MC - Chapter 19

Shen Mingjin lost sleep over Zhang Rufan’s single “good night.” He had been floating through the week in a daze, but it wasn’t until last night that it truly sank in—Zhang Rufan was really pursuing him.

All night, he thought about many things, starting from when Zhang Rufan didn’t even know him back in middle school.

Back in ninth grade, when she stood up to a teacher in the office on his behalf, he took notice of her. He had assumed that someone bold enough to confront a teacher must be a feisty little firecracker. But after observing her for a while, he realized she was usually low-key and reserved, not fond of socializing and rarely participating in group activities.

Her grades were good, but she wasn’t a bookworm. She was disciplined—unless the weather was extreme, he could always see her running on the track in the mornings. Though she didn’t like making friends, she was upright and principled. He had personally witnessed her standing up to a few boys from Tenth Middle School to protect Cheng Yi.

At school, she seemed unapproachable, but in reality, she just wasn’t good at handling interpersonal relationships. She wasn’t as aloof as she appeared—he had once seen her give up her seat on the bus and fluster awkwardly when praised for it.

At first, he was merely curious about her, but after observing and getting to know her, he became drawn to her.

Zhang Rufan had her own world, one where she lived contentedly. He had once wanted to enter that world but was shut out. After the rejection, he sorted out his feelings. When the school took graduation photos, he deliberately stood behind her, wanting to leave a memento and draw a conclusion.

After high school graduation, they went their separate ways—one south, one north—with no intersection at all. They didn’t even have each other’s social media accounts. He thought distance and time would dilute his feelings like water, yet whenever a classmate occasionally mentioned her name, he would still instinctively listen. Or if Cheng Yi posted something about her on social media, he would pay attention. During holidays, he would even wander around Huai’an District and take the bus she often rode.

After graduation, he heard she stayed in Qingcheng, likely settling there. He thought they would never cross paths again in this lifetime, but then she reappeared. Even after their reunion during the National Day holiday following high school, he had prepared himself for them to remain strangers. Yet, in just half a month, their relationship took an unexpected turn.

A conversation at school unraveled the knot in his heart that had been there for years. While he felt relieved, he also grew apprehensive. Zhang Rufan’s fondness for him seemed to sprout out of nowhere. He wanted to ask why, but he feared she wouldn’t have a clear answer—or worse, that upon reflection, she might realize her feelings for him were just a misconception. So he didn’t press further.

This hesitancy wasn’t typical of Shen Mingjin’s usual demeanor, but with Zhang Rufan, he reverted to that young boy at school who was too afraid of annoying her to approach her often.

Since he couldn’t forget her, he might as well not bother trying. Shen Mingjin was pragmatic—he had already stepped into the river once and gotten wet. This time, there was a bridge over it, so he had no reason not to try. The worst outcome would just be falling into the river again.

Shen Mingjin hadn’t slept well, but the next morning, he was full of energy. After getting up, he quickly washed up, changed, put on his wristwatch, and checked the time—it was still ten minutes to eight.

He didn’t text Zhang Rufan, fearing she might think he was rushing her. After getting ready, he left early, intending to wait by the elevator, only to find Zhang Rufan already there.

“Why are you down so early?” Shen Mingjin asked as he hurried over.

Zhang Rufan looked up at the sound of his voice and replied, “I’m getting a ride from you—I can’t make you wait for me.”

“You could’ve told me. I could’ve come out earlier.”

Zhang Rufan shook her head. “We agreed on eight. You’re already leaving early now.”

Shen Mingjin pressed the elevator button and looked at her. “You knew it was eight, yet you came down this early anyway.”

“I’m used to it.”

Leaving buffer time was typical of Zhang Rufan’s personality. Shen Mingjin didn’t dwell on it further. Just then, the elevator arrived, and he tilted his head slightly. “Let’s go.”

They reached the underground garage and got into the car. Zhang Rufan took out a little star from her bag and handed it to Shen Mingjin. “Zhang Zitong gave this to you. She said…”

She hesitated before continuing, “Thank you for your hard work saving the world.”

Shen Mingjin couldn’t help but laugh, especially since Zhang Rufan delivered the line so earnestly, creating a delightful contrast.

He took the star and raised it slightly. “Tell the little one thanks for me.”

“And also…” Zhang Rufan hugged her bag, looking hesitant.

Shen Mingjin lowered his gaze, thought for a moment, and asked, “Do you have something else for me?”

Zhang Rufan felt the square object in her bag, hesitated for a while, and finally took out a Tupperware box. Not daring to look Shen Mingjin in the eye, she held it out to him and said somewhat awkwardly, “I made a sandwich this morning.”

