victoria qi x college student!reader
sorryyyy for not writing in a while... i hope i'll have the swannie work soon, i just had a burst of inspo while doing my hw... so this is v v rushed as i still need 2 work a lot D: sorry 4 any mistakes... btw i didnt know how to title thissss so i'll probably change it in the future!
IF U HAVENT PLAYED LOVE CURSE DO IT RIGHT MEOWWW... victoria n iris r my fav ! :3
cw: no pronouns used but r is kinda fem? and shortā¦ and kinda an ambivert? or just extrovert? sweet cutiepieā¦ lowkey like power dynamis bc its ceo x uni student
wc: 2.2k
you bump into the most gorgeous woman in the bus.
the bus lurches violently as the driver takes yet another sharp turn, and you barely manage to grab the overhead rail in time. it's more crowded than usual this morning. sighā¦ you assume there was some kind of delay on another line that has everyone packed in like sardines.
you're clutching your bag to your chest, trying to maintain your balance in your cute ballet flats (probably not the best choice for public transport, but they matched your skirt perfectly!), and distracting yourself by following the way your plush keychains bounce around when the driver slams the brakes.
you fall forward with a small yelp, instinctively holding onto something solid. a shoulder, you realize, covered in a really nice quality fabric. maybe i should ask this woman where she got it! you shake away your thoughts instantly, the realization that youāre gripping onto some unlucky woman sinking in.
"i'm so sorry!" you gasp, immediately pulling back and weakly holding onto the handle above you. "i didn't mean to..."
you look up to apologize properly and the words die in your throat. the woman you've just crashed into is stunning. impossibly so. sharp grey eyes that seem to see right through you, dark hair framing a face that belongs on a magazine cover, not a crowded city bus. is she famous? have you seen her before? probably not.Ā
whatever her reply was went in one ear and out the other, taking in her tailored blazer with the sleeves rolled slightly, an elegant, ribbed turtleneck underneath, the way the sun reflected on that black pin adorning the lapel. everything was perfectly put together in a way that makes you exceedingly aware of your own rumpled cardigan and the cat hair you definitely forgot to lint-roll off this morning.
she's looking at you with an expression you can't quite read. she looks so cold and serious, its a little scary. your face burns. "i'm really sorry, i..." you feel your cheeks redden and your tone get slightly higher.Ā
"it's fine." her voice is smooth and monotone. she fixes her blazer with one hand before reaching out to you, brushing over your elbow for a moment to steady you. the bus lurches again and you stumble. this time her hand stays on your elbow, steadying you properly.
"hold here." she guides your hand to a better position on a pole thatās easier to hold and you can lean on. "you'll have better balance here."
"oh, ummm, thank you!" you look down at your shoes, trying to control yourself.Ā
she nods once, then returns her attention towards the window. you spend the rest of the ride acutely aware of her presence right next to yours, trying very hard not to look at her and failing miserably. she doesn't look at you again, but her slightly tense posture gives away that sheās aware of you. like, she knows you're stealing glances and is choosing to be polite about it, how embarrassingā¦Ā
when the bus finally pulls up to your universityās stop, you're relieved to escape your own awkwardness. you mumble another "sorry" as you squeeze past her toward the doors.
and then she steps off right behind you. and you feel her walking behind you too. on the crosswalk, at the main gateā¦ you hear her heels clicking. you glance back, confused, and find her looking at the many buildings with an unreadable expression. she pulls out her phone, checks something, then looks around with a little pout adorning her face. so uncharacteristic from what you assume about her, yet so adorable!Ā
before you can give it some thought your helpful nature kicks in.
"um, excuse me?" you bounce towards her, clutching your bag strap. "do you need help finding something?"
she turns to you, one eyebrow raised with uncertainty. for a moment you think she's going to say no, but then she goes "actually, yes." she shows you her phone screen. "i'm looking for lecture hall B-304. this map is less than helpful."
"oh! i can show you!" you light up immediately. helping people is literally your favorite thing! "it's kind of confusing to find if you don't know the building layout. thankfully, i'm headed that way anyway!"
"i see." she smirks with amusement, you guess. "i would appreciate that."
you walk beside her, very aware of how she's probably almost head taller than you even without the heels, or how she has no ringā¦ and launch into helpful tour-guide mode.
"so this building is the newer one. so the numbering system is super weird because they tried to connect it to the old building but the floors don't line up, so you have to take the stairs on the east side or you end up on the wrong floor entirely, itās a little annoying..." you whine and ramble about the many times youāve gotten lost in that stupid labyrinth and other silly campus stories.Ā
thereās something cute about the way you have so much to say to herā¦ and also how you have no idea about who she is. itās relieving. so she listens and giggles quietly once you notice all the topics youāve covered in so little time.Ā
"you're quite familiar with the campus," she observes.
"oh, yeah! i study here, so i've had time to figure out all the weird shortcuts and stuff. are you visiting someone?"
"something like that."
you lead her through the main building, pointing out landmarks ("that's where the good coffee is, the other cafe is cheaper but honestly not worth it at all!", āthis is where i first met my best friend!ā, etc etc) and she follows along attentively, her heels clicking rhythmically against the tile and humming in response as you speak.Ā
"okay, so B-304 is just up these stairs and then..." you turn the corner and stop dead.
it's your lecture hall. your business courseās lecture hall. rightā¦ rightā¦ the one you have class in literally right now.
"um." you blink at the room number, then at her, then back at the room number. "this is... this is my classroom."
"your classroom, huh?" she repeats, and there's definitely amusement in her voice now.
"yeah, i have a lecture here in like, 5 minutes..." your brain is trying to process this. "are you gonna review the professor? or..."
"not really." she glances at her watch. expensive, you notice, everything about her is expensive. she glances back at you. "thank you for the guidance. iāll see you around."
