When Winter Falls in Love - Chapter 7

“It’s the kind of liking you have for a friend, different from how I like you,” Dong Yin explained earnestly. She was sensitive enough to notice Xie Mingjun’s unusual mood, but didn’t dare dwell on it, afraid she might be overthinking things.

After all, what fell from the sky was rain, not corrosive acid.

When they reached the dormitory entrance, Dong Yin instinctively reached for her backpack strap, only to freeze mid-motion. She turned her head anxiously toward the outside. Xie Mingjun stood at the door holding an umbrella, clearly not planning to enter the dorm. She looked at Dong Yin and asked, “What’s wrong now?”

Dong Yin stammered, “I lost my backpack.”

“Your backpack?” Xie Mingjun glanced at her shoulder and indeed saw no trace of the black strap. Dong Yin usually carried a plain gray backpack everywhere, just a cheap thirty-yuan item from Taobao, nothing special. Xie Mingjun said, “Just buy a new one.”

“No, there are books inside, and my notebook. I’ll grab an umbrella from the dorm and go look for it,” Dong Yin insisted.

“Now? In this rain?” Xie Mingjun frowned, clearly reluctant to accompany her. “Let me ask Lu Hanqiu and the others first. Maybe it fell in the car.”

“I remember hanging it on the chair at the barbecue stall,” Dong Yin said seriously. She had even reminded herself to grab it before leaving.

But then the rain had come too suddenly, and she’d forgotten all about it. “I’ll go get it. I have an umbrella in my dorm.”

Xie Mingjun said, “Let me check with Lu Hanqiu first.”

Dong Yin reached for her phone, about to check the group chat, but hesitated and clutched it tightly instead, waiting for Xie Mingjun to respond.

Xie Mingjun didn’t forget to tease her while texting. “At least you didn’t lose your phone.”

Her tone carried a hint of mockery, making Dong Yin unsure how to reply. She simply watched as Xie Mingjun tapped away on her phone before finally looking up. “Alright, Lu Hanqiu says your backpack is with them. The barbecue stall owner found it and called them. They drove back to get it and will bring it over tomorrow when they have time.”

“O-okay, thank you so much.” Dong Yin exhaled in relief before adding, “And please thank your friends for me too. I appreciate them treating us today.”

Xie Mingjun gave a faint “Mm,” her tone indifferent. “You treated them to milk tea, didn’t you? Twenty-two yuan a cup almost as pricey as dessert.”

She stood at the dormitory entrance, shaking the umbrella handle lightly. Water droplets pattered loudly against the ground as the rain intensified. The sky was starless and moonless, the night pitch-black and eerily unsettling.

Then, she stepped into the dark, rainy night, umbrella raised.

Dong Yin took a few steps forward, intending to see her off, but when she craned her neck to look outside, all she saw was a sea of colorful umbrellas, impossible to distinguish who was who.

Her dorm key was in her backpack, so she’d have to get a spare from the administrator. If the backpack hadn’t been found, she’d have had to request a lock replacement.

Lock cores and keys those didn’t come cheap.

Now that her backpack was safe, Dong Yin relaxed. She unlocked her door, returned the spare key, then pulled out her phone to check the group chat.

In the group

Xie Mingjun: 【Did anyone see Dong Yin’s backpack?】

Chu Ning’an: 【No, what happened?】

Xie Mingjun: 【Check the car.】

Chu Ning’an: 【Still nothing. Maybe it’s at the barbecue stall?】

Chu Ning’an: [“We almost got busted for drunk driving just now. Damn it, that crayfish dish was soaked in beer. no wonder it smelled so good. Luckily Lu Hanqiu had the sense not to eat any. Don’t drive when you head back later. With this heavy rain, be careful.”]

Xie Mingjun didn’t reply after that.

No further messages appeared in the group chat.

Dong Yin read the texts several times carefully. Lu Hanqiu never mentioned her bag being in the car, Xie Mingjun had lied to her.

Just then, her roommates returned. They glanced at the open door, then at Dong Yin who had rushed back.

Ying Qiongxue frowned and asked loudly, “Why didn’t you close the door when you went out? Aren’t you worried about theft? The dorm next door reported missing money just days ago.”

Her voice echoed through the first-floor hallway, audible to everyone nearby.

Preoccupied with thoughts of her backpack, Dong Yin retorted, “I was standing right outside, and the dorm supervisor’s surveillance cameras are on. What could possibly get stolen?”

“Better safe than sorry. You can never be too careful,” Ying Qiongxue kicked the door shut and muttered under her breath. Normally Dong Yin would just listen meekly with her head bowed, stammering out an apology, but today’s rebuttal irritated her. She was itching to pick a fight.

Sometimes people’s pettiness knows no bounds, just one look at someone’s face can breed dislike, making them want to bully that person for their own satisfaction.

Now that Dong Yin had talked back, Ying Qiongxue felt particularly aggrieved.

She stormed into the room and began rummaging noisily through her belongings, as if determined to prove something had been stolen, even urging others to check their things too. The other roommates initially ignored her, but as her search dragged on, they grew uneasy and started organizing their own possessions.

