Chapter 6 — The Night We Almost Forgot the World
1777 Words
Diara spent the entire night thinking about one sentence.
I think I like him.
She had said it to Yun.
She had admitted it out loud.
And somehow, saying it made everything feel more real.
She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling while the city lights slipped through the curtains.
Her fingers slowly touched her lips.
The kiss.
She remembered how Tian had looked at her afterward.
That small smile.
The way he hadn't rushed her.
The way he'd asked before getting closer.
It had been simple.
Gentle.
And yet her heart had been racing as if she'd just run across the entire city.
Her phone vibrated.
She grabbed it immediately.
Tian: Are you awake?
She smiled.
Diara: Unfortunately.
His reply came seconds later.
Tian: Good. I need to ask you something.
Diara: What?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Appeared again.
Tian: Would you go on a proper date with me?
Diara stared at the screen.
A proper date.
Not coffee.
Not walking home.
Not accidentally spending time together.
A date.
She buried her face in her pillow.
“Oh my God.”
Her phone vibrated again.
Tian: You can say no.
She immediately typed:
Diara: I didn't say no.
Tian: So that's a yes?
She smiled.
Diara: Maybe.
Tian: I'll take maybe.
Diara: Don't get too excited.
Tian: Too late.
She laughed quietly.
For the first time in days, the weight inside her chest felt lighter.
The next morning, Yun knew something had happened before Diara even sat down.
“You're glowing.”
“I'm tired.”
“You're glowing while being tired.”
“Maybe I'm just moisturized.”
Yun stared at her.
“Date?”
Diara froze.
“How do you know?”
“Because you only wear that expression when something involves Tian.”
Diara looked down at her clothes.
“Do I look okay?”
Yun's eyes widened dramatically.
“Oh, this is serious.”
“Stop!”
“You're asking me whether you look okay!”
“Because I'm meeting him after work.”
Yun smiled.
“You like him.”
Diara sighed.
“I know.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“How does it feel?”
Diara thought for a moment.
“Scary.”
Yun's smile softened.
“Why?”
“Because I actually care what happens.”
At six thirty, Diara stepped outside.
Tian was waiting.
He was wearing a dark jacket, his hair slightly messy from the wind.
When he saw her, he smiled.
Then he stopped.
Diara noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Why are you staring?”
“You look beautiful.”
Her cheeks warmed.
“You're supposed to say I look nice.”
“I thought beautiful was better.”
She looked away.
“You're getting confident.”
“I was always confident.”
“Annoying.”
“Yet you came.”
She smiled.
“Unfortunately.”
He held out his hand.
She looked at it.
Then at him.
“Where are we going?”
“It's a surprise.”
“I don't like surprises.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Because I think you'll like this one.”
She hesitated.
Then placed her hand in his.
His fingers closed gently around hers.
Something about that simple gesture made her heart beat faster.
Neither mentioned it.
The surprise turned out to be a small rooftop garden overlooking the city.
Tiny lights hung above them.
There were only a few tables, soft music, and the glow of Beijing stretching endlessly beyond the railing.
Diara stared.
“Tian…”
“I found this place a while ago.”
“You brought me here?”
He nodded.
“Why?”
“Because you said you liked quiet places.”
She looked at him.
“You remember everything.”
“Only things that matter.”
Her heart skipped.
She looked away before he could see her expression.
They sat together.
Dinner arrived.
They talked for hours.
Not about anything particularly important.
And somehow, those were Diara's favorite conversations.
She told him about the embarrassing things she'd done as a child.
He told her about the first time he'd gotten into trouble at school.
She laughed at him.
He laughed at her.
At one point, Diara nearly spilled her drink.
Tian caught the glass.
“Careful.”
“I was careful.”
“You almost drowned yourself.”
“It was one glass.”
“You're dangerous.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Are you insulting me on our first date?”
“No.”
He smiled.
“I'm flirting.”
She tried not to smile.
Failed.
Later, they stood near the railing.
The wind moved through Diara's hair.
Tian reached toward her, then paused.
“Can I?”
She nodded.
He gently moved a strand of hair away from her face.
His fingers lingered for only a moment.
But Diara felt it everywhere.
“Why do you look nervous?” he whispered.
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
“You're too close.”
He smiled.
“Do you want me to move?”
She looked at him.
She should have said yes.
Instead, she whispered,
“No.”
His expression softened.
He leaned closer.
Their lips met.
This kiss wasn't like the first.
