Xiao Zhan's heart thumped as he stared at the screen, waiting for her reply. Her words had left him suspended between hope and fear, a breath away from revealing everything he felt.
After a few moments, her next message came through:
Sang Zhi: Actually… you remember Duan?
The name hit him like a bucket of cold water. Duan. He'd known about Sang Zhi's crush on him back when they were in college, though she'd never said much. Duan was smart, charming, and had that effortless confidence that seemed to draw people in without him even trying. Xiao Zhan hadn't thought about him in a while, but apparently, he was back on Sang Zhi's radar.
Xiao Zhan: Yeah, I remember him. Why?
Sang Zhi: He recently got back in touch. We've been texting a bit, and… well, we're getting lunch tomorrow.
Xiao Zhan felt a pang of disappointment, though he tried to keep it out of his response.
Xiao Zhan: Oh… nice. Just the two of you?
Sang Zhi: Yeah, unless you want to come? I could use a buffer, actually.
His heart lifted slightly. Maybe this was his chance to see what was really going on—and to remind Duan that Sang Zhi wasn't as available as he might think.
Xiao Zhan: I'd love to tag along. What time?
Sang Zhi: Noon. Let's meet at the little café near campus?
He agreed, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. He knew this lunch would put him in the uncomfortable position of having to watch Sang Zhi with someone she'd once had feelings for, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be there. Maybe it was selfish, but he wanted Duan to see that she wasn't alone, that she had someone close to her—someone who understood her on a level Duan never could.
---
The next day, Xiao Zhan arrived a little early at the café. He chose a table near the back, out of sight from the main entrance, and waited for them to arrive. Minutes ticked by until he finally spotted them through the glass—Sang Zhi was chatting animatedly, her smile lighting up her face. Beside her, Duan was listening intently, looking just as composed and confident as Xiao Zhan remembered. That familiar pang of jealousy flared in his chest, but he swallowed it down.
Sang Zhi noticed Xiao Zhan first, her face lighting up as she waved him over. "Zhan! Over here!"
He crossed the room, offering a polite smile to Duan as he took a seat beside Sang Zhi. She looked at him gratefully, as though relieved to have him there. Duan's expression, however, was unreadable, though there was a hint of surprise in his eyes as he took in the easy way Xiao Zhan and Sang Zhi interacted.
"Hey, Duan," Xiao Zhan said, extending a hand.
Duan shook it with a polite smile. "Xiao Zhan, right? It's been a while."
"Yeah," Xiao Zhan replied, keeping his tone friendly but watching Duan closely. "Nice to see you again."
Sang Zhi looked between them, grinning. "It's so funny seeing you two here together. It's like a mini-reunion."
Duan chuckled. "Yeah, it is." He shifted his gaze back to Sang Zhi, the intensity in his eyes clear as he spoke. "So, Zhi, what have you been up to? We haven't talked in so long—I feel like I have to catch up on your whole life."
Sang Zhi leaned forward, launching into a quick recap of the past few years. Xiao Zhan noticed how Duan's attention never wavered, his focus solely on her, and a feeling of unease crept up his spine. Duan hadn't come here just to catch up—he was clearly interested in more than just friendly conversation.
But Sang Zhi, oblivious as ever, was her usual self, laughing and talking without a hint of self-consciousness. Every now and then, she'd glance over at Xiao Zhan, as if to make sure he was still engaged in the conversation. She even nudged him playfully a few times, drawing Duan's attention each time.
"So," Duan finally said, looking at Xiao Zhan with a polite smile. "How did you two end up so close?"
Xiao Zhan shrugged, his voice casual. "We've just always been there for each other. I guess we understand each other better than anyone else." He glanced at Sang Zhi, smiling softly. "She's my best friend."
Duan's smile tightened just slightly. "That's great. It's good to have someone who really gets you."
Xiao Zhan could sense the hint of tension in his words, but Sang Zhi didn't seem to pick up on it. She was too busy savoring her food, happily oblivious to the way the two men were sizing each other up.
"So, Duan," Xiao Zhan said, deciding to turn the tables. "What have you been up to? I remember you were into architecture back in college."
Duan nodded, his eyes lighting up as he began talking about his career, the projects he'd worked on, and his ambitions. He was clearly proud of his accomplishments, and Sang Zhi seemed genuinely interested, asking questions and nodding along.
But whenever she'd laugh at one of Duan's stories, Xiao Zhan couldn't help the flicker of jealousy that sparked within him. He knew Sang Zhi was just being her friendly, supportive self, but seeing her respond to someone else, someone she had once liked, made him painfully aware of his own feelings. He tried to remind himself that she had invited him for a reason—she wanted him there, and that meant something.
As the lunch went on, though, Xiao Zhan began to notice a subtle shift in Duan's demeanor. Whenever Sang Zhi would direct a playful remark at Xiao Zhan or nudge him with her elbow, Duan's expression would tighten, his jaw clenching just slightly. Xiao Zhan almost smirked—Duan was jealous.
He decided to lean into it a little, just to make his own presence clear.
"So, Sang Zhi," he said, flashing her a teasing grin. "Remember that time we tried to make ramen together and nearly set the kitchen on fire?"
Sang Zhi burst into laughter. "Oh my god, yes! That was such a disaster. I think we ended up eating instant noodles instead."
They shared a laugh, and Xiao Zhan noticed Duan's expression darken slightly as he watched them, his gaze flickering between them. For a moment, Xiao Zhan felt a twinge of satisfaction. Maybe now Duan would understand that Sang Zhi wasn't just some casual friend to him—she was someone he genuinely cared about.
"Sounds like you two have a lot of memories together," Duan said, his voice strained.
"Oh, tons," Sang Zhi replied with a smile, glancing at Xiao Zhan warmly. "Zhan's been there for me through everything. I can't imagine life without him."
Xiao Zhan's heart swelled, her words bringing a warmth he couldn't hide. He looked over at her, their eyes meeting, and for a brief second, everything else faded away.
But Duan's voice broke through the moment. "Well, it's great to see you so happy, Sang Zhi. I hope you know that I'm still around too, you know… if you ever need anything."
Sang Zhi smiled politely, but there was a subtle distance in her tone. "Of course, Duan. I'm really glad we got to catch up."
As the lunch wound down, Xiao Zhan felt a sense of relief. Despite his initial anxiety, he could tell that Sang Zhi's connection with Duan wasn't the same as the one they shared. There was a comfort, a familiarity between them that Duan couldn't match. And from the way Sang Zhi leaned towards him, he could feel her trust in him, her reliance on him, like an unspoken promise.
After they paid the bill and stepped out into the sunlight, Duan glanced at Sang Zhi, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Well, it was great seeing you, Zhi. We should do this again sometime."
"Yeah," she replied politely. "It was nice catching up."
Duan gave Xiao Zhan a nod, though there was a hint of tension in his eyes. "Nice seeing you, too."
As he walked away, Xiao Zhan glanced over at Sang Zhi, who was watching Duan go with an unreadable expression. He nudged her gently. "You okay?"
She smiled, nodding. "Yeah. I think… I think I needed that."
He raised an eyebrow, curious. "What do you mean?"
She shrugged, glancing at him thoughtfully. "I think I just realized that… sometimes, people are better left in the past."
Xiao Zhan's heart thumped with hope, her words hinting at a truth he'd longed to believe. As they walked side by side, the city bustling around them, he felt closer to her than ever, their unspoken connection finally starting to come to light.