Chapter 9 – The Accidental Meeting
It was a bright Saturday morning, and Su Zaizai had decided to visit the local bookstore to find some references for their science project. She walked quickly, humming softly to herself, completely unaware that fate had its own plans for her today.
As she turned a corner, she nearly collided with someone.
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Zaizai exclaimed, looking up.
Her words caught in her throat. Standing before her was Zhang Lurang, holding a bag of books, his expression calm yet alert. He seemed just as surprised as she was, though he quickly regained his usual composed demeanor.
"You should watch where you're going," he said quietly, though there was no anger in his tone.
"I—yes, I'm really sorry," Zaizai stammered, feeling her cheeks heat up.
For a moment, neither moved. The bustling street around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them standing there, awkward and aware of each other's presence.
Then, Lurang glanced down at the bag of books in her hands. "Those look heavy," he noted. Without waiting for a reply, he held out his hand. "Let me help."
Zaizai hesitated but finally allowed him to carry a couple of the books for her. The gesture was simple, unremarkable to anyone else, yet to her, it felt like an intimate act — a quiet acknowledgment that he cared, even in the smallest way.
As they walked together toward the bookstore, Zaizai noticed how effortlessly Lurang moved beside her. There was a natural rhythm to his steps, a quiet harmony that made her heart flutter. She wanted to say something, anything, but the words seemed to vanish before they could form.
Finally, they reached the bookstore. Zaizai took her books back, thanking him quietly.
"Be careful," he said, his eyes meeting hers. "Don't overexert yourself."
She nodded, feeling the strange warmth of being genuinely seen. "I'll be careful," she replied softly.
As Lurang walked away, Zaizai watched him go, feeling a tug in her chest. Each encounter, no matter how brief or seemingly insignificant, was slowly weaving a thread between them. A thread she didn't yet know how to name, but one she already didn't want to break.
That day, Zaizai realized that sometimes, accidents weren't accidents at all. Sometimes, they were beginnings — small, quiet moments that could change everything.
End of Chapter 9