Chapter 6: The Sixth Cup of Coffee
Jiang Ying wasn't the type to hold grudges—especially about things that happened years ago. If paths crossed again with someone from the past, she figured a polite nod and a distant chat about "how have you been" was enough.
That's why when Fu Chen sent her a friend request on WeChat, she ignored it. But he was persistent. Somehow, he even got her phone number and sent three texts in a row.
Worried he'd resort to email next, Jiang Ying decided to shut this down quickly. Rather than wasting time typing back, she hit call.
When he picked up, Fu Chen said cheerfully, "Busy lately? Took you a while to respond."
Suppressing her annoyance, she said coolly, "Yeah, very busy. What do you need?"
He laughed. "Nothing really. Just wanted to catch up."
"Catch up?" Jiang Ying let out a cold laugh. "Pretty sure what we have to do is settle a score."
Before he could respond, she added, "I'm really busy, so I'll hang up now."
She ended the call and immediately blocked him.
And that was that.
—
Fu Chen was just a blip on her radar—Jiang Ying didn't give him another thought.
She'd been coming to Cloudside Café more often lately. Sometimes she brought her laptop and worked there over the weekend. To avoid the busy first floor, she usually picked a quiet corner upstairs.
The lighting wasn't great up there. After seeing her a few times, Yun Xian brought in a floor lamp and swapped the wooden stool for a plush armchair.
Eventually, that seat became her unofficial spot.
One sunny afternoon, she walked in, rubbing her stiff neck.
"Neck sore?" Yun Xian asked while adjusting the espresso machine.
She slumped onto a barstool. "Been sitting too long. I'm stiff all over."
"Bad posture's the enemy of good necks," he said, handing her a menu. "What are you having today?"
She rubbed her stomach. "Taro milk tea and double cheese cake. I need sugar desperately."
"You haven't eaten?"
"Nope. I didn't even realize it was lunchtime until I finished work. Snuck out to grab something."
He took back the menu. "Still, don't skip meals."
Jiang Ying gave him a sheepish smile.
"Jiang Ying?"
She turned toward the voice. A casually dressed guy around her age was standing nearby. He looked vaguely familiar.
Seeing her confusion, he walked over. "I'm Xu Hang. Remember me? We were in the same class in tenth grade."
"Oh!" she said, the memory clicking. "Yeah, of course. Small world!"
"I was actually planning to reach out," he said.
"To me?" she asked, surprised.
They hadn't been close—barely interacted, really. He'd been the sporty type, the class PE rep. Popular, easygoing.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, what's up?"
"Do you have time now? I'd like to talk," he said, glancing at his watch.
After a moment of hesitation, she nodded. "Sure."
They moved to a quieter table. Once their drinks and desserts arrived, Jiang Ying asked, "So, what did you want to talk about?"
Xu Hang sipped his strong Americano. No reaction to the bitterness. "Did you see Fu Chen recently?"
Her heart skipped. "He told you?"
Xu Hang chuckled. "He's been bringing you up a lot in our old class group chat. Asking around."
That didn't sit right. She frowned. "Just say it."
"He's dated a ton of girls since high school. But now, for some reason, he only talks about you. Weird, right?"
She leaned back, laughing humorlessly. "What, he's into reverse Stockholm Syndrome now?"
Xu Hang placed his coffee down. "I don't know what he's after. But at a recent dinner, he made a bet—said he'd get you to fall for him in under a month."
In truth, he softened the story. What Fu Chen actually said was: Guess who I ran into? Jiang Ying—remember her? Didn't expect her to turn out this pretty. But man, she's so cold to me now. Bet I can get her hooked in less than a month.
"Why?" she asked, exasperated.
Xu Hang shrugged. "Just… be careful. You know what he's like when he gets obsessed."
She eyed him warily. "Why are you even telling me this? You think I'd fall for it?"
He smiled and shook his head. "Just thought you should know."
She lowered her gaze, fingers tracing the rim of her glass.
Xu Hang always smiled. Warm but distant. Like he was everyone's friend but no one's close one.
Still, she remembered him being kind to her—back when kindness was rare.
"Thanks," she said softly.
"No need."
She looked up again. "I owe you that. It was you who unlocked the gym equipment room for me, wasn't it?"
After saying goodbye, she stayed a bit longer at the café to collect herself.
Then—the worst possible thing happened.
Through the glass door, she saw a familiar black Porsche pull up.
Li Zhicheng.
Nothing is more terrifying than your boss catching you skipping work in the flesh.
Her heart dropped. She scanned for a hiding spot.
Yun Xian noticed her panic. "What's wrong?"
"No time," she whispered, eyes wide, and ducked behind the counter just as the bell above the door chimed.
To be continued...
