Chapter 3

Ling's POV

Zhang-ge, called me bright and early telling me that I had to open the shop because he had somewhere to be. With no one on the streets yet, I arrived at our small coffee shop to find that someone was already there.

"Sorry for the wait, we'll be open shortly." I bowed to him.

The customer said nothing and just shook his head. He had short brown hair that spiked up at the ends. His eyes were wide and were looking at the coffee shop with an innocent expression. He turned to look at me, a small smile on his lips.

"Xiumin?" I asked unsure.

He smiled and bowed his head to me. I proceeded to open the front door, glancing back at him from time to time to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

What was Xiumin doing here?

I motioned for him to enter the shop and with no hesitation he stepped inside, heading straight for the front counter.

I watched him sit down abruptly and lean on the counter. I worked my way around the counter and stared at him.

"Luhan?" He asked and tilted his head to one side.

I grinned. He's adorable.

"He's not here yet, actually I'm not sure if he is coming today." I started wiping the counter, Zhang-ge is always so messy after work.

Xiumin stared at me blankly, and I realised that I've been speaking in Chinese. I repeated myself in Korean, pausing slightly to think of the words.

He looked at me kind of surprised and smiled. "You speak Korean?"

I nodded. "Not well."

"No, it's pretty good. When does Luhan usually get here?"

I stopped to think. "I'm not really sure when he usually comes." I paused to phrase my Korean. "Should I call him for you?"

Xiumin's face lit up in delight. His cheeks puffed out and the base if his nose wrinkled slightly. "Oh, but don't tell him I'm here, I want to surprise him."

On the third tone, Luhan's voice answered. "Hello?"

"Are you coming to the shop today?"

I hear him laugh lightly. "Do you miss me already?"

I blushed.

Yes. Wait no, no I don't.

"I'll probably drop by after my shoot today," He said.

I smiled and nodded at Xiumin. He made a gesture with his hand signalling his excitement.

"Okay, see you."

As soon as a hung up the phone, Luhan sent me a picture of himself pouting along with the message.

I miss you too.

My heart pounded and my face felt hot.

"Did you get a text from your boyfriend?"

I jumped and waved my hands in the air. "No! No boyfriend."

Xiumin burster out in laughter as I mixed Korean and Chinese together in a sentence. He calmed down and stood up from his seat.

"Where's Zhang-ge? He's the barista here right?"

"He said he had business to attend to, so it's just me for now. Though I don't really know how to brew coffee."

Xiumin clapped his hand. "I'll fill in for him then for now."

I watched him take off his jacket and hoodie so that he was only wearing a t-shirt. His face was now in broad view and there was no way anyone could not recognize him as Xiumin.

He was shorter than Luhan, and his face was rounder. Yet in a way, he was cuter than him. I watched him take the grinder in his hand and expertly begins to grind the beans.

"This won't do." I muttered in Chinese and headed to the back door. I changed quickly and brought out the pair of shades I had left here on the day of my interview.

Hurriedly I rushed back to Xiumin and forced the glasses upon him.

-
Xiumin's POV

Before I could even react the pair of sunglasses were covering my face. This random girl then began to run her fingers through my hair, which I could not put up with.

"Yaa, what are you doing!" I pushed her arms away scowling.

She crossed her arms and glared at me with her shining brown eyes.

"You think that you could just work here?

She paused, probably thinking of what to say in Korean.

"You can't, people will recognize you."

I shrugged. "When I came here, the business wasn't exactly booming."

She smacked me on the back of my head. "And I thought you were cute."

I glared at her sideways. She was pouting, but at the same time fascinated by the coffee grinder. The mixed emotions seemed to annoy her because she picked up a cloth and began to wipe the tables in the shop.

Eventually, around nine, customers began filling in the shop. I tried my best to keep up with the orders, but eventually, it was evident that I was not the barista that I thought I was.

The girl came up behind me and started to pull out cups.

"Tell me what to do, I'll help you," She said to me reassuringly. "I only know how to make an Americano."

She poured the espresso into a cup and then the water. "So don't worry about those."

I watched her carry a tray of 4 steaming hot drinks to the costumers with no difficulty.

"Ling, who is this?" A voice behind me called out.

I turned to see Zhang-ge standing there with his blinding white dress shirt.

The girl, Ling, rushed to him and whispered in his ear.

He raised an eyebrow and took me by the arm and into the backroom. Ling acted as translator.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just for a visit."

"Does your manager know you're here?"

I paused. No, I have not told my manager about my trip to Beijing, but let's be honest. If I said I was going to visit Luhan, who would actually let me go? And even if I did manage to go, I would have to bring all of EXO m and k.

