Chapter 7: Winds of Change

The morning after the gala, Lin Yue woke up feeling a mix of exhilaration and confusion. The memory of Zhang Wei's lingering gaze stayed with her, as did the warmth of his presence in her apartment. She sat at her desk, staring blankly at her laptop screen, trying to focus on work.

Her phone buzzed with a new message. She glanced at it, expecting a text from Mei, but it was Zhang Wei.

Zhang Wei: Morning, Lin Yue. I hope I didn't keep you up too late. Thanks again for last night. It meant a lot.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

Lin Yue: Morning! It was fun. Thanks for inviting me. Did you survive your post-gala meetings?

A reply came almost instantly.

Zhang Wei: Barely. But coffee helps. What about you? Working on something exciting?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed:

Lin Yue: Exciting might be a stretch. Just the usual deadlines.

She hit send and sighed. Why did she feel so… fluttery?

Later that afternoon, Lin Yue was deep into editing an article when her doorbell rang. She frowned, glancing at the time. She wasn't expecting anyone.

When she opened the door, Zhang Wei stood there, holding a small box tied with a ribbon.

"Zhang Wei?" she blurted, her heart skipping a beat.

"Hi," he said, smiling. "I thought you might need a break."

He handed her the box, which she opened to find a set of macarons in pastel shades.

"They're from a bakery near my office," he explained. "Thought you might like them."

Lin Yue stared at the colorful treats, touched by the gesture. "You didn't have to do this."

"I wanted to," he said simply.

After inviting him in and sharing the macarons over tea, Zhang Wei suggested they take a walk. Lin Yue hesitated but eventually agreed, needing a break from the confines of her apartment.

The nearby park was alive with the sounds of children playing and leaves rustling in the breeze. They strolled along the path, the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow over everything.

"So," Zhang Wei began, "what's something you've always wanted to do but haven't yet?"

Lin Yue thought for a moment. "Travel," she said. "I've always wanted to see more of the world. Europe, maybe. Or Japan."

He nodded. "What's stopping you?"

"Work. Life. The usual excuses," she admitted. "What about you?"

"Honestly?" he said, a wistful look in his eyes. "I've always wanted to live off the grid for a while. No phones, no meetings—just peace and quiet."

Lin Yue laughed. "You? Off the grid? I can't picture it."

"Hey, I'm not all suits and business," he said, grinning.

Their lighthearted conversation was interrupted by a sudden rumble of thunder. Lin Yue glanced up as dark clouds rolled in, and fat raindrops began to fall.

"We should head back," Zhang Wei said, but the rain quickly turned into a downpour.

Laughing, they ran to the nearest pavilion for shelter, both of them soaked. Lin Yue's hair clung to her face, and her dress was plastered to her skin.

"Well, this is… unexpected," she said, shivering.

Zhang Wei shrugged out of his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Better?"

"Thanks," she said, touched by his thoughtfulness.

As they stood there, waiting for the rain to subside, Lin Yue felt an inexplicable warmth despite the chill.

The rain continued to pour, creating a curtain of silver around them. Zhang Wei turned to Lin Yue, his expression soft.

"You know," he said, his voice quiet, "I don't usually let people in. But with you, it's different."

Her breath caught. "Different how?"

"I feel like I can be myself," he admitted. "No expectations, no pretenses."

Lin Yue didn't know how to respond. The vulnerability in his eyes was disarming, and she felt her own walls beginning to crumble.

Before she could speak, the rain began to let up. Zhang Wei stepped back, giving her a small, almost shy smile.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get you home before you catch a cold."

That evening, Lin Yue sat by her window, watching the rain drizzle softly against the glass. She replayed the day in her mind—the macarons, the walk, the storm, Zhang Wei's words.

Her phone buzzed with another message from him.

Zhang Wei: Today was… nice. I hope you're staying warm.

Lin Yue smiled, her heart fluttering.

Lin Yue: It was nice. Thanks for everything.