The Scent of Memories

The mountains stood still, wrapped in golden light,

Dew-kissed petals swayed, dancing in flight.

The sky stretched wide in hues soft and bright,

A canvas of peace, a world bathed in white.

The wind whispered secrets through valleys below,

Brushing past flowers in delicate flow.

The air smelled of earth, of rain long past,

Of moments too fleeting, too fragile to last.

Xiang Yei stood by the window, eyes tracing the hills,

Lost in the quiet, where time gently stills.

She felt warmth on her skin, sunlight so kind,

Yet something lingered—a name in her mind.

A voice broke through, lighthearted and clear,

Pulling her back to the present, so near.

"Jiejie, I brought some fish to eat!"

The call was familiar, steady and sweet.

She turned, smiling at the boy she once knew,

Yet now he stood taller, his face shaped anew.

Xiang Rui—no longer the child from before,

But still the same heart, the same soul she adored.

She stepped toward the kitchen, warmth in her chest,

The sound of her brother, the home she loved best.

The scent of fresh fish, the crackle of flame,

The comfort of family, of love that remained.

Yet just as she reached for the wooden spoon,

A sudden spill—coffee, sharp and soon.

Dark liquid splattered, staining her sleeve,

She gasped, stepping back, unable to breathe.

And just like that—

Memory pulled her into its arms.

------

Xiang Yei sat at her desk, her fingers resting against the keyboard, but her vision blurred from exhaustion. The weight of deadlines and constant overworking had caught up to her. She hadn't realized when her eyes fluttered shut, her head lightly dropping forward.

Jia Ling, who had been watching her from a distance, smirked slightly before turning and walking toward Zhang Yan's office. "Sir, I just thought you should know… Xiang Yei fell asleep during work."

Minutes later, Liu Wen, gently nudged her awake. "Yei, wake up. The boss wants to see you."

Her heart pounded as she rushed to Zhang Yan's office. She knocked hesitantly before stepping in, her posture straightening. Zhang Yan sat behind his desk, his expression unreadable, but the sharpness in his gaze made her stomach twist.

"You fell asleep during work?" His voice was cold, laced with disappointment.

"I—I'm sorry, it won't happen again," she said quickly, bowing her head.

"It better not," he responded, his tone final. "I don't tolerate carelessness."

She swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding before exiting the office.

Lunchtime finally arrived, and Yei sighed in relief as she grabbed a tray. The warm aroma of food was comforting, a small distraction from the scolding she had received.

As she reached for a plate, a sudden splash of hot liquid spilled across her arm and blouse. She gasped as the burning sensation stung her skin. Coffee dripped down her sleeve, darkening the fabric.

"Oh no," Jia Ling said, her voice laced with fake innocence. "I didn't see you there."

But the smirk tugging at the corner of her lips told a different story.

Xiang Yei clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around the tray. It wasn't a mistake.

Zhang Yan, who had just entered the cafeteria, witnessed the scene from afar. His brows furrowed slightly as he observed Xiang Yei's reaction.

A sharp gasp escaped Xiang Yei's lips as the hot coffee seeped into the fabric of her blouse, the sting against her skin making her wince. The cafeteria had gone eerily silent, all eyes flickering toward the unfolding scene. Jia Ling stood in front of her, head slightly tilted, a faux look of regret painting her face.

"Oh no," she said, voice laced with feigned concern. "I didn't see you there."

Liar.

Xiang Yei swallowed, her fingers tightening around the edges of her tray. The heat of embarrassment pricked at her, even more painful than the coffee soaking through her clothes. She could feel the weight of everyone's stares—whispers already forming on their lips.

And then, something warm—heavy—settled over her shoulders.

The scent of fresh cedarwood and something subtly sweet, like citrus, wrapped around her before she even registered what had happened.

A coat.

His coat.

Her breath hitched as she turned slightly, the fabric slipping against her skin. Zhang Yan stood beside her, his expression unreadable, sharp eyes cutting through the tension in the air.

The entire cafeteria watched in stunned silence.

Even Liu Wen and Lin Hao, who had been whispering in the background, fell silent as they exchanged glances.

"Are you sleeping or what?" Zhang Yan's voice was calm, yet carried an edge sharp enough to slice through steel. His gaze remained locked on Jia Ling. "At least be careful while walking."

Jia Ling's smirk faltered for a split second before she regained her composure. "It was just an accident," she muttered, her fingers tightening around the empty cup.

Zhang Yan didn't acknowledge her excuse. Instead, he shifted slightly, his presence steady beside Xiang Yei.

