During The Blizzard (Amidst A Snowstorm Of Love)

Canto 33: Serene

"Beneath the surface, a quiet anticipation bubbled within her, the emptiness replaced by a thrilling sense of intrigue."

Translator: Wuxia Studio, Editor: Twins Fantastic

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At four a.m., a jarring buzz from under Yin Guo's pillow shattered the silence. Disoriented, she fumbled for her phone, heart pounding with a mix of dread and anticipation. Lin Yiyang's name glowed on the screen.

Had he finally sent the message? Relief washed over her as she unlocked the phone, only to be met with silence. He hadn't replied to her earlier message checking on his safety. Hours bled into a restless wait, her anxieties gnawing at her. Deciding against bothering him further, she convinced herself he was simply too busy, the exhaustion evident in her squinting eyes as she reread his single, cryptic message.

Lin: I'm home.

Home? At four in the morning? Yin Guo's heart hammered in her chest as she typed.

Xiaoguo: Home at this hour?

Xiaoguo: Did you just arrive? Did you run into trouble on the way?

She knew what a late arrival meant a rushed trip back to the apartment for a shower, a change of clothes, and a stolen few hours of sleep before heading back for his class. Sighing, Yin Guo shut off her phone and surrendered to sleep, the unanswered message gnawing at her mind.

This week was the men's and women's junior competitions, with the professional competition looming next week. Yin Guo diligently practiced in the hotel gym, occasionally encountering familiar faces from Dongxincheng at breakfast or nearby restaurants.

Ever since the incident with Lin Yiyang, the club members had treated her differently, viewing her as the future wife of their "little uncle."

The whispers and stares from Dongxincheng weren't the only source of discomfort. Back in her own club, Yin Guo faced teasing too. Her teammates' snide comments about the  "alliance" between Dongxincheng and Beicheng, longtime rivals turned into a "marriage" by fate.

Early on Thursday morning, Coach Chen informed her with a stoic expression, "Watch the youth competition this morning."

Yin Guo's mind raced. Watching the games in the morning meant shuffling her training schedule to the afternoon, effectively cutting out any chance of grabbing dinner with Lin Yiyang.

In the corner of the breakfast room, bathed in the morning sunlight streaming through the window, she absently scooped cereal into her mouth, one hand reaching for her phone to send him a message.

Xiaoguo: I'm going to watch the game today.

A hollow ache formed in her chest.

Xiaoguo: I can't accompany you to a dinner. Maybe you can ask Wu Wei to join you first.

Lin Yiyang reply's arrived quickly.

Lin: If you can't make it today, don't worry about me.

His nonchalance stung. Yin Guo felt the weight of her meticulously planned schedule press down on her, a suffocating burden built from days of carefully calculated arrangements.

Though invisible to the outside world, her mind was a constant calculating machine, keeping track of schedules and commitments. She felt a pang of guilt and forced a smile as she typed.

Xiaoguo: Still the same? Will you be back tomorrow?

Lin: School was busier than expected this week.