Friday Evening  

Friday evening marks the end of the workweek, and people rush out quickly. Corporate slaves, trudging on a path that feels like a march towards the grave, experience a fleeting moment of youthful exuberance at this time. As they step out of the building with their phones in hand, there's a second of nostalgia for the noisy joy of school days, eagerly awaiting the weekend.

When Zhou Su leaves the office, it's almost empty, but Maolinlin and Jiang Ran are still there.

They are discussing their weekend plans and ask Zhou Su about his. He replies, "Nothing planned for this weekend yet."

Jiang Ran curiously asks, "Why 'yet'?"

Zhou Su answers, "Because the weekend hasn't started."

Jiang Ran thinks to herself that the director has a sense of humor.

She doesn't have anything special planned for the weekend either, just a movie with Jiang Zishi at the cinema - a popular current release. Maolinlin teases them for being like a lovey-dovey couple, unlike her and her husband who are at an age where they can't be bothered to celebrate anniversaries.

Jiang Ran playfully says, "That's because every day is an anniversary for you two."

Maolinlin, with a laugh, asks about Qiu Mingyue, "Has she got a boyfriend yet?"

"No," replies Jiang Ran with a knowing smile, "but I introduced her to a guy."

Maolinlin had thought Qiu Mingyue was dressed up for a date, but Jiang Ran explains it's not quite a date yet.

"Right, she's naturally pretty," agrees Maolinlin.

Zhou Su glances at his watch.

Maolinlin asks, "What kind of guy did you introduce? A friend of yours?"

Jiang Ran responds, "Sort of. A friend of my boyfriend's, a teacher from X University."

Maolinlin comments, "That sounds pretty good."

Jiang Ran feels a bit melancholic upon mentioning it. "Yeah, I thought so too, but it's hard to say."

Qiu Mingyue indeed looked especially cute today, but her calm, unexpectant demeanor as she prepared for the meeting was striking.

Jiang Ran suddenly wonders what if the man falls for Qiu Mingyue, a girl hard not to be moved by? As the matchmaker, what should she do?

The three of them enter the elevator. Jiang Ran can't help but ask, "Director, if you were to have a blind date with Mingyue, how would you feel?"

The elevator falls silent.

Maolinlin's surprised expression reflects on the elevator door.

Realizing she's misspoken, Jiang Ran's mouth twitches in regret.

She was actually pondering the differences in aesthetic preferences between men and women, which led her to ask Zhou Su for his perspective. But regardless, she shouldn't have asked such a question.

Director Zhou, true to his role, ignores the ambiguity in her question and replies casually, "It would be fine."

The tension in the air lightens.

Jiang Ran, still embarrassed, asks, "Director, are you going straight home?"

"No, meeting a friend for dinner."

Jiang Ran offers to recommend a place to eat.

Zhou Su politely declines, saying they'll just grab something casual.

Maolinlin jumps in, asking for restaurant recommendations.

Jiang Ran, who loves exploring new eateries, mentions several good ones, including the one Qiu Mingyue is going to tonight. "It's in the old concession area by the river. The first floor is a Western restaurant, and there's a speakeasy bar upstairs. Mingyue and I have been there before."

"Oh, I know that place. It's quite popular."

Zhou Su says he'll try it sometime.

The elevator reaches the ground floor.

Zhou Su heads to the underground parking. Only after he's gone does Maolinlin lightly chide Jiang Ran, "What were you saying earlier?"

Jiang Ran covers her arm, sticking out her tongue, "I spoke without thinking."

Maolinlin jokes, "I thought you were setting up Director Zhou with someone."

Jiang Ran muses, "Director Zhou is not getting any younger. If he needs it, I could introduce someone."

Maolinlin, half-annoyed, half-amused, chases Jiang Ran playfully. "You and your many friends!"

Jiang Ran laughs as her phone rings. It's Jiang Zishi, waiting at the nearby intersection. Maolinlin waves her off.

In the car, Jiang Ran checks the time, almost seven, and texts Qiu Mingyue: "Have you arrived?"

Qiu Mingyue responds instantly: "Just arrived."

Jiang Zishi reminds Jiang Ran to buckle up. She sends a cute emoticon and puts away her phone, feeling inexplicably relieved. Whatever happens next is up to fate, she prays.