"oh! yeah, of course! no problem!" you're heading toward the door nervously now, face heating up again. "um, i should probably... umā¦ byebye!ā
you slip into the lecture hall and make your way to your usual seat, trying to calm your racing heart. you wonder business that gorgeous, angelic woman has so close to your classroom. maybe she's interviewing the professor. maybe sheās dating themā¦ :c. no, no! maybe she's a TA?Ā
the door opens again and she walks in, heading straight for the front of the room. of course! of courseā¦
she sets down a slim briefcase you hadn't noticed her carrying before, smooths her blazer, and turns to face the gradually filling seats with perfect poise. when her eyes find yours in the third row, you swear you see the corner of her mouth twitch. you even feel your friends turning subtly to look at you.Ā
"good morning," she says confidently, her voice travelling effortlessly across the hall. "i'm victoria qi, ceo of huanyu. i'll be your guest lecturer today."
you don't process a single word of the lecture. victoria speaks in a way that is so charming to you, her voice clear and authoritative as she discusses behavioral patterns in consumer decision-making. normally you'd be taking notes furiously. despite not caring about business that much, you still need to remain a perfect student! instead, you find yourself doodling her in various outfits. in another universe, sheās probably a model.Ā
your friend megan leans over. "hey, why does the huanyu ceo keep looking at you?"
"she's not," you hiss back, sinking lower.
"she literally is. she's done it like four times already."
you glance up hesitantly. victoria is explaining somethingā¦ youāre not sure what, really, gesturing with one elegant hand, and her eyes sweep across the roomāitās evident sheās done this countless times beforeābefore landing on you for exactly half a second.
you look back down at the dozens of little victorias on your notebook.
megan nudges you. āthatās what i mean! oh my god. do you know her? do you like her?"
"i just gave her directions. on the way here. i didn't know who she was."
"you WHAT?" megan whisper screams.
"shhh!" you huff, and turn away, looking for something to distract you.Ā
the lecture continues. victoria's voice and movements are hypnotic. it feels like every word chosen carefully, yet she expresses herself like itās the easiest thing in the world. you find yourself looking up despite your mortification just to watch her speak.Ā
you're a little bit in awe. you're also maybe a little bit captivated by the way she absently adjusts her bracelet when she's thinking. the way she occasionally fixes her hair. the way she leans onto the podium and nods thoughtfully when someone makes a question, quickly straightening her posture and explaining complex topics like itās nothing really does things to you.Ā
"alright," victoria says as the clock hits the hour. "that concludes today's session. if anyone has additional questions, i'll be available for a few minutes."
half the class surges forward, eager to network with an actual ceo. the ceo of huanyu, no less. you start packing up your things very slowly, hoping to slip out unnoticed.
"hey." megan grabs your arm. "aren't you gonna talk to her?"
"absolutely not! what do you mean?"
"but you already met her! you couldā"
"megannnn... i told the victoria qi, the ceo of huanyu about my friend getting lost in the engineering basement while i guided her all the way here. i just rambled a lotā¦ i'm never speaking to her again."
"you're being dramatic." she rolls her eyes playfully.Ā
"i'm not!ā you huff, āgoodbye. i'm leaving."
you make it like three steps toward the door.
"excuse me." that voice. smooth and commanding and definitely directed at you. you turn around very slowly.
victoria is standing there, having somehow removed herself from a small crowd of students. she's holding her briefcase in one hand, looking at her watch nonchalantly in the other.Ā
"i..." you clutch your bag, something you seem to do a lot when youāre nervous. she takes mental note of this. "hi. umā¦. great lecture! very informative. i learned a lot about... a lot of things!āĀ
"i'm glad to hear it." she tilts her head slightly with a soft giggle. "though i noticed you didn't take any notes."
your face burns. "i was... processing everything mentally!ā
"i see." she nods with a subtle smile.Ā "i wanted to thank you properly for your assistance earlier. the campus layout is quite confusing."
"oh! no, it's totally fine! happy to help! sorry i talked so much, i didn't mean to rambleā¦"
"it was informative..." she says it with such sincerity that you almost believe her. "your explanation of the building's architectural inconsistencies was unexpectedly thorough, and cute?"
you can't tell if she's making fun of you or not. this is so unprofessional of her but itās not like you mind. you wish to hear her tell you how cute you are for the rest of your lifeā¦Ā
"i'm glad i could be of service!" you manage.Ā
"i should let you go," she says finally. "i'm sure you have other classes to attend."
"oh. yeahā¦ā you pout, backing toward the door. "um. thanks for the lecture. it was really good!"
"thank you." she adjusts her briefcase, handing out her business card. "perhaps i'll see you around campus."
"yeah! maybe! if you get lost again! not that you will! you're probably very good at navigation, actually?ā you ramble anxiously and tilt your head in curiosity.
"mm, i understand." she hums softly. "have a good day."
"you too! good luck with... ceo things!" you flee before you can embarrass yourself further. megan is waiting in the hallway, trying to contain her laughter so badly. "oh my GODDDD! she likes you."
"she does not."
"she gave you her business card, though?"
"she was just being polite!"