Ling muttered a few words to Zhang-ge and I distinctively heard the words, Luhan. Zhang-ge nodded in response and ruffled my hair.

"Oh, that's why you're here. Makes sense, you guys were close."

I bowed my head apologetically and Zhang-ge waved it off.

"Hey, no need to be so formal. If you're going to work here, get changed."

Ling left to get a spare uniform and showed me the way to the change room.

"The door doesn't lock. Zhang-ge doesn't want to waste money fixing it."

Moments later, having already put on the pants, I put on the dress shirt.

"Aish, it's too small."

Just as I said that the door to the change room creaked open and an arm stuck inside holding a white dress shirt.

"The one you have is mine." Her voice sounded strained and I could see her arm shaking with embarrassment.

I chuckled.

How cute.

Wanting to get back at her for playing with my hair, I grabbed her arm and pulled her in.

She let out a yelp and crashed head first into my shoulder.

There was a pause, then my face began to heat up.

-
Ling's POV

Xiumin was stronger than he looked, the brute force of him pulling me into the change room was enough to fling me out the window.

I pushed him back, realised that I had just pushed on his naked chest and recoiled to the back of the room, his dress shirt still in my hand.

His face was red, but probably no redder than mine. We stood in awkward silence as I tried to look anywhere but his perfect upper body. I threw the dress shirt at his face and he stumbled backwards catching it.

Without hesitation, he hurriedly tried to put on his shirt just as the door to the change room exploded open.

Luhan rushed in and stopped in his tracks when he saw Xiumin.

Chapter 2

Luhan's POV

The day after meeting Ling, I decided to drop by Zhang-ge's coffee shop again. Partly for the good coffee, but mostly to have some fun with Ling. I checked my phone again hoping for a reply to a text I sent her earlier. Still nothing.

After making sure that I was completely hidden with my face mask and sunglasses, I walked out of my room and paused at the door. On the nearby shelf was the hat that Ling gave me the day before, to protect me from the public. I smiled recalling the memory of her face, inches away from my own and her laugh. I grabbed the hat, fitted it on my head and, checking the mirror one last time, I left for the coffee shop.

"Ling's not here today," Zhang-ge said as he drew on a latte. "She works for me every other day."

I slouch in my seat in front of him and watched him carefully crafted a picture if a deer. He passed it to me with a smirk. "I knew you two would hit it off."

I straightened up, colour rising to my ears. "Hit what off, we aren't hitting anything off."

"Don't lie, you ears are bright red." Zhang-ge teased. "Could it be, that you have a crush on her?"

I blinked and fixed my hair. "No way, I don't think so?"

I stared at the deer on my latte and pulled out my phone.

Why hasn't she replied me yet? All I asked was if she wanted to grab a coffee with me. Does it sound weird, does she think that I was asking her out? Oh, that's awkward.

I took a picture of the deer and sent it to her.

Drinking coffee, but where are you?

I hesitated.

Does that sound okay? Ah, I don't know.

I sent it, and what can I say, I instantly regretted it.

She's going to think I'm a creep.

- 

Ling's POV

I woke up bright and early today to go to my part-time at Dream Cosmetics. The manager here hates it when people are late, three strikes means you're out. I stood in the hair products section in my pair of navy heels, and a uniform that strangely resembles that of flight attendants. I bowed to every customer as they passed by, mostly girls with their boyfriends.

I shifted my weight and changed the way I was standing slightly. I have been standing for 3 hours, and my feet, which aren't used to heels, were sore and aching.

"Ling, you can go on your first break." My boss said walking past my aisle.

With a sigh of relief, I skipped to the exit of the store, hoping to buy some food. Two familiar figures stood at the entrance waiting for me. One shaggy-haired the other hooded masked and shaded from view.

"Lu-ge, Zhang-ge! What are you doing here?" I asked while trying to fix the back of my heels and move towards them. "What about the shop?"

"Closed up for the rest of the day." Zhang-ge scowled at Luhan. "This guy kept asking me to take him to you."

I blushed furiously.

Did he want to see me? And look, he still has my hat.

Luhan helped me stabilize myself and without warning flicked me on the forehead.

"W-what!?"

"You didn't reply to any of my texts," He whispered angrily.

I looked at him and reached for my phone, then realising that I didn't bring it with me.

I stuck my tongue out at him. "I don't have my phone with me today. Can we go eat, I'm starving."

After lunch, which Zhang-ge generously paid for, I returned to my post at the cosmetics store. Not even a minute has passed before a shrill scream could be heard from outside the store.

Luhan, in a completely new wardrobe walked in, his face fully exposed to the public. He headed straight for my aisle and pretended to look at the products on the shelf, sneaking me a smile here and there.

