Chapter 73

The dinner on the first day of the Chinese New Year was especially sumptuous. However, the Yun parents knew that athletes could not simply eat pork outside, so they did not make any pork dishes. After dinner, the Yun parents told Yun Duo to take Tang Yi-Bai out and play.

"What shall we do?" Yun Duo asked Tang Yi-Bai.

"Anything is fine."

"Then, shall we go walk around at the Confucian temple lantern festival?"

"Okay."

Before they left, Mama Yun put a knitted red hat on her daughter and pushed the matching set of scarf and gloves to her as well. When Mama Yun saw that Tang Yi-Bai did not have any gloves, she then found him a pair of Papa Yun's sheepskin gloves to wear.

However, a professional swimmer's hands were typically a size or two larger than the average person's. Tang Yi-Bai could not use his future father-in-law's gloves at all.

Frankly, the cold of the North was essentially a magical attack — thick clothes could not keep it out, and wearing gloves was at most a psychological comfort. When it was cold, the cold would still be felt.

Thus armoured, Yun Duo left the house. The streets were brightly lit and thronged with people. They had barely left the house when Tang Yi-Bai claimed that his hands were cold. Yun Duo asked, "So what should we do?"

He hugged her from behind, circling his arms around her to stuff his hands into the pockets of her jacket. "This will do."

This pose... it felt like she had been kidnapped by him. She said, "How are we going to walk like this?"

"Just walk. We're one being."

... how childish!

Yun Duo moved forwards and Tang Yi-Bai stuck close, matching her footsteps. The hands he had stuck into her pockets were restless — they stroked her tummy through her clothes, rubbing twice before lightly scratching.

Yun Duo was tickled and burst into laughter. "Ahahahahaha! Tang Yi-Bai!"

Her shout didn't really matter, but when the people nearby heard "Tang Yi-Bai", they all turned over to look in their direction. When they then saw a tall man with handsome features wearing a face mask, they guessed that there was an 80% chance that this was Tang Yi-Bai. Thus, everyone went nuts and began running over, screaming as they ran, "Tang Yi-Bai!"

That was how powerful the celebrity effect was. Even if you were not a big fan of this particular person, you would still go along with the crowd to take a look, maybe get an autograph or a photo so you could go brag and show off to your friends and family.

Yun Duo was petrified, but Tang Yi-Bai decisively broke their pose and grabbed her hand. "Run!"

Run, run, run, run, run...

Tang Yi-Bai had long legs so his run was effortless, but it wasn't so easy for Yun Duo. The overall feel was like that of a sheepdog dragging a corgi along in its wake. The corgi did alright with the help of the sheepdog — they turned into an alley and very quickly left the mob behind.

Tang Yi-Bai's face mask had come off in the chase. When he saw Yun Duo's face, flushed from the exertion of running, he could not help but smile and flick her forehead with a finger.

Yun Duo rolled her eyes. "I've not settled things with you yet!"

"What do you want to settle with me? Fine, I'll let you touch me too," said Tang Yi-Bai, lifting his shirt up.

Yun Duo's eyes rolled about and she suddenly smirked. Child's play — let me give you a taste of my frozen claws! She reached into his clothes and placed her hands flat against his abdomen, and then she waited for him to spring away like a mouse sighting a cat. She was well acquainted with how a touch of a cold hand on skin in winter felt like.

However, Tang Yi-Bai only shivered a little and then he was immobile. He stared darkly at her, head bowed.

Yun Duo was a little surprised. "Are you not afraid of the cold? That's unscientific..." she said, doggedly scratching another two times.

Tang Yi-Bai sighed softly and then stared at her through narrowed eyes. "You rascal."

Aaaaaaaaah, she didn't mean it that way!

She must be brain-damaged, only thinking about having fun. She quickly drew her hands back, her face as red as a Chinese red egg. She hung her head and turned to run away.

Tang Yi-Bai chased after her and grabbed her hand. He held it tightly, not allowing her struggle and wrest free. His palm was hot, like a small stove, not cold at all.

He said, "But, I like it very much."

"Don't say anymore..." She wished she could find a hole to hide in.

Tang Yi-Bai shut up. However, his mind continued to mull over the wonderful feeling of her hands on his waist — a flame rose in his heart, unable to truly blaze yet also unable to be extinguished.

The Confucian temple lantern festival was by the Qinhuai River. It was an annual event which had already been held many times before... in any case, as far as Yun Duo could remember, there had always been the Confucian temple lantern festival every year. She and Tang Yi-Bai bought some snacks near the temple. Tang Yi-Bai had always been a shopaholic, wanting to buy everything he set his eyes on. Spiced beans, crab cakes, duck gizzards, xiaolongbao, balut, and also chocolate, melon seeds, walnuts, fruit juice, yogurt... the most frightening thing is that he would buy them but not eat them. He carried this large heap of things, passing whatever Yun Duo wanted to eat to her.

Yun Duo was rather speechless. "Why aren't you eating?"

"I don't like snacking."

Even though he did not like snacking, he was enjoying the process of feeding his girlfriend snacks. (@￣︶￣@)

There were many people by the river bank exploring the lantern festival, so many that they were pretty much walking shoulder-to-shoulder. Tang Yi-Bai said in surprise, "Is there always so many people every year?"

"You call this a lot? Wait till the Spring Lantern Festival and see. I can guarantee you'll come wearing shoes and leave barefoot."

