Yinhaie's Worries

Yinhaie's steps created a soft echo as she moved over the threshold, a constant beat of worry and anticipation. She paused between the kitchen and the dining area, her vision drawn to the clock each moment. Jingliu Yang, the person under her care from childhood, hadn't come back. Anxiety grew stronger, impacting her control.

'Where is she?' she thought, the question repeating with each tap of her fingers against her thigh. Time expanded, pulling at her nerves. She wanted the wait to end, but she knew time worked at its own rate.

A staff member tried to ease her concerns, suggesting a reason that felt temporary, yet it offered some comfort. "Don't worry, Yinhaie. Maybe she's having a good time with her friend. You were the one who wanted them to form that bond, after all." The staff member smiled gently, hoping to give some relief to her worry.

Yinhaie stopped, thinking about the meaning in their words. Yes, she had encouraged Yasushi to be that close confidant, that important friend for Jingliu. That should have been a thing that helped her. But the lack of any communication, the complete silence, stayed, adding to her uneasiness. The lack of contact felt wrong and she felt it deep inside of her, a worrying feeling.

Yinhaie's fingers moved quickly on the screen, displaying both eagerness and relief. But before she sent a message, a notification broke the silence, showing the exact words she'd hoped to see.

"I'm out with Yasushi right now, we got some food. I'll have them later, but I'll come home soon. Don't be concerned. We're going to see the Guardian of Silver monument." The text seemed to float in front of her, a connection bringing Yinhaie back to a state of calmness.

She stared at the message, as if those words held the answers to all of her questions. Other people saw her, showing interest, wondering if her vision would pop.

"I'm going," she said suddenly, putting her phone away quickly. She left the room without a word or a pause, leaving her coworkers surprised and confused.

"Wait, what!? Yinhaie!" They called out, in a mix of confusion, as they witnessed her disappear, likely getting ready for the cold of the snowy area outside. They wondered what prompted her to leave without any explanation, which made them more confused.

+-+

They started their quick walk to the large monument, passing by various shops. Yasushi, acting as their guide, took them to a certain shop, a place he felt special for Jingliu's liking.

"Thank you for coming by," said the shop worker as they stepped outside into the cold.

The cold air made Jingliu shiver, showing how cold Ginsukimura really was. She laughed quietly, her breath appearing in the cold air. "I thought I had gotten used to the cold, but this is something else," she stated, her words disappearing into the cold atmosphere. "Should we—"

Before she could finish talking, a scarf was wrapped around her neck, a surprise action from Yasushi. Jingliu was shocked, her eyes going wide, looking at him. She didn't expect that, making her heart feel strange. The action gave her a warm feeling she wasn't expecting and made her think of more things.

He breathed out, making a small puff of warmth appear in the cold air. "I have a thick jacket, so that scarf was maybe too much. But anyway, let's continue. It's just a short walk from here." He started moving, with Jingliu following him, the first shock fading into the feeling of their walk.

In the dark background, someone stood alone, hands clenched tightly with anticipation — it was Yinhaie. She had quickly followed their route, observing from a distance. She watched their tender interaction, which made her feel hopeful and warm.

At that moment, she started to believe in them, that they could become more than just companions.

"May good luck be with you... I wish for something more than a friendship, Lady Jingliu," she whispered, her voice soft, filled with intense feelings. The words felt personal to her and were full of emotion, though she tried to keep it down.

Because of this new excitement, Yinhaie followed them carefully, even though her way of acting got other people's interest. Some people found her behavior strange, making them think of telling security about this mysterious person. The weird behavior was confusing to people as she moved.

+-+

They reached the monument, a grand figure that was around thirty feet high. The sculpture was of a woman, in a long kimono, holding a sphere up towards the sky, and a small crown sat on her head.

On a sign nearby, words were written: "The representation of the Guardian of Silver, created by Mayor Kaito."

Jingliu moved closer, her focus locked on the large, yet gentle figure. She held the scarf tighter, using it as a physical anchor against the cold. "So this is the goddess? The Guardian of Silver... What's her name? It does not say it here..." Her question was quiet, her voice filled with wonder.

Yasushi nodded, ready to share the information. "She's been called different things over time, but the most common one is Hakufubuki. It means something close to 'The Blowing White Snowstorm.' She is known as either Lady or Goddess Hakufubuki." His words hung in the air, demonstrating his respect for this mysterious woman. Yasushi gave a bit more background information that he found interesting.

"Goddess Hakufubuki..." Jingliu said quietly, her vision fixed on the statue's seeming otherworldly presence. Several moments passed as they stood in quiet thought, with Yasushi also showing his respect for the snow goddess.

After the silence, Jingliu spoke, breaking the quiet. "Do you know of the snow goddess from Chinese stories?"

Yasushi shook his head, his face showing a mix of interest and uncertainty. "Not much. Chinese stories are complicated, often unclear or not remembered over time. Even the internet doesn't have a lot of details." He admitted that he had no idea about what she was talking about.

