MC - Chapter 15

Since they still had to keep an eye on the ceiling leakage, they couldn’t go far from Jinghua Garden. Zhang Rufan had just moved in and wasn’t familiar with the area, so Shen Mingjin, as the invited guest, took it upon himself to find a restaurant for them.

The restaurant was just behind the residential complex—a small private kitchen-style place that specialized in local Shangjing dishes, as the sign suggested. Shen Mingjin seemed to be a regular—no sooner had they walked in than the owner called out, “You’re here!”

It was peak dining time, and the restaurant was bustling; every table on the first floor was taken. Zhang Rufan followed Shen Mingjin upstairs and they took a seat by the window. Not long after, a server brought over a pot of hot tea and handed them menus.

Shen Mingjin slid a menu in front of Zhang Rufan. “Take a look—see what you feel like eating.”

As Zhang Rufan bent over the menu, reading carefully, Shen Mingjin unwrapped a sealed set of utensils, took out a cup, filled it with tea, and placed it by her side. “This place has been around for years and has a great reputation in Shangjing. I’ve been coming here a lot since I moved to Jinghua.”

“Then… do you have any recommendations?”

Unwrapping another set of utensils, Shen Mingjin replied, “You don’t eat spicy food, so maybe try the duck stew.”

Zhang Rufan looked at him in surprise. “How do you know I don’t eat spicy food?”

His hands paused briefly, then moved again naturally as he set the second set of utensils beside her. “Back in high school, you used to eat at the cafeteria a lot. That’s when I noticed—you never touched anything with chili.”

Noticing the dazed look on Zhang Rufan’s face, Shen Mingjin let out a cheerful laugh. “What’s wrong? It’s not like you just found out today that I liked you back in high school.”

His direct mention of it threw her off. Instead of giving her clarity, it made her nervous—unsure how to respond in a way that felt appropriate.

Should she turn the page and move on? Or should she follow his lead, clear up the misunderstanding from back then, and maybe even ask why he’d liked her in the first place?

Her cautious nature got the better of her. She couldn’t tell if this was the right time to explain—or to ask. And what if, the moment she brought it up, something between them changed?

As she hesitated, the restaurant owner came upstairs.

He was clearly familiar with Shen Mingjin and walked straight over to their table with a casual greeting. “Haven’t seen you in a while. What happened—got tired of our food?”

“Not at all,” Shen Mingjin replied with a smile. “I’ve just been tied up at the café lately. Since I’ve got the day off today, I finally made it back.”

“If you hadn’t come soon, I was about to drag you back from your café myself. Losing a customer is no big deal, but without you, I’ve got no reliable source for quality coffee beans!”

“You’ve got nothing to worry about.” Shen Mingjin laughed. “I always set aside a batch for you whenever a new shipment comes in.”

“Now that’s loyalty.” The owner gave him a thumbs-up, then turned to Zhang Rufan. “And this is…?”

“Classmate,” Shen Mingjin answered.

Zhang Rufan followed suit with a polite greeting.

The owner gave a knowing smile. “First time Mingjin’s ever brought a girl here. You two must’ve been close back in school?”

Zhang Rufan wasn’t sure how to respond, but Shen Mingjin handled it with ease, replying playfully, “We were almost one of those puppy love stories.”

“Oh?” The owner glanced back and forth between them, then fixed his eyes on Shen Mingjin and shook his head with mock sympathy. “So that face of yours didn’t always work, huh?”

Shen Mingjin simply shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it.

Since Shen Mingjin had already introduced her as a classmate, the owner took the hint and didn’t push further, not wanting to make the two of them uncomfortable. He turned to Zhang Rufan with a friendly smile. “So, what would you like to eat?”

Taking Shen Mingjin’s earlier suggestion, Zhang Rufan ordered the duck stew. Then she passed the menu back to him. “You pick the rest.”

Clearing his throat slightly, Shen Mingjin raised his voice just a bit. “You’re the one who invited me—your call.”

Before Zhang Rufan could respond, the owner jumped in with a grin. “Oh? The young lady invited you?”

Shen Mingjin raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips.

Caught off guard, Zhang Rufan awkwardly scanned the menu again, avoiding the items she knew he didn’t like. She picked out a few dishes and looked up. “How about these?”

The owner noticed Shen Mingjin’s barely hidden grin and laughed. “No need to ask—he’ll eat anything you order.”

Zhang Rufan took it at face value, assuming the owner was just familiar with his regular customers’ tastes, and felt a bit more at ease.

Once the order was placed, the owner collected the menu and turned to Shen Mingjin. “Don’t rush off after you eat—I’ll brew you both a cup of coffee to try.”

Shen Mingjin gave an easy “OK” gesture in reply.

