The week blurred past in a rush for Zhou Yu.
Every day was packed—morning interviews, a fashion magazine shoot under blazing lights, rehearsals for a variety show, and late-night meetings with his agency. Everywhere he went, Wei Xing was by his side, following quietly, taking notes, carrying his schedules, and making sure he never missed a cue.
Though she tried her best to remain invisible, Zhou Yu's gaze found her often, teasing her when others weren't looking. But between the chaos of cameras and the flashing stage lights, there was little time for the two of them to truly speak.
Finally, the weekend had arrived—a rare holiday for Wei Xing.
She made her way to Ruo Mei's home and café, the little place already transformed since her last visit. The once quiet shop was now warm and lively, a few tables filled with regulars sipping coffee. The air smelled faintly of cinnamon and roasted beans. Wei Xing even helped serve customers, enjoying the rare simplicity of an ordinary day.
By the time the crowd thinned, the clock had already crept toward four in the afternoon. She and Ruo Mei finally sat down with cups of steaming coffee in hand.
After a quiet sip, Wei Xing spoke, her voice hesitant.
"Ruo Ruo… do you remember the boy I used to call Xiao Dan, back in junior high?" Her words trembled with nervous laughter. "Do you still remember him?"
Ruo Mei tilted her head, thinking. After a pause, she nodded.
"Hmmm… yeah, I do. Why are you asking about him now?"
Wei Xing smiled shyly, her cheeks tinged pink. "I just wanted to know… have you seen him again, maybe?"
Ruo Mei hesitated, then lowered her voice. "Actually… yes. Once. He came to me and asked about you."
Wei Xing's eyes widened. "What? Really?"
Murmured herself, "Does he still remember me."
"Yes," Ruo Mei said slowly, frowning as she recalled. "And he was serious—cold even. When he asked about you, it was like he wanted to… catch you for something. Almost like revenge."
Wei Xing's heart clenched sharply, like an arrow piercing straight through. She swallowed. "Re… revenge? On me?"
Trying to steady herself, she asked, "Did he tell you his name? Or where he lives?"
Ruo Mei furrowed her brows, searching her memory. "It was something like… Zhou… Zhou…"
Wei Xing's breath caught. "Zhou Yu?"
"Yes!" Ruo Mei's eyes lit with recognition. "That's it. Zhou Yu!"
Before Wei Xing could react, the café door chimed open. A familiar voice called out—calm, deep, unmistakable.
"Hello."
Wei Xing's body froze, then in panic, she ducked under the table.
Ruo Mei spun around, eyes wide. "Zhou Yu…?"
There he was—tall, striking, dressed in casual clothes but with an aura that drew every glance.
Ruo mei asked him with a pretending fierce voice, " I've told you, I don't know about her. Why are you here."
"Excuse me... I'm just here for coffee," he said coolly. "I heard this place has a signature blend. Something with cinnamon and honey, right? My fans mentioned it. It's still not too popular, is it? That's why I came. Easier to have some peace."
"What? You don't welcome me?" He asked coldly.
Ruo Mei stammered, trying to calm her racing heart. "Ah… y-yes, of course. Please sit."
Zhou Yu slid into the chair directly in front of the table where Wei Xing was hiding. Ruo Mei, panicked, shot nervous glances downward, but Wei Xing curled tighter in the shadows, afraid even to breathe.
She brought him the coffee, hands shaking slightly. Zhou Yu lifted it, took a slow sip, and nodded. "Good".
He continued, "the place too, Nice. Familiar, in a way. Brings a little peace."
He pulled out his phone, snapping casual photos of the café. In a few of the shots, a vague silhouette could be seen at the edge of the frame—Wei Xing's figure, hidden but not completely erased.
Zhou Yu leaned back, his tone cold again. "Don't worry. I'll find her. Definitely."
Ruo Mei's chest tightened at his words.
Moments later, he left, pulling his car into the busy street. But as soon as the door shut behind him, his mask cracked into a wide smile. His voice dropped to a whisper, trembling with suppressed joy.