Chapter 7: The Seventh Cup of Coffee
Jiang Ying bit her thumbnail and hesitated before sending a message:
[Sunset Orange: How about I treat you to dinner next time?]
[Sees the Mountain: No need. I was just joking.]
[Sees the Mountain: Focus on work. Don't get caught again.]
Jiang Ying pouted. No need? She could treat him! Why so polite?
Since he'd told her to concentrate on work, she didn't say anything more. Just as she opened her document to start reviewing, the receptionist called her over—she had a delivery.
Jiang Ying couldn't remember ordering anything to the office. Confused, she walked over.
Receptionist Xiao Wu handed her a big bouquet of roses with a grin. "So pretty! From your boyfriend?"
Jiang Ying stared blankly at the flowers. She blinked and saw a card tucked inside. She quickly pulled it out and read:
Dinner Friday night? —Fu Chen
P.S. Blocking people is rude, you know.
She rolled her eyes so hard they nearly fell out and muttered, "Psycho." But she couldn't take the flowers back to her desk, nor could she throw them away.
In the end, she left them at the front desk and whispered to Xiao Wu, "Don't tell anyone."
Xiao Wu nodded knowingly, assuming she was just being low-key.
Back at her desk, Jiang Ying took a sip of coffee and calmed herself. She removed Fu Chen from her blacklist and messaged:
"Okay. Friday night it is."
He replied quickly, but she ignored him, focusing on work.
Maybe her reply gave him hope—he messaged her nonstop for the next few days: morning, noon, night. Always with a "What are you doing?"
She only replied with one-word answers—"Oh." Fu Chen could keep a conversation going all by himself.
Friday came. At 6 PM, the end-of-day bell rang, and her coworkers packed up and left. Jiang Ying grabbed her bag, headed to the restroom, and fixed her makeup.
She usually wore light makeup, but tonight was different. Her eye makeup was more vivid, lashes curled, eyeliner winged, lips in classic red, blush heavier than usual.
She had delicate features and normally kept things subtle, but today's bold look gave her confidence. She retied the bow at her waist, loosened her ponytail, and tucked the scrunchie around her wrist.
After checking her reflection one last time, she took a deep breath and left.
Fu Chen had offered to pick her up—she refused. She set the GPS and drove herself.
Dinner was at a new upscale Western restaurant. Maybe he thought that huge bouquet of roses proved that money was the key to winning her over.
She disliked stiff, formal restaurants. Everything about it felt awkward.
Standing at the entrance, she smoothed her hair and followed the waiter to the reserved table.
"You're here?" Fu Chen looked up with a smirk.
As he moved to pull out her chair, she sat down herself, ignoring the gesture.
He retracted his hand awkwardly and smiled. "You've changed quite a bit."
"Oh?" She laid the napkin across her lap. "What was I like before?"
Too sharp. He couldn't answer. He knew better than to bring up the past.
Changing the subject, he asked about her recent life.
Jiang Ying answered politely but with no extra warmth. Looking at the man in front of her—polished, refined—she felt detached.
The once arrogant bully had become smooth and composed, courtesy of years in business.
The dishes arrived. She took a small sip of red wine—surprisingly sweet. She took another.
Fu Chen watched her and said meaningfully, "I think about you a lot."
Jiang Ying smiled. "Why?"
"I didn't know why at first. But when I saw you again the other day, it clicked. You're special to me."
Jiang Ying's smile remained faint. "Special? I remember you too."
His eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Hard to forget," she said, calmly slicing into her steak. "Accused me without proof, spread rumors, isolated me, locked me in the equipment room, signed me up for the 800-meter race without asking... what else?"
She listed them one by one. Fu Chen's face darkened.
"Let's not talk about the past," he said, trying to smile.
"Oh, and the single-sided test sheet so I didn't finish my homework. And the basketball to the head—intentional, right? I heard you laughing with your buddies."
"Jiang Ying, come on," he said, growing impatient.
She dropped her smile and glared. "Back then, I didn't fight back. I was scared. And I wanted to avoid trouble. But you know what? You're the one who's disgusting now."
Her knife screeched against the plate—loud and jarring.
"I'm not afraid anymore. Let's settle it all tonight."
Fu Chen tugged his collar, sneering. "You think I don't know what kind of person you are?"
She met his eyes and nodded. "You're right. I was a coward."
Then she stood, walked to his side, and slapped him across the face.
The whole restaurant turned to look.
Her palm stung from the impact. She asked, voice trembling slightly, "What about now?"
Fu Chen's temper flared. He stood and raised his hand.
Jiang Ying instinctively raised her arms to protect herself—but was suddenly pulled into someone's embrace.
She stumbled, her hip hitting the table, the knife clattering to the floor.
