The Ivy & Ink Bookstore on Harmony Lane smelled like old paper and fresh espresso, a cozy haven tucked between a florist with wilting lilies and a vintage record shop blasting muffled vinyl crackles. The place was a labyrinth of tall shelves, dark wood sagging under stacks of novels, finance guides, and dusty poetry collections—the kind of spot where Zhonghai's roar softened to a hum.
Soft jazz floated from a speaker near the counter, where a barista with a nose ring clinked mugs for a scattering of patrons—students scribbling in notebooks, old-timers flipping yellowed pages at tables strewn with coffee rings and bookmarks. Sunlight spilled through the front window, catching dust motes in lazy swirls, striping the scuffed hardwood floor with gold.
Jin Hao stepped inside, the bell above the door chiming a gentle ding. He'd tracked Su Ran here with the system's feature—a HUD ping that lit up like a beacon after Wirs tagged her as his target. Not magic, just some next-level tech he didn't bother dissecting.
He'd dressed up good, but nothing too much: a fitted black shirt, top button popped to flash a hint of chest, sleeves rolled to his elbows showing off forearms carved from a year of grit, and dark jeans that hugged his thighs just right.
A bookstore worker—a wiry guy with round glasses and a mop of brown hair—popped up from behind the counter, wiping his hands on a rag. "Hey, welcome in," he said, voice chipper but nasal, like he'd spent too long sniffing ink. "Looking for something specific, or you just here to soak up the vibes?"
Jin flashed a half-grin, keeping it easy. "Just browsing. Seeing what jumps out."
"Cool, cool," the guy nodded, already drifting back to his espresso machine. "Holler if you need me."
As Jin moved toward the finance aisle, he caught the ripple—eyes flicking his way, soft murmurs trailing him. Two girls near the romance section, maybe college age, paused mid-gossip, one clutching a paperback with a shirtless guy on the cover.
"Whoa, check him out," she whispered, her voice a hushed squeak, nudging her friend. "That face—model vibes, right?"
Her friend, twirling a braid, smirked. "Bet he's here for a shoot or something. No way he's just shopping. Look at those arms—damn."
Jin kept his face neutral, but inside, he smirked.
'Guess Wirs wasn't kidding about the billboard thing. Good to know.'
He filed it away, zeroing in on his target. Su Ran stood in the finance section, her back to him, head tilted as she skimmed a hardcover on market trends.
She was even cuter up close than in the system profile—long black hair cascading over a cream blouse that dipped just enough to tease her curves, a pencil skirt clinging to those hips, heels clicking faintly as she shifted.
'There she is,' he thought, pulse ticking up. 'Time to play.'
He sidled up, casual but calculated, snagging a random book—The Psychology of Money—and flipping it open like he'd meant to grab it.
"Didn't peg this place for the type to draw finance gurus," he said, voice low, warm, with a playful edge he'd honed over months of practice.
Su Ran turned, her brows knitting as she took him in—his sharp jaw, broad shoulders, the easy confidence. Her eyes narrowed, then widened, but no recognition clicked.
"Uh… do I know you?" she asked. "You look familiar, but…"
Jin grinned, leaning against the shelf, book dangling in his hand. "Guess I've changed a bit. Jin Hao—Zhonghai University, stats class, the guy who couldn't graph a line without you saving my ass. Ring any bells?"
Her jaw dropped, a soft gasp slipping out as she blinked hard. "No way. Jin Hao? That's you? You're… you look amazing. I mean—sorry, that sounded weird—but seriously, what happened? You're like a different person!"
He chuckled. "Let's just say, life kicked me around 'til I kicked back. Took some time to figure out who I wanted to be. You, though—you're still the same. Marketing strategist now, right? Caught that online."
Her cheeks pinked, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a guarded move that didn't hide the flicker of awe in her eyes.
"Yeah, that's me. And you—don't tell me you're into finance now? You used to groan every time I mentioned percentages."
"Still hate 'em," he said, flashing a grin. "Just poking around, trying to look smarter than I am—old habits. You were always the one who made it make sense."
The system pinged in his vision, a faint HUD note: Favorability: 40% → 50%. Tip: Listen more, talk less. She's warming fast—ease into it. Jin nodded inwardly—50% already? That college thread was gold.
Su Ran smiled, softer now, less guarded. "I remember those days. You weren't hopeless, just… all over the place. It's wild seeing you like this, Jin. You've got this—I don't know—manly vibe now… It's impressive."
"Well, that's a nice way to spin it," he said, playing it humble. "Took a lot of crashing to build back up. What about you? Still rescuing strays like me, or you too busy owning the game?"
She laughed, a melodic ripple that cut through the jazz. "Not owning anything, just surviving. Work's nonstop—finance books are my weird little escape. Keeps my brain sharp." Her voice dipped, a shadow crossing it. "My husband… he's… into real estate. Keeps things hectic."
Jin caught the pause, the faint strain.
He tilted his head, keeping it light. "Sounds like a lot to juggle. Guess you've always been good at handling the mess."
"Too good, maybe," she muttered, then caught herself, straightening with a polite smile. "Anyway, it's nice bumping into you. Small world, huh?"
"Smaller than you'd think," he said, shelving the book. "Hey, you hungry? There's a dumpling spot down the street—nothing fancy, just good eats. We could catch up, you know, like back in the day."
Su Ran hesitated, her fingers tightening on her book, a wall sliding up. "Oh, I don't know, Jin. I'd like to, but… I'm married. It'd feel off, you know?"
Jin leaned in a fraction, voice dropping to a playful whisper, eyes locked on hers.
"Come on, Su Ran, we're old pals—burned the midnight oil over stats together. It's just dumplings, not a heist. I bet your husband's chill enough to get that—what's he gonna do, ban you from grabbing a bite with a friend?"
She bit her lip, amusement cracking her guard. "Since when did you become a persuasive little devil? Fine, you win—but just dumplings, okay? I've got to head back soon."
"Deal," he said, grinning wide, stepping back to let her lead.
'Nailed it,' he thought, the HUD flashing: Favorability: 50% → 55%. Emotional Pull engaged.
She was in—wary, but in—and the game was slowly tilting his way.
As they stepped out, the bell jingling behind them, Su Ran glanced at him, heels clicking on the sidewalk, curiosity glinting in her eyes.
'Yeah,' he thought, 'this is gonna be a hell of a ride.'