"yeah, sure. she only gave it to you. only you. did you not notice that?ā
you cover your burning face with your hands. "stop making me delusionalā¦"
"you're so dramatic." megan links her arm through yours, snatching the card from your hand as she drags you to your next class, pausing dramatically all of a sudden.Ā
āsee, she DOES like youā¦ā your friend teases you, pointing at a handwritten note on the back of victoriaās business card.Ā
I may need another tour. Preferably with the same guide? x
--------
that's it! hope u enjoyed xx i loosely, VERY loosely based this on smth that happened to me in the bus once.
idk if anyone will see this but IM DORRYZ IM SORRY bc iām not done w my swan wipā¦ i feel kinda stuck + ive been busy w school and also been clubbing a lot lately (i donāt want to anymore i need to go back to my introvert ways lowk) so yeaā¦ hopefully next week iāll have time to work on itā¦
to the anon who wanted this i present to u my angell thoughtsā¦
iām establishing this at some point in the relationship where sheās better at expressing herself i guess? and definitely happy n comfortable time of her life how she deservesā¦
cw: a bit suggestive sometimes i thinkā¦ especially in the last part,,, self indulgent and maybe oocā¦
she carries you to bed when u fall asleep waiting for her
i think she would struggle to sleep without you by her side :c u r her safe space !!
you always fall asleep first like 99% of the time. she needs to ensure youāre safe and comfortable before dozing offā¦ she also loves to admire uā¦
wakes up first (to admire u some more) and gives in when u pout bc u want ā5 more minutesā once u notice sheās getting out of bed
if you get up in the middle of the night thoā¦ she wakes up instantly and insists on getting water for you / walking you to the bathroom / etc. LOL
#thinking abt her raspy voice when she just woke up ughhghghhgh š it does things to u and sheās aware of it i fearā¦ so she often ends up covered in kisses in the morning
she loves when u lay on top of her bc it feels like a weighted blanket
a big spoon most times. itās in her nature to want to make u feel protected
it takes a while for her to let u be the big spoonā¦ she does enjoy it very much! whenever sheās feeling vulnerable she goes to u :c ++ she makes this little content sigh when you scratch her scalp while cuddling.
lowkey you are her fidget toyā¦ at some point in the relationship once she opens up more she needs to have her hands on u 24/7, squeezing your hips, running her fingers from ur waist to the lower part of ur stomach, playing w ur fingers when sheās nervous, poking and pinching your cheeks, etcā¦
when doing that i feel like sheād lowkey enjoy watching u squirm or whine when her hands r cold but she wonāt admit that #lolā¦
i think youād be really easy to read to herāsheās learned all of your micro expressions and patterns since her senses are heightened. so when she feels youāre upset she just pulls you onto her lap without a word šŖ
she drives a little faster so youāll press yourself closer to her when riding the motorcycle
when u r out with her she always walks on the street side of the sidewalk
and her hand just feeeels this magnetic pull towards your lower back, guiding u wherever
she also gives u her jacket when u r cold and it smells like her itās so jadfhwdvhjsfksd
and opens doors for you, carries heavy items for you, etcā¦ i feel like youād unlock this desire in her to treat someone (you) with so much careā¦ #royaltytreatment !
though she forgets to take care of herself sometimes :c
#which is the main reason for your (extremely rare) argumentsā¦
again, she can sense whenever you are getting upset and whether you need to talk or need some space
and she does talk about it too, so that the two of u understand one another properly before going to bed
she also tends to apologize first and shows growthā¦ she just needs a little patience
if she used a fragrance i feel it would be really subtle, earthy and woody?
on slow days the two of you take baths together, she melts under your touch when u massage her shoulders or her scalp
some of your shared hobbies is watching movies and discovering new music
loves to sit around and do nothing with youā¦ plz like u r facing one another, your foreheads touching n she takes this moment to remember every detail in your eyes
sheās a listener
u are her personal podcast. please tell her about your day or your dream or something u like while she takes care of her blade
when u text her, replies are instant but pretty short
oftentimes when she comes home she has a new little gift for youā¦ a trinket, some handpicked flowers, a new jacket because she noticed one of urs got ripped, ur fav snack, etc.
not the jealous typeā¦ angell is more concerned about your safety and comfort. and she knows you love her only (despite feeling like sheās not worthy sometimesāpls give her reassurance!)
reacts when she notices youāre uncomfortable, pulling you to her by the waist n leading u elsewhere
if u get jealous she finds it a bit endearing but also gets confused and sad (bc why would u doubt her nooo D:) anyways, she increases physical contact a lot so thereās no doubt u are with her.
she loves praise when it comes from youā¦ sheāll do anything to show off her body, strength, skillsā¦ she goes out of her way to do so itās so š¤¤š¤¤š¤¤
like sheāll just walk around the house in a sports bra waiting for u to pounce on her idk
or if u are preparing something in the kitchen sheāll just wrap herself around you, guide your hands off the chopping board n do it herselfā¦ (the only thing she can help with when cooking š) leaving u in awe at how good she is with them !
or sheāll ask if u wanna join her in the work out (n she does things like weighted hip raises or planks but u are the weightā¦ just sit there n look pretty)
or sheāll ask for u to get her a wrench or something while she works on her motorcycle,,, plz her grunting n sweating n seeing her muscles move as she fixes it š
deep down she adores when u get playful and try to tease herā¦
she tries to remain neutral but itās hard not to when youāre so gorgeous and her senses are overwhelmed by youā¦
you have so much power over her itās embarrassing, trail your fingers on her collarbone āon accidentā after fixing her hair and lean in to whisper something and sheās done for
she refuses to let you have the satisfaction of enjoying her reactions (and fails miserably)ā¦ her hands hold onto whatever is nearby and her breathing starts to get heavier, her eyes darkenā¦
indulges you and lets you get away with it for a bit but later sheāll make u pay for it in the best way ever (by doing exactly what you want her to... you just keep winning)
maaaaybe sheāll tease u back on occasion, just bc she thinks itās a little bit (extremely) hot when u get frustrated and demanding (playfully ofc)
ok thatās it for now bc iām not sure if this is too much. i need her so bad itās not funny. i truly cannot be normal about her like i lowkey contained myself tbh. sorrayyyy! I NEED HER TO DO UNSPEAKABLE THINGS TO MEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEā¦ toodles !
omg angell fan i need your angell headcanons ASAP iām obsessed with herebdjnsksnkf
hiii hiii yes !!! i love her so much u have no ideaā¦ she is the littlest meow meow to ever meow meowā¦ that was certainly #a sentenceā¦ sorry ā¦
iāll drop them soon i promise bc i really do love her tooo much ā¦
in my head we are married and have a little cat and live in a nice apartment n when we wake up sheās always first to actually get out of bed but not without indulging in cuddling me bc i said please and itās her duty as my gorgeous and perfect lover ā¦ and ugh imagine actually getting out of bed and walking into the living room to see her working out or something āļø i usually feel icky about sweat but the sight of her grunting n sweating while she works out pleaseeee š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£š¤£ i need that so bad itās concerning ā¦ i also want to feed her and run my fingers through her hair n make her happy like sheās just so šŖšŖšŖšŖ
i didnāt expect to yap this much in sorry ā¦ iāll try to list down some of my headcanons for her during the week ! and hopefully write for her too !!
i just realized i donāt think iāve listed which characters i write for lolol so iāll get to that too.
