Being a bartender has its perks. You meet all kinds of people, each with a story to tell, each carrying their own kind of magic. But for some reason, it's always the eyes that get you—there's something magnetic about locking eyes with a stranger. Sometimes, though, that leads to misunderstandings.

The bar is lively tonight, humming with conversations and clinking glasses. You're wiping down a row of tumblers when she walks in. Calm, elegant, composed. She slides onto a stool and orders a gin and tonic.

You prepare it like you always do—precise, effortless. But when you hand her the glass, your eyes meet, and time seems to slow. Her gaze is warm but piercing, almost too beautiful to look away from. You're caught—just for a second. Then you blink, shake it off, and murmur an apology.

She laughs softly, like she’s used to people reacting that way. “What’s your name?” she asks.

And that’s how it begins.

You start talking, and surprisingly, the connection is instant. Before she leaves, you’ve already exchanged numbers.

Days turn into weeks. You text, you meet, you laugh. It feels... real.

Then you find out who she really is: Ning Yi Zhou, a famous model. That explains the effortless beauty, the confidence, the quiet poise. Word gets out fast, and suddenly, you're in the spotlight too. Whispers follow you when you walk down the street together. People sneak photos. Some tabloids even say you're dating.

The attention starts to wear on you. It feels like everyone’s watching. But her? She stays unfazed, always smiling like the world isn’t pressing in.

One day, as you’re walking alone, your eyes drift up to a billboard—her face, radiant and unbothered, gazes out over the city. You sigh and keep moving.

Then, out of nowhere, a sleek car pulls up to the curb. The door swings open, and there she is, stepping out like she walked out of a dream.

She calls your name with a smile. You freeze—how did she find you?

She taps her phone playfully. “There’s a handy little app for that.”

Before anyone nearby can piece it together, you take her hand and pull her into the car. The door closes behind you, shutting out the stares.

“Let’s go somewhere quieter,” you say.

She leans back, still smiling. “Lead the way.”

And just like that, it’s only the two of you again. For now.