44 Coffee Shop

Friday, 6 November 2020,07:07 a.m.

Dressed in a baby blue sweater, white jeans, and white overcoat Song Xia entered the coffee shop.Her hair of that was let down today had bits of snow sticking to it. With her flushed cheeks and exquisite face she stood out even in a prosperous and large city where there was no lack of attractive people.

There was a large snowstorms yesterday so the whole city was coated in a layer of white and ice. It was the first snow of the year. So all the schools were closed as per tradition. The 1st Snow of the year was a day off for students.

This coffee shop was the D City Branch of Cloud Coffee House. It still had the some similarities to the one in G city like the head to ceiling windows and cloud theme but it was divided into two floors.

The top floor was a more of a restaurant or coffee house setting. The bottom floor was more unique and filled with different couches in a variety of shades of blue, white and grey. There were few tables and a huge book shelves one the bottom floor. There was also a wrap around counter around the a glass cloud feature in the middle of the floor .It was morning so the area was busy but not overcrowded like peak hour.

Song Xia put her bag down at a free seat by the counter near a young man in a red hoodie.

The plan for today was to meet her acting classmates for breakfast at 8 a.m. at a nearby restaurant. However,she was bored at the hotel and Aunt Shi recommended this place. So she grabbed her sketchbook and bag and headed out .

A staff member had given her an order menu when she entered so she browsed through it. From coffees , lattes to hot chocolate everything looked appealing. Even the deserts were amazing so she decided to get six small peppermint tart desserts and chocolate chip cookies for breakfast to share with her acting colleagues. They would be busy today and only finish at 4:30 p.m. so it would be a treat before a tiring day.In the end she decided against coffee and selected a creamy hot cocoa with whipped cream.

Song Xia went to the till and placed her order . The cashier was a young man who was around nineteen years old with blue coloured hair.

" Hello, can I take your order?"

" Hi, yes I'll take the creamy hot cocoa with whipped cream. I also want to order a box of chocolate chip cookies and 6 peppermint tarts for pick up before I leave. Is that fine?"

The young man felt a bit shy when looking at the beauty in front of him. He usually wasn't self conscious but when there was such a beautiful girl in front of him he couldn't help the slight blush that appeared on his cheeks.

" Hmmgh" He cleared his throat before replying.

" It's no problem. We'll just keep it on the side. You can pick it up when you leave." He hurriedly said before giving Song Xia her total.After she paid and left some of his co- workers teased him for being a coward and acting foolishly.

Song Xia went back to her seat and started sketching . She was absorbed in her own world and did not notice the young man in a hoodie leaving a black trench coat on the seat next to hers before leaving the coffee house.

" Order, 106 to 114 ,please come pick up."

Song Xia reluctantly put down her pencil and went to fetch her drink at the coffee counter.

She picked up the take away cup that had hot creamy cocoa printed on it in a burnt orange and was leaving when she felt a tap on her shoulder .

The man behind her was tall. Very tall.

Close to 195 cm causing her to tilt her head to look at him. This was strange to her since she was taller or the same height regardless of gender so she could look at directly into a person 's eyes.

He was dressed in black jeans and a dove grey sweater. The lower part of his face covered with a Black mask.This was understandable as there was a flu virus going around D city so the citizens would try and protect themselves.Yet, the features that she managed to see were absolutely striking.

Amorous peach blossom eyes with thick ,long eyelashes that stroked his cheekbones met hers. Like an ebony black butterfly landing on a single white rose.

A pair of dark eyes sparkled like a million stars in the night sky.Intense and captivating eyes that showed off his fair complexion looked aloof yet not cold as if everything around him were beneath his notice.Currently ,those eyes were on the takeaway cup in her hands.

As if his appearance weren't enchanting enough the trouble marker had two small moles under his right eye. One at the corner of his eyelid and the other more towards in the middle.

"Excuse me, that's my order." Pointed out the guy. His voice was deep in a way that reminded you of black satin but smooth with slight musicality like the white and black keys of a piano.

Song Xia snapped out of her trance and saw that the order number on the cup was 107 and not 111 coincidentally they had ordered the exact same drink.

" I'm sorry. We ordered the same drink." Song Xia apologized and handed him the cup.

A large,elegant hand with distinct joints brushed her own fair, delicate hand as he took the cup from her.

A masculine voice sounded as the man took a step back .

"It's fine."

She turned back to the counter and picked up her drink feeling ridiculously awkward and embarrassed for no reason.

+++

' So Pretty.'

Zhan Xian thought as he watched the tall, slender girl with beautiful gold eyes in front of him wear a shocked expression before quickly looking at the take away cup in her hand.

Jade white skin. Long ,silky raven black hair and cherry coloured lips. Soul-stealing golden-brown eyes that were more gold than brown. Her bone structure was flawless and delicate but she was still young so there was a trace of baby fat and immaturity amongst her features.

It was not that he was attracted to her but more of an artists appreciation for beautiful things . He was first and for most a designer and they observed carefully which people and or models were suitable for their clothing. After all which designer did not look for inspiration or even their muse.

" I'm sorry. We ordered the same drink." the girl apologized before handing him the cup. Her pretty and soft hands brushed his own and for some reason he didn't mind. Usually his skin crawled when other women or even his models touched him. However, this time he didn't mind and have the urge to wash his hands.

Maybe it was because this girl was young and didn't stare at him with lustful eyes . Her gaze was pure and did not make him feel as if he was a piece of meat in a supermarket .Usually , for work he had to put on a cold and slightly rude persona so that the women he worked with would get the idea that he was interested.

He saw the girl leave for her seat. Her walk was graceful and elegant. She definitely was model material. He even caught his notice...

She was still young and he didn't want to influence a child in high school to go into the modelling industry if he wasn't by her side to cultivate her. The industry was a cruel world and he was leaving Huxia today. It was such a shame...

+++

Song Xia made her way back to her seat while the tall guy with gorgeous eyes walked behind her.To her surprise he lifted the black trench coat and sat beside her.

She decided to stop feeling awkward and continued sketching. Coincidentally the man next to her pulled out a black sketchbook and also began working. They worked in silence for a few minutes before she heard him tap the counter. There was a slight frustrated look in his eyes and he furrowed his eyebrows.

She took a sip of her hot cocoa and secretly observed him. He pushed his hair back making it slightly messy before erasing a few lines of his sketch. Looking at the sketchbook she was startled to see such an intricate and gorgeous wedding dress.