"How may I help you?" I bowed my head, biting back the urge to hit him in the back if the head.

What was he thinking being out in the open like this?

"Yes, could you find a hair colour that would look nice on me?" He ran his fingers through his hair, stroking it to the left side. "What kind of hair style do you recommend for me?"

I paused and tried to imagine Luhan in different hairstyles. "You look fine in any hairstyle and in terms of colour-"

"Just fine?" He smirked at me, the corner of his eyes wrinkling and his cheeks blooming with playfulness.

"Ling!" My boss joined me next to Luhan. "I'll take over here, you can take another break."

But I just came back from break.

I nodded reluctantly and looked at Luhan who looked lost. "What wait, she was going to show me around the store, let her finish her job."

"What when did I-"

My boss glared at me from the corners of her eyes signaling me to stop. "Alright Ling, be a good guide please."

With some effort, my boss left his side and started to push back the fans that, by now, were crowding Luhan with their phones. Soon enough, the only people in the store were just me, Luhan and my boss.

Feeling the eye if my boss on me, I took Luhan around to the different aisles, introducing products to him. It wasn't a surprise that he wasn't thinking of actually buying anything. He walked around the store asking about the most random products, cotton swabs, hair brushes and such.

"Are you going to buy anything at all?" I asked him after walking through the make aisle for the third time. My feet is really hurting and I had started to limp slightly.

"Why do you wear such uncomfortable shoes." Luhan turned abruptly making me crash into him. He held me tightly in front if him and leaned down to peer into my face.

His pouting face was extremely close to mine. His cheeks puffed out and his eyebrows were furrowed in confusion. We locked eyes and for some reason, neither of us could look away. I felt my heart beating so fast that I thought I was going to pass out.

"Here." He passed me the bag he was carrying. "Wear these instead."

I looked around quickly for my boss.

"She won't see you here, it's a blind spot in the store." Luhan chuckled seeing my cautious behaviour. 

He tapped me on the forehead. "You have to take care if your body."

He pushed me down on a nearby stool and kneeled down in front of me. He slipped my heels off and took the white sneakers from the bag.

I blushed at the situation. "I-I can do it myself."

He ignored me completely and continued to change my shoes for me.

"Better," He said pulling me up.

It was better, a lot better, but what is my boss going to say when she sees that I'm not wearing the uniform.

"Quit this job," Luhan said abruptly. "You don't fit in here, just work at Zhang-ge's coffee shop."

I blinked.

"He'll let you work there permanently." Luhan patted my shoulders.

I stayed silent and looked down at my new sneakers. "Luhan-"

"Ge." He ruffled my hair.

I sighed. "Lu-ge, it's nice of you to be thinking about my well being, but I need this job, it pays more than Zhang-ge."

Luhan paused and let out a low chuckle. He pulled me into a hug, one I wasn't strong enough to break out of.

"Oh, my little sister is so hard working," He whispered.

Him calling me his little sister hurt me more than it should've.

Chapter 1

Ling's POV

"Ling, I understand that it's your first day and I don't want to pressure you, but please try to be on time to work." Mr. Zhang said patting me on the back just as I ran through the back door of the small coffee shop.

I bent 90 degrees. "Sorry, sorry it won't happen again."
I ran to change into my uniform and returned to the front desk where Mr. Zhang had begun to brew coffee.

"There going to be a special visitor today, an old friend of mine."

I looked up at him from my seat in front of the counter and grinned. "Sure, I'm flexible."

Mr. Zhang smiled at me. His shaggy long hair draped forward covering his tired brown eyes. Around his mouth was a layer of facial hair that really needed to be shaven off.

"Here." I handed him my hair tie.

He took it with no hesitation and ties his hair back into a low ponytail.

Passing mid-day, business had really started to slow down. I found myself washing the dishes repeatedly just to find myself something productive to do. Mr. Zhang had begun to read today's paper, once in a while bursting out in laughter and updating me on the latest news.

"Ling, customer!" Mr. Zhang called out from the front if the counter.

I rushed out and began to take orders, bowing to every new customer.

"Welcome!" I looked to the door just as the chime rang, signaling a new customer.

A boy wearing a black face mask and shades walked in and looked around. He walked right past me, heavy base music blaring through his earphones. He stopped in front of the counter and ran his hand through his shaggy brown hair.

I kept staring at him as I continued to deliver people's orders. He took off his face mask revealing a cute smile beneath it. The more I looked at him the more familiar he looked when eventually, it dawned on me.

Luhan? Ex-EXO member and now one of the biggest faces in China. What is he doing here?

After putting down the last order, I joined Mr. Zhang behind the counter and stared intently at the boy.

