Lila clocked into her evening shift at the restaurant, only to freeze at a familiar voice. "Lila?"
She looked up—Chen Yu.
The coincidence hit her like a wave, stirring a flicker of nostalgia.
Chen Yu was her childhood neighbor, her almost-brother. They'd grown up together, but when Lila stayed in A City for college, he studied abroad. Now back, he ran a small tech startup, reportedly thriving. Lila had only caught snippets of his life through mutual friends. They hadn't spoken in years, their connection faded to a faint thread.
"Small world, huh?" Lila flashed a warm smile.
"Too small!" Chen Yu grinned, delighted. "I'm here for a client meeting—didn't expect you. You've gotten prettier."
Lila laughed. "And you've traded 'goofy kid' for 'boss vibes.' Not bad."
"Don't gas me up, I'll float away," he teased, scratching his head like the boy she remembered. "Got time? Dinner's on me."
Lila hesitated, then nodded, requesting a break from work. Chen Yu stirred a mix of comfort and longing in her—familiar yet distant. In her past life, their last meeting was amid a blazing fire… She'd been too lucky then, with loved ones shielding her from ruin. This time, she vowed not to let those she cherished slip away.
They hit a nearby barbecue joint.
"Heard you're killing it back home," Lila teased.
"Hardly," Chen Yu chuckled, ordering for her. "Still want fried rice cakes?"
Lila nodded, her heart tugging. Rice cakes were her childhood comfort—whenever she cried, Chen Yu would show up with a bag of those warm, chewy treats, their sweet aroma soothing her soul.
"I messaged you, but you ghosted," he said, half-joking as he finalized the order.
"Switched numbers," Lila said, sharing her QR code. "Sorry, meant to reconnect."
"If I hadn't run into you, I'd have staked out your house like a tabloid creep," he said, winking theatrically.
Lila burst out laughing, her guard dropping, her smile crinkling her eyes.
As the skewers arrived, he handed her a juice. "So, engaged to Lu Zhe?"
"Yeah…" Lila paused. "I love him, but I'm not chasing like before. Just… letting it be."
"He doesn't deserve you," Chen Yu said, sliding the rice cakes her way. "You're amazing, and he barely notices. Pisses me off."
Once, Lila would've argued. Now, she just smiled softly, his words ringing true.
They talked for hours—childhood memories, college days, her first failed confession to Lu Zhe. "I chased him three blocks that day," Chen Yu said, grinning proudly. "If it happens again, I'm decking him."
"You serious?" Lila asked, half-laughing.
"Dead serious. You're not a joke to me," he said, eyes earnest.
Her chest warmed, the rice cakes tasting like lost years she ached to reclaim. "Why're you so good to me?"
He smiled, soft. "I'm your big brother. Spoiling my little sis is my job, right?"
Lila's eyes stung. "Thank you." She wiped her mouth, grinning. "How's a catch like you still single?"
Chen Yu laughed, dodging the question, but grabbed her juice. "It's cold—slow down or you'll feel it later. Let me get you some hot soup."
His care was instinctive, a quiet vow traced back to the day he first saw her crying on the curb as a kid. He'd sworn to protect her—not as a prince or knight, but as her shadow, always there.
"You gotta take care of yourself, no more spacing out," he said, his smile radiant, eyes twinkling like stars.
Lila noticed his warmth, a sunshine-boy glow that felt effortless, even in his grin. Compared to Lu Zhe's icy distance, Chen Yu's natural kindness was dangerously disarming.
It was late when they finished. Lila moved to say goodbye, but Chen Yu insisted, "I'll drive you home. Not safe alone."
His gentle insistence melted her defenses, a contrast to Lu Zhe's aloofness that could easily sweep her away.
Back home, Lu Zhe was still out. Lila sipped the hot soup Chen Yu had packed, their chat buzzing on her phone.
The next day after class, Lila exited the south gate when Chen Yu texted: Lila, come to my place for dinner. Time to flex my cooking skills. I'm at the south gate.
Perfect timing—she was right there.
A City bloomed year-round, its university blending Western elegance with lush gardens. Strolling the lakeside path, Lila felt like she'd stepped into a novel's pages.
At a breezy pavilion, Chen Yu waved, his smile bright.
"Been waiting long?" she asked.
"Not at all," he said, voice soft. "The best view just showed up."
Lila smirked. "Your tongue's gotten sweet. Charmed a lot of girls, huh?"
"Just you," he said, pausing. "And my future girlfriend. Oh, a touch of light makeup would've made you glow today."
"I don't do makeup much," Lila said.
"Your overalls and white tee? Fresh and stunning," he said, half-teasing, half-sincere.
"Your 'stunning' benchmark is me?"
"Always has been."
Chen Yu's warmth was innate, carrying the carefree spark of a teenage dream. Lila felt like she'd tumbled into a rom-com—after-school strolls, park meetups, sunset-flavored crushes. This is nuts, she thought. I'm in a revenge-fueled CEO saga, not a campus love story.
They chatted, the topic drifting to Vanessa and Lu Zhe. "No matter who you're fighting, I'm Team Lila," Chen Yu said firmly. "And if you ever ditch Lu Zhe… maybe give me a shot."
"Pre-confession already?" Lila raised a brow, knowing his sincerity. "Noted. But by then, we're just siblings leaning on each other, right?"
"Or partners in crime," he said, flashing his phone. "I'm no Lu family tycoon, but I can keep you fed."
They laughed, reaching his house—a serene spot backed by a park, steps from the bustling commercial hub. Inside, Lila gaped. The living room was a deep-sea fantasy: blue walls, fish tanks, ocean-themed decor. Chen Yu gestured proudly at a mural. "My Atlantis."
"Gorgeous," Lila said. "Am I the mermaid?"
He handed her water. "Mermaid? Nah, you're my princess."
He opened a door, revealing a lavender princess room—plush toys, pink chandelier. Lila blinked. "You secretly a teenage girl?"
"Maybe," he chuckled, showing her a traditional-style study next. "Ancient vibes here."
"Your taste's all over the map," she said, amused.
"I'm waiting for someone," he said softly. "Someone worth protecting in every way I can."
With that, he headed to the kitchen. "Now, Miss Lila, your personal chef's on duty."
Lila lingered in the living room, watching his warm, busy figure. A thought bloomed: If fate's giving me a do-over, are these overlooked kindnesses finding their way back?