Feng Yaolin

— Yao to Samuel

**馮耀霖 (Féng Yàolín) "Yao"** is a side character in The Smoke Room. He is a miner and a friend of Nikolai.

## Appearance

Yao is a tall, muscular tiger. He has white and orange fur with black stripes, including distinct facial markings. He wears navy blue overalls and a matching cap, and a gray collared shirt with rolled-up sleeves. He keeps a tool bag on his belt while working but takes it off in more casual settings.

Yao has a very slight accent that, according to Samuel, gives his words a musical quality.

## Personality

Yao is caring and resourceful, and uses his pragmatic intelligence to try and secure a better life for himself and his fellow miners. He is often soft-spoken and generally prefers to keep to himself and stay under the radar, especially where the mine's managers are concerned, but holds strong convictions about the rights of workers. He chooses his friends carefully but is very loyal to those in whom he confides. Yao values precise language and generally speaks very carefully and eloquently.

Yao demonstrates an excellent spatial memory, and knows extensive sections of the mine's labyrinthine tunnels by heart.

## Story

### Prior to The Smoke Room

Yao hails from Huaxia. He mentions previously serving in engineering positions in many places, but eventually found himself in Echo and was hired as a miner by CSCG. He worked alongside Nikolai, Jack and Chang, until Chang had an accident that forced him out of the job. He and Nik lived with Jack in a shared miners' bunkhouse for over a year.

At some point, Yao stumbled across a hidden vein of gold deep within the mine. Unable to extract anything from it by himself, he chose to bide his time in order to find trusted companions to help him. Yao also began constructing detailed maps of the mines, combining what he traced in secret from official documents with his own discoveries, and has managed to safeguard them from the bosses' periodic searches of the miners' belongings.

Yao was the one who first brought Jack to the cavern where he would lure Sam and eventually die. Yao jokingly pointed out the few traces of gold he found there to amuse Jack, but Jack then began reporting the presence of gold in earnest to other miners in order to con them into following him into the chamber so he could take their things, just like he eventually did to Sam.

While possibly also attempting some degree of seduction, Jack soon even suggested that Yao himself bring some valuable provisions into the mine so that they could seize the gold and make a quick escape. Yao immediately became suspicious and began distancing himself from Jack, and warned Nikolai to do the same.

### Nikolai's Route

#### Chapter 1

When Samuel admits to Nik that he killed Jack in self-defense, Nik knows he is telling the truth because Jack previously tried the exact same trick on Yao. Nik then enlists Yao's skill at navigating the mines in order to find the coins that Sam lost when Jack attacked him. Yao insists on knowing the full story, and Nik admits to him that Sam is the one who killed Jack.

Later Yao meets Sam and, assuming he is a miner because of his physique, almost immediately tries to recruit him for the miners' union, before Nik informs him Sam is not their coworker. They head to the mine together and at the entrance, Yao seems confused by Sam's apparent reluctance to go inside, since they will not be venturing anywhere deep enough to be dangerous, and tries to reassure him.

#### Chapter 2

The three sneak past the foreman on duty and Yao successfully guides them through a well-camouflaged tunnel that Sam remarks he never could have found on his own. Yao reveals that Nik has told him about Sam's crime, and due to his own history with Jack he is sympathetic.

Nik waits outside while Yao leads Sam into the natural cavern where Jack died. After seeing signs that someone else has been there and realizing that his money is gone, Sam is despondent, but Yao motivates him by promising to tell him a secret that may save his life. Yao is then suddenly scared by something, and quickly ushers Sam back to Nik. Evidently satisfied that he has found trustworthy and capable companions, Yao then shares his secret: he knows where in the mine a hidden vein of gold can be found, and wants the help of Nik and Sam to steal from it.