It lasted longer.
It carried all the things they hadn't said.
Diara's hands slowly found his shoulders.
Tian pulled her a little closer, but when he felt her hesitate, he stopped.
Their foreheads rested together.
“You okay?”
She nodded.
“Just…”
“Just what?”
“I've never been good at this.”
“At what?”
“Letting someone get close.”
Tian looked at her.
“Then we don't have to rush.”
She closed her eyes for a second.
That was the thing about him.
He never made her feel like she owed him something.
She opened her eyes.
“Thank you.”
He smiled.
Then kissed her forehead.
And somehow, that felt more intimate than anything else.
They stayed there until nearly midnight.
When Tian walked her home, neither wanted the evening to end.
At her building, Diara turned toward him.
“So…”
“So?”
“This was a good date.”
“Only good?”
“Very good.”
He smiled.
“Can I have another?”
She pretended to think.
“Maybe.”
“That's your favorite answer.”
“Maybe.”
He laughed.
Then he stepped closer.
Diara looked up at him.
“Goodnight, Tian.”
“Goodnight.”
She turned toward the entrance.
“Diara.”
She looked back.
“I really like you.”
Her heart stopped.
For once, she didn't joke.
She simply smiled.
“I really like you too.”
She walked inside.
Tian remained outside until the doors closed.
Only then did he turn away.
Neither of them noticed the figure standing farther down the street.
Jin Zhao.
He had come to deliver something to Tian.
He hadn't expected to see them.
He hadn't expected to see Diara smiling like that.
And he certainly hadn't expected the strange ache that followed.
He watched Tian walk away.
Then looked toward the building.
He could still remember Diara's expression.
Happy.
Safe.
Comfortable.
With Tian.
Jin's jaw tightened.
He told himself it was nothing.
Tian was his friend.
Diara was a girl Tian liked.
That was all.
But his mind betrayed him.
What does Tian give her that I don't?
The thought came suddenly.
Jin immediately rejected it.
It didn't matter.
He had no reason to compare himself to Tian.
Yet the question remained.
The following afternoon, Diara was sitting at a café with Yun when Tian suddenly appeared.
“You're everywhere,” Diara said.
“I was nearby.”
“You always happen to be nearby.”
“Maybe Beijing is smaller than you think.”
Yun looked between them and smiled.
“I'll leave.”
Diara's eyes widened.
“Yun!”
“Enjoy your afternoon.”
She disappeared before Diara could stop her.
Tian sat down.
“You're embarrassed.”
“No.”
“You are.”
“Stop smiling.”
“I can't.”
He reached across the table.
His fingers lightly touched hers.
Diara looked down.
Then back at him.
“You're doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“Making me forget what I was saying.”
“Then I must be doing something right.”
She laughed.
Their fingers remained intertwined.
For a few minutes, neither said anything.
Then Tian's phone rang.
His smile disappeared when he saw the caller.
Diara noticed.
“Who is it?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Then he rejected the call.
“Her?”
He nodded.
“My ex.”
Diara's fingers slowly loosened.
Tian noticed immediately.
“Diara.”
“It's okay.”
“It isn't.”
“I said it's okay.”
He reached for her hand again.
She let him.
“I don't want her.”
Diara looked at him.
“I believe you.”
“But?”
She sighed.
“But I don't want to become part of some unfinished story.”
Tian's expression softened.
“You won't.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Because I'm choosing you.”
The words silenced her.
Tian squeezed her hand.
“I don't know where this will go.”
“Neither do I.”
“But I want to find out.”
Diara smiled.
“So do I.”
That night, Tian finally answered his ex's call.
Jin was there.
He listened silently as Tian spoke.
“I've already told you.”
A pause.
“No.”
Another pause.
“I've moved on.”
Tian's expression hardened.
“You need to respect that.”
He ended the call.
Jin watched him.
“She won't stop.”
“I know.”
“You should be careful.”
Tian looked at him.
“I am.”
Jin nodded.
Then, after a moment, he asked the question he hadn't intended to ask.
“Do you really love her?”
Tian smiled faintly.
“I don't know if it's love yet.”
He looked toward the window.
“But I want it to become something real.”
Jin said nothing.
Because somewhere inside him, something had just broken.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just enough to let something darker through.
And for the first time, Jin Zhao understood one terrible truth:
He didn't want Tian to lose Diara.
He wanted Diara to choose him instead.
And he had no idea what he would do if she didn't.
— End of Chapter 6 —
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