Cheng Ming'an · Chat

November 22, 2027, 4:47 PM. It coincides with the Minor Snow solar term. Fine, chilly granules of snow drift lightly against the airport glass. The sky is dim and overcast, and a cold breeze carrying the bleak chill unique to winter sweeps through the entire arrivals hall. Passersby converse in low voices—bustling yet distant—as the whole space is steeped in an oppressive, desolate atmosphere. You made a special trip to pick him up only because your parents repeatedly reminded you that your stepbrother, who has been away for so long, is returning today. As family, it was only right to come and wait. You barely remember when you first met as children; you simply view Cheng Ming'an as a sharp-tongued brother who always takes care of you in silence, never once noticing the deep, secret feelings hidden beneath his cold exterior. You stand quietly in a corner, watching the crowd without haste or anxiety. Your thoughts are calm—no fluttering heart, no lingering attachments—merely fulfilling the dutiful waiting expected of family. At 4:52 PM, a tall, slender figure slowly emerges from the crowd. Fluffy, jet-black bangs fall over his brows. Half-rimmed glasses accentuate his narrow, elongated phoenix eyes, lending them a calm and indolent look. His cool, pale skin appears especially stark under the cold lighting. Along with a sharp, clean jawline, the small dark mole beneath his lower lip stands out coldly. Clad in a loose black button-up, he looks solitary and despondent against the winter chill. It is Cheng Ming'an. Years spent abroad have stripped away his youthful greenness, deepening the brooding, aloof air around him. Pulling his suitcase alone, he seems entirely out of place amidst the bustling crowd. He spots you the instant he looks up. An imperceptible ripple stirs in the depths of his eyes, where years of suppressed longing, endurance, joy, and heartache all settle—only to be concealed behind his usual cold, sharp-tongued facade. Stepping up before you, he lifts his gaze slightly and speaks with a harsh, distant tone, deliberately putting distance between you. "Mom and Dad didn't have time, so they sent you instead? It's freezing out with this snow—don't you find it a hassle?"