The three return to the surface and run into a very suspicious Sheriff William Adler, accompanied by the mine's co-owner James Hendricks III. In order to obscure why Sam has just been found near the scene of Jack's murder, Yao bluffs that Sam is interested in becoming a miner and says that he and Nik were showing him around to get him ready for his new job. James is convinced, and agrees to interview Sam the next day. William is frustrated and seems skeptical, but lets Yao and the others depart. That night, Yao encourages Sam to take James' job offer seriously, since working in the mines will keep Sam out of reach of the sheriff and prevent anyone from catching Yao in his lie. That night, Sam presses Yao about the presence that scared him in the mines, and Yao admits it is not the first time he has heard things in the subterranean dark but does not want to think about it further.

Sam secures the mining job and is placed on regular duty despite his inexperience, which is potentially dangerous for everyone, but Yao points out that if Sam is trained as a miner then he will be more useful when the time comes to extract the gold. Sam recounts that during the interview James singled Nik out as a known collaborator with the organized labor movement and tried to turn Sam against him, and so Yao plans to inform the rest of the union that their members are being targeted by the mine's management. Sam also refers vaguely to his relationship with Nik and says James knew about it, but he does not elaborate, which leaves Yao with questions.

During this conversation, if Sam decides to believe that Yao is telling the truth about the gold vein, then Yao calls him a friend and promises to be honest with him. If not, Yao and Sam agree that although they do not know each other, they both trust in Nik, and can work together for the time being. This choice determines whether Yao and Sam's relationship remains professional, or becomes more open and intimate.

Yao meets Sam and Nik that evening at The Stag, the bar where the unionized miners hold private discussions. Yao introduces Sam to Dimitri, Felipe, and Paul, all union men, and is surprised to learn that Sam is already acquainted with Chang. Yao and Nik warn Dimitri about the apparent crackdown on union workers, and then Yao follows Nik out of the bar after a physical altercation between Paul and a disgruntled non-union miner named Ben escalates into a brawl.

Back at the bunkhouse, Yao shows Sam his maps of the mines and instructs him to memorize the convoluted route that they will have to take to reach the hidden gold, since it is located in what Yao describes as a natural maze. As proof of his plan, he shows Sam a small gold nugget that he has recovered.

In the mines the next day, in order to demonstrate the ore extraction process for Sam, Yao holds a spike against the cavern wall while Nik drives it in with a large sledgehammer. Sam is shocked that Yao would risk his hand, but Yao is confident that Nik never misses. The three split up to work separate shifts and then reconvene at lunch, where Yao shares his food with Sam, who has not packed anything to eat. Yao explains that he always brings extra food to work so he can give it to others if needed.

Sam recounts that Ben nearly struck him with a hammer while they were working together, and Yao makes a plan to get himself, Sam, and Nik onto the same shift so they can protect one another. Yao moderates Nik's desperate desire to get Sam out of danger immediately, and suggests that Sam visit Chang to find a way to discreetly resolve the situation without making the foremen suspicious. Yao writes a letter for Sam to give to Chang, and says it will make him cooperate because it involves something that Chang wants. Yao is still awake when Sam returns to the bunkhouse that night, and if Sam chose to trust him earlier, Yao learns about Sam's profession and the two help each other masturbate.

The next day, Yao hears from Sam that Dimitri was injured in an explosion and decides to accelerate the timeline for the gold heist. After their shift, he leads Sam and Nik through a complex series of tunnels and into the cavern where the gold vein is located. Sam asks how the gold has not yet been found and Yao suspects that the maze-like passages in the area have kept it hidden, but is unsure whether the labyrinth was built intentionally to hide the gold, or came about because the foremen were trying to avoid something underground during construction. Yao finds a substantial nugget of gold in the soil and gives it to Sam 'for his trouble.'

Suddenly, the three hear a plaintive, childlike voice begging for help from a stream deeper in the cavern. Whatever is making the voice unnervingly describes its own death and decomposition and advises them to kill themselves, before the thing that 'feeds' on it can return. A huge splash follows, and Yao and the others flee back the way they came, pursued by something. Yao splits off from Nik and Sam, since he knows the tunnels better than they do and believes he can lose the monster if it chases him. He makes his way to the surface unharmed, but realizes that Nik and Sam have exited before him and been caught by Sheriff Adler. Yao finds a large lead pipe and waits to see how the situation plays out, but discards it and makes himself known to Nik and Sam once the sheriff departs without giving them trouble.

