My Enigmatic Barista

|| 01 ||

Yunmeng City

"We're done!" Wei Wuxian stretched, feeling his back finally pop after hours of paperwork at the Wuji headquarters. His friend, Jiang Cheng, gave him an impatient look.

"Finally! Let's get out of here."

"Where are we meeting everyone today?" Wuxian asked, grabbing his car keys.

"Tuzi!" Jiang Cheng replied, only to be rewarded with a playful smack from Wuxian.

"You dare mock me again, you—" Wuxian's eyes narrowed with feigned indignation. The nickname "Tuzi," or "rabbit," had been an inside joke among his friends since college. But as he soon found out, Jiang Cheng was innocent this time.

"It's the name of the café, you stupid tuziiii," Jiang Cheng snapped, trying not to laugh as he rubbed his head.

Wuxian blinked in surprise and chuckled. "Tuzi, huh? Cute. Fitting, really."......."hey!!!wait....you again called me tuzi--"

"Whatever," Jiang Cheng spatted, already heading toward his bike. "Try to keep up!"

Wei Wuxian, owner of Wei Salon.....a renowned luxury salon chain of Yunmeng City, which had numerous branches all over the city and few in other cities and now Wuxian was working profusely for his first international branch that too at the center mall of London.

He had 5 unwanted but mandatory headache......college buddies......Jiang Cheng, Wen Qing, Song Jiyang, Hao Xuan, Xuan Lu.......even the college days were over long ago....they all got settled in their own life...own work but still the group made sure to be active over phone to each other and held occasional meets too. Today was the same, their meet day and the destination they chose was the newly opened café........ Café Tuzi

Moments later, Wuxian parked outside a quaint café with a hand-painted sign reading, "Café Tuzi." Its vintage storefront had an inviting charm. Light poured through the large open windows, illuminating rustic wooden tables inside and casting warm patterns onto the floor. Stepping in, Wuxian was greeted by the heady aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans mingled with the soft scent of baked goods. Usually, he was a green tea fan, but this coffee aroma was so rich and alluring that he took a deep breath, his eyes closing as he filled his lungs with it.

Then, with a pleasant sigh, he opened his eyes—only to freeze as if he were caught in one of those romantic clichés. For a brief moment, his surroundings melted away into soft sunlight and the muted sounds of a soft guitar in the background. Standing just a few steps away was a tall, striking man who looked like he'd stepped out of a dream. He wore the café's uniform: a simple white shirt with rolled sleeves and an apron tied neatly at the waist. His dark hair was gathered loosely behind him, framing his face in a way that was both casual and effortlessly elegant. The sun glinted off his puffed chubby cheeks and danced in his thoughtful, golden gaze.

Wuxian's gaze fell on the batch, tucked on the barista's chest......Lan Wangji. The name whispered through Wuxian's mind as though he'd always known it. He couldn't look away, mesmerized by the quiet yet undeniable grace radiating from Wangji's composed demeanor.

Jiang Cheng nudged him, raising an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you're smitten already?"

Wuxian chuckled, but his eyes lingered on Wangji as he whispered back, "Maybe I am."

Their friends were already gathered at a large table near the window. As they settled in, a soft voice drew their attention. Wuxian looked up to see the beautiful stranger—Lan Wangji—standing beside their table with a notepad in hand, poised to take their orders. Up close, Wangji's features were even more striking: his eyes were calm, unwavering, holding a depth that seemed to draw Wuxian in like a mystery begging to be solved.

Wuxian couldn't resist. "Excuse me, is this Café Tuzi named after adorable rabbits or after an even more adorable human?"

Jiang Cheng groaned, burying his face in his hands. Their friends snickered quietly, but Wangji's reaction was impossible to read. He simply met Wuxian's gaze for a brief, intense second, as if appraising him, before responding coolly, "It's just a name."

Undeterred, Wuxian gave him a playful smile. "I'll take a green tea, then—and a little smile if you're handing them out."

Wangji blinked once, his expression unchanged, but Wuxian didn't miss the slightest quirk of his lips, barely a smile but somehow warmer than words. He noted their orders, nodding in acknowledgment without a word, before turning to leave.

Wuxian's eyes followed him, watching as Wangji moved with quiet elegance back to the counter, where he prepared their drinks with meticulous precision. Even amidst the chatter at their table, Wuxian found himself transfixed, his attention straying back to Wangji every chance he got.

After a few minutes, Wangji returned with their drinks, setting each down with careful, deliberate movements. Wuxian was delighted to see that, along with his green tea, Wangji had left a delicate, white chrysanthemum on the saucer.

"For the adorable one," Wangji murmured, his tone so soft that only Wuxian could hear it.

Caught off guard, Wuxian blinked in surprise, then grinned. "Are you calling me adorable, Lan Wangji?"

Wangji's expression remained neutral, though a faint glimmer in his eyes betrayed a trace of amusement. "I'm only stating what is clear to see."

Their brief exchange was interrupted by Jiang Cheng clearing his throat. "If you two are done, some of us actually want to enjoy our coffee," he said, rolling his eyes. The rest of their friends chuckled, teasing Wuxian with playful jabs about his "sudden interest in the barista."

But Wuxian was too enthralled to care. His gaze followed Wangji, watching him as he moved smoothly behind the counter, chatting briefly with another customer before returning to his tasks. There was a quiet dignity in Wangji's every motion, a kind of silent confidence that intrigued Wuxian even more.

When he left Café Tuzi that day, Wuxian already knew he would be back—probably sooner than later. Something about Lan Wangji had gripped him, an inexplicable pull that made him want to know everything about the mysterious barista.

As he walked toward his car, Jiang Cheng sighed beside him. "You're really going to come back here just to see him again, aren't you?"

Wuxian laughed, shrugging. "What can I say? He's...interesting."

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes but said nothing, knowing there was no stopping Wuxian once he'd set his sights on something—or someone.

...To be Continued 

Written by Risha: 13/09/2024