Chapter 14: A Cup of Mocha

 

As the sun sank and the gathering dispersed, the four of them walked on, each lost in their own thoughts. Strangely, no one spoke.

It wasn’t until Jiang Wei finally regained some awareness that he subconsciously leaned close to Ruan Jing’s ear and whispered something. At this moment, Ruan Jing slightly lowered her head, her brows faintly furrowed. Walking behind them, Zhao Qiyan turned his gaze away. Her warmth still lingered on his arms, yet he could no longer ask for more. It was always like this—endless cycles of self-torture.

He knew Ruan Jing had already been very lenient with him. But it was not enough.

When someone beside him reached out to hold his hand, Qiyan instinctively dodged slightly. Then, without control, he looked toward Ruan Jing. But she showed no interest at all in what was happening behind her.

A wave of bitterness surged in his heart.

Xu Wei had been carefully observing Qiyan’s expression. She understood it too well. She had never seen Zhao Qiyan care so deeply about anyone before—he looked completely distracted, as if his soul had left his body.

She couldn’t help looking toward the woman ahead. To say she wasn’t jealous would be a lie. She didn’t think she was inferior. If anything, Ruan Jing merely carried a bit more absent-minded coldness than other women.

Yet she wasn’t completely indifferent to Qiyan either. There was a faint gentleness in her attitude—just enough to trap him and make him unable to let go.

When they reached the activity center entrance, Jiang Wei—who bore the least emotional burden—was the first to break the awkward silence.

“Let’s compete again sometime,” he said to Zhao Qiyan and Xu Wei.

Xu Wei nodded vaguely.

After hesitating, Jiang Wei turned to Ruan Jing.
“Shall I take you home?”

Ruan Jing smiled lightly. Her gaze was calm.
“Then I’ll trouble you.”

Xu Wei instinctively glanced at the person beside her, afraid Qiyan might act impulsively. But he only lowered his gaze and bid farewell politely.

Their relationship had always lingered on the edge. He dared not reveal too much of his feelings. Once things went deeper, he feared they wouldn’t even be able to remain friends.

As her slender figure disappeared down the corridor, Qiyan withdrew his thoughts. He realized that calm restraint and desperate struggle were separated by only a thin line.

On the way back, Xu Wei tried repeatedly to save the awkwardness of the evening. But every attempt at conversation ended in his distraction.

Even when he drove her to her apartment building, the usually courteous Qiyan forgot to say goodbye and left directly.

Xu Wei felt dazed. Even losing a lawsuit had never made her feel this miserable.

Qiyan stepped hard on the accelerator, driving until he suddenly stopped at a ninety-degree turn by the dimly lit riverside. He got out of the car and leaned against the door, staring at the river for a long time.

The night breeze carried a chill, yet he only felt restless.

At that moment, his phone rang abruptly.

He took it out without checking the caller ID and answered in a hoarse voice.

“Who is this?”

The other party seemed surprised. After two seconds, she replied,
“Ruan Jing.”

His hand froze mid-motion.

Qiyan stood stiffly, almost doubting his hearing. Some things had been fantasized about too many times—when they finally happened, they felt unreal.

Hearing no response, Ruan Jing began to regret calling.
“I thought… you asked me out for coffee.”

Qiyan immediately remembered whispering to her at the court,
“Later… would you like to come to my café?”

He had never expected an answer. He had only asked out of unwillingness to become strangers again.

“I’ll come right away. Wait ten minutes—no, five minutes,” he said, forcing calmness.

At the same time, he slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“Take your time. I’ll wait,” Ruan Jing replied naturally.

She meant nothing by it.

But his hands nearly slipped from the steering wheel.

She didn’t know how ambiguous those words sounded to him.

“Mm.”

Afraid she might change her mind, he ended the call immediately.

Looking at himself in the rearview mirror, his tightly pressed lips curved upward.

He hadn’t realized he was so easily affected. One bit of sweetness from Ruan Jing was enough to throw him into chaos.

When he arrived at the café, Ruan Jing was already sitting in her usual seat, calmly sipping mocha.

He walked over cautiously, approaching the figure that had made him lose control so many times.

She turned her head at just the right moment and smiled gently.

Compared to her composure, his nervousness was obvious.

He sat across from her. The waiter, seeing the owner, automatically served Blue Mountain coffee.

He wanted to act natural, but it was difficult.

He took two sips.

“Why did you suddenly agree to come?” he asked.

The caffeine strangely calmed him.

“I came because I wanted to,” Ruan Jing replied simply.

But her heart wasn’t entirely steady.

She knew Qiyan had feelings for her. He wasn’t very obvious, yet not subtle either.

She had thought she would resist such relationships. But now, she doubted her own emotional indifference.

Noticing him watching her intently, as if studying her words—or studying her—she felt slightly uneasy.

She had never fully understood him. Yet even without considering deeper layers, his occasional charm was enough to attract people.

She didn’t know if she, too, had been affected. Perhaps that was why she didn’t question his unusual behavior.

“We’ve got a new dessert. Want to try it?” Qiyan asked softly.

“Sure. I trust your taste,” she smiled.

It was just polite conversation.

But his heart tingled.

“I keep forgetting to thank you,” she said.

“For what?”

“For saving me from becoming a drowned ghost on the island.”

He smiled bitterly. She still didn’t know he had once been angry about that.

“Be more careful. You won’t always be that lucky.”

“I’ll stay five meters away from all rivers and lakes,” she nodded seriously.

He laughed.
“That’s not necessary. If I teach you to swim, you can play in water however you want.”

Her interest sparked.
“When are you free? I’ll come learn.”

“Ruan Jing… I’ve been waiting for you.”

His meaningful words stunned her.

He was nervous too.

He didn’t know why he suddenly became so direct. He had circled meaningless topics for so long, but his urgency finally broke free.

Her moist lips carried the scent of coffee—a blend of fruity sweetness and faint wine aroma…

If he kissed her now, mocha would become his lifelong favorite.

He pressed his forehead.

He was hopeless.

The waiter brought the dessert. Ruan Jing used it to calm herself.

Maybe she should clarify things…

“Will you walk outside with me?” Qiyan asked.

The streets were quiet. After nine, most shops were closed. Only a few drink stores and convenience shops remained open.

“Ruan Jing, is accepting me really that difficult?”

She stopped abruptly.

There was no transition at all.

After a moment, she lowered her head.

“Isn’t being friends good enough?”

He gently wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“No.”

He could no longer pretend.

“Ruan Jing…”
He murmured against her neck, sounding wronged.

He liked her so much. His heart no longer belonged to himself.

Why couldn’t she respond, even a little?

After a long silence, she spoke softly.

“Qiyan… we’re impossible.”

It was the first time she had called him by name.

And it hurt him beyond words.

Thoughts:

This chapter is a major emotional turning point. Zhao Qiyan moves from silent longing to open confession, while Ruan Jing gently but firmly draws a boundary. The café scene symbolizes temporary warmth, while the final rejection reinforces the emotional distance between them, deepening the story’s romantic tension.