The cozy, lively atmosphere of the private dining room suddenly felt suffocating to Zoe. Her grip tightened slightly on the edge of her chair as Liu cheerfully announced Song's arrival.
Song. Here?
Her brain scrambled for a plan. Should she excuse herself? But that would only draw attention to the tension between them—something she'd been carefully avoiding throughout the recording.
Zoe forced a polite smile and sipped her water, willing herself to remain composed.
The others responded enthusiastically.
"Really? That's great! We haven't hung out in ages," Ben said, visibly excited.
"Song's around? Oh, this dinner just got even more interesting," remarked one of the other guests with a chuckle.
Liu grinned, oblivious to Zoe's internal panic. "I told him it's a small group tonight, so he agreed to swing by. Should be here in about ten minutes."
Ten minutes. Zoe's heart pounded, but she kept her expression neutral, nodding along as if the news was just another casual update.
The conversation drifted back to work and projects, but Zoe barely registered any of it. She poked at her food, glancing occasionally at the door as if bracing for an earthquake.
When the door finally opened, the energy in the room shifted.
Song walked in, tall and poised, his presence commanding as always. He was dressed casually in a black sweater and jeans, but his sharp features and confident stride made him stand out effortlessly.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, his deep voice cutting through the chatter. "Got held up at the studio."
The group greeted him warmly. Liu stood to shake his hand, and Ben quickly pulled out a chair next to him.
Song's gaze swept the room briefly before landing on Zoe.
Her heart skipped a beat. For a fraction of a second, their eyes met, and an unreadable expression flickered across his face. Then, just as quickly, he looked away, his demeanor as calm as ever.
"Song, you remember Zoe, right?" Liu said, clearly trying to stir up some conversation.
"Of course." Song nodded, his tone polite but distant. "Good to see you again."
"Good to see you too." Zoe managed to respond, her voice steady despite the whirlwind inside her.
Song took his seat, and the chatter resumed. He fell naturally into the rhythm of the group, contributing just enough to keep the conversation flowing without overshadowing anyone.
Zoe, on the other hand, felt like she was walking on a tightrope. She focused on her food, chiming in occasionally but carefully avoiding anything that might invite Song into her orbit.
As the dinner progressed, Liu brought up a lighthearted question about everyone's funniest behind-the-scenes moments, pulling the attention away from Zoe and Song's silent tension.
But Zoe couldn't shake the feeling that Song's occasional glances in her direction were deliberate.
When the meal finally wound down, Liu raised his glass. "Thank you all for coming tonight. Let's do this again soon."
Everyone raised their glasses, smiling and echoing Liu's sentiment. Zoe followed suit, relief flooding her at the thought of this dinner ending.
But as she lowered her glass, she caught Song looking at her again. This time, his gaze lingered.
Zoe quickly averted her eyes, her pulse quickening.
Whatever unspoken words lay between them, she wasn't ready to face them tonight. And she wasn't sure if Song was either.