She had never really looked at him before. Not like this.

His brown hair was slightly tousled, as if he had run his fingers through it one too many times. The soft lighting of the cafeteria cast a faint glow over his skin, making it look smooth, almost unfairly so. He was tall—far taller than she had ever bothered to notice—and up close, his presence felt heavier, like he carried something unseen on his shoulders.

And then, there was his scent.

A mixture of something fresh and warm, the kind that lingered even after someone walked away. It made her head light, her pulse unsteady.

For a moment, she forgot about the coffee staining her clothes, about the burn on her skin.

She forgot about Jia Ling.

She simply looked at him.

And for the first time, Zhang Yan looked right back.

Zhang Yan's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before his voice cut through the thick silence.

"Are you okay?"

Xiang Yei blinked, still lost in the sudden shift of her world. Her lips parted, but no words came. She wasn't sure if it was the heat from the coffee or the weight of his attention that made her feel lightheaded.

She swallowed, forcing herself to respond. "Y-Yeah… I'm fine," she stammered, mentally cursing herself for how unsteady she sounded.

His eyes studied her for a second longer, unreadable as always. Then, with a small nod, he turned and walked away, heading back to his office as if nothing had happened. But the damage was already done—his small act of kindness had sent the entire cafeteria into hushed whispers and murmurs.

Xiang Yei exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath. Her fingers curled into the fabric of his coat, still draped over her shoulders, its warmth refusing to fade.

She made her way toward the table where Liu Wen and Lin Hao were already seated, their expressions barely containing their curiosity. The moment she sat down, Wen leaned in, eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Okay, what was that?" Wen whispered dramatically, barely holding back a grin.

"Yeah," Hao added, slurping his spicy noodles. "Since when did the 'Ice King' start acting like some drama lead?"

Xiang Yei glared at them, picking up her chopsticks. "It's not a big deal," she muttered, though the warmth on her face betrayed her.

"Not a big deal?" Wen scoffed. "Yei, he literally put his coat on you. In front of everyone. Do you know how insane that is? Zhang Yan never does that. Ever."

Hao nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "Maybe he's got a soft spot for someone after all."

Xiang Yei coughed, suddenly finding her noodles way too spicy. "You both are overreacting," she said quickly.

But she wasn't sure if she was trying to convince them or herself.

Across the cafeteria, Jia Ling sat stiffly, her grip tightening around her phone. The way everyone was talking, the way Zhang Yan had so effortlessly dismissed her while giving Xiang Yei his attention—it made something bitter twist inside her.

With an annoyed sigh, she stood up, pushing her chair back harshly before walking out of the cafeteria.

Liu Wen nudged Xiang Yei playfully. "Someone looks jealous."

Xiang Yei shook her head, pretending not to care. But deep down, she couldn't shake off the feeling that this wasn't the end of it.

------

Zhang Yan sat back in his chair, exhaling as he loosened his tie. The cafeteria incident replayed in his mind—the way Xiang Yei had looked at him, the way she had stammered, the way his coat had fit over her small frame.

But that wasn't what lingered the most.

It was the way she had looked at him, truly looked at him, for the first time. Like he was someone new, someone unfamiliar.

His jaw tensed.

So, she really doesn't remember.

(Flashback – Years Ago, High School)

The morning sun streamed through the classroom windows, casting golden light across the desks. It was early, the kind of quiet before the day truly began. Most students were still groggy, half-asleep, some frantically finishing homework.

Xiang Yei sat at her desk, head resting on her folded arms. Her long, wavy black hair spilled over her shoulders, strands catching the sunlight. Her eyes fluttered shut, the warmth from the window making her drowsy.

Zhang Yan, seated a few rows away, found his gaze drifting toward her.

She looked peaceful.

Too peaceful for someone who was always moving, always smiling at others, always overworking herself.

The faint sound of a chair creaking made her eyes flutter open slightly. Still half-asleep, she turned her head just enough for their eyes to meet.

And then—she smiled.

Soft, lazy, like she had no idea she had been caught in his gaze.

A second later, she closed her eyes again, drifting back into sleep as if nothing had happened.

But something had.

Because from that moment, Zhang Yan could never quite forget the way her smile had looked bathed in morning sunlight.

(Flashback Ends – Present Day)

Zhang Yan stood up from his chair, shoving his hands into his pockets. His gaze settled on the towering buildings outside, but his mind was still lost in the past.

His voice was quiet, almost as if he were speaking to himself.

"You don't remember... or are you pretending?"

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