The fine rain fell on the transparent umbrella, gathering along the sloping curve and forming crystal-clear droplets that slid down, splashing into small ripples.
The coffee shop door was pushed open from outside, and a cold breeze stirred the wind chimes, creating a crisp sound.
The shop assistant heard the noise and reflexively called out “Welcome!” Seeing the woman who entered, she was pleasantly surprised: “Sister Shu He, you’re back!”
Shu He placed her umbrella in the stand by the door. She was carrying a small suitcase, her long hair tied in a low bun, and her gentle features seemed tinged with coldness. Her clear eyes calmly surveyed the shop before she gave a soft “Mmm.”
She kept her mask on, speaking with a distinctly nasal voice: “How have the last few days been?”
The coffee shop had only been open for two weeks, and she had been handling most things personally.
This area was near the university district with heavy customer traffic, so she had rushed over straight from the airport, worried the staff might be overwhelmed.
Tong Yuan handed her a packet of tissues and immediately began reporting: “We’ve been quite busy the past few days. There might be fewer people today because of the rain, but the afternoon was still rather hectic.”
Shu He nodded. She turned her head to cough a couple of times. “If it’s not too busy, everyone can head home early today.”
“Fantastic!”
The young women instantly brightened with smiles. Shu He stayed in the shop for a while to review the sales figures from the past few days and organise some training materials.
She had attended a barista training course a few days ago and planned to develop some new products.
After sitting for a bit longer, Shu He left first.
The rain made it difficult to get a taxi. Once inside the car, despite her blocked nose, that stuffy smell still managed to creep in. She frowned, fighting the nausea in her chest while closing her eyes to consider whether she should buy a car.
When she reached the hospital, the cold air rushed in, forcibly clearing her foggy mind somewhat.
Registration, consultation, getting medicine – after completing the entire process, Shu He felt utterly exhausted.
She carried her medicine, feeling puzzled. In previous years, her health had been exceptionally good, and she wouldn’t get sick even drinking cold drinks in winter.
But since graduating, she had been more health-conscious, yet her physical condition had worsened.
Could it really be, as the doctor suggested, caused by exhaustion?
Since returning to Qing Yu, she hadn’t stopped for a moment – from finding a shop location to renovations, to the opening, she had handled everything personally.
This training was perhaps her only break in the three months since her return.
But Shu He still had her doubts.
During university, she had pushed herself even harder than now, working all sorts of part-time jobs – customer service, coffee shop assistant, sales, and so on – often returning to campus just before curfew.
Shu He refused to accept this explanation. While waiting for her ride, she began making a to-do list, planning to resume yoga and incorporate it into her daily routine.
After waiting for ages, the rain grew heavier, yet no driver accepted her booking.
She wore beige trousers today, and the hem was already damp. Combined with feeling unwell and the fog pressing on her nerves, she felt irritable. Just then, through the hazy rain came several car horn blasts.
She looked toward the sound. A black sedan slowly pulled up, and the rear window rolled down. A woman with dyed red curls waved at her: “Xiao Shu! Xiao Shu!”
Shu He hadn’t expected to bump into her landlord here. Li Minyu warmly offered to drive her back. With the heavy rain, she glanced at her phone where no driver had accepted her request, and finally decided to accept the lift.
Seeing she had a small suitcase, Auntie Li asked her nephew to get out and help.
Through the misty rain, Shu He caught a glimpse of the man’s silhouette, though he didn’t seem to notice her.
“Sorry to trouble you, Auntie Li.”
Once in the car, worried about getting mud on the seats, she simply kept her umbrella by her feet. Looking at her soaked trouser hems and new shoes, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all, just leave it there.”
Li Minyu was very enthusiastic, leaning over to place her umbrella on the floor mat and handing her tissues.
“You’re bound to get wet in the rain. It’s fine – my nephew will clean the car when we get back anyway.”
Li’s nephew had just gotten into the car when he heard this comment. The man snorted lightly: “You really do love me, don’t you?”
