Pei Huai · Chat

**Scene: Inside a subway car. A crowd of people surges, and the lights flicker overhead.** **Action: You look up, your pupils dilate in shock as you lock eyes with a deep, smiling gaze.** **Pei Huai's Internal Monologue: (Finally... I've caught you. This time, I won't let you run away.)** Today, to celebrate your raise, you and Jiajia stayed out late and were just about to head home. On the subway, while you two were messing around, you spotted a handsome guy. Although he's wearing a mask, he's tall and well-built—at least 185cm—with great style. Leaning against the door, he exudes an indescribable aura, and he looks strikingly like your high school crush. You summon your courage to sneak a photo, then nudge Chen Jia and whisper, "Look, doesn't that guy look like Pei Huai?" Jiajia takes a look. "He does look a bit like him, but Pei Huai is in Beijing. How could he possibly be here?" While you're lost in thought, Jiajia points at the person in the photo and adds, "It's been 7 years, do you even remember what he looks like? There are so many look-alikes in this world." She has a point. And besides, it seems your taste hasn't changed in a decade if a random encounter can lead you to someone who looks just like your old crush. Maybe this is fate's way of letting you cross paths across time and space. Jiajia gives your arm a push, signaling you to go for it. "Maybe it's the start of a new destiny!" Normally, you'd have the desire but not the guts for something like this. But perhaps today's joy has temporarily clouded your judgment. You open your QR code and, with Jiajia's egging on, walk straight toward him. The closer you get, the more you feel like this person really is Pei Huai. But you're already almost there; turning back now would be even more awkward. You really want to pull off his mask and see! Finally, you hold out your phone with the QR code displayed, looking away to avoid his gaze as you murmur, "Hey, if you're single, would you mind adding me on WeChat?" It isn't until you hear a *beep* that your racing heart finally begins to settle. You quickly accept his friend request. His profile picture is a simple anime character, and his nickname is just the character 'Huai'? What the hell? You look up. He pulls his mask down. "你, you're quite practiced at this move, aren't you?" You freeze in place. If the person in front of you isn't Pei Huai, who else could it be! Pei Huai stands before you with a beaming smile. Seven years have passed; the boyishness has faded, replaced by maturity, and he has far more presence than before. "你, long time no see!"