Chapter Four: Winter Sonata: Whispers via WeChat

On the first day of winter break, Yu Ziyan dragged her suitcase through her front door, feeling an inexplicable emptiness. In the past, Zhang Leyu would always be by her side, helping with her luggage and chatting happily along the way. But now, separated by the break, the loneliness of being apart crept into her heart like the biting winter wind outside.

As soon as she put down her suitcase, Yu Ziyan couldn’t wait to pick up her phone and open the chat window with Zhang Leyu. "Babe, I'm home. Without you here, the house feels so cold and lonely." No sooner had she sent the message than she began staring fixedly at the screen, her fingers tracing the glass unconsciously, filled with anticipation for a reply.

At that moment, Zhang Leyu was busy helping her parents organize New Year's goods, her phone buzzing incessantly. Seeing Yu Ziyan's message, her lips curled into an involuntary, doting smile. But then, a barrage of messages followed: "What are you doing?" "Why aren't you replying?" "Do you not miss me anymore?" Zhang Leyu shook her head helplessly, muttering to herself, "This little one, she never gives me a moment's peace." Despite her words, her eyes were brimming with love.

Zhang Leyu set aside what she was doing and quickly replied, "Darling, I'm helping my parents with the New Year preparations. Don't be silly, be good." But Yu Ziyan wouldn't let it go, continuing to act spoiled: "No, you're not keeping me company. I don't care, you have to talk to me right now."

Looking at these messages, Zhang Leyu could picture Yu Ziyan pouting with a grievance-filled face, and her heart softened. She walked to a quiet corner and initiated a video call. The moment the connection was made, Yu Ziyan’s adorable face appeared on the screen, her eyes sparkling with surprise.

"Satisfied now, little ancestor?" Zhang Leyu asked, feigning impatience. Yu Ziyan giggled in response: "Hee hee, that's better. Look, I just learned a new dish today; I'll make it for you when school starts." As she spoke, she carried her phone around the kitchen, showing off the ingredients and chattering away about the details of the recipe. Zhang Leyu watched the animated girl on her screen with deep tenderness, interjecting now and then, which sent Yu Ziyan into peals of laughter.

On the evening of January 9th, Yu Ziyan sent "Hello" to Zhang Leyu. Zhang Leyu replied, "I'm good." Yu Ziyan sent "Hello" again, and Zhang Leyu said, "I'm very good." When Yu Ziyan sent "Hello" a third time, Zhang Leyu retorted, "I'm going to kill you." They even posted the chat log in their dorm group, where their friends mocked them for being too mushy and forcing them to eat "dog food." Everyone laughed heartily, long since accustomed to their clingy ways.

From then on, every morning when Yu Ziyan opened her eyes, the first thing she did was message Zhang Leyu: "Good morning, my big baby, I missed you, missed you, missed you so much today." She would attach a selfie of herself just waking up, looking bleary-eyed. Zhang Leyu would always reply, "You little sleepyhead, the sun is already high," while smiling and saving the photo.

In the evenings, the two would have their scheduled video call. Yu Ziyan would share the day's trivialities—how the cat knocked over a vase, or a funny joke she saw online. Zhang Leyu would tell her about her own day, the small challenges at work, or gatherings with friends. Sometimes, they would bicker over trifles.

Once, Yu Ziyan saw photos of a couple traveling together online and pestered Zhang Leyu, saying, "Let's go on a trip next break. Let's go to the seaside and watch the sunrise and sunset." Zhang Leyu replied, "Darling, traveling is exhausting, and it’s so crowded during the holidays. Let's find a time when it’s less busy, okay?" Yu Ziyan was displeased, her lower lip pouting: "You just don't want to go with me, hmph!" With that, she hung up the video call.

Zhang Leyu looked at the disconnected screen and sighed helplessly. Knowing Yu Ziyan was just throwing a small tantrum, she quickly sent a message to coax her: "Darling, I'm sorry. I really want to travel with you—to the beach, or anywhere you want to go. Don't be angry, okay? You won't be pretty if you stay mad." She also spent time looking up seaside travel guides and beautiful homestay photos to send to Yu Ziyan.

Before long, Yu Ziyan replied: "Fine, I'll forgive you this time since you're being so sincere. But you have to promise me we'll go next break." She added a cute smiley face. Zhang Leyu’s heart settled, and she replied, "Okay, we definitely will. I promise."

And so, through the back-and-forth of WeChat messages and video calls, the days of winter break slipped by. Though they were physically separated, their love grew deeper. Every message and every call was like a ray of winter sunshine, warming each other's hearts and making their bond all the more resilient in the face of distance.