unwanted gaze

As they ride along, Kirti can feel Xiao Zhan's gaze on her, intense and unwavering. Each time she glances over, she meets his piercing blue eyes, watching her with a quiet, almost seductive intensity. He doesn’t say or do anything—just observes her, his gaze strong enough to make her heart race and her cheeks flush.

The way he looks at her makes her incredibly self-conscious, and she shifts uncomfortably, gripping her father a little tighter. She tries to ignore him, focusing on the road and telling herself that he’ll soon leave her alone. But his silent, focused stare stays with her, making it impossible to shake the strange pull she feels toward him, even as it leaves her feeling exposed and vulnerable.

By the time they reach home, Kirti feels both relieved and shaken, her mind spinning with confusion and curiosity about this mysterious man who seems intent on watching her from a distance.

When Kirti finally arrives home, she feels a sense of relief wash over her, though the unsettling feeling of Xiao Zhan’s gaze lingers. As she enters the house, her mother greets her with a warm smile and a glass of water, along with some snacks prepared for her. Kirti takes a deep breath, trying to push aside the thoughts of the encounter and the strange tension she feels.

"Here, Kirti, have something to eat," her mother says gently, urging her to sit down and relax after the long day.

Kirti nods, grateful for the familiar comfort of home. She sits down at the table, taking the food from her mother and nibbling on it absentmindedly, her mind still replaying the strange moments from earlier.

Her mother watches her for a moment, noticing her distant expression. "You okay, dear?" she asks softly.

Kirti forces a smile, trying to act normal. "Yeah, just tired, Mama." She doesn’t mention Xiao Zhan or the unsettling feeling that still lingers. For now, she just wants to rest and forget about the strange man with the intense gaze.

After finishing her meal, Kirti heads to her room, feeling the weight of the day catch up with her. She changes into comfortable clothes and lies down on her bed, staring at the ceiling as her thoughts keep drifting back to Xiao Zhan

Kirti quickly types message to Diya, her fingers moving with a mix of confusion and frustration. She needs to share her thoughts, and Diya is the only person she can talk to about this.

Kirti: "Diya, I don’t know what’s going on! Today, that guy Xiao Zhan, actually asked me if he could be my friend! And then, on the road, he was just staring at me from his car with this weird, uncomfortable gaze. I don’t know how to feel about it… it was just so strange."

She reads over the message and sighs before hitting send. She feels a bit better having shared her thoughts, but the unease still lingers. After sending the message, she waits for Diya’s reply, hoping for some clarity or advice on how to handle the situation.

Diya’s reply comes in quickly, and as Kirti opens the message, she can already sense her friend’s playful tone.

Diya: "Ooooh, so Xiao Zhan wants to be your friend? Are you sure that’s all? Maybe he’s just trying to find an excuse to spend more time with you, Kirti! And that stare? Sounds like he's definitely interested. I mean, come on, no one looks at someone like that unless they want something."

Diya’s teasing is impossible to ignore, and Kirti feels her cheeks flush. She quickly types a response, trying to defend herself from Diya’s teasing.

Kirti: "It was nothing like that, Diya! He just—he just asked to be friends! And the stare was weird. Like, seriously uncomfortable. I don’t know what to make of it."

Diya’s next message pops up almost immediately, filled with laughter.

Diya: "Oh, come on, Kirti! Don’t play coy. I can tell there’s something going on. You’re already overthinking it, I bet! Just wait, things are going to get interesting. 😉"

Kirti rolls her eyes, knowing Diya won’t let this go. She sets her phone down, half amused and half embarrassed, but deep down, a part of her can’t help but wonder if Diya might be right.

Kirti, feeling frustrated with Diya’s teasing and the whirlwind of emotions from the encounter with Xiao Zhan, decides to stop messaging her friend for the time being. She places her phone aside and tries to clear her mind, but the thoughts of Xiao Zhan keep creeping back in. His intense gaze, his sudden offer of friendship—everything about it leaves her feeling more confused than ever.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan sits in his hotel room, the memory of their encounter replaying in his mind. He knows he can’t just let it go. Kirti’s reaction to him had been unexpected, but intriguing. The way she’d darted away from him, the unease in her eyes—it’s clear she’s not the type to accept advances easily. That only piques his interest more. He’s never had to work this hard to get someone’s attention before, and that thought only fuels his desire to understand her better.

"Mr. Sharma," Xiao Zhan says, his voice calm but firm as he calls his assistant. "I want you to find Kirti’s number. I need to talk to her."

Mr. Sharma pauses for a moment, sensing the seriousness in his boss’s tone. "Understood, sir. I’ll have it for you soon."

As Xiao Zhan waits, his thoughts remain on Kirti. He’s determined to get closer to her, but he knows it’s not going to be easy. He just needs to find the right way to break through her walls.

Later that evening, as Kirti lies in bed trying to relax, her mind still tangled with thoughts of the day, her phone suddenly buzzes with a new notification. She picks it up, expecting a message from Diya, but her eyes widen when she sees the name on the screen.

It’s Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan: "Hi, I’m Xiao Zhan. I know we’ve only met briefly, but I’d like to repeat my question—can you be my friend?"

Kirti stares at the message for a few moments, her heart skipping a beat. The same unsettling feeling from earlier rushes back. She never expected him to reach out directly like this, especially after their strange encounter. She feels a wave of discomfort, unsure how to respond to someone who already feels like a stranger but has been so persistently interested.

She bites her lip, thinking over her reply carefully. Should she ignore it? Or should she be polite and tell him to stop? But deep down, part of her is curious about what he really wants.

Finally, after several moments of hesitation, she puts her phone down, unsure if she wants to dive deeper into this conversation—or if she should let it go. The decision isn’t easy, and her confusion grows with every passing second.

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