Spring mornings in Xuanjing were beautiful. Filling every corner of the room with it's morning sunlight. The room was filled with scents of fresh cherry blossom petals and freshly crushed coffee beens with it's vapour rising from it's cup.
Lin Yuexin half awake looked at the mirror in her bedroom. Her golden-brown hair fell softly, light as a cloud and her soft long bangs refusing to reconcile with her long eyelashes reflected the sunlight. She rubbed her cat-eyes and pinched her soft pink chubby cheeks.
"…Why do I look like I just came from a battle field?"
Yuexin sighed and went toward the living room. She picked up her coffee from the table and took a deep breath before taking a sip.
"Meow!" "Meow!"
Yuexin looked down, a cat rubbing it's face against her leg. "Yue An..." She picked her up and went toward a box of cat food sitting on the table. "You look so full of energy early in the morning." Yuexin poured the cat food on the cat bowl.
She smiled and continued. "Yue An.. I might come home late today. So I'll leave at the pet daycare and I'll tell the shopkeeper to take care of you for a while."
From downstairs, a very familiar voice echoed through the building—
"LIN YUEXIN! WE ARE GETTING LATE FOR CLASS! HURRY UP AND COME DOWN IN TEN SECONDS!"
Yuexin froze. Then panicked.
"I'M COMING! DON'T GO LEAVING ME ALONE!"
She finished her coffee in just seconds and put on a pastel colored blouse, tucked it into a high-waisted jeans. She nearly tripped over her own white sneakers before heading out with one hand holding her laptop and bag and on the other hand Xiao Mo.
Ten minutes later—
"I said ten seconds," Tang Meiling said flatly, arms crossed.
"Ten seconds is not enough for me." Yuexin replied, slightly out of breath. " To be honest, I needed more than that."
Meiling let out a sigh and bend down, "Yue An in the future don't be like your owner!"
Yuexin smirked, "there is a saying that pets are like their owner!"
Meiling laughed and took Yuexin's bag from her. "Let's go!"
After a few blocks, they finally reached the pet-care shop, "Paw & Pets." The shopkeeper was a woman early in her thirties named Ting Wei.
"You are late today, Yuexin", the woman said in a calm voice. "I lost the track of time!", Yuexin replied. "Ahh... Ting Wei-jie, today I might be late to pick her up... so can you..."
The woman chuckled and said, "don't worry, I take care of like usual." "Thank you Ting Wei-jie!" Yuexin replied. Then she handed Yue An to her and stepped out.
Up ahead, near the intersection, Zhao Wenxi stood quietly scrolling absentmindedly through her tablet, the soft glow relecting in her eyes. While Qin Ruo leaned beside her—close enough to glance at her screen without asking.
"You're late," Qin Ruo said the moment they approached.
"I'm fashionably on time," Yuexin corrected.
"You're neither."
"…That's unexpected," Wenxi murmured. Yuexin and Ruo glanced over. Wenxi tilted the screen slightly. A familiar face appeared—elegant, distant, almost unreal.
"Lian originally known as Su Lianyu announces return after five-year hiatus."
"…He's coming back?" Qin Ruo said, surprised. "After disappearing like that?" Meiling added. Yuexin blinked. "…Five years is a long time." Wenxi hummed quietly.
Then the group fell into step, heading toward the university gates. The streets were alive—vendors setting up stalls, students rushing past, faint lantern lights still glowing from the night before. Petals drifted through the air, catching in Yuexin's hair.
Meiling excitedly said, "I can't believe the legendary Singer Su Lianyu is coming back with his amazing angelic voice." Everyone laughed and then—
"Wait, what is that—"
A blur of black shot out from the side.
"HEY—?!"
THUD!
"MY PHONE—!"
CRACK.
Time seemed to pause.
Yuexin slowly looked down. Her phone lay on the ground. Screen shattered. Spirit broken. Future uncertain.
"…I just bought this recently," she whispered.
A black cat landed gracefully a few steps away. It turned. Sat. And stared at her.