Breath ragged, she looked up—and met Yun Xian's gaze.
His brow was furrowed, breathing uneven. It was the first time she'd seen him so flustered.
All her anger vanished. Why was he here? What had he seen?
Yun Xian gently pulled her behind him. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked Fu Chen coldly.
Seeing the crowd, Fu Chen's pride got the better of him. Face flushed, he pointed at Jiang Ying and said, "Fine. Let's call it even." Then he turned and stormed out.
Jiang Ying chased after him, yelling, "Even my ass! You owe me so much more!"
Cameras clicked. Yun Xian grabbed her hand to shield her face and led her out.
The city lights were bright, streets busy. Cool night air blew past.
Jiang Ying shook her head and let out a long breath, the heat of her emotions finally subsiding.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Dinner with a friend," Yun Xian replied.
"You saw... everything?"
"Yeah."
She sat on the steps and covered her face. "Ugh."
Yun Xian sat beside her. "Embarrassed now?"
"No, just didn't expect you to be there."
"I didn't expect you to be so... intense," he said.
"You mean fierce?"
He chuckled.
She turned to him. "I'm debating something."
"What?"
She'd always kept her cool in front of him. But after what happened, she figured, what the hell.
"I give up." She pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag. Sweet, fruity smoke drifted in the air.
She glanced at him. "Are you disappointed in me?"
"Why would I be?"
"I smoke. I swear. I just slapped someone."
"It's unexpected, that's all."
She nodded. So that was disappointment.
"I knew you'd ask, so I'll tell you," she said. "He's an old classmate. His dad was my dad's boss. There were rumors he got into our school with money. Then someone said I spread those rumors. I didn't, but once he believed it, it didn't matter. I was isolated. He bullied me for a whole year."
She exhaled. "It's ancient history. But apparently, he made a bet—said he'd win me over in a month. I just wanted to tell him to leave me alone. But I lost my temper."
"If I'd known you were there, I would've held back."
Yun Xian didn't judge her. He only said, "You're out here alone. Be careful about direct confrontation."
She nodded. "Got it. I'll—"
She paused. Yun Xian had taken her hand and opened her palm.
"You hit him, but you're the one hurting."
Her hand was red and sore.
He lifted it and blew gently on the skin.
He was so proper and composed—nothing flirtatious about the gesture.
How can someone be this good? she thought.
A bit of ash landed on her arm, stinging slightly. She jolted, pulled her hand back, and turned away, cheeks burning.
"Can we pretend tonight never happened?" she mumbled.
He smiled. "Sure. Memory deleted."
"This might be the real me," she added. "But it's not all of me."
He didn't respond, just smiled.
She sat there in her red dress, cigarette glowing faintly, face half-hidden by smoke. She looked stunning.
This moment would be burned into his memory.
He thought of movie scenes—Zixia's wink, Dongfang Bubai's drink. Timeless.
A nearby pedestrian street buzzed with food stalls and noise.
Jiang Ying's stomach growled.
He noticed. "Wanna walk around?"
"Sure."
She dusted off her dress and followed him. After a few steps, she looked back. "What's wrong?"
"I feel like I forgot something," he said. "Never mind. Let's go."
—
Back at the restaurant…
Li Zhicheng furiously typed:
[Where are you?]
[Where are you?]
[I went to the restroom and you vanished?!]
[Hello?? Yun Xian??]
[Moshi moshi? Did aliens abduct you?]
Chapter 8: The Eighth Cup of Coffee
The pedestrian street was bustling with life. Streetlamps cast warm orange light as vendors shouted to advertise their goods. The narrow road was packed with pedestrians.
Yun Xian and Jiang Ying walked side by side at a leisurely pace, treating it like a casual stroll.
Seeing someone selling oden on the roadside, Jiang Ying bought a cup. The tender fish balls drizzled with ketchup were far tastier than the salad she'd had earlier. She chewed on tempura and imitation crab, gradually feeling her mood lifting back to a decent level.
After a few steps, Jiang Ying sensed something off and looked down.
"Yun Xian," she called, "Wait up, my shoelace came undone."
He glanced down as well.
Tonight, Jiang Ying was wearing a knee-length French-style dress with a slightly low neckline, revealing her collarbones. Her soft brown waves were draped over her shoulders, and on her feet were a pair of white canvas sneakers.
Usually she was like a serene moon in a still pond, but tonight she was as vivid as a blooming phoenix flower, or a ripe cherry in spring.
Her features weren't striking, especially in a place like Jiangnan where beautiful women abound—she was simply pleasant to look at.
But Yun Xian stared at her in the moonlight for quite a while, mesmerized.
It wasn't until she tried to hand him her paper cup that Yun Xian snapped out of his daze.
