The café on the west end of campus was packed as usual. Guo Cheng Yu didn't mind. He liked the noise, the subtle attention when he walked in, the way baristas smiled just a little longer at him than at anyone else.
He leaned against the counter, checked his phone, then tapped in his order without looking up.
"Triple shot iced Americano. Less ice. And..." he smiled, without even facing the barista, "if you have time to smile like that, maybe throw in a cookie. On the house?"
A quiet scoff came from behind him.
He turned–not the barista.
Just a guy.
Headphones on. Hoodie up. Camera bag slung over one shoulder. He was frowning, a brow cocked as if he'd just heard something offensive. Guo Cheng Yu blinked.
"Can I help you?" he asked, amused.
The guy pulled out one earbud. "You're not charming," he said bluntly. "Just loud."
Cheng Yu's smile twitched. He turned his body fully now, eyeing him up and down. Cute face. Sharp mouth. Eyes too intelligent for someone wearing paint-stained jeans and a shirt that said FILM STUDENTS ARE TIRED.
"I'm not loud," Cheng Yu replied coolly. "You just noticed me."
"And regretted it instantly."
The barista snorted behind them. Cheng Yu glanced back with a half-laugh, then looked at the stranger again.
"I don't usually flirt with guys who insult me before coffee," he said, still smiling.
"Good," the stranger said. "Because I don't flirt with people who think confidence is a personality."
Before Cheng Yu could fire back, a cup clunked onto the counter.
"Triple shot iced Americano," the barista said, almost gleeful. "With attitude on the side."
Cheng Yu took the cup. Then, to the barista: "You're enjoying this too much."
To the stranger: "What's your name, scowl boy?"
The guy didn't answer. Just walked past him, headphones back in, a flash of stormy eyes meeting Cheng Yu's for half a second too long.
***
The next day, Guo Cheng Yu walked into the media club meeting late and paused in the doorway.
Same hoodie. Same eyes. Same scowl.
"You've got to be kidding me," Cheng Yu muttered.
Jiang Xiao Shuai looked up from his camera settings and deadpanned, "No, but if I were, you wouldn't get the joke."
The club president clapped her hands together. "Great! Since we're short on editors and filmmakers, I've paired you two for the upcoming campus documentary. Cheng Yu will handle interviews and scripting. Xiao Shuai handles the visuals."
They both stared at her.
"No," they both said.
She smiled. "It's already decided."
Cheng Yu groaned, rubbing his temples. "This is karma. I know it. It's that cookie I stole in 2019."
Xiao Shuai stood, grabbing his camera bag, expression unreadable.
"Listen," Cheng Yu said, following him out. "I can play nice. Can you?"
Xiao Shuai stopped at the door, turned back, and met his eyes.
"I don't play," he said.
And left.
Cheng Yu blinked once.
"...This is going to be fun."