Pedestrians on both sides of the street were either huddling under umbrellas or hurrying their pace; only Lin Yiyang and Yin Guo walked at a steady, unhurried gait. Lin Yiyang knew these blocks well. Turning left onto a narrow sidewalk, he pulled Yin Guo over to his right side.
To their left was a row of apartments, each with a set of stairs slanting downward toward a basement. In the snowy weather, the steps were blanketed in white, making them difficult to see. If one weren't careful and walked too close, it would be easy to tumble down.
Thus, it was safer for him to walk on the left.
Of course, Yin Guo completely missed his intention.
She simply thought Lin Yiyang must have some sort of compulsive quirk—switching from left to right and back again. What an odd person...
After another turn, the narrow stairs of a subway entrance came into view.
She stomped the snow off her boots and followed Lin Yiyang down.
A row of damp footprints trailed down the steps—left by Lin Yiyang—and she immediately added a row of her own. Lin Yiyang purposely stopped at the very last step to wait for her. Three homeless men were sprawled inside the station, each having claimed a wind-sheltered corner to sleep; one was even sleeping right next to the ticket machine.
Yin Guo pulled her credit card from her wallet, intending to use the machine, and politely veered a few steps away to avoid the man.
"Follow me," Lin Yiyang said from behind her. "The train is here."
Inside the station, the subway roared onto the tracks with a deafening, grinding noise.
The New York subway was temperamental, and on a snowy day, you caught whichever train you could. There was no time to buy a ticket. He pulled Yin Guo away from the machine and ushered her through the turnstile, swiping his own MetroCard.
Immediately after, he swiped it again and entered himself.
Before Yin Guo could even get a good look at the platform, she was pushed into the carriage.
The doors hissed shut behind her.
She looked around; it was another one of those ancient carriages. No air conditioning, no electronic displays, and who knew if the speakers even worked...
And there was no one else?
The entire carriage held only her and Lin Yiyang. Two rows of orange, empty seats awaited them; they could sit anywhere. Yin Guo pointed to a spot, and seeing no objection from Lin Yiyang, she sat down near the door.
Lin Yiyang sat beside her, taking off the cue case and propping it up against his leg.
This was the only thing he was carrying, and it belonged to her. Come to think of it, aside from his phone and wallet, this man truly carried nothing. To go all the way to Flushing for a money match like that—he was remarkably casual.
Residual snow on their soles melted into a puddle on the carriage floor.
There was no signal in the subway, so there was no internet to pass the time. There was no scenery outside either, just a void of blackness, with only the mechanical roar of the train filling the empty space.
She had more or less adapted to Lin Yiyang’s taciturn nature, so she took it upon herself to break the ice.
"We—" she started.
Lin Yiyang turned his gaze toward her, his eyes coming to rest on her face.
She continued, "We haven't officially introduced ourselves yet."
Her face was flushed a healthy pink from the cold. She had a small nose and large eyes—not perfectly round, but slightly elongated with distinct double eyelids. Because her hair was tied up high, the full contour of her face was visible; it was soft and rounded, without a sharp chin. She had a youthful look, a beauty that was entirely unthreatening and very sweet.
"How would you like to be introduced?" Lin Yiyang met her eyes.
"My name is Yin Guo."
"You mentioned that in your first WeChat message," he reminded her.
...Right. She had completely forgotten.
She could only press on awkwardly. "My cousin and I are in the same year, seniors. He probably told you everything else."
Both of them were in the second half of their senior year with no classes left—it was their college-mandated "internship period." She wanted to transition into professional 9-ball, and her cousin wanted to study abroad, so it was only natural to spend their internship time in New York.
Lin Yiyang nodded.
Since she was done, it was his turn.
Lin Yiyang was silent for a moment before asking back, "You've seen all my valid IDs. Is there anything else you want to know?"
He asked this with seventy percent a smile and thirty percent mischief.
His nationality, date of birth, and place of birth were all clearly stated on those documents; he had even shown her his university ID. Aside from his major, he couldn't think of what else to disclose.
"I didn't look that closely that day. I didn't pry into your privacy," she explained.
She only knew he was twenty-seven, six years older than her.
Lin Yiyang smiled.
"I did my undergrad back home. I worked for two years after graduating, but I found it boring, so I came here," he said, leaning back against the seat as he gave her a brief summary. "I'm studying Communications here. It's part-time, a three-year program. This is my final year."
After a pause, he added, "I spend most of my time in DC. I only come to New York occasionally."
He stopped. Yin Guo waited for more.
"That's it," he finally said. "If there's anything you want to know, just ask anytime."
"I'm out of questions too." she gave a helpless laugh.
Great. This dry conversation was almost worse than silence.
They continued to sit side-by-side.
As the train pulled into a station, she remembered something more urgent. She had been in such a rush to board that she hadn't sent the WeChat message she'd drafted.
She had to find a signal while the train was stopped.
