He leaned against a lamppost just outside the school entrance, watching as Xinyi stepped out. She didn’t notice him at first—her head was slightly lowered, her fingers gripping the straps of her bag. She always looked like she was bracing herself for something, as if life had trained her to expect the worst.
“Hey.”
She flinched at his voice before looking up, eyes narrowing when she saw him. “You again?”
Zhao Chen smirked. “What, are you keeping track of how many times we run into each other?”
She huffed, clearly unimpressed. “You keep showing up. Are you following me?”
He chuckled. “No, but now that you mention it, maybe fate just wants us to keep meeting.”
Xinyi rolled her eyes. “Right.”
He pushed off the lamppost and matched her pace as she walked. “Come with me.”
She gave him a suspicious glance. “Where?”
“I have work. But we can talk while I’m there.”
Xinyi frowned. “You work?”
“Obviously. You think I just wander around bothering high schoolers?”
She hesitated. He could tell she was about to refuse, so he added, “I’ll get you something to eat. My treat.”
She stopped walking, looking torn. She wasn’t struggling with money—far from it. Her parents always sent her enough to live comfortably, yet…
She never let herself indulge.
After a long pause, she muttered, “…Fine.”
Zhao Chen smiled to himself. Step by step, he was getting closer to figuring her out.
The café was a small, cozy place tucked away on a quiet street. It wasn’t particularly busy during his shift, which made it the perfect place to talk.
Xinyi sat at a corner table, absentmindedly running her fingers over the menu. She wasn’t really looking at it—just using it as a distraction.
Then, she glanced up.
Zhao Chen was behind the counter, tying an apron around his waist. The way he moved was effortless, like he had done this a hundred times before. His sleeves were rolled up slightly, revealing his forearms as he adjusted the knot behind his back. He looked… different. Less like the university student who kept showing up in her life and more like someone who belonged in this warm, dimly lit café.
She quickly looked away, pressing her lips together. What was she thinking?
Her fingers tightened on the menu as she forced herself to stay rational. She wasn’t… feeling anything. That was ridiculous.
If she felt anything at all, it was just because—
Because he was the first person who had ever cared.
That was all.
Nothing more.
After a while, Zhao Chen walked over and placed a small plate in front of her. A slice of cheesecake and a cup of tea.
She blinked up at him. “I didn’t order this.”
“I know,” he said casually. “But you looked like you weren’t going to order anything.”
Xinyi frowned. “I could’ve.”
“But you didn’t.”
She scowled but didn’t argue further. Instead, she quietly picked up her fork and took a small bite.
Zhao Chen leaned against the counter, watching her. “So,” he said, “why don’t your parents come to your school events?”
She froze mid-bite.
Slowly, she put the fork down and glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “Why do you care?”
He shrugged. “Just curious.”
Xinyi stared at him for a long moment before looking away. “They’re busy.”
It was a short answer. Too short.
Zhao Chen tilted his head. “That’s it?”
“What else do you want me to say?” she asked, irritation creeping into her voice.
He studied her carefully. “Most parents find time, even when they’re busy.”
Xinyi’s grip on the fork tightened. “Well, mine don’t.”
Silence settled between them.
Then, as if realizing she had said too much, she grabbed her tea and took a slow sip, as if trying to erase the conversation.
Zhao Chen didn’t push further. He knew when to back off. But inside, he couldn’t shake the feeling that her family wasn’t just “busy.”
They were absent.
And for some reason, that bothered him more than he expected.
As the evening passed, Xinyi finished her food in silence while Zhao Chen continued his shift, sneaking glances at her when he could. She wasn’t used to people paying attention to her—he could tell. But now that he had started, he couldn’t stop.
He wanted to know more.
By the time she finally stood to leave, Zhao Chen watched her go with the same thought lingering in his mind.
He was going to find out.