Shu He expressed her thanks. While she quietly wiped the water droplets from herself, Li Minyu chatted away, her voice also somewhat nasal though her energy remained high: “Have you just returned from a business trip?”
The car seemed to have some kind of air freshener – fresh and elegant, quite different from the stuffy feeling in taxis, and pleasant to smell.
Shu He nodded, about to say something when the man driving spoke without turning his head, his tone carrying a hint of laziness: “What’s the address?”
Shu He gave the address of her residential complex. Seeing he was driving and might be inconvenienced, she said in a slightly hoarse voice: “I’ll input the address.”
Liang Xu didn’t think much of it and casually handed his phone to the person in the back seat.
After Shu He entered the address, they stopped at a red light. He took back his phone and caught a glimpse of her half-face in the rearview mirror.
Li was still talking to Shu He when, two seconds later, Liang Xu suddenly turned around, staring at her in disbelief, looking directly at her as if trying to see through her mask – completely different from his previous casual demeanour.
Auntie Li smacked him on the head: “Why are you staring at someone like that? Where are your manners?”
“Shu He, don’t mind him.”
The words “Shu He” snapped Liang Xu back to reality. His head was buzzing non-stop as he watched the woman cough and adjust her mask, her beautiful features showing signs of fatigue.
The cars behind started honking, so Liang Xu had to turn back and press the accelerator, though his eyes kept darting to the rearview mirror.
His gaze was impossible to ignore, yet Shu He showed no emotional reaction, continuing to listen attentively to Li Minyu.
The turmoil in Liang Xu’s heart gradually settled. At another red light, stuck in traffic, he took out his phone and frantically typed—
Liang Xu: [I’ll give you a chance. Call me daddy, and I’ll tell you some good news.]
The person’s avatar didn’t move, so he continued typing.
Liang Xu: [Or at a friendly price, transfer me 5,000 yuan.]
Liang Xu: [Hey Jing, think carefully. Miss this and you’ll regret it for life.]
He kept sending messages while watching the person in the rearview mirror.
Li Minyu was still chatting with Shu He. “Xiao Shu, you live quite far away.”
Shu He nodded, turning her head to cough twice, her voice rather nasal: “Yes, it’s more affordable here.”
“That must be tough for you, it must take you a long time to get to the shop every day.”
Just as she finished speaking, Liang Xu finally received a reply — [Piss off]
What a temper.
He snorted coldly, glancing at the still-congested road: [I’ll give you one more chance. Tomorrow the price doubles – two new songs.]
His message sank like a stone, and Liang Xu knew without guessing that the person had probably blocked him.
Li Minyu was Shu He’s coffee shop landlord. They chatted a bit more, but noticing her poor health, she stopped talking to avoid disturbing her.
When they reached the complex, the rain had just stopped.
Shu He got out to see Liang Xu already holding her suitcase.
She thanked him in a stuffy voice, and Liang Xu, looking at her aloof profile, brazenly asked: “Do you… still remember me?”
Li Minyu, sitting inside, finally sensed something was off. She stared at him in disbelief. At his age, and with a fiancée no less, why was he trying to chat up this young woman?
Liang Xu didn’t realise Li Minyu had misunderstood. Shu He’s clear eyes swept toward him, seemingly soaked with today’s rain, rippling and distant.
She nodded and said his name, her voice clearly nasal.
Liang Xu sighed in relief. Two years had passed, and she was still as calm and rational as ever, unlike some people who behaved like lost dogs.
—
After taking medicine last night, Shu He had fallen straight asleep. By the next morning, her cold was significantly better.
She still didn’t rest, arriving at the shop to find one employee already there. She first placed several pots of mint leaves by the window, then rolled up her sleeves and began making today’s desserts.
After a busy morning, she spent the afternoon developing new products.
Her coffee shop had a simple name – “Tian Tian” (Every Day). The logo featured two mint leaves she had drawn during university. It was something she had sketched casually back then but used directly for the shop to save money on hiring a designer.
After creating the new items and adjusting them based on everyone’s taste feedback, Shu He was busy until evening. She quickly said goodbye to Tong Yuan and hurried off to her appointment.
