The soft glow of her desk lamp bathed Zhao Liyun's room in warm light, casting faint shadows over the open scrapbook in front of her. The room was quiet, except for the distant hum of cicadas outside and the faint chatter from Yichen's room, where the boys were still gaming.
Liyun's fingers hovered over the page, hesitating before placing a small pressed flower in the corner. It was nothing special — just a tiny purple blossom she'd plucked from the garden last week — but for some reason, she'd felt the need to keep it. Maybe because Mingchen had been standing just a few feet away when she found it, casually helping Yichen fix a loose bike chain.
It was silly, how every moment that involved him felt like it deserved preserving. Even if it was just a passing glance, a single shared smile, or a brief touch when handing over tofu.
Her pencil scratched across the page.
"We washed dishes together tonight. His sleeves were rolled up, and he smelled like mint shampoo and dish soap. It's ridiculous how much I liked that."
She sighed, her cheeks hot even though there was no one to see her.
Liyun knew her feelings were obvious — at least to herself. Maybe not to him. Hopefully not to him.
With a soft knock, the door creaked open, and her mother peeked in.
"Xiao Yun, still awake?"
Liyun quickly closed her scrapbook and sat up straighter. "Just finishing my journal."
Her mom smiled, stepping inside with a folded pile of laundry balanced on her hip. "Your brother's friends are leaving soon. You should come say goodbye."
"Okay."
Her heart fluttered with both dread and excitement. Mingchen was leaving — and that meant one last chance to see him tonight.
She made her way downstairs just as the front door swung open, letting in a warm gust of summer air. Yichen was laughing loudly, half-shoving Chen Haoran down the steps. Mingchen stood at the side, hands in his pockets, the faintest smile on his face as he watched the chaos.
The porch light cast a soft halo over his figure, making him seem both familiar and distant — close enough to touch, yet somehow just out of reach.
"Goodnight, Xiao Yun," Mingchen said when he noticed her at the top of the stairs.
Her heart clenched at how easily he said it — like it was nothing. Like it didn't send her spiraling into overthinking every time.
"Goodnight," she said back, forcing her voice to sound casual.
Yichen hollered something about dumplings for breakfast tomorrow, and the boys laughed as they made their way down the street. Mingchen glanced back once, just for a second, and caught Liyun still standing in the doorway.
His smile softened, something private passing through his gaze.
Then he turned, disappearing into the night.
---
The next morning was bright and loud — typical Zhao household energy. Sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows, catching the steam rising from freshly made dumplings. Liyun sat at the table, helping her mom fold the last batch.
"Did Mingchen eat enough last night?" Mrs. Zhao asked, folding a perfect crescent dumpling with practiced ease.
Liyun's fingers fumbled, her dumpling coming out more like a crumpled pouch. "I think so."
Her mom gave her a knowing smile, but said nothing.
Yichen stumbled in, hair a mess, yawning dramatically. "Morning. What time did Mingchen leave?"
"After midnight," Liyun answered automatically.
Her brother raised an eyebrow. "You keeping tabs on him now?"
"I just… happened to see the clock."
Yichen's grin was far too mischievous for so early in the morning. "You're not secretly crushing on my best friend, are you?"
The dumpling slipped from Liyun's fingers into the flour bowl. "Of course not!"
"Relax, I'm joking." Yichen stretched, completely unaware of the tiny panic attack he'd just given his sister. "Though, if you ever did like someone, you'd tell me, right?"
Liyun forced a laugh. "Sure."
Sure.
If only you knew, she thought.
---
Summer days blurred together, an endless mix of lazy afternoons, impromptu barbecues, and nights spent sprawled on the balcony watching the stars. Mingchen wasn't always there — he had his own life, part-time jobs, and university responsibilities — but every time he showed up, Liyun's world tilted just slightly.
It was in the way her breath caught when she heard his voice at the door. The way her eyes automatically sought him out in a crowded room. The way her fingers brushed over the pressed flower in her scrapbook, remembering the exact moment she found it.
Crushes were supposed to fade, weren't they?
But hers only seemed to deepen.
---
One particularly hot afternoon, Yichen dragged everyone out for bubble tea. The group — Yichen, Mingchen, Haoran, Xinyi, and Liyun — crammed into the small corner shop, their laughter filling the space.
Liyun stood at the counter, debating between taro and matcha, when Mingchen appeared beside her.
"Need help deciding?"
She glanced up, startled, her heart doing that ridiculous flutter again. "I just… can't choose."
"Get both."
She laughed softly. "I can't drink two."
Mingchen's smile was easy. "I'll split one with you."
The offer was so casual — so natural — that it took her a second to process it.
"O-Okay," she stammered, mentally screaming at herself to sound normal.
They ended up with taro, and when Mingchen took the first sip, using the same straw, Liyun nearly combusted on the spot.
"Good choice," he said, passing the cup back to her.
Her hands trembled slightly as she took it, their fingers brushing yet again. It was such a small thing — insignificant to anyone else — but to her, it was everything.
Xinyi, of course, noticed immediately.
"You two are cute," she whispered later, elbowing Liyun.
"Shut up," Liyun hissed, but her cheeks were burning.
Mingchen hadn't heard — or if he had, he pretended not to.
But as they walked home, with the sun setting behind them and the cicadas singing their summer song, Mingchen fell into step beside her — close enough that their shoulders nearly touched.
And for Liyun, that was enough.
For now.
(End of chapter)
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— Author of 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