Yao observes that his first and only strange experience at the gold site happened when he brought Sam there, and considers that someone stalked Sam to interfere with their plan. Sam insists that whatever chased them was supernatural, and although Yao did not see it he acknowledges it reminded him of the stories his parents told him about malevolent spirits called wangliang. Regardless of the nature of the danger, Yao concludes the site is compromised and says that they will only return one more time, to take only what they need and get out.

Yao then directs the group to Chang's tent, where the union is meeting to plan a strike in reaction to Dimitri's debilitating injury. Chang and Paul want to destroy the mine owners' property to send a message immediately, but Yao recommends that they union wait and see whether their strike is accepted before escalating their tactics. When Chang begins smoking opium Yao snaps at him, then softens when Chang says he is in pain. Nik asks Sam to leave so he can speak to Yao and Chang in private, and the rest of their conversation is left unknown. Yao spends the night with Chang instead of returning to the bunkhouse.

#### Chapter 3

The miners' strike the following day is a success, which Dimitri attributes to Yao leveraging the contacts he has at Echo's newspaper to spread the word. Sam and Nik cannot find Yao during the demonstration and grow worried, but Dimitri reveals he told Yao to take it easy, and proposes that they all meet him at The Stag. Sure enough, shortly after they reach the makeshift workout space behind the barn, Yao reappears to coach Sam through his strongman competition with Nik. Yao is avoidant and aloof, however, even as an increasingly exasperated Sam tries to get him and Nik to discuss the plan to steal the gold. Abruptly, Yao suggests that the three of them go swimming in Lake Emma, which also provides them with an excuse for a private discussion.

Sam waits on the shore while Yao swims with Nik, then once they return he again tries to bring up what they encountered the previous night. Yao asks Sam if he is afraid to die, and although Yao stoically asserts that it is better to 'meet things with preparedness,' Sam can just barely tell that something is upsetting him. Yao says that he is not afraid of death, since it is either simply an end or else the beginning of a new life.

Nik wavers when presented with the same question and admits that he does not want to lose the life and friends he has, which leads Yao to remind him that a violent clash has become impossible for the union to avoid. Over Sam's incredulity, Yao describes the weapons caches that are already in place, and explains that if they don't get out of Echo in time they will be caught up in the looming conflict. As he leaves them, Yao says that whatever happens he will choose to protect himself, and gives Nik and Sam the choice to either get the gold and come with him or not.

Yao is later shocked to see Sam and Nik return to The Stag with a delirious Murdoch in tow. Murdoch identifies Chang on sight, which seems to make Yao suspicious. Chang specifies that he only knows Murdoch professionally, but he and Yao then exchange some tense hissed words and Yao continues staring sternly at Chang for some time afterward. The miners help Murdoch recover, and he explains that the last thing he remembers is a supernatural experience he had down in the mines. This causes Paul, Felipe, and Dimitri to share their own stories of inexplicable phenomena, but Chang refuses even as Paul tries to goad him into speaking. Yao defends him, warning that Chang does not have to talk about it again if he does not want to.

The miners eventually turn their attention to Nik, whom Yao likely knows is a terrible liar, and possibly in order to prevent him from divulging their recent strange encounter and thereby giving away the plan for the gold, Yao suddenly announces that he knows what lies at the bottom of the mines. The others are incredulous but Yao remains vague, and with a voice that Sam observes sounds angry and tired, he says that he cannot adequately describe it because it must be experienced, although he would not wish that on anyone. Later, while Murdoch performs, Yao is shown dancing with Chang.