Once the owner had left, Shen Mingjin explained, “He’s a coffee enthusiast, loves visiting cafés. He stopped by Jindu once, and since I eat here a lot, we got to know each other. He brews at home too, so whenever the café gets a new batch of beans, I set some aside for him.”

Zhang Rufan nodded in understanding.

Suddenly remembering something, Shen Mingjin asked, “Did your proposal get approved?”

“Not yet, but it’s close. There are still a few things to refine.”

 She had originally planned to wait until it was officially underway before telling him, but since he asked, she answered honestly.

Thinking back to her earlier motivation for the coffee market idea, Shen Mingjin gave a crooked smile and said, half-joking, “Don’t forget—you said the whole ‘coffee fair’ thing was so you could spend more time with me.”

After a beat, he cleared his throat, then added—just a bit too deliberately—“I mean, if there’s anything you want to learn about coffee, feel free to ask. I know most of the notable baristas in Shangjing. If you’re planning to invite any of them for your event, I can help make the connections.”

“Thanks.”

 His offer would save her a lot of effort, and her gratitude was genuine.

Shen Mingjin accepted it with a touch of guilt.

The mention of coffee brought back a question that had long been resting at the back of her mind. She glanced at him, debating whether it was appropriate—given their current relationship—to ask something that veered into personal territory.

Why had he given up on being an athlete to open a café and become a barista?

Liu Ziyue had said it was because of an accident. That couldn’t have been a happy chapter in his life. After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Rufan decided to let it go.

One by one, the dishes arrived, along with a couple of complimentary side plates. Zhang Rufan didn’t talk much during meals, and today was no exception. Shen Mingjin wasn’t particularly chatty either, only asking occasionally what she thought of the food. Thanks to his easy manner and sense of balance, the meal was surprisingly comfortable—not awkward at all.

Afterward, the owner returned with two cups of coffee he had brewed himself. Since they still needed to get back and monitor the ceiling situation, they didn’t linger.

As they came down the stairs, Zhang Rufan made a move to settle the bill, but Shen Mingjin stopped her. “Already paid.”

“Hm?”

“I transferred it to the owner earlier.”

Zhang Rufan pressed her lips together. “But I was the one who invited you.”

Shen Mingjin smiled. “Next time. Today was a demo—you just have to learn from it.”

Zhang Rufan was quiet for a few seconds, then looked at him and asked,

 “When’s your next day off?”

Shen Mingjin’s lips lifted slightly—clearly, Zhang Rufan was getting the hint. He deliberately paused before replying, slowing his tone. “I don’t have fixed days off. My schedule’s pretty flexible.”

He glanced at her from the side. Worried she might miss the subtext, he dropped all pretense and said plainly, “You can ask me out anytime.”

“Okay.”

 Zhang Rufan tucked the offer away in her heart.

Shen Mingjin’s joy was obvious—he looked like he was walking on air.

Back at their building, they stepped into the elevator. Shen Mingjin pressed the button for the 20th floor, then turned after a moment’s hesitation. “I’ve got a few beginner coffee books at home—want them?”

Since her event planning did require more knowledge about coffee, she wasn’t about to say no. She nodded and followed him to his apartment.

Once inside, Shen Mingjin first ducked into the bathroom to check on the ceiling—no signs of leakage. Satisfied, he returned to the living room, pulled a few books from the shelf, and handed them to Zhang Rufan.

“Start with these.”

She took them, giving them a light heft. “Thanks.”

“I’ll be home tomorrow morning. If the repairman shows up, just bring him down.”

“Alright.”

With the books in hand, it felt like there was no real reason to linger. Thinking of what had happened earlier that day, Zhang Rufan hesitated, then tentatively asked, “So… I’ll head out?”

Shen Mingjin thought about it. He couldn’t come up with a good excuse to ask her to stay, so he just nodded. “Mm.”

She made her way to the door, arms wrapped around the books, and was about to leave when he suddenly called out.

“Ace of Hearts.”

“Hmm? What is it?” She turned around.

He looked at her, half-ready to say he was free in the afternoon too—but after a moment’s pause, he held back. Pushing too hard might backfire.

Rubbing the back of his neck, he gave a small cough. “Nothing... If anything in the books doesn’t make sense, just ask me.”

Zhang Rufan gave him a faint smile and nodded. “Okay.”

…

That night, she started flipping through the books he’d given her. Just as he’d said, the content was accessible and beginner-friendly—even someone with no background in coffee could understand it easily.

The reading went smoothly—there were no confusing sections that prompted her to reach out, so Zhang Rufan never messaged Shen Mingjin. She had no idea he'd been waiting, ready to step in as her personal tutor at the slightest question.

The next morning, Zhang Rufan got up early for her usual run. After returning home, she showered, changed, did her makeup, and got ready to head out.

