When Winter Falls in Love - Chapter 6

Several minutes passed before Xie Mingjun appeared in the group chat.

Xie Mingjun: 【Class is over, pack your things.】

Dong Yin glanced at her phone, then at Xie Mingjun.

Liar.

There were still ten minutes left before class ended.

If Dong Yin hadn’t been sitting right beside her, she might have believed it almost got fooled.

Earlier, Xie Mingjun had been staring at her phone screen for a few seconds before deliberately turning it away to keep Dong Yin from seeing. Then she propped her head on her hand and looked up at the lecture screen.

At one point, Xie Mingjun turned and met Dong Yin’s gaze, lips parting slightly as if about to say something. Dong Yin leaned in closer to hear.

“Don’t get so close to me,” Xie Mingjun said.

Dong Yin let out an “Oh.”

She didn’t call Xie Mingjun out, but she was curious, why had Xie Mingjun dreamed about her doing yoga? Did she really want to see her practice that badly?

Lost in thought, Dong Yin checked her phone again. The group had moved on to discussing lunch plans. This was the first time Dong Yin learned Xie Mingjun had two close friends. When Dong Yin first became aware of Xie Mingjun’s existence, the girl already had a reputation for being temperamental, more of a lone wolf.

Dong Yin was a lone wolf too, but the difference was stark, Xie Mingjun chose not to engage with others, aloof and distant. Dong Yin simply had no one to engage with her.

When the bell rang, Xie Mingjun clipped her pen to her notebook, grabbed it, and left immediately. Dong Yin quickly stuffed her own notes into her bag and followed close behind.

The hallway buzzed with the jingling of bells and chatter. Dong Yin hugged the wall as they descended the stairs, exiting the building one after the other.

The afternoon sun had passed, taking some of the sweltering heat with it, but the day’s accumulated warmth lingered stubbornly, leaving the air thick and stifling. Xie Mingjun seemed to feel it too, taking refuge in a shaded spot in the lobby, fanning herself with her notebook.

Dong Yin walked over and stood beside her, murmuring, “Stealing your breeze.”

The corner of Xie Mingjun’s mouth twitched. a suppressed laugh, amused by Dong Yin’s antics. She kept fanning.

The strands of hair at Dong Yin’s temples fluttered. “Are you waiting for someone?” she asked.

Xie Mingjun gave a noncommittal hum.

Dong Yin wasn’t much of a talker herself; initiating conversation wasn’t her forte. She pulled out her phone, sneaking glances to see what Xie Mingjun was discussing with her friends.

Red Candle Warms North Wind: 【Xie Mingjun, we’re at your school’s east gate. Didn’t you get out early? Why are there still so many people around?】

【She hasn’t left yet, right? Perfect timing, let me see what she looks like! I’m dying of curiosity.】

Dong Yin froze.

They wanted to see her?

Suddenly, anxiety prickled at her.

Xie Mingjun’s friends were probably just like her undoubtedly beautiful. Dong Yin’s old insecurities crept back in.

The floor beneath her feet grew unbearably hot. Unable to stand still, Dong Yin hesitantly took two steps forward, her toes brushing the edge of the stairs as if testing the waters.

Xie Mingjun remained engrossed in her phone, typing.

Xie Mingjun: 【Do whatever. But you probably won’t see her, she’ll bolt any minute now.】

Red Candle Warm North Wind: 【Why?】

Xie Mingjun: 【Coward】

Red Candle Warm North Wind: 【No way. She had the guts to flirt with you shouldn’t be that timid. Ask if she wants to join us for lunch?】

Xie Mingjun didn’t ask. She stayed silent.

“Red Candle Warm North Wind” was the most enthusiastic, firing off messages faster than anyone else in the group.

“Just ask her to come along. Think of it as a test, see if you keep dreaming about her because you haven’t been able to see her.”

Xie Mingjun: “Where did you even get that theory from?”

Red Candle Warms North Wind: “Lu Hanqiu said it, what you think about by day, you dream of by night.”

Xie Mingjun: “?”

