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I really can't understand. She asked Lin Yiyang: "Is it because I am using a domestic phone number? Is it harder to connect?"

"Just sit down here, it will take three stops to get there," he leaned against the wall, glanced at his watch, and offered a friendly suggestion, "We can go first, then continue taking the subway."

Once you arrive, do not waste words

That day when I walked in, your younger brother spoke to me, and I initially thought he was a scammer. Later, when I saw the cue stick placed on the box, I felt relieved. Wu Wei smiled as he recounted that night during the snowstorm, saying, "At first, I thought the cue stick belonged to your brother, but I didn't expect it to be yours"

She exhaled and put away her phone

"It was a collision in the ball room," he said

He paused for a moment, and Yin Guo was still waiting

He is indeed correct in what he said

Wu Wei enthusiastically invited, stating that the apartment he rented is a three-bedroom unit, of which two rooms are occupied by a pair of sisters who are moving out this month. He can help inquire with the landlord if Yin Guo could rent it short-term for a while. This arrangement has two advantages: first, it saves money in the current stage, and second, if Yin Guo's cousin receives an offer from New York University, it would be a good option to rent it directly.

Is it too late? she hesitated

As she entered the subway station, it reminded her of something more urgent; she had been too anxious when she just got on the subway and had not sent the WeChat message she had prepared.

No air conditioning, no electronic display, and I don't know how good the cabin speaker is

An unexpected answer

Immediately after, he swiped again and entered the station himself

Yin Guo immediately agreed

It is still manageable, and I can persevere

As they still had to continue their journey, they did not chat further and quickly finished their noodles

The two individuals exchanged a couple of sentences, clarifying the future developments, just as Yin Guo happened to return

I did not pay close attention that day, nor did I look at your privacy she explained

Yin Guo and he met for the second time. After greeting each other amicably, he put down his bag and went to the restroom first

His hand, which was gripping the rope, was exposed. Yin Guo saw it and was reminded of his right hand when he held the cue stick

Indeed, it is similar to my cousin

The entire train carriage contained only her and Lin Yiyang, with two rows of empty orange seats waiting for them, allowing them to sit anywhere they pleased. Yin Guo pointed to a seat, and seeing that Lin Yiyang had no objections, she sat down next to the door

After she finished speaking, it was his turn

On the screen, there is her failed WeChat message.

Prime location, convenient transportation, ready-to-move-in house

I have nothing left either," she said with a helpless smile

Lin Yiyang was pulling up his hat to shield himself from the cold wind. In the distance, there were the lights of a gas station, and to his left was a wall by the roadside. Gradually, the figures disappeared into the swirling snow, likely having just exited the subway.

Reaching the inn should not pose much of a problem

"Follow me," Lin Yiyang said from behind, "the car has arrived"

Lin Yiyang took off his winter coat and draped it over the back of a chair. He waved and greeted his boss, and after a brief and friendly conversation in Japanese, he first ordered sake

Lin Yiyang's taciturn temperament has become something she has nearly adapted to, and she can only serve as a lubricant between the two of them

Lin Yiyang nodded

He nodded slightly, as a form of farewell

Lin Yiyang glanced over

After another turn, I saw the narrow staircase leading to the subway entrance

It should still be the inn, Yan Guo said, now that one

We—" she uttered two words

The glass door behind her was knocked, interrupting her train of thought

She looked around, and it was the most dilapidated type of carriage.

To the left of the two individuals, there is a row of apartments, each with a staircase slanting downwards leading to the basement. On snowy days, the steps are covered with a thick layer of white snow, making them difficult to see. A slight misstep while getting too close can easily result in a fall.

My name is Yin Guo

She also does not want to eat that: "Our inn is too remote, and at this late hour, only the gas station supermarket sells pizza."

For Yin Guo, playing American pool is significant, and the American Nine-Ball Open is very important

Very well. Dry and dull conversation is worse than not speaking at all

It is one thing to go hungry oneself, but to make others go hungry while delivering oneself is quite unkind. Since I haven't eaten anyway, it would be better to get out of the car and resolve it together, rather than having to eat dry pizza.

Yin Guo happily expressed gratitude and added Wu Wei's WeChat.

"Yes, click first, click first." Wu Wei echoed

Yin Guo looked back at the outside again

She stopped in front of the steps and asked, "Do you still have the subway to take back?"

Nationality, date of birth, place of birth, all clearly stated on those documents, even the school ID card was shown to her. Apart from the major studied, he could not think of anything else to explain.

"Let me ask the landlord first, and I will give you a definite answer tomorrow," Wu Wei said finally

Lin Yiyang sat down beside her, removed the cue from the case, and placed it next to his leg

In professional competitions, people here are not enthusiastic about snooker

The inn where she resides is located in a relatively remote neighborhood, surrounded by repair shops, with the only lively spot being a small gas station. To walk from the subway entrance to the inn, one must pass through a pitch-black road. Aside from the illumination from the gas station, there are no additional lights, and it takes about three to five minutes to walk.