Qiu Mingyue receives a dancing dog GIF from Jiang Ran, but doesn't quite get its meaning.

She's indeed just arrived.

The riverside area is lively at night. Since she wasn't in a hurry, she took the subway, stopping to listen to a saxophonist by the road, which delayed her a bit.

The restaurant, named 'nedo,' is a play on a Russian word meaning 'to have a drink,' shortened from the original long word to its first four letters.

With its Western cuisine, Russian name, and French architecture, 'nedo' ticks all the boxes of a trendy eatery.

As Qiu Mingyue is about to enter, a man holds the door open for her - a common gentlemanly gesture. She thanks him, and their eyes meet; it's her blind date, Zhang Shaoming.

He recognizes her and asks, "Qiu Mingyue?"

His voice matches his scholarly appearance - likely a popular teacher.

"Yes, that's me," she replies.

"I'm Zhang Shaoming," he says, slightly embarrassed, adjusting his glasses.

They both smile and enter the restaurant together.

After being seated and ordering, Qiu Mingyue asks, "Have you been here before?"

"No, you?"

"I have."

Zhang Shaoming suggests she choose the dishes as he's not picky.

Upon meeting, Zhang Shaoming's impression of Qiu Mingyue differs from her photos. In the photos, he appeared sunny, with a smiling angel beside him. In reality, he exudes a scholarly air.

Before the food arrives, they exchange brief introductions and learn about each other.

Their backgrounds are quite similar - both from the south, similar family situations, and good students throughout their lives. Qiu Mingyue chose to work after her bachelor's degree, while Zhang Shaoming pursued further studies.

Being a university teacher is demanding, especially as a new thesis supervisor, Zhang Shaoming admits.

Qiu Mingyue asks out of concern, "Are you too busy for a girlfriend then?"

The question catches Zhang Shaoming off guard, and he adjusts his glasses again.

Qiu Mingyue realizes her blunder, considering their current situation as blind dates...

She quickly clarifies, "I didn't mean it like that..."

"I know," Zhang Shaoming responds.

The food arrives.

Zhang Shaoming revisits the topic, "You're right. I don't think I'm in the right state for a new relationship. My ex just had a daughter recently."

Qiu Mingyue is surprised.

"We parted amicably years ago, and I'm happy for her. But our mutual friends are concerned about me being the only single one in the group," he explains with a wry smile.

Qiu Mingyue is slightly taken aback by his candidness but understands, "It's okay, I get it. Actually, I'm in a similar situation..."

"I know," he says again.

Qiu Mingyue, puzzled, "You know?"

"I saw you listening to the saxophone earlier. I recognized you from the photo and thought you might feel the same as me."

Qiu Mingyue laughs awkwardly, "I just mentioned it to Jiang Ran. She's more proactive."

Zhang Shaoming nods in agreement.

"Which photo of me did Jiang Ran send you? Can I see?"

She's curious about the image Jiang Ran used to introduce her, as she doesn't have any front-facing photos in her social circle.

Zhang Shaoming shows her the chat. It's a life photo she posted in the group chat when she joined her job, taken under a ginkgo tree last autumn, back when she had short hair.

"What photo of me did she send?" he asks.

Qiu Mingyue tells him, "The one with you and the golden retriever on the grass."

He recalls, "That's my parents' dog, Lucky."

As they chat more relaxedly, Qiu Mingyue seeks confirmation, "Was your ex-girlfriend short-haired?"

Zhang Shaoming is momentarily startled, not adjusting his glasses this time but touching his nose, "Not now, but when we were dating... yes." He explains, "But we really parted ways amicably long ago. I guess I just have a... type."

Qiu Mingyue completes his thought, "Right, everyone has a type. So, when you saw my photo, what did you think..."

Embarrassed, she scratches her forehead, and Zhang Shaoming understands her implication.

Dinner progresses well, with Qiu Mingyue finding Zhang Shaoming pleasant, but nothing more.

Their conversation mostly revolves around their professions. Zhang Shaoming initially wanted to be a veterinarian due to his love for animals, but changed his mind after a tragic incident in high school.

Qiu Mingyue's marketing knowledge is completely alien to Zhang Shaoming. Curious about what high-educated men like him value, their talk almost turns into a consumer survey

After dinner, they leave through a different door that leads to the backyard. Walking through the yard and opening a gate, they find themselves at the beautiful riverside.

