Shen Yuqi walked out of the cafe, the late afternoon sun reflecting off the glass, and tried to steady her racing thoughts. The interview was over—or at least, that part was. Her chest still fluttered every time she replayed Li Wei's calm, unreadable expression in her mind. The faint smirk he'd given her when she stumbled over her words haunted her more than she cared to admit.
"Focus, Yuqi," she muttered to herself, adjusting the strap of her bag. "It's just an interview. Don't… don't overthink it."
She hailed a cab and leaned back, letting the city blur past. Soon, she would be home. A place where she didn't have to pretend, where her family and her little brother would give her something resembling comfort.
The moment she stepped through the familiar door of their apartment, the comforting scent of home—spices, flowers, faint aroma of tea—wrapped around her like a hug. Her mother was kneading dough at the counter, humming a soft tune.
"Yuqi! You're home early," her mother said, glancing up with a warm smile. "How was your interview?"
Shen Yuqi forced a small smile, trying not to look flustered. "It… went fine, Mom. I think."
Her father was reading the financial news at the dining table, glasses perched on his nose. He looked up briefly. "Fine? That's not very confident. Do you think you impressed them?"
"I… I hope so," she replied. Her voice faltered. She wasn't sure if she had impressed anyone. The calm, composed Li Wei had made it impossible to tell.
From the living room came a voice full of energy:
"Yuqi! Guess what?"
Her younger brother popped his head around the doorway. He was a college sophomore, energetic and endlessly nosy about her life. "I saw the company online! Your future boss looks… serious."
Shen Yuqi groaned. "Haoran, please… you don't need to know every little detail."
He grinned mischievously. "I do! Did he look scary? Handsome? Smile at you at all?"
"Stop it!" she said, rolling her eyes. Despite herself, she felt a small blush creeping onto her cheeks. She could imagine Li Wei, calm and distant, noticing her every little misstep, his gaze sharp yet unreadable.
Her mother set a plate of steamed buns in front of her. "Eat something, Yuqi. You look exhausted. Interviews are stressful. Don't let your nerves take over."
Shen Yuqi sighed, taking a bun. "It's just… I don't know if I did well. He's… very difficult to read."
Lin Meiling chuckled softly. "Difficult to read? Sounds like someone made an impression on you."
Shen Yuqi froze, almost choking on her bun. "I… what? No! I mean… he's just very professional…"
Her father, who had been quietly observing, lowered his newspaper. "Yuqi, you've always been careful. Just trust yourself. If they don't call, it's not the end. But I have a feeling you handled this well."
Haoran leaned closer, whispering dramatically, "I bet you'll get a call. He noticed you. I could see it."
Shen Yuqi groaned. Her little brother had a knack for saying exactly what she didn't want to hear, yet somehow made it impossible to argue.
After dinner, Shen Yuqi retreated to her small bedroom, overlooking the bustling city streets below. She sat on her bed with her portfolio still clutched in her lap, reviewing the day's events.
Her mind kept returning to that first calm glance, that faint smirk, that unspoken tension. Would he even remember me? she wondered.
A soft chime from her laptop reminded her to check her email. Nothing new.
"Well, I guess now I wait," she whispered to herself. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of excitement, anxiety, and curiosity. Maybe tomorrow. Or the next day… or next week. But they'll call, right?
Her phone buzzed suddenly. Haoran had sent her a meme, probably thinking it would cheer her up. She laughed softly, putting the phone down, and let herself drift into a restless sleep.
In the back of her mind, a quiet thought lingered: one small coffee spill had changed everything. And somehow, she had a feeling it wasn't over yet.