A Heavy Heart and a Warm Coat

Yu Qingkong’s hand was pressed firmly against her back, her grip strong. Through the layers of clothing, Lin Wanzhao could hear the frantic, rhythmic thumping of Yu Qingkong’s heart. It beat so wildly it felt as if it might burst right out of her chest.

“Yu Qingkong?” Lin Wanzhao breathed, stunned. She lifted her head to stare at the other woman.

“Can you please pay more attention to your own safety? What were you doing just standing in the middle of the road? Don’t you know how to look for cars…?” Yu Qingkong’s words came out in a rush, her brow furrowed in a deep, angry scowl as she scolded her.

The shock of the near-miss had completely sobered Lin Wanzhao up, but now she was just dazed. “I…”

She tried again, her voice smaller. “Don’t be mad. You probably don’t know what happened—it’s not like I stood there on purpose. That woman was up to no good. We were pushing each other back and forth, and I just… ended up out there…”

Yu Qingkong froze for a second, then lowered her head. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just…”

“I know,” Lin Wanzhao nodded softly.

“Mhm…” Yu Qingkong nodded back.

“Qingkong,” Lin Wanzhao looked up, her eyes searching. “Are you… acting like this because you’re worried about me?”

Yu Qingkong pursed her lips and looked away, dodging the question entirely. After a moment, she looked back. “Are you hurt anywhere? Did you trip or scrape anything?”

“No,” Lin Wanzhao shook her head, extending her arms. “See? Perfectly fine.”

“That’s good.” Yu Qingkong let out a long, slow sigh of relief. “Earlier at the convenience store, I saw her with her girlfriend. I thought about it and decided to come back. For a famous person to cheat so openly without being caught, she must be good at putting up a front. She seemed too practiced at it. I think… it’s better if you stay far away from her, CEO Lin.”

Yu Qingkong glanced over toward the restaurant, but the woman had vanished into the night.

“So, you hurried back just because of that?” Lin Wanzhao asked.

“Mhm,” Yu Qingkong nodded. “Yes. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have…”

“In short, you hurried back because you were worried about me, right?” Lin Wanzhao repeated the question, her voice insistent.

Yu Qingkong stared at the ground for a long beat. Finally, she nodded. “I was worried.”

In that instant, Lin Wanzhao’s heart bloomed with joy. Everything else—whether Yu Qingkong “liked” her or not—suddenly felt insignificant. If she was worried, it meant she had weight in Yu Qingkong’s heart. It meant she cared.

“I’m happy,” Lin Wanzhao said.

“Happy about what?”

“If you don’t get it, forget it.” Lin Wanzhao smiled.

The more she thought about it, the happier she became, the previous gloom completely swept away. She reached out and gave Yu Qingkong’s shoulder a playful nudge. “But honestly, you dummy, why did you have to drive all the way back? You could have just called me and told me she was a bad person. I would have left immediately!”

“Because… I wasn’t 100% sure the person I saw in the store was the same person in your photos. I didn’t want to falsely accuse someone, so I wanted to see for myself.” Yu Qingkong felt a twinge of guilt as she said this.

Truthfully, “saving her from a scumbag” was only half the reason. Even before she knew the writer was a cheater, she had been agonizing over whether to come back, struggling between the urge to see her and the urge to stay away.

“Oh…” Lin Wanzhao nodded, then spoke again. “Speaking of which, why did you just lunged out like that? Weren’t you afraid for yourself? It was so dangerous. You could have…”

“I was just afraid of something happening to you. In that moment, how could I think about anything else?” Yu Qingkong replied without thinking.

As soon as the words left her mouth, she noticed Lin Wanzhao staring at her with her head tilted. Yu Qingkong stopped abruptly and jerked her head to the side.

Then, she heard Lin Wanzhao whisper, “So this is what it feels like to be cherished.”

“What?”

“It’s a wonderful feeling.” Lin Wanzhao’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“Um, I’m hungry… I didn’t eat dinner. I’m going to buy something over there.” Yu Qingkong didn’t dare look at her longer. She pointed toward a fried chicken shop to change the subject.

“Then let’s go!” Without another word, Lin Wanzhao turned and began jogging toward the shop.

“You’re wearing heels! Slow down!” Yu Qingkong called out, following her.

“That last time I sprained my ankle, it was the shoe’s fault! Don’t worry, I could climb the Great Wall in these heels. I’ve got skills!” Lin Wanzhao stopped in the queue and turned back to flash her a brilliant smile.

Yu Qingkong shook her head, but a smile touched her own lips as she stood behind her in line.

“What do you want?” When it was their turn, Lin Wanzhao turned to her.

“Honey mustard wings. And… let’s skip the cola, it’s too cold. Milk tea.”

“Got it.” Lin Wanzhao turned back to the clerk like a human megaphone and repeated the order.