That night, Yao eavesdrops on a confrontation between Sam, Nik, and Ben, and learns that someone has confiscated Nik's beloved mining helmet on Briggs' orders. Yao makes his presence known after Nik and Ben leave, and depending on their relationship Sam is either glad to see him or immediately suspicious, since Ben has just pointed out to him that Yao has easy access to Nik's belongings.

Yao encourages Sam to watch over Nik, who has gone to confront Briggs. He approves when Sam promises to steal the helmet back if needed, remarking that theft is the only action men like Briggs understand. Yao and Sam reaffirm their plan to rejoin Nik and carry out the heist that evening, and Yao mentions that he has prepared "a distraction” in case they have any more strange encounters in the cavern but does not go into specifics. As he leaves Yao pats Sam on the shoulder, and the physical contact seems to surprise them both.

When they meet back up, Yao has an expression of quiet determination and is carrying a load of tools. He leads the group to the mines, but Sam hesitates when they reach the same entrance he once followed Jack into. If Yao and Sam have not become close over the course of the route, then Yao is much more focused on hurrying Sam up, and worries that he will not have the fortitude to see the heist through. If Sam has shown Yao trust, then Yao is sympathetic and embarrassed about not considering how Sam might feel about the passageway, and affirms along with Nik that the three of them will help each other get through whatever they face, since they have become like family.

Yao confirms the others still remember the route he made them memorize, just in case they become separated again, and then the three successfully make their way back to the cavern with the vein of gold and the underground stream. They spend several tense hours filling sacks with carefully ore, and then begin discussing how to best keep the gold concealed while they make their way out of town.

If Yao and Sam are at odds, then Yao is worried that Sam will fail to be discreet with his treasure and ultimately endanger them all, and so offers to secretly stash all the gold in one place while they go say their goodbyes. Sam and even Nik grow suspicious at this, offending Yao, and with a bitter remark that he does not want to mistrust his friends as he does his enemies, Yao accepts that they will each hide their gold separately. If Yao and Sam are on better terms, however, solidarity prevails and the three plan to escape Echo together, although Yao admits he hopes to make one last attempt to convince Chang to come along too. Nik reveals that he has learned the National Guard will reach the town in the morning, but asserts despite Yao's disbelief that Sheriff Adler will be able to keep everyone safe. If Yao and Sam have been intimate previously, Yao alludes to it in vague terms, leaving Nik momentarily confused.

Suddenly, an explosion nearby causes a rockfall that blocks the entrance to the cavern. If Sam and Yao have been standoffish to each other, then Yao finds himself separated from the others, who remain trapped, and sets off for the surface with a pledge to return with more tools and help as soon as he can. Otherwise, Yao, Nik, and Sam are sealed in together, and Yao calmly reassures them that the running water nearby means there must be another way out. They soon realize that Ben caused the blast by irresponsibly using dynamite to explore for ore nearby. He and Nate enter the cavern and explain that they are working overtime to make up for the shortfall caused by the strike, and demand to know what the others are doing in an unexplored part of the mine after hours.

Thinking quickly, Yao presents himself as a clueless foreigner in order to capitalize on Ben and Nate's expectations of him, and explains with performative gullibility that he has been sent on an "important” errand by the bosses to look for valuable dinosaur bones deep underground. They seem to accept this, but Sam warns that Ben is dangerous. Yao then focuses on trying to convince Nate to ally with them, pointing out that their best bet to escape is to work together. Just when Nate seems to be coming around to the idea, however, Ben kills him abruptly for his insubordination by driving a pickaxe into his back.

Ben scoffs that he was never convinced by Yao's ruse and so Yao drops the pretense, remarking that Ben is a "force of nature" who can clearly only be stopped by strength or will. Ben reveals that he has the three of them at gunpoint and orders them to try and kill each other, since he will only allow one of them to escape with him. Suddenly, however, the spiderlike monster returns, descending silently from the ceiling to alight behind Ben. Sam nearly screams when he sees it but Yao quickly covers his mouth. When Ben turns to see it, he is so horrified that he stumbles backward, twisting his ankle, and tumbles into the rapids, where he is swept away by the current. As Sam stands transfixed and Nik protects him, Yao sprints behind the monster to grab the mining tools they will need to escape, but it pays him no notice.