"That bad?"

"Ab-so-lute-ly."

The two of them chatted, passing by a pier along their way. There were many leisure boats parked at the pier, some large some small. Tang Yi-Bai looked at the pretty boats drifting by on the river and asked Yun Duo, "Shall we rent one as well?"

Yun Duo looked at the light and shadow rippling across the surface of the water. The water must be cold and dark under its surface, deep and unfathomable, close to despair and death... a sense of unease creeped into her heart. She was a little afraid and unconsciously took a step back.

Tang Yi-Bai knew she was afraid of water. Seeing her like this, he found his heart aching. He hugged her close and patted her lightly on the shoulder, saying in a gentle voice, "Don't be afraid. I'm here. If you don't want to ride a boat, we won't."

But Yun Duo said, "I can't stay afraid of the water forever."

"What's wrong with that? Everyone has something they're afraid of," said Tang Yi-Bai. He saw that Yun Duo was still hesitating, as if trying to make some great decision. Understanding, he pulled her into his arms and said, "If you want to try, Duoduo, I'll accompany you. As long as I'm around, nothing will happen to you."

That's true, you're a professional...

Even in her nervousness, Yun Duo found the humour in it. She gritted her teeth. "Then let's try it."

Tang Yi-Bai rented a leisure boat. He knew Yun Duo's legs would go weak anytime she approached a large body of water, so he decided not to let her board the boat on her own. He removed his scarf and looped it around her eyes. He first passed the miscellaneous snacks they had bought to the dock worker, and then he carried Yun Duo on his back and boarded the boat. Yun Duo did not think he would be this considerate, this gentle. In the darkness, she leaned on his back, and her eyes felt a little wet. At that moment, she thought, 'Meeting such a man in this lifetime was definitely worth the fare.'

After getting on the boat, Tang Yi-Bai kept Yun Duo securely in his arms, and the two of them sat snuggled together at the bow.

And then, he took the scarf away from her face.

As soon as Yun Duo caught sight of the shimmering water, she felt dizzy. Almost instinctively, she tried to retreat, but his body was right behind her, hot and firm. He hugged her tightly and said softly by her ear, "No, don't be afraid. Duoduo, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"No!" Yun Duo's body was shaking — she felt that she was too close to that dark air of despair. She was so scared she was trembling, and as if she had lost her mind, she shook her head frantically, "No! ! !"

Tang Yi-Bai held onto her firmly to prevent her from moving too violently. He gentled his voice even further — his voice was so soft that it could cling to one's teeth. He said, "Duoduo, don't be afraid. You have always been a brave girl. You are braver than you think. Don't be afraid. I'll protect you. With me around, nothing can harm you. I'll protect you, I'll protect you forever. I love you, Duoduo..."

He could not help but blurt out this confession, and yet it felt so natural to say it, like water flowing into a channel, so natural that the two did not realise the weight of those three words at first. Yun Duo's heartbeat accelerated and her breathing became short. She clung desperately to his hands and cried out to him, voice wavering, "Tang Yi-Bai, Tang Yi-Bai..."

Tang Yi-Bai clasped her hand in return and comforted her, saying, "I'm here. I'm always here. With me around, water is nothing to be afraid of. Duoduo, what's really scary is the terror in your heart. Defeat it and you will overcome the water."

"I- I'm afraid."

"Don't be afraid. Believe me. With me around, even if you fall into the ocean, I will fish you out again. I'm a white streak among the waves, okay?"

Yun Duo giggled, but then the tears fell uncontrollably — pitter patter, the tears hit the back of his hands. Tang Yi-Bai cradled her face, lightly kissing away her tears. As he kissed her, he said, "Water is my domain, and my domain is your domain. As long as I'm around, water will not be able to harm you at all."

Yun Duo cried even harder.

Tang Yi-Bai could feel her trembling still. He was worried that she would fall sick if this continued, so he wanted to carry her into the cabin.

However, Yun Duo insisted on staying at the bow. Tang Yi-Bai was right — her fear came from within. If she wanted to overcome it, she would first have to face it.

What kind of feeling was this? Before her was her worst trauma, while behind her was her warmest support. She was caught in a tug-of-war between warmth and terror — although her face had turned white from the fear, she never closed her eyes to try and hide. Finally, when their boat reached the shore, she was unaware of her own condition. She felt like she had been through an emotional baptism and she was completely exhausted. Her body may be weaker now, but she was not as afraid as before.

She even thought to get off the boat herself, but she almost fell down when she tried to stand up.

—— Fear was an especially draining emotion; her legs had become weak from the fear.

In the end, it was still Tang Yi-Bai who carried her back onto the shore. He did not set her down after they were back on land but continued to walk with her on his back. Yun Duo laid on his back, her nose clogged and itchy, suddenly feeling like crying again. Tears in her voice, she said, "Tang Yi-Bai, why are you so good to me?"

Tang Yi-Bai said, "I don't want to see you unhappy. When I see you sad, it feels a hundred times worse than me being sad. Do something charitable, will you? Smile for me, please."

Yun Duo was tickled into a laugh. She punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You and your sweet tongue again."

Tang Yi-Bai grumbled a little plaintively, "You keep saying that I'm good at coaxing women with my sweet tongue. But I've always just been telling you the truth..."

---

Previous: Chapter 72
Next: Chapter 74

Back to Index