The LUMIGO conference room buzzed with low murmurs as Shen Miao stood before the team, her presentation slides glowing softly behind her. Wearing a sleek navy blazer, her confident tone filled the room.
"This campaign isn't just about showcasing a product. It's about reminding people that fashion tells stories—bold, personal, and sometimes, healing."
Everyone listened attentively. Everyone, including him.
He Ran sat at the head of the table, silent, his fingers interlocked in front of him. His dark gaze never left Shen Miao. Every movement she made, every word she spoke—he absorbed it like he'd been starved for years.
She had changed. Or maybe… matured. She carried herself with poise and certainty now, but her eyes—those expressive brown eyes—still held the warmth of the girl he once knew.
As she wrapped up the presentation, polite applause echoed around the room. She nodded gracefully, avoiding his eyes.
"Excellent work," said the Creative Director.
Before Shen Miao could leave, He Ran's voice cut through the air.
"Impressive. The concept is fresh, and the emotion behind it—powerful. You've captured something meaningful, Shen Miao."
Her gaze finally met his. It lasted just a second—but it was enough to stir the buried ache between them.
"Thank you, Mr. He," she replied, voice neutral.
He gave the slightest nod. The rest of the meeting dissolved into conversations and paperwork, but his eyes lingered on her until she walked out.
---
That evening, the office slowly emptied. Shen Miao remained at her desk, editing details for the final campaign deck. She hated unfinished work. But more than that, she hated how being around He Ran still affected her. How after all these years, a single glance could bring back everything.
Her phone buzzed.
Text from: He Ran
"Rooftop. Ten minutes. Please."
She stared at the message. Fingers hovered over the screen. She should say no. She should protect herself.
But her feet moved before her brain caught up.
---
The rooftop was calm, kissed by the evening breeze. Distant traffic hummed below, but up here, it felt like the world had paused.
He Ran stood by the railing, jacket off, sleeves rolled up, the setting sun casting a golden hue on his features. He turned when he heard her footsteps.
"You came," he said, almost surprised.
"You asked me to," she replied, voice even.
They stood in silence for a moment.
He finally spoke. "Why are you avoiding me?"
Her brows lifted slightly. "I'm not. I've been working."
"You know what I mean.You are, Shen Miao," he said, stepping closer. "You act like we're strangers. After everything we were—"
Her voice turned sharp. "Were, He Ran. Past tense. You disappeared. You left without a word."
"I thought you didn't care!" he burst, pain flashing in his eyes. "You never stopped me. You didn't even try."
"Because I was scared," she admitted.Because you meant the world to me!" she shouted before she could stop herself. "And I thought I didn't mean anything to you.You were everything to me, and I thought I was just your 'best friend.' I didn't want to lose even that."
The words hung in the air like a slap. Neither spoke. The breeze picked up.
He pulled something from his inner coat pocket. A small, slightly wrinkled photograph. He handed it to her with trembling fingers.
It was her—laughing, carefree—during their school trip to the lake. She remembered that day vividly. But she never knew he had captured her like this.
"I took this the day before I left," he said softly. "I kept it in my wallet every day for five years."
Her heart twisted.
"I moved away thinking we were just... best friends. I told myself it was one-sided. That maybe forgetting you would be easier than facing rejection. But it wasn't. It's never been easy."
She stared at the photo in silence. Then looked up. "You're the CEO now. You've changed."
"So have you," he whispered. "But some things haven't. Not for me. Not when it comes to you."
Tears welled up in her eyes. "Why now, He Ran? Why come back?"
"Because I couldn't keep running. Not from this. Not from you."
His voice cracked, raw with emotion. He stepped forward, gently brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
She didn't pull away.
He didn't kiss her. Not yet.
But the air between them was heavy with everything unsaid, with every moment they had lost, and every feeling that refused to die.
And for the first time in five years, the distance between them felt smaller.
—Fluttering Flashback—
Summer, five years ago. Their last class trip.
They had wandered away from the group, walking along the lake's edge with soda bottles in hand.
"You always hold in your laughter when people are around," He Ran had said casually, watching her sip.
She blinked. "What? No I don't."
"Yes, you do." He leaned closer. "But when you really laugh… you close your eyes and throw your head back. Like you're free."
She blushed. "You noticed that?"
He smirked. "I notice a lot."
Something shifted in that moment—electric, tender. Shen Miao felt it. So did He Ran. But neither dared to speak.
Instead, he pulled out his phone and snapped a quick photo of her mid-laugh. She tried to snatch it away.
"Delete that!" she said, cheeks crimson.
"Nope. It's mine now."
They both laughed, hearts racing. And somewhere deep inside them, something bloomed quietly—sweet and unfinished.
---
Back in the present, Shen Miao's fingers tightened around the photo. Her eyes shimmered.
"Why now?" she whispered. "Why come back and open all of this?"
"Because I've tried to forget you," he said honestly. "But no matter how far I went, how much I changed, my heart always… stayed with you."
His words cracked her resolve. She turned away, but he gently took her hand, fingers warm against hers.
"I'm not asking you to forgive everything. I just want a chance to start over."
She didn't reply. But she didn't pull away either.
In the space between them, old feelings stirred, no longer buried but trembling to rise again.