Want to know what love at first sight is?
Precisely this second.
It was at this very moment that she fell for the guy right across from her, separated only by the sales counter.
Tong Nian looked down, (Her) fingers typing rapidly on the keyboard, she was just trying to make a new password. But in her head she was trying to recall what had happened just a second ago. When he said "night pass", did she smile or not? Maybe the corners of her lips tilted up? Or did she freeze?
With great difficulty she finished the new password setup. When she finished, she picked up a slip of paper and wrote down the username and password.
"Uh...Night pass starts at eleven and ends at six. Here we usually close at seven, so seven also works." She set the slip on the counter, and used what she thought was her cutest voice to act gentle and considerate. She even looked at him with a cute expression and said, "Ah, here." She pointed to the cabinet behind her, "There is also ramen and beverages. If you are hungry, you can ask me anytime and I can boil water for your ramen."
The guy she had just sent sparks to appeared not to be paying any attention. He just nodded casually, took the slip of paper and left.
He did not look at the unfamiliar girl any more than necessary…..
Definitely a good guy!
Originally coerced by her best friend (of the opposite gender, potentially gay best friend) and confidante, to help him look after a small net café, she did not expect to get herself caught in a love web. By the time the man walked into the room and chose a window seat, she had already made a decision. Tonight she will make up a white lie and not go home. She would stay and volunteer to help her friend watch the café all night.
So when her best friend brought back two boxes of Japanese Oden, he noticed Tong Niang hiding behind the counter opening up a bowl of ramen and deftly taking a few packages of spicy chicken feet. It shocked him that her expression was one of someone who has recently fallen deeply in love.
"Hey, what are you up to?" Her best friend thought that she was going to wait till he was done eating and write him on the bill. From behind, he extended his hand and tapped her shoulder, "If you secretly eat the food, at least get something of better quality. The cupboard contains Ferrero Rocher."
"Really?" Tong Niang was slightly flustered as she put these on the newly cleaned platter. Without raising her head, she ordered her friend, "Quickly, hand it over."
(The) best friend was at a loss for words..
He obediently handed over his secret stash that he had planned to eat later on that night, thinking that Tong Nian would save some for him. However, he did not expect his bestie to empty the whole entire package directly onto the platter.
Then she carried the sumptuous late-night snack "meal option", and walked towards the corner of the net café.
Nervous.
So nervous.
Despite wearing flats, she still felt that she could slip and fall at any moment. The further she walked, the more worried she got about spilling the ramen broth, and the more unsteady she became. If only she had known earlier, she would have made fried instant noodles for him...
Just as the instant noodle soup spilled for the second time, she finally stopped behind him. In a slight daze, she looked around the room before calming down with great difficulty: "Uh...Hi."
God, how was her voice so astringent.
What a joke, and with a female singer's beautiful voice too...
The man did not respond.
The headset remained in its original position, he used his own headphones from home. This scene, a man who was good looking must wear headphones to look good—this was definitely what she had found particularly pleasing ever since she was young. This man, from the moment he came into the net café, his each and every movement (and action) hit a bulls-eye.
The computer screen had a maximized game window, so he be should currently playing a game. But he obviously wasn't using the keyboard. Tong Nian reached out her index finger and lightly poked his shoulder.
The person in front of her sensed something and finally turned around.
She set the plate in front of him: "This...is the café's late night meal set."
"Oh?" He first expressed surprise, and then quickly determined the situation, "How much?" So she was actually marketing food options.
Was it popular nowadays to market things at a net café? Though, ten dollars for a night pass was indeed earning very little.
Thinking this, he somewhat lazily took out some money from the jacket that hung on the chair.
"Ah? Don't worry about …."
"Thirty," Suddenly her bestie came behind and put a hand on her shoulder. Smiling happily, he said, "Individually it is forty but the meal combo is thirty."
Tong Nian's cheeks turned red, and she repeatedly signaled her friend with her eyes.
Her friend pretended not to see.
The two exchanged multiple glances. To the guy it looked like a "little sweethearts dispute over pricing". He once again said "Oh?" and put fifty on the table, "Then can I trouble you to please go bring a can of Sprite as well, thanks."
Thus their conversation ended like this.
Everything she had rehearsed ended before anything even started...