All of his friends are professional players, so why is he not one

"Yang Ge, give me your WeChat. He said you have arrived and asked me to pick you up," said my cousin. "I guess I mentioned that there is a bar under our inn. He might be worried, afraid you might run into a drunkard"

Thinking this way, I should go even more, not just for myself, but also for others

Yin Guo looked at him

What to persist in? Going back to gnaw on pizza? He is amusing

He seemed not to be listening attentively to their conversation. When Ying Guo looked at him, he casually pushed the menu in front of her and said, "Order first, then we can talk."

She stamped her feet in the snow and followed Lin Yiyang down the path

Yin Guo took the credit card out of her wallet, intending to insert it into the vending machine to purchase a ticket, and politely stepped aside for two paces

The boss asked whether to place an order, but he declined, stating that we should wait for Ying Guo to come out before discussing it further

"It has been like this, not a single signal." Yin Guo felt discouraged and showed him her phone.

The moment the glass door was pushed open, a fragrance rushed forth.

She had no choice but to brace herself and continued, "My younger brother and I are in the same year, both in our fourth year. As for the rest, he should have told you everything."

In the middle of the night, the wind rose, leaving her feeling thoroughly chilled

Wu Wei is studying at New York University, and it was Lin Yiyang who helped prepare the materials for him to come and pursue his master's degree. The two have different majors; Lin Yiyang arrived a year earlier and will study for three years, while Wu Wei only needs to study for one year. He did not leave after graduation because he wanted to wait for Lin Yiyang to complete his studies so they could return to their home country together

What should be done then

"Yes, it is the women's team." She smiled, sitting opposite the two men

Yin Guo had not yet seen what the platform looked like when the person was already pushed into the carriage

"What a coincidence." Yin Guo shook hands with him

Wu Wei, that person who was wearing glasses that day. He invited me to eat ramen, "Lin Yiyang casually asked her, "Do you want to go?"

"How would you like to get to know me?" Lin Yiyang looked into her eyes.

Have you not considered renting a house? Short-term rental?

You mentioned in the first WeChat message you sent, he reminded her

She said: "We haven't formally met yet"

Now

Billiards is a sport that requires long, uninterrupted years of refinement and practice. Like any other athletic endeavor, one cannot afford to be negligent for even a day. While outsiders may not perceive this, those in the know certainly can. His level of skill is the result of years of dedicated practice, which is not typical of an amateur enthusiast

Lin Yiyang sat there, sipping the sake that had been served to him earlier. The small glass bottle, about the size of a palm, was blue and semi-transparent, held in his hand. After taking a couple of sips, he had already consumed more than half of the bottle.

The New York subway is unpredictable; on snowy days, one can only hope to catch a train whenever possible, as there is no time to buy a ticket. He pulled Ying Guo away from the ticket machine and led her into the turnstile, swiping his subway card.

The two individuals arrived outside the ramen shop and were surprised to see several people braving the snow, waiting for a table at the entrance. Lin Yiyang, accompanied by Yin Guo, pushed through the crowd and descended into a ramen shop that had been converted from a basement.

This is the only thing he is holding, and it still belongs to her. Speaking of which, this man brought nothing but his phone and wallet; he went to Flushing to gamble on a game just like that, truly carefree

Thank you, Brother Yang, for bringing my sister back" The cousin said with a smile.

Wu Wei was puzzled: "Aren't you supposed to be in Flushing placing bets? How did you end up meeting a light beauty?"

With hands casually tucked into pockets, I turned around and retraced my steps along the dimly lit path beside the gas station.

... ... Alright, I completely forgot

Wu Weize then shifted the topic and began to talk about daily life in New York, expressing concern about Yin Guo's upcoming housing arrangements

When he asked this question, there was seven parts laughter and three parts narrow-mindedness in his tone

Lin Yiyang paused for a moment and retorted, "You have seen all my valid identification documents, is there anything else you wish to know?"

"I am also one of the names on the list," Wu Wei extended his right hand, "Come, since we are so fated, let us shake hands."

Her face is fair with a rosy hue, her nose is small, and her eyes are large but not round; they are slightly elongated, and her double eyelids are very prominent. Because her hair is styled up high, the contours of her face are fully revealed, which is round, and her chin is not pointed. She has a youthful appearance, beautiful in a non-threatening way, and very sweet

Is there no one yet

Some pedestrians on both sides were holding umbrellas, while others walked briskly. Only Lin Yiyang and she walked at a leisurely pace. Lin Yiyang was very familiar with this neighborhood; he turned left and walked onto the sidewalk of a small path, pulling Ying Guo to his right side.

They continued to sit side by side

Both individuals are in the second semester of their senior year, with no classes, as it is the "internship period" required by the college. She wishes to transition to professional nine-ball, while her cousin wants to study abroad, so they naturally decided to spend their internship time in New York

Did not send it out? The people around her saw her awkward situation

Wu Wei immediately put away his "watching the show" demeanor and asked with a smile, "I heard him say that you are also here to participate in the open competition?"

I completed my undergraduate studies in my home country, earned money for two years, and found it uninteresting, so I came here. He leaned back against the chair and simply told the girl, I am studying communication here, part-time, for three years, and this is my final year.