Turning completely to him, Jingliu's red eyes looked at his, glowing with a unique energy. They had a shine to them, as if they held some deep secret. "My name, it's somehow connected to her. Tengliu. She's the snow goddess in Chinese stories, who started during the Tang dynasty. Then she grew to become a big cultural figure in the Ming dynasty, from the base of the Song dynasty." Her words told a story of ancient history, connecting myth and the real world.

"Liu is a very common name in China, right? And 'Jing' can mean quiet or calm, while 'Yang' means poplar or willow," Yasushi said, looking at Jingliu's surprised expression. He was just making a casual comment, but it had an effect on her.

"You knew that?" Jingliu's voice trembled a little, with a mix of shock and curiosity in her tone. She couldn't believe he knew those things about her name.

"Hmm," Yasushi stated thoughtfully, his tone relaxed. "I have a strange thing I do, looking up the meanings of people's names, even classmates. It's something I'm interested in, I guess. I wonder if our parents picked those names for a reason, something maybe more realistic than symbolic. But I like trying to understand these small things." He revealed that he did this kind of research often.

"…you're such a weird person," Jingliu said jokingly, a genuine smile appearing. She changed her focus as she saw Yinhaie coming closer. "Let's finish up for today, Yasushi. Thanks for spending the time with me after school." She was ready to go home now, and was thankful for his company.

He nodded as he noticed Yinhaie, before looking back at Jingliu. "It was fun. See you tomorrow," he said to her as he left. He was polite to both of them.

Jingliu nodded back, then she lightly poked Yasushi's side as she walked by, going to where Yinhaie was waiting for her. Yasushi watched them as they walked away, their bodies becoming smaller as they got into a vehicle. They drove away and vanished from his sight.

Yasushi paused for a moment, looking at the car as it left, then he looked back at the large statue. "Goddess, huh?" he mumbled to himself, showing a bit of doubt and interest at the same time. "Well, I know that some things are not natural, even if I don't know why they are here. I mean, I've actually gone through being reborn before..." His words faded into the quiet, leaving a feeling of confused wonder. It was a bit of a strange thing to say out loud.

He looked at the monument one last time, before he turned around and went back home, with his thoughts all mixed up as the day faded to night. It seemed like a lot happened that day and he was thinking about it all.

+-+

In the car, Yinhaie was driving them back home, while Jingliu sat next to her, lost in thought, looking at her lap where a bag of food sat unopened. Her thoughts were not about the food, though, they were still focused on the time she had with Yasushi before they separated.

"Is something bothering you, Lady Jingliu?" Yinhaie asked, glancing at Jingliu while they stopped at a traffic light. She noticed that Jingliu was quiet and wanted to know if anything was wrong.

Jingliu said nothing for a little, still looking at the bag in front of her. Finally, she spoke, her voice sounding unsure. "Do you think my grandmother was right? Or maybe… things will finally change for the better this time?" She was questioning things that had happened to her in the past.

Yinhaie's mouth tightened in annoyance as Jingliu mentioned her grandparents. "…What happens next is up to you. Sorry for saying this, but what your grandparents said does not matter. All that truly matters is that you are happy eventually." Her words, even though they were direct, had a force of strong belief, reminding her that she controlled her own future. She wanted Jingliu to make decisions for herself.

Jingliu closed her eyes for a moment, her hand going up to the scarf that was around her neck. She held it close to her face, breathing in deeply, a soft smile appearing on her lips. 'It smells like his smell,' she thought, enjoying the comforting feeling it gave her, something that felt more than just a scarf.

As she enjoyed the feeling, she opened her eyes, looking out at the things passing by. "…I don't know all the answers now, but I will try one more time. Maybe this time, the end result won't be… bad," she said softly, her voice a bit nervous. She seemed to be talking more to herself than to anyone else.

Yinhaie replied, her voice calm and knowing. "I think Yasushi is trustworthy, even though he has his own secrets. For now, focus on making your friendship and understanding with Yasushi better, Lady Jingliu. When you and your staff that travels with you have reached an agreement, then you can take another step forward." Her words gave some advice, telling her to be patient and make a good plan.

It seemed odd to Jingliu that Yinhaie would call someone "Lord" when it wasn't her father or other important people. This small thing, though important, made her understand that Yinhaie had a high opinion of Yasushi, so Jingliu felt it was a good idea to listen to her advice. She felt like it could be helpful in the long run.

"I understand. I'll do that," Jingliu agreed as they arrived at their house. She quickly went into her usual way of doing things — eating dinner, taking a shower, and then going to bed. She didn't want to waste any more time.

While she did these normal tasks, she held Yasushi's scarf close, finding comfort in it. She held it gently, and thought about him until sleep slowly took her, his name going through her head as she fell asleep. She was already starting to form a connection to him.