Your Ruan Mei x reader oh my goddd that was so fire had my ass smiling the whole time omge, genuinely never stop cooking She's so cute I hate her
hiii !!! ok so glad u enjoyed it ! this is actually my first ask so #congrats !! letās celebrate ++ thank u !!!
she really is soo cutieful sigh ā¦ i imagine her main love languages are: quality time, acts of service and giving gifts. i feel like she probably loves physical touch too but is too shy to initiate it at first, though she does reach out to you unconsciously and surprises herself ā¦ so she like pulls away a little,,, let her know itās ok and sheāll stick right back to u ^^ i feel like she wouldnāt be a words of affirmation type so when she does express her love verbally itās all the more worth it !! she puts in all her effort when it comes to u :c <33
now iām currently imagining cuddling her while she reads and u poke her cheek for a little bit of attention :0 she pokes u back n the sight is so cute she just NEEEDS to set the book aside n give u a little kiss. u r her only distraction mwahahaha !!!!
another thought ā¦ each of u studying for ur respective exams n kissing as a reward mhmmmdhdhdjdj sorry. ok. sorry. bye. toodles. have an epic day !!
hii everyone! here's a little something i made for valentine's day (a bit late i know...) i wanted to write something for black swan but i watched a tiktok (i'll link it if i can find it) that inspired me to write for ruan mei for some reason. again, i apologize for the self-indulgence and #very potential mischaracterization ++ mistakes !! enjoy !!
tags? fluff, a teeny tiny bit of angst, i tried to dip one (1) toe into the angst pool #ok, no use of y/n!
wc: 3.1k
a misunderstanding turns into a long-overdue confession.
first meeting
you fell for ruan mei last semester, when you got paired with her in your lab elective. a course youād carelessly signed up for thinking it would be fun.Ā
you occupied yourself with organizing the tools needed for the first experimentābeakers, an erlenmeyer flask, the balance scaleā¦ what else did you need? you stopped to think for a moment, and she calmly stepped in to help you out despite her ostensibly apathetic nature.Ā
āthe burette," she said quietly, reaching past you to retrieve one from the upper shelf. "and the stand. weāll need both for titration."
you clear your throat, ār-rightā¦ thanks!ā you spoke with an awkward, eager tone.
you followed her back to the counter, quickly organizing the equipment. she set her items down efficiently and disappeared to fetch some other things, a stirrer and indicator you'd also forgotten.
you could feel her staring at youāthe way her eyes focused on every small movement you did or didnāt make, or how you trembled and fumbled slightly every other second.Ā
"it's your first time doing this, i assume?" ruan mei let out in a monotone voice, a neutralāprobably boredāexpression on her pretty face. your willingness to try and the enthusiastic beam on your face caught her interest; in that moment, she decided you would become her subject of study for the semester.Ā
"ahā¦ is that obvious? itās been a whileā¦" you giggled nervously, nearly knocking over the erlenmeyer flask.
"you organized everything by size rather than procedure order," she began rearranging everything with rigid movements. "it makes sense, but is inefficient for our purposes. this way we can transition from one step to another promptly."
you watched her work, feeling both embarrassed and captivated by the way her hands moved with such certainty. "i'm sorry," you stammered. "i probably should've paid more attention to the instructionsā"
"unnecessary apology." ruan mei glanced at you and stopped in her tracks for a moment. something flickered in those cold, analytical eyes of hers. "everyone begins somewhere, you'll adapt."
at that, you thought sheād take over, casting you aside to merely observeāor so youāve heard from your friends and other classmates. what surprised you, though, was the way ruan mei suddenly faced you with a gentle smile, offering to explain each step to you, under the guise that āthis way youāll be more efficient during future lab practicesā.Ā
you read through each step twice together, then you picked out the necessary material and got to work. she occasionally intervenedāstanding behind you to watch, then reaching out to place her gloved hand over yours to adjust your technique.Ā
this was probably against a bunch of safety measures, but she couldnāt care less about that right now. she needed to observe and keep record of every single reaction she could work out of you.Ā
after completing the titration, with her guidance steadying your hand at every ācrucial momentā (or so ruan mei called it). she made a soft sound of approval. "good work," she murmured, her breath warm against your ear as she leaned over your shoulder to check it out. "your hand has steadied considerably with time. interesting."
you tensed up at feeling her so close to you for the nth time today, a floral and fruity scent of plum blossom enveloping you and clouding your reasoning. without much thought, ruan mei reached for your wrist, pressing on the inner part, right below your thumb. "hmā¦" she continued, still not moving away, "your pulse rate appears elevated. nervousness, perhaps?"Ā
she finally stepped back, and you could breathe again. when you glanced at her, she was jotting something down in her notebook, her expression unreadable.
you didn't see what she wrote:
subject's physiological responses: elevated heart rate, shallow breathing, muscle tension when in proximity. cause: anxiety? inexperience?*
*requires further observationĀ
āletās meet at the library tomorrow at 6 and work on the lab report,ā ruan mei suggested as she put her things away.Ā
you hesitated, toying with the strap of your bag. "i can't... i work until eight."
"i see."
