As they strolled down the bustling street, Sang Zhi and Xiao Zhan chatted easily, their laughter mixing with the sounds of city life around them. Sang Zhi felt light, almost carefree, as they swapped stories, teasing each other with an ease that only came from years of knowing each other. The warmth between them felt stronger than ever, and she found herself glancing at him now and then, her smile lingering each time.
But as they turned the corner, her smile froze. A woman was standing by a shop window, seemingly waiting for someone. She had long, dark hair that cascaded down her back, an elegant figure, and a style that seemed effortlessly put-together. She looked up and noticed them, her face lighting up as she recognized Xiao Zhan.
"Xiao Zhan!" she called, her voice soft but unmistakable.
Xiao Zhan's smile faded for a moment before he forced a polite one back on his face. He stopped, and Sang Zhi felt him go slightly tense beside her.
"Li Na…" he replied, the name slipping from his lips with an awkward familiarity.
Sang Zhi's heart sank as she looked between them. Li Na. She knew that name all too well—Xiao Zhan's ex-girlfriend from a few years ago. Though Xiao Zhan had never really talked much about her, she knew that Li Na had been important to him. They'd dated seriously before things ended… but the reasons for their breakup had always been a mystery to Sang Zhi. She hadn't pressed him about it, thinking he'd talk if he ever wanted to.
Li Na's eyes shifted to Sang Zhi, and she offered a polite but faint smile. "And this is…?"
"Oh, um, this is Sang Zhi," Xiao Zhan said quickly, glancing at Sang Zhi as though reassuring her. "We're… really close friends."
Sang Zhi felt a prickling unease at his words, but she forced herself to keep smiling. "Hi, nice to meet you, Li Na," she managed, though her voice sounded a little stiffer than she intended.
Li Na gave her a quick nod, her expression unreadable. "It's nice to meet you, too. I've heard about you." She looked back at Xiao Zhan, her gaze softening. "It's good to see you again, Xiao Zhan. I wasn't expecting to run into you here."
"Yeah, it's… been a while," he replied, his tone polite but reserved.
The silence that followed was tense, thick with unspoken words. Sang Zhi suddenly felt out of place, as though she were intruding on something private. She could sense there was a history between Xiao Zhan and Li Na that she didn't fully understand—a history that maybe hadn't completely faded for either of them.
Li Na broke the silence, glancing between them. "I… didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to say hi." Her gaze lingered on Xiao Zhan for a moment longer before she offered them both a faint smile. "Well, I should get going. Take care, Xiao Zhan."
"You too, Li Na," he replied, his voice barely above a murmur.
Li Na nodded and turned to walk away, her figure disappearing into the crowd. Xiao Zhan let out a small sigh, his expression conflicted as he watched her go. When he finally looked back at Sang Zhi, his usual lightheartedness was gone, replaced by something heavy and wistful.
"You okay?" Sang Zhi asked quietly, though part of her was hesitant to hear the answer.
He nodded, his lips pressing into a tight line. "Yeah. Just… I wasn't expecting to see her."
They began walking again, but the ease they'd shared before was gone, replaced by an awkward silence. Sang Zhi couldn't shake the strange feeling that had settled in her chest, a mix of unease and something she wasn't ready to name.
After a few moments, she took a breath, deciding to ask the question that had been gnawing at her. "So… that was your ex?"
"Yeah," he admitted, his voice quiet. "We… dated for a while. It ended a few years ago."
She nodded, trying to keep her voice casual. "I didn't realize you two were still… close."
He shook his head quickly. "We're not. It's just… seeing her brought back some old memories, I guess." He glanced at her, his expression apologetic. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make things awkward."
She forced a smile, waving off his concern. "It's fine. Really."
But as they walked, a strange heaviness settled over her. She hadn't expected to feel this way—this uncomfortable, nagging feeling at the thought of Xiao Zhan and Li Na together. She'd always told herself that it was natural for him to have a past, and yet, the sight of them together had stirred something unexpected in her heart.
They walked in silence for a while until Xiao Zhan cleared his throat. "I know this might sound weird, but… seeing her just made me realize how much has changed."
Sang Zhi glanced up at him, curiosity mixed with hesitation. "What do you mean?"
He hesitated, seeming to search for the right words. "When we were together… I thought I knew what I wanted. But… I guess I didn't." He looked away, his gaze distant. "I thought we were meant to be. But sometimes, things just don't work out the way you expect."
She could hear the faint note of sadness in his voice, and it made her heart ache. Despite her own complicated feelings, she couldn't help but feel sympathy for him. She'd seen him go through heartbreak before, but this felt different—like he was still healing from something he hadn't fully processed.
"I get it," she said softly, reaching over to give his arm a gentle squeeze. "Sometimes, people are just meant to be a part of our journey, not the whole story."
He looked at her, a small smile breaking through his sadness. "You always know the right thing to say."
They fell into a more comfortable silence, but Sang Zhi couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that lingered. Seeing Xiao Zhan's reaction to Li Na had made her realize just how deeply her own feelings for him had grown. She had told herself over and over that they were just friends, that he didn't see her the way she wanted him to.
But now, she wasn't so sure.