Ming had just finished a long meeting with Hua about the final stages of the merger. The pressure had been intense lately, but spending time with her had become a welcome escape. He'd grown so accustomed to their routine, their banter, and their evolving relationship that he felt more at ease with her than ever before.
But tonight, Ming had decided to head home early to relax. It had been a while since he had a quiet evening to himself. He made himself some tea and sat down on the couch, flipping through some paperwork while the sound of the city buzzed faintly outside his window.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, pulling him out of his thoughts. He wasn't expecting anyone, so he assumed it might be a delivery or something simple. Ming stood up and walked to the door, opening it without much thought.
There she stood.
A figure from his past, someone he hadn't seen in years, but who had once held an enormous place in his life.
"Xueyao?" Ming asked, his voice filled with disbelief.
Xueyao smiled warmly, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia. "Ming," she said softly. "It's been a long time."
Ming stood frozen in the doorway for a moment, trying to process what he was seeing. Xueyao had left years ago, moving to Korea without so much as a goodbye. They had been childhood friends—more than friends, at one point. She was his first love, but when she left, it had torn him apart.
"How…how are you here?" Ming finally managed to ask, his voice laced with confusion.
Xueyao shrugged lightly, her smile softening. "I just got back. I've been living in Korea for a while, but I decided to come back home. I missed this place…missed a lot of things."
Ming stepped aside, allowing her to enter. His mind was racing with a thousand questions, but seeing her again stirred up feelings he thought he had long buried. They sat down in the living room, and for a while, they talked. About their childhood, her life in Korea, and all the memories they had shared growing up together.
It was strange, familiar, and unsettling all at once. Xueyao was still the same girl he had once loved, but so much had changed between them. Or had it?
Just as Ming was lost in his thoughts, the sound of another knock echoed through the room. Ming stood up, puzzled, and opened the door to find Hua standing there. She looked a little surprised to see him, especially since she hadn't called before showing up.
"Ming," Hua began with a smile. "I thought I'd stop by to see you."
Before Ming could respond, Hua's gaze shifted past him to Xueyao, who was now standing by the couch. Her expression faltered slightly, and she glanced between Ming and the unfamiliar woman.
"Who is she?" Hua asked, her voice calm but curious.
Ming opened his mouth to explain, but before he could say anything, Xueyao stepped forward, a sly smile on her lips. "I'm Xueyao," she said smoothly. "Ming's girlfriend."
The words hung in the air like a heavy weight. Hua's face fell, and a brief silence stretched between the three of them. Ming's heart raced as he saw the shock and hurt flash across Hua's face.
He knew Xueyao was lying—she wasn't his girlfriend anymore, not for a long time. But Xueyao's casual declaration was enough to throw everything into chaos. Hua looked at Ming, waiting for him to say something, to clear up the confusion.
But for a brief, agonizing moment, Ming said nothing.
Xueyao's smile didn't falter as she stood there, watching the tension build in the room. She had always been confident, never one to back down from a challenge. And now, it seemed like she was deliberately testing Ming, seeing how he would respond to her presence.
Finally, Ming found his voice. "Hua, wait. This isn't—"
But before he could finish, Hua shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. "It's fine, Ming," she said quietly, stepping back toward the door. "I shouldn't have come unannounced."
Ming moved to stop her, but she was already turning to leave. "Hua, wait! Let me explain."
But Hua didn't stop. She walked out of the door without another word, leaving Ming standing there, feeling a sinking weight in his chest.
As the door closed behind her, Ming turned toward Xueyao, his frustration evident. "What the hell was that, Xueyao? Why did you say that?"
Xueyao's expression softened, but she didn't look apologetic. "I didn't think it was a big deal. I didn't realize you were seeing someone new."
Ming rubbed his forehead, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "Hua is…she's important to me, Xueyao. You shouldn't have said that."
Xueyao looked down, finally seeming to understand the gravity of what she had done. "I'm sorry, Ming. I didn't mean to cause any trouble. I just…I guess seeing you again made me think about how things used to be."
Ming sighed, shaking his head. "Things aren't the same, Xueyao. A lot has changed since you left."
Xueyao looked at him, her eyes filled with regret. "I know. I just…for a moment, I wanted to pretend like they hadn't."
Ming's heart ached as he watched her, torn between his past and his present. But deep down, he knew where his heart lay now. And it wasn't with Xueyao anymore.
---
Outside, Hua walked down the street, her mind racing with a whirlwind of emotions. The sight of Xueyao in Ming's apartment, her casual declaration, and the silence that followed—it all felt like a punch to the gut.
Hua had been vulnerable with Ming, had allowed herself to fall for him. But now, doubt clouded everything.
Who was this woman from Ming's past? And why did he seem so hesitant to correct her?
As Hua walked into the cool night air, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them, and she wasn't sure if things would ever be the same.