After saying this, she suddenly realized she’d overlooked an important question and withdrew her hand slightly, quickly adding, “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

With breakfast right in front of him, Shen Mingjin wasn’t about to let her take it back. He swiftly grabbed the container and said, “No.”

He looked down at the sandwich in the box, grinning so widely his joy practically overflowed.

“You made this especially for me?”

“I thought since we were leaving so early, you might not have eaten, so I made an extra portion.”

Not “I made too much,” but “I made an extra portion.” Shen Mingjin’s smile nearly reached his ears. He raised an eyebrow and didn’t hold back his praise: “Well done.”

“Ace of Hearts, keep pursuing me like this, and sooner or later, you’ll succeed.”

Seeing Shen Mingjin’s smile, Zhang Rufan’s earlier unease melted away. She sighed in relief, quietly glad her efforts last night hadn’t been in vain.

Thanks to the sandwich, Shen Mingjin’s smile didn’t fade the entire ride. If not for Zhang Rufan sitting in the passenger seat, he would’ve definitely hummed a tune.

It was rush hour, and the roads were jammed. Shen Mingjin watched the long line of cars ahead and silently admitted miscalculation. He checked the time—even though they’d left early, it was still going to be tight.

With the traffic at a standstill, he grew impatient. Glancing at Zhang Rufan, he felt apologetic. “It’s been too long since I’ve been out during rush hour. I didn’t expect it to be this bad.”

Zhang Rufan looked puzzled and turned to him. “Didn’t you hit traffic when going to the café in the morning before?”

Shen Mingjin shook his head. “When I go to the café, it’s either much earlier or much later.”

“You didn’t leave at eight?”

“I…” As the saying goes, one lie begets many more. Shen Mingjin nearly tripped over his words. His mind raced, but he couldn’t come up with a good excuse, so he feigned calm and said, “Occasionally, I do leave at eight.”

Zhang Rufan nodded. “It seems I can’t often ride with you, then.”

Shen Mingjin grew anxious and was about to speak when Zhang Rufan asked again, “When you go earlier, what time is it?”

“Around seven. There aren’t many cars then, so I can reach the café in under twenty minutes.”

Zhang Rufan hesitated for a moment before asking, “Can you let me know next time you leave at seven?”

Shen Mingjin immediately understood her implication. He really wanted to agree, but his conscience wouldn’t allow it.

He sighed and resignedly said, “You don’t start work until nine. Leaving at seven is too early—you should sleep a bit more.”

“But…”

“Ace of Hearts, pursuing someone requires flexibility. If one path is blocked, take another. If you can’t ride with me in the morning, find other opportunities to get close to me.”

Zhang Rufan thought it over, found Shen Mingjin’s reasoning sound, and nodded.

Even though it was Zhang Rufan who couldn’t ride with him, Shen Mingjin felt even more disappointed than she did. His earlier elation over the sandwich instantly dimmed. He glanced at the Tupperware on the passenger seat and sighed inwardly. He’d thought he’d get to eat breakfast made by her every day from now on, but it seemed today’s offering would be one of a kind.

Damn rush hour!

After stop-and-go traffic, Shen Mingjin finally got Zhang Rufan to OW before nine. Before getting out, she thanked him, paused while opening the door, and turned back to ask, “Will you be at the shop at noon?”

Shen Mingjin laughed inwardly but maintained a relaxed expression. “Barring any surprises, yes.”

“Okay.” Zhang Rufan nodded solemnly. “I’ll come find you.”

Shen Mingjin watched Zhang Rufan get out of the car, and as soon as she turned away, he broke into a grin. Unable to contain himself, he slapped the steering wheel, accidentally honking the horn and startling the person in front.

After parking, Shen Mingjin went to the café. Xiaomu was surprised to see him and asked, “Bro, why are you here at this hour today?”

“Checking in to see if you’re slacking off.”

Shen Mingjin’s smile never faded as he spoke. Xiaomu wasn’t the least bit intimidated; instead, he teased him boldly. “You’ve been slacking off lately, playing the hands-off boss. Now you’re finally acting like one.”

In a good mood, Shen Mingjin ignored the jab and swaggered behind the counter, holding the Tupperware.

“Bro, what’s that you’re carrying?” Xiaomu leaned in to ask.

“This?” Shen Mingjin lifted the container and shook it with a flourish. “A sandwich. From an admirer.”

“Sister Fan?”

Shen Mingjin raised an eyebrow. Though he was secretly thrilled, he shrugged and put on a helpless expression. “Ah, just gave her a ride—no big deal—but she went out of her way to make me breakfast.”

He deliberately emphasized “went out of her way.”

“No wonder. I was wondering why you came in so early today—turns out you were moonlighting as a chauffeur.” Xiaomu rolled his eyes at Shen Mingjin’s familiar tsundere act and shot him down. “Don’t tell me you begged her shamelessly to make it for you.”