"You're wearing a dress; it's not convenient. I'll do it," he said, then knelt down on one knee. His long fingers quickly tied a neat, elegant bow.
Realizing what he was doing, Jiang Ying froze. It felt like fireworks exploded inside her, sparks flying everywhere, her heartbeat went wild and even her breathing lost rhythm.
Even though she knew he was just being polite, she couldn't help falling a little deeper.
Staring at the bow on her white sneakers, her thoughts turned into chaos.
Just minutes ago, she had convinced herself this man probably wasn't meant for her and she should settle for being friends.
But right now, her heart was betraying her.
Yun Xian noticed she hadn't caught up and turned around. "Jiang Ying? Let's go."
She bit her lip and said nothing, walking back beside him silently.
The street was long, and as they neared the end, things became quieter.
The night breeze blew her hair across her face. Jiang Ying tucked a loose strand behind her ear.
"Boss Yun," she called.
Yun Xian stopped and looked at her. "What is it?"
"I forgot to thank you," she said.
He nodded. "You're welcome."
"Also, I'm sorry... for the trouble tonight."
"It's really no trouble," he replied.
Jiang Ying wanted to say more but noticed Yun Xian had stopped at a small stall selling jewelry.
The owner, a young woman, was sitting and gaming on her phone. Hearing movement, she looked up and quickly told her teammates, "Gotta go—customers!"
Jiang Ying smiled understandingly. "It's okay, keep playing. We'll just browse."
"Alright, sorry about that!" The girl dove back into her game.
Seeing Yun Xian seriously inspecting items, Jiang Ying asked, "You're buying something?"
He nodded and held up a pair of earrings for her to see. "What about these?"
They were cherry earrings—gold stems with plump red beads.
"They're pretty," Jiang Ying said.
The stall owner glanced up. "Buying a pair, handsome?"
"Yes, this pair," Yun Xian replied, scanning the QR code to pay.
The owner pointed at some gift boxes. "Want it wrapped?"
"No need."
He held the earrings and turned to Jiang Ying. "Try them on?"
She stared at him in disbelief. "These... are for me?"
"Of course. Who else?" He handed her the earrings. "Go on."
She took them, slightly dazed, and leaned in toward the mirror. Whether it was the lighting or nerves, she just couldn't get them in.
"Ow—" The needle scratched her ear. She winced.
"Let me." Yun Xian gently took one from her and rubbed the reddened earlobe between his fingers.
Under a small light, he found the piercing hole. His movements were clumsy but careful.
As he leaned in, Jiang Ying held her breath and looked away, eyes falling on the shadows beneath their feet.
—The way they leaned together looked just like a kiss.
The stall owner glanced up and smiled. "Your boyfriend has great taste. They go perfectly with your dress."
Yun Xian, now experienced, quickly got the second one on. He stepped back to admire. "Not bad. Looks great on you."
Feeling the slight weight on her earlobes, Jiang Ying swallowed. Even her ears were flushed pink.
The game's voice announcer called out, "You have slain an enemy."
Jiang Ying felt like she was the one about to be taken out.
"Why'd you buy these for me?" she asked.
Yun Xian replied, "They suit you. It's nothing fancy—just a little gift."
He paused. "Jiang Ying, everything before this street, forget it. Tonight begins from here."
The night breeze blew softly as Jiang Ying touched her earrings. In this vast world, she felt like only this man existed—no one else mattered.
They walked back to the restaurant. Jiang Ying had drunk some wine and couldn't drive, so she ordered a car. Before she got in, Yun Xian reminded her to text when she got home.
She calmly waved goodbye, returned home, and texted Yun Xian that she was safe. Then she went to take off her makeup.
But the moment she removed the earrings, her face broke into a wide grin she could no longer control.
Needing to share the joy, she dialed Shen Xuan.
The moment the call connected, she let out a string of excited screams.
"What the hell?! My ears! I'm going deaf!" Shen Xuan complained.
Jiang Ying beamed, "Shen Xuan! Spring is here!"
"You drunk?"
"A little. But I'm not out of it."
"Then what's with the Magpie act, spreading spring news to me?"
"No, I mean..." Jiang Ying giggled. "My spring is here."
Shen Xuan got the message. "Oho, something's up? Who is it?"
Jiang Ying rolled over on the bed. "The guy I told you about—the coffee shop owner downstairs."
"Spill. What did he do?!"
Jiang Ying paused, realizing she couldn't mention the whole Fu Chen mess.
She skipped the earlier chaos and started from the long street.
As she recounted everything, the memory played vividly in her mind. Her heart fluttered all over again. "I swear, I almost passed out like three times tonight."
Shen Xuan, munching on sunflower seeds, sighed. "That is SO sweet."