Xie Mingjun: “You talk too much.”

Red Candle Warms North Wind: “You better keep her there. We’re almost there.”

Xie Mingjun: “Can’t. She’s got legs, she’s really good at running.”

And indeed, Xie Mingjun was right. Dong Yin only planned to stand there for a moment, already preparing to bolt. She was afraid of strangers, terrified of interacting with them.

Dong Yin counted the seconds, slowly descending the steps one by one. When she reached the last one, her foot hovered mid-air. She turned to glance at Xie Mingjun, who arched a brow, looking as if she had seen this coming.

Dong Yin tapped her foot on the ground, then dashed back up the steps to stand in front of Xie Mingjun again. “I was just hopping down the steps for fun,” she said.

Xie Mingjun replied calmly, “I know.”

Dong Yin let out a soft “Oh.”

A few seconds later, she couldn’t help but ask, “Really?”

Did Xie Mingjun really think she was just hopping steps? Hadn’t she just told the group chat that Dong Yin was about to run? Now that she’d come back, why didn’t Xie Mingjun seem the least bit surprised?

Xie Mingjun frowned. “What else would it be?”

In reality, she pulled out her phone, fingers hovering over the sent messages. Seeing the notification pop up but no option to recall, she exhaled and tilted her head slightly.

A few minutes later, a car pulled up at the school gate.

The doors swung open, and two girls stepped out. One wore a black tank top with a high ponytail, while the other had on a white button-up, her shoulder-length hair giving off a quiet vibe. Both were strikingly beautiful, though in completely different ways.

Dong Yin recognized the one in black immediately she was “Red Candle Warms North Wind,” the chatty one. The girl waved at Xie Mingjun the moment she got out of the car.

“Xie Mingjun, figured out where we’re eating yet?” She paused mid-sentence, slamming the car door shut, then let out an impressed “Wow” as she noticed Dong Yin.

Lu Hanqiu, on the other hand, was much quieter. She barely spoke after getting out of the car, her gaze steady as she briefly glanced at Dong Yin.

Instantly, Dong Yin didn’t know where to put her hands. She instinctively reached for her backpack straps, her feet shuffling awkwardly.

“Is this your friend, Xie Mingjun?” Dong Yin asked, already knowing the answer then immediately bit her tongue. She really wasn’t good at small talk.

Xie Mingjun gave a simple “Mm.”

Dong Yin grew anxious. Logically, Xie Mingjun should’ve told her to leave by now, and she would’ve obediently said “Okay” before sprinting off.

“So… you guys are going to eat?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, her toes testing the edge of the steps. Just staying until Xie Mingjun’s friends arrived had taken all her courage. She just hoped they didn’t think too poorly of her.

All it would take was one “Mm” from Xie Mingjun, and she’d be ready to bolt like a sprinter off the starting line.

Instead, Xie Mingjun asked, “What, you scared?”

“I ” Dong Yin quietly pulled her foot back, finding Xie Mingjun utterly incomprehensible. First, she told her not to get close, and now she was asking if she was afraid? Summoning all her courage in the smallest voice possible, she declared, “I’m not scared!”

The two of them whispered for a long while, their conversation completely inaudible to the pair waiting below. Standing around idly wasn’t ideal, so Chu Ning’an enthusiastically introduced herself and extended an invitation: “How about we go eat together? Thank you wait, what’s your name again…”

“Ahem.” Lu Hanqiu interrupted Chu Ning’an. “Xie Mingjun, let her come along. You guys don’t have evening self-study, right?”

Dong Yin shook her head. “No… but, th-thank you.”

Chu Ning’an said, “Xie Mingjun, say something already. She’s been calling your name for ages, and it’s not like we’re asking you to pay Lu Hanqiu’s treating.”

Dong Yin wanted to explain that she was thanking Chu Ning’an for her kindness, not calling Xie Mingjun’s name.

Xie Mingjun still didn’t invite Dong Yin, instead descending the stairs first. Dong Yin hesitated for a few seconds before following. Xie Mingjun opened the car door and got straight in.

