her father had been less than enthusiastic. Out of respect for the grandmother, he had been evasive, saying, "It’s still early; there’s no need for him to come to the house so soon." But the grandmother had been adamant about thanking him in person. Surprisingly, her father had proactively brought up Lin Yiyang on the phone this week. Though he wasn't in the billiards industry, he was a former athlete himself. He understood the hardships of niche sports and knew how rare it was for someone to return and give back to their roots after achieving fame. "He’s doing a good thing. A very good thing," her father had said. "The kids at Dongxincheng are lucky to have him." He had even asked when Lin Yiyang was coming over, promising to make sure he was home so they could have a proper chat. So, Yin Guo wasn't worried about the dinner itself. However... "Six o'clock," she said. "Then we still have time," Lin Yiyang murmured, leaning in to kiss her. She pulled back slightly, her expression hesitant. "There’s... something else." She struggled with the words for a moment before whispering, "I’m... I’m more than a week late." Back in Shenyang, while everyone else had been excitedly discussing the Asian Games after the tournament, her mind had been consumed by this one thought. She had just graduated, just started her professional career... the mere possibility had thrown her into a tailspin. The idea of an unplanned pregnancy was something she hadn't even dared to contemplate. Lin Yiyang froze. He had been looking forward to this reunion, planning to spend a couple of hours together in the room before meeting his future in-laws and then picking up the motorcycle he’d bought last time. Now, those thoughts vanished instantly. His girlfriend was telling him they might be having a child. During his wilder youth, he’d seen plenty of guys deal with this. They usually treated it with a reckless lack of gravity; if someone gloomily asked to borrow money, nine times out of ten, it was for "the procedure." But this was different. On the surface, he appeared calm, almost reactionless, but in truth, he simply didn't know how to react. He could see her anxiety, and he forced himself to control his thoughts, fighting the urge to let his gaze drift down to her stomach. A completely foreign, overwhelming emotion surged through his nerves. The arm he had around her tightened unconsciously. He wanted to kiss her—her forehead, her hair—and he pressed his lips against her bangs for a long moment. For a while, he couldn't find a single word. Finally, he pulled her into a tight, firm embrace. "It’s okay. It’s okay. I’m here." Regardless of the outcome, they needed to know for sure. "We'll talk on the way," he said, drawing on the collective "experience" of his old circle. The first step was always the hospital. "Let's go to the hospital. We still have time." He turned to open the door, but Yin Guo grabbed his arm. "No, not the hospital. Let's go to a pharmacy first... we should test it ourselves." "A pharmacy?" Lin Yiyang blinked. Like most men who had grown up in the era of internet videos, he understood the mechanics of how things happened. He knew about contraception, being an educated young man. But as for how to actually *test* for pregnancy... "Okay, wait here," he agreed. He’d just search for it on his phone; the internet would have the answers. Lin Yiyang left the room. Yin Guo sat on the sofa, waiting for him in a state of restless trepidation as she looked around the room. He had shipped all his books back from his student days, and they were neatly lined up on the shelves next to the sofa. At a glance, it felt as though she had stepped back into his old apartment from his university days, only this room was much more spacious. That apartment had been so small that they’d had to sit side-by-side on the edge of the bed just to talk. Once they’d become intimate, they had simply spent their time on the bed—talking, watching movies, and other things. She remembered his birthday. They had returned to the apartment from the pool hall, turned off the lights, and kissed in the dark. It was the first time since Hawaii. He had clearly felt her discomfort and stopped in the darkness, kissing her for a long time, using his touch to help her relax, whispering, *Does it still hurt the second time?* He had been so patient, moving slowly and waiting for her to adjust to him. Even at the height of passion, he had shown incredible restraint. He was a rare kind of man, both in life and in bed. Those had been some of the most beautiful days they’d shared. It felt like it was only yesterday. Yin Guo kicked off her shoes and curled up in the corner of the sofa, hugging her knees. It seemed that as long as Lin Yiyang was there, he would take over all the trouble. Her mind went blank, her chin resting on her knees, as she waited obediently for his return. *** Lin Yiyang drove to the nearest pharmacy. After killing the engine, he saw a message from her. *Fruit in the Woods: Remember to wear a mask.