When Winter Falls in Love - Chapter 1

Xie Mingjun came to see Dong Yin again, even though they had secretly met just yesterday.

She was wearing a black spaghetti-strap dress with a small V-neck that revealed the deep hollow of her collarbone. Pushing open the half-ajar door, she strode straight into the cramped six-person dorm.

Effortlessly familiar, she pulled out a chair, settled into a comfortable position, and crossed her long legs. Her fingers curled around the mouse on the desk, her thumb slowly rolling the scroll wheel.

The essay on the screen wasn’t finished yet,still three thousand words short.

Dong Yin had been picking out clothes to wear for the day, but when she saw Xie Mingjun enter, she quickly shut the wardrobe. Through the mirror on the door, she caught a glimpse of herself.

A pink tracksuit paired with fuzzy slippers,compared to Xie Mingjun, she looked rough, nothing like a proper girl.

“Why did you come?” Dong Yin asked softly.

Xie Mingjun was staring at something on her computer and didn’t answer.

In the bottom-right corner of the screen, a small window looped a workout video. Just moments ago, Dong Yin had been following the instructor’s moves, bending her body into impossible angles. Now, a thin sheen of sweat glistened on her forehead, and a damp curl clung to her temple.

Dong Yin went to wash her face, then came back and rolled up the yoga mat, tucking it into the closet. She poured a glass of water and set it on the desk. Xie Mingjun didn’t drink it instead, she pulled out a lighter.

Dong Yin didn’t dare stop her, only murmuring a timid reminder, “Smoking isn’t allowed in the dorm.”

Xie Mingjun shot her a sidelong glance. “Neither is .”

Dong Yin pressed her lips together and stayed silent.

The atmosphere was awkward. Dong Yin clutched her cup, frozen in place. The only thing on the desk was the inkstone she’d bought for calligraphy practice. She pushed it toward Xie Mingjun as an ashtray, but Xie Mingjun didn’t light up.

Dong Yin let out a small hum before asking quietly, “Did you need something?”

Xie Mingjun said, “Can’t I just come see you?”

After a pause, she added, “Weren’t you into Zou Yuxi? Why put so much effort into seducing me all of a sudden?”

The question came out of nowhere.

Dong Yin’s lips pressed together. Her heart swelled like a balloon pumped full of air, only to be popped just as quickly.

Her fingers tightened around the bed frame’s ladder as she stammered, “I don’t like him. I like you.”

“Is that really it?” Xie Mingjun asked, her breath carrying the scent of tobacco and a hint of minty coolness.

Dong Yin gave a small nod.

Her voice was barely audible, the words draining her strength as soon as they left her lips.

Head bowed, Dong Yin didn’t dare look at Xie Mingjun, her shoulders trembling slightly.

It wasn’t shyness she was lying.

Fifteen days ago, Dong Yin hadn’t liked Xie Mingjun at all. She’d been infatuated with Xie Mingjun’s ex-boyfriend, Zou Yuxi.

Xie Mingjun and Zou Yuxi were one of the most famous couples on campus. They often filmed short videos together and posted them online, amassing a huge following.

Their relationship was the envy of the school, drawing attention wherever they went.

Dong Yin, on the other hand, was utterly unremarkable, just another plain, ordinary girl. She wore basic tees and leggings, always tied her hair into a simple ponytail, and never styled her bangs, just sweeping them back to leave her forehead bare.

At school, she was introverted, invisible everywhere she went. If she ever stood out, it was only because people were gossiping about her, looking down on her.

Zou Yuxi was the opposite, a bright, sunny guy, the kind who’d enthusiastically strike up conversations with Dong Yin. To her, he was like a cool breeze in summer or a warm ray of winter sun, always comforting her.

Every time she sat in the corner, Zou Yuxi would notice her, speaking to her softly and introducing her to many people. She thought she had made many friends finally, the forgotten girl had been seen.

Dong Yin loved this kindness, loved Zou Yuxi, and loved his friends very, very much.

Until a few days ago, when Zou Yuxi and the others decided to hold an early graduation gathering, afraid they would drift apart after graduation.

Dong Yin was invited along. She drank one, two, three, four glasses of alcohol, until she was slumped over the table, drunk. Even in her stupor, she strained to listen intently to Zou Yuxi’s conversation with the others.

Amid the teasing, someone asked Zou Yuxi what his relationship with Dong Yin was. In a mocking tone, he replied, “Dong Yin? She’s plain, poor, how could I ever be interested in her? Even being friends with us is a stretch for her, hahaha… She’s just our errand girl, my little lapdog. Don’t take it seriously.”

The group burst into laughter. “Gotta admit, she’s pretty diligent, always at our beck and call, sometimes even volunteering to do our grunt work. But man, bringing her out is so embarrassing.”

“Yeah, Zou Yuxi only has eyes for Xie Mingjun.”

Then they egged Zou Yuxi on to reconcile with Xie Mingjun. Only then did Dong Yin realize, this graduation gathering was a sham, the reluctance to part was a lie. The real purpose was to reunite them and to mock her.

Zou Yuxi teased Xie Mingjun, asking if she was jealous, flirting with her. Xie Mingjun sat there, lighting a cigarette but not smoking it. As the ember burned, she flicked her fingers, letting the ash fall onto Zou Yuxi’s hand.

The crowd laughed, saying Xie Mingjun’s jealousy was terrifying, if they kept teasing her, she might just stub the cigarette out on Zou Yuxi’s face.

Their mocking gazes landed on Dong Yin, as if watching a lapdog trip over itself. They had known all along that Zou Yuxi was toying with her, and they enjoyed seeing her obey his every call like a dog.

Xie Mingjun sat on the sofa, just as she did now, her gaze flickering toward Dong Yin slumped on the table. That lofty look even a glance was laced with disdain.

Just moments ago, Dong Yin had been heartbroken, crying silently at the thought of leaving school and never seeing the person she loved again. She wiped her tears, not wanting anyone to notice.

But they had been laughing at her all along.

The humiliation in that moment dredged up all the emotions she had suppressed disappointment, disgust, and trampled pride.

Her stomach churned, and Dong Yin retched.

Drunk and furious, she wanted revenge, to make them all suffer. Struggling to her feet, she tried to leave but accidentally brushed against Xie Mingjun’s pant leg.

Xie Mingjun opened her eyes, lazily studying her, as if just waking up. She frowned slightly, a silver lighter in her hand.

Her thumb traced the engravings, slowly, deliberately no flame, yet she carried an ember’s heat.

Then, in the dim light, the lighter flickered to life.

While everyone slept, while Zou Yuxi was deep in slumber, while Dong Yin was still drunk, she rose and seduced the wide-awake Xie Mingjun.

And Xie Mingjun took the bait all too easily.

Dong Yin quietly brushed her fingers against Xie Mingjun’s leg. Xie Mingjun looked down at her, and her fingers came to rest on Xie Mingjun’s knee.

She asked, “Xie Mingjun, do you want to let loose before graduation?”

Then, Xie Mingjun leaned down and kissed her lips.