During the Snowstorm by Mo Bao Fei Bao

Chapter 2.1 The World Under the Snow

Lin Yi Yang was intimately familiar with the area, his feet leading him through the streets with practiced ease. The bustling sounds of the city faded into the background as he honed in on his destination. Before he knew it, the quaint little shop came into view, nestled between two larger buildings.

Stepping inside, he was greeted by the warm, rich aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans. The store was simple, yet inviting, with a spacious open floor plan. A glass counter, housing a range of products, stood to the right, while the checkout counter occupied the same area. To the left, shelves lined the wall, showcasing locally sourced products. The ambiance mingled with the scent of jute bags filled to the brim with rich, dark coffee beans. Each bag was adorned with a white label, written by hand, detailing the coffee's name, origin, and flavor.

At the moment, the store was relatively quiet, with only a young couple occupying the space. They whispered excitedly to each other as they examined the coffee beans, pointing out the names, origins, and flavors written on the white wall above the bags. The girl picked up a bean, placed it in her boyfriend's mouth, and watched intently as he savored the flavor.

Lin Yi Yang approached Yin Guo, his eyes fixed on her as he picked up two coffee beans and placed them in her palm. "Go on, give it a try," he said, gently gesturing towards her mouth.

With a small nod, Yin Guo bit into the bean, savoring the rich and complex flavors as she chewed. But the intensity of Lin Yi Yang's gaze made her feel increasingly uneasy, and she found herself slowing down her chewing. As if he could sense her discomfort, Lin Yi Yang shifted his gaze and picked up two sweet and sour berries, offering them to Yin Guo with a gentle smile.

Yin Guo took the berries from Lin Yi Yang's hand and held them in her palm but decided it wouldn't be wise to try them again this time.

As the young couple made their way out of the store, only three customers remained within its walls. Yin Guo and Lin Yinyang lingered near the rows of coffee beans, while her cousin busied himself with selecting gifts from the last shelf.

Feeling out of her element, Yin Guo struggled to savor the flavor of the coffee beans she had tried. The remnants of the beans lay in her palm, crumpled into a ball of tissue.

Her awkward moment did not go unnoticed. The man standing next to her, observing her actions, pointed discreetly to a small corner on the left side of the counter, indicating where the trash can was located.

Yin Guo threw away the tissue ball and heard the man beside her ask, "What does your friend want?"

There was an overwhelming option. She was about to research the pronunciation of the names and ask the store clerk for help when Lin Yi Yang beat her to it, asking the clerk himself.

Pointing to several bags of coffee beans, Lin Yi Yang engaged the clerk in conversation with a friendly smile. Yin Guo listened intently as the two chatted, her ears picking up snippets of information about the beans' origins and the fact that they were selling well in the store.

Soon as they approached the checkout counter, Lin Yi Yang's hand went to his wrist checking the time on his watch. Yin Guo noticed the gesture of urgency and kindly offered, "If you're in a hurry, go ahead. I've already bought what I need."

Throughout their time together, she had noticed Lin Yi Yang repeatedly glancing at his watch, as though he were counting down the minutes. He had clearly rushed to meet her, skipping lunch, and hastening through his coffee and sandwich. Though he hadn't voiced it, the urgency in his manner hinted that he had come all the way from Washington.

"Maybe we can catch up again when you have more time?" he suggested, his eyes flicking back to his watch.

Yin Guo nodded in agreement, as Lin Yi Yang reluctantly said his goodbyes and made his way out of the store.