Dong Yin knew their invitation was well-intentioned, but she was also worried if she didn’t go this time, what if she never ran into Xie Mingjun again?

During the first week of school, it had been easy to bump into people on campus. But now that classes had settled down, it was impossible to find anyone.

Dong Yin stood by the car window and softly asked Xie Mingjun, “Do you… want me to come?”

“I don’t”

“Come on, come on!” Before Xie Mingjun could finish, Chu Ning’an opened the back door. “You’re Dong Yin, right? Get in, let’s all go eat together.”

Clutching her phone, Dong Yin slid into the car.

With a thud, the door closed, completely shutting out the sweltering heat outside. It was as if they had been standing at the sun’s closest point, the scorching rays determined to bake them dry. The air-conditioned interior felt chilly at first, making Dong Yin’s arms prickle with cold.

The seats were separate, leaving some distance between them. Xie Mingjun turned to look out the window as the car entered a tree-lined path, shadows falling across the glass where Dong Yin’s reflection appeared.

Xie Mingjun could clearly see that Dong Yin wasn’t looking at the scenery outside or the road ahead, her gaze remained fixed in Xie Mingjun’s direction, bright and intense. Unlike her earlier teary-eyed expression, this look was more like sunlight glaring off glass, dazzling and sharp.

The car passed through the shaded path in half a minute, and Dong Yin’s reflection lasted just as long. Afterward, the view outside the window seemed dull and uninteresting by comparison.

A few minutes later, Xie Mingjun straightened in her seat.

Chu Ning’an turned around from the front. “How about eating near your school? I heard the night market barbecue stalls there are amazing.”

Dong Yin didn’t know how to respond. She glanced at Xie Mingjun, who said, “Fine. Lu Hanqiu’s paying anyway.”

“I’m okay with that too,” Dong Yin murmured.

Chu Ning’an chuckled. Sitting diagonally across from Dong Yin, she studied her carefully again. Dong Yin’s fingers tightened nervously, and she managed a small smile in return.

“Chu Ning’an, check the GPS. I’m lost,” Lu Hanqiu called out. Chu Ning’an obliged, sitting up to examine the navigation.

Under Chu Ning’an’s guidance, Lu Hanqiu only got more lost, driving in circles three or four times.

Dong Yin spoke up softly, “Turn left ahead, cross that intersection. You just passed it.”

Lu Hanqiu turned the steering wheel a couple of times, maneuvering the car to their destination. As they got out, Chu Ning’an said, “We owe it all to Dongyin.”

Dongyin accepted the praise happily, tilting her head slightly when she noticed Xie Mijun frowning. “We’ll be there soon, don’t be annoyed,” Dongyin reassured her.

They headed straight for the backstreet barbecue joint.

The stall was run by Xinjiang locals, and the authentic aroma of lamb filled the air within a few steps. They ordered three pounds of crayfish and grabbed small baskets to pick out skewers.

Despite having been at the university for so long, Dongyin wasn’t as familiar with the place as Chu Ning’an and Lu Hanqiu. She stood there hesitantly, unsure what to choose.

She rarely ventured to this area, it was always too lively, filled with groups of friends eating together. The only time she indulged was when she treated herself to a plate of fried pasta at the front stalls.

After some hesitation, Dongyin quietly put the basket back.

The place was packed, with no empty seats. The owner brought out extra tables to accommodate them. Xie Mijun sat down first, securing their spot.

She rested her phone on the table, tilting her head slightly. She seemed to blend into the night, exuding a cool detachment, yet there was something undeniably human about her presence.

Dongyin stole a few glances before approaching. “Xie Mijun, I’m going to get drinks. Do they want beer?”

“No,” Xie Mijun replied.

Dongyin nodded and hurried to a nearby milk tea shop, excitedly joining the long line. She moved quickly, eager to contribute. Xie Mijun parted her lips but didn’t finish her thought she didn’t drink anything at all.

