Chapter 5 Part 2: Glances and Other Quiet Disasters

Sunday, 7:20 PM
The end of dinner came with the soft clatter of teacups and the low hum of household chatter tapering off into a quiet lull.

Lin Yue was gathering her things when Chen Rui's voice broke the stillness beside her.

"I'll take you home."

She blinked, startled. "You don't have to. I can call a ride—"

"It's no trouble," he said simply. "I'd rather make sure you got home safe."

There was no insistence in his voice. Just that quiet, steady certainty that always made her feel oddly seen, and disarmed.

"Alright," she said, softly. "Thank you."

7:35 PM – In the Car

The ride home was quiet.

Not awkward. Not strained.

Just full of weight.

Lin Yue kept her gaze out the window, watching the lights pass by in streaks of gold and amber. But her thoughts were anything but calm.

Her own reflection flickered in the glass, lips soft, brow furrowed. Everything inside her felt tightly coiled beneath her quiet.

When the car slowed in front of her building, she hesitated before reaching for the door handle.

"Thanks for the ride," she murmured, unclipping her seatbelt.

"It was conveniently on my way," Chen Rui replied. A faint smile touched his lips. Too faint. Too unreadable.

She reached for her bag, then paused.

Something in her changed. A question surfaced, fragile and impulsive.

"Would you... like to come up for some tea?"

His eyes met hers. Not a blink. Not a flicker of surprise.

Only something deeper, calm, certain, quietly bold.

"If it's not too much trouble," he said.

"It's not," she replied, steadier than she felt. "Osmanthus or... coffee?"

"I'll park in the garage."

She nodded and stepped out. Her heart was already sprinting.

7:50 PM – Elevator

By the time they met again by the elevator, the silence between them changed shape.

Denser.

More electric.

Their shoulders brushed as they stepped inside.

She pressed the button for her floor. Chen Rui didn't move far. Their arms touched—barely. But the contact pulsed.

"I've always wondered," Chen Rui said, voice low, "if you know how warm your apartment smells."

She blinked. "Warm?"

Chen Rui: Ginger. Osmanthus. Linen. Something soft. Familiar. It lingers.
Lin Yue: I didn't think you noticed things like that.

"I notice more than you think." His tone was light. But his gaze... was not.

The elevator chimed. The doors opened.

But neither moved quickly.

Chen Rui stepped out first, walking in silence beside her. But his eyes lingered on her again, as if he was still saying something without words.

"You're... very attentive," she said, breaking the quiet as they reached her door.

"I've been told I have a quiet strategy," he replied, teasing just enough to soften the moment. "Subtle efforts. Intentional gestures."

Lin Yue raised a brow. "That sounds like a campaign."

"Doesn't it?" He smiled. "The kind where you don't say you're wooing someone... but you hope they notice anyway."

Her steps faltered.

And when she turned to glance at him, really looked, it was there, in his eyes.

Something warm. Steady. Certain.

She cleared her throat and looked away. "Tea," she said too brightly, fumbling with her keys. "Definitely tea."

"Of course," he murmured. "Nothing else at all."

But his voice said everything else.

8:00 PM – Inside Her Apartment

Lin Yue slipped off her shoes and padded to the kitchen. "Make yourself comfortable. I'll start the tea~"

"Take your time."

But she felt him behind her anyway, his presence brushing against her senses even without touch.

She busied herself with the kettle and cups, trying to settle her breath.

When she looked up again, Chen Rui was still standing in the living room, eyes scanning softly over her space like it whispered things to him.

"You alright?" she asked.

"Just noticing things."

"Osmanthus okay?"

"Always."

She turned back and poured the water. The scent bloomed in the steam, light, floral, golden. But nothing about her felt grounded anymore.

She didn't even realize he moved closer until he was beside her. Their hands reached for the same teacup.

Fingers brushed.

She inhaled sharply, too late to pretend she didn't feel it.

She passed him his cup. He took it, fingers lingering again.

"You always serve osmanthus," he said, voice low.

"I like the quiet flavor. Unassuming."

"But it lingers," he said, gaze steady. "It doesn't shout, but you remember it long after the cup's empty."

She paused. That wasn't about tea.

"I suppose that's the goal," she said. "To be quietly memorable."

"You already are."

She looked up—startled.

His expression didn't change. Just soft. Certain.

They moved to the sofa. Not too close. Not far either.

Just enough for the silence to breathe.

"Chen Rui," she said after a pause.

He turned to her immediately. "Yes?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"You always can."

"Last Friday night... I woke up in your shirt."

His eyes didn't flinch.

"You said I looked uncomfortable," she continued. "But... who changed me?"

A beat of silence.

"I did."

She froze. "You...?"

"You were flushed. You kept tugging at your clothes. I thought you'd sleep better without them." A pause. "I was careful."

Her face warmed. "So you helped me out of them."

"I closed my eyes," he said, smirking. "Very gentlemanly."

She groaned and laughed, half mortified. "You could've said divine intervention. Or a ghost."

"Would you believe me?"

"Probably not."

"You asked."

"Well. Thank you."

"I didn't have to," he said softly. "I wanted to."

Her eyes flicked to him again, and there it was.

That gaze. No longer teasing. No longer dancing around things.

Just clear.

"I think," he added, "you've known for a while now."

Her pulse spiked.

And then, he leaned in slightly, not a kiss, not a move. Just a lean. A closing of space.

"I'm not rushing you," he said. "But I won't pretend I'm not trying."

Lin Yue stared at him, heartbeat pounding in her throat.

"You said earlier, wooing without saying it..."

"This is how."

And then he leaned back again.

Casual. Polite.

But nothing between them was casual anymore.

She reached for her tea again. Her hands weren't quite steady.

The silence wasn't awkward.

It was full.

Heavy.

Unspeakable.

And terrifyingly beautiful.

Because now, she couldn't pretend anymore—
Not about what he wanted.
Not about what she wanted.

Not about the way everything between them was changing.

—

Note:

Kyaaa!!!

Thank you so much for reading this chapter!

I wasn't sure how to move the pace between these two but several drafts made me bite the bullet.

I was going for quiet intensity for this chapter. It feels maddening and no, we're not easing up just yet.

So for now, breathe. Stretch. Hydrate.

Now we know Chen Rui isn't hiding anymore.

And Lin Yue is beginning to realize that some silences carry weight, and some smiles speak volumes.

Should we proceed as I planned or show you a backstory of where it all began. Hmmm hmmm 🤔

Let me know through the comments