"I had decided to give up, you know? Thought I'd shown him all my flaws already."
Jiang Ying's voice softened. "But Shen Xuan, I really, really like him."
Spring had come. Cherry blossoms were in full bloom. Insects stirred after a winter's sleep. Neighborhood cats cried day and night.
Love and longing bloomed wildly this season.
But while Jiang Ying's emotions were delicate and tangled, Shen Xuan was blunt as ever. "Then chase him!"
"But I..."
I'm scared.
Just as she was about to ask for advice, Shen Xuan cut her off, cooing, "My hubby's home. Gotta go! Good luck with your handsome Zhi Shu!"
Before Jiang Ying could protest, the call ended.
"Seriously?!" She made a mental note to get back at this smug married woman.
Because her birthday was on Arbor Day and her last name was Jiang, she had the nickname "Jiang Zhishu"—Jiang Tree Planter.
Zhi Shu?
So who was her Xiang Qin?
Thinking about Yun Xian made her giggle.
She opened WeChat, found Yun Xian's contact, and edited his nickname.
Then stared at it with a huge grin until her cheeks hurt.
Memories can't be deleted, nor do they disappear.
But when she looked back on tonight, she wouldn't remember the drama in the restaurant with Fu Chen.
She'd remember the bustling street—and cherry earrings.
—
Back at the restaurant, Yun Xian finally remembered what he'd forgotten.
He checked his WeChat notifications and saw a flood of messages from Li Zhicheng. He quickly called back.
"Hello?"
"Alien kidnappers? I'm not paying ransom. Keep him."
Yun Xian chuckled. "Still at the restaurant?"
Li Zhicheng retorted, "Are you even still on this planet?"
"Sorry, something came up. I left without telling you. My bad."
"Go away, you scumbag." Then more quietly, "Where are you? Want me to pick you up?"
Yun Xian laughed. "No need. I'm heading home."
Back at the apartment, Li Zhicheng was gaming in the living room. Yun Xian grabbed two beers from the fridge, tossing one over.
Li Zhicheng, focused on his game, asked, "What happened, really?"
Yun Xian cracked the tab, took a sip, and lied smoothly, "Su Cheng took the day off. I had to prep the café."
"And that made you forget to say anything to me?" Li Zhicheng threw a pillow at him.
Yun Xian caught it. "Getting old. Memory's bad."
Li Zhicheng snorted. "You missed a show. Heard some guy got slapped in the restaurant later. Must've been cheating and got caught. Dumbass."
Yun Xian thought back to Jiang Ying's sharp, precise slap.
He patted Li Zhicheng on the shoulder. "Be nicer to your employees, alright?"
Author's note: Li Zhicheng, you fool. You misread everything again.
Chapter 9: The Ninth Cup of Coffee
It was the weekend. The skies were clear and sunny, and a warm breeze fluttered through the wisteria by the window.
Jiang Ying pushed open the glass door of Cloudside Café with her laptop in hand. The first thing she saw was Yun Xian standing in front of a white wall, arms crossed, motionless—as if in deep self-reflection.
She walked to the counter and whispered to Zhao Xinrou, "What's up with him?"
Zhao Xinrou explained, "Some kids were playing around yesterday and left footprints on that wall. The boss has been staring at them all morning."
Jiang Ying was puzzled. "What's so fascinating about footprints?"
Zhao Xinrou shrugged. "Beats me."
Humans often torment themselves—what they dislike most, they can't help but look at. Yun Xian had walked past that wall four or five times today. Even though he knew the footprints annoyed him, like wrinkles on a once-smooth sheet of white paper, his eyes still kept drifting over.
Each time, he'd frown and sigh.
Jiang Ying finally couldn't take it anymore and asked, "Want me to paint over it?"
Yun Xian shook his head. "It'll just get dirty again."
Jiang Ying stared at the wall. From a distance, the footprints were hardly noticeable. A thought struck her, and she smiled. "Yun Xian, are you a Virgo?"
Yun Xian: ...
Silence was all the confirmation she needed. Her face lit up with a victorious grin.
She studied the wall. It was next to the staircase, with a row of decorative photo frames hanging above. Kids often ran up and down the stairs, so this wall was especially prone to getting dirty.
Jiang Ying suggested, "How about a mural? This wall would be perfect."
Yun Xian moved his gaze from the wall to her and nodded approvingly. "That's a great idea."
"Let's do a night scene," Jiang Ying said, sitting on a high stool and measuring with her hands. "Here's the night sky, the moon on the right, a silhouette of the café, and a big tree beside it. What do you think?"
Yun Xian imagined the scene in his mind. "Sounds good. I'll find someone."
He pulled out his phone, but Jiang Ying stopped him and proudly patted her chest. "No need. You've got me. I majored in this."
