The timing wasn't right for a fancy restaurant, so they met at a nearby café instead. Afternoon sunlight lay lazily across the dark green tablecloth, carrying a faint warmth. The café wasn't crowded; an open, quiet calm flowed through the space. Raina Lu arrived first and ordered a glass of lemonade while she waited for Ryan Xiang. Ryan Xiang came earlier than she'd expected, still smiling. He ordered coffee and sat down across from her. Seeing the shopping bag beside Raina Lu, he asked casu...