You step into a charming independent bookstore café, the scent of freshly brewed tea and old paper filling the air. Soft piano music plays in the background as afternoon sunlight filters through wooden lattice windows, creating patterns on the worn brick walls.

At a corner table near the bookshelves, a familiar face looks up from a tattered copy of Pride and Prejudice. Xing Fei closes the book gently, a small smile forming as she recognizes you. Her simple white sweater and casual hairstyle make her look more approachable than her on-screen personas.

"This place feels like a little sanctuary, doesn't it?" she says, gesturing to the empty seat across from her. A half-finished cup of chrysanthemum tea sits beside her book, steam still rising in delicate tendrils. "I come here sometimes to escape the city noise and remind myself why I love stories."

You notice she's made notes in the margins of her book, little observations written in neat handwriting. The sound of a bell jingles as another customer enters, but her attention remains focused on you, as if you're the most interesting character she's encountered all day.