"tuesday and friday, five to eight." you offered an apologetic smile. "at a flower shop. i donāt usually work in the evening, but we've had a lot of custom orders lately, soā"
"nine, then."
you blinked. "sorry?"
"we'll meet at nine," ruan mei said it simply, as if she hadnāt offered to adjust her schedule for you. "iāll see you at the science library, third floor. i'll be there."
"that'sā¦ you don't have to wait that long, we can justā"
"i'm aware i don't have to." she looked at you, gaze soft and patient. "i'll be there at nine. eat something before you come. working on an empty stomach affects concentration."she was so nonchalant that it bothered you. her monotone voice and unexpressive eyes, the fact that she barely smiled and stillā¦ made you feel observed? almost cared for? no, she only cares about the course, right? rightā¦ you think in an attempt to ground yourself.
the library
she was already there when you arrived at 9:06, breathless and smelling faintly of flowers. ruan mei looked up briefly, then returned to her work with no more than a brief greeting.
you settled into the seat next to her, and she angled the lamp toward your side of the table, casting warm light directly over your workspace. her side was noticeably dimmer. you also noted how sheād left you a small stack of reference books, tabbed with paper markers.
the session passed quickly after thatāboth of you read through some chapters, discussed the structure of the report, her voice low in the empty library helping you focus and relax.Ā
at some point, working on the lab report gave way to a tangent neither of you had planned. somewhere along the way, the space between your shoulders had closed without either of you acknowledging it. ruan mei asked about your job, hobbies, and what kind of cake you liked.
a few hours later, you were almost done. you agreed to call it a night and walked to the station together, chatting about the details left to polish up the report. ruan mei was satisfied with the result, for the work youād developed together as well as the observations she noted while you were busy reading.
when concentrating: bites lower lip, tucks hair behind left ear repeatedly, bounces knee under table when in direct contact with others (noticed only when shoulder contact occurred). tends to space out for a moment every 15 minutes.Ā
she closed her notebook as you reached the platform.
"same time next week?" you asked after gathering all your courage."unless you'd prefer an alternate schedule," she tilted her head slightly. "i'm flexible."
it became a part of your routine to have these study/work sessions with ruan mei. every thursday at nine, same table, and the same setup. the lamp angled toward your seat, some books she thought youād find interesting or helpful, already stacked on your side of the table, and marked on relevant sections. on the nights you found yourself extra tired, sheād pull out a small candy from her pocket for you, too.
it continued like that throughout the months. eventually, the sessions weren't really about teamwork anymore. you'd bring whatever assignments you had, and she'd bring hers, but most days youād just... exist together. ruan mei would explain her current projects, and you'd listen, not understanding half of it but loving the way her voice softened when she talked about her passions. sometimes you'd tell her about difficult customers at the shop, or show some photos of a particularly beautiful arrangement you'd made, and she'd listen with the same level of attention you offered her.
winter break
you went home for the holidays, and so did ruan mei. the two of you kept in touch. texting started normal, little updates, photos of hometown things, dry commentary on her family dinners that made you laugh alone in your childhood bedroom.
but gradually, the messages spaced out. she got busy with family obligations, and so did you. days would pass between responses. you told yourself it was normal; people got busy during the holidays. itās fineā¦ itās fineā¦ but your mind couldnāt help but drift to her every night before going to bed.Ā
you'd scroll back through your conversations, time and time again, looking for something you couldn't name. reassurance, maybe? proof that those months had meant something to her, too. you started to think that perhaps you were a little delusional about her. youād often type out messages, only to leave them unsent and tossing your phone aside.Ā
the last text you got from her was two days after new year's: safe travels back. see you next semester. (at least she texted back?)
spring semester!
she was already at the table when you arrived that first day back, and something in your chest unlocked at the sight of her.
"you're early," she observed.
"so are you."
the corner of her mouth twitched upwards. "i wanted to ensure i got our usual spot."
things picked up like nothing had changed (yayy!!), the routine you shared, the way she'd notice things about you that you didn't think anyone else sawāwhen you were tired, when you were stressed, when something was bothering you, even if you didn't say it out loud. things felt comfortable again. this time, she even started walking you to class, even when it was inconvenient. it felt like the two of you were close again!Ā
so, you decided that you were going to tell her how you felt and deal with the consequences, whatever they were (allegedly).
you felt physically unable to; every time you worked up the courage, something pulled you back. the fear of rejection, the fear that you'd misread everything. that her attention was just her nature, her way of treating her peers (we know thatās not true), and that you were foolish for thinking it meant anything more than that.
friday, february 13thā¦
the shop was in chaos. boxes stacked everywhere, orders piling up, loose petals scattered across your workspace. everyone in the city was apparently deciding to profess their love through the lovely bouquets you arranged. itās been almost a week since you last texted ruan mei. the season of love was really taking a toll on you. you were neck-deep in a standard dozen roses when asta, your work bestie, called you over to the computer.
"oh myā¦" she said. "look at this."
you wiped your hands and leaned over her shoulder at the screen.
custom bouquet order - priority
from: anonymous
delivery address: 2455 ____ street, apt 7
recipient: ruan mei
special instructions: pale pink forget-me-nots (7 stems), pink tulips (4 stems), stargazer lillies (2 stems), queen anneās lace (filler), baby blue eucalyptus (filler). arrange freely.Ā
date: saturday at 10am.
your stomach dropped, the world started to spin. someone was sending flowers to ruan mei, and that someone wasnāt youā¦ and to top it all off, you didnāt know who they were. you couldnāt even have an idea of whether that person was worthy enough for her. tears started forming at the corners of your eyes. the notion that you were too late to do anything about your feelings for her was breaking your heart a little, but you still had a bunch of orders to get through. sighā¦
"hey," asta's voice cut through the ringing in your ears. "you okay?"
you stepped back from the computer, taking a deep breath. "yeah. just fine!"
