It had been another long day, and Ming felt the exhaustion in his bones as he leaned back against the soft cushions of the sofa. Xueyao sat beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. The conversation between them had become casual, easy, and comforting. Ming couldn't help but relax when he was around her.
As they sat in the dim light of the room, Xueyao turned toward him, her eyes soft. "Ming, remember when we used to spend nights like this, talking about anything and everything?" she asked, her voice laced with nostalgia.
Ming smiled faintly, nodding. "Yeah… we did."
There was a brief silence between them before Xueyao shifted closer. Ming could feel the warmth of her body next to his, her presence stirring memories he thought he had long buried. And before he could say anything, she leaned in and kissed him again.
It was gentle at first, but the familiarity between them deepened the kiss, and for a moment, Ming let himself sink into it. His mind clouded over, just like the last time. Xueyao's touch was like something he had known for so long, something that reminded him of a simpler time.
But as the kiss lingered, something in Ming's chest stirred—something different this time. Even though Xueyao was right there, kissing him, his mind started to drift. Not to the past, but to someone else.
Hua.
The sudden thought of her hit him like a wave, making his chest tighten. Ming abruptly pulled away from Xueyao, his eyes widening as he tried to understand what was happening.
Xueyao blinked, confusion spreading across her face. "What's wrong?" she asked softly, reaching for him again.
But Ming didn't respond immediately. Instead, he sat back, his heart racing as the image of Hua flashed through his mind. Why was he thinking about her now? Why, in this moment with Xueyao, did Hua's face appear so clearly in his thoughts?
Ming stood up from the couch, his mind spinning. He excused himself, leaving Xueyao looking perplexed, and made his way to his room. Once inside, he collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling as the events of the past few days replayed in his mind.
He thought about the kiss with Xueyao. It was nice—comfortable. But something about it felt off now. His thoughts kept drifting back to Hua, to the way she had been there by his side, supporting him in the toughest times. He remembered the kiss they had shared not too long ago. That kiss… had felt different. Real, passionate, filled with something deeper.
Ming closed his eyes, memories of Hua flooding his mind. He hadn't checked on her in days. Not since Xueyao had returned. Guilt began to creep into his chest as he realized how he had neglected her, how he had let himself get caught up in the familiarity of Xueyao's return without once considering Hua's feelings.
She had been there for him—always. And now, he had left her in the shadows, without even realizing it.
Sitting up, Ming reached for his phone, a sense of urgency settling in his chest. He needed to talk to Hua, to check on her, to see if she was okay. As the phone rang, he ran a hand through his hair, feeling a strange mix of anxiety and regret.
---
Meanwhile, Hua stood in the kitchen, humming softly as she stirred a pot of soup. The warmth from the stove filled the small space, and the scent of freshly cooked food drifted through the air. Her best friend, Zihan, sat at the table, chatting away about something that Hua only half-listened to.
She had been trying her best to focus on anything but Ming. Cooking had always been her way of calming down, of grounding herself when her emotions felt too overwhelming. But even as she stood there, chopping vegetables and stirring the soup, her thoughts kept drifting back to him. To the kiss she had seen between him and Xueyao. To the way he had looked at her—like Hua didn't even exist anymore.
"Hua? Are you listening?" Zihan's voice broke through Hua's thoughts, pulling her back to the present.
"Sorry, what did you say?" Hua asked, turning to face her friend.
Zihan gave her a knowing look. "You've been distracted all day. Are you still thinking about… him?"
Hua sighed, setting down the spoon. "I'm trying not to. But it's hard. Every time I close my eyes, I just… I keep seeing them together."
Zihan stood up and walked over to Hua, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You deserve better than that, Hua. If Ming can't see how amazing you are, then that's his loss."
Hua smiled weakly, appreciating her friend's words, but deep down, the pain of seeing Ming with Xueyao still lingered. She wanted to move on, to forget about him, but something inside her just couldn't let go.
Just then, her phone buzzed on the counter. Hua glanced at it, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Ming's name on the screen.
"Ming's calling?" Zihan raised an eyebrow, her tone cautious.
Hua hesitated, staring at the phone as it buzzed again. Why was he calling now, after all this time? What could he possibly want?
Zihan nudged her gently. "Are you going to answer?"
Hua swallowed, her fingers hovering over the screen. Part of her wanted to ignore it, to let the call go to voicemail and pretend he didn't exist. But another part of her— the part that still cared—wanted to hear his voice, to know why he was reaching out.
With a deep breath, Hua finally picked up the phone.
"Hello?" Her voice came out more uncertain than she had intended.
"Hua," Ming's voice was soft on the other end, and for a moment, Hua's heart tightened. "Are you okay?"
There was a long pause as Hua struggled to find the right words. "I'm fine, Ming. Why are you calling?"
"I… I just wanted to check on you. I realized I haven't been around much lately, and I—" His voice trailed off, filled with guilt.
Hua bit her lip, her emotions swirling inside her. She didn't know what to say, and for the first time in a long time, she felt lost.