********************************************

A few minutes later, clutching their food and drinks, the two walked along the street.

The temperature had truly plummeted. Everyone’s breath hung in the air in faint white puffs. Despite the neon lights and the bustling crowds, the chill was undeniable.

“It’s freezing…” Lin Wanzhao rubbed her hands together while holding the bags.

Yu Qingkong glanced at Lin’s black coat. The fabric was so thin it looked more like a spring trench coat—useless against the winter wind.

“If you’re so cold, why did you wear something so thin?”

“Because the style is beautiful…” Lin Wanzhao gripped her lapels and pulled them wide for a second, arching an eyebrow. “Don’t I look like a cool, heartless, super-handsome badass?”

The moment she did it, a gust of icy wind rushed into her chest. Lin Wanzhao shuddered violently, wrapped the coat tight again, and started shivering so hard her legs were practically vibrating.

Yu Qingkong sighed, took off her own heavy grey overcoat, and held it out. “Alright, ‘Badass,’ let’s swap. Mine isn’t as expensive as yours, but it’s definitely warmer.”

Lin Wanzhao stared at the thick coat in Yu Qingkong’s hands, momentarily stunned. She had always thought scenes like this only happened on TV. She never expected Yu Qingkong to do it.

However, after a second, she shook her head. “No, you put it back on. What if you catch a cold? Weren’t you sickly as a kid?”

“That was when I was little. I’ve caught up now. I’m actually prone to feeling hot, not cold. Put it on.” Yu Qingkong shook the coat at her. It was true—she generally ran hot and didn’t fear the cold much.

“Really?” Lin Wanzhao looked skeptical.

“Really. What are you worried about?” Yu Qingkong took the food from her hands. “Take it off.”

Looking into Yu Qingkong’s eyes, Lin Wanzhao felt a force she couldn’t refuse. She gave a small “Oh” and handed over her thin coat, taking the heavy one in return.

Though it wasn’t a luxury brand, it was a solid name, and more importantly, it was still warm from Yu Qingkong’s body heat. Lin Wanzhao bit her lip and threw it over her shoulders. Immediately, the chill vanished.

“Buttons. Do them up,” Yu Qingkong instructed while slipping into Lin’s thin black coat.

Lin Wanzhao obediently buttoned herself up. Fully bundled, she felt like a giant loaf of bread. Looking at Yu Qingkong, she thought the other woman now actually did look like a hitman in the thin black jacket.

“Still cold?”

“Just my hands,” Lin Wanzhao said, tucking them into the pockets. “It’s fine, I’ll just keep them tucked in.”

Yu Qingkong nodded, then poked a straw through the seal of the milk tea and handed it to her. “Hold this. Sip it, and use it as a hand warmer.”

Lin Wanzhao stared at Yu Qingkong’s long, slender fingers holding the tea. She took it and had a sip, then suddenly remembered something. “Wait! I’ll go buy one for you too!”

She turned and ran toward a nearby milk tea stand.

Yu Qingkong watched her go, shaking her head. It’s good she’s still so energetic. If I hadn’t happened to see her, she might not even be alive right now, let alone drinking milk tea. She’d be waiting for a bowl of Meng Po’s soup of forgetfulness.

The thought gave her pause. Why am I so worried about this person?

A moment later, Lin Wanzhao came back with another cup and shoved it into Yu Qingkong’s hand. “Here, your hand warmer.”

Yu Qingkong looked at the tea and smiled. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it.” Lin Wanzhao took another sip and tilted her head at her. “Do you want to go home or walk a bit more?”

“I’d like to walk.”

“Then let’s walk around the mall up ahead.”

“Mhm,” Lin Wanzhao smiled.

The two of them walked side-by-side. They were quiet, but Lin Wanzhao loved the feeling. Just being next to Yu Qingkong made her feel at ease, though she couldn’t explain the science behind it.

However, after a while, the sharp beep of an electric scooter came from behind. Lin Wanzhao froze instinctively. “Car!” she gasped, her face going pale. The near-miss from earlier had clearly left its mark.

Suddenly, her wrist was grasped by Yu Qingkong.

“Come here,” Yu Qingkong said softly, pulling her to the side.

Lin Wanzhao stumbled slightly, her body accidentally pressing close to Yu Qingkong’s.

“It’s okay. It’s gone,” Yu Qingkong said, watching the scooter pass.

The proximity was intense. Lin Wanzhao could feel the heat radiating from her, hear her low, pleasant voice. Her heart, like the world coming back to life in spring, began to beat with a steady, rhythmic thrum.

Looking into Yu Qingkong’s eyes, Lin Wanzhao felt a sudden greed for her touch. She didn’t want her to let go.

So, as Yu Qingkong prepared to release her, Lin Wanzhao reached out and caught her hand instead.

Feeling her hand held by that soft, slightly cool palm, Yu Qingkong’s spine went momentarily rigid.