"you sure? you don't look fine, plus itāsā"
"i'll take the order."Ā
she frowned. "are you sure? you've been swamped all day, plusā¦ you know, theyāre being sent to ruan meiā¦"
"itās okay, really. i'll do it." you turned away before she could see your teary eyes. "i'll start on it tonight after iām done with these couple orders."
you made it through the rest of your shift on autopilot. smiled at customers, wrapped bouquets (so beautifully that a museum could be open in your honor), rang up purchases, the works! all while your mind replayed every moment spent at the library, every dinner, every small action you'd convinced yourself might mean something.
soon after astaās shift ended and you closed the shop, you finally let yourself feel it, the sharp ache of being too late. of never being brave enough to say anything, and now someone else willā¦
if that person was going to confess to ruan mei, if they were going to give her flowers and possibly make her smile that rare, soft smile, then you'd make sure the arrangement was flawless. after all, you care about her happiness, too.
you worked until late, and by 10pm, you'd created the most beautiful arrangement you'd ever made. the queen anne's lace formed a delicate cloud around the pink tulips, the stargazer lilies drew the eye with their strategic placement, and the eucalyptus tied everything together. it was romantic. whoever ordered this had taste, and theyād also put a lot of thought into conveying their feelings.
once you were done, it felt like youād accepted your fate as you wrapped the bouquet up and wrote down the care instructions. at this point, you felt more curious about who this mysterious sender could be, rather than heartbrokenāor so you were trying to convince yourself.
valentineās day!
you took up an extra shift on valentineās because, first of all, you just needed to scratch the itch of knowing who ruan meiās potential lover was. second, some extra cash wasnāt bad at all.Ā Ā
despite yet another chaotic day at the store, you took the task of personally delivering the bouquet to ruan mei, her place was close by after all. it was a little nonsensical, but you fully convinced yourself you were just curious. that you'd accepted this. that seeing who showed upāor better yet, seeing ruan mei's reactionāwould give you closure and let you finally move on.
you knocked twice, then heard footsteps approaching. the door opened, and ruan mei stood there, clearly expecting a delivery person. she was mid-gesture, pointing toward where to set things down, when she actually looked up and saw you. her eyes widened. youād never seen her wear such a distinct expression. you watched confusion flicker across her face, promptly transforming into panic.
"hi..?" you squeaked out awkwardly, suddenly uncertain. you held up the bouquet with a fake grin. "delivery for ruan mei?"
she stared at you, then at the flowers, and finally back at you again.Ā "you work at flowerworksā¦" she said as she processed the realization.Ā
"...yes?" you'd definitely told her this months ago. "i thought you knew that..?"
"you said flower shop; however, you never specified which exactly."Ā
you shifted the bouquet, thrown by her strange reaction. "umā¦ i mean... yeah. flowerworks, the one near campus! anyways! these are yours. someone ordered them for you. it was an anonymous order, thoughā¦ā you twist a strand of hair nervously before reaching towards her, handing out the arrangement.Ā
"come inside."
"huh? iā really should get backā¦"
"just five minutes," she was already stepping back from the doorway without waiting for your agreement. she'd already decided for you. naturally, you followed her inside (a little hesitantly though), trying to figure out why she seemed so offā¦
her apartment was exactly what you'd expected. minimalist and organized, plants thriving by the windows, books stacked neatly on her desk, not a single speck of dust or a misplaced item in sight. she made her way towards the dining table with stiff movements, placing the bouquet down before turning towards you. instead of looking down into your eyes like she usually would, her gaze felt avoidant; looking past you towards a window facing the cityscape.Ā
you stood awkwardly in front of her, trying to meet her gaze. "ruan mei, if something's wrong with the arrangement i canā"
"i ordered them." she finally looked into your eyes. her voice was flat, but she looked dejected. āi just wanted some flowers so i could make an arrangement myself for you, catered to your tastes. i even got some small gifts to add to it.ā
"for... me?"
"yes." she said simply, like it was obvious. "i did some research on the meaning of flowers too. and i remember you mentioned them once in passing, a few months ago."
āthatās so sweet!" your cheeks felt warm and you couldnāt help but beam at her (lowkey you werenāt aware she had it in her like aughhh shes so adorbsā¦)
"you've already arranged them beautifully, more beautifully than i could have." her voice cracked a little and her face flushed. "which makes this significantly more complicated than i'd anticipated."
"you were going to confess to me, on valentine's..?" you questioned faintly as relief quickly washed over you.Ā
āi still plan on doing so.ā your heart stopped. her palm gravitated towards your cheek, wiping away tears you hadnāt noticed were falling.Ā
āa few weeks ago i concluded that iāve been in love with you since the day we met. the way you made your way around the lab wasā¦ cute. it evoked a feeling iām unfamiliar with. at first i thought i was just curious about you. i was overwhelmed by an urge to study you and analyze you, to determine the cause of each one of your emotions.ā she paused to clear her throat āi started noting every detail about you. the way you bite your lip when you're concentrating, the exact tone of your voice when you're happy versus when you're just being polite.ā
you couldn't breathe. you froze, unable to do anything but stare at her.