Already anxious, Dong Yin grew more agitated when Ying Qiongxue claimed to have lost an expensive lipstick. Holding up her phone, Dong Yin said, “If it’s really missing, I’ll call campus security.”

Ying Qiongxue immediately fell silent.

“Keep looking then,” Dong Yin pressed. “See if anything else is gone.”

Ying Qiongxue clammed up completely.

As Dong Yin turned to retrieve an umbrella from her storage box, Ying Qiongxue snapped, “Alright, alright! It’s not that serious, nothing’s missing, okay?”

What Dong Yin really wanted was to go search for her backpack.

Strangely, she felt a perverse satisfaction at this small victory, having never won an argument before.

The other roommates intervened: “Just drop it. No need to involve the dorm supervisor. Ying Qiongxue’s all talk, if nothing’s missing, let it go. Listen to that thunder and lightning outside, just shower and get to bed.”

Indeed, the storm outside was terrifying, with relentless thunder and lightning. Too frightened to venture out now, Dong Yin decided to wait until the rain eased or the storm passed. Unfortunately, the downpour showed no signs of stopping.

Lying in bed, Dong Yin comforted herself:

It’s just a backpack.

I can always buy another one. Or use that cloth bag in my drawer. The books aren’t crucial anyway, I’ve already studied the material. I can replace them online or borrow from the library.

If I go early tomorrow, I might still find it. Besides, I won an argument against Ying Qiongxue, that’s something to celebrate.

The process was painful, like undergoing desensitization therapy. She had to keep reassuring herself, or else the thoughts would spiral into deeper pessimism.

She had slept late, and even her roommate leaving for class hadn’t woken her. It wasn’t until the door was banged loudly that she finally stirred.

Dong Yin climbed down from her bed and opened the door. Blinking sleepily, she saw Xie Mingjun standing there, her hair slightly damp and the legs of her black wide-leg pants wet from the rain.

Just looking at her, Dong Yin knew the rain hadn’t stopped yet.

At first, she was startled, wondering if she was still dreaming. Why would Xie Mingjun come knocking on her door again?

“Are you dumbstruck?” Xie Mingjun spoke, her voice slightly hoarse.

“No, no… Why are you here so early? Is something wrong… You, you can come in. My roommate’s in class.” Dong Yin opened the door wider to let her in.

But Xie Mingjun didn’t enter. She remained at the threshold, raising her hand to reveal a bag containing a backpack. “Lu Hanqiu asked me to bring this to you.”

Dong Yin’s throat suddenly felt tight as she stared at Xie Mingjun.

After waiting a few seconds with no response, Xie Mingjun impatiently tossed the backpack at her. Dong Yin caught it with both hands, hugging it tightly against her chest. It was heavy with books and notebooks inside.

Dong Yin let out a soft grunt. “Thank you.”

Her lost backpack had been returned?

Xie Mingjun had retrieved it for her?

Dong Yin studied Xie Mingjun carefully, but the other girl kept her eyes downcast, looking thoroughly annoyed and slightly pale. After a moment, she turned to leave.

Clutching the backpack, Dong Yin quickly rubbed her face and called out, “Wait for me! I’ll change quickly!”

She hurried back to change clothes and wash up, but by the time she rushed out, Xie Mingjun was already gone. Dong Yin sighed, blaming herself for waking up too late.

The morning rain continued relentlessly, showing no signs of letting up. The gloomy, ominous sky was whipped by gusts of wind that violently shook the nearby trees.

September was coming to an end, soon to usher in autumn’s chill. Following past patterns, this rain would likely continue without pause.

How could Xie Mingjun recover from her cold if it didn’t clear up soon?

Dong Yin checked her phone for group messages, but the chat was silent today. They only became active when everyone was too engrossed in gaming to switch groups. Now, it lay quiet.

Growing worried, Dong Yin suddenly thought of Zou Yuxi.

Yesterday, he had messaged her asking for help with work. He’d been filming content for his eager fans, and this rainy weather provided perfect material.

Dong Yin replied: [I just heard Xie Mingjun might have caught a cold. If you go take care of her now, it might improve your relationship.]

Zou Yuxi responded late probably still asleep. Dong Yin sent another text and called him on WeChat, determined to wake him up.

Three minutes later, a voice message arrived, his voice rough and groggy from sleep deprivation: “She’s sick huh… Well, I can’t go today. I still have footage to reshoot, and this rain is perfect for it. I’ll just order medicine delivery for her later.”

Dong Yin said, “That doesn’t seem right. Going in person would be better. Sending medicine feels insincere, almost worse than pretending not to know.”

After a long silence, he called back. Zou Yuxi sounded utterly exasperated, sighing repeatedly: “Ah, Dong Yin, I really don’t have time right now. Believe me, how should I even explain this to her…”

Of course, Dong Yin knew he didn’t have time. Even if he did, she wouldn’t have told him. Resting her chin on her hand, she tapped the table with her fingers and said, “Then… then I’ll go for you.”

“You?” Zou Yuxi was puzzled, barely mustering some energy. “Can you? It’s pouring outside, and she lives quite far.”