She held her phone up, waving it left and right. Whether it was because of the snow or just poor reception at this particular station, she couldn't connect to her mobile data or the station's Wi-Fi. She could only watch helplessly as the train started moving again, waiting for the next stop.
"Didn't go through?" the man beside her noticed her predicament.
"It's always like this. Not a lick of signal." Discouraged, Yin Guo showed him her phone screen.
Lin Yiyang glanced at it.
On the screen was her failed WeChat message:
*Xiao Guo: I'm starving. Are there any instant noodles in the room? If not, could you go out and grab a pizza while you still can? The shops will be closed by the time I get back.*
She really couldn't figure it out. She asked Lin Yiyang, "Is it because I'm using a Chinese SIM card? Is it harder to connect?"
"That might have something to do with it. You can wait until we transfer. Send it after we get off the train."
That was the only option.
She let out a sigh and tucked her phone away.
Unexpectedly, Lin Yiyang pulled out his own phone. Just as the train left the station, he began messaging someone.
Once they were fully back in the tunnel, he shoved his phone into his pocket and spoke up. "Are you hungry?"
Yin Guo was stunned for a second, then remembered her message and understood.
"I'm okay. I can hold out."
Holding out until she reached the hotel shouldn't be a problem.
"Hold out for what? Going back to gnaw on a pizza?" he teased.
What else could she do?
She didn't really want to eat that either. "Our hotel is in such a remote spot. This late at night, the only place selling pizza is the gas station convenience store."
"Wu Wei—the guy with the glasses from the other day—he's asking me to get ramen," Lin Yiyang asked casually. "Want to go?"
Now?
"Won't it be too late?" she hesitated.
"If we stay on this line, it's only three stops away," he said, leaning back and checking his watch, offering a friendly suggestion. "We can go there first, then continue on the subway."
Then he added, "I haven't eaten either."
On a snowy night like this, with an empty stomach, the word "ramen" conjured images of steaming rich broth, pork soft bone, seaweed, kimchi, corn... Her previous hesitation vanished instantly.
It was one thing for her to be hungry, but it would be inhumane to let him walk her home on an empty stomach. Since she hadn't eaten either, they might as well get off and solve the problem together rather than eating dry pizza.
Thinking of it this way, she really should go—not for herself, but for him.
Yin Guo agreed immediately.
As a result, the two of them, who were supposed to transfer to another line, rode three stops further just for ramen.
When they arrived outside the ramen shop, they saw several people waiting in the snow for a table. Lin Yiyang led Yin Guo through the crowd and down into a basement that had been converted into a ramen house.
The moment the glass door opened, the aroma hit them.
Steam rose from the large bowls on every table. The narrow aisle was flanked by full tables, and the heat of the room combined with the heat of the noodles made this the best decision of the day.
Wu Wei had already claimed a four-person table in the back. Seeing them, he waved with a smile. "Over here!"
This was Yin Guo's second time meeting him. After a friendly greeting, she set her bag down and headed to the restroom first.
As soon as Yin Guo was gone, Wu Wei lowered his voice. "You're really something. I already had my clothes off and my hair full of shampoo when you dragged me out to save a seat? Just for a bowl of ramen?"
"You're here, so stop complaining."
Lin Yiyang took off his heavy winter coat, draped it over the back of his chair, and waved to the owner. After a few warm words in Japanese, he ordered sake first.
The owner asked if they were ready to order food, but he declined, saying they would wait for Yin Guo.
Wu Wei was baffled. "Didn't you go to Flushing for a match? How did you run into the little beauty?"
"Ran into her at the pool hall," he said.
They exchanged a few more words to clarify the situation just as Yin Guo returned.
Wu Wei immediately wiped the "watching a drama" look off his face and asked with a bright smile, "He tells me you're also here for the Open?"
"Yes, the women's division," she replied with a smile, sitting across from the two men.
"I'm on the roster too," Wu Wei said, extending his right hand. "Come on, since fate brought us together, let's shake on it."
"What a coincidence." Yin Guo shook his hand.
"That night when I walked in, your cousin started talking to me. I thought he was a scammer at first. Then I saw the cue case on the luggage and felt relieved," Wu Wei said, laughing as he recalled the night of the blizzard. "At first, I thought the cues belonged to your cousin. I didn't expect them to be yours."
No wonder they had become friends so easily and he had specifically treated them to drinks.
She finally understood.
As they chatted, Yin Guo actually learned quite a bit more about Lin Yiyang from Wu Wei.
Wu Wei was studying at NYU. Lin Yiyang had helped him prepare his application materials to come over for his Master's. They were in different majors; Lin Yiyang had arrived a year earlier for a three-year program, while Wu Wei's was only one year. He hadn't left after graduating because he wanted to wait for Lin Yiyang to finish his studies so they could return to China together.
"Actually, my 9-ball is just average. I practiced it when I was younger. It's just that 9-ball is popular in the States, so I'm following the local customs," Wu Wei said with a laugh.
He wasn't wrong.
