Xiao mei did not expect Chi yuan to return to the milk tea shop the next day, yet he did. And the day after that. At first she thought he only came because the shop was close to his company and he might like their drinks. She kept trying to convince herself that he was not coming for her. Someone like him would never come for her. But he always appeared at almost the same hour, always when she was working the counter, and every time he stepped inside, her heart skipped in a way she could not control.
He ordered quietly and always the same drink. A simple milk tea with less sugar. It made her smile inside because she expected a CEO to drink something fancy, not something so ordinary. The world outside believed Chi yuan was complicated, but from what she saw, he seemed simple in many ways. Maybe too simple for the world he lived in.
One afternoon, when the shop was less busy, her manager nudged her lightly and whispered something about this being her chance. Xiao mei almost choked on her own breath. Her chance for what. To get fired. To embarrass herself. To somehow insult a CEO. She begged her manager not to make things awkward, but the woman only laughed and walked away.
Chi yuan approached the counter. Xiao mei tried her best to stay calm, but her fingers trembled slightly when she handed him his change. He noticed. His eyes lowered for a second, then lifted to her face again. There was no judgment in his expression. Only quiet curiosity.
He told her he remembered seeing her by the river. He said he had been having a difficult week and her words helped him more than she knew. His voice was steady and calm, but something in it still carried a faint sadness, like an echo that never fully disappeared. She did not know what to say. She only nodded and told him she was glad she could help even a little.
He asked for her name. Her heart jumped again but she told him. Xiao mei. He repeated it softly, almost like he was tasting the name on his tongue. She felt her face warm. She thanked the heavens she was behind the counter so he could not see all of her embarrassment.
When he left the shop that day, she leaned against the counter with her knees weak. Her co workers teased her gently. She ignored them but she knew deep inside that she was falling for him faster than she should.
The next week was the same pattern. He visited the shop often, sometimes buying two drinks. One for himself and one for his assistant who always followed behind him with a nervous expression. Xiao mei learned that Chi yuan was strict at work. People feared disappointing him. But around her he was calm, almost gentle.
She did not understand why. It confused her. But it made her happy too.
One evening when her shift ended, she stepped outside to find him standing near the entrance as if he had been waiting. She froze where she stood. He gave her a small nod and said he wanted to walk a little to clear his mind. Then he pointed toward the river path. She understood instantly. He wanted company. Or maybe he just wanted silence next to someone who would not ask him difficult questions. She agreed even though her legs were shaking slightly with nervousness.
They walked side by side. At first they did not talk. The city lights reflected on the river water, and the breeze felt cool on their skin. She could feel his presence so clearly it was almost overwhelming. He was tall and neat and carried an aura she could not describe. Yet at the same time, he felt reachable. Like the calm part of a storm.
After a while he told her more about the breakup he had gone through. He said it quietly, as if the wind might carry the words away. The woman he had loved was named Xi fei. They had known each other for years and everyone believed they would get married someday. He thought so too. But she left him for reasons Xiao mei could not fully understand. He said Xi fei told him they were not meant to be anymore. That her heart was tired. That she needed something different from life.
When he finished the story, he let out a long breath. Xiao mei wanted to tell him everything would be alright, but she stopped herself. She did not want to say something foolish that would only make him feel worse. Instead she told him the truth. That losing someone you loved was one of the hardest things a person could go through. And that healing took time. And that even strong people had the right to fall apart sometimes.
He looked at her with an expression she could not read. Something soft. Something surprised. Something almost grateful. She wondered how someone so powerful could look so human. She wondered how much he must have loved Xi fei to still hurt this deeply.
And she wondered why her own heart was aching for him too.
When they reached the end of the path, he thanked her again. He said he was not used to talking openly but with her it felt easy. She almost lost her breath hearing that. She told him he did not owe her anything. He gave a faint smile, the kind that flickered like candlelight. Then he walked away, leaving her standing with her heart trembling inside her chest.
From that day on, she began thinking about him more than she should. When she woke up. When she worked. When she tried to study. She tried to push the thoughts away but they kept returning. His voice. His eyes. His sadness. His rare gentle smile. They all stayed with her.
She knew it was dangerous. Falling for someone who still loved another woman was like walking toward a fire while hoping not to burn. But her heart had already taken its first steps.
Meanwhile, Chi yuan's visits became more frequent. Sometimes he bought his drink and left quickly because of work. Other times he lingered for a moment before going. Her coworkers teased her more openly now. Even customers whispered when he appeared. Some people joked that the richest man for miles was coming to see a simple girl at a milk tea shop. Xiao mei tried to ignore them but her face always heated up.
One afternoon, Cong er, her best friend, came to the shop to meet her after class. Cong er immediately noticed Chi yuan's presence. She elbowed Xiao mei with a suspicious expression and asked if she had anything she wanted to confess. Xiao mei denied everything. But she could not hide the faint blush on her cheeks. Cong er rolled her eyes and said quietly that men like him were dangerous for hearts like hers. She told Xiao mei to be careful, because love could be gentle at first but cruel later.
Xiao mei knew her friend meant well. But something inside her refused to step back. Something whispered that maybe this was fate, even if it felt impossible. Maybe she could be the person who healed him. Maybe her love would be enough one day. She was young and hopeful and did not yet understand how deeply a heart could break.
That night, after finishing her shift, she walked home slowly. She thought about his eyes and the way he softened when he looked at her. She thought about the river path and the quiet evening air. She thought about Xi fei, the woman who had left him, and wondered what she looked like and what she had that Xiao mei did not.
When she reached her small bedroom, she sat on her bed and whispered to herself in the dark. She did not know she was already falling in love. She did not know how much she would give up because of that love. She did not know how much it would hurt later.
All she knew was that her heart was moving toward Chi yuan, step by hesitant step.
And she was too young and too gentle to stop it.