The next morning, the city smelled faintly of wet asphalt and jasmine from a nearby alley. Hangzhou's narrow streets glistened as the sun cut through lingering clouds, reflecting the neon from last night's signs like ghosts trapped in puddles.
Li Wei stood outside the dumpling shop again. He had no real reason to come, yet he found himself here, drawn to the warmth behind the steamed windows.
Inside, Yulan was arranging freshly made dumplings in neat bamboo baskets. He paused when he saw Li Wei enter, a mixture of surprise and irritation crossing his face.
"You're here again," Yulan said, voice cautious but edged with something… unidentifiable.
Li Wei gave a faint smile. "I wanted to try the breakfast again. The… steam yesterday smelled better than anything I've eaten."
Yulan stiffened, unsure whether to take it as flattery or mockery. "I hope it tastes as good as it smells."
As he handed Li Wei a bowl, their fingers brushed again — light, fleeting. Li Wei noticed the quick pullback and the subtle redness creeping into Yulan's cheeks.
"It's… nothing," Yulan muttered, but his voice lacked conviction.
Li Wei tilted his head, amused without smiling. "Are you always this cautious?"
Yulan looked away, kneading his hands into the cloth beneath the counter. "I… just like to keep things orderly."
A New Threat
Before the tension between them could settle, the door jingled sharply. A young man, clearly from one of the wealthier families in town, swaggered in with two friends. Their eyes scanned the room, finally landing on Yulan.
"Hey, dumpling boy," one sneered. "I heard you've been taking extra liberties with your ingredients. Business looks… questionable."
Yulan froze, frowning. "Excuse me?"
The tallest one leaned in, grin sharp. "I said business looks questionable. You've been getting special deliveries, right? Maybe a rich friend is paying you off?"
Li Wei's eyes narrowed imperceptibly. He stepped forward, close enough to block the men from reaching Yulan.
"Back off," Li Wei said softly, his voice calm but holding a weight that pressed on the men like invisible chains.
The men laughed, but the sound faltered. "Or what? You'll hit us? You're just a boy in a suit."
Li Wei's hand shifted subtly — not a threat, just a motion that implied skill. "I don't like to repeat myself."
Yulan felt his chest tighten. Something about the quiet confidence in Li Wei's stance made his heartbeat speed, a mix of awe and fear.
The men hesitated. They had expected a frightened shop boy. They had not expected a calm, dangerous presence standing between them and him.
Finally, they muttered curses under their breath and left.
Yulan exhaled shakily. "I… I can handle myself," he said, though his voice betrayed his nervousness.
Li Wei studied him carefully, expression unreadable. "I didn't think you would let them leave without noticing you were tense."
Yulan's cheeks warmed. "I… it's nothing."
Li Wei leaned closer, voice dropping to a soft murmur. "If it ever is 'something,' I hope you let me help."
Yulan's heart thudded. He wasn't sure if it was the closeness, the words, or the way Li Wei's eyes held his gaze too long.
The moment broke when Li Wei finally sat down, lifting the bowl to his lips. Yulan pretended to continue arranging dumplings, but his hands trembled slightly.
Misunderstanding Seeds
Later, as Li Wei left, a neighbor whispered to Yulan's father:
"Did you see that? The second young master keeps visiting your son. He's obviously interested. But… careful, everyone will be watching."
Yulan heard only fragments: "…visiting… interested… careful…"
His stomach tightened. What did it mean? Was Li Wei… playing with him? Or worse, laughing at him?
He frowned, brushing flour from his hands. He didn't want to think about it, but his mind wouldn't stop.
Li Wei walked away into the sun, unaware of the storm quietly brewing in Yulan's chest. Misunderstandings, pride, and unspoken feelings were forming, silent but powerful — the kind that could take decades to untangle.