Chapter 7 — The Moment Everything Changed
1622 Words
Diara woke up smiling.
She didn't even realize it until she saw herself in the mirror.
She stood there for a few seconds, brushing her hair while trying to understand what had happened to her.
Then she remembered.
The rooftop.
Tian's hand around hers.
His voice.
I really like you.
She pressed her palms against her cheeks.
“Stop.”
Her reflection obviously didn't listen.
Her phone buzzed.
Tian: Good morning, trouble.
She smiled immediately.
Diara: Don't call me trouble.
Tian: Good morning, trouble.
Diara: I hate you.
Tian: You kissed me last night.
Diara froze.
She stared at the screen.
Then typed:
Diara: That proves nothing.
Tian: It proves you don't hate me.
She smiled.
Diara: Unfortunately.
His reply came instantly.
Tian: I'll work on changing that.
She put her phone down.
Then picked it up again.
She was becoming ridiculous.
And she didn't even mind.
---
At work, everything felt different.
Not because anything had changed.
But because Diara had.
She caught herself checking her phone between tasks.
Waiting for Tian's messages.
Remembering his smile.
Remembering the way he had looked at her before kissing her.
Yun noticed.
Of course she did.
“You're hopeless.”
Diara didn't look up.
“I'm working.”
“You've read the same line four times.”
“It's complicated.”
“You're not reading.”
“I am.”
“You're thinking about Tian.”
Diara sighed.
“Maybe.”
Yun smiled.
“At least you're admitting it now.”
Diara leaned back.
“I'm scared.”
“Of him?”
“No.”
She looked at her phone.
“Of losing myself.”
Yun's expression softened.
“You won't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you're Diara.”
“That doesn't answer anything.”
“It does.”
Yun sat beside her.
“You've always cared too much about other people. If this relationship ever makes you forget yourself, I'll remind you.”
Diara smiled.
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
For the first time, Diara believed that maybe she could love someone without disappearing inside the relationship.
Maybe.
---
That afternoon, Tian appeared outside her office.
Diara looked at him through the glass doors.
“You're here again?”
“I brought you lunch.”
“I can feed myself.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
“Because I wanted to.”
She stared at him.
“You really don't understand the concept of personal space.”
“I understand it.”
He smiled.
“I just don't always want to use it.”
She tried not to laugh.
Failed.
They sat together in a small café nearby.
Tian had brought her favorite food.
Again.
“You're becoming predictable,” Diara said.
“Is that bad?”
“No.”
She took a bite.
“It's actually nice.”
He smiled.
Then his expression changed.
“Diara.”
“Hmm?”
“Can I ask you something?”
She nodded.
“Are you happy?”
She paused.
The question was unexpectedly serious.
“Yes.”
“With me?”
She looked at him.
“Yes.”
He smiled.
That simple smile made her chest ache.
“I want you to stay happy,” he said.
“That's a lot of responsibility.”
“I can handle it.”
She laughed.
“You're confident.”
“Very.”
She reached across the table and tapped his forehead.
“Idiot.”
He caught her hand.
Neither moved.
Their fingers slowly intertwined.
The café suddenly seemed too quiet.
Tian looked at her.
“Can I kiss you?”
Diara smiled.
“You ask every time.”
“Because I want you to say yes every time.”
Her heart skipped.
She leaned closer.
“Yes.”
Their lips met.
Soft.
Slow.
Unhurried.
When they separated, Diara's cheeks were warm.
Tian smiled.
“Worth asking.”
She laughed.
---
But someone had seen them.
Jin Zhao stood outside the café.
He had been on his way to another meeting.
Then he'd seen Diara.
And Tian.
Together.
Again.
His eyes stayed on their joined hands.
He didn't realize how tightly his own hand had closed around his phone.
He walked away.
He shouldn't have looked.
He shouldn't have cared.
But he did.
And the worst part wasn't seeing Tian touch her.
It was seeing how comfortable she was with him.
She trusted Tian.
She smiled differently around him.
She looked safe.
Jin hated the thought that he wanted to be the reason for that smile.
---
That evening, Jin received an unexpected call.
“Mr. Zhao.”
