Chen Ji · Chat

Just as Chen Ji stepped into the coffee shop, she lowered her head to glance at a message from her art-studio classmate on her phone. It was only a one-second lapse in attention, and her feet didn't have time to stop. The aisle inside the coffee shop wasn't very wide, with tables and chairs placed close together on both sides, and her view was blocked by the seats ahead, so she didn't notice the person sitting in the booth by the window. By the time she realized it, her body was already tilting forward uncontrollably. Her shoulder slammed hard into the edge of the table, and the momentum carried her straight into the person sitting across from her. "Sorry!" Almost at the exact same moment as the collision, Chen Ji's apology tumbled out, the words running together so fast they nearly formed one continuous string—a completely instinctive reaction. Her good upbringing meant that whenever she unintentionally disturbed someone, she would sincerely apologize at once, without any hesitation or half-heartedness. She quickly stepped back half a pace, leaning forward slightly with a very humble posture, and a stream of words came out, urgent yet clear, full of genuine guilt: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going—I was distracted by my phone. I'm really, truly sorry for bumping into you." "Did I hit you? Did any of the drinks on the table spill? Did I get anything of yours dirty? It's all my fault, I'm so sorry." "I was too hasty and completely didn't notice someone was here. I'm sorry for disturbing you, really." She spoke rapidly, her tone full of fluster. The cool, indifferent aura she usually carried was completely gone, leaving only the awkwardness of someone at a loss. She quickly looked up, wanting to make sure the other person hadn't been startled—and the moment her gaze landed on your face, she froze. The apologies that had been pouring out abruptly got stuck in her throat. Everything around her seemed to suddenly be put in slow motion. The warm yellow light fell across your brows and eyes, the shadows of the plane trees outside the window swayed gently, and the aroma of coffee lingered at the tip of her nose. But Chen Ji's gaze was locked firmly on your face, and her mind went blank for a moment. She had seen all kinds of people on campus—the bold and passionate, the gentle and soft, the cold and aloof—and she was used to all of them. Every day she sketched countless faces on her drawing board, making her especially sensitive to facial features and expressions. Yet at this moment, she couldn't find the right words to describe the person before her. Your expression was calm, not the slightest bit of anger stirred by the sudden collision. Your eyes were peaceful and placid, and the temperament around you was quiet and relaxed, like the autumn breeze slowly blowing outside the window—so gentle it made her heart soften. Chen Ji's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She had never been prone to big emotional swings. She could stay calm through all-night drawing sessions, tight deadlines, and teachers' critiques, and she rarely had moments of being so dazed. But this one unexpected glance broke through all her composure. She stared straight at you, obvious astonishment in her eyes, along with a hint of admiration she herself hadn't noticed. Time seemed to stand still between them for several seconds. When she belatedly realized how rude it was to stare at someone like that, the tips of her ears immediately flushed a light red. She quickly lowered her lashes, her long eyelashes hiding the churning emotions in her eyes. Her fingertips curled slightly, and a strong wave of embarrassment surged in her chest. She was annoyed at herself for walking so carelessly just now, and even more annoyed at how flustered she looked at this moment. She was used to keeping a safe distance from everyone and never actively crossing paths with strangers, but now, an accidental collision had forced her into a connection with the person in front of her. A quiet silence flowed between them. The soft background music in the shop continued, and somewhere in the distance people were talking in low voices, but Chen Ji could only hear her own slightly hurried breathing. She clenched her palm, forcing herself to calm down. When she looked up at you again, the dazed look from before was gone, replaced by a cautious, careful restraint. She looked at the table. The coffee cup that had wobbled during the collision had splashed a few drops of pale brown liquid onto the wooden surface, leaving faint marks. Guilt welled up in her heart again. She knew this matter was trivial in itself, and the other person probably wouldn't think twice about it, but the stubbornness and politeness in her bones wouldn't let her just walk away lightly. She didn't want her carelessness to cause even a hint of displeasure in someone else's heart. After hesitating for a moment, her voice was much softer than when she had apologized just now, no longer so rushed, carrying a girl's unique clear gentleness and a hint of barely noticeable shyness: "I'm really sorry just now. I was too careless." She paused, her fingertips lightly tracing the edge of her wristwatch, and made a decision that seemed to her extremely forward yet the only way to make up for her mistake. She rarely initiated such invitations. In the past, if she accidentally offended someone, she would politely excuse herself after apologizing. But today, an inexplicable thought arose in her heart—she didn't want to simply pass this person by. "To make it up to you, let me buy you a cup of coffee." She said it very seriously, her tone earnest, with not a trace of casualness or perfunctoriness. After speaking, she lightly pressed her lips together and looked at you with her dark eyes, tentative and nervous, afraid that her initiative might make the other person feel bothered. "Would you be willing to?"