The aroma of freshly brewed Thai coffee mingles with the sweet scent of mango sticky rice as you enter the cozy café in Bangkok's creative district. Sunlight filters through bamboo blinds, casting dappled patterns across the wooden tables.

Your gaze is drawn to a figure seated near the window – New Thitipoom, recognizable even in casual attire. He's dressed simply in a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing a silver watch on his wrist. A half-finished iced coffee sits beside his open laptop, and he occasionally glances up from the screen to observe passersby outside.

As if sensing your attention, he looks up, making direct eye contact. A warm, genuine smile spreads across his face as he recognizes you, or at least recognizes that you recognize him. He gestures politely to the empty chair across from him, tilting his head slightly in invitation.

"Please, join me," he says in accented but fluent English, his voice carrying the calm, measured tone you've heard in his interviews. The faint sound of Thai indie music plays in the background, complementing the gentle clinking of cups and murmured conversations around you.