She stood and approached the wall. "Back in college, I painted a mural on campus. It's not that hard—I can finish it in a few hours."
Yun Xian didn't hold back. "When can you do it?"
"Today. I'm off tomorrow, anyway." Jiang Ying tilted her head and teased, "And if I don't hurry, our perfectionist Virgo boss might go crazy."
That night, after closing the café, Yun Xian and Jiang Ying stayed behind for a late-night painting session.
Jiang Ying drafted the outline. Yun Xian handled the base colors, while she focused on the details. Despite wearing grey aprons, paint still found its way onto their clothes.
As she worked with her palette, Jiang Ying teased, "You're getting paint on you. Can you tolerate that?"
Yun Xian gave her a helpless look and solemnly defended himself. "I don't have OCD or a cleanliness fetish. I just don't like seeing stains on white surfaces."
Jiang Ying quickly appeased him. "Got it, got it. I understand."
They immersed themselves in the work. Once over halfway done, Yun Xian stretched his sore arms. "Thirsty?"
Now that he mentioned it, Jiang Ying realized her throat was dry. "Get me some water, please."
Yun Xian brought her a cup with a straw. Her hands were full, so she leaned over and drank half the glass in one go.
Seeing her gulp it down, Yun Xian chuckled. "If you're tired, we can stop here."
Jiang Ying waved him off. "We're almost done. Leaving it half-finished would be ugly."
She was sweating and felt hot. Her long hair stuck to her neck uncomfortably. After outlining the café, she climbed down the ladder, put down her tools, and tied her hair into a ponytail.
She wore a white square-neck top, and as her hair lifted, her smooth neck and shoulders were exposed. Yun Xian caught sight of a tattoo on her left shoulder—a planet and a red rose.
Drinking water and admiring their work from afar, Jiang Ying asked, "It's almost done—just a few details left. What do you think?"
The once-plain white wall was now vibrant. A moon hung in a dark sky with scattered stars. The café glowed warmly, and a lone figure stood under the tree.
Yun Xian pointed at the man. "Add someone beside him. He looks lonely."
Jiang Ying nodded. "Okay."
It was late. As she painted the final stroke, moonlight bathed the quiet world.
She stretched and let out a contented sigh. "All done!"
Yun Xian handed her the water. "Nice work."
Massaging her sore shoulders, Jiang Ying saw his smile and felt all her exhaustion melt away.
They stood side by side, their shadows overlapping with the ones on the mural.
"Now he's not lonely anymore."
"No, not lonely at all."
Chapter 10: The Tenth Cup of Coffee
In early May, "Small World" was about to roll out a major story update. The staff at Zhicheng Studio had been working nonstop and had to tread carefully around their increasingly moody and unpredictable boss.
After nearly half a month of continuous grind, the May Day holiday finally brought Jiang Ying some rest.
In the past, she and Shen Xuan would spend these short holidays jetting off wherever they fancied. But this year, Shen Xuan was pregnant, so their adventures were on hold.
Staying home had its perks too. Jiang Ying planned to use the holiday to catch up on lost sleep.
But her plan was foiled when she was woken up early on the first morning by a phone call.
"Hello?" Jiang Ying fumbled for her phone with her eyes still shut, half-asleep. "Who is it?"
"Sis! Help!"
"Yuan Yuan?" Hearing her cousin's voice, Jiang Ying jolted awake. Thinking something bad had happened, she sat up. "What's wrong?!"
"I got ghosted by my model! Everything's set up and ready to go, and now she says she can't make it!"
Jiang Ying groaned and collapsed back into bed. "So why are you calling me?"
"Sis," Jiang Yuan Yuan pleaded, "Save me. Just for today—come be my model, please?"
"Me? I'm not cut out for that." Jiang Ying's voice grew fuzzier with sleep, on the verge of drifting off again.
"Please~ It's just a couple of promo shots. Super simple. Please help meee~" Yuan Yuan whined in a fake Taiwanese accent.
"I'm sleeping," Jiang Ying grumbled.
"Sleep my ass! Your poor sister's in a crisis!" Yuan Yuan dropped the act and went straight to threats. "If you don't help me, I'll tell Uncle you're a smoker who parties at bars."
Jiang Ying took a deep breath. "Are you blackmailing me?"
"I'm begging you, sis. The photographer and the male model are already here. Today was the only time they could squeeze me in over the May Day holiday. If you don't come, I'm totally screwed."
There was a long silence on the phone. Yuan Yuan knew her cousin was about to give in. She went in for the kill. "And the male model today? Super hot. You'll regret not meeting him."
"…Fine. Come pick me up."
"Love you!!! Mwah mwah mwah!"