## Relationships

### Nikolai

Yao trusts Nik's judgment greatly, and accepts Nik's word as a good enough reason to trust Samuel by extension. The two work very well together and have kept each other safe in the difficult environment of the mines for several years. Over the course of Nik's route, it becomes clear that Yao and Nik value each other like brothers. Yao considers himself more of a utilitarian than Nik, and so frequently tries to balance Nik's more emotional and optimistic outlook with a dose of rationality, but also seem to be won over by Nik's strong sense of camaraderie just as often.

### Samuel

Yao calls Sam 'dumb as rocks,' but respects his grit. Yao and Sam's shared bad experience with Jack bonds them initially, and with Nik's vouching Yao is impressed enough by Sam during their first expedition into the mines to include him in the heist he is planning.

Yao and Sam may gradually warm up to each other over the course of Nik's route, depending on whether Sam makes an effort to trust Yao. If Sam consistently believes in him from the outset then they additionally become physically intimate, with Sam helping to ease Yao's inexperience with other men. They may alternatively remain more standoffish, and then instead maintain a degree of tense cooperation in order to steal the gold without ever truly letting their guards down around each other.

### Jack

Yao is disgusted by Jack's manipulations, and helps Samuel in part because he wants to mitigate the harm that Jack has done. He disdains Jack for being a dreamer who took nothing seriously, and says it is no surprise that he died in the place he did. Jack is indicated to have tried to seduce Yao in much the same way he did to Sam, but the specifics of this dynamic are not yet clear.

### James

Despite his active role in the miners' union, Yao is determined to stay off James' radar, and feigns loyalty and poor language skills in his presence in order to remain overlooked and underestimated.

### Briggs

Yao considers Briggs a man who 'respects only power,' and through his union activities he seeks ways to undermine his brutal authority over the mine and its workers.

### William

Yao says William grates on him, and the two are mostly at odds throughout Nik's route, especially once Sam begins using the job at the mines to evade Will's investigation. At one point, Yao even appears willing to use violence against the sheriff to keep him from arresting Sam and Nik.

On the eve of the National Guard's arrival, however, Nik expresses a great deal of trust in Will, which may positively impact Yao's perception of him.

### Chang

Along with Nik, Yao has known Chang the longest of anyone in Echo. They were once miners together, but since Chang's injury he and Yao have kept in touch mostly through the union, as well as through the translation work they both do for Echo's community of immigrants from Huaxia. Yao and Chang bicker fondly with one another about whose translation style is more useful. Yao seems vexed by Chang's opium use, but shows sympathy for the pain that drives him to smoke. While contemplating his escape from Echo with Nik and Sam, Yao plans 'one last attempt' to convince Chang to leave with him, although he does not intend to tell him about the gold they have stolen from the mines.

Based on the note that Sam passes between them, Yao may be willing to sleep with Chang in exchange for favors, but it is unclear how much of a sexual history they have together.

## Trivia

* Yao is a backer character added to The Smoke Room as a result of his creator's support for the Echo Project. He shares this distinction with Jebediah and Todd.
* Yao is gay.
* If Samuel chooses to leak Yao's name to Porter Moore, then while reading Sam's future with tarot cards later in Nik's route Cordelia will draw The Tower, a card she considers to be a herald of catastrophe.
* In The Smoke Room's modern-day alternate universe, Yao is an electrical engineer and a roommate of Nik.

## Gallery

DefaultTalkingHappySmilingSadLooking asideCuriousSurprisedShockedAngryTeeth baredSmirkingWithout his hat and toolbagOveralls onlyThe note Yao writes for Chang, being held by SamYao's default outfit in the modern-day fall special.
## References

1. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat
2. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat
3. ↑ GeorgeSquares' CuriousCat