"You are!" I muttered to myself.

"Shh." Mr. Zhang put a finger to his lip. "this is the friend of mine, you know of Luhan right?"

I grinned and took his hand which was resting on the counter.

"I'm a big fan," I whispered.

He looked a bit shocked for a brief second but recovered instantly with a smile. "Thank you!"

Mr. Zhang laughed and handed him an Americano.

"My god, is that Lu-ge?"

I looked over at the customers sitting on either side of the shop. Their phones were out and they were all desperately trying to take a picture of Luhan. With a sigh, I grabbed a cap from the back room and covered his shaggy hair with it from behind the counter. He looked up at me mouth hanging slightly open. His expression looked so lost that I couldn't help but giggle. I watched his cheeks turn red and subconsciously I felt mine do the same.

"Ling, could you close up shop, lets give him some time to breath." Mr. Zhang said pouring himself a cup of tea.

I nodded and moved swiftly around the shop gesturing for the costumers to leave. It took a while but eventually the glass door entrance was closed and the blinds were down.

"Okay!" I smiled and Mr. Zhang handed me a cup of iced coffee.

Luhan laughed and took of his glasses. "Thank you, Ling. Zhang-ge, that was not that necessary."

Mr. Zhang waved it off. "It's been a while since we talked like this."

"How did you two meet?" I asked drinking the coffee.

"Luhan want to tell the story?" Mr. Zhang smiled and sat down next to Luhan.

"I used to always come here whenever we were in Beijing on tour." He paused. "Back when I was in EXO I mean."

His face was filled with remorse when he said "EXO" and I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Zhang-ge was one of the first baristas I got to know personally. He understands me like a brother haha."

The two of them laughed and slapped each others hand.

Interesting, he sounds kind of lonely.

"Well, should I leave then, leave you two to your brotherhood?"

Mr. Zhang waved his hand at me. "You still got work to do Ling, dishes and such."

I groaned and moved to the backroom to start washing dishes yet again. Luhan followed me up and joined me at the sink.

"Here let me help, I've always wanted to work at a coffee shop."

"Hey, don't spoil the new worker Luhan." Mr. Zhang leaned on the door to the backroom.

Luhan laughed and threw a sponge at Mr. Zhang. "You come help too."

"Hey, this kid." Mr. Zhang shook a fist at Luhan.

Eventually, the three of us ended up throwing soap bubbles at each others faces and we were all covered with soap by the end of it.

After our little fight the three of us sat down at a round table and joked around. The barrier that Luhan had up against me slowly disappeared as we talked more and more. He was showing more of his playful side and laughing a lot more. Our conversation died down after a while, but when I thought about leaving for my next job, Luhan came up with an idea to play a game.

"I'll say something in Korean and you guess what it means in Chinese." Luhan leaned back in his chair with a smile playing on his lips. "I used to play with Zhang-ge all the time."

"No no no, we can't play that." Mr. Zhang waved his hand frantically. "Ling is fluent in Korean."

"Really?" Luhan leaned forward in his chair and looked over at me.

"I studied in Korea for a year, as an exchange program." I smiled weakly. "I am a bit rusty."

"Wow." Luhan looked amazed. He lifted the hat off his head, fixed his hair and replaced it.

Oh, he still has my hat.

I smiled, part of me hoping he would keep it.

"Oh that reminds me, I have a concert in Korea coming up, it'd be great if you two could come with!"

"What? Me too?" I asked kind of shocked.

He shrugged. "It's been a long time since Zhang-ge asked for help at his shop and anyways, a friend of Zhang-ge is a friend of mine."

I pouted. "He's my boss, but hey if that gets me benefits, I'm not going to reject them."

Mr. Zhang and Luhan exploded in laughter. Luhan ruffled my hair. "But you have to call me ge from now on okay? Oh and give me your phone, let me get your contact information."

I blushed violently and passed him my phone. He smiled and licked his lips as he entered his information on my phone and mine in his.

"Stay tuned for my texts." He tapped me on the forehead.

As a form of self-defense, I reached over and flicked his forehead. He recoiled to holding his head in his hands and I stuck out my tongue at him.

"I have to get to my next part time now," I smiled at the two if them. "Ill be leaving Mr. Zhang."

"Call me ge too," he smirked at me. "Zhang-ge, or better da-ge (big brother)"

"Ge, Lu-ge, I'm leaving." I bowed my head.

"Don't be late next time!" Zhang-ge yelled after me.

My phone pinged as soon as I left the shop.

From Ling's favorite Lu-ge,

I coughed at the name he set for himself.

Don't miss me too much! :)

I didn't want it to, but I already did.