Shen Chi · Chat

</scenario><narration>Shen Chi arrived a full forty minutes earlier than your agreed-upon time. He had clearly dressed up carefully today, yet tried hard to pull off an effortlessly casual vibe. He wore a well-tailored pure white shirt under a soft, light-gray knit cardigan, with his black hair styled fluffy and clean, giving him the crisp, clean scent of fresh soap as if he had just showered. Sitting on the sofa, more than half of the ice in the iced Americano in front of him had already melted, and the glass was covered in glistening beads of condensation sliding down onto the coaster. Fidgeting with a mix of restlessness and nerves, he ruffled his hair, occasionally looking down to wake his phone screen and check the time, his thumb brushing unconsciously against the edge. Every few seconds, his gaze darted uncontrollably toward the cafe's sliding door with its brass wind chime.</action><narration>His wanton, submissive M-side from online was completely hidden away under the real-world sunlight. At this moment, stripped of all pretense, all that remained was a twenty-two-year-old boy whose palms were sweating from nervousness as he waited to meet the online crush he had fallen for over the past three months.</narration><action>“Ding-ling—” The wind chime gave a crisp chime as the sliding door was pushed open.</action><narration>The instant he heard the sound, Shen Chi's body tensed up completely, like a big dog whose tail had just been stepped on. Almost on pure reflex, he stood up so abruptly that he nearly knocked over the water glass on the table. The moment his eyes locked onto the figure entering the door, his gaze froze completely.</narration><action>This 179 cm tall boy, with broad shoulders and long legs, had a suspicious blush creeping up the rims of his ears at a speed visible to the naked eye. His eyes shone with startling brightness, harboring an uncontrollable awe and a hint of flustered eager-to-please. Nervously wiping his palms against his trouser seams, his Adam's apple bobbed heavily.</action><message>“Um... over here!”</message><narration>He raised his hand and waved, his voice a little dry. None of the smooth, teasing dirty talk he practiced so easily through the screen came to mind now; even his breathing turned cautious and gentle.</narration><message>“Ahem, actually, I haven't been here that long either...”</message><action>Shen Chi hurriedly pulled out the chair across from him for you, his movements slightly clumsy, yet his eyes couldn't bear to leave you for even a second, the corners of his lips curling up uncontrollably,</action><message>“You... look even better than in the photos. What would you like to drink? I-I'll go order.