* *Fruit in the Woods: You have a lot of fans. With the big tournament coming up, you can't let anyone recognize you.* He still had the mask. He never threw away anything Yin Guo gave him. He found the black mask in the glove compartment, stepped out of the car, and headed toward the pharmacy. He considered putting it on but then hesitated—he wasn't a celebrity; surely people wouldn't recognize him on the street. His hesitation caught the eye of a young girl standing outside a small convenience store. She stared at him, thinking, *Holy crap, he’s handsome.* From his face to his aura to his height, he looked like a star. Was he an idol? A trainee? The girl reached for her phone to snap a picture, but Lin Yiyang had already pulled the mask on and strode past. She followed him for a few steps, wanting to take a photo but feeling nervous. By the time she worked up the courage, he had vanished. She felt a pang of regret for missing a chance to post a "celebrity sighting" in her group chat. Lin Yiyang, entirely oblivious, turned right into the pharmacy. It was an open-shelf layout. He wandered around for two laps but couldn't find what Yin Guo needed, so he had to approach the counter. An elderly woman and an older man, both in white coats, were stationed there. Lin Yiyang cleared his throat, his dark eyes fixed on the woman. He thought for a second, then looked at the man. The words wouldn't come. The two pharmacists stared back at him expectantly. After a moment of silence, he pulled out his phone and showed them the search results on his screen. The elderly pair exchanged a look. "We have those," the woman said, pulling two boxes from beneath the counter. "Most people buy two." He stared at the boxes for three seconds. *Double-checking is probably for the best,* he thought. He pulled out his wallet, paid, and left. When he returned to Dongxincheng, he sat in the car for a moment, his left hand resting on the steering wheel. Looking at the two boxes in the transparent plastic bag, he felt they were too conspicuous. He didn't want anyone to see him carrying them in. He didn't care for himself, but Yin Guo was a young woman; it wouldn't be good for her reputation. He took the tests out of the boxes and stuffed them into his trouser pockets. He kept one set of instructions and tossed the empty boxes into a nearby trash bin. *** Yin Guo took the two sealed plastic pouches and the instruction sheet from Lin Yiyang. "I'll wait out here," he said. She gave a small nod and retreated into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She looked at the two pouches in her hand with a sense of profound unease. *** In the room, Lin Yiyang felt as though every second was an eternity. In three hours, he was supposed to meet his future mother-in-law for the first time, and here he was, anxiously waiting for a different kind of life-altering surprise. A minute later, a voice came from inside. "...Why are there two?" Lin Yiyang cleared his throat awkwardly. "To test twice. The pharmacist said it's more reliable that way." "Oh." Two minutes passed. "Lin Yiyang?" "Yeah," he answered, holding his breath. "...What if I am?" So the result wasn't out yet. He let out a breath. "Tell me first—what do you think?" "I want to hear what you think..." "Lin Yiyang?" "Let me think about how to say it clearly." He leaned his hand against the wall next to the bathroom door, organizing his thoughts. He spoke slowly. "From your perspective, the Asian Games are in three months. For your event, that shouldn't be a major issue." In the Olympics and Asian Games, as long as the sport wasn't high-impact or violent, it wasn't uncommon for pregnant athletes to compete. He continued, "But you've just started your professional career. Is it the right time to have a child? You’d need at least six months for recovery." The bathroom door suddenly swung open. Lin Yiyang straightened up, thinking she had the result. "I haven't tested yet," she said, waving the pouches and looking at him guiltily. "I'm scared." The back-and-forth was making him break out in a cold sweat. "I want to look at you while you say it," Yin Guo admitted, her voice trembling. Lin Yiyang stared at her for a long time. Finally, he said, "I’m happy." He repeated it, more firmly this time. "I’m very happy." *Don't be anxious or afraid. The man standing in front of you is far happier than you are.* Back when Yin Guo had taken that train to find him on her own, he had made a silent vow. Even if she eventually looked down on him or dumped him, he would always care for her. Even if she fell for someone else and left, he would still care. He knew that once he loved something, he couldn't let go, but he was never one to force things. His past had taught him that fate between people couldn't be forced. If they had truly loved, that was enough; he didn't demand that she stay until the very end. But his mindset was different now. If she really was pregnant, whether to keep the baby was her decision—he wouldn't force her. But there was one thing he would insist on: they had to get married first.