When she stepped out of her room, she saw Zhang Shengyi in the living room watching cartoons with Zhang Zitong. It was a warm and gentle scene, but to Zhang Rufan, it felt strangely out of place. She still hadn’t quite adjusted to her father’s transformation.

The television's colors were oversaturated. She only glanced at the screen before turning her head. “I’m heading out.”

Zhang Shengyi gave a silent nod, but Zhang Zitong, sitting nearby clutching her plush toy, looked up at her with wide eyes and asked shyly,

 “Where are you going, sis?”

After spending the previous day and night together, Zhang Zitong no longer seemed as guarded around her. In fact, she’d even chosen to sit next to Zhang Rufan at dinner the night before.

Children shed their defenses quickly, not yet capable of grasping the complexities of family dynamics. Zhang Rufan hadn’t been back long and still wasn’t fully used to this new household setup. Toward Zhang Zitong, she mostly felt a sense of unfamiliarity—but not dislike.

“To the apartment.”

“The one we went to last time?”

“Mm.”

Zhang Zitong fiddled with her plush toy’s hand. Zhang Shengyi seemed to sense what she was thinking, and looked up at Zhang Rufan. “Your Aunt Hui went back to the countryside this morning. I need to stop by the office later.”

After retiring from the military, Zhang Shengyi had taken a government post. Hearing this, Zhang Rufan frowned, assuming he was returning to work before recovering fully. “Aren’t you still on leave?”

“Just need to handle a few handovers,” he replied without much elaboration. “Take your sister with you for now—drop her off at dance class later.”

Since no one else was home, Zhang Rufan didn’t argue. She glanced at Zhang Zitong, who immediately lit up at the chance to go out. The little girl slid down from the sofa, set her plush toy aside, slung on her tiny backpack, and trotted over.

At the doorway, Zhang Rufan bent to change her shoes and grabbed the girl’s boots from the rack. Just like last time, she told her,

 “You need to put them on yourself.”

Zhang Zitong pouted, clearly reluctant.

“I told you before—you’re five now. You need to start doing things on your own. No one will always be there to help you.”

 Zhang Rufan’s expression didn’t shift. She didn’t soften her tone.

From behind them, Zhang Shengyi’s face twitched at her words. He looked at her with a complicated expression.

Perhaps still unfamiliar with her and a little intimidated by Zhang Rufan’s stern demeanor, Zhang Zitong obediently bent down and clumsily pulled on her little boots. She struggled a bit with the zippers, but once she managed, she stood up with a proud, expectant look on her face.

Zhang Rufan hesitated, then offered an awkward bit of praise.

 "Good job."

She glanced up and gave Zhang Shengyi a brief nod, then opened the door and stepped out. Zhang Zitong trotted after her on her short legs.

It was still early, and the weather was pleasant. Zhang Rufan chose to take the subway. The station was crowded, so she held Zhang Zitong’s hand as they entered. The little girl clearly hadn’t been on a subway before—her wide eyes darted around, curious about everything, and soon the questions began:

“Does the subway need gas?”

“No.”

“Then how does it move?”

“Electricity.”

“Like toy cars, with batteries?”

“No.”

Zhang Rufan paused, pulled out her phone, and searched how subways worked. Then she read the explanation out loud, word for word.

The technical jargon flew right over Zhang Zitong’s head, but she was eager to learn—anything she didn’t understand, she asked about immediately. Zhang Rufan remained patient, going down the list one term at a time: explaining what a power grid was, what alternating current meant, what cables did...

But the more she explained, the more tangled it got. Each answer sparked new questions, and Zhang Zitong’s curiosity ballooned until a single topic had branched into dozens of others. Zhang Rufan kept up without complaint, searching and answering everything—until finally, the child’s mind was so overloaded she just sat there, dazed.

Passengers on the subway had frequently turned their heads toward them, and more than a few looked at Zhang Rufan with a curious—if slightly bewildered—expression. The Q&A marathon continued all the way until they reached their stop. Only after leading Zhang Zitong out of the station did Zhang Rufan finally bring the impromptu science lesson to a close.

Not long after they arrived at the apartment complex, the repairman showed up. Zhang Rufan took Zhang Zitong downstairs with him, and by the time they rang the bell at Shen Mingjin’s door, it swung open almost immediately.

“You’re here,” Shen Mingjin said, unsurprised. He gave the repairman a polite nod, then looked down at Zhang Zitong with a grin.

 “Babysitting duty today?”

“No, the adults at home had something to take care of.”

Shen Mingjin nodded and stepped aside to let them in.

The repairman, carrying his tools, headed straight for the bathroom. Shen Mingjin motioned for Zhang Rufan to sit down and asked,

 “Want some coffee? Just ground a fresh batch.”

“Sure, thanks.”

He walked over to the small bar counter in the corner, placed a filter into the dripper, and poured the ground beans from the grinder. Then he pulled out a thermometer to check the temperature of the hot water in the gooseneck kettle.