Jiang Ying hung up, groaned, and reluctantly got out of bed. After a quick wash and sunscreen application, Yuan Yuan arrived in a whirlwind.
In the car, Yuan Yuan gave her a bear hug, then pulled back with a frown. "You didn't even put on makeup?"
"Barely had time," Jiang Ying said, rolling her eyes.
She looked tired, her natural beauty dulled slightly by dark circles from overwork.
Yuan Yuan pulled out her makeup kit and began dabbing Jiang Ying's face. "Good thing it's a schoolgirl-themed shoot. Light makeup works."
Jiang Ying, still sleepy, kept her eyes closed and didn't register the theme.
Traffic was a mess. Ten minutes in, they were still stuck on the same street. While Yuan Yuan fidgeted anxiously, Jiang Ying tried to nap.
By the time Yuan Yuan woke her, Jiang Ying had even dreamed a little. She was groggy as she stepped out of the car.
Yuan Yuan handed her the outfit—a white blouse, bowtie, and colorful plaid skirt.
Jiang Ying blinked. "We're shooting this?"
"Yep. JK uniforms are super trendy right now. Don't they scream youthful energy?"
Jiang Ying's brain stalled.
As realization hit, she glanced around. Familiar decor, cozy atmosphere, the logo on the wall with delicate white characters—Cloudside.
If time could rewind, not even a broken leg from her dad would've made her agree to this.
She hadn't been to Cloudside since finishing the mural. At the office she usually just drank instant coffee, but she did miss the café's expensive machine.
Missing it was one thing—playing a schoolgirl in front of Yun Xian was another.
This was insane.
Dragged in by Yuan Yuan, Jiang Ying covered her face. She glanced around the counter. Zhao Xinrou was working, and Su Cheng was probably in the kitchen.
No Yun Xian. Thank god.
She tugged on Yuan Yuan's sleeve. "Is this really okay? Isn't it disruptive?"
"I already cleared it with the boss. He said it's fine. Mornings are usually quiet." Yuan Yuan stuffed the outfit into her arms and pushed her into the restroom. "Go get changed!"
Resigned to her fate, Jiang Ying decided to get it over with quickly.
She wasn't shy around strangers. Once, on an island trip, she and Shen Xuan even danced with locals in costume.
After changing, she adjusted her collar and stepped out. She twirled playfully and asked, "How do I look?"
Surprisingly, the schoolgirl look suited her—she was fresh-faced and full of energy.
"You look amazing," Yuan Yuan said. "Seriously, no one would guess you're twenty-five."
Jiang Ying's smile flattened. "You could've just said I look nice."
The male model wore a matching plaid outfit and white shirt. Tall and youthful, he was a college student doing part-time gigs.
Yuan Yuan tied Jiang Ying's hair into a high ponytail and clipped on a bow. "Sis, be confident! You're the freshest face in town today!"
"Shut up," Jiang Ying muttered.
The photographer chose a well-lit seat and ordered some drinks and desserts for props.
"Look at each other, a bit shy like first love," he instructed.
The model was experienced and natural. His ease helped Jiang Ying relax.
They took some shots facing each other, then a few detail shots of the outfit. Then it was time to change.
Meanwhile, Zhao Xinrou had called Su Cheng from the kitchen, and the two watched the shoot like fans watching drama.
"She looks so cute today," Zhao whispered.
"Shame the boss isn't here," Su Cheng said, munching on fruit scraps.
They exchanged knowing glances.
—"You think there's something between them too?"
—"I thought it was just me!"
Fueled by CP energy, Zhao whispered, "I've watched them for a while. When the boss is here, Jiang Ying stays. When he's not, she takes her coffee to go or plays on her phone and leaves quickly."
Su Cheng added, "That day, the boss put a cheesecake in the fridge. A customer wanted it, but he said it was sold out. Turned out, it was saved for her."
They high-fived, united in their theory: These two were definitely a thing.
Zhao hesitated, then asked, "Should we tell the boss she's here?"
Su Cheng peeked at the scene. "She's feeding the model cake. I'd want to know."
Zhao snapped a few pics and sent them to the work group chat:
Zhao Xinrou: Boss, Jiang Ying's shooting promos in the café.
Su Cheng: The male model just wiped her mouth.
Zhao Xinrou: So cute! She's smiling so happily!
Su Cheng: Honestly, they look good together.
They kept reporting, play-by-play.
Finally, Yun Xian responded:
Yun Xian: No customers? Nothing to do?
The chat went dead.
Everyone had forgotten who held their paychecks.
Su Cheng quietly returned to the kitchen. Zhao picked up a cup and wiped it carefully.
Everything returned to normal.
"Yun Xian? Stop playing on your phone. Watch your fishing rod—I think I saw it move just now," Li Zhicheng lounged back in his foldable chair, legs crossed like a laid-back retiree.
