Years ago, in this noodle shop, at the same time of day, he had just finished a surgery, utterly exhausted.
She walked in, sat down without a word, and ordered the same noodles as him.
When the noodles were served, she picked them up with her chopsticks, taking bite after bite.
After only a few mouthfuls, tears began to fall, splashing into the noodles and dripping into the bowl.
This wasn't strange, nor did it draw attention.
Except that day...
She was wearing a wedding dress.
She hadn't even taken off her veil when she walked into the noodle shop.
Her makeup was smudged from crying, yet she forced herself to smile, cheering herself on.
In that moment, Xiang Liang remembered her deeply.
But she, on that day, surely didn't remember ever seeing him.
"Ah..."
Zhao Shuyao recalled.
That day was the day she married Qin Yusheng.
Old Master Qin had arranged a grand wedding for her, inviting many social elites and Qin family relatives, giving her face and status, and acknowledging her as his granddaughter-in-law.
But that day...
Was also the day Huo Yanxue had her car accident.
Qin Yusheng, under everyone's watchful eyes, abandoned her to go find Huo Yanxue.
She stood on the stage, holding her bouquet, alone, forcing a smile and completing the wedding.
Everyone has feelings, flesh and blood; how could she not be sad?
That bowl of beef noodles tasted awful.
When she entered, she hadn't noticed if there were other people in the noodle shop.
She hadn't expected Xiang Liang to see her.
"That shouldn't have been me..."
Zhao Shuyao covered her face. To be embarrassed in front of a handsome man was truly embarrassing to the extreme!
Xiang Liang smiled faintly, a hint of bitterness flashing in his eyes. "Seeing you that day was like seeing myself..."
What?
Zhao Shuyao thought she had misheard.
"It's nothing, let's eat."
Xiang Liang handed Zhao Shuyao a pair of chopsticks.
Zhao Shuyao thanked him, picked up a strand of beef noodles, but found she wasn't very hungry. She remembered what Xiang Liang had just said.
What did he mean...
Could such a handsome man also be dumped?
No way!
Shock flickered in Zhao Shuyao's eyes, and the beef noodles before her seemed less appetizing.
She wanted to ask, but was afraid of hurting Xiang Liang, so she didn't.
Xiang Liang seemed to know what Zhao Shuyao was curious about. "I'll tell you when there's a chance."
Zhao Shuyao wanted to say, tell me now!
What came out was, "Okay."
After finishing the noodles, Zhao Shuyao walked out. Xiang Liang followed. Seeing that a light rain had started, Xiang Liang opened his black umbrella. "I'll give you a ride, where do you live?"
"I drove here, no need." Zhao Shuyao jingled her car keys.
Xiang Liang glanced at the car keys. "Driving a Lamborghini at such a young age."
Zhao Shuyao chuckled inwardly.
It was all thanks to Qin Yusheng, that rich idiot.
"Isn't that normal? Dr. Xiang's car isn't cheap either!"
Zhao Shuyao glanced at the car next to hers. Although she didn't know the model or price, it looked expensive.
Xiang Liang took a lighter from his pocket and fiddled with it. "I'm almost thirty."
Zhao Shuyao almost stumbled, looking at the man before her in surprise.
His skin was fair, his features handsome and youthful. No matter how you looked at him, he didn't seem like a man approaching thirty; he looked like a young man in his early twenties.
Xiang Liang curved his lips into a smile. "Doesn't look it?"
Zhao Shuyao was almost mesmerized by his smile. "It really doesn't. I might believe you more easily if you said you were in your early twenties."
She paused and then added, "Dr. Xiang must have a girlfriend by now, or perhaps he's already married?"
At his age, he should have a girlfriend or be married.
Xiang Liang took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, lit one, and put it in his mouth, holding it. After a while, he exhaled a smoke ring.
The cigarette had a faint mint flavor, surprisingly a brand of women's cigarettes, with a subtle hint of peach.
The way the man smoked didn't look like he was smoking, but rather like he was reminiscing about a lost love.
"Not married."
Hearing the man's voice, Zhao Shuyao felt her heart sink. "Cough, cough, it doesn't matter, it's bound to happen sooner or later. So many girls at the hospital chase you, don't you have a type you like... Dr. Xiang should smoke less..."
Zhao Shuyao didn't know what she was saying anymore. She turned and walked towards her car.
Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed.
She was pulled by Xiang Liang.
Feeling the man's strength, Zhao Shuyao was pulled into his embrace.
"You look so much like her..."
Her chin was held by the man. Zhao Shuyao was forced to look up at him, her mind going blank, completely frozen, unsure how to react.
Xiang Liang smiled faintly, his lips red and teeth white, his features picturesque. "But, you're also a bit different... Your personality is fiery and bright, while she was like a snowflake..."
Her?
Who was that "her"?
Before Zhao Shuyao could ask, Xiang Liang let go. Zhao Shuyao exhaled and looked at the man, about to say something.
"Goodnight, get some rest early."
Xiang Liang stubbed out his cigarette, put his hands in his pockets, and walked towards his car.
Zhao Shuyao watched Xiang Liang's car disappear into the distance before returning to her own car.
She rubbed her fingers together.
If not for the lingering warmth of the man, it felt as unbelievable as a dream.
Zhao Shuyao took a deep breath and stepped on the accelerator.
Back at the hotel, Zhao Shuyao was exhausted, both physically and mentally.
She had to go to the coffee shop the next morning, so Zhao Shuyao fell into a drowsy sleep.
The next day, Zhao Shuyao was busy grinding coffee.
Suddenly, someone arrived. A female colleague, blushing, ran back behind the counter and whispered to another colleague, "Did you see that handsome guy just now... He's really too handsome! If I didn't know this was a celebrity, I would have thought he was an idol!"
"Really? How handsome is he? Little Li also said he was very handsome. I have to go see!"
Several female colleagues stopped their work and ran to see the handsome man.
Zhao Shuyao smiled helplessly and continued with her work.
"Hello."
A customer arrived at the counter, wanting to order.
Zhao Shuyao wiped the water from her hands, walked to the cash register, and asked, "Good morning, what would you like to drink..."
"A latte, no milk, no sugar, because... you're already sweet enough."
Zhao Shuyao looked up abruptly and saw Xiang Liang standing before her.
The man was wearing a simple white shirt, and his dark, slightly messy hair made his skin appear even fairer.
"Dr. Xiang... how is it you..."
"Shh."
The man placed his index finger on his crimson, thin lips. "I snuck over to see you."
"What?" Zhao Shuyao was stunned. She hadn't expected Xiang Liang to appear here, let alone hear him say such things to her...
A cheesy pickup line.
"I missed you." Xiang Liang's gaze swept heavily across her cheek.