After dinner, Meng Bai said she wanted to go out and play. She was still worrying whether her dad, Meng Xingzhong, would agree, but he seemed even more eager than she was.
“Dad, where are you off to?”
Meng Xingzhong was wearing a thick jacket, a cigarette dangling from his mouth and a shovel in his hand. “Out to take care of some business!”
“Why do you need a shovel for business?”
Meng Xingzhong chuckled. “Don’t worry, I won’t hit anyone.”
“Then I’m going out to play with Zhou An and the others for a bit.”
Meng Xingzhong nodded. “Fine, go have your fun.”
Winter nights fell dark fast, the snowflakes taking on a bluish tint in the pitch blackness. It was too cold—even the neighborhood gossips who usually gathered in the courtyard during summer had hunkered down indoors.
The lane was quiet, nothing but the crunch of snow underfoot. The fields along the ridges were dotted with white radishes dug in deep, giving off a faint, fresh scent.
They soon reached the gate of the courtyard, where the smell of rust hung frozen in the snow. The walnut tree had long since lost its leaves, and the cold air filled their nostrils until it seemed they could smell nothing at all.
Meng Bai didn’t knock. She just stood at the gate and called out softly, “Miao Bai, I’m here!”
She had stopped by earlier that afternoon after school to tell Miao Bai she’d be coming over that evening with Zhou An and Xu Zhou to hang out, and Miao Bai hadn’t objected.
They waited at the gate for a moment before it creaked open with a squeak, and Miao Bai stepped out from inside.
Two days apart, and Meng Bai’s heart warmed at the sight of her. She reached out and took Miao Bai’s hand.
It was ice-cold, just like the winter chill.
Noticing how thinly Miao Bai was dressed, Meng Bai realized just how oblivious she was to the seasons.
“You’re really not cold?”
“Of course not.” Miao Bai looked down at her, her clear eyes softening.
“Fine.” Meng Bai pursed her lips. “But I bought you a scarf, though it looks like you don’t need it.”
“Oh?” Miao Bai changed her tune. “Well, it is pretty cold, then.”
“I don’t believe you. You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
Miao Bai laughed. It had been a while since they’d chatted like this, and she found Meng Bai adorably cute.
“See? You’re laughing at me.”
Miao Bai reached out and ruffled her hair. “Actually, I have a gift for you too.”
Light sparked in Meng Bai’s eyes. “What is it?”
“I’ll give it to you when we get back tonight.”
“You’re teasing me again!”
Miao Bai’s lips curved up, but she wouldn’t say more.
It left Meng Bai feeling a bit peeved—not truly angry, just wondering why Miao Bai loved to tease her so much.
“Fine, then I won’t talk to you anymore. Not until you tell me.”
She didn’t sound convincing at all; it was obvious she didn’t mean it.
But she strode ahead anyway, acting for all the world like she was done speaking to Miao Bai.
It was childish, and she knew it, but Miao Bai had never once minded her childishness.
She walked faster and faster, waiting for Miao Bai to say something.
“Walking so fast?” Miao Bai reached out to grab her hand, her voice laced with amusement. “It’s not like I can’t keep up.”
Meng Bai had only been putting on a show, and the act crumbled as she burst out laughing.
“What is it? Just tell me.”
“It’s just a little something. You’ll get it when we’re back tonight.”
“Oh~” Meng Bai’s lips curved into a delighted smile. “Okay, then.”
“Feeling better now? All coaxed?” Miao Bai teased.
Meng Bai’s face flushed hot. “Don’t laugh at me.”
But Miao Bai laughed anyway.
Meng Bai threw her arms around Miao Bai to hide her expression, her tone turning playfully whiny. “Stop laughing. It’s so embarrassing.”
“Okay, okay.”
“And kiss me once more.” Meng Bai looked up at her, their gazes locking. “You didn’t yesterday, or the day before.”
“Weren’t you busy with exams?”
Meng Bai wrinkled her nose. “Then make up for it now.”
It felt strange—she’d never have made such a request of Miao Bai before, but lately, she’d been growing more and more clingy.
She wondered if it was unreasonable, but Miao Bai had never refused her.
Not once.
Night had fully fallen, the surroundings empty and silent save for the soft sound of snowflakes hitting the ground.
As Miao Bai’s face drew nearer, Meng Bai closed her eyes. Snowflakes brushed her cheek, cool and fleeting, but the next moment she forgot all about them as warmth bloomed on her lips, Miao Bai’s familiar scent filling her senses.
Suddenly, Meng Bai’s heart felt full to bursting. She hooked her arms around Miao Bai’s neck, deepening the kiss.
She didn’t know how long it lasted before Miao Bai pulled back.
Meng Bai opened her eyes, still wanting more. Looking at Miao Bai’s face, she felt it wasn’t enough.
She tightened her arms around Miao Bai’s neck, hugging her close, and whispered, “I don’t want to go anywhere.”
Miao Bai hugged her back, murmuring in her ear, “What about Zhou An and the others?”
“I don’t know. Just hold me a little longer.”
She was practically hanging off Miao Bai.
Miao Bai soothed her. “Come on, we don’t want to keep them waiting too long.”
~~~
The city—a word that rarely appeared in Meng Bai’s vocabulary.
The late bus would take about an hour.
Meng Bai, Zhou An, and Xu Zhou bought four tickets, leaving the ticket seller utterly baffled.
Zhou An grinned. “Our butts are big! Gotta buy an extra ticket!”
That only made the seller think these three were even odder.
It was nighttime, and the bus was only about a third full.
The four of them took the last row, with Miao Bai in the innermost seat by the window.
Before the engine even roared to life, Zhou An spoke to the “empty” air. “Miao Bai, it’s nighttime at least—let us see you properly?”