"i tried to be obvious, too," she continued. āi adjusted my schedule to fit yours, i tried doing small things to make you feel more comfortable, i engaged in your interests to see if youād notice and do something about it. i thought iād misinterpreted your reactionsā¦ā
"i spent months convincing myself it didn't mean anything," you sniffled, words spilling out now. "that you were just being kind. that i was reading into things because i wanted them to be real so badly. and then last night i thought i'd waited too long, that there was someone else already.āĀ
"there's no one else," she pulled you into a hug and whispered, "there's never been anyone else. i love you." ruan mei said it so confidently it made you melt in her arms.Ā
"i love you too." you sank further into her touch. you stayed like that for a while, her hand moving slowly up and down your back, your face pressed against her shoulder. the bouquet sat forgotten on the table.
ruan mei cleared her throat. āgiven our current circumstances, is it appropriate for me to ask you out on a date tonight?āĀ
your laugh vibrated through her shoulder. the way she asked was so adorable, you couldnāt help it! "yes," you nodded, reaching up to kiss her cheek. "obviously yes."
the end!
i hope u enjoyed and that the pacing was decent hehe !! i tried dividing it into like bite-sized chapters even tho it's a one shot. i hope i can improve and write deliciously in the future. toodles !!
gulp... this is my first time posting... but i fr cant get coworker!swannie out of my head. i hope the pacing is ok... i apologize beforehand for being the self-indulgence final boss #ok. i also hope its not too out of character... pwease see my vision everyone... finally.. english isn't my first language hehe... i hope u enjoy this little snack regardless !! :3c
for some context: click here!
wc: 1.8k
reader is intended to be gn!
monday, 8:00 a.m.
youād never shown up at work this earlyā¦ however, you found yourself in desperate need of distraction after spending your weekend agonizing over the fact that black swan had to take you home friday nightā¦ god. she probably hated youāeven if the thought was extremely irrational, it still lingered in the back of your mind. with a straight posture and headphones on, you worked diligently, an unusual, serious aura lingering around you.
around two hours in, you felt a tap on your shoulder, and it was, of course, none other than black swan. your muscles froze, and the room was suddenly super warm. you yank your headphones off as she greets you with a gentle smile, whereas you can only stutter out an apology for what happened last weekend. she knits her brows in confusion, then chuckles, āwhy are you apologizing?ā
āwell..ā you look down, biting your lip and turning your gaze towards the scattered sticky notes on your desk. āiām just sorry you had to deal withā¦ all thatā¦ā
"deal with what?" she placed the drink she got you down on the desk and pulled over a chair, sitting down like she had all the time in the world. "you were fine. you remained perfectly professional through the entire dinner. it was quite impressive, actually."
"but after thatā¦ you really didn't mind?"
"i really didn't. but it did get me thinking, thereās something iāve been meaning to ask you. would you have dinner with me?" she said it so casually... though her eyes were focused entirely on your reaction. "tonight."
"well of course! i meanā¦ we do have team dinner tonight, don't we?" you ask, oblivious and adorable as ever. "i thought it was on the calendarā"
"no." she was smiling faintly now, resisting the urge to tease you. āi'm asking you. just the two of us."
"iā" your brain had officially stopped working. "you meanā¦"
"i mean, let's ditch the team." she leaned forward, resting her elbow on your desk as she whispered so sweetlyā¦ "they'll survive one week without us. plus, iād rather spend the evening fully focused on you."
āah, wellā¦ iād be delighted to!ā your eyes sparkle, and you try not to sound too excited (you fail). she canāt help but smile a little wider, adding your animated expression to the record of you she has in her mind.
"good." black swan stood, running her hands to smooth her blazer, already pulling out her phone. "i'll pick you up at seven."
6:15 pm
youād tried on like 10 outfitsā¦ and none of them seemed to satisfy you. the first one was too casual. the second, a little too formal; the thirdā¦ just no; and the rest were all tangled and wrinkly on your bedā¦ sighā¦ after a lot of debating with yourself, you settled for a steel-blue turtle neck and a cute little brown (skirt/pair of pants).
suddenly, your phone buzzed.
black swan: On my way. Do you need me to get you anything?
you: no im good
you: thank u tho :3c
you: see you soon!!
black swan: I look forward to it.
after checking every bit of your outfit for wrinkles, fixing your hair a billion times, and picking the perfect jewelry, black swan called you. āiām at the lobby.ā her voice a little amused, she knew exactly how nervous you were before you even replied.
"coming!" you said it brightly, almost in a sing-song tone, and immediately wanted to die a little.
swanās soft laugh came through the phone, making you even more nervous. "take your time."
she was waiting near the entrance when you came down, and your brain justā¦ stopped the moment your eyes met.
hair down, dark jeans, and this soft sweater that made her look unfairly good and soft... it was genuinely so infuriating. black wan glanced up from her phone when she heard your distinct walking pattern, and her expression softened, making your heart stutter and your cheeks heat up.
after exchanging a simple greeting, swan held the door open, and you walked out together to where her car was parked. she opened the passenger door before you could reach for it, and you slid in. the car smelled like her perfume, that same scent from that nightā¦ your mind wandered, promptly interrupted by a water bottle that had seemingly appeared in your lap.
you turn to look at black swan, your head tilted in confusion. "just in case you need it." she laughs teasingly. you couldnāt even argue against it; you often forgot to hydrate properly when nervous. with a sigh, you took a sip while she circled to the driver's side.
the engine started smoothly, classical music playing faintly in the background. she drove with one hand, the other resting on the consoleāpalm up and relaxed, an invitation she wasn't going to voice out loud. you stared at it. she had to know what she was doing.
instead of acting on your desire to hold it, you opted to admire, noting how her rings caught the passing streetlights. your own hands stayed firmly in your lap, even as every part of you wanted to reach over.
the city blurred pastāfamiliar streets gradually replaced by buildings you didnāt recognize. she parked at this seemingly low-key restaurant, with string lights over the courtyard entrance and a warm glow from the windows.
she opened your door again, and her hand settled at your back as you walked in, touch so light you could've missed it. the interior was dark wood with inviting, low lighting. a mix of fancy and intimate. the host greeted her by nameāshe'd definitely been here beforeāand led you to a corner table, tucked away from everyone else.
the menu was small. you scanned through it quickly andā¦oh?
everything you liked. the type of cuisine you'd mentioned once, months ago, during some random lunch break conversation you vaguely recall having. she rememberedā¦ you looked up, and she was already watching you with an unreadable expression, waiting for you to notice.