Yun Xian pocketed his phone and checked the rod. No movement. He sat back down and stared across the lake.
His peaceful mood had been wrecked. He had been calm earlier, but now he couldn't sit still.
That morning, Li Zhicheng had dragged him out to the mountains to fish. Two hours had already passed.
Yun Xian cleared his throat. "I think we're good. Let's wrap up here."
Li Zhicheng pulled down his sunglasses, skeptical. "Just one fish each? That's it?"
"The café's busy today. I can't be out here slacking off. Stay if you want, but I'm heading back." Yun Xian began packing up.
Li Zhicheng didn't feel like being poetic alone in the countryside. "Alright, fine. Barbecue next time?"
"We'll see."
They carried their catch back—just two, but both plump from the spring waters. Li washed his hands by the pond. "Stay for lunch at least. We've been at this all morning."
"Nah. Tell your folks thanks. I'm heading out." Yun Xian waved and got into his car.
The drive from the villa to the city took nearly an hour. He sped up and arrived at Cloudside Café forty minutes later.
Golden sunlight streamed through the clouds. Spring blossoms danced in the breeze. Sparrows chirped on the eaves, and laughter drifted on the warm wind.
Jiang Ying happened to glance out the window and saw a man walking toward the café, petals fluttering around his feet.
He wore a white tee under a button-up shirt, light blue jeans, and white sneakers—fresh and effortlessly attractive.
The previous night's rain had left pink and white petals scattered on the ground. It looked as though the world had laid out a flowery path just for him.
Sensing something, Yun Xian paused and turned to the window.
Their eyes met. Jiang Ying's heart skipped a beat. The spring breeze filled her chest.
He smiled gently and nodded before turning and continuing forward.
"Sis? Sis?"
"Huh?" Jiang Ying snapped out of it.
"What are you looking at?" Yuan Yuan asked.
"Nothing."
The doorbell chimed.
"Boss is back!" Zhao Xinrou called from the counter.
The photographer was still explaining the next setup, but Jiang Ying barely registered his words.
Next, they were heading outside to shoot under a tree.
"You two are too far apart. Move closer," the photographer directed.
Yuan Yuan teased, "Are you getting shy, Sis?"
Jiang Ying raised her voice in mock offense, "Shy? Me?"
She stepped up next to the model, their shoulders touching.
"Perfect. Hold that," the photographer said.
Jiang Ying swallowed, feeling strangely guilty. She glanced toward Yun Xian.
Sure enough, he was watching—from inside the café, behind the glass.
She froze, muscles locking up.
The male model crouched, picked a clean flower from the ground, and tucked it behind her ear.
The photographer snapped the moment. "Nice. Now face me. Hold hands."
Jiang Ying looked away. She could still feel Yun Xian's gaze. Her limbs felt awkward, like she had no idea what to do.
It was absurd. Like she was cheating… in plain sight.
Ridiculous! she scolded herself. What nonsense. Pull it together!
It's Labor Day! Be professional!
Steeling herself, she lifted her arm and held the model's hand.
"Great! Now look at each other. Smile."
Click. Click. Click.
Just work. Just photos.
"All done! Great job!" the photographer said.
"Thanks everyone," Yuan Yuan said, handing out water bottles.
Jiang Ying opened one and chugged. Her face was flushed, a light sweat dampening her brow.
The photographer and model packed up and left. The sisters stayed to tidy up.
Jiang Ying changed back into her usual jeans and sneakers and felt far more comfortable.
She figured she should say goodbye. "Wait in the car for me," she told Yuan Yuan.
"Done?" Yun Xian stood at the counter, rolling up his sleeves.
"Yeah," Jiang Ying nodded.
He smiled teasingly. "Didn't know you had a side hustle."
"No way." She waved her hands. "Yuan Yuan roped me in. It's not a side gig."
"You looked great." Yun Xian scooped ice into a cup, then poured in milk.
She assumed he was just being polite. "Oh? You into uniform play?"
His hand paused. He looked up, confused.
"I mean—cute and innocent types. That's your thing?"
He raised an eyebrow, then poured the matcha into the milk. Green swirled into white.
"I just thought you looked good. Like a student." He sealed the lid and handed it to her with a straw. "You look thirsty."
She took the drink, her face going pinker.
Yun Xian leaned on the counter and glanced outside. "Is the cherry blossom park in Yuántóuzhǔ really that beautiful?"
In spring, the blossoms there were famous, painting the landscape in a sea of pink.
Jiang Ying nodded. "Yeah. But it's May already. They're almost gone. Thinking of going?"
He met her eyes. "Yeah. Let's catch the last bloom. Take me?"
Author's note: He's jealous. So, so jealous.