Not apologetically. Not even neutrally.
But with what Yuexin could only describe as…
mischievousness.
"…You," Yuexin said slowly, pointing at it.
The cat blinked.
"You broke my phone."
The cat blinked again.
"Say something!"
"Yuexin," Wenxi said gently, "it's a cat. Aren't you a cat lover?"
"I know it's a cat! and I love cats but..." Yuexin snapped. "But look at it! That is not the face of innocence!"
Qin Ruo snorted. "Yeah, it looks like it planned this."
"Exactly!" Yuexin nodded vigorously. "This is premeditated!"
The cat flicked its tail.
"…You're paying for this," Yuexin muttered darkly.
"Are you alright?"
The voice came from behind her.
Yuexin turned. And blinked. Okay.
First thought: Wow.
Second thought: …Wow.
Third thought: ...He is so beautiful!
The man standing there was tall, composed, dressed in light-colored clothing that made him blend with the soft colors of spring. But something about him seemed quite strange. Like he's hidding something sad behind his smile.
His gaze settled on her. And something in his expression shifted.
"…You're still the same."
Yuexin stared. "…Excuse me?"
He stepped closer. Not threatening. Not rushed. Just… calm. Like he had nowhere else to be.
"For a moment," he said softly, "I thought this time would be different."
Yuexin looked at Meiling. Then at Wenxi. Then at Qin Ruo. Then back at him.
"…Do I owe you money?" she asked seriously.
A pause.
"…No."
"Then why are you talking like we have a tragic backstory?" she continued. "Because I'm pretty sure I would remember your face."
Qin Ruo coughed, trying to hide his laughter.
Meiling whispered, "Yuexin, maybe don't offend the mysterious handsome stranger—"
"I'm not offending him, I'm investigating," Yuexin whispered back.
The man watched her quietly.
And for a brief moment— Something almost like amusement flickered in his eyes.
Behind him, unnoticed by most— The black cat had walked over. And sat neatly beside him.
Yuexin froze. "…Wait." She pointed. Slowly.
"That cat," she said. "That criminal." "…Is it yours?" The cat flicked its tail again.
The man glanced down at it. Then back at her.
"Yes."
Silence.
Yuexin took a deep breath. "Great," she said, smiling brightly. "Then you owe me a phone."
Qin Ruo lost all composure. Meiling choked. Even Wenxi looked mildly surprised.
The man—remained calm. "…It wasn't intentional."
Yuexin crossed her arms. "Oh, so it breaks phones accidentally? That's worse. That means it's a repeat offender."
The cat—let out a soft meow.
"Don't 'meow' at me," Yuexin said immediately. "You have responsibilities."
Another pause.
"…I'll compensate you," Mo Zeyan said.
Yuexin blinked. Then instantly straightened. "Well," she said politely, "you seem like a very responsible and trustworthy individual."
Qin Ruo: "That was fast."
Mo Zeyan watched her quietly. "…You haven't changed."
Yuexin frowned slightly. "…We really haven't met before, right?"
A pause. "…No."
But this time— There was the faintest hesitation.
Yuexin narrowed her eyes. "Hmm." Then shrugged. "Alright. As long as you pay, we're good."
She turned, grabbing Meiling's arm. "Let's go before I get emotionally attached to my broken phone."
"YOU WERE JUST DEMANDING JUSTICE—" "I've evolved."
They walked away, their voices fading into the lively street. Yuexin didn't look back.
Didn't notice— That behind her— that man hadn't moved. Then the cat brushed lightly against his leg.
"…She's even more troublesome this time," he murmured.
The cat blinked.
The man's gaze remained fixed on the direction she had gone. Calm. Quiet.
But then he frozed and then looked at his cat, "Mo Ling, I forgot to ask her contact number. How will I contact or pay for her phone?"
The cat— Mo Ling glared at him.
"Forget it! I'm sure... We'll meet again."
The spring breeze passed through the alley, carrying petals into the air. For a brief moment— They seemed to linger. As if time itself had paused— Just slightly.