His assistant's voice sounded tense.
“What happened?”
“There is an issue with the project.”
“What kind?”
“The company handling the contract has connections with the woman who recently approached Tian.”
Jin went silent.
“What connections?”
“She has been trying to get close to Tian again.”
“I know.”
“There may be more to it.”
Jin's expression hardened.
“Find out.”
“Yes, sir.”
The call ended.
Jin stared at the city outside his window.
For the first time, his interest in Diara had become connected to something beyond attraction.
If Tian's ex was involved in something dangerous…
Diara could get hurt.
He told himself that was why he needed to know more.
That was why he needed to watch.
That was why he couldn't simply walk away.
It was protection.
Nothing else.
At least, that's what he told himself.
---
The next day, Diara received a strange message.
Unknown Number:
You really trust him that much?
She frowned.
Another message appeared.
You don't know everything about Tian.
Her stomach tightened.
She blocked the number.
A minute later, another number messaged.
Ask him about the night he left me.
Diara stared at the screen.
Her hands became cold.
She didn't want to believe it.
She didn't want to question Tian.
But doubt had already entered her mind.
That evening, she waited for him.
When Tian arrived, he immediately noticed something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Diara.”
She looked at him.
“Did you hurt someone?”
He froze.
“What?”
“Your ex.”
His expression changed.
She saw it.
That tiny hesitation.
That was enough to scare her.
“I need the truth.”
Tian looked away.
“There are things I haven't told you.”
Her heart sank.
“What things?”
He took a breath.
“She wasn't just my girlfriend.”
Diara waited.
“She was my fiancée.”
Silence.
Diara stared at him.
“Your what?”
“My fiancée.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“It happened years ago. Our families were involved. It ended badly.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't want my past to become your problem.”
“But it already is.”
“I know.”
She stepped back.
“Were you going to tell me?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“I don't know.”
She laughed bitterly.
“So you weren't.”
“Diara—”
“No.”
She shook her head.
“I need some time.”
She turned away.
Tian caught himself before reaching for her.
He let his hand fall.
“Okay.”
Diara walked away.
She didn't see the pain on his face.
And Tian didn't see the tears gathering in hers.
---
Jin found Diara later that night.
She was sitting alone on a bench.
He stopped several steps away.
“Are you okay?”
She laughed softly.
“Everyone keeps asking me that.”
“Because you're not.”
She looked at him.
“Did you know?”
“Know what?”
“That Tian was engaged.”
Jin was silent.
That was answer enough.
Diara looked away.
“You knew.”
“I knew about his past.”
“But you didn't tell me.”
“It wasn't my secret to tell.”
She nodded slowly.
“I understand.”
Jin sat beside her.
Not too close.
“You shouldn't have to deal with someone else's secrets.”
Diara looked at him.
“What if everyone has secrets?”
“Then you decide which ones you can live with.”
She looked down.
“You make everything sound simple.”
“It isn't.”
“Then why do you always look so calm?”
Jin gave a faint smile.
“Because someone has to.”
She laughed quietly.
For the first time that night, she felt a little less alone.
Jin watched her.
And something inside him settled.
Not happiness.
Not satisfaction.
Something more dangerous.
Opportunity.
Tian had hurt her.
Even if unintentionally.
And Jin couldn't stop one thought from entering his mind.
If she needs someone now… why shouldn't it be me?
---
The next morning, Diara woke to a message.
Not from Tian.
Not from Yun.
From Jin.
Jin: Did you sleep?
She stared at the screen.
It was such a simple question.
Yet somehow, it felt strangely intimate.
She typed:
Diara: A little.
His reply came quickly.
Jin: Eat something.
She smiled faintly.
Diara: You're bossy.
Jin: You're stubborn.
She laughed.
For the first time, Jin Zhao had made her smile without even being there.
And somewhere inside him, something changed.
He had spent days telling himself he only wanted to protect her.
Now he wanted something else.
Her attention.
Her trust.
Her time.
And perhaps…
eventually,
her heart.
But he knew one thing already.
Tian would never give her up willingly.
And Jin Zhao had never been good at losing.
— End of Chapter 7 —
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