The scent of roasted beans and vanilla swirled through the air as Lin Ke'er practically skipped into the coffee shop with Bai Zhiqi trailing behind her. The warmth of the cozy space melted the chill from outside, but Bai Zhiqi felt no comfort—her nerves were tight, senses heightened from the earlier encounter.
"Let's grab that window seat," Ke'er chirped, pointing to a small table nestled in the corner.
"Ke'er," Bai Zhiqi said abruptly, her eyes narrowing as her gaze swept the café.
There, by the counter—waiting for his drink and glancing at his phone—stood Bai Heng.
Her elder brother.
She stiffened, blood draining from her face. She hadn't seen him in five years—not since the trial, not since he had looked at her with cold detachment while standing beside their parents. Not since he had turned his back on her.
His hair was a little shorter, suit crisp as ever. His presence still radiated that calm, commanding aura that used to be her source of pride. Once.
Her stomach twisted painfully.
Not again.
Why was she running into every ghost from her past today?
"Actually," she blurted out, grabbing Lin Ke'er's wrist, "Let's not sit here."
"Huh?" Ke'er blinked, startled. "But that seat's perfect—"
"There's a better spot by the far wall," Bai Zhiqi interrupted, already steering her away. "Quieter."
Ke'er shrugged and followed without question, sipping from her iced latte. "You're weird today, Bai Zhi. First staring off into space, now being picky about chairs. What's going on? Are you hiding from an ex or something?"
Bai Zhiqi let out a light laugh, masking the ache in her chest. "Something like that."
She chose the farthest table, one with a partial divider that shielded them from the rest of the room. From here, she had just enough of a view to see when Bai Heng exited the café without him ever seeing her.
He didn't linger. Within minutes, he picked up his drink, checked his phone again, and walked out—just like that. No pause, no recognition, no trace of the boy who used to ruffle her hair and call her "Little Zhi."
Gone.
All of it.
"You okay?" Ke'er asked, frowning a little as she unwrapped a cookie.
"I'm fine," Bai Zhiqi replied, voice steady. She sipped her coffee slowly, eyes fixed on the table.
Why today?
Why Lanyue and now Bai Heng?
The city was huge, sprawling—and yet she'd walked right into two people who had played key roles in her fall. Was it fate mocking her, or simply a cruel coincidence?
Maybe the universe was reminding her that she couldn't avoid the past forever.
But she wasn't ready. Not yet.
She still needed to build her name again. Step by step. Quietly.
"Thanks for coming with me today," she said suddenly, offering Ke'er a small smile. "I needed the distraction."
Ke'er beamed. "I know you're the strong, silent type, but everyone needs a break. So next time, no excuses—you're coming shopping again."
Bai Zhiqi nodded faintly, her mind elsewhere.
One thing was clear: the past wasn't staying buried anymore.
And she needed to prepare.
Because soon, hiding wouldn't be an option.