During The Blizzard (Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love)

Canto 50: Pride's Burden

"Perhaps, the key to truly knowing someone wasn't just seeing their achievements, but also understanding their struggles." - Yin Guo

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

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Yin Guo clutched the cool towel, her gaze lingering on the sleeping figure on the sofa. She remained there for a long time, the chilling air seeping into her bones despite the towel's comforting touch. Finally, convinced he wouldn't stir, she rose, her worried eyes flitting towards Meng Xiaodong.

As she turned, she noticed Jiang Yang placing a steaming cup of tea beside her. A flicker of humor crossed his face as he playfully placed Lin Yiyang's phone on the coffee table. "Alright, everyone," he announced, "Let's eat."

Yin Guo frowned, her confusion mirroring the creases on her brow. She picked up the phone, her fingers scrolling through a gallery overflowing with images – cakes, mille crepes, roses, crepes the list continued.

Wu Wei, a gentle smile gracing his lips, nudged Yin Guo back towards the table. He began to unravel the story behind the photos, his voice tinged with a touch of sadness.

He spoke of Lin Yiyang leaving the hotel in the dead of night, his feet carrying him through the deserted streets towards the Plaza Hotel, driven by a singular desire to buy her a cake. Unfortunately, the restaurant remained open, but the cake shop in the basement had long since closed, its doors locked for the night.

Wu Wei and Jiang Yang found Lin Yiyang huddled in a forgotten corner on the hotel steps, slumped against the wall like a discarded ragdoll. Sleep, heavy and troubled, had claimed him.

Even when roused, his actions spoke volumes. He thrust his phone at Wu Wei, his eyes glazed over and his voice slurred. "Buy it," he mumbled, leaving the unspoken plea hanging in the air.

Wu Wei glanced at the phone, his heart sinking as he saw the gallery filled with meticulously saved photos - a testament to Lin Yiyang's forgotten intentions. With a sigh, he handed the phone back to Jiang Yang. Both men, weary and defeated, disregarded the need for a car and opted to carry Lin Yiyang back to his room.

Inside, the remnants of their revelry remained - a few lingering stragglers, oblivious to the unfolding drama. Helping Lin Yiyang into clean clothes, Wu Wei and Jiang Yang went to fetch Meng Xiaodong and Chen An'an.

But their efforts were in vain. Unable to resist the siren call of oblivion, Lin Yiyang reached for the remaining bottles on the table and drained them with reckless abandon. This time, the effects were undeniable. Two full bottles of liquor coursed through his veins, rendering him utterly unconscious. Jiang Yang surmised, with a heavy heart, that Lin Yiyang wouldn't stir for at least 24 hours.

Wu Wei desperately wanted to shield Yin Guo from witnessing Lin Yiyang's state, his drunken vulnerability a stark contrast to his usual bravado. However, Jiang Yang, his gaze drawn to Yin Guo, felt compelled to engage her further, his mind swirling with thoughts prompted by Meng Xiaodong's earlier words.

Wu Wei gestured towards the empty bottles scattered across the table, the remnants of their ill-fated celebration. "I used his card," he confessed, his voice laced with a hint of guilt, "but I didn't feel comfortable getting anything too pricey. These..." he trailed off, his eyes scanning the cheap, supermarket brand bottles, "Aren't even close to the quality of that single glass he offered you."

Yin Guo's gaze drifted to the bottles, the memory of Lin Yiyang muttering "Chivas" into his phone echoing in her mind. She'd misinterpreted it, assuming it was the brand her cousin favored, leading her to choose the most readily available option, unaware of its inferior quality.