Meng Bai pointed at the bus lights. “They’re on, but she doesn’t like it too bright.”
Zhou An, ever the social butterfly, called up to the driver. “Hey, sir, could you turn off a light? I wanna catch some sleep!”
Xu Zhou chimed in. “Yeah, saves electricity too!”
The driver, probably annoyed, flicked off the lights with a snap.
The bus plunged into darkness.
No one noticed anything unusual in the back row, but Miao Bai’s form gradually took shape in the shadows.
Zhou An’s fingers trembled with excitement—this was only the third time she’d seen Miao Bai in months.
Even now, it felt miraculous when Miao Bai appeared in her line of sight.
“Hey, Miao Bai! Long time no see!” Zhou An leaned past Meng Bai, greeting her in a hushed voice.
Miao Bai nodded. “Hello.”
Xu Zhou’s gaze settled on Miao Bai’s face, a bit shy as she followed suit. “Hi, Miao Bai.”
Meng Bai cut in. “Wow, you guys are so formal.”
Zhou An shot Meng Bai a glance. “It’s all your fault. You’re dating but keeping it all hush-hush, not even bringing Miao Bai out to hang with us!”
Meng Bai felt utterly wronged. “No way!”
Miao Bai explained, “I just don’t like going out much.”
There was a note of indulgence toward Meng Bai in her words, and it made Zhou An’s heart twist with sour jealousy.
The bus crept forward slowly, but this old clunker was wheezing and chugging along, barely gaining any speed.
Meng Bai gazed out the window at the passing scenery: vast fields of vegetables blanketed in snow, with pits full of winter radishes.
Zhou An let out a yawn. “Sigh, we’ve hardly gotten anywhere.”
Xu Zhou sounded uncertain. “The next town over?”
In the darkness, Miao Bai’s gaze fixed on something nearby, and her eyes suddenly shifted.
And then, as if on cue, the bus jolted violently the next moment. It dragged along for a few dozen meters before sputtering to a halt.
From up front came the driver’s curse: “Damn it!”
It gave Zhou An a start.
The headlights flickered on, casting Miao Bai in a pool of warm light.
Meng Bai’s heart sank a little. She reached out and took Miao Bai’s hand.
The ticket seller, a middle-aged woman, stood up. “What’s the matter?”
The driver grumbled, “Looks like the fuel pump’s acting up.”
He hopped out to check and soon clambered back aboard, announcing loudly, “We’re not going anywhere! Someone’s gotta come fix it!”
A chorus of groans filled the bus. A few people grumbled, “We can’t just get out halfway—look how dark it is outside!”
Zhou An was the most devastated of all. Her big city plans had gone up in smoke.
Xu Zhou sounded irritated. “What rotten luck.”
Meng Bai didn’t show much reaction. She just asked, “How long do you think it’ll take to fix?”
The driver fiddled with his old flip phone. “Can’t get through. No telling when they’ll show.”
Someone craned their neck out the window, took a look, and said, “This is Zhangjia Town. It’s a twenty-minute walk to the center. We could grab a night tricycle taxi from there—figure forty minutes total to get back. Anyone want to split a ride with me?”
It was a middle-aged man who spoke, but no one answered.
Undeterred, he buttoned up his coat and got off alone. His shadow soon stretched across the snow behind them. The rest of the passengers had no such plans and seemed content to wait for the repairs.
Zhou An glanced at Xu Zhou, who glanced at Meng Bai. After a moment’s thought, Meng Bai suggested, “Should we head back?”
“Huh? Not going to the city anymore?”
“It’s too late.” Meng Bai frowned, regretting the long trip they’d made today. “Let’s try another day.”
“So we get off?” Xu Zhou peered at the snow outside—light flakes drifting down, nothing heavy.
A trek through the snow had to be better than rotting away in the stuffy bus.
Zhou An was the impatient type. “Let’s go! We’ll play in the snow all the way home!”
Miao Bai hadn’t said a word the whole time, her eyes fixed on the window and her thoughts a mystery. It wasn’t until Meng Bai nudged her shoulder that she stirred. “You coming, Miao Bai?”
Miao Bai met her gaze, something unspoken flickering in her eyes, but she only nodded. “Whatever you all want.”
The snowy night was utterly still.
The narrow road saw almost no traffic, and there was no telling when the stranded bus behind them would be roadworthy again.
The four of them set off back the way they’d come. Zhou An started humming a little tune—she was never one to let setbacks like this get her down.
Xu Zhou stayed quiet. Meng Bai, hand in hand with Miao Bai, said nothing either.
Their footsteps traced four neat, parallel lines in the snow.
Out of nowhere, Meng Bai let out a sigh. “We’ve had some bad luck today.”
“Yeah!” Zhou An stopped singing. “I heard they do fireworks in the city at night. Looks like we’re missing out.”
Xu Zhou yawned, sounding drowsy. “Perfect excuse to head home and crash.”
Maybe it was the profound quiet of the night, but conversation dried up. They walked on for quite a stretch until the bus was a distant speck.
A bit farther still, and in that one fleeting instant, faint voices drifted from nearby.
“Dig around here some more?”
“Nothing here either!”
Meng Bai halted. “Did you hear that?”
Xu Zhou strained to listen. “Yeah, sounds like it’s coming from over there.”
She pointed toward a patch of woods some thirty or forty meters away in a straight line. In the dim light, only scattered branches were visible.
The four of them froze, holding their breath in silence.
Miao Bai’s eyes weren’t on the woods—they were on Meng Bai.
It was as if she’d known all along.
Meng Bai just frowned, her gaze drawn inexorably that way. She muttered, “That voice—”
Zhou An blurted out, “It sounds just like your dad.”