No wonder it is so easy to become friends and even specially invite for drinks

She turned around and saw her cousin waving at them through the frosted glass

Wu Wei had already occupied a four-person table inside. Seeing the two people, he smiled and waved, saying, "Over here."

In fact, I am just average at nine-ball; I practiced it when I was younger. It was simply that nine-ball was popular in the United States, so I adapted to the local customs, " Wu Wei said with a smile

Xiao Guo: I am starving, is there instant noodles in the room? If not, please help me go out and buy a pizza, while it is still possible to buy one. The door will be closed once I return.

Of course, his intention was completely misunderstood by Yin Guo

Wu Wei's words indeed moved her

Yin Guo touched her ear, as Lin Yiyang had just pulled the door, and the zipper of his sleeve had brushed against her ear: "What a coincidence for you to come down like this?"

Lin Yiyang's arm simultaneously reached over her shoulder and pulled open the iron door for her. He pushed Yin Guo into the warm interior and handed the cue stick bucket to Meng Xiaotian

When Wu Wei saw Yin Guo leave, he immediately lowered his voice: "You are really something. I have already taken off my clothes, and my hair is covered in foam, and you pulled me out just to save a spot? All for a bowl of ramen?"

Lin Yiyang smiled

It may have some impact, you can wait to transfer, and send it after getting off the vehicle

That's all, he said in the end, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Inside the station, the subway roared into the platform accompanied by the noise of the grinding tracks

On such a snowy day, with an empty stomach, upon hearing the words "ramen," all that appeared before her were—steaming hot rich broth, accompanied by pork cartilage, seaweed, pickled vegetables, corn... The earlier hesitation vanished completely

After speaking, he thought for a moment and said: "I mostly live in DC, occasionally coming to New York"

Therefore, it is safer for him to walk on the left side

Both individuals had remnants of crushed snow on the soles of their shoes, leaving a puddle of water on the floor of the carriage

Ramen is a concept that has become a trend worldwide; one only needs to look at the pictures to choose the noodles and add toppings. Yin Guo quickly assessed the menu and even shared it with Lin Yiyang. Lin Yiyang waved his hand, directly calling someone over to take the order; he was so familiar with this place that he and Wu Wei could order without even looking at the menu.

The two individuals who were originally supposed to transfer to another line directly rode to three stations later for the sake of eating ramen

The car door closes behind you

Lin Yiyang's gaze shifted over and rested on her face

The subway car has no signal, making it impossible to access the internet, and there are no distractions to pass the time. There is no scenery outside the car, just darkness, with only the sound of movement filling the empty car.

After chatting for a while, Yin Guo gained quite a bit of information about Lin Yiyang from Wu Wei instead.

However, from Wu Wei's words, she could tell that the other party was focused on English billiards and was a snooker player

It can only be this way

He delivered the fruit to the entrance of the inn, where two barmaids were smoking. As the two approached, they happened to extinguish their cigarette butts. The two of them assisted in pulling open the heavy black iron door of the inn and entered.

I have thought about it, but I feel that three months is neither long nor short, and I am afraid of the trouble, plus I cannot find anything good

Having said that, he added: "I haven't eaten either"

Unexpectedly, Lin Yiyang took out his phone instead, chatting with someone about something just as the car had left the station

On each table, white steam rises from every large ramen bowl. The narrow aisles are lined with fully occupied tables, in a warm indoor environment, with steaming hot noodles. This truly is the best choice made today

The subway operates twenty-four hours a day. Lin Yiyang took down the cue case from his shoulder, hooking the strap, not appearing to be about to hand it over, as if waiting for something.

When she first arrived, her friend also suggested renting a house for a short term, but since her friend was in the country and it was inconvenient for her to help find a place, it was ultimately abandoned. Since there are reliable housing options available, renting is certainly cost-effective.

In the United States, many people consider nine-ball as a form of family entertainment, with pool tables often found in homes; however, there are very few who play snooker. Today, she encountered Lin Yiyang's billiard room, where there was only one snooker table, and in the usual training room, no one was seen playing.

On that menu, there are several photographs.

Yin Guo was momentarily taken aback, then thought of her WeChat and understood

Once he fully entered the tunnel, he tucked his phone into his pants pocket and said, "Are you hungry?"

She held her phone up, swaying it left and right for quite a while, unsure whether it was due to the snow or the particularly poor network at the station. Neither the mobile network nor the station's Wi-Fi would connect, leaving her to watch helplessly as the train started moving again, continuing to wait for the next stop

She finally came to understand

On the steps, there was a row of damp footprints left by Lin Yiyang, followed closely by another row she added. Lin Yiyang deliberately stopped at the bottom step, waiting for her. In the subway station, three homeless men lay down, each finding a sheltered corner to sleep, one of whom was sleeping next to the ticket machine

Take advantage of the subway stop and quickly look for a signal

I only know that he is twenty-seven years old, six years older than myself

After the late-night snack gathering, Lin Yiyang and Yin Guo took the subway again. By the time they arrived at Yin Guo's inn, it was already 11 o'clock

She simply feels that Lin Yiyang must have a certain degree of obsessive-compulsive disorder when walking, shifting from left to right, such a peculiar person