The next morning, as soon as Yang Chen got up, he saw fluffy snowflakes drifting outside the large French windows.
The snowflakes, falling generously, covered everything - the trees, the houses - in a dazzling white, creating a world adorned in silver. This was the second snowfall in Zhonghai, seemingly orchestrated to coincide with the arrival of Christmas, playing its important role.
On the way to work, many shops had already lit up their neon lights and adorned their fronts with Christmas dolls and decorations. Christmas trees seemed to have sprung up overnight, like mushrooms after rain.
It was Yang Chen's first time experiencing Christmas in China, and he was surprised by the festive atmosphere, which was no less vibrant than in Western countries. It made him reflect on how the world had indeed become smaller.
