During The Blizzard (Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love)

Canto 49: Missing Piece

"You are the missing piece I never knew I needed, the melody that completes my song."

Translator: Wuxia Studio, Editor: Wuxia Studio

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Lin Yiyang snatched a cue from the rack, the worn leather grip a stark contrast against his crisp white shirt. With a playful glint in his eyes, he cast a sideways glance at Li Qingyan. "Eight-ball?" he challenged, his voice laced with a playful lilt. "Up for a game?"

He gestured towards a neglected eight-ball table tucked away in the corner, its green felt faded from years of friendly competition. This kind of game was a norm in Lin Yiyang's hometown.

"Sure," Li Qingyan replied, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "It's simple, right?"

Lin Yiyang picked up a chalk cube, the soft thud echoing against the table. "Simple," he chuckled, wiping the cue tip with practiced ease. "Loser owes the winner a drink."

Li Qingyan raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge mirroring Lin Yiyang's. "No problem," he said, grabbing a cue of his own. "If I lose, I might just owe you enough drink to last a lifetime."

The urge to give this kid a run for his money gnawed at Lin Yiyang. Ten rounds, best of ten.

They mimicked a nine-ball break to decide who served first. Unsurprisingly, Lin Yiyang sank the nine-ball in one clean shot, claiming the first move.

Li Qingyan, unfazed, silently arranged the eight balls in the familiar triangle. The white cue ball rested patiently in the center, waiting to be unleashed.

Lin Yiyang circled the table, his eyes scanning the layout, a silent strategist. He bent low, scrutinizing the perfect angle, and meticulously applied another layer of chalk to the cue tip.

Leaning in once more, his posture mirrored the precise line he intended to strike. Body, cue, and gaze became one, a single unit focused on the upcoming impact. The playful grin that adorned his face earlier slowly faded, replaced by the steely determination of a competitor.

The heavy crack echoed through the room, the impact amplified by the near silence of the surrounding tables. The colorful balls erupted, scattering like startled birds. They dashed and rolled, finding their way into the pockets one by one, two becoming three, then four... Until, in a blink, all eight balls had vanished, leaving the green felt bare.

It was a clean sweep. A single shot, a resounding victory. Not a display of skill, but a chance occurrence. Li Qingyan, however, knew he needed more than luck to pull off a "one-shot blow-up" like that again. He desperately hoped this was a mere fluke.

But for Lin Yiyang, it was a disappointing start, especially considering it was just the first game. Despite the unexpected loss, he remained composed. "Next round," he said simply, gesturing towards the table. The loser racks the balls.

Li Qingyan, speechless, bent over and retrieved the balls, silently reconstructing the triangle. Just as the white cue ball found its place, Lin Yiyang abruptly leaning in and delivering a powerful shot. The colored balls scattered in a chaotic ballet, each one vying for a spot in a pocket. And just like before, not a single ball remained.

Another clean sweep.

"Next round," Lin Yiyang stated calmly, once again gesturing towards the table.