Unexpected Feelings (Unseen Desires)

After parting from Shen Shen at the café, Wei Chen couldn't shake the heavy feeling settling deep within him. Her offer to drive him home lingered in his mind, but he had turned it down. The stillness of solitude felt more comforting than any company at that moment.

AT 3 PM.

Wei Chen found himself back at Chuanjie Restaurant, the air thick with the savory smell of grilled pork and simmering soup the moment he stepped inside. The lunch rush had quieted, and the familiar hum of the restaurant was more serene now.

The staff greeted him warmly, leading him to the same table near the kitchen where he could see the familiar bustle of activity behind the curtains.

A few minutes passed, and Ning An emerged from the kitchen. Her order pad was in hand, but the moment her eyes met his, she froze. A ripple of nervous energy coursed through her, making her heart race faster than usual.

"Would you like the same as before?" she asked

Wei Chen looked at her. There was something different about her today, something gentler.

"Same as before," he answered in his usual calm voice, though inside, something in him stirred.

"The soy-braised pork set with mixed vegetables."

Ning An smiled faintly, jotting down his order, but as she looked back up at him, she couldn't help but glance away quickly, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"The same oolong tea as before?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Wei Chen answered briefly, sensing the unspoken tension hanging between them.

As she turned to walk toward the kitchen, Ning An's heart fluttered in her chest. Why did he come back today? She tried to ignore the strange excitement building inside her, but her mind kept returning to him.

He has someone, doesn't he? She reminded herself harshly, shaking away the thought.

Wei Chen took his time eating, savoring each bite. But it wasn't just about the food, the familiar taste of the braised pork and soup brought something deeper, something long buried, to the surface. It was as though a piece of his past had been unlocked with just one bite.

"Who created the recipe for this soup?" he asked, his voice breaking through the comfortable silence.

"My father did, but now I adjust the recipe to fit each menu item."

Ning An answered politely, her gaze soft.

Wei Chen nodded, his curiosity growing. Why hadn't he asked her this before? His mind felt conflicted, but there was a pull inside him, a draw that had become undeniable since his first visit.

The meal unfolded quietly, but for Wei Chen, there was a sense of change stirring within him. It was subtle, but unmistakable. Something was shifting.

***

Just as he was finishing his meal, Ning An reappeared, holding a small bowl of wonton soup.

"This is complimentary," she said, setting it down in front of him.

"My mother made too much today, so she's sharing it with regular customers."

Wei Chen's eyes softened as he stared at the soup. The aroma, ginger and sesame oil wafted up to him, comforting and familiar. He picked up a wonton and tasted it. The moment it touched his lips, time seemed to pause.

"Strange..." he murmured, unable to mask the surprise in his voice.

"This taste... it's like when I was a child."

"Really?" Ning An asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"Yes," he said slowly, as if the words were carefully weighted.

"It's exactly like the wonton soup my grandmother used to make for me after school."

For a moment, they locked eyes, and the world seemed to disappear. The connection between them felt different now, more intimate. The space between them was charged, and for the first time, Wei Chen felt a pull he couldn't explain.

He set the spoon down, his mind adrift in the flood of memories the soup had unlocked. He wasn't just tasting food. He was tasting his past. And it was here, in this small, ordinary restaurant that something extraordinary had come to life.

***

After finishing his meal, Wei Chen sat back on his car, his thoughts tangled in a mix of confusion and revelation. His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from his reverie. He knew who it was. Lu Jiu.

"I'm going to buy that restaurant," Wei Chen said, his words carried the weight of a decision that felt far too significant.

There was a long pause on the other end.

"Wait...what? you're buying Chuanjie?" Lu Jiu's voice grew louder with disbelief.

"Yes," Wei Chen answered.

"I thought you said the taste wasn't special?" Lu Jiu asked, still processing the absurdity of it all.

Wei Chen's gaze moved to the quiet street outside the restaurant. The city was still, the air crisp.

"It's not about the food, It's the memory. This wonton soup... it's like something I've lost. I don't want it to disappear again." Wei Chen answered

"So... this is about the wonton soup?" Lu Jiu asked.

"It's the taste of my childhood, "I can't let it disappear again." Wei Chen said, his words more vulnerable now than he'd intended.

Wei Chen turned to look at the restaurant once more, then at the street in front of him, feeling like he was standing on the edge of something he hadn't anticipated.

"I'll handle it. I just need to get to know her better," Wei Chen murmured, more to himself than to his friend.

He hung up and sat quietly for a long time. Tomorrow would be the beginning of something new. And he was ready for it.