“Well, I still have my thesis and translations to finish…” Dong Yin paused, falling silent for a long moment. Zou Yuxi then said, “If it’s inconvenient for you, forget it. I don’t want to trouble you.”

Dong Yin asked, “Do you really want to make up with Xie Mingjun?”

Zou Yuxi said he didn’t, but deep down, he definitely did.

Dong Yin used to be oblivious, but now she was sensitive to such things. She hummed in acknowledgment. “I’ll bring my laptop along. I’ll go take care of her for you, and I’ll tell her you sent me.”

“Isn’t that… inappropriate? It’s such a waste of your time,” Zou Yuxi hesitated.

“It’s fine,” Dong Yin insisted. She really wanted to take care of Xie Mingjun so badly. Xie Mingjun must have caught a cold while helping her with her backpack.

Later, Zou Yuxi sent her the address.

Dong Yin hung up.

She checked the address on her phone map, it wasn’t too far, just one bus ride away. After changing her shoes and grabbing an umbrella, she headed out. At the door, she slung her backpack over her shoulder.

Dong Yin had deliberately adjusted the straps a little higher. Probably no one would notice, but today, her backpack looked slightly different.

Because Xie Mingjun had found it for her.

Whether others noticed or not didn’t matter. What mattered was that this was her own little joy, something she could proudly show off to the world.

The dark clouds and rain today were the only witnesses.

After getting off the bus, Dong Yin followed the address. At the residential gate, she needed an access card, but luck was on her side—an auntie struggling with groceries while holding a child happened to pass by. Dong Yin helped carry some things and entered the complex with her.

When she reached Xie Mingjun’s place, her heart pounded nervously. Taking a deep breath, she knocked. No answer. She pressed the doorbell.

This time, Xie Mingjun opened the door.

Gripping the handle, she frowned upon seeing Dong Yin.

Dong Yin greeted her first. “I’m here, Xie Mingjun.”

Xie Mingjun looked pale, dressed in a long gray sleepwear, clearly unwell. Her voice was hoarse as she asked, “Why are you here?”

“You seemed unwell this morning, so I came,” Dong Yin said nervously, fidgeting with her fingers. “Can I come in? I brought some medicine.”

Xie Mingjun glanced at the bag in her hand. Seizing the moment, Dong Yin edged her foot inside. After a brief standoff, Xie Mingjun opened the door wider, and Dong Yin slipped in with the bag.

Only after closing the door did Xie Mingjun think to ask, “How did you know where I live?”

Xie Mingjun’s home was elegantly furnished a three-bedroom, two-living-room space with a blanket draped over the sofa, suggesting she had been resting there.

Dong Yin stood on the doormat, hesitant to step onto the pristine floor. “Should I change into slippers?”

Xie Mingjun nudged a clean pair of green slippers toward her, the same style as her own, just a different color.

Dong Yin walked over and placed the medicine on the coffee table before answering the earlier question. “I asked Zou Yuxi.”

“Zou Yuxi?”

Dong Yin gave an acknowledging hum and said, “Zou Yuxi is truly despicable. I told him you were sick, yet he couldn’t be bothered to come take care of you too busy filming his own videos. How disgusting. You clearly mean nothing to him.”

“Luckily I remembered your address. I thought you lived far from campus, but I managed to find you.”

“Hmm, if it’s this close, why didn’t he come?”

Dong Yin muttered in confusion. She had genuinely assumed Xie Mingjun lived much farther away, but now that she knew how close it was, visiting her would be so much easier in the future.

Her back turned to Xie Mingjun, Dong Yin spoke with a faint blush on her cheeks. By the time she set her things down and glanced back, her expression had smoothed into something perfectly natural. “Thanks for bringing my bag today,” she said.

“You talk too much,” Xie Mingjun replied, leaning against the sofa with a blanket draped over her legs, clearly miserable from her illness.

Dong Yin still had so much more to say things like, “Your boyfriend is trash, unlike me, I actually want to take care of you,” or “Xie Mingjun, I’ll take good care of you, I’m way better than your boyfriend, right?”

After listening to her ramble for a while, Xie Mingjun finally said, “You’re annoying me.”

Dong Yin hummed in response.

Good. The more annoyed she got with Zou Yuxi, the more she’d like me.

Softly, she asked, “Xie Mingjun, what do you want to eat? Should I make you some congee? I’m really good at it.”

Xie Mingjun didn’t answer. She sat silently on the sofa before eventually lying back down. “Do whatever you want,” she said. “Just don’t bother me. My head hurts.”

Dong Yin nodded and fell quiet. She walked over, reaching out to touch Xie Mingjun’s forehead, then her own.

No fever.

Xie Mingjun ignored her, pretending not to notice, too tired to react.

Kneeling beside her, Dong Yin studied her sleeping face. Even with her eyes closed, her sharp edges hadn’t softened, her features still carried that cold, untouchable allure. The harder she was to reach, the more Dong Yin wanted to claim her.

The longer she stared, the stronger the urge grew.

She really wanted to kiss her.

If she stayed quiet,  would it be okay to steal just one kiss?