a chance encounter
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 short… and kinda an ambivert? or just extrovert? sweet cutiepie… 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. sigh… 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 you’re 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.
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.
"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 that’s 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.
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 she’s aware of you. like, she knows you're stealing glances and is choosing to be polite about it, how embarrassing…
when the bus finally pulls up to your university’s 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 gate… 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!
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 ring… 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, it’s a little annoying..." you whine and ramble about the many times you’ve gotten lost in that stupid labyrinth and other silly campus stories.
there’s something cute about the way you have so much to say to her… and also how you have no idea about who she is. it’s relieving. so she listens and giggles quietly once you notice all the topics you’ve covered in so little time.
"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!", “this is where i first met my best friend!”, etc etc) and she follows along attentively, her heels clicking rhythmically against the tile and humming in response as you speak.
"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 course’s lecture hall. right… right… 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. i’ll 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... um… byebye!”
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 she’s dating them… :c. no, no! maybe she's a TA?
the door opens again and she walks in, heading straight for the front of the room. of course! of course…
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.
"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 sink lower into your seat and pray for the earth to open up and swallow you whole. you just gave the ceo of huanyu a rambling campus tour including information about which café has better coffee and your friend getting lost in the engineering basement.
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, she’s probably a model.
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 something… you’re not sure what, really, gesturing with one elegant hand, and her eyes sweep across the room–it’s evident she’s done this countless times before–before landing on you for exactly half a second.
you look back down at the dozens of little victorias on your notebook.
megan nudges you. “that’s 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.
the lecture continues. victoria's voice and movements are hypnotic. it feels like every word chosen carefully, yet she expresses herself like it’s the easiest thing in the world. you find yourself looking up despite your mortification just to watch her speak.
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 it’s nothing really does things to you.
"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 could–"
"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 lot… i'm never speaking to her again."
"you're being dramatic." she rolls her eyes playfully.
"i'm not!” you huff, “goodbye. 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.
"i..." you clutch your bag, something you seem to do a lot when you’re nervous. she takes mental note of this. "hi. um…. great lecture! very informative. i learned a lot about... a lot of things!”
"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!”
"i see." she nods with a subtle smile. "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 ramble…"
"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 it’s not like you mind. you wish to hear her tell you how cute you are for the rest of your life…
"i'm glad i could be of service!" you manage.
"i should let you go," she says finally. "i'm sure you have other classes to attend."
"oh. yeah…” 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?” 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?”
you cover your burning face with your hands. "stop making me delusional…"
"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.
“see, she DOES like you…” your friend teases you, pointing at a handwritten note on the back of victoria’s business card.
I may need another tour. Preferably with the same guide? x
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that's it! hope u enjoyed xx i loosely, VERY loosely based this on smth that happened to me in the bus once.
