Unexpected Journey to Donglin City

Outside Xinshi Station…

Inside the crowded waiting room, Lin Yi idly fiddled with his suitcase. Today marked the day they were returning home, the train tickets having been purchased by Lin Yiting days ago, perfectly timed.

They had arrived significantly earlier than anticipated, and the train was still some time away from pulling into the station. Bored, Lin Yi picked up the cat carrier.

He wanted to play with the kittens.

However, the kittens ignored him completely, still fast asleep.

Lin Yi tapped the cat carrier, his amber eyes gazing into the dim interior.

“Hey, wake up. How can you sleep so much at your age?”

Meow!

As if refuting Lin Yi, the lazy kitten let out a disgruntled meow. Then, it turned its back to him, showing only its rear and tail.

Its disdainful posture ignited a spark of irritation in Lin Yi. Just as he was about to lecture the kitten, an announcement suddenly echoed overhead.

“The XXX train from Xinshi to Dongxing City is about to enter the station. Please…”

“Let’s go, Lin Yi. The train’s here.”

“Oh, right, I’m coming.”

Many people were on the train, most of them young faces. He guessed they were students, just like him, returning from out of town.

Lin Yi’s gaze lingered on them for only a few seconds before shifting to the scenery outside the window.

By then, the train was already moving slowly. The landscape outside began to change gradually, and before long, they had left the station behind.

“Xiao Lin, have something to eat. We’ll be on this train for over ten hours,” Lin Yiting said, poking Lin Yi’s shoulder and handing him a canned drink.

“Hmm.”

Lin Yi took the can and drank a couple of sips, only then noticing a faint lipstick stain on the rim.

‘Sister, you didn’t drink from this, did you?’

Lin Yiting, who had been engrossed in her phone, looked up.

“What’s wrong? Xiao Lin has grown up and started to dislike his sister?”

“No, no!”

Lin Yi quickly waved his hands, a blush rising on his cheeks. His lips had just touched the exact spot where the lipstick mark was, an indirect kiss.

Rarely had Lin Yiting worn makeup today, yet it made her already flawless face even more captivating and beautiful.

For a moment, Lin Yi stared, lost in a daze.

This level of light makeup was infinitely more appealing than heavily painted faces. She truly resembled a fairy who had just descended to the mortal realm.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face, that you’re staring at me like that?”

“No, nothing…”

Realizing his lapse, Lin Yi’s face flushed even deeper. He suppressed the flutter in his heart and turned his gaze back to the passing scenery outside the window.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I think, Xiao Lin, you should find a girlfriend. Staring at your sister all the time won’t do.”

Lin Yiting patted Lin Yi’s shoulder, feigning a serious expression as she whispered in his ear.

“Sis, let’s not talk about that…”

Lin Yi shook his head frantically. He already had a yandere beside him; for her to tell him to find a girlfriend now was practically asking for death.

Seeing his reaction, Lin Yiting decided not to press the issue and returned to playing on her phone.

The towering skyscrapers outside gradually gave way to lower buildings. The scenery that had been obscured by the high-rises now began to reveal itself.

Lin Yi watched for a while, finding it dull. He pulled out his phone, sent a message to Li Yan, and then logged into a game.

Time passed quickly in the game, and Lin Yi lost track of how long he’d been playing. When he looked up at the window again, the world outside was a pristine white.

The view outside the train window was now completely dark, the stark white ground creating a powerful contrast with the night. Xinshi, by its geographical location, never experienced snow. Yet, everything Lin Yi saw now was undeniably real. The city of Xinshi had given way to vast expanses of snow, a clear sign that he was moving further and further away from it.

After playing for so long, Lin Yi’s eyes ached, and he felt a wave of mental exhaustion. He closed his eyes, leaning back against the seat, intending to take a short nap.

Falling into a deep sleep, Lin Yi’s consciousness drifted through a jumble of dreams. He couldn’t recall the specifics, but when he awoke, the train had already stopped at a station.

“Huh? We’ve arrived?”

Lin Yi mumbled, rubbing his eyes and checking the time. It was already past eight in the evening; they had been traveling for a full twelve hours.

It was quite a long journey; this was Lin Yi’s first experience of spending an entire day on a train.

“Yes, we’re here. Let’s go home.” Lin Yiting gathered their belongings, then pulled Lin Yi and the luggage out of the carriage.

****

Compared to the bustling metropolis, Donglin City was much quieter. Even during the holiday season, there were only a handful of pedestrians at the train station. Most of the people inside the station were those who had just disembarked with Lin Yi.

Stepping out of the train station with their luggage, the cold wind that greeted them made Lin Yi shiver involuntarily.

The temperature here was significantly lower than in Xinshi, and everything around them was blanketed in white. The streets were covered in thick snow, and hardly a single car could be seen passing by.

“Why is the temperature so much lower this year than in previous years?” Lin Yiting’s voice, tinged with confusion, came from behind him. She pulled a coat from her suitcase and draped it over Lin Yi.

Feeling the warmth on his back, Lin Yi quickly wrapped himself tighter in the coat and picked up a suitcase.

“Sister, there isn’t a single car on this road. How are we going to get back?”

Lin Yiting surveyed their surroundings. Indeed, there were no taxis, and not even a public bus in sight. There was nothing for it; Donglin City’s economic development couldn’t compare to Xinshi’s, and its infrastructure was far inferior. Coupled with the severe weather, virtually no one was venturing out at this time.

“Let’s find somewhere warm first. I’ll see if I can call a ride-hailing car.”

“Mm… mm.”

Carrying their bags, the two of them found the nearest milk tea shop. There weren’t many people inside; most of the tables were empty, with only two or three students seated near the cashier.

“Two regular milk teas, please. Thank you.”

Lin Yiting ordered their drinks at the counter, while Lin Yi chose a spot near the air conditioner.

Before long, the milk teas were ready. Lin Yi took the steaming hot drink and cautiously took a sip.

He frowned, swirling the plastic cup. The milk tea tasted peculiar; the milk flavor was very faint, and it tasted more like sugar water. He took only one sip before setting the milk tea aside on the table.

Lin Yiting’s reaction mirrored Lin Yi’s; she had never tasted such awful milk tea. The scarcity of customers in the shop clearly had a reason.

“Never mind, let’s just make do and warm ourselves up.” With a helpless sigh, Lin Yiting took out her phone to call a ride-hailing car.

While waiting, Lin Yi’s gaze inadvertently fell upon the high school students. There was one boy and two girls. The boy had a large backpack, bulging with unknown contents. The two girls were one tall and one short, the taller one around 173cm, and the shorter one over 160cm. They seemed to be having a lively conversation, likely classmates.

Notably, the shorter girl had dark purple hair. It was especially noticeable when light hit it, though in darker areas, it looked almost black. It didn’t appear to be dyed; it seemed to be her natural hair color.

Looking at the girl’s back, Lin Yi remembered a female lead from the original novel. Her hair color was also dark purple, and her eye color was similar to Xu Wei’s.

Just then, the girl turned her head without warning, and her pale green eyes met Lin Yi’s.

Lin Yi: ‘Holy sh*t!’