Another Curious Encounter

Lingling stared at the untouched coffee on her desk. She'd taken exactly one sip and it was enough to sour her already tense morning.

Watery, bland, and utterly unremarkable. She slid the cup to the edge of her desk with a frown, annoyed at how much she'd been thinking about the latte from Blooming Beans.

And that barista.

Lingling frowned again, her annoyance deepening. What was her name again? Actually, had she even said her name?

The memory of the blonde's sly grin and effortless confidence refused to fade.

Lingling didn't care about coffee shops. She didn't care about baristas. But something about that woman stuck—something about the way she carried herself, so unapologetically bold, so different from the carefully composed people Lingling was used to.

Lingling shook her head, dismissing the thought. She didn't need distractions.

"Ma'am, your car is ready. The event is starting soon," her assistant reminded her.

Lingling sighed. Another night of surface-level conversations and business posturing. She adjusted her suit. "Let's go."

The event was exactly what she expected: opulent décor, polished elites, and conversations that never went deeper than the surface. Lingling navigated it all with effortless poise, her champagne glass a mere prop as she delivered clipped responses to the same repetitive chatter.

It wasn't long before the monotony became unbearable. With a polite excuse, she slipped away to the terrace, where the cool evening air greeted her like a balm.

As she leaned against the railing, her gaze wandered—until it landed on a bright scene across the street.

A pop-up bar.

Strings of lights hung above a small crowd gathered around a makeshift counter. Laughter, clinking glasses, and soft music drifted through the air, contrasting sharply with the dull sophistication of the event behind her.

And then she saw her.

The barista from Blooming Beans.

Lingling's eyes narrowed slightly. She watched as the blonde worked the crowd effortlessly, her movements quick and confident, her messy hair catching the light. Sleeves rolled up, an easy grin on her face, she had the kind of energy that made people flock to her without hesitation.

Lingling's gaze swept over the scene, noticing how customers leaned in closer when the blonde spoke, their laughter a little louder, their gazes lingering just a moment too long. One particularly bold woman reached across the counter, brushing her fingers against the blonde's arm as she laughed at something Lingling couldn't hear.

Something inside Lingling tightened—a small flicker of irritation she couldn't quite name.

Before she knew it, her feet were moving. She crossed the street, weaving through the crowd until she stood at the edge of the bar, unnoticed.

Lingling watched as the blonde finished serving a customer with a wink and a playful comment, her energy drawing everyone in like moths to a flame. But when her eyes landed on Lingling, her smile widened, taking on an entirely new edge.

"Well, well," the blonde said, leaning against the counter with that same maddening confidence. "If it isn't the CEO herself! Didn't think this was your kind of scene."

Lingling stepped closer, her expression calm and unreadable. "I could ask you the same thing."

The blonde chuckled, folding her arms as she tilted her head. "Oh, you know, just helping a friend. Mixing drinks, keeping the masses entertained. You here for a cocktail or were you just admiring my crowd control skills from afar?"

Lingling's tone was cool. "I'm not here to talk."

"Good," the blonde shot back without missing a beat, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You look like someone who could use a drink. Something simple? Or should I whip up something special for the VIP?"

"Something simple," Lingling replied curtly.

The blonde smirked. "Simple it is. One no-nonsense drink for our very serious CEO."

Lingling's gaze followed the blonde's movements as she mixed the drink. Even here, in this casual setting, there was something about her that commanded attention—though it annoyed Lingling how much she'd noticed.

The drink appeared in front of her with a flourish.

"There you go," the blonde said, leaning a little closer. "On the house."

Lingling frowned. "I don't need free drinks."

"Who said anything about need?" The blonde's grin turned into a playful smirk. "Consider it a perk of being interesting enough to get my attention."

Lingling's jaw tightened. "I don't accept charity."

"Charity?" The blonde laughed, the sound warm and rich. "Come on, CEO. Let me have this one. You wouldn't be the first to fall for my charm tonight."

Lingling's gaze flicked briefly to the crowd. Sure enough, more than a few people were still watching the blonde, their interest obvious. That same flicker of irritation returned, sharper now.

Lingling straightened her shoulders. "I don't accept handouts."

"Wow," Orm teased, feigning a look of shock. "The CEO doesn't take gifts? Next thing you'll tell me, you've never gotten flowers either. Wait—don't tell me. Do people have to schedule time to surprise you?"

"I'm not interested in—"

"Oh, lighten up!" Orm interrupted with a laugh. "Look, if it bothers you that much, we'll call it a bribe. You drink it and I get to keep seeing that frown of yours for the next few minutes. Win-win."

Lingling opened her mouth to protest but stopped. Her hand wrapped around the glass. "Fine. Just this once."

Orm watched her take a sip, her grin softening into something more genuine. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Lingling set the glass down, her expression neutral. "It's adequate."

Orm gasped theatrically. "Adequate? I'll take that as high praise coming from someone as hard to impress as you." She straightened up, brushing her hands off. "By the way, name's Orm. Just thought I'd give you something to remember me by."

Lingling blinked, caught off guard by the bold introduction, but only for a second. "Lingling" she said finally, her tone cool.

"Lingling" Orm repeated, the name rolling off her tongue like a secret. "Beautiful name. Suits you."

Before Lingling could respond, a bubbly woman from behind the bar called out.

"Orm! Stop flirting and help me with these orders! You're slacking!"

Orm gave an exaggerated sigh. "Duty calls." She winked at Lingling. "Don't go falling for me while I'm gone."

Lingling didn't respond, watching as Orm moved away.

Suzie, the woman behind the bar, glanced Lingling's way, her grin mischievous. "So, who's that?" she asked Orm, her voice just loud enough for Lingling to overhear. "She's hot. You've got a type, huh?"

Orm smirked, grabbing a cocktail shaker. "She's just someone who doesn't know how to have fun yet."

Suzie laughed. "Uh-huh. Sure. I see the way you look at her. It's adorable."

"Focus, Suzie," Orm shot back, though her grin didn't fade.

Lingling turned back toward the event, her composure intact, but her thoughts far from the glass doors she was heading toward.