The backyard is hosting an open-air movie screening. It's a classic romance film about two people who are adversaries in real life but ambiguous online friends. The cool evening breeze makes it a pleasant setting.

Zhang Shaoming asks Qiu Mingyue, "Have you seen this movie before?"

"I watched it in college but forgot most of it," she replies.

They stand and watch for a while. Zhang Shaoming then suggests, "If you want to watch a movie sometime, let me know. We can just be friends."

His words are subtle, and Qiu Mingyue smiles slightly, "Maybe sometime."

She feels like having a drink on the second-floor bar. If it were just her or with Jiang Ran, she would, but it's time to go home now.

What was the name of that drink she had last time? As she thinks, she looks up at the second-floor bar, a small Western-style building with an ornate exterior staircase leading to the balcony.

There, she sees a familiar figure.

Her heart skips a beat.

Zhou Su, in his casual work attire, leans against the balcony railing. The neon lights from the sign cast an ethereal glow around him. Qiu Mingyue can't make out his expression, but he seems to be watching the movie below. Did he see her?

She is initially startled, but then it feels like a moment destined to happen this evening. Memories of movies watched, books read, and fantasies entertained make her wonder if this could be the start of a future story.

He is the one she wanted to see tonight, every day.

Qiu Mingyue is frightened by her own thoughts.

Zhou Su's presence makes her want to hide her feelings, which she knows she shouldn't. She understands why she isn't moved by Zhang Shaoming. He's straightforward, a person one could understand over a meal, and he mistakenly thinks she's the same.

But Zhou Su isn't like that.

With him, you know there's more beneath the surface.

Qiu Mingyue wants to pull Zhang Shaoming away, but he's already followed her gaze. "A friend?"

An ex-boyfriend? Zhang Shaoming wonders.

Qiu Mingyue hesitates, "My boss."

Back at the restaurant, they continue their conversation. Zhang Shaoming was initially inclined to become a vet due to his love for animals, but changed his mind after a sad incident with an injured puppy in high school.

Qiu Mingyue's expertise in marketing is a mystery to Zhang Shaoming. He's not the target audience for the brands she has worked on, but she's curious about what high-educated men like him value most. Their chat almost turns into a customer survey.

After dinner, they head out through a side door leading to the backyard, and then through a gate to the beautiful riverside. An open-air movie is playing in the backyard, a classic romantic film about adversaries in real life but online friends. It's not too hot, thanks to the evening breeze.

Zhang Shaoming asks if she's seen the movie. Qiu Mingyue recalls watching it in college but has forgotten the plot.

They stand and watch for a while. Zhang Shaoming then suggests, "If you want to see a movie sometime, let me know. We could just be friends."

His suggestion is subtle, and Qiu Mingyue responds with a slight smile, "Maybe sometime."

She contemplates having a drink upstairs, a thought she might have pursued alone or with Jiang Ran, but decides it's time to head home.

Remembering her last visit, she looks up at the second-floor bar, a quaint Western-style building with a decorative external staircase leading to the balcony.

There, unexpectedly, is Zhou Su.

Her heart skips a beat.

Zhou Su, still in his work clothes, leans casually against the balcony railing. The neon sign's glow creates an almost surreal aura around him. Qiu Mingyue can't discern his expression, but he appears to be watching the movie, perhaps even noticing her.

For a moment, she's taken aback, but then it feels oddly fitting for the night. Past experiences, books, and fantasies make her wonder if this might be the beginning of a future story.

He's the one she's wanted to see, not just tonight, but every day.

Qiu Mingyue is startled by her own thoughts.

The presence of Zhou Su stirs emotions she'd rather hide. She understands her lack of feelings for Zhang Shaoming. He's straightforward, someone you can figure out over a meal, and he mistakenly believes she's the same.

But Zhou Su is different.

Looking at him, you sense there's more to his story.

Qiu Mingyue thinks about pulling Zhang Shaoming away, but he has already followed her gaze, asking, "Friend?"

Zhang Shaoming speculates internally, wondering if Zhou Su might be an ex-boyfriend.

After a brief pause, Qiu Mingyue clarifies, "He's my boss."