Chapter 2: Coffee and First Impressions
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Lin Yue sat at her favorite table in the same café where the conversation had started the night before. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the faint hum of soft jazz playing in the background. She glanced at the door, her heart doing an annoying little flutter every time it opened.
*What am I even doing?* she thought, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. Meeting a stranger from a random text? This was completely out of character for her. But something about Zhang Wei's words, his charm, and that song he had sent her made her feel… curious. And curiosity, she had learned, was a dangerous thing.
A quote she once read came to mind:
*"Sometimes, the most beautiful things in life begin with a mistake."*
She sipped her coffee and smiled. *If this turns out to be a disaster, at least I'll have a story to tell.*
The door opened again, and this time, a tall man in a casual gray sweater and dark jeans walked in. He glanced around the room before locking eyes with her. Lin Yue felt her stomach flip. He smiled—a warm, confident smile that seemed to light up the space around him—and walked over.
"Lin Yue?" he asked, his voice smooth and slightly amused.
She nodded, trying to act nonchalant. "Zhang Wei, I presume?"
He chuckled and took a seat across from her. "You presume correctly. I guess I should thank my clumsy texting skills for this."
She smirked. "Or maybe I should thank my curiosity for not blocking you immediately."
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Their conversation started light, filled with banter about their initial text exchange. Zhang Wei admitted he had been skeptical that she'd agree to meet him. Lin Yue countered that she wasn't entirely sure herself but figured it would make for an interesting day.
"Honestly," Zhang Wei said, leaning back in his chair, "I wasn't expecting someone as witty as you to respond. Most people would've ignored a random message."
Lin Yue shrugged, sipping her coffee. "Well, you caught me on a good day. Plus, I'm a writer—I can't resist a good story."
"A writer," he repeated, nodding thoughtfully. "I had a feeling. You're quick with words. Let me guess—romance novels?"
She laughed. "Not quite. Lifestyle articles. I'm working on a piece about dating apps right now, ironically enough."
"Interesting." Zhang Wei raised an eyebrow. "So, what do you think about them? Dating apps, I mean."
Lin Yue hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I think they're… functional. They work for some people, but they're not for everyone. It feels like people have forgotten how to connect without algorithms telling them who to talk to."
Zhang Wei leaned forward, his eyes sparking with interest. "And what if there was an app that focused less on algorithms and more on creating meaningful connections?"
She tilted her head, intrigued. "Is that what your app does?"
"Something like that," he said cryptically. "But let's not make this a pitch meeting. I'd rather hear more about you."
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Their conversation flowed effortlessly, covering everything from their favorite books to their least favorite movies. At one point, Zhang Wei shared a line from a poem that had always stayed with him:
*"Fate doesn't knock; it waits quietly in the shadows, daring you to find it."*
Lin Yue paused, the words resonating deeply with her. "That's beautiful," she said softly.
He smiled. "It's how I see life. Sometimes, the most unexpected moments turn out to be the most important."
For a brief moment, their laughter and banter faded, replaced by something quieter, something deeper. Lin Yue felt a warmth in her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time.
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As the conversation continued, Lin Yue noticed something about Zhang Wei. He was open, charming, and confident, but there was a guardedness in his eyes, a hesitation in certain moments.
"So," she asked, trying to read him, "why are you building a dating app? Is it just business, or is there a personal story behind it?"
Zhang Wei's smile faltered, just for a second, before returning. "A little bit of both," he said lightly. "Let's just say I've seen how messy love can be, and I wanted to create something that could make it… easier."
"Messy, huh?" Lin Yue tilted her head. "Sounds like there's a story there."
He chuckled, deflecting. "Maybe I'll tell you one day. For now, let's stick to less heavy topics. Like how you've never seen *In the Mood for Love.* Seriously, how is that possible?"
Lin Yue rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay, add it to my list."
But the question lingered in her mind. What was he hiding?
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The lightheartedness returned as they debated over the best coffee in the city, argued about the merits of pineapple on pizza, and Zhang Wei shared a hilarious story about a failed app prototype that accidentally matched people based on their grocery lists.
"I'm telling you," he said between laughs, "the app thought people who bought the same brand of instant noodles were soulmates. It was a disaster."
Lin Yue laughed so hard she almost spilled her coffee. "I can't believe you actually tested that!"
"Hey, innovation requires risks," he said, grinning.
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As the café began to quiet down, Lin Yue realized how late it had gotten. She glanced at her watch, then back at Zhang Wei.
"This was… unexpected," she said honestly.
"In a good way, I hope?" he asked, his tone teasing but his expression sincere.
She smiled. "Yeah. In a good way."
They exchanged numbers properly this time, and as Zhang Wei walked her to the door, Lin Yue couldn't help but feel like this was the start of something significant.