"I knew it. You're here…"
Inside the café, Ruo Mei rushed to Wei Xing, who was still sitting on the floor in shock, her heart pounding painfully.
Ruo Mei shook her shoulder. "Wei Wei! Come out, he's gone!"
Wei Xing finally blinked, her breath shaky. "…Ruo Ruo… is he really Xiao Dan?"
Ruo Mei nodded firmly. "Yes. He is. But why did you hide when you saw him?"
Wei xing's heart striked with another arrow that had pierced a little more.
Wei Xing's lips trembled as she whispered, "Because… he's Zhou Yu."
Ruo mei said, " yesss! He is... but, you don't know, right?"
Wei xing said, "I'm his assistant."
Ruo Mei froze, then screamed, "AAAAAAH—! That's why I felt familiar when I heard that name."
They both sat back down, stunned into silence.
After a long moment, Ruo Mei burst into laughter. "Wei Wei, I think I just found the plot for my new novel."
Wei Xing smirked weakly, covering her red face. "Don't mock me… haa…"
The two of them sighed in unison, sinking into their chairs, their hearts still racing.
After Wei Xing reached home, silence clung to her apartment like a heavy fog. She dropped her bag by the door and sank into the couch, her fingers instinctively searching for the old photo album.
There it was—the photo of Xiao dan alias Zhou Yu, the same one Zhou Yu had stumbled upon last time. In the picture, he was younger, still the boy from junior high. His face was vivid in her memory because of his hairstyle.shy features, eyes that often avoided direct gazes, the kind that darted away the moment someone looked too closely. His smile had been awkward, timid, yet it carried a warmth that could linger long after he left. Zhou Yu had always been the type to sit quietly at the back of the classroom, introverted, never loud. While others played freely in the schoolyard, he often clutched his notebooks to his chest, looking like he belonged to a quieter world.
Wei Xing traced her fingers across his image, her chest tightening. "How can you be the same person…" she whispered, her lips trembling. Clutching the photo, she curled up on the sofa, sadness weighing down her eyelids until sleep pulled her under.
When she stirred again, the room was cloaked in darkness. The clock ticked past midnight—12:07.
Dragging herself up, she sighed, wanting to push away the heavy thoughts. She reached for the remote and switched on the TV. A random music channel lit up the screen, and soon, a cheerful tune filled the silence.
🎵 I like to eat in the middle of the night,
Cookies and cream under pale moonlight… 🎵
Wei Xing chuckled softly at the playful lyrics. "Midnight snack?" she muttered, then hummed along, her voice soft but steady. Before long, she was standing in front of the fridge, swaying with the rhythm as she searched for something sweet.
When the chorus came, she even pointed at the milk carton like a microphone.
🎵 Donuts, sweets, and strawberry bites.
Every little flavor reminds me of you… 🎵
The absurdity of it made her laugh, but as the song ended, her chest tightened again. She sank onto the floor, clutching her knees, and let out a raw shout that echoed off the walls.
"I never thought… I'd end up like this!" she cried hoarsely. "The one I'm searching for, the one I'm working for—it's the same person. And one side he teases me, the other side… he wants revenge. What am I supposed to do…?"
Her voice broke into a whisper, lost in the quiet.
Then—
Clang.
A noise echoed from the balcony. Wei Xing froze, her heart leaping. Barefoot, in her pajamas, she tiptoed toward the sliding door. Her pulse quickened with every step. The night air seeped through the glass, cool against her skin.
As she reached for the handle, a voice rang out from the shadows outside:
"What are you doing in the middle of the night?"
Wei Xing's blood ran cold.
She pushed the door open with a burst of defiance and stepped out, her eyes sharp despite the tremble in her body. "Who's there?!" she shouted fiercely.
The dim balcony light flickered, and then—
He stepped forward from the beside balcony.
Zhou Yu.
For a moment, her brain stalled, refusing to process. The boy from the photo, the actor from her mission, the ghost from her memories—standing in front of her under the midnight sky.
Wei Xing's breath hitched. Her mind went blank.
Her brain… was not braining.
Shock swallowed her whole.
And suddenly another arrow pierced her heart totally.
Zhou Yu...