The morning after her walk with Chi yuan, Xiao mei tried to focus on her classes, but her mind kept slipping away without her permission. Her teacher was explaining something about economic models, yet she heard nothing. All she could think about was the quiet way Chi yuan had listened to her. The way he had thanked her as if her simple presence mattered.
She felt foolish for letting her heart run ahead of her. She told herself repeatedly that he was still hurting because of Xi fei, and a hurting heart was unpredictable. But no matter how much she reasoned with herself, her chest would fill with warmth when she remembered his faint half smile by the river.
During lunch, Cong er joined her at the cafeteria. Cong er poked her rice bowl in a lazy way, watching Xiao mei with narrowed eyes. Xiao mei already knew what was coming. She braced herself.
Cong er said that she had been thinking about the way Chi yuan looked at her. Xiao mei nearly choked on her drink. She tried to deny everything again, but her friend raised a hand and told her to stop pretending, because she had seen her flustered expression a hundred times.
Xiao mei sighed and buried her face in her hands. She admitted in a quiet voice that she liked being near him, even though she knew she should not. Cong er softened slightly. She reached out and touched Xiao meis shoulder. She told her gently that liking someone was not a crime, but loving the wrong person could be a painful journey.
Xiao mei nodded. A tiny part of her agreed. But a bigger part of her felt hope, even if she tried to ignore it.
After school, Xiao mei headed to the milk tea shop for her shift. She opened the door expecting to see the usual crowd, but the place was strangely calm. Only two customers sat by the windows. Her manager was behind the counter arranging toppings.
Then the bell above the door jingled, and she froze.
Chi yuan walked in. He was dressed in a dark gray suit that fit him so well it almost looked like it had been sewn onto him. His hair was neat and his expression was as composed as always. Yet the moment he saw her, something in his eyes seemed to soften. It lasted barely a second, but she saw it clearly.
Her heart tripped over itself.
He ordered his usual milk tea. She made it carefully, trying not to spill anything even though her hands were suddenly warm with nerves. When she handed him the cup, their fingers brushed lightly. The contact lasted only a brief moment, but her breath caught anyway.
She told herself not to think too much. But sometimes the smallest touch felt louder than a shout.
He stepped aside to wait for his assistant, who was still finishing a phone call outside. Before leaving, he turned back to her and told her quietly that he hoped her day had been peaceful. Xiao mei felt warmth rise up her neck. She told him it had been good so far. He nodded softly and left with his assistant trailing behind him.
Xiao mei watched the door swing shut. She felt silly for smiling at nothing, but she could not stop herself.
That evening, after closing the shop, she walked along the same river path they had used before. She did not expect to see him again, yet her heart grew restless with every step. It was ridiculous to want something she could not have. She reminded herself of this again and again.
But fate did not listen to reminders.
Halfway down the path, she saw Chi yuan standing by the railing, looking out at the water. For a moment she thought she was dreaming. He looked deep in thought, the night breeze moving his hair slightly, the golden reflection of the city lights dancing across his face.
She hesitated. She almost turned around. But he noticed her before she could escape. He lifted his head and his eyes met hers in the quiet glow of the evening.
Xiao mei walked over slowly. She asked if he was alright. He nodded. He said he was just thinking. He told her that work had been exhausting these past days and this place helped him breathe.
Xiao mei stood beside him, resting her hands lightly on the railing. She told him she felt the same about the river since she was young. Whenever her world felt too big, this place reminded her that she did not need to carry everything alone.
He looked at her with thoughtful eyes. Then he said something she did not expect. He said she had a calming presence. He said being near her made things feel a little easier.
Her chest tightened. It felt almost too warm inside. She told herself not to take those words too deeply, because he was heartbroken and vulnerable. People said strange things when they were hurt. But even knowing that, she could not stop the soft fluttering inside her.
They walked slowly together along the water. The city lights shimmered on the surface like tiny pieces of gold floating on ink. The sound of the river mixed with the faraway hum of traffic. They spoke softly about small things. Her studies. His long meetings. Her dream of one day helping her family live comfortably. His pressure to keep his company growing.
She noticed how tired he was. Not physically. Emotionally. As if he was holding the whole world on his shoulders while trying to pretend it was weightless.
At one point he went quiet. Xiao mei glanced at him. His jaw tightened faintly, and she guessed what he was thinking about. Xi fei.
She wanted to ask but she did not. It was not her place yet. Maybe it would never be. Instead she told him something simple. She said that even the strongest storms passed eventually. That pain had a way of fading even when it felt like it never would.
He looked at her again, longer this time.
She felt the air shift between them, though she could not understand what it meant.
Chi yuan spoke in a low steady tone. He said he appreciated her honesty. He said people around him rarely spoke from the heart. Her words made him pause for a moment as if he was not used to sincerity.
Xiao mei felt her cheeks warm. She told him she was only saying what she believed. Nothing more.
He gave a small quiet smile. It was brief, but it changed his whole face. For a moment she saw a man who could be gentle. A man with warmth hidden beneath layers of walls built over years.
They continued walking until they reached the end of the path. He stopped and looked toward the dark street that led back to the business district. He said he needed to return to work soon. She nodded even though she wished the moment could last longer.
Before leaving, he hesitated. It was so subtle she almost missed it. He looked at her as if wanting to say something else but stopping himself. Then he thanked her again. He said being near her made the night feel less heavy.
Those words stayed with her long after he walked away.
Xiao mei returned home with her heart trembling. She lay in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. She replayed every moment of the evening. Every word. Every glance. She imagined that perhaps she had already become someone important to him. Even if just a little.
She told herself not to hope too much. She reminded herself that he was still in love with Xi fei. That his heart had not healed. That she was setting herself up for pain.
But hope was a stubborn thing. It grew inside her even when she tried to keep it small.
She closed her eyes and whispered his name softly into the darkness of her room. Chi yuan.
At that moment she did not know how deeply she would love him.
Or how deeply he would hurt her in the end.
All she knew was that
her heart had begun to move on its own.
And there was no path backward anymore.