When she reached the restaurant, her friend hadn’t arrived yet.
Xiang Lanye: [Sorry sorry! The boss made us work overtime again. I’m on my way! Ten minutes!!]
Shu He: [Okay.]
Shu He waited in the restaurant for a while. About five minutes later, Xiang Lanye sent a voice message: “I’m parking now, just a second— Oh crap!”
She only sent half the message, making Shu He worry something had happened: [What’s wrong?]
Xiang Lanye: [Accidentally bumped someone’s car. Don’t worry, wait for me. I’ll deal with this and come up.]
Concerned, Shu He decided to find her.
This restaurant required reservations, so there was no worry about other customers waiting in line.
She called Xiang Lanye, entered the lift, and after learning her location, pressed the floor button: “I’m coming down now.”
Other people gradually entered the lift.
Shu He stood in the furthest corner.
With a “ding,” the people in front gradually exited. She put away her phone and looked up, but her steps suddenly froze.
The lift door seemed to create a distinct boundary that no one could cross.
The man in the wheelchair had a sickly pale face. His thick black hair partially concealed his brows and eyes. The surrounding noise seemed unrelated to him, his entire being shrouded in a gloomy illusion.
Liang Xu’s voice abruptly stopped. He impatiently lifted his eyelids, light and shadow falling on his pale profile—
Their gazes collided unexpectedly in the cold air.
It was as if something shattered in an instant. The man gripped the wheelchair armrest tightly. His dark eyes suddenly contracted, staring at her without blinking. His fingertips turned white, his Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed, as if his breath had been suppressed, unable to speak for a long time.
Liang Xu glanced at the person in the wheelchair and stiffly greeted her: “Shu He, what a coincidence.”
The lift door was about to close automatically. Shu He snapped back to reality, pressed the open button and stepped out, nodding to him with a distant expression, her gaze not lingering anywhere for even a second.
As if she had merely bumped into an unfamiliar acquaintance.
She left unhurriedly, her footsteps showing no trace of panic.
Liang Xu watched the person still fixated on her retreating figure and said with some sympathy: “Why didn’t you say anything just now?”
Jing Yi didn’t answer him. He extended his hand with extreme slowness, his pale fingertips suspended in mid-air, as if trying to grasp something.
Liang Xu couldn’t understand what he meant and was about to push him into the lift when Jing Yi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice hoarse: “Wait.”
Out of Liang Xu’s sight, his dry pupils gradually moistened. His eyelashes trembled slightly as he slowly withdrew his hand, his nose still lingering with the faint fragrance she had left when passing by.
“She… changed her perfume.”
He murmured, almost in a trance. Light and shadow fell on his downcast eyes, making his emotions unclear.
“What?” Liang Xu didn’t understand his words. He moved around to the front, but the words on the tip of his tongue instantly stopped—
“Are you serious right now?”
Just an hour ago, he had been cold-faced, with a world-weary and dispirited appearance.
But now, his raven-like eyelashes cast a small shadow downward, his eyes reddening, filled with mist, as if tears would roll down at any moment.
Liang Xu scratched his head, staring in disbelief at his pitiful appearance: “What’s wrong with you?”
“You didn’t greet her just now, and after she left, you’re about to cry?”
He still couldn’t believe it – a grown man, so easily red-eyed??
Shu He ignored him, yet he still remembered what perfume she used.
“Who’s going to see you cry now? Besides, isn’t changing perfume perfectly normal?”
In two years, anything could change.
Jing Yi’s eyelashes were wet, his nose painfully sour. Liang Xu pushed him into the lift. In the large mirror was his crippled image sitting in a wheelchair.
He endured the sourness in his chest that nearly devoured him. But when he closed his eyes, his mind was filled with her elegantly made-up appearance.
Those beautiful, familiar amber eyes, calm and cold.
Just steps away, from a higher angle, without joy or surprise at the reunion.
Not even a ripple was stirred.
In her eyes when she looked at him.
There was no longer any trace of warmth.
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