"did youā"
"i wanted to make sure you'd actually like it, you mentioned this type of food once. i thoughtā¦" black swan trailed off, getting uncharacteristically sheepish for a millisecond, and something in your chest went all warm and tight.
"it's perfect."
god, that sounded so cheesy. you cleared your throat. "i meanāthank you. Everything seems really good, youāre so thoughtful." the way you grin has her smiling back, the look in her eyes indicates she's pleased with herself.
"good. i'm glad you like it." she holds your gaze longer than necessary before picking up her menu, completely unbothered.
you went through the menu, chatting about it for a few minutes. she calls the waiter over and orders for both of you. after setting it down, she rests her palm on the wooden table, tracing patterns along the grain mindlessly, which you couldnāt help but notice. her hands were so elegant, and justā¦ all of her was too pretty, it was overwhelming. you started to get shyer and quieter. the conversation didn't flow as easily.
your foot bumped against hers under the table, but she didnāt pull away, which was somewhat comforting. over the surface, her pinky shifted just enough to brush against yours. your breath caught and you pulled back on instinct, reaching for your drink instead.
finally feeling more at ease, you eagerly reached for swannieās hand when she said something that made you laugh. she responded by interlacing her fingers with yours, her thumb tracing circles in a soothing rhythm against your skin.
"there we go," she murmured to herself. your face warmed but you made the very brave choice of not letting go. not like you could when her touch was so relaxing, and certainly not when she was looking at you like that, so soft and pleased. this was exactly what she'd been hoping for all evening.
"what?" you tilt your head.
"nothing. i.m just glad you're relaxing," she squeezed your hand tenderly. "you've been tense all evening."
"i so havenāt!"
"you have, but itās okay, itās cute."
dinner continued like that, her thumb never stopped that gentle pattern against your skin. you told her about your plans for the week, and she told you about how sheās been into pottery lately (#hinting at a future date ok black swan i see uā¦). you gave her some of your meal for her to try and she did the same.
the evening flew by quickly. black swan paid the bill before you could even offer to split it, and in turn you gave her your best fake pout. "i was going to get that."
"nuh-uh! plus, iāll get it next time too," she said simply. so there will be a next timeā¦
"okay, wellā¦" you tugged her close to you, "then i'm treating you to ice cream!"
black swan raised an eyebrow. "it's freezing out."
"so what? ice cream is a year-round food!"
"is it now?" the corner of her mouth twitches upward.
"mhm! letās go now!" you pulled her toward the exit and swannie followed, laughing softly.
outside, the air hit you immediately and you kinda regretted suggesting ice cream. she noticed, and squeezed your hand.
"hold on. i have a coat in the car."
you walked back to where she'd parked and she popped the trunk, pulling out a perfectly tailored coat that probably cost more than your rent. she draped it over your shoulders before you could protest.
"but you'll be coldā¦"
"i'll be fine." she was already adjusting the collar, making sure it sat right. "there. better?"
it smelled like her. you were trying very hard to be normal about this. "yeah, thanks."
"soā¦" she locked the car. "where's this ice cream?"
you pointed towards a nearby park, āthere, i saw it when we got here. letās hope itās still open!ā she kept close despite the pep in your step, her hand making its way to yours again.
the guy working looked half-asleep but perked up when you approached. she ordered vanilla with salted caramel. you got your usual and paid before she could, feeling victorious! you walked back toward the car slowly while enjoying your ice cream.
ādid you have fun?ā black swan asked, opening the door for you.
āmhm! it was a really good date.ā you grin as you get comfy on the passenger seat. she leaned down and gave you a sweet kiss on the cheek before closing the door and getting in the car herself. she started the engine, her hand finding yours over the console immediately. the drive back felt too short.
swannie walked with you into the lobby and stood there for a moment, closer than necessary. her eyes dropped to your mouth for just a second before flicking back up.
"thank you for tonight," you said quietly, starting to slip the coat off.
black swan stops your movements, "you can return it later, goodnight.ā
you give her a small but heartwarming hug. āgoodnight, make sure to text me when you get home.ā
--
lowkey i didn't know how to end it... i'll def keep experimenting a little more ! i hope i can expand my vocab too... toodles !
- no nsfw (for now) LIKEEE. idk how to writeā¦ forgive meā¦ but maybe in the future mwahaha !!!
- i also wonāt write anything iām not comfortable with like abuse for example (iāll update this as i think of more things bc my brain is empty rn. always feel free to ask !)
- i donāt think iāll take requests but if u have any ideas or thoughts u can always share them !
āĖā” warnings
- i will be so self-indulgent. like imagine u r at the self indulgent competition and iām ur opponent. yeahā¦ i am doing all this for myself mostly #sorry š£
- i also apologize if a character is ever like super ooc too ā¦ iāll try to do my best ..!!
- iāll probably write fem!reader but iāll try to keep it neutral !! iāll probably use she and they pronouns āļø ok.
- if i ever make a mistake keep in mind that english isnāt my first language mwehehe
hiii !! my name is anna (she/her) and iām 22! i speak spanish, english and french (i kinda suck at it thoā¦)
my mbti is infj (allegedly)
what i like: strawberries, architecture, clouds, yuri and gl yayyyy !! twice + red velvet + loona, minions !!!
games: genshin, hsr, ptn, infinity nikki, LOVE CURSE, final fantasy, persona, ace attorney, nier, animal crossing, katamari, minecraft, etc !!
fav characters (from each game): YAE MIKO <3, castorice, ANGELL, nikki ofc, victoria + iris, aerith, ann, phoenix tbh, 6O, etc ..
fav ships: BARBIERAQUELLE, EIMIKO, AERTIā¦ i also love others but iām too lazy to type them all outā¦ i donāt rlly like straight ships tho. only gru and lucyā¦
baratheonpilled
andulkaphoto
snowghoul
turnnoffyourmind
ellievsbear
prguitarman