Zhang Zitong, curious, wandered over on tiptoe and craned her neck to watch. Seeing her interest, Shen Mingjin picked her up and settled her into one of the barstools.

Concerned she might get into mischief, Zhang Rufan followed, placing a hand on the back of the chair to steady it. She glanced at Shen Mingjin as he worked—though she'd been visiting Jindu nearly every day, this was her first time watching him brew coffee up close.

Shen Mingjin glanced at Zhang Rufan out of the corner of his eye and asked, casually,

 “Did you read the books I gave you?”

“Last night.”

“Anything you didn’t understand?”

Zhang Rufan shook her head.

 “They’re all pretty beginner-friendly—nothing confusing so far.”

“…,” Shen Mingjin silently cursed his poor strategy, muttering under his breath,

 “You could ask even if there’s nothing to ask.”

But his quiet complaint was completely drowned out by Zhang Zitong’s delighted voice.

“It’s bubbling!”

Shen Mingjin handled the coffee with practiced ease, holding the gooseneck kettle steadily as he poured a small amount of water evenly over the bed of grounds. Watching the bloom form in the dripper, Zhang Zitong suddenly burst out in excitement.

He smiled.

 “Pretty magical, huh?”

Zhang Zitong nodded enthusiastically, curiosity sparking again.

 “Why does it make bubbles?”

“Because of carbon dioxide.”

“What’s carbon dioxide?”

Thinking for a moment, Shen Mingjin took a dramatic deep breath and motioned for her to copy him.

 “Take a big breath in… and now breathe out. What you just breathed out—that’s carbon dioxide.”

Zhang Zitong followed along, then nodded in understanding. She blinked and pointed at the dripper again.

 “Then why does that have carbon dioxide?”

The actual science behind blooming was a bit too complex, so after a brief pause, Shen Mingjin offered a playful explanation:

 “It’s breathing.”

“I get it now!”

Shen Mingjin laughed and praised her with a grin,

 “Smart girl.”

Zhang Rufan couldn’t help but glance down at Zhang Zitong. Despite all the detailed explanations she’d given about how the subway works, the little girl had never looked at her with such admiration—or claimed to understand.

She reflected that perhaps she’d grown too used to speaking like an adult.

Looking up, she saw Shen Mingjin lift the pouring kettle, steadily and continuously watering the coffee grounds in the filter. His expression was focused, his gaze sincere, and for a moment, she found herself lost in the sight.

“Perfect balance of control and ease.” That was how she silently judged him.

When Shen Mingjin interacted with others—whether children or customers—he was relaxed and made them feel comfortable. But when he worked, his intense concentration shone through. This contrast gave him a captivating charm.

Zhang Rufan had never quite understood the abstract idea of “magnetism” or “attraction” before. But now, that vague concept suddenly took shape before her eyes.

It was Shen Mingjin.

1. 私房菜馆 (sīfáng càiguǎn) – A private kitchen restaurant specializing in home-style dishes.

2. 上京本地菜 (Shàngjīng běndì cài) – Local Shangjing cuisine.

3. 鸭肉煲 (yāròu bāo) – Duck stew, a recommended dish for Zhang Rufan.

4. 早恋 (zǎoliàn) – "Puppy love," referring to their almost-romance in high school.

Characters

章入凡 (Zhāng Rùfán) – The protagonist.

沈明津 (Shěn Míngjīn) – A former classmate who wrote Zhang Rufan a love letter in high school, in her copy of Anne of Green Gables.

章胜义 (Zhāng Shèngyì) – Zhang Rufan’s father. 

李惠淑 (Lǐ Huìshū) – Zhang Rufan’s stepmother ("惠姨 Huìyí").

章梓橦 (Zhāng Zǐtóng) – Rufan’s much younger half-sister (~18 years age gap). 

章胜嫔 (Zhāng Shèngpín) – Rufan’s aunt (father’s sister). 

程怡 (Chéng Yí) – Rufan’s close friend from middle school. 

谢易韦 (Xiè Yìwéi) – High school class monitor who is getting married, prompting the reunion.

杜升 (Dù Shēng) – Someone Zhang Rufan didn't want to add as a friend on WeChat at first.

刘品媛 (Liú Pǐnyuán) – The planning department manager at OW.

孙璐 (Sūn Lù) – Zhang Rufan’s direct supervisor at OW, who goes by "Sister Lu" (璐姐, Lù Jiě).

袁霜 (Yuán Shuāng) – A friendly coworker in the planning department.

周慈 (Zhōu Cí) – Shen Mingjin’s mother

Sevyn here ~~~

They're both so cute, but here's the second owed chapter. If I don't post on the weekdays, I'll try to make it up on the weekends.

Enjoy!