Many people in America treated 9-ball as home entertainment; many houses had tables, but very few people played snooker. In the pool hall where she met Lin Yiyang, and even the one where she usually practiced, there was only one snooker table, and she never saw anyone using it.
Even in professional circuits, people here weren't particularly keen on snooker.
For Yin Guo, she was an American pool player, so the US 9-ball Open was very important.
But from Wu Wei's words, she could tell that he was primarily an English billiards player—a snooker player.
Just like her older cousin.
His friends were all professional players; why wasn't he?
Yin Guo looked at him.
Lin Yiyang had been sitting there, sipping the sake that had been served first. The small glass bottle was about the size of a palm, a translucent blue; he held it in his hand, and after two sips, more than half was gone.
He seemed like he wasn't paying much attention to their conversation, but when Yin Guo looked at him, he smoothly pushed the menu toward her. "Order first, then talk."
"Right, order first, order first," Wu Wei echoed.
The menu was filled with photos.
Ramen shops were the same the world over; you just looked at the pictures to pick your noodles and toppings. Yin Guo quickly made her choice and handed the menu back to Lin Yiyang. He signaled for the server to take the order; being so familiar with the place, he and Wu Wei could practically order blind without looking at the menu.
Wu Wei then shifted the conversation to daily life in New York, asking about Yin Guo's living arrangements.
"I'll probably stay at the hotel," Yin Guo said. "The one I'm at now."
"Have you considered renting? A short-term lease?"
"I thought about it, but three months is a bit of an awkward length. I was afraid of the hassle and couldn't find a good place."
Wu Wei immediately offered an enthusiastic invitation. He said the apartment he rented was a three-bedroom; two sisters occupied the other two rooms, but they were both moving out this month. He could help ask the landlord if Yin Guo could take a short-term lease. This would have two benefits: first, it would save money right now, and second, if Yin Guo's cousin got his offer from NYU, he could just take over the lease later.
Good location, convenient transportation, and a move-in-ready apartment.
Wu Wei's offer truly tempted her.
When she first came, her best friend had also suggested a short-term rental, but because the friend was back in China and couldn't easily help her find a place, she had dropped the idea. Since there was now a trustworthy lead, renting was definitely more economical.
Yin Guo happily thanked him and added Wu Wei on WeChat.
"Let me ask the landlord first. I'll give you a definite answer tomorrow," Wu Wei concluded.
Because they still had to travel, they didn't linger and finished their noodles quickly.
After the late-night meal, Lin Yiyang and Yin Guo boarded the subway once more. By the time they reached Yin Guo's hotel, it was already eleven o'clock.
The hotel she stayed in was in a rather secluded neighborhood, surrounded by repair shops. The only lively spot was a small gas station. The walk from the subway exit to the hotel involved a stretch of pitch-black road. Aside from the light from the gas station, there were no other lamps; it was a three-to-five-minute walk.
A midnight wind had picked up, chilling her to the bone.
He walked Yin Guo to the hotel entrance, where two bar waitresses were smoking. As they approached, the women stubbed out their cigarettes and helped pull open the heavy, black-painted iron door of the hotel.
She stopped before the steps. "Will there still be a subway for you to get back?"
"The subway runs twenty-four hours." Lin Yiyang took the cue case off his shoulder, hooking it by the strap. He didn't seem to be handing it over immediately, as if he were waiting for something.
His hand, hooked through the strap, was exposed to the air. Looking at it, Yin Guo was reminded of his right hand when he held a cue.
A sport like billiards required long, uninterrupted years of polishing and hard practice. Like any sport, one couldn't afford to slack off for even a day. An outsider might not see it, but an insider couldn't miss it. His level of skill was the result of years of training; he didn't seem like an amateur enthusiast at all...
The sound of someone tapping on the glass door behind her interrupted her thoughts.
She turned and saw her cousin behind the frosted glass, waving at them.
At the same time, Lin Yiyang’s arm reached over her shoulder to pull the iron door open for her. He ushered Yin Guo into the warm interior and handed the cue case to Meng Xiaotian.
"Thanks, Yang-ge, for bringing my sister back," her cousin said with a grin.
Lin Yiyang gave a nod as a farewell.
Then, with his hands in his pockets, he turned around and headed back the way they came, down the unlit road past the gas station.
Yin Guo rubbed her ear; when Lin Yiyang had pulled the door open just now, the zipper on his cuff had brushed against her. "How did you happen to come down just now?"
"Yang-ge sent me a WeChat saying you were almost here and told me to come get you," her cousin said. "I guess since I mentioned there's a bar under our hotel, he wasn't worried? Afraid you'd run into a drunk?"
It was an unexpected answer.
Yin Guo looked back outside once more.
Lin Yiyang was pulling up his hood to block the cold wind. In the distance was the light of the gas station, and to his left was the roadside wall. Gradually, his silhouette vanished into the swirling snow as he headed back toward the subway.
***
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
Amidst a Snowstorm of Love | Chapter 7 | A Snowy Night Journey | Novela.app | Novela.app