“Tch, would I do something like that?”

Xiaomu nodded without hesitation.

Shen Mingjin raised a hand as if to smack him, but Xiaomu dodged with a grin. “Bro, don’t say I didn’t warn you—a girl like Sister Fan definitely has suitors. If you don’t keep an eye on her, she might get snatched up by another guy.”

Shen Mingjin froze for a moment. His heart skipped a beat as he suddenly realized he’d overlooked something important—Zhang Rufan had gotten beautiful.

He hadn’t liked her for her looks before and hadn’t paid much attention to her changes after they reunited. But to others—especially guys—Zhang Rufan was undeniably a beauty now.

His euphoric mood instantly sobered, especially after seeing Du Sheng.

Since Zhang Rufan said she’d come to the shop at noon, Shen Mingjin kept glancing at his watch all morning, as impatient as a student waiting for the bell, wishing he could fast-forward time.

He waited and waited, but instead of Zhang Rufan, he unexpectedly ran into Du Sheng.

When Du Sheng saw Shen Mingjin while ordering, he looked surprised and asked bluntly, “What’s our class’s sports committee doing here?”

“Look at the shop’s name.”

“‘Jindu’—‘Jin’... So this café is yours?”

“Yep.”

Du Sheng was even more surprised. “Why’d you quit being an athlete and start making coffee?”

“Life threw me a curveball,” Shen Mingjin replied lightly, without elaborating. Noticing Du Sheng’s briefcase, he asked, “Here for work?”

“Had a meeting nearby this morning. After finishing up, I passed by and thought I’d grab a coffee.” Du Sheng sized up Shen Mingjin and still looked incredulous. “Never thought this place was yours. Shen Mingjin, a barista? Our old classmates would drop their jaws if they knew.”

“What’s so surprising?” Shen Mingjin raised an eyebrow. “There’s no rule that handsome guys can’t be baristas or run cafés.”

Du Sheng scoffed, “Such a brat. I want to taste the coffee skills of the school’s former ‘Track Prince’ and see if they’re as good as your running.”

“Just so you know, I know my coffee too. Don’t try to fool me.”

Shen Mingjin chuckled, ready for the challenge. “What’ll you have?”

“Just your signature pour-over.”

Shen Mingjin nodded, turned to get the beans from the shelf, weighed them carefully, poured them into a hand grinder, and began grinding with patience.

Du Sheng put his briefcase on the counter, pulled out his phone, looked up, and suddenly asked, “Did you know Zhang Rufan works at OW?”

Shen Mingjin paused mid-grind, lifted his eyelids slightly, and nodded cautiously.

“Have you seen her?”

“Yeah.”

“And she knows this place is yours?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Has she been here?”

“Every day.”

“Never knew she liked coffee.” Du Sheng missed the subtext and added, “Don’t you think she’s really different now?”

Shen Mingjin knew what he meant but played dumb. “Not really.”

“Are your eyes okay?” Du Sheng leaned closer. “Anyone can see she’s completely changed—way prettier than in high school.”

Shen Mingjin grew wary. “Why bring her up out of nowhere?”

Du Sheng gave him a meaningful look. “I want to pursue her.”

Shen Mingjin lost control and ground the beans with lightning speed.

Startled, Du Sheng warned, “Hey, slow down! If the grounds are too fine, the coffee will be bitter.”

Shen Mingjin slowed down but thought to himself, Good. Let him taste some bitterness.

Unaware of Shen Mingjin’s thoughts, Du Sheng continued, “It’s almost lunch. What if I text her and ask her out?”

“No way,” Shen Mingjin said without hesitation.

“Why not?”

Setting down the grinder, Shen Mingjin looked up and declared, “She’s already asked me out.”

1. 顺风车 shùnfēngchē – informal carpooling or ride in someone’s car, often a free ride given as a favor

2. 三明治 sānmíngzhì – sandwich, a common Western-style breakfast or snack with fillings between bread slices

3. 保鲜盒 bǎoxiān hé – reusable airtight food container, like Tupperware, used to keep food fresh

4. 早高峰 zǎo gāofēng – morning rush hour, peak traffic time when people commute to work or school

5. 咖啡馆 kāfēi guǎn – café or coffee shop, a place serving coffee, tea, and light meals

6. 手冲咖啡 shǒuchōng kāfēi – pour-over coffee, a manual brewing method involving pouring hot water over ground coffee

7. 田径王子 tiánjìng wángzǐ – Track Prince, nickname for a star track and field athlete like Shen Mingjin

8. 体委 tǐwěi – sports committee member, a student responsible for organizing school sports activities

9. 欠欠儿的 qiàn qiàn er de – bratty or cheeky, describing someone playfully arrogant or mischievous

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 ~~~

Enjoy!