Dongyin wanted to buy something to share. It didn’t sit right with her to just accept their treat without doing anything in return. In her rush, she forgot to ask for preferences, so she settled on fruit tea to pair with the barbecue and bought four different flavors.

Normally, she wouldn’t splurge on something so expensive, but today was different, she didn’t mind spending. By the time she returned, the barbecue and crayfish were ready.

They had saved her a seat next to Xie Mijun.

“Xie Mijun…” Dongyin placed the drinks on the table. Xie Mijun took one, leaving the other three for Chu Ning’an and the others to choose from. The last one was hers.

While eating, Dongyin always waited to take her share last. She picked up a skewer of potato slices and listened as Chu Ning’an chatted away.

From their conversation, she learned that Chu Ning’an and Lu Hanqiu were childhood friends who attended a different school nearby. They had met Xie Mijun through gaming and became friends.

Dongyin couldn’t contribute much, so she just listened. Xie Mijun peeled crayfish with gloves on, occasionally chiming in before removing them to sip her fruit tea.

Dongyin exhaled in relief. Now that everyone had accepted her drinks, she felt comfortable joining the conversation.

Chu Ning’an was talkative and cheerful, with two small dimples when she smiled. She asked Dongyin if she played games, and Dongyin admitted she did, though not particularly well.

They then started discussing a famous in-game character a pink-armored powerhouse, speculating whether the player behind it was a professional.

The crayfish meat was tender, and the rice cakes soaked up the flavors perfectly. They had also ordered a large plate of lamb skewers, which Dongyin happily shared with the group.

After eating their fill and wiping their mouths with napkins, the night had deepened completely. The lights from the food stalls flickered to life like stars in the night sky. Dong Yin tilted her head up, wondering if they matched the ones above, when she felt something wet on her face. She touched it just as someone shouted, “It’s raining!”

“It’s raining? Damn it, quick, I need to get back fast!” Chu Ning’an hastily wiped her hands and stood up from her chair.

At first, it was just a few drops, but after a brief pause, the sky unleashed its fury, sending down a torrential downpour.

Lu Hanqiu opened the trunk and handed an umbrella to Xie Mingjun, saying, “You take Dong Yin home. I need to drop Chu Ning’an off at the school first.”

Chu Ning’an seemed frantic, already climbing into Lu Hanqiu’s car as if facing some urgent crisis.

Dong Yin asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

Lu Hanqiu replied coolly, “She’s from the Agricultural Academy. A few days ago, she planted her graduation project, and it just sprouted today.” Her tone was indifferent as she glanced at Chu Ning’an. “You’re an agronomy student, didn’t you think to check the weather before planting?”

“If you hadn’t been arguing with me, I wouldn’t have forgotten! And if you weren’t so terrible at gaming today, I wouldn’t have missed it! I was supposed to lay down plastic sheets hurry up!”

Chu Ning’an got into the car, followed by Lu Hanqiu. She waved at Dong Yin, who waved back.

The car sped off before Dong Yin could fully process things, leaving her feeling like she hadn’t properly said goodbye. When she turned around, she realized Xie Mingjun had already started walking toward the school.

At least the rain had held off until after they finished eating, otherwise, their barbecue would’ve been ruined.

Dong Yin jogged over, raindrops splashing against her face. She wiped her cheeks and ducked under Xie Mingjun’s umbrella.

Her heart swelled with happiness, and she kept pressing her lips together, as if savoring the lingering taste of barbecue.

“Was it really that good?” Xie Mingjun’s tone was indifferent, her voice soft enough to be drowned out by the rain.

“No,” Dong Yin said. “I was just thinking about your friends.”

The walk back was long, the rain drumming loudly against the umbrella. The handle tilted slightly, sending a curtain of water cascading down.

While waiting for the light to turn green, Dong Yin tugged lightly at Xie Mingjun’s sleeve and whispered, “Xie Mingjun, your friends are really nice.”

The light changed, and Xie Mingjun strode across the street without a word. Dong Yin hurried after her, the rain roaring in her ears. Once they crossed, she heard Xie Mingjun ask, “What, do you have a crush on Chu Ning’an?”